Cambridge, Massachusetts rhymer Millyz is a longtime veteran of the rap business, independently releasing albums and mixtapes since 2013. Over the years, he’s worked with other established forces in street rap like Dave East, G Herbo, and Jadakiss, and appeared in the 2016 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher. Though he’s in his 30s, he’s still up and coming, gaining new fans and followers all the time.
Today, he brings his new single “Sometimes” to the UPROXX Sessions stage. The song is both reflective and motivational, seeing him look back at how far he’s come to find the drive to go even further. “I had to make it out the dark, I always knew I would shine,” he croons in the chorus, summing up the spirit of his everlasting hustle. “Sometimes” appears on his newly released project Blanco 5, which features appearances from Fivio Foreign, Mozzy, Styles P, and more.
Watch Millyz perform “Sometimes” for UPROXX Sessions above.
UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.
One of the best television programs from last year included a scene in which a man pooped in another man’s suitcase. When it’s described that way it doesn’t sound as nuanced as it is, but it is very nuanced.
In the finale of HBO’s The White Lotus which aired last summer, hotel manager Armand (Murray Bartlett) is about to get fired from his job due to needy hotel guest Shane (Jake Lacy). In an inspiring attempt at revenge, Armand sneaks into Shane’s room and poops in his suitcase. Unfortunately, this results in Shane stabbing Armand, who dies.
Just under a year after the show’s premiere on HBO, those involved in the poop scene talked about it in detail with Variety. Everyone involved, from writer Mike White to editor John Valerio said that creating the scene as we saw it was a complex process. Murray Bartlett said that the scene required a lot of shots, and was initially not supposed to include any wide shots of him pretending to poop. He found out about the wide shots making the final cut the day the finale aired last summer. Here’s what Bartlett said
We did a lot of coverage of that scene — there were shots on my face and shots of me squatting over the suitcase. We also did wide shots, but Mike [White] was like, ‘Don’t worry, we’re never going to use the wide shots.’ He called me the day that the last episode went to air and was like, ‘You’ve seen it right? I feel so bad.’ A lot of it is one long wide shot of me squatting over a suitcase doing my thing, which is the perfect shot to use obviously, but Mike was sort of stressed about it. It was very carefully choreographed. Shane comes in and I’m creeping out of the closet, and then he comes back into the hallway, so I have to go back in the closet. It’s this sort of physical comedy. We had a stunt guy who actually fell back into the bath. We wanted Armond’s last moment to be sort of ambiguous — there’s terror, obviously, in being stabbed in the chest, but also there’s some relief and perverse humor in it.
The White Lotus will probably get nominated for a bunch of Emmys and win a few of those, too. Originally intended as a limited series, the show was picked up for a second season, which will follow a new cast and the return of Jennifer Coolidge in a new location. No air date has been announced yet.
The 2022 BET Awards are coming up quickly, as the show goes down on June 26. Now, ten days before the event, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of what the broadcast is going to look like, as BET has announced who will be performing during this year’s awards.
Taking the stage will be Lizzo, Jack Harlow, Chloe, Chance The Rapper, Roddy Ricch, Latto, Giveon, Babyface, Doechii, Ella Mai, Fireboy DML, Joey Badass, Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin, and Muni Long. Additionally, GoGo Morrow and OGI will perform on the BET Amplified Stage. On top of that, more artists are set to be announced at a later date.
The BET Awards were in the news earlier this month after the nominations were revealed and Lil Nas X, whose late-2021 album Montero was a hit, didn’t have a single one. In response, Nas tweeted, “Thank you bet awards. An outstanding zero nominations again. black excellence!” He later used his snub as a launching point for a conversation about “the bigger problem of homophobia in the black community.”
As for who was nominated, Doja Cat leads the pack with six total nods, followed closely by Drake and Ari Lennox, who each have four nominations.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Following a week of rumors, BTS member Jungkook is setting the record straight. Earlier this week, he took to South Korean live streaming app V-Live to clarify any rumors or misunderstandings, particularly those of a break-up.
