Despite barely knowing each other and only being text buddies who had never met, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney decided to buy a soccer team together. Naturally, the idea of two Hollywood actors buying a British sports team is TV gold, so Reynolds and McElhenney filmed their experience for an FX docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, which just got its first teaser. Although, that’s debatable.
The teaser leans heavily into the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia theme, and hey, it even has the gang in it. In fact, they seem to be the only ones in it until the camera cuts to Reynolds and McElhenney sitting in a pub where Reynolds is only now realizing that he’s been duped into a tie-in promo by McElhenney. However, the teaser does some drop basic information about Welcome to Wrexham. Namely that it’s coming out in 2022 and will stream on Hulu. (Interestingly, Welcome to Wrexham seems to be the first FX series to ditch the FX on Hulu branding.)
Here’s the official logline:
From Hollywood to Wales, the pitch to the locker room, the front office to the pub, Welcome to Wrexham will track Rob and Ryan’s crash course in football club ownership and the inextricably connected fates of a team and a town counting on two actors to bring some serious hope and change to a community that could use it.
To further promote Welcome to Wrexham, and It’s Always Sunny, McElhenney also stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! where he opened up about owning the soccer club with Reynolds and an unfortunate Thanksgiving injury that left his ankle looking like a Christmas ham.
You can watch McElhenney on Jimmy Kimmel Live below:
After years of fighting, Britney Spears’ infamous conservatorship finally came to an end last month. However, there are still some legal loose ends to tied up, some of which were addressed in court yesterday, as Variety reports. At a hearing at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse, Spears was granted the power to execute documents herself, which Spears’ lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, argued she should be able to do “as an independent woman, not under conservatorship.”
After the brief hearing, Rosengart said outside the courtroom that the ruling means Spears “has the power to do whatever she wants to do.”
When Spears’ conservatorship was terminated, accountant John Zabel was given power of execution of the estate trust, as well as power to transfer assets into the trust. As of yesterday’s hearing, Zabel will retain those powers until the date of the next hearing, January 19. That hearing is “expected to deal with accounting matters, as well as the petition for substituted judgement.”
A couple months ago, in a post criticizing her family, Spears took a moment to show gratitude for Rosengart, writing, “Thankfully I found an amazing attorney Mathew Rosengart who has helped change my life !!!!” More recently, she shared some criticism about Christina Aguilera for “refusing to speak” about the conservatorship.
Early Wednesday morning, someone (and law enforcement does have a suspect) burned down the “All-American Christmas Tree” at Fox News headquarters in New York City. This led the conservative news network’s hosts to completely melt down all day, and it’s safe to say that this will provide them with much more reason to claim a “War on Christmas” for years to come. In the earliest of morning hours, the Fox and Friendsgang was reeling over this evidence of the “crime surge,” and that trend has continued into a second day.
On Thursday morning, Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade were all aghast at the apparent lenient treatment of the alleged arsonist, Craig Tomanaha, who (via Mediaite) was released without having to post bail, which Earhardt summed up as emblematic of “these new liberal reform laws.” From there, Doocy noted that this tree cost half a million dollars (which feels pretty darn secular, as opposed to devoutly religious), and he was so upset that these new policies classify arson as “only a felony,” meaning that a suspect can’t be held unless “the suspect tries to harm a person or commit a hate crime.” And he doesn’t understand why “lighting a Christmas tree on fire is not a hate crime.”
In response, Kilmeade followed up with this sentiment: “Who says it’s not a hate crime against us, against Fox News?”
Brian Kilmeade on the burning of the Fox Christmas tree: “Who says it’s not a hate crime against us, against Fox News?” pic.twitter.com/DFm9qN6eXJ
The trio wasn’t alone, of course. In addition to yesterday’s wall-to-wall coverage on Fox News, Tucker Carlson picked up the ball and ran with it on Wednesday night. And he wasn’t subtle. “Torching Christmas trees is an attack on Christianity,” Tucker argued. “Obviously. It’s an assault on religious observance. By current standards, destroying someone’s religious symbol would be called a ‘hate crime.’”
The War on Christmas continues. Tonight, Tucker is outraged Merrick Garland isn’t prosecuting people who burn Christmas trees for a federal hate crime. pic.twitter.com/PYraUVszqa
And with that, the holiday season is in full swing at Fox News. Oh, and the replacement tree will see a full-on ceremony on Thursday afternoon’s episode of The Five, so watch out for that one.
