Month: December 2021

Halo Infinite might be taking over the world right now thanks to an incredible free to play multiplayer mode, but longtime fans of the series are eagerly anticipating the release of the upcoming campaign mode. Not only because we need to see how Master Chief is going to save the galaxy this time, but because it’s going to be a completely new Halo experience.

Infinite is taking the series into an open world environment and it is not a small one. The Zeta Halo that Infinite takes place on is huge and when players are thrown into it they might find it a little overwhelming, especially as icons start to appear on the map with new objectives. Thankfully, the game does a good job of guiding us along on what to do next, but eventually, the chains will come off and it’s going to be up to the player to make their own decisions. While some players might feel inclined to just immediately jump right back into the next campaign mission we strongly suggest exploring the world a bit and seeing what Infinite has to offer. Still not sure where to start though? Don’t worry, we got a chance to play the campaign early so we know exactly how the player should focus their time in those early hours.

Upgrade Your Grappleshot

With a world as massive as the one in Halo Infinite the player is going to want to find a way to get around it as easily as possible. That’s why we think the very first thing the player should do before anything else is take any upgrade points they’ve collected and put them into upgrading the Grappleshot. Equipment is a big part of Master Chief’s arsenal in Infinite and easily the best one is the Grappleshot. This multi-use tool allows Master Chief to latch on to enemies, hijack vehicles, and pull himself across walls. It also happens to be a very good device for getting around quickly when Master Chief is without a vehicle or is moving vertically.

Once fully upgraded, the Grappleshot becomes an excellent tool for maneuvering around not only the world but in firefights. By endgame, the world of Infinite is throwing entire armies at you and fights can get hectic. There will be scenarios when sprint isn’t cutting it and the Grapplehook becomes the best means of escape while also allowing the player to stay on the offensive. It’s a great tool and one that shouldn’t be ignored. Get it maxed out as quickly as possible to reap the early game benefits.

Capture FOBs

When Chief reaches Zeta Halo he quickly discovers that his allies, the UNSC, have been decimated. A big part of Infinite‘s side campaign is helping the UNSC get back on its feet so it has a fighting chance against the game’s main antagonists, The Banished. Of course, no work goes without its rewards, and Infinite has some pretty good ones. Every time Chief helps out the UNSC he receives Valor. As he collects Valor he eventually gains access to better guns, vehicles, etc., and the way he accesses these are locations called FOBs. These FOBs act as mini bases for Chief to fast travel, restock, and more importantly spawn in vehicles.

Getting around the world of Halo Infinite can be a challenge and the player is going to want to lessen those challenges whenever possible. FOBs are a no-brainer option for players to focus on because of the rewards they give. Not to mention that most of these are on the way to major objectives so it’s just a no-brainer to capture them even if it require going off the beaten path a little. Trust us, it’s all worth it the first time a Scorpion drops down.

Eliminate Enemies Of Interest

Halo has always had fun weapons, but 343 Industries really wanted to put its mark on Infinite with the weapon selection. Not only are there four different weapon types to cause chaos with, but now some of these weapons have special variants that the player can unlock, and call in from a FOB, when they eliminate the enemies of interest spread out throughout the map.

One thing Halo Infinite did really well was the special characters. It’s hard to do a good boss fight in a first-person shooter, let alone a mini-boss, but Infinite really nailed it with the enemies of interest. Spread out across the world are members of The Banished that have earned a negative reputation among the UNSC. All these characters are rocking a special gun that is unique to them, but when Master Chief eliminates them he gains access to that gun variation. As soon as these options start to appear on the map, go out and eliminate a few of them to add their weapons. These not only help create a nice variety when fighting through waves of enemies, but they’re really fun to use and at the end of the day, that’s what really matters here. Fun.

2021 has been huge for BTS, ad the K-pop titans have released a handful of No. 1 singles. They’ve definitely been busy, but now, they’re getting ready to take a break, their label Big Hit Entertainment announced over the weekend.

Calling the upcoming break an “official extended period of rest,” the label notes the break will “provide the members of BTS who have tirelessly committed themselves to their activities, a chance to get re-inspired and recharge with creative energy.”

While the term “extended” might be scary for fans worrying the group will be away for a while, there’s a reassuring precedent here. BTS started “an official and extended period of rest and relaxation” in August 2019, and just a few months later, in January 2020, they returned with “Black Swan” before releasing the album Map Of The Soul: 7 the next month.

Find Big Hit’s full statement below.

“Hello. This is BIGHIT MUSIC.

We would like to inform you that BTS is planning to take a second official extended period of rest since their first in 2019 after they complete their official scheduled events of BTS Permission To Dance On Stage — LA and the 2021 Jingle Ball Tour.

BTS stayed active in order to engage with fans in 2020 and 2021 amidst the Covid-19 situation, and achieved dazzling results to cement themselves as top global artists.

This period of rest will provide the members of BTS who have tirelessly committed themselves to their activities, a chance to get re-inspired and recharge with creative energy. It will also be the first time for them since their debut to spend the holiday season with their families. We kindly ask once again that you show consideration for their need to enjoy ordinary and free, everyday lives while solely concentrating on themselves, albeit for a short while, during their period of rest.

BTS will be focusing on preparing for the concert and release of the new album that will mark the beginning of a ‘new chapter’. They are preparing for a concert this coming March to connect and communicate with the fans in-person in Seoul.

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all the fans who continue to cheer for BTS and they will return as their best, healthiest selves after recharging so they can return all the love from the fans.

Thank you.”

If nothing else, music serves as a prime reminder of the strength of community and uplifting shared experience. From a purely musical perspective (don’t get me started on the other stuff), the theme of 2021 was hope as the live music industry trudged toward a beacon of light at the end of a long tunnel. Concerts slowly started to return during the summer, and by the fall, every venue still in business after all this was back up and running. Before we knew it, Foo Fighters were welcoming fans back to Madison Square Garden for the first arena show in a Covid world and the coat check at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer was adorned with Michelle Zauner’s name after Japanese Breakfast performed a historic run of sold-out shows at the venue.

In the midst of all of this, artists never stopped churning out new music to keep building momentum and lay the groundwork for continued growth. From Another Michael’s astonishing indie-folk debut and Foxing’s heightened art rock to Turnstile’s thrashing hardcore breakout and Hovvdy’s blissed-out vibes, the indie world provided some of 2021’s most exciting new music. Check out our unranked, alphabetized list of the year’s 25 best indie albums below, and check out or general songs and albums lists, too

Another Michael — New Music And Big Pop

“New Music,” the opening track of New Music And Big Pop, took a mere 31 seconds to capture my full attention when a streaming link popped into my inbox about a year ago,” I wrote in a recent feature about the New York trio. Admittedly, it’s difficult to judge a full project based on 31 seconds of the opening track, but it does manage to set the stage well for what is ultimately ten songs that are imbued with a sense of liberation and raw talent that feels rare in modern indie rock, rife with catchy hooks and impressive vocal arrangements that act like a comforting hug. – Zac Gelfand

Arlo Parks — Collapsed In Sunbeams

Arlo Parks was like a therapist during the pandemic. Originally beginning as poems, her songs are gorgeous ruminations on the depressive states that are all too common with young people today, and became magnified as we lived our lives in a locked-down state for months. The way her warm-voiced presentation of lyrics like “It’s so cruel, what your mind can do for no reason” (on “Eugene”) struck a chord with the loneliness millions were feeling in 2021 and were a salve in dire times. Collapsed In Sunbeams won the Mercury Music Prize as the top album in the UK, and also garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Alternative Album. It illustrated the power of Parks’ universal songwriting and she’s maintained an unshakeable grace and charisma along the way. – Adrian Spinelli

The Armed — Ultrapop

The Armed is a real trip. For the unfamiliar, the experimental hardcore group has an ever-changing lineup that isn’t usually revealed. They did give a list of artists who performed on the new album Ultrapop (their first released through Sargent House), but given the group’s history of misdirection, who knows whether or not that should be taken at face value. Things only get more confusing when you listen to the new album, but in a good way, as it features the group pumping out everything from post-hardcore to power-pop, doing it all in ways that make the band’s many mysteries all the more engaging. – Derrick Rossignol

Big Red Machine — How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?