Jungkook spoke in Korean during the stream, and while there were no English subtitles onscreen, a rep for Jungkook clarified that he had said that the group will not be disbanding or taking a hiatus, per Rolling Stone. Rather, the group will remain active as a band, even as the individual members work on their solo projects.
Jungkook also revealed that the group will shoot a video for their “Run BTS” cut from their Proof album.
Earlier this week, a rep for the band also confirmed that the band will not be breaking up, saying, “To be clear, they are not on hiatus but will take time to explore some solo projects at this time and remain active in various different formats.
The group’s label, Big Hit, also said in a statement, “BTS now starts a new chapter with new solo projects as well as group projects. Members will take this time to achieve personal growth through various new activities, and we expect it to further strengthen the foundation for the group’s long run as a team. Big Hit Music will actively support the artists.”
It’s hard to believe that Steve Lacy hasn’t released a new track in over three years, because he’s been firmly entrenched in mainstream consciousness ever since he put out Apollo XXI in 2019. Earlier this year, Lacy jumped on “Skin Tight,” off of Ravyn Lenae’s debut LP, Hypnos (which he co-produced much of). He also appeared on Foushee’s “Double Standard” and is slated to be on Brent Faiyaz’s new album. These are all examples of Lacy lending his master-touch to help elevate other artists’ games; It’s what made him stand out as an integral member of The Internet to begin with.
However, the mystique of his solo work is even more intriguing than his work as a right-hand player. It’s what garnered Apollo XXI a Grammy nomination and what helps build the anticipation for his sophomore album. Gemini Rights is the name of his upcoming drop, due out this summer, and now “Mercury” represents its lead single.
The song opens with a cowbell-inflected bossa nova groove, as Lacy softly sings in his velvet coo. His signature guitar riffs are at every turn, but he’s playing with complex rhythms. It builds up into an explosive conclusion and Lacy explained to Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 that a lot of the output from Gemini Rights will follow this pattern: “All of the singles, they all have a dual side, they all switch up, so like “Mercury’s” the first half and then the second half is something else, and then the singles do the same thing.”
Watch the video for “Mercury” above.
Some of the artists mentioned here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Enemies and critics of Vladimir Putin have been known to end up dead, but even as a Russian, Mikhail Baryshnikov isn’t afraid.
What a thing to behold. Back in the mid 1980s, Baryshnikov starred in White Nights as a ballet dancer singled out as a Russian defective who must plot his way to freedom. Fast forward a few decades, and the one-time Sex And The City actor is reflecting (during a CBS Sunday Morning interview) upon how Russians are inherently pressured to not criticize their government. Of course, protests show that this still happens, although authorities are known to still round up protesters, and if one is a political opponent to Putin, like opposition leader Alexei Nalvany, then there’s ongoing imprisonment as a part of the prescription of punishment.
And that’s not to mention the mysterious poisoning deaths of journalists (this also happened to Nalvany) and ex-KGB agents who dare to criticize the Kremlin. Well, Baryshnikov isn’t going to keep sitting down, and he feels that, at this point, he’s got nothing to lose at age 75 by speaking his mind regarding Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. “I couldn’t stay silent this time,” Baryshnikov declared to CBS News. “I was born in Soviet — at that time Soviet Latvia — in a family of a military officer.”
Notably, Baryshnikov recently cofounded a charity (True Russia) for Ukrainian refugees, and the organization’s website quickly found itself banned in Russia. Here’s part of the CBS News transcript where Baryshnikov tells Anthony Mason that Putin’s silencing attempts are “disgusting,” and then comes the discussion of giving no f*cks:
MASON: Do you think of this as Russia’s war? Or Putin’s war?
BARYSHNIKOV: It is Putin’s war. … He’s trying to create a new history of Russia. … He does not care about people at all … although how it’s possible, he has kids himself, you know? How it’s possible?