Rye whiskey is on the rise worldwide. In the U.S., the old-school whiskey has a lot of incarnations from Maryland to Virginia to Indiana to Kentucky to pretty much every corner of the country. The throughline to all of those rye regions is the law that states rye whiskey must have a mash bill (base recipe) of at least 51 percent rye grain that’s then aged in new American oak. There are more rules, but those are the big ones to know.
All of that means that rye can vary pretty wildly from the spicier peppery versions from Indiana to the more floral rye from Maryland to the fruitier and more herbal versions from Kentucky and beyond. Of course, those are all very broad brush strokes, but that’s what’s great about American rye — there’s something for everyone.
That also means there are tons of undervalued and underappreciated rye whiskeys on the market. To find them, we asked some well-known bartenders to tell us the best undervalued rye whiskeys to drink all year long. Keep scrolling below to see their picks.
Jim Beam Rye
Jim Beam
Nick du Mortier, lead mixologist at Bar Pendry in Chicago
Unpopular opinion, but Jim Beam Rye is the most undervalued rye. It has the perfect balance of spice that you expect from rye without outshining anything it is mixed with. In terms of cost, it’s hard to beat. Rittenhouse gets a lot of shout-outs as a workhorse rye, but in terms of value, Jim Beam Rye is a better deal.
Knob Creek Rye is my pick. It retails around $40 and is definitely a value bottle. The vanilla and caramel notes paired with the peppery rye really make this rye quite the bottle.
Basil Hayden Dark Rye
Basil Hayden
Christopher Rodriguez, lead bartender at Lucy Restaurant & Bar in Yountville, California
The most undervalued rye whiskey is Basil Hayden Dark Rye. It is one of my new favorites. It’s very oaky rye but has some hints of cherry and spice which makes it a great base for any cocktail. It can be enjoyed on ice as well.
WhistlePig Aged 10 Years Rye
WhistlePig
Christopher Devern, lead bartender of Red Owl Tavern in Philadelphia
Whistle Pig 10 Year is a unique Canadian rye whiskey that stands out to me. It has a unique farmhouse taste that reminds me of tobacco and spices. You’ll find herbal notes of thyme and peppermint. Give this a try in your next Manhattan.
Michter’s US-1 Straight Rye
Michter
Josh Curtis, bar director at the Malibu Beach Inn in Malibu, California
Michter’s US-1 Straight Rye has cinnamon and cherry notes that lean toward butterscotch and even orange citrus. Of course, it still has the notable cracked black pepper, but it’s tempered by the other, sweeter flavors as well.
High West Double Rye Whiskey is my pick because you are getting two ryes for the price of one. High West Double Rye Whiskey is actually a blend of two rye whiskeys (one from Indiana and one from Utah) making the perfect combination of flavor with the heat you are looking for in rye. The younger blend of rye whiskey with the clove and cinnamon flavors is blended with a more mature rye whiskey that carries the vanilla and woody richness. With that complexity, it can be enjoyed by itself or mixed into and classic cocktail such as Manhattan and really add flavor value for the drinker.
Templeton Rye
Templeton Rye
Jamie Shaw, beverage manager at Stella of New Hope in New Hope, Pennsylvania
I think Templeton is one of the most undervalued ryes on the market. It’s nice and spicy and has a lot of body to it. But it comes in pretty inexpensive, and it goes with so many different flavors. Overall, it’s very universal and versatile.
I really love Woodinville Straight Rye Whiskey. I think it’s a perfect balance of wood, cherries, leather, oak, and honey. It really creates an explosion of flavors on the palate.
Old Overholt
Old Overholt
Nicholas Bennett, beverage director at Porchlight in New York City
Putting its 200 plus year history aside, Old Overholt is a great whiskey that never seems to get the respect it deserves outside of the bartenders I know that swear by it. The nose is very expressive for an 86-proof whiskey. It features minor notes of oak and rye spice that are also present but barely make an impact over the sweet aromas of Graham Cracker and caramel. It makes a great cocktail, a great sipping whiskey, and a great back with a beer all for a very accessible price.
I’m not sure if I can necessarily say it’s an undervalued rye whiskey as most of the great cocktail bars in the U.S. use it as their go too rye. But I will say for the price it beats out a lot of whiskeys that are two and three times more expensive. Rittenhouse is 100-proof rye from Heaven Hill that has the classic pepperiness that rye is known for, with a bit of vanilla, peach, and banana.
