An indomitable performance by Aliyah Boston and a stingy defense helped the South Carolina Gamecocks take down the Louisville Cardinals, 72-59, and punch their ticket to Sunday’s national championship game, where they will look to win their second title in program history.
South Carolina came out of the gates flying, scoring the first seven points of the game and forcing Louisville coach Jeff Walz to call a timeout when they went down, 11-2. The Gamecocks overwhelmed the Cardinals on both ends of the floor, as they just could not get any good looks on offense while struggling to figure out a way to slow down Boston and co. on defense.
While Louisville eventually settled in and was able to get their offense going, it was clear that they faced an uphill battle against Dawn Staley’s squad. In particular, Boston was able to impose herself on the glass early, as the national player of the year ended the first frame with four points and five boards as the team took a 17-10 lead into the second.
It did not take long for the Cardinals to get in a rhythm in the game’s second frame. While the Gamecocks scored first, Louisville began swarming, turning defense into offense and going on a 12-0 run in the blink of an eye — thanks in large part to the play of Emily Engstler — to take the lead before a Boston bucket settled things down.
Ultimately, South Carolina was able to create a little bit of breathing room heading into the half, as they took a 34-28 lead into the locker room. Boston and Brea Beal led the way for SC with eight points each — Boston pitched in eight rebounds and three assists, too. Engstler had 10 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and a block for the Cardinals, who were in the game despite top scorer Hailey Van Lith struggling to get going, as she scored two points on 1-for-3 shooting.
Much like they did at the start of the game, South Carolina began the third quarter on fire. They managed to get their lead up to as many as 15 points, but once again, Louisville had a response. Thanks to a 10-3 run, they were able to chip away and get the deficit down to six … and then Boston converted an and-one with less than five seconds remaining in the frame to take some of the wind out of the Cardinals’ sails and bring a nine-point lead into the fourth.
3Q: Player of the Year type of moment for @AA_Boston! Rips the momentum away from the Cardinals in the closing seconds of the third!
The fourth quarter was much of the same, as Louisville struggled to have a consistent answer for the length that South Carolina possessed on defense while Boston’s gravity on the glass was far too much for them to overcome. By the time the game came to an end, Boston had 23 points, 18 rebounds, and four assists, giving her double-double number 29 in 36 games this season. Every Gamecock starter scored in double-figures. Engstler’s 18 points and nine rebounds led the Cardinals, but she fouled out with 4:56 left in the game. Olivia Cochran and Kianna Smith both had 14 points, while Van Lith had nine.
South Carolina will take on either UConn or Stanford, the defending national champions, on Sunday evening.
Small interactions can leave a lasting impact. This sentiment rang particularly true in an interaction between a little girl and a Publix employee. The little girl’s mother, Rachel Smith, recorded a sweet interaction on TikTok that went viral, amassing more than 1 million likes. In the video, Fiona walks around the store with a large envelope that contains a thank-you card that she picked out herself to give to the grocery store worker. The two have been fast friends since Fiona was much younger and the Publix worker, Gilnet, would always greet her with a high five, which is how he got his nickname from the young preschooler.
The girl visits the grocery store weekly with her mom to do the shopping, and every week Gilnet gives her a high five. This little ritual has cemented their friendship and warmed hearts across social media when Fiona showed up to show her appreciation. Gilnet bought Fiona a pink Disney Princess bicycle for her birthday complete with tassels sticking out of the handlebars.
Fiona’s mom says that seeing their weekly interaction brings her “unquantifiable joy” and the pair are the “most unlikely BFFs.” In the short video, the duo embrace after Fiona gives the employee her thank-you card. The video stated, “She met him when she was little and sees him here every week.” Later in the video she writes, “Today she brought him a thank-you card because he bought her a bicycle for her birthday.”
The greeting was so sweet it could warm anyone’s heart. Fiona’s mom said in a comment the little girl “calls him high five because ever since she was a baby, he gave her a high five when he saw her.” After the video went viral and received more than 7 million views, the girl’s mom decided she wanted to do something further to show her appreciation for Gilnet, so she set up a GoFundMe page where she explains that she’d “love to give something tangible back for the unquantifiable joy he’s given my daughter her whole life.”
Rachel reached her goal of $5,000 with the first 375 people that donated, and the total continues to increase. It’s clear that people are looking for the small wins in life and are willing to donate to support a kind gesture. In the comments of the GoFundMe, others tell their stories about how they have their own Gilnet at their local grocery stores. Someone suggested the video Smith posted should become an ad for Publix due to its wholesome content.
People need to see the good in the world, and sometimes you don’t have to look further than your local grocery store. This short video has brought a smile to millions of people across the internet and continues to inspire other people to look for good throughout their days. I have no doubt Fiona will cherish the time she gets to spend with her Publix BFF for a long time to come.
Brand new snacks can turn grocery shopping into a stressful experience. Whether you hit the market on foot or fill your cart virtually, once you start incorporating snacks into the grocery list your budget gets all f*cked up. That pain is felt even more when you decide to stray from the classics and reach for that delicious new treat.
Don’t get us wrong, we think change is good, a new food product is a potential game-changer in your culinary arsenal, but it hurts when you throw down your money on something that looked better than it ends up tasting. If you’ve ever had that one friend who always seems to be offering your random food when you come over, it’s not because you’re special, it’s because they’re just trying to clear up their fridge and shelf space.