MASON: Russians who speak out against him have a way of kind of disappearing.
BARYSHNIKOV: Listen, I will be 75 years old. What have I to lose?
Baryshnikov’s refusal to be silent will bring attention to not only displaced Ukrainians but also the thousands upon thousands of Ukrainians have lost their lives in the conflict thus far. And it appears that the fed-up wives of Russian soldiers are pointing toward a great number of casualties on their end as well, in addition to the top Russian commander who got whacked by a sniper as the war cranks past 100 days.
This CBS interview will air on June 19 and can also be streamed on Paramount+.
Each week our staff of film and TV experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.
The original true-crime docuseries (originally on Sundance TV) captivated enough people on Netflix that HBO Max decided to dramatize the story, and lo and behold, it works. Colin Firth plays Michael Peterson, who served prison time after the death of his wife, Kathleen (portrayed by Toni Collette) under mysterious circumstances. Sophie Turner and Parker Posey are on hand, and there’s a (SPOILER ALERT) certain theory that won’t be overlooked. This shall be an eight-part adaptation that explores the nature of fact and fiction and goes to some unexpected places. Watch it on HBO Max.
Two important things are worth noting here. The first is that this show, a fun dramedy starring Rose Byrne that takes a spandex-tight look at the 1980s aerobics era and the types of people who made it a whole thing, is returning for a second season. The second thing is that this new season adds Murray Bartlett to the cast, which, as anyone who watched him devolve into an amphetamine-snorting lunatic on The White Lotus can attest, is a wonderful development. Good news all around. Watch it on Apple TV Plus.
David Letterman continues to recreate his old late-night show in pieces. First, it was the talk show portion with My Next Guest Needs No Introduction and now it’s the stand-up comedy showcase side of things with his newest Netflix show, That’s My Time, where he blesses newish comics by inviting them to his stage (at Netflix’s recent comedy fest) to do their act and have a quick chat. This comes after news that Letterman was teaming with Sarah Silverman to turn his old Stupid Pet Tricks bit into a show. Think about it, get paid for one show with 5 or 6 pieces or 5 or 6 shows? The man is as good at money as he is at beard growing. Watch it on Netflix.
What we have here is an alternate history situation, one where the space race of the 1960s didn’t end, thanks in large part to Russia beating America to a handful of important achievements. The show is now in season three, so there’s plenty for you to dive into if you want, which you probably should, in part due to a bunch of space cowboys doing cool space cowboy things, and in part because all your television-obsessed friends won’t stop talking about it. Win-win. Watch it on Apple TV Plus.
Remember American Vandal? Man, it would be great if you did. That show was incredible, both in its zeitgeist-capturing first season and in its less-viral second season. Go back and watch both of them again some time. You deserve it. Or, maybe, watch Players, the new series from the American Vandal team that was scooped up by Paramount. This one focuses on gamers and gaming and esports and the teams and competitions that have turned into big-money enterprises. You deserve this, too. Watch it on Paramount Plus.
The notorious Jeffs are getting it done, first with Jeff Daniels portraying a complicated lawman in Showtime’s American Rust and now with Jeff Bridges portraying an ex-CIA operative (Dan Chase, what a name) who’s forced into (wait for it) one last job in this adaptation of Thomas Perry’s bestselling thriller novel. John Lithgow plays the impetus, a government agent, who’s really pissing off Bridges’ character, and it’s on. All of Dan’s skills are back, so watch out, naysayers. Watch it on FX/Hulu.
5. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney Plus)
DISNEY
If Obi-Wan is a name you’ve not heard in a long time (long time), you’re in luck. Ewan McGregor reprises his role as Not-So-Old Ben in Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, a six-episode limited series set a decade after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Also back: Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader. Should you watch Obi-Wan Kenobi? Yesssssssssssss. Watch it on Disney Plus.