What’s interesting about the second Big Red Machine album is how unexperimental it sounds. Whereas the first Big Red Machine record consisted of esoteric sketches that felt like excerpts from long, heady jam sessions, How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? includes some of the most approachable and pop-oriented material that Aaron Dessner or Justin Vernon have ever produced. This can partly be attributed, of course, to the involvement of Taylor Swift, who along with suggesting the album title appears on the album’s most immediate track, “Renegades.” But the rest of the record is similarly melodic and warm, evincing little of the electro-indie dissonance of the recent output by The National and Bon Iver. – Steven Hyden

Dijon — Absolutely

The incredibly evocative singer helped redefine traditional notions of R&B on Absolutely. The album is as stunning for the way Dijon delivers his vocals as it is for the music that backs him. Guitars and strings are an ever-present character motif, like the city of New York in a Spike Lee joint, and the surrounding cast of musicians (led by guitarist Mk. Gee) provide a glorious canvas for Dijon’s vocal tour de force. “Many Times” is a riveting number that’s controllably frenetic in the best way possible. Same goes for “Bike Mike’s,” with its slide guitar popping in from one angle, bass from another, and Dijon floating in congruence with drums and guitar as he pines for a mythical woman. – A.S.

Dry Cleaning — New Long Leg

There was no shortage this year of British post-punk bands that deployed talky vocals, clanging guitars, and loose-limbed rhythm sections in the service of conveying, quote unquote, the banality of modern’s life horrifying existence. Many of these bands are derivative and even tiresome. Dry Cleaning is the exception. While they certainly fit that standard nü-post-punk mold on New Long Leg, they’re able to ultimately transcend the limitations of the genre thanks to lead singer Florence Shaw, whose deadpan delivery and darkly funny non-sequiturs leave a strikingly unique impression. – S.H.

Faye Webster — I Know I’m Funny haha

For Atlanta die-hard Faye Webster, I Know I’m Funny haha represents the fully-formed vision of her folk and country for the well-rounded mind. “Got you a bass last year on your birthday / The same one the guy from Linkin Park plays / But you look better with it anyways,” she sings over a sultry pedal steel on the title track. Then, she pours it on for Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr with “I saw you last night in my dream / That’s still the closest you and I have been,” as a saxophone bellows alongside her on “A Dream About A Baseball Player.” Webster’s ability to enact the impeccable Americana vintage sound from the nuanced perspective of a 20-something is what will keep her firmly entrenched as a torchbearer of the Southern music tradition. – A.S.

Foxing — Draw Down The Moon

After leaving it all on the table with 2018’s art-rock masterpiece Nearer My God, Foxing raised the stakes once again earlier this year with Draw Down The Moon, a record that Ian Cohen called “Foxing’s answer to Future Islands’ Singles or Bleed American or Manchester Orchestra’s A Black Mile To The Surface, recent examples of perpetual underdogs betting on the most direct version of themselves.” The verdict is still out on whether this record will help Foxing will be able to overcome the hurdles that have plagued them to date, but at least we got to reap the benefit of everything they had to give. – Z.G.

Geese — Projector

Though five-piece Brooklyn band Geese are fresh out of high school, you would never be able to pick up on their young age by listening to the band’s debut album, Projector. Geese was born out of a truly DIY-ethos, gathering every Friday in their parents’ basement to record music with amps covered by blankets. But despite their humble beginnings, Geese manage to make music that’s both haunting and energizing, inspired by the experimental styles of artists like LCD Soundsystem and other early aughts post-punk. While the lyrics on most of the album’s songs are far from the focal point, each track is teeming with understandable anxiety and angst about relationships, climate change, and the future while being both effortlessly catchy and layered with emotion. – Carolyn Droke

Hovvdy — True Love

Hovvdy are one of the rare bands that are able to take the leap from true lo-fi songwriting into a world far greater than they could have ever imagined, all without leaving any of their inspiration behind. Their new album True Love is the first with new label home Grand Jury, and the duo took full advantage of the new resources to help bolster their sound in the studio setting. True Love is what I called in a recent feature “one of the rare ‘return to roots’ albums that build upon the band’s lore and set them up for further success.” – Z.G.

Illuminatti Hotties — Let Me Do One More

2018’s Kiss Yr Frenemies was a big indie hit, making it a tough act to follow for Sarah Tudzin and her Illuminati Hotties cohorts. They tried their best with this year’s Let Me Do One More, and it turns out their best was indeed good enough and then some. Tudzin said she wanted to get more into writing pop hooks on the new album, and indeed, there are catchy moments throughout that exist in a variety of well-executed aesthetics, like on the beachy “Uvvp” (which features Big Thief’s Buck Meek) and the more slowcore-influenced “Threatening Each Other Re: Capitalism.” – D.R.

Indigo De Souza — Any Shape You Take

With her sophomore album, Any Shape You Take, Indigo DeSouza tackled her songwriting with a kind of vibrancy and open-mindedness that was hard to find in her tiny North Carolina hometown. The songs on her album resist fitting any specific genre category, moving fluidly between sparkling pop anthems and somber suburban emo power ballads. Though it can’t be defined by labels, DeSouza’s music tackles love in all forms while flexing her range of intimate songwriting abilities. The shimmering song “Hold U” is a pumped-up track that describes the importance of platonic love, while other songs like “Pretty Pictures” and “Kill Me” detail the aftermath of a life-altering breakup. – C.D

Japanese Breakfast — Jubilee

Michelle Zauner had a momentous 2021. In April, her first book, a memoir about her complicated relationship with her late mother called Crying In H Mart, debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list. Then she made the best Japanese Breakfast record of her career. While Japanese Breakfast’s early material was often classified as lo-fi, Jubilee represents her grandest music yet, nodding to the sonically rich and expansive indie albums of the ’90s and ’00s by artists such as Bjork and Joanna Newsom. In terms of lyrics, Zauner has turned her eye to character studies that are delivered with cinematic flair. – S.H.

Julien Baker — Little Oblivions

With each album, Julien Baker widens her scope a little bit. Where Sprained Ankle was a very sparse affair focused mostly on lyrics, Turn Out The Lights introduced a few more instruments and depth into the mix, and now Little Oblivions is what Steven Hyden calls “the most musically inviting album that Baker has made yet, with extra heft added to the guitars and rhythm section nudging her closer to a full-on rock record. But the emotional brutality of the lyrics somehow melds with the uplifting beauty of the music, perhaps giving Baker some peace in the process.” – Zac Gelfand

The Killers — Pressure Machine

In interviews about the latest Killers LP, Brandon Flowers likened Pressure Machine to Achtung Baby. Incredibly, he’s sort of correct. For one thing, both albums were the seventh releases for the respective arena-rock institutions. But the similarities go deeper than just discography placement. Just as Achtung Baby was a reboot for U2, Pressure Machine is a bold reinvention for The Killers, setting Flowers’ most evocative narrative lyrics ever to dusty, downscaled versions of his band’s hybrid of anglophilia and heartland rock. It’s one of 2021’s most surprising comebacks. – S.H.