Don’t be the person who gives away your snacks. Be the person who loves their snacks and let us help you by taking the Ls for you. We’ve been grabbing snacks for months in order to lead you to the best supermarket treats on store shelves. From new Goldfish crackers to something called a ‘pizza cupcake,’ here are our favorite new grocery products for your snacking pleasure.
Introducing your new favorite snack, the Pizza Cupcake. This thing slaps, it’s flakey, buttery, chewy, and delicious. For a frozen pizza snack, the Pizza Cupcake’s cheese is remarkably flavorful — a bit nutty, sweet, and with a soft mouthfeel like fresh mozzarella, while the sauce is bright and tomato-forward like you want a simple pizza sauce to be. The box touts that the sauce is made from San Marzano tomatoes and you can definitely taste that sweetened tomato flavor characteristic of canned SMTs.
The cupcakes are baked fresh in Brooklyn and shipped to your door in temperature-controlled packaging in both a Margherita and pepperoni flavor. Just open up a cupcake, toss it in the oven or air fryer for 10 minutes and you’ve got the best-frozen pizza snack you’ll ever eat.
The Bottom Line:
It’s the evolution of the Hot Pocket and tastes better than the best leftover slice.
Pepperidge Farms’ Goldfish Mega Bites are supposed to be a sort of rebrand of the product for adults. How this is more appealing to adults is pretty puzzling though, because in an effort to age up the product, Pepperidge Farms decided to make the packaging louder and more colorful, made the Goldfish crackers bigger, added ‘Mega’ to the name and made them cheesier. Doesn’t exactly scream ‘adult’ to us, they should’ve given the Goldfish crackers weapons, on beer, then we would’ve known they were for us.
Why do these crackers need to be aged up? It’s nonsense, but at least the Mega Bites are good, and that’s all that matters. The cracker looks substantially bigger than a regular goldfish, it’s easily more than double the size, and the flavor is much sharper and less sweet, putting it more in line with a Cheez-It but not quite as intensely salty. In addition to a Sharp Cheddar flavor, the Mega Bites are also available in a Cheddar Jalapeno iteration which provides a nice pepper-y heat on the backend.
The Bottom Line:
An improvement over the OG Goldfish that offers a cheesier flavor that will appear to fans of the Cheez-It, while still offering that airy soft cracker texture of a Goldfish.
Pasolivo makes easily some of the finest Extra Virgin Olive Oil on the market and right now they’re Tuscan blend is easily our go-to finishing and dipping EVOO. Made from olives handpicked from orchards and crushed within hours of being picked, retaining freshness and flavor, this gold medal-winning olive oil features a robust fresh grass flavor with a cracked black pepper finish.
The oil has this supple mouthwatering quality to it, elevating even the most basic market brand bread, and perfect for drizzling on a fresh spring mix. Once this stuff mixes with arugula, it’s a bouquet of peppery earthy flavors that add excitement to any dish without the need to actually cook.
The Bottom Line:
If you’re in need of a high-end quality olive oil to finish dishes or dip your expensive bakery bread in, Pasolivo is your best bet.
If you’ve ever had trouble choosing between Cheeto Puffs and Cheez-Its, the Cheez-It Puff’d is for you. It combines the sharp cheesy flavor of Cheez-Its with the dense crispiness of the Cheeto Puff, offering a cheesier, crunchier, and crispier experience than regular stock Cheez-Its. It’s the sort of snack that’s going to get stuck in every single crevice of your teeth, but if you love the Cheez-It flavor and want to soak your palate with it, this is the best way to do so.
The Puff’ds (weird to pluralize) are available in Cheddar, Scorchin Cheddar, and White Cheddar varieties. Our favorite of the bunch is the White Cheddar, easily!
The Bottom Line:
Cheez-Its if they were more like Cheeto Puffs.
Jeni’s Ice Cream — Salted Peanut Butter With Chocolate Flecks
This is hands down one of the best peanut butter-flavored ice creams currently on the market. Instead of being aggressively sweet like most peanut butter ice creams, Jeni’s is made using roasted ground peanuts, which gives this ice cream’s creamy base a subtler and more naturally nutty flavor that is complemented by slightly bitter and earthy dark chocolate flecks mixed throughout.
The Bottom Line:
Peanut butter and chocolate are a winning formula, but few ice creams nail it like Jeni’s. The natural and sweet peanut flavor and dark Belgian chocolate combo is rich and complex, without tasting too artificially sweetened.
Ubah Hot — Habanero Hot Yellow Tanzanite
Ubah Hot
Price: $60 (For Three Bottle Set)
Why We Love It:
Founded by model Ubah Hassan, who has appeared in ad campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Betsey Johnson, Gucci, and more, Ubah Hot is perfect for hot sauce fans that love simple, balanced, and flavor-packed sauces that focus on other notes aside from spice. Available in three varieties including Emerald (Serrano based), Ruby (Fresno based), and Tanzanite (Habanero based), the sauces are less about delivering intense doses of heat, and more about complementary flavors.
My favorite of the three, Tanzanite, which is also the hottest, pairs habanero peppers with yellow bell pepper, offering a sweet, peppery, and subtly citrus hot sauce that tastes remarkably fresh. It doesn’t deliver as much heat as I want out of it, but the flavor is undeniably tasty.