The most undervalued rye whiskey is Old Forester Rye in my opinion. It is vastly appreciated by individuals in the food and beverage industry but not so much by the public at large. Old Forester Rye has a unique taste with notes of black pepper and cinnamon stick that rounds out with notes of dried dill and baked apple.
I am surprised that the Colonel Taylor Straight Rye gets overlooked and overshadowed by the better-known Taylor bourbons. This amazing rye has an absolutely perfect blend of vanilla, spice, and caramel. It’s a great sipper and makes a superior Manhattan as well.
Though it might seem like it’s been a while since we’ve heard much about Armie Hammer following his high-speed fall from grace, the LAPD and its sex crimes division have been hard at work investigating the various criminal claims made against the actor since all the way back in March of this year. But TMZ is reporting that it’s unlikely he’ll face any rape charges for one of the most serious allegations made against him.
In March, a woman named Effie came forward to publicly accuse Hammer of viciously raping her. The alleged victim held a press conference alongside her attorney, Gloria Allred, where she described the 2017 incident, saying:
“On April 24, 2017, Armie Hammer violently raped me for over four hours in Los Angeles. During which he repeatedly slapped my head against a wall bruising my face. He also committed other acts of violence against me to which I did not consent.”
But after a nine-month-long investigation, TMZ is being told by sources close to the case that while the investigators’ findings are being sent to the DA, it’s unlikely Hammer will face any charges. The site writes that “the case isn’t strong, and will probably not result in any charges being filed against Armie. It’s unclear if the reason behind that is a lack of credibility of potential witnesses or a lack of particular evidence backing up the claims. In any case … the D.A.’s office will have final say over the matter.”
Since the allegations first surfaced, Hammer—who was also accused of having cannibalistic fantasies—has maintained his innocence. In March, The Hollywood Reporter shared a statement by Hammer’s lawyer, which characterized the lawsuit as an “attention-seeking and ill-advised legal bid” and said that:
“From day one, Mr. Hammer has maintained that all of his interactions with [Effie]—and every other sexual partner of his for that matter—have been completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance, and mutually participatory.”
Samantha is the best character on Sex and the City. There, I said it.
It took me awhile to admit this (I was firmly team Charlotte for years), but Samantha, as played by Kim Cattrall, is the funniest, has the best retorts, and she’s not Carrie, which is a major plus. But she’s nowhere to be seen in And Just Like That…, HBO Max’s 10-episode revival of Sex and the City that premiered on Thursday. The real-life reason is because Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker do not get along, but in the premiere episode of the new series, an in-universe explanation was provided as well.
In the first scene, Carrie, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) run into Bitsy von Muffling (Julie Halston), who asks for the whereabouts of the “fourth Musketeer.” Charlotte replies, “Oh, um, she’s no longer with us.” Miranda and Carrie clarify that she didn’t die, she’s in London. It turns out Samantha moved to the U.K. for work. Later in the episode, Carrie further explains Samantha’s absence. “I told her that because of, you know, what the book business is now, it just didn’t make sense for me to keep her on as a publicist,” she said. “She said fine, and then fired me as a friend.”
So there you go: Samantha isn’t dead — she’s in London, where she’s saving so much money by not going to brunch with her friends every dang day of the week.
“Why are you going to Ohio?” was the general response I received when sharing my travel plans for the Midwest. But as an ever-curious travel writer, I wanted to see for myself what Ohio had to offer. As someone who’s spent most of my life in the sunshine of Southern California, I didn’t expect to find much more than farmland, cold temperatures, and die-hard Ohio State fans. While I spotted these daily throughout my trip, I quickly learned that the Buckeye State has far more to offer than one might think.
Specifically, I spent a weekend in Hocking Hills State Park. Only an hour outside of Columbus, Hocking Hills is a wilderness haven for both outdoor adventurers and those just looking for a relaxing weekend off the grid. With waterfalls, rock-climbing, zip-lining, wellness experiences, homey log cabins, and lush landscape views all within less than four square miles, Hocking Hills turned out to be one of my favorite trips of the year. The balanced mix of adrenaline-junkie activities, nature-inspired spa experiences, and the low-key small-town feel in Hocking Hills left me rejuvenated.
I’m breaking down where to stay, adventure, chill, eat, and drink in Hocking Hills, Ohio. If you’re in the market for an outdoorsy weekend away, this might be a great option for you too.