Lucy Dacus — Home Videos

Though she’s been operating in the the indie sphere for half a decade at this point, Lucy Dacus‘ third album Home Video marks her strongest effort yet. Now in her mid-twenties, Dacus is far enough away from her youth to reflect on her childhood. With a sense of humor, nostalgia, and a bit of incredulity, Dacus examines her bible study days on Home Video. With catchy refrains, inviting vocals, and heart-tugging lyrics, Dacus walks listeners through the highs and lows of first-times, youthful relationships, and self-discovery. Armed with her current wisdom, Dacus’ music gives honest advice in the form of poetic ballads, urging both her former self and her friends to see their self-worth in the face of potentially harmful relationships through songs like “VMB” and “Christine.” – C.D

Mdou Moctor — Afrique Victime

Afrique Victime is loaded with moments where the great Nigerien guitarist Mdou Moctar steps out of the song in order to ram his guitar directly into your guts. He does this for emotional effect, bending and blurring notes with the furious energy that defines one of his most obvious influences, Jimi Hendrix. But you suspect that Moctar also believes that ripping off a sick solo is extremely dope, which on this record it absolutely is. It might even make you ask: Why don’t we hear guitar solos more often these days? As it is, the concept of the guitar hero remains alive and well thanks to this six-string genius. – S.H.

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis — Carnage

Decades into his career and as prolific as ever, Carnage stands among the best work of Nick Cave’s career. In song after song, surprising moments sweep the listener off their feet, from the nightmarish repetition of the titular phrase on opener “Hand Of God” to the best Spiritualized refrain that they didn’t write on “White Elephant.” Collaborator Warren Ellis makes his mark on each, turning an album that’s often spare into a headphones-needed exercise in nuance. There might not be more beautiful moments on tape this year as the title track or the plaintive “Albuquerque.” – Philip Cosores

Petey — Lean Into Life

It’s likely you’ve seen Petey on TikTok (where he’s known as @peteyusa), as his off-kilter and hilarious videos routinely rack up millions of views. Learning that he also makes music might seem like you’re finding out about a frivolous spin-off endeavor that influencers do to expand their brands, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. His TikTok fame actually came after his record deal and the music really is something to behold. His comedic traits can be seen in the music, but his songs, which are diverse and constitute some of the year’s most gripping indie-rock, are no joke. – D.R.

Sega Bodega — Romeo

Sega Bodega may not yet be on your playlists, but that’s just due to lack of exposure. The Irish artist only just released his first album last year but already has major co-signs under his belt: Rihanna has used his music in Fenty ads and Arca makes an appearance on this year’s Romeo, featuring on “Cicada.” That song is one of many from the new album that shows off Sega Bodega’s versatility: While “Cicada” comes across like warped ethereal Reggaeton, the album features everything from dreamy electronica (“Only Seeing God When I Come”) to straightforward pop ballads (“I Need Nothing From You”). – D.R.

Snail Mail — Valentine

Snail Mail went through a lot of major life changes between her breakout debut LP Lush and sophomore follow-up Valentine, which included a seemingly non-stop tour and mental health struggles. As a result, Snail Mail’s Valentine tackles the aftermath of her fame and the cult of personality surrounding her musical persona with a delicate maturity. The earnest, rollicking tracks throughout her album detail self-destruction, masochistic love, and fame with an energy that teeters between loungy ballads and songs that absolutely shred. – C.D.

Turnstile — Glow On

Just an insanely fun record that has unwittingly inspired a revival of one of the biggest bummer music conversations: What makes a hardcore band a hardcore band? Specifically, can a band that kind of sounds like 311 and ’80s Rush (seriously!) really be considered hardcore? Fortunately, Turnstile themselves don’t seem to care all that much about semantics. Yes, they play shows with the manic energy of a hardcore gig. But their songs have so many hooks that Glow On ends up being one of 2021’s most inviting and inclusive records. – S.H.

The War On Drugs — I Don’t Live Here Anymore

After four long years, The War On Drugs finally returned in November with a reward for our patience. Musically, I Don’t Live Here Anymore is a refinement of the craft the band explored on 2017’s A Deeper Understanding, which itself was a refinement of 2014’s Lost In The Dream. It’s evidence of a band that is always adapting and evolving for an LP that is without a doubt their most accessible material to date. It packs in catchy hooks, driving rhythms, and emotionally cathartic instrumental arrangements anchored guitar solos that will remind you why guitar solos are, in fact, awesome. – Z.G.

Wild Pink — A Billion Little Lights

The latest Wild Pink release, A Billion Little Lights, feels like a culminating moment for songwriter John Ross. What originally began as a vision for a massive double-album exploring the history of the American West was eventually trimmed down to a more conventional release, with Ross refocusing his efforts instead on creating the most beautiful and enveloping soundscapes that he could. A Billion Little Lights is what Steven Hyden called the project’s “most ambitious and overall best work, infused with deep lyrical craft and impeccable melodies that set Wild Pink apart from the indie-dude pack.” – Z.G.

Willow — Lately I Feel Everything

As someone who has essentially existed in pop culture her entire life thanks to the celebrity status of her parents, Willow hit the mark with her distinctive pivot to pop-punk on the album Lately I Feel Everything. Willow didn’t purposely follow along with returning trends while writing the songs on her latest LP, she was instead inspired by the apathetic music that was popular during her youth — a juxtaposition to the album’s title. Produced by Blink-182 drummer and impending Kardashian family member Travis Barker, Willow expertly pours an excess of emotion into her music through electrifying guitars, raucous production, and wailing vocals that make listeners forget she ever even had a stint as an R&B artist. – C.D.

Some artists here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

We’ve already talked about the best general gifts for whiskey and cocktail fans. Now it’s time to talk about some of the best actual bottles of bourbon to give as a gift this holiday season. Bottles that tell a story while delivering in the flavor department.

The bottles below are bourbon whiskeys we’d love to see under our own trees this year and, therefore, think would make great gifts. Each is fairly easy to find nationwide, tastes good (for the price), and comes in at under $50. These aren’t the bottles that are meant to “wow” on flavor alone when the paper gets ripped off the box — we’ll get to those at the $100 level. These are very solid mixing and sipping bourbons that are hard not to love, even if your giftee is just beginning their bourbon whiskey journey.

Let’s get right into it!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of 2021

• The 50 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2021, Ranked
• The Single Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The Best Bottles Of Bourbon Whiskey For Under $20, Ranked
• Our Favorite Bourbon Whiskey From Every Price Point Between $10-$200
• All 19 Brands From The Buffalo Trace Distillery, Ranked

Eagle Rare

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $45

The Whiskey:

Eagle Rare is a marriage of at minimum ten-year-old Buffalo Trace whiskeys. Each barrel is hand-selected to bring in classic bourbon flavors that also feel deeply rooted and unique to the brand.

Tasting Notes:

This one opens boldly, with orange rind and maple syrup next to touches of honey, worn leather, and toffee. Then the oak char and vanilla kick in, giving it a classic old-leather-chair-in-a-smoky-library vibe, as hints of mint lead back towards the toffee. When you add a little water, there’s a dark chocolate bar with an almond note that blooms in the glass. The finish is short but sweet in all the right ways.

Bottom Line:

Even passive bourbon fans have likely heard of Eagle Rare. What’s amazing is that you can still score the entry-level bottle for a pretty fair price. Even if the person you’re buying for already has a bottle of this on the shelf, they’ll be stoked to get another.