The Bottom Line:
Hot sauce for sauce lovers who want more than simple spice notes and heat.
Joe Coffee ranked pretty highly in our ranking of the best grocery store instant coffees, so we’re including it here in our snack roundup. The convenience of preparation aside, Joe Coffee’s The Daily blend offers sweet milk chocolate and caramel notes that taste great black, with a bit of cream, and with sugar. If you have a regular coffee spot it’s probably not going to replace your barista, but in a pinch it more than gets the job done.
The Bottom Line:
So good it’ll change any preconceived notions you have about how good instant coffee can taste. If you already like instant coffee, it’ll supply you with one of the best cups you’ve ever had.
Cardi-B truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only do we appreciate the hours of music she’s given us, she’s also given us countless memorable interviews, jaw-dropping music videos, and now boozy-infused whipped cream. Cardi-B’s Whipshots combine thick and rich whipped cream with distilled vodka, offering a 10% ABV product that is perfect for topping decadent sundaes, slices of pie, body parts, and craft cocktails.
The Whipshots are available in caramel, mocha, and vanilla flavors, all of which do a pretty good job covering up what we’re going to guess is not the highest quality vodka out there. You can definitely taste the booze but the overwhelmingly dominant flavor here is sweetness. Our recommended pick from the trio is the vanilla, it tastes more like the flavors we expect from whipped cream, but if you’re making a homemade sundae, the flavored varieties might come in handy.
The Bottom Line:
Boozy whipped cream — it’s the sort of thing you don’t know you need until you’ve had it.
It’s a great time for ice cream lovers who shop at Walmart as Van Leeuwen has just entered a partnership with the store that brings seven of the brand’s flavors to the freezer aisle. For a limited time Walmart shoppers can pick up Van Leeuwin’s Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Planet Earth, Pizza, Hot Honey, Royal Wedding Cake, Bourbon Cherries Jubilee, and Wild Blueberry Shortcake.
Our personal favorites are the Royal Wedding Cake, which is like lemon sponge cake in ice cream form, the sweet Hot Honey, and the decadent Bourbon Cherries Jubilee. We’re also eaten the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and … well, no comment. Once we hit the summer the brand will roll out a new lineup of flavors that match the season, so If any of the above sound good, act fast before they are gone.
“This sh*t took a little too long,” Nascent says with a laugh.
The Chicago-bred, Mexican-American producer has navigated a long road prior to notching the four Grammy nominations (Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Rap Album, Best R&B Song, and Album Of The Year) he now lays claim to. Being fully independent is a major point of pride for “The Tallest Mexican” as he has earned his way into some huge credits and gained knowledge along the way that he commits to passing along to other producers. Nascent got his start at 18 years old, traveling to New York City on a whim to connect with DJ Kay Slay, ultimately to no avail. However, he made the most of his trip by walking to Madison Square Garden to the G-Unit office and got two placements with 50 Cent on “Redrum” and “Strong Enough.” These achievements pushed him to drop out of community college, fully commit to his craft, and now the work speaks for itself.
Prior to the SZA “Good Days” and Kanye West “Hurricane” placements, Nascent’s most notable work was helping to break Brent Faiyaz, contributing to the now RIAA platinum-certified “Trust,” gold-certified “Clouded,” and “Been Away,” among other Faiyaz records. He has also worked with Lil Wayne, Ty Dolla Sign, Kiana Lede, Offset, Elle Varner, and many more. Despite collaborating with these major names, the 33-year old has mostly played the shadows but is now ready to fully break out, especially having turned down a million-dollar publishing deal after the success of “Good Days.”
Though he advocates for independence, Nascent understands that’s not an easy thing for everyone to stick to. He even admits himself that had he been offered a publishing deal upon his first placements with 50 Cent, 20-year-old Nascent likely would have taken it. Now, he can look back and revel in his self-belief as he has the potential to walk out of the upcoming Grammys with four awards; something he believed should have happened a year prior if F*ck The World was submitted.
We spoke on New Year’s Eve, with tequila and Tecate in hand, about manifesting this moment in his life through tweets, how “Good Days” and “Hurricane” came together, his plans for the Grammys, independence, and what is next in his production career.
Describe the feeling of being Grammy-nominated in four words.
Holy sh*t, is this real? Nah that’s five words. Shocked, grateful, recognized, and alreadyknewthatsh*twasgonnahappen. I’ve been talking about this sh*t for years. So many years I thought we were close because of Brent or others projects I’ve been a part of. We’re continually doing things outside of what the norm is, but I knew “Good Days” had to be nominated. “Hurricane” came out of nowhere and I wasn’t too sure because I don’t know how them people feel about Kanye. I don’t think he cares. That’s where I got the most nominations. It felt good to get here.
Did you know the songs you’re nominated for were submitted?
I assumed. It wasn’t smart to assume but I figured they had to submit for this sh*t. I had no knowledge of it prior though.
Where were you when you found out you were nominated?
I was home in Chicago with my family when nominations came out. In Humboldt Park, a neighborhood I spent a lot of time in when I was broke. I was doing what I’m doing now, but I was broke thinking I was doing sh*t. I had a long way to go. It was symbolic in that aspect, being back home with family in that environment where up the street I used to crash at my ex-girlfriend’s crib when I wasn’t couch surfing in Los Angeles. It was a perfect way for me to get the first one.