PART I — Where to Adventure
Explore the Hiking Trails
What shocked me most about Hocking Hills was its diverse nature, which I was able to appreciate through the many accessible hiking trails. My first stop was Old Man’s Cave, one of the most trafficked outdoor areas for locals and visitors alike. As soon as you step onto the trail, you’re met with towering boulders and trees, running creeks, and walking bridges. You’ll walk through tunnels, climb down stone stairs, and explore giant rock formations that look like a scene from a fantasy film (0f course, the Hollywood kid in me kept thinking about how great of a movie set the trail would be). You can spend an entire afternoon exploring Old Man’s Cave or do a leisurely one-mile loop. The walk is doable for all fitness levels and is a great way to get a taste of the unexpectedly beautiful biodiversity.
Another hike you can’t miss in Hocking Hills is Rock House. Slightly longer and steeper than the short loop at Old Man’s Cave, Rock House is an outdoorsman’s wonderland. I visited immediately after fall foliage peaked, so I was able to take in the hundreds of colors I don’t typically experience in the seasonless environment of L.A. My nature-loving heart swooned at the crunch of freshly fallen leaves under my every step. No matter what season you visit, though, the hike is well worth seeing the massive cave you’ll find about halfway through the scenic loop. It’s a 25-feet high, 200-feet long, and 20-feet wide structure that sits on a 150-foot cliff of Black Hand sandstone. Yes, it’s as cool as it sounds. You can climb into the cave’s many crevices and hang out in the cool shade while you take in the many natural spectacles that surround it.
Go Zip-Lining Through the Woods
Hocking Hills Canopy Tour
The thrill-seeker in me couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take in Hocking Hills’ natural wonders from high above the ground in the form of zip-lining. My three-hour, adrenaline-filled adventure with Hocking Hills Canopy Tours turned out to be the highlight of my trip. When you sign up for a tour (I participated in the “original” canopy tour), two lively and experienced instructors will help you soar above treetops on a secure network of cables and sky bridges suspended above the forest floor. Throughout the excursion, you’ll overlook caves, rock cliffs, the Hocking River, and tons of unique flora and fauna. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a bald eagle flying alongside you. This was the ultimate fun-filled activity that combined nature and risk-taking into one afternoon. I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing until the end of the tour — maybe because I was trying to cope with the fear of plummeting to my death, but still, it was a fantastic time.
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours also offers a variety of adventure outings, including an off-road segway adventure, climbing and repelling packages, and a “Super Zip” experience, which is a single quarter-mile-long zip-line that reaches speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
If you’re ready to get up close and personal with all the breathtaking nature to be found in Hocking Hills, take an outdoor course with High Rock Adventures. For anyone from beginners to those looking to up their fitness game, the small eco-centric business offers guided sessions in repelling, rock climbing, eco-tours, nature therapy, and a rock relay challenge, as well as one-off events and workshops. Depending on which kind of adventure you sign up for, you might repel down 100-feet-tall cliffs, learn about the many woodland plant species and edible medicine growing in the area, or connect to the healing effects of nature with what High Rock Adventures calls “forest bathing.” I did a guided nature hike, and it made me better appreciate the many beautiful ecosystems that can be found in nature.
Immerse yourself in the woods of Hocking Hills State Park and book a High Rock Adventures tour here.
PART II — Where to Eat
Kindred Spirits
Chloe Caldwell
I’ll be honest, Hocking Hills isn’t somewhere people visit for the extravagant culinary scene. Between the small-town diners, cafés, and hotel restaurants, there isn’t a whole lot to choose from. However, there are a few gems that’ll satisfy every foodie’s stomach.
For a nicer, sit-down meal, head to Kindred Spirits. The quintessential woodsy restaurant, which is part of the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls property, is one of the most popular dining options in Hocking Hills. For good reason, too. Not only is every dish cooked to savory superiority (I ordered the maple bourbon-glazed salmon — yum), but the all-wood interior, fireplaces, and plaid-covered seating throughout the restaurant offer a feel-good, cozy ambiance. Kindred Spirits’ menu changes seasonally to ensure the freshest ingredients, but you can generally expect to find a variety of protein-packed entreés, pasta dishes, and a handful of hearty appetizers to choose from.
While you’re waiting for a table, you can grab one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails at the bar. I ordered a fruity concoction made with stone fruit vodka, which was the sweet, boozy kick I needed.