This show brings us the perfect actress, Iman Vallani, for the leading gig of portraying Kamala Khan. She takes us on a fun-filled revamp of her character’s comic character, and this show is a roaring ball of glee that will help to set up The Marvels, which will not only include Kamala and Carol but also Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Paris) from WandaVision. The MCU’s lightening up again, and we love to see it. Watch it on Disney Plus.
The long-awaited fourth season of Stranger Things is, in a word, epic. And that’s not because of its cinematic run times. Well, not entirely. It’s true you’ll essentially be watching seven movies, not episodes, but those are packed with all of the 80s nostalgia, Dungeons and Dragons references, demonic possessions, prison breaks, rink parties, and secret government experiments you could ask for. Hawkins is in more danger than ever and with Eleven powerless, there’s no superhero in sight — unless you count Erica Sinclair, which obviously you should. But the joy of this season is watching the rest of these weirdos and misfits band together to save each other … and themselves. Watch it on Netflix.
Finally, The Boys. Are. Back. And so is Homelander, although he is most decidedly not okay after the events of the Season 2 finale, so plenty more increasingly sadistic behavior will soon arrive on that end. He’s got competition in the “hero of heroes” department, though, because Jensen Ackles climbs aboard as Soldier Boy (a profane Captain America knockoff), who’s definitely all up in the “Herogasm” episode, which you should sit down before watching. And expect the show to actually transcend those exploding heads, the whale collision, and Homelander’s self-pleasuring scene atop a skyscraper. In other words, clear you calendar for these weekly decadent delights. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
By order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, we demand you watch the final season of Netflix’s historical crime drama. Why? Because Cillian Murphy has never been better. Because we’re building up to a second World War. Because there are Fascists with tiny mustaches and Prohibition’s over and familial blood feuds are wreaking havoc across two continents and gypsy curses are being broken and Tom Hardy is back (doing his unintelligible mumbling thing while writing an original opera) and … well, you get it right? Watch it on Netflix.
Each week our staff of film and TV experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish movies available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.
What we have on our hands with this is a collection of new stunts and some behind-the-scenes of old stunts all featuring the sweet and chaotic boys from Jackass. You love that stuff. Don’t you dare overthink it. Turn your brain off and let the madness wash over you. Watch it on Netflix.
10. (tie) On the Count of Three (VOD)
ANNAPURNA
Jerrod Carmichael is having a moment, garnering all the praise for his revealing and powerful HBO special (Rothaniel, watch it again!), a great turn as SNL host, and now, for the release of his festival fave narrative directorial debut, On The Count Of Three. But, of course, you knew Carmichael was a force from his previous specials and The Carmichael Show. You’re just happy to see everyone else catch up and, with this film, get the chance to see Carmichael flex his dramatic muscles opposite Christopher Abbott as two friends trying to get the most out of the last moments before they execute each other as a part of a suicide pact. Track it down on your VOD service of choice.
What if Seven but with way more leather and punching? In a lot of ways, that could serve as a very simple synopsis of what Matt Reeves has done with the crown jewel of DC Comics lore, placing his take beside The Joker on the highest shelf (both in terms of artistry, societal commentary, and other adult themes) in the DCEU film library. Does it work? In some ways, absolutely, providing a grim but intriguing vision of the Batman as a detective with the mother of all chips on his shoulder as he wrestles with his thirst for vengeance and a vicious villain in Paul Dano’s Riddler, who is always seemingly one step ahead of him and Jeffrey Wright’s Jim Gordon (a buddy cop pairing that is as awkward as it is rewarding). Throw in Zoe Kravitz’s tremendous turn as Selina Kyle/Catwoman (who also connects so well with Robert Pattinson’s Batman that you wish Reeves would have allowed for even more of their on-screen back and forth) and Gotham City’s usual mix of criminal underworld string-pulling and civic corruption and you’ve got a very full meal. Overfull? Too mature? Let’s just say The Batman can seem so grown up and dense at times that you may forget that it’s a superhero movie, for better or worse. Watch it on HBO Max.