How did the “Hurricane” placement come together?
I went home to work with Chance The Rapper on “Good Ass Job” in 2018. We were at CRD Studio; Chance had the whole main level booked and Kanye was upstairs. I saw ‘Ye in the bathroom and was awestruck. “F*ck, that’s Kanye, bro.” We’re in Chicago and that’s Kanye. If you make beats, you studied him. You’re influenced by him in some way, but being from the crib and doing the sh*t he did, chopping samples up as he started, it means even more. I overheard someone say Boogz was upstairs and I was like “Oh sh*t, my boy Boogz.” He’s a Chicago legend and I’m happy for him because he’s getting his flowers. He’s a wizard and one of Kanye’s closest friends. I texted Boogz and he said “Man, come up you good!” I gave Boogz hella ideas that day. “Hurricane” was an idea I started and he went and did what he did. There were two ideas I kept hearing when I would walk around the rooms. I heard Kanye rapping to “Hurricane” and I was like “Damn, that’s crazy.” I knew my position and my role. I didn’t get ahead of myself. I trusted who I was working with. Some producers are reluctant to give up control and follow someone else’s lead, but dealing with Boogz, he’s someone of high character and he got it done.
When did you hear the final version?
I heard a leak on YouTube, but just with Lil Baby at first. I knew it was out of here once I heard The Weeknd on it. It sounded different from the original, but it is what it is. I figured it was going to go crazy though. I didn’t think it was going to come out. It was from over three years ago, and on top of that, Kanye does what he wants. It was interesting to see the process.
Did you get to make any of the listening sessions?
No, but I watched at the crib.
Talk about now three-time platinum “Good Days” and how it felt to make that alongside people you consider family.
That was a special one for me. I made it with my friends. Working on the SZA record was more in-house and it felt like more of my signature along with LosHendrix. It felt more personal. I was able to do the beat and add little details Los and I do. “Good Days” was done around 2018 but it feels like more of a timeless classic. It doesn’t have a date on it.
Ah, that’s hard bro! Shoutout to Barry but the Grammys for sure! That’s tight though man. It’s cool because the Grammy situation, we don’t do this for that. Some of our favorite records we’ve worked on haven’t even been nominated, but they’re still great and impacted music in many ways. The Grammys is our championship. It’s our way of telling people we got something. It’s cap when people say they don’t give a f*ck; they do give a f*ck. A little recognition, who doesn’t want that?
In your 2010 interview with ThisIs50, you mentioned wanting to work with Jazmine Sullivan. How does it feel seeing her get her recognition?
I love it. It’s going to be her year. Jazmine Sullivan is a legend, she’s a GOAT. That’s tight as f*ck she got nominated. It’s about time. It’s about being patient. I still want to work with her because we would make some sh*t. I’m gonna put it out there in the universe and manifest it. She’s on my list.
Describe how it feels to have reached this point, all things considered.
All that playing yourself down to make other people comfortable is over with. It’s a dub. You don’t know what people have to do to get through what they go through. You can still be confident and not be an asshole. I’m gonna talk my sh*t a little bit because it’s been a long journey.
You’ve tweeted in the past about your Grammy outfit. Take me through the night, what you plan to wear, what bottle you’re popping if you win, and what Mexican dish you’ll have.
I’m going to be in some clean, sleek ass Saint Laurent or Tom Ford. There’s going to be a statement or something on my outfit. I think it’s important if I’m there and take some pictures, it’s got to say something and mean something. Shake the tree up a little. I’m probably gonna pop a bottle of champagne, Ace of Spades or some Mezcal tequila. I might go out that night. As for my meal, some rice and beans. My mom makes these great fried chicken taquitos with guacamole. We’ve got to go all out, bro. A lot of times the narrative is the good guys don’t win. F*ck that. We’re doing it how we want to do it–our way, independently. Unfortunately, you’ve got to eat more sh*t and be patient but you can get there. When you do it like that, nobody can tell you sh*t.
What would you tell the nine-year-old kid who wanted to be a pilot?
I always wanted to fly planes up until I turned 11 or 12 and bought Stillmatic, which changed my life. I would tell nine-year-old me that everything you’re feeling, you’re right. Knowing you’re going to do something, you’re right. There isn’t a thing I would change. Do everything you did. I would wait as long as I had to wait because it’s more rewarding. It happens just as it’s supposed to happen, especially when you move with character and integrity.
You’ve spoken in the past about going to Mexico and exposing people to music, production, and information. What’s the scope of that vision now?
I want to do it in Mexico and Chicago, too. I want to make it for everybody. I do it now in the way I do business with collaborators. A lot of times I’ll be in sessions working with people and try to read the room to see if I can talk about it with them. They may not want to hear it or they may be doing the opposite of what I’m doing, so I don’t want to add insult to injury preaching independence when they’re signed to a f*cked up deal. Often times I’ll be telling producers about standard stuff that I already know on the business side, but they don’t because of information gatekeepers or simply being given the wrong information. It’s so important to give the game because it’s free and the game don’t lie. It’s not like I’m giving you the DaVinci Code, I’m giving some basic sh*t. It’s f*cked up. The way I do my business is fair and I only want credit for what I do.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on an album with BJ The Chicago Kid and another project with Orion Sun. I’ve got a couple of placements on Brent’s next album and hopefully, we can get him on my album, too. I plan to drop my second album by the end of next year.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
While there’s no wrong time of the year to drink gin in our opinion, spring and summer just might be the best time. There are few things better than a crisp, delicious gin & tonic on a warm, sunny day. And while gin is a truly worldly spirit — with its genesis in The Netherlands and England — it’s also a popular spirit amongst American drinkers and distillers. Sure, the US might be more well-known for its whiskey (specifically, bourbon) prowess, its gins are flavorful, unique, and deserving of acclaim.