Hirsch The Horizon

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $39

The Whiskey:

Hotaling & Co., started by San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing, is a hell of a blendery. This expression is a mix of two MGP of Indiana whiskeys. The lion’s share (94 percent) is a five-year-old bourbon with a fairly standard mash bill of 75 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and four percent malted barley. That’s married to a six-year-old bourbon with a mash bill of 60 percent corn, 38 percent rye, and four percent malted barley. The whiskey is proofed down to 92 proof and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of pipping hot cornbread dripping with whipped butter cut with cinnamon and vanilla on the nose. That spicy vanilla butter really drives the palate’s flavor as the sweetness leans towards pancake syrup on a pecan waffle with a small hint of leather and tobacco lurking in the background.

Bottom Line:

This is a very unique whiskey that stands out on the shelf and in its flavor profile. It’s affordable, works as a mixer, and shines as a sipper. You can’t beat that value in a bourbon gift.

Benchmark Bonded

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $20

The Whiskey:

The juice in this bottle is from Buffalo Trace’s Mash #1, which has a scant amount of barley and rye next to mostly corn. This is the same mash that’s used for bigger hitting brands like Eagle Rare, Stagg, and E.H. Taylor. In this case, this is a four-year-old bonded that’s sort of like a proto-E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch.

Tasting Notes:

This is surprisingly bright with a nose full of lemon-honey tart sweetness, a touch of vanilla extract, a hint of charred wood, and maybe a little wet leather. The taste keeps it simple and really leans into the oak and vanilla while the honey sweetness mellows to a standard caramel with a hint of spicy tobacco. The end is pretty short but leaves you with that vanilla, honey, and tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This whiskey has been winning awards this past year. For this price point, you really can’t go wrong. If whoever you’re gifting this to doesn’t 100 percent dig it on the rocks, they can always mix it into a cocktail or cut it with coke and not really worry. Still, the pedigree of this whiskey is undeniable and that’s what this gift is highlighting.

Ezra Brooks 99

ABV: 49.5%

Average Price: $27

The Whiskey:

This whiskey, distilled at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, is kind of like a Tennessee whiskey made in Kentucky. The juice has a pretty standard mash bill corn, rye, and barley. But, once the spirit comes off the stills it’s filtered through charcoal, just like Tennessee whiskey, before it’s filled into the barrels. That whiskey is then batched, proofed down with limestone water, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

This also leans very classic bourbon with hints of corn on the cob with melty salted butter next to hints of soft leather pouches filled with roasted peanut shells, a touch of caramel, and a vanilla/chocolate ice cream vibe. The palate keeps things super easy as that rich vanilla ice cream leads towards holiday spices, tart green apples, and a freshly baked cornbread bespeckled with dried chili flakes and black pepper. The finish is soft and fast with that spice leading back towards a leather tobacco chew.

Bottom Line:

This is definitely a step up from Benchmark above and, I’d argue, makes for a great (and cheap) on the rocks bourbon. Look, any bourbon under $30 that is this tasty is going to be a great gift.

I.W. Harper Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 41%

Average Price: $42

The Whiskey:

This Diageo whiskey is made from a mash bill of 73 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and nine percent malted barley. The juice was then aged in the famed Stitzel-Weller warehouse for four to 20 years, depending on the barrel in the final blend. Up until very recently this was only available on the Asian market but was recently released in the U.S.

Tasting Notes:

Balance is the key to this bourbon on the nose and on the palate. Notes of sweet and savory fruits drive towards sweet caramel, rich vanilla, and a touch of dried roses. The palate has a touch of masa lurking in the background as juicy berries with a hint of tartness lead to holiday spices, nuttiness, and candied cherry. The mid-palate leans into that soft and sweet red fruit as the spices kick back up with clove and allspice leading the way with a touch of white pepper that ends up with a cherry/vanilla tobacco warmth.

Bottom Line:

This is a really solid and unique bourbon for this price point. You’re not really going to find anything quite like this, making it a great present for any bourbon lover in your life.

Sonoma Distilling Co. Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

Out in California, Sonoma County Distillery is working some unique magic with their bourbon. Sonoma Bourbon has a mash bill that eschews rye and instead uses local wheat. The bill ends up at 70 percent corn, 25 percent wheat, and five percent barley. The wheat adds a nutty and bitter dimension to the final product that’s worth checking out.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a grassy nature here. Think of a field of grass at the very end of summer when everything is amber-gold and the sun scortches the earth. Then rushes of buttery and brisk toffee come into play alongside oaky vanilla, bitter roasted coffee beans, and wonderful echoes of almond-heavy marzipan. There’s a mild alcohol spice on the backend that leaves you wanting another sip.

Bottom Line:

While this might be a little easier to find in California (or the West Coast in general), it’s still a great gift bourbon. A bourbon from wine country is a great “outside the box” gift for any whiskey drinker. Plus, this stuff is really tasty.

Brough Brothers Bourbon

ABV: 41%

Average Price: $29

The Whiskey:

This tiny and new distillery was founded in West Louisville by brothers Victor, Chris, and Bryson Yarbrough. The distillery is the first African-American-owned brand working in the state. For now, this bottle is contract-distilled (distilled at a big distillery based on their own recipe/concept) in Indiana from a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and four percent malted barley.

Tasting Notes:

You’re greeted with dried roses, marzipan, and creamy eggnog on the nose with a hint of apple and corn. That apple drives the taste with more orchard fruit (think pears) as the nutmeg really spikes and the marzipan takes on a rosewater vibe next to a very distant flutter of pepper spice in the background. The finish sweetens with a spoonful of fresh and floral honey as those orchard fruits affix to a mildly spicy and vanilla-forward tobacco leaf.

Bottom Line:

Support Louisville’s first Black-owned distillery and buy all your whiskey friends a bottle of this as a gift this year.

Legent Bourbon

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $47

The Whiskey:

This bottle from Beam Suntory marries Kentucky Bourbon, California wine, and Japanese whisky blending in one bottle. Legent is classic Kentucky bourbon made by bourbon legend Fred Noe at Beam that’s finished in both French oak that held red wine and Spanish sherry casks. The juice is then blended by whisky blending legend Shinji Fukuyo.

Tasting Notes:

Plummy puddings with hints of nuts mingle with vinous berries, oaky spice, and a good dose of vanilla and toffee on the nose. The palate expands on the spice with more barky cinnamon and dusting of nutmeg while the oak becomes sweeter and the fruit becomes dried and sweet. The finish is jammy-yet-light with plenty of fruit, spice, and oak lingering on the senses.

Bottom Line:

This is probably the best mixing bourbon on the list. It is just outstanding in cocktails. It also comes with a great story, which is what you want in a good gift bourbon.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon

ABV: 45.2%

Average Price: $42

The Whiskey:

This is where everything comes together that makes Woodford unique. The mash bill on this bourbon is mid-range rye heavy with 18 percent of the grain in the bill for support. The triple distilling in pot stills and blending with column distilled whiskey is utilized. And yes, this bourbon rests for six to seven years — taking time to mature before barrels are pulled for blending, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s that classic note of bourbon vanilla up top but it doesn’t overwhelm the notes of dark chocolate oranges, dried fruits, spicy tobacco, and a distant wisp of fresh mint. A lovely toffee richness creates a well-rounded mouthfeel as notes of spicy and chewy tobacco mingle with dark chocolate dust, more orange oils, and a touch of cinnamon sticks. The end is pure velvet, lingers for just the right amount of time, and brings the whole sip together.