No one knows who really asked for this reboot starring Andy Garcia in Steve Martin’s shoes. Does this movie somehow involved literal shoes, as in the first movie? You’ll need to tune in and find out as Garcia’s character yanks everyone’s chain like he’s the real Bridezilla. If anyone can get him under control, it’s Gloria Estefan’s matriarch, and this is good, wholesome fun, people. Watch it on HBO Max.
Look elsewhere for a meditative self-exploration of a comic inching toward the end of his life. Norm Macdonald just wants to tell jokes, delivering a very Norm set in a very non-Norm setting (recorded at home with no audience due to COVID) with urgency. David Letterman puts it perfectly in the loose conversation that follows with him, Conan O’Brien, Dave Chappelle, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, and David Spade, saying it’s not stand up, but something different. But it’s still something worth seeing for Norm’s swan song and also the aforementioned conversation, which brings a level of closure to fans who get to hear a few great Norm stories and some thoughts on what made him so unique. Watch it on Netflix.
Ambulance has everything you could want in an action movie: frenetic pacing, adrenaline-soaked chase scenes, Michael Bay doing everything at once, hot explosive nonsense, Jake Gyllenhaal as a villainous psychopath with crazy eyes, an ambulance, etc. It’s basically perfect, if this is the type of thing you’re looking for, which you probably are on a Friday or Saturday night. Make some popcorn or order a pizza and get in there. Watch it on Peacock.
Friends and colleagues of the late comedian and Full House star get together for one last tribute, this one probably full of sweet memories and filthy jokes. Which feels right. Watch it on Netflix.
Everybody clap your hands for Cha Cha Real Smooth, the second feature from writer and director Cooper Raiff. He also stars in the comedy-drama as a recent college graduate with an aimless life until he finds a job (bar/bat mitzvah “party starter”) and friends (a suburban mom played by Dakota Johnson and her autistic teenage daughter). It sounds like Indie Movie Trope Overload, but Cha Cha Real Smooth is a real charmer, with a heartfelt performance from Johnson. Watch it on Apple TV Plus.
Bowen Yang may be the best talent to emerge from Saturday Night Live in years – a fact underscored by the recent departure of comedy greats like Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant – but he’s not the only reason this sweet and silly gay romcom works. A BIG reason, sure, but not the only one. There’s also Margaret Cho playing a loopy lesbian house mom, a setting that allows a group of Queer misfits to find a sense of belonging amidst MDMA hazes and pulse-pounding raves, and a central love story that borrows from the period romance wellspring of one Jane Austen. It’s a booze-infused Pride & Prejudice in short swim trunks for the gays and the theys, but the fact that it works so damn well is also proof that the romcom genre should be welcoming more Queer and minority romantic leads into its ranks. Watch it on Hulu.
Adam Sandler plays a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers who discovers a raw but promising player in Spain. Hijinks ensue. Kind of. It’s more of a dramedy than, say, Jack & Jill, but it’s still Sandler doing his thing. Basketball fans will no doubt be just as interested in the action as they will be picking out all the cameos by NBA stars. It looks like a good time. Watch it on Netflix.
1. Jerry and Marge Go Large (Paramount Plus)
PARAMOUNT PLUS
Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening play a married couple who discover a loophole in the state lottery and use it to win millions and millions of dollars. There should be more movies like this. Hundreds of them, probably. But this is a good start. Watch it on Paramount Plus.
Vodka remains one of the biggest-selling spirits in the world. The neutral spirit is often dismissed as a shooter or mixer with little value beyond getting you lit. But while the clear sauce is often very neutral, there area lot of nuances at play — as with any spirit made with sugars, yeast, and water. To find those nuances, I decided to run a blind taste test of eight bottles from my shelf.
The litmus for this blind tasting is pretty easy, which of these eight random bottles actually tastes good? What’s in these vodkas besides just mineral water and “neutrality” when it comes to a flavor profile? Are any of them actually worth sipping? Valid questions for a spirit that tends to be very affordable these days — the most expensive bottle in this blind tasting is $45.