So what exactly is “American” craft gin. That’s not an easy question to answer. There aren’t a lot of rules when it comes to producing gin in America. While juniper is always the base flavor (it wouldn’t be gin, otherwise), American distillers are likely to play with other local ingredients and botanicals that many of their counterparts in the UK might not have access to. Of course, expectations to all these rules abound.
Since the only way to really understand American gin is to try it, today we decided to rank eight of our favorite bottles. Some stay true to the “London dry” style and others take drinkers on a whole different flavor path. Since we picked eight great expressions, it wasn’t particularly easy to rank them. Ultimately, we ordered them by how well the flavors work together, how well they can be mixed, and their overall value.
This Oregon-made gin takes a more traditional approach than some in that it is made in the style of Dutch genevers. It’s not quite an American dry gin and that’s what makes it such an exciting spirit. Loaded with anise, caraway, juniper, Oregon-grown Marionberries, and even locally-sourced hops, it’s a truly unique flavor experience.
Tasting Notes:
If you’re not expecting it, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer spiciness of this gin’s nose. It’s reminiscent of a rye whiskey with slight pepper and cardamon and an overall herbal quality. The palate is more juniper-driven but slightly fruity with notes of coriander, pine, and a nice floral kick. The finish is dry and pleasant.
Bottom Line:
This is a very good gin. It’s just not for everyone as it’s spicier and more unique than most other American gins. Your best bet is to buy this and a classic genever and compare the two.
This award-winning, copper pot still distilled gin is produced in Washington, DC. Its Original Batch is a classic Juniper-centric gin that’s also well-known for its infusion of citrus and spice. It’s a great base for a fresh, floral spring cocktail.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, Green Hat Original Batch has a ton of juniper up front. This is followed by aromas of lime zest as well as some pine needles. Tasting it reveals more juniper berries, lemon zest, orange peel, grapefruit, and gentle herbal quality. The finish is crisp, dry, and has a slight hint of spice.
Bottom Line:
There are no bad gins on this list. Green Hat might not have appealed to my palate as well as some others, but it’s a decent base for a gin gimlet or any other fresh cocktail for the price.
Like all gins, Bluecoat American Dry Gin’s base is juniper berries above all else. They ramp up the flavor by using organic Mediterranean-grown juniper berries known for their spicier, fruitier flavor. This simple and elegant gin also contains a proprietary American citrus blend, coriander seeds, and angelica root.
Tasting Notes:
A very classic dry gin aroma meets your nose before the first sip. There are fruity, spicy juniper berries followed by coriander, lemon curd, and a floral quality. While the palate has juniper throughout, it’s the citrus that really shines in this gin. There are notes of ripe grapefruit, lemon, lime, pine, and slight spice.
Bottom Line:
Bluecoat American Dry Gin is a great choice for drinkers who enjoy a nice kick of citrus in their gin. Otherwise, keep moving. It’s a good base for a gin and tonic and the addition of a lemon wedge will only enhance its flavor.
Buffalo, New York is known as the city that invented the Buffalo Wing, the home of Rick James, and the adopted home of Josh Allen. Well, you can add gin destination to that list because Tommyrotter American Gin, produced in Buffalo, is a pot-distilled, small-batch spirit worth discovering.
Tasting Notes:
Floral, citrus rind, piney juniper, slight spice, this gin draws you in with its nose. Sipping it reveals that your nose wasn’t deceiving you as this flavorful gin is dominated by pine needles, cardamom, orange peel, coriander, and a warming kick of cracked black pepper. Overall, a very exciting, mixable gin.
Bottom Line:
If you’ve never heard of Tommyrotter, now is the time to get on the bandwagon. This complex and flavorful gin belongs on your home bar cart this spring. It’s one of the more well-rounded expressions on this list.
First released in 2001, Leopold’s American Small Batch Gin uses a process called fractional distillation (six separate distillates that are eventually combined) to highlight each specific flavor. This heightens the flavor experience and shines a spotlight on flavors like juniper berries, coriander, and Valencia oranges.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is all pine needles, orange peel, and a gentle herbal fragrance. The palate continues this trend with hints of piney juniper berries, cracked black pepper, grapefruit, orange zest, coriander, and cardamom. It’s a great combination of spice and citrus that will leave you wanting more.
Bottom Line:
This uniquely crafted gin is just as exciting in its flavor profile. With all of the ingredients heightened, this is a great, bold gin that will stand up in any of your favorite cocktails. It’s also a great choice for fans of peppery spice.
There’s a reason Barr Hill Gin is not only one of the most popular American gins, but one of the most awarded. Distilled in a proprietary botanical extraction still, this juniper-centric gin gets its added, sweet flavor from the addition of an unexpected ingredient: raw honey.
Tasting Notes:
Complex aromas of juniper berries, pine needs, slight honey, and wildflowers meet your nose before the first sip. The palate is highlighted by notes of juniper, fur tips, sweet honey, herbal notes, and floral notes. The finish is long, warming, slightly sweet, and highly memorable.