Bottom Line:

There’s something about Woodford that really feels like a great gift bottle. Part of it is the design of the bottle and logo, sure. But this has a wintry vibe that feels like it just matches holiday flavors and vibes.

US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon

ABV: 45.7%

Average Price: $49

The Whiskey:

Michter’s really means the phrase “small batch” here. The tank they use to marry their hand-selected eight-year-old bourbons can only hold 20 barrels, so that’s how many go into each small-batch bottling. The blended juice is then proofed with Kentucky’s famously soft limestone water and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Buttery caramel and peaches mix with creamy vanilla and oak on the nose. The vanilla really shines as the peach almost takes on a grilled edge as it gets sweeter and adds a whisper of smoke next to peppery spice. The spice kicks up and warms the senses as the slow fade embraces stone fruit, toffee, and more vanilla with a final kick of charred oak.

Bottom Line:

A bottle of Michter’s for under $50?! It’s true and this bottle will be the highlight of any gift-giving session. It’s a killer bourbon that works wonders in wintry cocktails or just sipping on the rocks after the melee of the present opening is over.

George Dickel Bottled in Bond, Fall 2008

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $45

The Whiskey:

Nicole Austin has been killing it with these bottled-in-bond releases from George Dickel. This year’s release is a whiskey that was warehoused in the fall of 2008. 13 years later, this juice was bottled at 100 proof (as per the law) and sent out to the wide world where it received much adoration.

Tasting Note:

The nose on this one is mildly sweet with almost earthy maple syrup next to pecans from a pie with a touch of dried apple and old leather. The taste runs deep with vanilla leading the way next to a touch of apple and pecan crumble. The mid-palate takes a turn away from all of that and dives into a candied cherry that’s dusted with dark chocolate and a ground-up fruit Neco Wafer or Flintstone’s multivitamin (that’s also cherry-flavored) before the finish gets this browned butter vibe with a touch of soft, sweet oak.

Bottom Line:

This remains one of our favorite all-time whiskeys under $50. It’s a delightful whiskey (yes, all Tennessee whiskey passes the tech specs for bourbon) that hits such unique and vibrant flavor notes. This is a winner all around and will advance a burgeoning palate or make an advanced whiskey drinker very happy.

EDITOR’S PICK: Blue Note Crossroads

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $40.00

The Whiskey:

This Memphis-made bottle is a 2021 release with a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley — a commonly sourced mash from MGP. It’s finished in toasted French oak and there’s no age statement. The “crossroads” in the name is a reference to the crossing of the two woods — new American oak and French — and the famous “Devil at the crossroads” myth of a musician selling his soul to the devil.

Tasting Note:

The nose here is pretty mellow and relatively predictable. It’s a common MGP mashbill without a ton of variance (just the wood finish). You get a little bit of French Oak but that really levels up on the palate. The rest of the nose is vanilla forward — Vienna Finger cookies (are those still a thing?) — alongside some typical baking spice notes. The palate is a little oakier and I got some faint… I feel like Zach here, but… leather chair/ musty library vibes? The mouthfeel was pleasant and viscous and it was warm but not hot on the finish.

The real key here is that this is an easy, sweet, luscious intro bottle for someone just getting into bourbon on the rocks.

Bottom Line:

Fun story to chat through with musicians. Fun intro bottle. Great value.

Win-win-win.

Gin isn’t for everyone and that’s totally okay. For some, the juniper-based, herbal, and botanical-centric spirit is loaded with bold flavors that don’t appeal to their individual palates. Drinkers who love gin, on the other hand, drink it all year long. They’re more than happy to imbibe a gin & tonic, dry martini, or gin gimlet in the middle of winter, spring, summer, fall … always.

We think that’s great. If you love something, don’t tuck it away for months. That makes zero sense.

Recently, we wrote about under the radar and new gins. These are the bottles that maybe haven’t quite broken through yet. Perhaps this is because of their popularity, price, or even obscurity. And, let’s face it, if a tiny craft distillery in, say, Portlan, Maine puts out a gin, you can be forgiven for not having heard of it over in Portland, Oregon.

Today, instead of mentioning the underappreciated gems, we’re talking about desert island bottles. To find them, we asked a handful of notable bartenders to tell us the one gin they’d drink forever. They based this selection on taste, mixability, value, and general findability. Keep scrolling to see all of their picks.

Roku Gin

Daniel Yang, lead bartender at Electra Cocktail Club inside The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $28

Why This Gin?

Hands down, Roku Gin distilled in Japan from Suntory is the winner. Aptly named Roku (translated as the number six in Japanese) for its six unique Japanese botanicals, this phenomenal gin has all the attention to detail and care that we’ve come to expect from Japanese distilled products.

With a notable yuzu front and the soft delicate notes of botanical flavors expected of traditional gin, I highly recommend this masterpiece to anyone who enjoys gin.

Fords Gin

Lewis Caputa, lead bartender at Rosina inside The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $25

Why This Gin?

Fords gin because it is a gin made by bartenders and I find that quite appealing. This gin is very balanced with traditional gin flavors of juniper and coriander, but I really love the taste of the grapefruit notes that shines through. It really is a perfect gin at any bar to mix with.

Barr Hill Gin

John Dal Canton, assistant general manager and beverage director at La Stella Cucina Verace in Dallas

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $40

Why This Gin?

I would drink Barr Hill Gin for both its distinct flavor and fantastic story. It’s a juniper and Douglas fir tip forward gin with notes of beeswax and wildflowers and is finished with raw honey, giving it a rich mouthfeel and satiny texture without adding any sweetness.

It’s a great spirit and helps save the bees, so it’s a win-win.

Gray Whale Gin

Nicholas Karel, director of bars, lounges, and beverages at Windsor Court in New Orleans

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $40

Why This Gin?

Gray Whale Gin from Golden State Distillery is a newly released gin and my pick. This is one of the most exciting new products I’ve tried in a very long time. They use botanicals that follow the migration of the Gray Whale up the coast of California, including kombu and almonds which offer a luscious creaminess yet bright and vibrant flavor profile.

Plymouth Gin

Christopher Rodriguez, lead bartender at Lucy Restaurant & Bar in Yountville, California

ABV: 41.2%

Average Price: $33

Why This Gin?

I would choose Plymouth Gin because I enjoy my gin in mixed cocktails or served ice cold straight up with a lemon twist. Plymouth Gin is a classic London dry gin but is unique by not being super juniper heavy, making it softer than most London dry.

It pairs super well with any gin cocktail and it is easy to appreciate all the amazing flavors it offers.

Opihr Dry Gin

Anthony Aviles, director of operations at The Ritz-Carlton Members Beach Club in Sarasota, Florida

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $30

Why This Gin?

The biggest knock on gin is the “Christmas tree taste” that many offer. The only gin I have ever tasted that not only avoided this comparison but also blew my socks off (even when enjoyed neat), was Opihr (pronounced “o-peer”). It’s a relatively newer spirit on the market and brands itself as a “Spiced London Dry Gin.” It is made with more elevated botanicals and spices (Indonesian cubeb berries and Indian black pepper, for example) that create such a unique, unexpected, yet highly enjoyable experience for a gin.

A bottle of this with a few lime wedges and you’ll be happy.

KI NO BI Kyoto Dry Gin

Steven Minor, corporate beverage director at 1 Hotels in Los Angeles

ABV: 45.7%

Average Price: $75

Why This Gin?