For a classic diner experience in Hocking Hills, there’s no place better than The Ridge Inn. It offers home cooking and casual dining, which is exactly the kind of meal you’ll need in between exploring the great outdoors. With menu items like pork roast with mashed potatoes, roast beef, grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, and homegrown fried apples, you’re sure to feel full and satisfied by the end of your meal (if you can even finish it).
On weekends, The Ridge Inn also offers special menu items. Be sure to dine in on a Friday for the freshly-made glazed doughnuts. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Wash down your doughy treats by heading across the street to the Laurelville Fruit Farm, which is a family-owned business that sells homemade frozen apple cider from a third-generation orchard.
Follow The Ridge Inn on Facebook to stay updated on the seasonal hours and house specials here.
PART III – Where to Drink
Hocking Hills Winery
Chloe Caldwell
It’s not likely that you’ll find all-night ragers or clubs in Hocking Hills, but there are still plenty of places to get your booze on. The Hocking Hills Winery is a good place to start. The venue feels more upscale than the other casual diners in town thanks to the twinkling lights and nearby vineyards, so it’s ideal for a weekend night out. The winery offers a couple of tasting options (either four or six tastes) or wine by the glass or bottle.
If you go on a Friday or Saturday night, you’ll probably get your wine served with a side of live music. The local band, laidback scene, and, of course, the flowing wine make Hocking Hills Winery the ultimate drinking spot in town.
If you’re looking for something stronger than wine, make your way over to the Hocking Hills Moonshine Distillery. Located in the heart of town, the distillery offers tastings and tours of the property where you can learn the history behind the corn liquor and how it’s made from start to finish. The tour will show you the entire process, from the mashing to distillation to the final filtering process.
For the tasting, you can try four different flavors of Hocking Hills Moonshine. My favorite was the Granny Apple, mostly because the sweet syrupy twist helped soothe the intense burn of the ultra-hard alcohol. The moonshine recipes vary from the original 80-proof to 120-proof, so it’s safe to say you’re going to be feeling good by the time you leave. If one of the many available flavors particularly piques your interest, you can purchase a full bottle of moonshine for yourself.
Learn more about Hocking Hills Moonshine Distillery here.
Le Petit Chevalier Winery
Chloe Caldwell
If you’re traveling with someone special and want a more romantic setting, the Le Petit Chevalier Winery is your best bet in Hocking Hills. Sitting atop a hill that overlooks sweeping country views (including sheep roaming through the property’s vines), the family-owned winery and vineyard feature estate-grown wine bottled on-site. You can taste the diverse wine selection while you munch on charcuterie snacks and soak in the calm countryside scenery. I’m always on the lookout for something on the sweeter side, so I was inclined to try the variety of fruit wines available. The blueberry, strawberry, and apple flavors created a subtly sugary yet tart take to each sip.
If you want to enjoy the property to the fullest, you can even choose to stay at Le Petit Chevalier Winery. The owners turned the top floor of the winery’s central building into an Airbnb that’s just as inviting and romantic as the rest of the experience.
Reserve a tasting at Le Petit Chevalier Winery or book your stay here.
PART IV — Where to Stay
Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls
Chloe Caldwell
If you’d prefer to embrace the wilderness from your nightly lodging, book a stay at Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls. The green-certified bed and breakfast is immersed in the woods and helps connect you to the wilderness of the state park. Accommodation options include a cabin, yurt, or a “geodome” that makes you feel like you’re one with the woods. I stayed in a cabin, and, just like pretty much everything else in Hocking Hills, it offered the homiest environment. The personal outdoor decks made for nature watching, the rocking chairs, rustic decor, and board games were like something you’d find at your grandma’s house. The sign-in book filled with guests’ personal stories and signatures was an especially heartwarming touch.
The giant bathtub in the center of the cabin’s main room was easily the most enticing part of it all. The tub comes complete with cozy robes to dry off in, essential oils, and yes, massaging jets. It was glorious and the perfect way to wind down after a long day of adventuring, drinking, and eating my way through Hocking Hills. If you want to take your relaxation a step further, you can take advantage of the property’s spa by getting a salt scrub and mud wrap, massage, or facial.
Book a cabin, yurt, or geodome at Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls here.
Glenlaurel Inn & Cottages
Glenlaurel Inn & Cottages is the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re in another country without actually needing to renew your passport. The Scottish-themed inn is meant to transport you to the elegance and romance of the Highlands of the U.K. It’s where luxury meets peacefulness and nature.