Bottom Line:
Barr Hill is a different kind of gin and that’s a great thing. It has the juniper and pine kick gin lovers enjoy, but the raw honey adds a nice, mellow sweetness throughout. It will add a sweet element to your cocktails, and that’s a nice win as far as I’m concerned.
Copper & Kings is well-known for its small-batch, hand-crafted brandies, but the Louisville, Kentucky-based distillery also makes a surprisingly good American dry gin. This unique gin begins with 100% apple wine and fresh-pressed apple juice. Juniper berries, coriander, and other herbs and botanicals are steeped in apple brandy before being distilled again with vapor-distilled citrus peels and lavender.
Tasting Notes:
While many gins lean into the juniper flavor and aroma, this gin’s nose is fairly light on piney juniper. Instead, there is a slightly fruity aroma, slight wintry spices, and an herbal backbone that draws you in. The palate continues this trend with flavors like a ripe apple, coriander, angelica, herbal tea, and citrus zest. It’s well-balanced citrus and spice-centric gin.
Bottom Line:
This gin has a complex flavor profile that’s fruitier than most gins on the market. Its gentle flavor alongside the spice and juniper notes make it a great base for a gimlet or martini. The sweetness from the apple wine is unique and memorable, which helps this one edge up the rankings.
St. George is the kind of distillery that gin fans adore. It makes a variety of different gins (and other spirits) to appeal to every palate. Its best is its flagship Terroir Gin. Made to taste like California, where it’s made, it’s infused with flavors including Douglas fir tips, California-sourced bay laurel, coastal sage, and a slew of other herbs and botanicals.
Tasting Notes:
This gin smells like a forest of pine trees. There are spruce tips, pine needles, and resin aromas. If you love pine, you’ll love this gin. While pine and juniper are still present, this multi-dimensional gin also carries flavors like sage, mint leaves, coriander, lemon zest, and a gentle, warming hit of spice. All in all, a memorable, complex gin experience.
Bottom Line:
This is a gin for pine fans. But it’s not fake pine like the air freshener in your car. It’s fresh, resinous, and exceptional. It’s tempered well with herbal and citrus flavors. It’s by far my favorite of the bunch.
In the midst of his anti-Pete Davidson campaign last month, Kanye West took great pains to bat back criticisms that minimized his issues to him being “crazy.” In fact, he’s taken issue with that particular label ever since revealing his bipolar disorder in 2018. Now, he’s got a new defender in the form of Joyner Lucas. Hate him or love him, Lucas goes out of his way to try to find creative angles for many of his releases, from the “both sides” argument of “I’m Not Racist” to the chameleon-like special effects on “Will.”
Joyner keeps that tradition going with his new single, “Ye’s Not Crazy,” which he shared with a video in which he again takes on the likeness of one of his heroes to reproduce some of Kanye’s more iconic moments of the past couple of years, including his Donda listening events. A Kanye lookalike — insomuch as you can look like someone who’s been wearing masks for the past year and a half — dances in the background as Joyner compares himself to Kanye and explains his interpretation of Kanye’s outspoken philosophy.
Of course, Joyner’s been known to leap to the defense of some pretty terrible people in the past, and defending Kanye only excuses his offputting and childish behavior, so the song itself has received a mixed reception. At least it gets folks’ minds off of Joyner’s own recent meltdown, during which he berated Lollapalooza Festival for booking the objectively more popular Machine Gun Kelly as a headliner, and which he later blamed on Russian hackers.
Watch Joyner Lucas’s “Ye’s Not Crazy” video above.
Phew! So this week’s internet has been dominated by The Slap Heard Round the World, which is unfortunate because there were some really lovely moments at this year’s Oscars that got lost in the hubbub over it. Lady Gaga’s and Liza Minnelli’s sweet interaction, for example, is on our list of 10 things that made us smile this week. So is Troy Kotsur’s acceptance speech after becoming the first deaf man to win an Academy Award for acting for his role in “CODA.”
We’ve got some other gems lined up as well—a dog whose dream came true when his owner dressed up as his favorite toy, doting adult children sharing heartwarming messages they got from their parents, Paul Rudd successfully pranking Conan O’Brien on his podcast and a couple of pups whose adorableness is simply irresistible.
Oh, and otters. Always gotta have some otters.
If you need a little pick-me-up to round out your week, we’ve got you covered:
Troy Kotsur’s acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor was a moment to remember.
From Youn Yuh-jung’s sweet announcement to Troy Kotsur’s wonderful acceptance speech to audience members honoring him with sign language applause, the whole clip is so full of beauty and joy. Read more about the Oscar wins for “CODA” here.
Her dad traveled a lot when she was young, but he managed to stay close in spirit.
It’s not an easy thing to balance parenting and a career, especially if your job takes you away from your family a lot. These postcards are so precious. What a gift.
This dog owner dressed up as his dog’s favorite toy.
Dressed up as our dogs favorite duck toy. Full video on FB & YouTube. Link in bio. #dogsoftiktok #petsoftiktok #dogs #goldenretriever
Was Charlie beside himself or what? So hilarious.
Lady Gaga being there for Liza Minnelli was a masterclass in grace and class.