Gin just hits kind of different and this Japanese standout is no exception. As most industry professionals know, once Japanese distillers decide they want to master a specific liquor category, that liquor category’s country of origin is in for some stiff competition (see: scotch vs. Japanese whisky). This gin hailing from Kyoto is broken down into six different botanical categories: base, citrus, herbal, floral, spice, and tea. All botanicals are distilled separately, then blended back together according to the master blender’s specifications. The result is a lovely amalgamation of Japanese-centric flavor profiles like yuzu, gyokuro tea, and sansho pepper.

It drinks wonderfully in a Vesper riff made with high-quality shochu and Japanese bermutto or as the base gin in a yuzu and shiso gimlet.

Hendrick’s Gin

Emily Lawson, bartender and founder of Pink House Alchemy in Fayetteville, Arkansas

ABV: 44%

Average Price: $40

Why This Gin?

I absolutely love Hendricks Gin. Its clean profile satisfies the taste for both a London dry gin and a more botanical forward gin. We developed our award-winning pH Tonic Syrup to complement and enhance its botanical notes, highlighting the fresh floral aroma and taste.

The gin is created with eleven botanicals that balance the taste perfectly, each sip is smooth and dry without being overly acidic or bitter.

Sipsmith London Dry Gin

Pascal Pinalt, director of restaurants and bars at The Confidante in Miami

ABV: 41.6%

Average Price: $35

Why This Gin?

If you love juniper, you will fall head over heels for this flavor palate. Sipsmith is a balance of juniper berry and lemon without the harsh taste of alcohol. Not too sweet and not too sour, it is a joy to drink on the rocks, or as a mixer for a Vesper and gin & tonic or simply sipping on it. There’s almost a lemony-biscuit note, along with the other usual gin botanicals.

Nordés Atlantic Gin

Nick Baitzel, beverage director of restaurant group Sojourn Philly in Philadelphia

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $32

Why This Gin?

Gin for me usually comes down to what makes for the best cocktails, therefore I tend to look for something with balanced flavors rather than relying too heavily on juniper. My favorite is Nordés Atlantic Gin from Galicia, Spain. The main flavors are citrus and floral, and the base spirit is made from Albarino grapes, which speaks to my wine background.

Tanqueray London Dry

Matty Carroll, beverage director for The Kitchen Restaurant Group in Boulder, Colorado

ABV: 47.3%

Average Price: $28

Why This Gin?

I’m a classicist, so it’d probably be Tanqueray. For me, it’s a perfect, true-to-style London Dry, with fresh juniper berry, pine, bitter orange peel, and spice. My grandmother drank it in her martinis, so I don’t really have a choice do I?

Monkey 47 Gin

Elvyra Cucovic, beverage manager at Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel’s High Tide Beach Bar & Grill in Miami

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $42

Why This Bottle?

If I had to pick one gin to stick with for the rest of my life, it would be Monkey 47. Each sip offers you a new glimpse into its 47 different botanicals. Best enjoyed by itself or with a mild tonic to really take in all those funky flavors.

Bluecoat Barrel Finished Gin

Christopher Devern, lead bartender of Red Owl Tavern in Philadelphia

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $36

Why This Gin?

I may be biased with Philly being my hometown. But for someone who didn’t always have a taste for gin, this was the brand that made it grow on me. I was still the bar-back at the time and assisted my lead bartender at a cocktail competition hosted at the Bluecoat Distillery. The barrel age really stood out and I still have a lot of fun making classic riffs with it. Whether it be a Negroni, Vesper, a bee’s knees, or one of the thousand martini variations guests ask for, this gin stands out every time. Oak age rounds it out and lends characteristics a whiskey drinker would appreciate while retaining those peppery and juniper notes you’d expect from gin.

Taco Bell has a pretty die-hard fan base. For good reason — the food brand is unique in the fast food space in that it combines a loose interpretation of American Mexican food with the sort of form factors only a stoner could dream up. “What if we wrapped a tostada in a giant tortilla?” “What if a taco shell was made out of Doritos?” “What if there were multiple flavors of Mountain Dew!?”

The fact that Taco Bell is able to spin these ridiculous ideas into fast food that sober people actually want is a testament to the brand’s skill. The commitment to vegetarian fare is admirable. But even the most die-hard Taco Bell fans have to agree, Taco Bell has been slipping.

They’ve ditched the Fritos stuffed burritos, axed the Mexican pizza, and even killed off the 7-layer burrito (sort of). Who even is Taco Bell anymore? We ranked the whole menu last year, and that list is already obsolete!

By producing a menu that is more streamlined and focused, Taco Bell has created something a whole lot less fun. Thank god for menu hacks. Considering the Bell’s menu is completely customizable, it still has a lot of potential to be chopped, screwed, and remixed into uniquely delicious dishes. But since many of the vintage menu hacks aren’t possible anymore (bring back those Fritos!) we had to hit TikTok, ask Taco Bell obsessed friends, and even create some of our own riffs, all in an attempt to take Taco Bell’s menu and make it even better.

Here are the best current Taco Bell menu hacks, ranked, plus exactly how to order them.

12. Double Decker Cheesy Taco

Ever since Taco Bell dropped the Cheesy Gordita Crunch, which features a thick tortilla smothered in melted cheese and wrapped around a taco, this assemble-it-yourself menu hack has felt a little obsolete, which is why it ranks last on our list.

The idea here is a combination of the quesadilla and the taco. It’s not a bad idea, but Taco Bell has this ground covered now with the Cheesy Gordita Crunch which is superior because the Gordita shell is thicker and more hearty, whereas this hack relies on Taco Bell’s Cheesy Roll-Up which features a thinner tortilla. Plus you have to assemble this yourself, which is always a pain.

How To Order It:

One Cheesy Roll-up and two hard shell tacos. Open up the cheesy roll up and wrap it around two crunchy tacos.

The Bottom Line:

Skip it, order the Cheesy Gordita Crunch instead. You don’t get to eat two hard shell tacos at the same time, but you do get a better tasting thicker tortilla wrapping your taco.

11. California Sunset

I get it, this looks and sounds really delicious, but trust me it really fails to deliver. The California Sunset tastes like little more than slightly fizzy fruit punch. It has an overly candied flavor that sticks to the tongues and teeth and makes you feel like you should be drinking it out of a box with a bendy straw.

How To Order It:

Half G2, which is awful tasting low-sugar Gatorade, one-quarter Mountain Dew, and one-quarter Brisk Mango Iced Tea. Do as this TikTok user says and be sure to stir it up. It won’t help to make it taste that much better, but at least it’ll taste consistent.

The Bottom Line:

Not worth the effort, and if you’re not at a self-serve fountain you’re just asking for the Taco Bell employee who has to make this for you to hate you.

10. Cheesecake

I found this hack courtesy of TikTok user JessicaLipStickScience and I was pretty convinced I was being pranked about this one before I had it. Sour cream and cream cheese are not the same, yes, they share some similarities, but sour cream has a flavor that is overwhelmingly…well sour.

So when I first reluctantly dipped a cinnamon twist into a side of sour cream, I winced until it actually hit my palate. Strangely, the sugary dust that is applied to these twists tamed the more sour notes and made this taste just like a slice of New York cheesecake. Not a good cheesecake mind you, but I have to hand it to Jessica, it does certainly taste like cheesecake.

Cheesecake that is rotting.

How To Order It:

Cinnamon twists with a side of sour cream. They just let you order it, no questions asked.

The Bottom Line:

Yes, it tastes like cheesecake, not it isn’t good. Don’t order it, there is something about dipping the cinnamon twist into the sour cream that makes you feel ashamed to be alive.