The property sits on a 140-acre estate with hiking trails and waterfalls. You’re able to explore the Hocking Hills woodlands within just a few short steps from your cottage, hotel room, suite, or croft. If you really want to embrace the Scottish culture of Glenlaurel, you can even play a game of Scottish Links Golf on the property’s course, which reflects the links-style courses built as far back as 400 years in the British Isles.
Guests can indulge in gourmet breakfasts, as well as a nightly seven-course freshly prepared candlelit dinner. The menu changes daily, and the in-house head chef prepares every meal with high-quality, seasonal ingredients. And let me tell you, this place is classy. The dining area’s ambiance is elevated with traditional bagpipe music, a steakhouse-worthy dress code, and poetry read aloud by the waiter before serving your meal.
If you want to live like you’re in Scotland for a weekend, book a stay at Glenlaurel Inn & Cottages here.
PART V — Where to Chill
Hocking Hills Sauna Pods
As much as I love adventure, sometimes it’s nice just to chill out. In Hocking Hills, you can do just that while still admiring the outdoors. Detoxify your system and sweat out last night’s wine tasting by sitting in the Hocking Hills Sauna Pods. The barrel-shaped cedar saunas are propped up on stilts with a floor-to-ceiling fish-eye window giving you a view of the forest. You can play your own music on the pod’s Bluetooth speaker and bask in the built-in mood lighting while you let the high temperatures and dry heat zen you out. Ahh, I’m feeling more relaxed just thinking about it. The sauna pods fit up to four people, and you can reserve them for one hour, two hours, or for a full day so you can come and go as you please.
Avid crystal users and sage burners will love the Hocking Hills Serenity Salt Cave, a wellness studio that immerses you in a room full of powerful salt from the Himalayas. This is otherwise known as halotherapy, which is thought to provide a variety of healing benefits to the body through its calming, detoxifying effects. Here’s how it works: you sit in the salt cave for 45 minutes while lounging back in a zero gravity chair and listening to soothing music. Does it actually work? Who knows. But it was relaxing, to say the least — and yes, I bought a Himalayan salt lamp to bring home with me.
Book a halotherapy session at Hocking Hills Serenity Salt Cave here.
Since the Astroworld Festival tragedy, Travis Scott has shared a couple of statements here and there, but now, he has given his first interview since the festival.
In a 50-minute conversation with Charlamagne The God, Scott spoke about how he’s been feeling lately, saying:
“I’ve been on different types of emotions, you know? An emotional rollercoaster, I mean. It gets so hard because, you know, I always feel connected with my fans. I went through something and I feel like fans went through something and people’s parents went through something, and it really hurts. It hurts the community, it hurts the city. There’s been a lot of thoughts, a lot of feelings, a lot of grieving, and just trying to wrap my head around it. And really just wanting to be there and wishing you could just hold everyone, kind of just heal them, talk to them, have conversations. It really just hurts, man.”
Charlamagne then asked Scott was his intention for the interview was and Scott responded, “I don’t personally have an intention, I just feel like something happened and I feel like it’s just… I needed a way to kinda like communicate, you know? One, families are grieving. There’s fans that experienced something, there’s fans that came to the show. I’ve always been that person to always see things through with the people that share the experiences with me. […] I’ve been trying to just really figure things out.”
Eggnog is deceptively easy to make. It just takes time. And that time commitment causes a lot of people to tap out and make a grocery store run for all their nog needs. If you do make your eggnog at home, you can control everything that goes into it and that’s worth it in our estimation.
Eggnog is pretty simple ingredients-wise: Cream, eggs, nutmeg, salt, sugar, and … that’s about it. The rest is the booze you want to add to the mix. Store-bought versions will have thickeners, dyes, and “natural flavors” added. But let’s get back to the booze. The storebought version will be a little thicker in an unspoken understanding that you’re going to cut it with bourbon, rum, or brandy. But, we’d argue, adding your favorite spirit after the eggnog is made makes it a little too harsh and doesn’t properly layer the spirits into the nog.
That’s why we’re making a big batch of very old-school boozy eggnog below. Our nog has Kentucky bourbon, Cuban rum, and Spanish brandy built right into it. It does need to settle overnight before you dive in, but as the late Tom Petty said, the waiting is the hardest part. Let’s get into it!