This is like a lesson in how to facilitate older people while honouring who they are.nWhat a class act by @ladygaga with legend Liza Minnelli. nThe conferred whispers of “I gotcha” “I know” picked up by the mikes make it especially touching.pic.twitter.com/2JOWyrTQxn
Lady Gaga has a soft spot for the elders of show business, and we can all learn from her example of how to interact with older people with respect and dignity. Read the full story here.
Elderly British gentleman has the most wholesome TikTok channel you’ll ever see.
Reply to @2_millimeter_defeater_ #generations #language #youth
It’s like if David Attenborough and Mr. Rogers morphed and made a TikTok channel to bridge the generation gap. He’s just delightful. See more of his videos here.
Ma’am, I think your dog is broken—but please don’t fix anything.
You need a little background for this one, but the gist is that since 2004, Paul Rudd has repeatedly gone on Conan O’Brien’s show to talk about one of his projects, and when the time comes to show a clip from the show or film, Rudd shows this clip from the 1989 film “Mac and Me.” Silly but hilarious. O’Brien had come to expect it on the show, but never saw it coming on his podcast.
After a disastrous appearance on a recent episode of The Problem with Jon Stewart that tackled “The Problem with White People,” political commentator Andrew Sullivan is now claiming that he was duped into appearing on the show by an allegedly dishonest booker. During the panel discussion, Sullivan was repeatedly called out by the former Daily Show host for “minimizing” the systemic presence of white supremacy in America. At one point, Stewart got so frustrated after repeatedly explaining himself to Sullivan that he said, “Andrew, you’re not living on the same f*cking planet we are, honestly.”
Stewart would later drag Sullivan on the podcast episode recapping the show. “I thought that conversation would be productive and ultimately I thought it was,” Stewart said via Mediaite. “Making Andrew Sullivan play the role of the white person who doesn’t understand that this is being taped – holy sh*t!”
Realizing that he didn’t come off looking great, Sullivan took to his The Weekly Dish newsletter on Friday and essentially accused The Problem with Jon Stewart booker of deceiving him into the panel appearance. According to Sullivan, the booker asked him to come on discuss racism, but he was told it would just be him and Stewart:
I said I’d think about it — especially since they seemed desperate with just 24 hours till taping — and later I called to say sure, if it’s just Jon. “I trust him to be fair.” I hadn’t had time to read the email invites, so I trusted the booker’s word.
But just before the taping, as I emerged blearily from Dishing, I found out, in fact, that there would be two other guests, and that it would, indeed, be a debate. Surprise! As the show started, I also realized for the first time there was a live studio audience and that the episode was called “The Problem With White People” — a title I’d never have been a party to, if I’d known in advance. (I wouldn’t go on a show called “The Problem With Jews” or “The Problem With Black People” either.) At that point I should have climbed carefully off the stake, tamped down the flames, made a path through the kindling, and walked away.
As Sullivan continued, he claimed that he protested to producers who gave him the option to back out, but he didn’t want to leave the show “in a lurch” and he trusted that Stewart “was a pro.” Instead, Sullivan was shocked to find himself “demonized” and “cursed at” by someone he thought believed in “sane discourse.”
You can watch the segment below and judge for yourself:
The weather is heating up, the travel restrictions are lifting, and it’s looking like we’re finally going to have a summer that we can actually enjoy. Will Covid still be a thing we have to contend with? Absolutely, but we’re better positioned and equipped to resume some sense of normalcy in our lives than any time in these past two years that Covid has been a thing.
We are, dare we say… excited? Yes, we’re saying it: EXCITED!
But before you step out into the world in your old fits from 2019, you’re probably going to want a wardrobe refresh. Luckily, the big streetwear brands are here to answer the call. In their best apparel release in a minute, Adidas Originals are continuing the rollout of their Blue Version collection, with the second drop set to arrive globally on April 13th.
The Blue Version collection is geared toward the Spring/Summer climate and features some extensive reimaginings of some of Adidas’ strongest archival looks. The collection features draping silhouettes that are perfect for layering while still being lightweight enough to keep you cool, consisting of satin fabrics and plissé construction. Our favorite thing about the new collection, which includes Trefoil branded jackets, shorts, skirts, t-shirts, leggings, vests, jackets, and button-ups in loose comfort fitting silhouettes in aquarelle water-color inspired colorways, is the way it manages to exude that vintage cool of the Adidas archives, while recontextualizing the silhouettes for a more modern fit.
Check out the full collection below and be sure to cop the drop on April 13th online and at flagship Adidas stores.
2021 belonged to Olivia Rodrigo and her debut album, Sour. After “Driver’s License” dominated the first few months of the year, pushing us all to remember the formative heartbreak that snapped us in two, Rodrigo landed seven Grammy nominations, including all of the big four categories, in 2022. And remarkably, she was the second-youngest artist to accomplish that feat.
If you think Olivia Rodrigo was an overnight sensation, that’s probably only the case because you don’t consume Disney Channel content. She entered the sphere of influence for six to 14-year-olds back in 2016 on Bizzaardvark, a show that co-starred Jake Paul. Ironically, the premise was that Rodrigo was the star and content creator on a YouTube-like platform. And in the videos, she played guitar. It probably wasn’t too tricky; Rodrigo took voice and piano lessons for a few years, starting when she was nine. She wasn’t faking it: Rodrigo learned to play for the show when she was only 12.