The lineup today is:
Russian Standard Platinum
Skyy Vodka
Green Mark Vodka
Ketel One Vodka
Ciroc Vodka
Highway Vodka With Hemp Seed
Crystal Head
Absolut Elyx
Let’s dive in and see which of these bottles pop on the palate!
Also Read: The Top Vodka Posts On UPROXX From The Last Six Months
A hint of Graham Cracker mingles with a soft mineral water clarity on the nose. The palate has a wet grain vibe that’s ever-so-slightly bitter with a hint of orange zest. That orange zest pops on the finish with a hint of cardamom and more of that super soft mineral water.
This is a pretty nice place to start, there’s nuance and a complex flavor profile. It’s also super smooth.
Taste 2
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is super light and watery with a hint of peppercorn on the nose. The palate is all about the soft mineral water with a faint whisper of dried mint and chewing gum with a tiny echo of that pepper from the nose. Ultimately, it’s pretty watery.
“Meh” was my reaction to this one. Not sure where it’ll land in the ranking, but I can’t imagine it’ll be too high.
Taste 3
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is seriously interesting with hints of soft and wet sweetgrass, rye bread crusts, and almond shells on the nose. The palate is lush with a hint of soft mineral water (the kind that comes in a glass bottle) next to that soft sweetgrass. The end is slightly nutty with a very minor note of citrus.
This is good. This feels like the pour to beat.
Taste 4
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This has a strong nose with hints of lemon oils and dry grains with a hint of spice that leans toward cumin but not quite. The taste lets the lemon shine on the palate as fresh green herbs and a hint of olive oil arrive. The end is very soft but kind of washed out in a tap water feel.
This is promising but kind of lacks a big finish.
Taste 5
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Ugh. This is like an overly sweet and very cheap lemon soda out of a plastic bottle on the nose. The palate is the same but it’s like hot and flat lemon soda that was nowhere near a lemon in its entire existence. It feels like fake sugar meets fake lemon meets flat and hot soda pop.
Fail.
Taste 6
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This has a creamy nose with a hint of leather, whole oats, and maybe a hint of orange oil. The palate holds onto that full-bodied creaminess with a light touch of Graham Cracker next to a whisper of wet green grass. The end washes out and is mostly water.
This was interesting up until the end.
Taste 7
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Cornbread and vanilla frosting dominate the nose. The palate is a little subtler, more like a vanilla sugar cookie with a hint of dry corn husk in the background. The finish is balanced with a hint of black licorice, sea salt, and a sweet hint of citrus.
This was a departure but still pretty deep for a vodka.
Taste 8
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
The nose opens with soft mineral water that leans into a wheat field after a rainstorm with a hint of vanilla lurking in the background. The palate holds onto that rain-soaked wheat as moist black soil and lemon meringue lead back that hint of vanilla pod. The end marries the lemon and vanilla with softness from the rainwater that’s well balanced.
This French vodka is made with 100 percent Ugni Blanc grapes. It’s then distilled five times in a bespoke copper still. Finally, the spirit is cut with local water and bottled.
Bottom Line:
It’s ridiculous to even rank this as a vodka. It’s so out there that it just doesn’t feel right. Plus, it’s hot garbage.
SKYY Vodka has become a classic American vodka over the last nearly 30 years. The vodka is a grain spirit that’s cut with triple-filtered spring water. Though, starting next month, this will be the “classic” SKYY as a new version is coming out with mineral-enriched water at its core.
Bottom Line:
This very much felt like a vodka for adding alcohol to something with flavors. That’s it.
This Dutch vodka is made with European wheat. The mash is then distilled in a column still and an old coal-fired pot still. The two vodkas are then vatted and cut down with local water.
Bottom Line:
This was fine. It lost a little luster on the end, which basically means that this is good for mixing cocktails, or a vodka soda with plenty of lime.