Let’s talk about eggs. If you’re iffy on drinking raw eggs in a cocktail (every proper whiskey sour has raw egg white), make sure you use pasteurized eggs. If the eggs have been pasteurized, any risk of harmful bacteria should be cooked out without having cooked the egg. Beyond that, the addition of alcohol into the nog will assure that no new bacteria grows in your nog while it sits in the fridge.
The rest is pretty straightforward. I’m using Evan Williams Black Label, Havana Club Especial, and Veterano Brandy. These are good, cheap bottles I have on the shelf. You don’t need to go too crazy with what you’re putting in this or break the bank. The point is to use alcohols you like to drink and you’ll be set. Lastly, all of these alcohols are very vanilla-heavy, meaning you don’t need to add extra vanilla to the mix.
Zach Johnston
What You’ll Need:
Large bowls
Whisk
Soft spatula
Stand or hand mixer
Microplane
Containers or large bottles
Measuring cups and spoons
Zach Johnston
Method:
First, separate all the egg yolks and whites.
Add the yolks to a large mixing bowl and whisk with sugar until fully emulsified.
Whisk in milk, cream, salt, and ground spices then whisk in all the alcohol.
In another large bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
Fold the egg whites into the base mixture gently with a large rubber spatula.
Pour the eggnog into waiting containers. Seal and refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
Make sure to stir the containers every day.
Pour over ice and dust with more freshly ground nutmeg. Serve.
Zach Johnston
Bottom Line:
Zach Johnston
The folding in of the egg whites really makes this super-silky and gives you that velvet mouthfeel you’re looking for a good nog. The nutmeg and allspice add that iconic noggy flavor to the mix and are fully integrated into every sip (the spices don’t all settle to the bottom of the glass).
The booze is definitely there but doesn’t overpower the eggnog-iness of the sip. The creaminess has layers of rich vanilla, mild woody spice, and light fruit lingering in the nog. It’s a delight.
All told, this only really took 30 minutes of labor and then 24 hours of waiting with a stir in between. It was 100 percent worth it but does not last as long as you’d like it to. I’m already planning on my next batch!
The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t have the best night on Wednesday, losing by 32 at the hands of the Utah Jazz. However, that didn’t stop Anthony Edwards from having another enlightening and entertaining postgame interview.
The second-year star gave a thoughtful answer about his teammate Karl-Anthony Towns needing to be more aggressive instead of inviting double teams, saying it was “disrespectful” that Utah put Bojan Bogdanovic on him constantly as Towns’ primary defender. Edwards wasn’t done there, as he also got asked about Rudy Gobert’s impact as a rim protector, to which he asserted that Kristaps Porzingis is a better rim protector than Gobert and noted that the three-time DPOY doesn’t put any fear in his heart when he attacks the paint.
Anthony Edwards said the best rim protector in the league is Kristaps Porzingis. On Rudy Gobert, Ant was honest …
‘Anytime I go against Porzingis, I don’t get no layups. I don’t get why we couldn’t finish on Rudy Gobert. He don’t put no fear in my heart. I don’t know why.”
Edwards wasn’t alone in having some, well, pointed commentary about Gobert after the game, as noted instigator Patrick Beverley also sought to poke the bear a bit more, calling out how Gobert wasn’t guarding Towns for the Jazz and questioning his DPOY credentials if he’s not taking on the toughest matchups each night.
Patrick Beverley on Rudy Gobert, the Defensive Player of the Year, not taking the challenge of guarding the Timberwolves best player, Karl-Anthony Towns: pic.twitter.com/HKlPUna8cu
What makes all of this funnier is that these comments are coming after a game the Jazz won by 32. Beverley lists off three guys he guarded on the night who combined for 67 points, which might not be something you would normally puff your chest out about. Edwards comments aren’t quite as inflammatory, but more of the honesty we’ve come to love from the second-year swingman to just note that even he doesn’t know why he isn’t more afraid of Gobert at the rim but stating matter of factly that he’s just not.
This isn’t anything new for Gobert, who is not exactly a beloved figure around the league, and the Jazz as a whole, who despite consistently finishing seasons at or near the top of the West, aren’t discussed as top title contenders. The fix for that, of course, is to do what the Bucks did after finding themselves in a similar position last year and quieting the questions about being a dominant regular season team but a susceptible playoff team by winning a ring. Until then, I guess even teams they dominate are going to come out and poke and prod at their credentials.
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