She’d also been lowkey becoming a music nerd. In an Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe, Rodrigo went over some of her favorite artists and shared that her grandmother bought her one of those Urban Outfitters Crosley record players when she was a tween. She and her mother would go to thrift stores and pick out vinyl to listen to that they thought was cool, which led to her discovering Tanya Tucker and Carole King. Both of them would influence her songwriting — as a storyteller and how she treated heartache and vulnerability.
Her songwriting started long before she found those records or got her hands on the keyboard and guitar. She told MTV Push that Rodrigo’s family had been videoing her making up songs since she was a little kid. She remembered writing her first song at around nine — a little ditty she called “Superman,” an empowering jam about how she didn’t need anyone to save her. She shared the footage with the New York Times of herself at age seven singing her heart out onstage to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and some footage she shot herself as a young teen playing guitar and singing Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Both are classics and indicative of some tiny part of her sphere of musical influences.
Rodrigo moved on to a Disney+ series in 2019, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Yes, that hilariously long and unwieldy title is a joke. The series itself is a mockumentary-style reboot of the HSM franchise, set in a universe where a new set of students at East High put on their version of the musical set in their high school. There’s a lot of Glee-esque humor, teen drama, and, of course, musical numbers. Rodrigo plays Nini Salazar-Roberts, who lands a starring role. The series would also give Rodrigo her first chance to have a single released.
“All I Want” was written by Rodrigo and inspired, at least in part, by her character’s story arc, she told Genius. “I always try to insert pieces of my real life and my real emotions…into the songs I write for High School Musical because I feel like songs are better that way. People can tell when something is honest and coming from a real place versus when it’s not. It is really interesting to write for a character. I think that’s fun, and I think restrictions like that make you more creative,” she said on the Zach Sang Show.
The Disney label released the song, and it bopped into the lower part of the Hot 100 but wasn’t worked as a single at radio. So, it didn’t hang around for more than a few weeks. However, it was a streaming phenomenon — enough to get the attention of Interscope Records and land her a deal.
Despite “All I Want” making a small splash, she calls “Driver’s License” her first single — but it wasn’t exactly devoid of HSM ties. Some of the initial interest in the song came from the real-life love triangle of Disney stars involved in it, which Vulture recounts more thoroughly than this piece needs to. Suffice it to say, Rodrigo and her co-star, and purported love interest, released their singles within days of each other, followed by a possible reaction track from the third corner in the triangle. What’s stunning is how quickly none of this drama mattered anymore because Rodrigo’s song eclipsed it and every other song on the planet in January of 2021.
The song went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in one week after doing blockbuster streaming numbers on Spotify and Amazon. It bested Spotify’s record for the most streams in a week worldwide, taking executives at the streamer by surprise. “It did align perfectly and quicker than anything we’ve ever seen,” Spotify co-head of music Jeremy Erlich told the New York Times. “We’ve seen alignment like that, but typically it’s spread over three to six months — this happened in a day and a half.”
The stars kept aligning. The song was featured in a Saturday Night Live sketch on February 20, Rodrigo’s birthday. She became the youngest artist in history to debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for eight consecutive weeks. With over one billion streams, it’s among Spotify’s 100 most streamed songs ever. Rodrigo tapped into something emotionally that everyone could identify with: heartbreak.
The release of a debut EP was supposed to follow. But, Rodrigo called up Geffen Records and told them she wanted to record an entire album instead. She holed up with the producer she’d created “Driver’s License” with, Dan Nigro, and they started reworking her songs and writing new ones. Nigro spotted Rodrigo some years before, reaching out about one of her songs on Instagram and suggesting they work together.
Rodrigo’s second single, “Deja Vu,” came in April and was followed by “Good 4 U” the next month. And on May 21, 2021, Sour dropped. Rodrigo was the first artist in history to debut three pre-release singles in the Billboard Hot 100, and upon the release of her album, all of the songs on it hit the top 30 in the Hot 100. Variety called her the voice of her generation. Rolling Stone called it revelatory. Teen Vogue promised it would “give you the toolkit to cope with what you’re going through right now.”
Many agreed, and it became one of 2021’s best-selling albums. But, lest you forget, we were all firmly in the middle of a pandemic. So in July, Olivia Rodrigo went where only select pop stars have gone before: the White House. President Biden enlisted her to help get out the word about COVID vaccinations to young people, whose vaccination rate lagged behind other groups. Rodrigo, who suggested the partnership, saw her profile get even more prominent from behind the White House briefing room podium. “We need to reach people, meet people where they are and speaking to young people… who are under the age of 18… hearing from her that… getting vaccinated is a way to keep yourself safe, a way to ensure you can see your friends, a way you can ensure you can go to concerts, a way you can ensure that you can live a healthy life is an important part of what we’re trying to do here,” Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
Because of the pandemic, concerts — and a tour — were something that Rodrigo didn’t pack in as part of her experience as a newly minted pop star. In September, she’d make her first appearance playing for the public at the iHeartRadio Music Festival while hundreds sang along to her songs. But she still hadn’t played a “proper show” ans she won’t until the spring of 2022 when she kicks off a sold-out world tour.
With two concert films, Sour Prom from July 2021 and Driving Home 2 U (A Sour Film) now on Disney+, under her belt, Rodrigo has one last hurdle to pass: collecting some Grammy gold.
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