This Texas vodka is made with, yep, hemp seeds along with locally-grown Texas yellow corn and water from an artesian aquifer. The spirit is then distilled six times before it’s proofed and bottled.
Bottom Line:
This was a good middle-of-the-road pour today. It didn’t pop but it was perfectly fine. I’d probably use it in a vodka soda.
Dan Akroyd’s vodka is as Canadian as the comedian. The vodka is made from peaches and cream corn in Newfoundland. The distillate is filtered through a crystal known as a Herkimer diamond. The vodka is then cut with glacial water from Newfoundland and is bottled in a bespoke crystal head.
Bottom Line:
This had a nice corn vibe but really felt like it was made for mixing rather than sipping. Still, this did have complexity and depth. It just wasn’t something that grabbed my attention today.
This classic Russian vodka from St. Petersburg is made with locally grown winter wheat. The spirit is then filtered through silver before it’s cut with local well water and bottled.
Bottom Line:
This was pretty damn good. It was initially very neutral but built a nice flavor profile. I could see sipping this over a rock with a twist of lime and enjoying it.
This 100 percent winter wheat vodka from Russia feels like a throwback classic. The spirit is cut with local spring water and then bottled in an old-school bottle with a pop cap.
Bottom Line:
This has a serious flavor profile and felt like a good sipper overall. You don’t even need a lime twist to open it up, it’s ready as-is.
Elyx (pronounced “ee-lix”) is a single-estate vodka made from winter wheat grown only at Råbelöf Castle near Åhus in Sweden. The vodka is mashed and distilled on antique copper gear and is then cut with local well water.
Bottom Line:
This was the most complex and easy drinking by far. You can sip this and find new flavors with each new sip. That’s saying something for a very neutral spirit. It’s also a good workhorse if you’re mixing bespoke, high end cocktails.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
Zach Johnston
There’s a lot going on in vodka if you just give it a chance. Look at it this way, nearly half of the flavor profile of your favorite whiskey or brandy or rum comes from the sugar, yeast, and water during fermentation. That’s 100 percent true of vodka too. The difference is that a lot of those flavors can get distilled and washed out to create a “neutral” spirit.
This blind taste shows that there are flavor notes in these vodkas. You just have to look for them. And while there are some clunkers on this list, the top four or five are all pretty solid, with the top two really hitting something special when it comes to having a real depth of flavor.
It’s often been said that riding a bicycle is a skill that, once learned, you never forget. If that is true, then Greta Van Susteren is proof that hosting a cable news show is nothing like riding a bicycle. The lawyer-turned-TV personality returned to the airwaves this week after a five-year absence to debut her latest show, The Record with Greta van Susteren, on (gulp!) Newsmax. To say it was an utter sh*tshow would be an insult to sh*tshows everywhere. Or, as The Daily Beast described it: “pure cringe.”
Newsmax’s new primetime lineup had an…awkward start – “If you’re still trying to interview me, I can’t make out what you’re saying” pic.twitter.com/wBUelbDSz0
Case in point: Her interview with Chuck Grassley, which turned out to be more hard-of-hearing than hard-hitting when the senator just kept smiling at the camera and telling a prattling-on Greta that her audio sucked. “It sounds like you’re talking in a cave,” the 88-year-old—who is old enough to have possibly been born in a cave—told her. “I just can’t hear anything you’ve asked me.”
Van Susteren said she understood and explained it was their first night on air and that they must have had some “gremlins in the system,” which we can only assume was a reference to her new colleague Greg Kelly—as it’s not like it was Newsmax’s first time running a broadcast.
Yet Van Susteren persisted, somehow assuming that it was the length or complexity of her original question that was giving Grassley trouble. So she lobbed a softball his way: “Do you have any sort of thought on food prices? I know you’re from a farm state.” Grassley spoke for everyone watching from between their fingers when he flatly replied: “If you’re still trying to interview me, I can’t make out what you’re saying.”
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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