9. Any Burrito Grilled!

This is the sort of menu hack that has become so widespread that now it’s been added as a customization option on Taco Bell’s app. Taco Bell diehards have known for years that you can get any burrito on Taco Bell’s menu grilled and on every occasion, you should!

My favorite burrito to get grilled is the Cheesy Bean and Rice burrito, which adds a nice bit of crunchy texture to this soft mouthfeel burrito.

How To Order It:

Order any burrito, and then ask for it grilled! You’re making a good thing better.

The Bottom Line:

You can’t go wrong with this simple hack that works on multiple menu items.

8. The 7-Layer Burrito/ 10-Layer Burrito

Taco Bell has always been incredibly friendly to vegetarians, not only do they have more vegetarian options on their menu than any other fast food chain, you can customize almost every item into something vegetarian friendly, but for whatever reason last year Taco Bell ditched the vegetarian-favorite 7-Layer Burrito. Sort of.

The 7-Layer consists of beans, tomatoes, rice, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and lettuce, all ingredients that Taco Bell still has on hand, so why get rid of it? We can’t say, but as a burrito its good, not great. The problem here is that Taco Bell’s beans aren’t very good to begin with, and they supply most of the flavor here. The guacamole and sour cream turn each bite into a textureless mushy mess.

Luckily we have a hack that’ll take this to the next level.

How To Order It:

Bean, cheese, and rice burrito add guacamole, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, jalapeños, red strips, and potatoes. Bam, 10 layer burrito, a little bit of crunch, a little bit of spice, and a whole lot heartier while still being vegetarian.

The Bottom Line:

The 7-Layer Burrito might not be on the menu anymore, but it still lives on! Add three more layers of flavor and texture, and you’ve got a damn good burrito on your hands that should be a permanent menu item.

7. Nacho Cheese Jalapeño Chicken Quesadilla

I came across this hack via TikTok and it’s one of the simpler to put together. Flavor-wise it’s pretty good, the jalapeños bring some sour heat to Taco Bell’s bland and rubbery grilled chicken and the inclusion of nacho cheese alongside the three cheese blend helps to keep each bite gooey, molten hot, and extra salty.

That saltiness is a bit too much, I’d suggest you offset that by dipping each bite into some warm green sauce.

How To Order It:

Chicken Quesadilla, add jalapeño peppers, add nacho cheese sauce.

The Bottom Line:

The nacho cheese makes this one a bit too salty and one-note for it to rank highly, but adding jalapeño peppers to your chicken, steak, or cheese quesadilla is an instant way to make it into a more flavorful quesadilla. Do that and skip the nacho cheese or order this alongside a side of green or red sauce.

6. Mexican Calzone

Some time ago, Taco Bell ditched the fan-favorite Mexican Pizza for some reason and it has sent Taco Bell fans scrambling to find a replacement. The old play used to be to order two tostadas with ground beef and smash them together. Then Taco Bell got rid of tostadas, which means the Mexican Pizza is dead until Taco Bell resurrects it.

The tostada still lives in the Crunch Wrap though, so theoretically you can build a Mexican pizza inside of a Crunch Wrap, which is kind of like a calzone if you think about it. You get the beefy crunch of the Mexican pizza, with the savory flavor of hot red sauce, melted cheese, juicy tomato, and earthy refried beans.

How To Order It:

Crunchwrap Supreme, no sour cream, no lettuce, no nacho cheese sauce, add beans, add three cheese blend, add red sauce.

The Bottom Line:

It’s not quite the Mexican Pizza, and it’s not really a calzone either — it’s more like eating a giant nacho wrapped in a tortilla — but it’s as close as we’re going to get and tastes delicious.

5. Cloudy Skies

Another TikTok sourced menu hack, the Cloudy Skies, aka Baja Haze consists of a mix of Mountain Dew Baja Blast and Tropicana pink lemonade and while I’m not one for soda fountain mixology, this is pretty damn good. It’s refreshing, tangy, slightly sour, and candy sweet.

I have to admit I didn’t think I was going to like this one, but it surprised me.

How To Order It:

Don’t ask for “Cloudy Skies,” you’re just going to annoy whoever is taking your order. Instead, politely ask if they can give you a drink that is half Baja Blast half Pink Lemonade. If you’re at a Taco Bell with a self-serve fountain, definitely mix this one yourself following a 1:1 ratio.

The Bottom Line:

Think Sprite or 7-Up mixed with pink lemonade, but with a sweet key lime forward flavor.

4. Nacho Fries (sort of)

One of my favorite Taco Bell menu hacks is one of my favorite southern California Mexican Food staples — carne asada fries. Unfortunately, Taco Bell keeps taking their delicious and crispy fries off the menu. Luckily there is a hack utilizing Taco Bell’s Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes that work as a delicious appetizer or side to your meal.

Texture is where this hack really shines, you have the crispy and fluffy texture from the fried potatoes, gooey cheesy goodness from nacho cheese sauce and the melted three-cheese combination, and the occasional juicy burst of sweet tomato.

How To Order It:

Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes no sour cream, add three-cheese blend, tomatoes, and the meat of your choice. I went with chicken last time and it did not disappoint.

The Bottom Line:

This is a must-order as a side to any Taco Bell meal. It’s almost macaroni and cheesecake with a crispier more pleasing texture.

3. California Burrito

This is another hack that would taste better with Taco Bell’s discontinued fries, but hey, we’ll make do with what we’ve got. The California Burrito is exactly what it sounds like, a California Burrito, meaning it consists of fried potatoes, carne asada, sour cream, cheese, and guacamole.

Taking a bite out of this burrito is a delicious experience, you’re greeted with a nice audible crunch followed by a slight tang with nutty limey notes from the guacamole, which is a lot easier to focus in on without being distracted by beans. Carne asada helps make this burrito a bit more satisfying. We took things to the next level by using Taco Bell’s Spicy Double Steak Grilled Cheese burrito as our base, which features fried cheese and jalapeños grilled onto the tortilla. That added more crunch to the burrito with a bit of spice from the jalapeño.

How To Order It:

The Most Affordable Way: Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito, remove beans, add potatoes, steak, guacamole, and sour cream.

The Most Delicious Way: Spicy Double Steak Grilled Cheese Burrito remove rice, chipotle sauce, red strips, and nacho cheese, add guacamole and potatoes.

The Bottom Line:

As close as you’re going to get to a California Burrito at Taco Bell until they bring the French fries back.

2. Wet Burrito/Enchirito

This is essentially what Taco Bell used to call the Enchirito, it’s basically what is known as a wet burrito, a burrito that is doused in enchilada sauce, only in this case it’s Taco Bell’s red sauce which is pretty much enchilada sauce but a little bit runnier. It’s fucking delicious. Messy, but delicious. I imagine Taco Bell ditched the Enchirito because of how much of a mess it makes, but all you need to make it happen is a side of red sauce, a plate, and any Taco Bell burrito.

How To Order It: Any Taco Bell burrito plus a side of red sauce and a side of nacho cheese sauce or cheese. Toss both ingredients on the burrito. Eat with a knife and fork.

The Bottom Line:

Dousing your burrito in red sauce will instantly make it more savory. The red sauce adds heat and a depth of flavor to your burrito that makes each bite taste decadently indulgent.

1. Proper Nachos

How did Taco Bell fuck up nachos? No really, all you need is a bag of tortilla chips, a block of cheese, and a can of refried beans to make better nachos than Taco Bell’s Nachos Bell Grande. The Nachos Bell Grande makes movie theater nachos seem downright gourmet.

I know that living in Los Angeles has spoiled me with some of the best Mexican food in the country, but the Nachos Bell Grande are the saddest attempt at nachos I’ve ever come across, and it’s especially maddening because Taco Bell has all the necessary ingredients to make proper nachos, they just don’t do it. So I guess we’re going to do it for them.

How To Order It: Nachos Bell Grande, remove seasoned beef and nacho cheese sauce (so tacky), add steak or chicken, guacamole, jalapeños, extra three cheese blend, and hot red or green sauce. It’s crunchy, filling, flavorful, and spicy.

The Bottom Line: It’s not rocket science it’s just fucking nachos! It’s probably the most obvious Taco Bell hack but it’s really something that should be part of the permanent menu. We shouldn’t have to do this shit for you Taco Bell. These nachos have what good nachos need — layers of flavors. Taco Bell’s regular Nacho Bell Grande tastes like road kill and are truly an insult to nachos everywhere.

[WARNING: spoilers for episode eight of Succession, “Chiantishire”]

Ahead of tonight’s episode of Succession, the New Yorker published a profile of actor Jeremy Strong, who plays Kendall Roy on the HBO series. It’s a must read. An excerpt: “For a while, he lived in the Hollywood Hills, where, driving home on Sunset Boulevard, he would pass a billboard that read ‘what the shrek just happened?’ He was thirty-one and asking himself the same question.” And here’s Brian Cox (Logan Roy) talking about his on-screen son: “I just worry about what he does to himself. I worry about the crises he puts himself through in order to prepare.”

To quote Courtney Love, that’s some Kendall Roy sh*t.

It was canny timing on the part of the New Yorker to release a profile about Strong’s intense “process” before “Chiantishire” aired, because hoo boy, Kendall goes through it this week. He gets uninvited to his mom’s wedding (but it’s fine, it’s only for four hours); his dad makes Kendall’s son take a bite of his food before him to test if it’s been poisoned; he’s shaved his head; and in the final seconds of the episode, he drops his beer into the pool where he’s stomach down on a float, and puts his face under water. He doesn’t drown (probably?), but things aren’t looking great for ol’ Ken.

This is not a happy man:

Also, his brother Roman sent a photo of his dick to his dad. Oops.

No wonder Succession fans are losing their sh*t over the episode.

Speaking of Strong:

Stay tuned for Brian Grubb’s Succession Report Card tomorrow morning.

New law in Spain classifies animals as ‘sentient beings’

At some point, every pet owner has wondered what their animals were thinking. If you’ve ever stared into a dog or cat’s eyes, you’ve certainly seen a spectrum of emotions and thoughts reflected back to you: love, anger, trust, curiosity, playfulness and so on. Skeptics say attached animal owners are simply projecting human traits onto creatures that still exist purely on a primal level, free of the consciousness that supposedly makes human beings unique.

But a new law in Spain challenges that assumption with real weight behind it, labeling all animals, including wild ones, as sentient beings.

According to El Pais: “From now on, animals will be treated as “sentient beings,” and as such will have a different legal standing than an inanimate object. They will no longer be able to be seized, abandoned, mistreated or separated from one of their owners in the case of a divorce or separation, without having their wellbeing and protection taken into account.”

Support for the law gained momentum last month after a divorcing couple in Spain were granted joint custody of their border collie Panda after each argued in court for sole custody of the dog. The judge in the case described both owners as “reasonable” people who had cared for the dog and therefore the dog should not suffer from being separated from one of its owners in their divorce.

“What is novel is to be able to use the convention to avoid having to define the pet as a shared thing or property and instead to focus on the animal’s welfare, the emotional bond and the shared responsibility of taking care of an animal, beyond the pet being considered a property,” Lola García, a lawyer specializing in animal welfare and who represented the plaintiff in the case, told the Washington Post.

In an approach remarkably similar to child custody arguments, García cited evidence such as shared vet bills, adoption contracts and even photos the couple took with Panda, according to the Post. “There’s an emotional bond that the justice system needs to recognize,” she told the paper.

One of Spain’s congressional members who supported the bill called it a “moral victory” citing an estimated 200,000 pets that are abandoned in Spain each year.

Several European countries have similar animal sentient laws and similar regulations are seen as part of a larger trend sweeping the globe. In the United States, several federal bills have been passed that seek to eliminate animal cruelty. However, according to the Animal Protection Index, no laws or legislation currently exist seeking to expand similar protections to all animals.

That could change sooner than later with a growing awareness and changing of general attitudes about animal rights around the world.

In Spain, the bill had broad bipartisan support, with only the country’s smaller right-wing party objecting.

“We are the only species that recognizes the suffering of others and as such we have an obligation to prevent that suffering,” said Guillermo Díaz, from the country’s center-right Ciudadanos (Citizens) party.

Oklahoma found itself in uncharted territory a week ago when head football coach Lincoln Riley left the program to become USC’s head coach, the first coach to voluntarily leave Oklahoma in decades. Bob Stoops stepped in to take over the program once again on an interim basis, but the sudden coaching search began and left the Sooners needing to find their place in the college landscape.

With a looming move to the SEC, the job wasn’t necessarily as coveted as it once was, as they’ll go from top dogs in the Big 12 to fighting with Alabama, Georgia, and others to be tops in their new conference. Still, it’s Oklahoma, one of the best and most consistent programs in the entire country, and one that has a rich history that they like to stay connected to. As such, it came as little surprise that they went looking for coaches with ties to Norman, and have ultimately landed on Clemson defensive coordinator (and former Oklahoma assistant) Brent Venables, with a deal finalized on Sunday evening (apparently at Venables’ lake house).

Venables has been at Clemson since leaving Oklahoma in 2012, leading a Tigers defense that is perennially among the best in the country. This season, despite Clemson’s general struggles, the defense was again the strong point. Venables was once considered one of the hottest assistants in college football for his work at Clemson, who consistently raised his pay to keep him in South Carolina as overtures were made from potential suitors. There had been a sense that Venables maybe didn’t want to make the jump to head coach, happy to continue piling up accolades and titles at Clemson under Dabo Swinney, but the Oklahoma job proved too good to pass up.

It’ll be interesting to see how Clemson proceeds from here, given the importance of Venables to creating the foundation of their culture on the defensive side of the ball. For Oklahoma, it’s not the splashiest hire, but they land someone with a tremendous resume on the defensive side of the ball with Sooner ties to salvage things after Riley’s sudden departure.

The Detroit Lions won their first game of the season on Sunday in a thriller against the Minnesota Vikings that saw them lose a two-point lead late in the fourth quarter only to score a walkoff touchdown to win after marching down the field in the two-minute drill.

The win got the Lions to 1-10-1, finally securing a win after coming so close on a few occasions, only to see record-setting field goals beat them and even earning a tie in a ridiculous overtime with Pittsburgh. The joy and relief that came pouring out on the field was one of the things that’s great about sports, even at the professional level where you see how much a win can mean for a team that’s had a dreadful season.

Beyond finally picking up a win on the field, the Lions felt like they were playing for much more on Sunday, as coach Dan Campbell opened his postgame press conference by making sure to dedicate the game ball to the victims of the school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, reading off the names of everyone who was shot in the tragedy that claimed four lives.

Campbell also wore an Oxford Wildcats hat on the sideline throughout the game, paying tribute to the school that is still trying to deal with the aftermath of the latest horrific school shooting. It’s a nice sentiment from Campbell to take the time right after the best moment of the Lions season to stop and make sure he called out something much more important in the grand scheme, listing off all the names of the victims and making sure those impacted knew they had support and love from the team and greater Michigan community.