Month: July 2022

Nick Cannon is no stranger to headlines. More times than not, they have to do with his growing list of children and his inability to put a lid on his cannon. It was just a few months ago that Kevin Hart gifted Nick a condom vending machine for Valentine’s Day due to the latter having so many kids — eight to be exact. With that being said, Nick’s latest headline appearance has nothing to do with his baby-making ways. Instead, it comes after Cannon was accused of being in bed with someone while wearing an interesting piece of clothing.

In a TikTok, Tyisha Hampton, who is the ex-wife of actor Kel Mitchell, known for his roles on the Nickelodeon shows All That and Keenan & Kel, claimed that she discovered Cannon wearing a cheerleader uniform in bed with Mitchell. Hampton said that Cannon did this with Mitchell to “cheer him up because he cheated on me.” After catching wind of her claim, Cannon could do nothing but laugh.

“Yep!! Probably had the Big ear of corn, a bunch of orange soda and a couple of kids choice awards up our ass too!” Cannon wrote with a slew of laughing emojis under an Instagram post that reshared Hampton’s initial video.

You can view Hampton’s video and Cannon’s response above.

Eric Holder, the man accused of shooting and killing Nipsey Hussle in March of 2019, has been convicted of first-degree murder, according to Rolling Stone.

This story is being updated.

Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Last month, Nathan Fielder returned from a brief hiatus to tease his newest project, The Rehearsal on HBO, after nearly five years of working on side projects and hacking the Emmys. Today, Fielder dropped the trailer for the upcoming series, which looks like The Truman Show meets an early 2000s MTV reality show. Which is perfect!

The trailer shows Feilder rehearsing for everyday situations and conversations, with the most elaborate situations possible. As he explains, “If your performance isn’t accurate, it could ruin someone’s life.” The stakes are high, here. He also has a cute cat and a not-so-cute robotic baby.

As with most of Fielder’s shows, the concept is a little hard to explain, and even with the trailer, who really knows what we are getting. Here is the official synopsis:

Nathan Fielder returns to television for a new series that explores the lengths one man will go to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life. With a construction crew, a legion of actors, and seemingly unlimited resources, Fielder allows ordinary people to prepare for life’s biggest moments by “rehearsing” them in carefully crafted simulations of his own design. When a single misstep could shatter your entire world, why leave life to chance?

The series will July 15th. Check out the trailer above.

Kevin Durant knows a thing or two about being a young star for the Oklahoma City Thunder. While he joined the team back when they were the Seattle SuperSonics, Durant was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and was the face of the franchise right up until he left to join the Golden State Warriors.

Apparently, someone else who went No. 2 overall and plays for the Thunder caught Durant’s eye on Tuesday night. Chet Holmgren, who the team selected in the most recent NBA Draft, made his professional basketball debut at the Salt Lake City Summer League, and led the Thunder to a beatdown of the Utah Jazz. Durant tuned into the game, and after it was over, the Brooklyn Nets star took to Twitter to praise Holmgren’s performance and compliment him on the pair of KD 15s he wore during the game.

Holmgren saw the tweet and sent some love back to Durant.

While it comes with all the usual caveats about a Summer League game, Holmgren showed off his entire skill set during the Thunder’s 98-77 win. The former Gonzaga standout and No. 1 recruit in America put up 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a Summer League record six blocks on the evening.

The Baker Mayfield era in Cleveland has come to an end. According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Mayfield, who the team selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and has served as its starter for essentially his entire career, is getting the change of scenery he has wanted for months and will head to the Carolina Panthers.

The report indicates that Mayfield is going there for a conditional fifth-round draft pick, while both of the teams and Mayfield figured out how they want to handle the matter of the former Heisman Trophy winner’s salary.

The deal comes nearly four months after Mayfield requested a trade. While that obviously did not happen until now, Cleveland spent that time trying to get its quarterback position all sorted out, as the team acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans one day after Mayfield asked out. Watson is currently under investigation following more than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct, and reports have indicated that the league would like to suspend him for at least a season — with Mayfield out of the picture, the team’s presumed backup is Jacoby Brissett.

The Browns and the Panthers are slated to play one another in Charlotte during the NFL’s opening weekend. The Panthers’ current options at quarterback are a pair of returning players, Sam Darnold and PJ Walker, along with 2022 draft pick Matt Corral.

Sudan Archives is taking us back to her teenage years on her upcoming third album. Out this fall, Natural Brown Prom Queen is inspired by Sudan’s adopted hometown of Los Angeles, as well as Cincinnati, where she was born and raised.

Natural Brown Prom Queen will explore themes of race, womanhood, and the various forms of love she shares with her friends, family, and partner. On the album, Sudan, whose real name is Brittney Parks, will introduce her new alter ego, Britt. In a statement, Sudan described Britt as, “the girl next door from Cincinnati who drives around the city with the top down and shows up to high-school prom in a pink furry bikini with her thong hanging out her denim skirt.”

In support of the album, Sudan has announced the “Homecoming Tour“, where she will perform several dates across the US and Europe.

Check out the album artwork and tracklist below.

1. Home Maker
2. NBPQ (Topless)
3. Is This Real? (Can You Hear Yourself?)
4. Ciara
5. Selfish Soul
6. Loyal (EDD)
7. OMG BRITT
8. ChevyS10
9. Copycat (Broken Notions)
10. It’s Already Done
11. FLUE
12. TDLY (Homegrown Land)
13. Do Your Thing (Refreshing Springs)
14. Freakalizer
15. Homesick (Gorgeous & Arrogant)
16. Milk Me
17. Yellow Brick Road
18. #513

Natural Brown Prom Queen is out on 9/09 via Stones Throw Records. Pre-save it here.

With the weight of summer now fully upon us, you can be forgiven for wanting to pour some whiskey over ice cubes. Whatever the purists might say aside, “scotch on the rocks” is a thing for a reason. To that end, let’s dive into some great Scotch whisky — single malt or blended — that works wonders when poured over some ice.

For this ranking, I’m pulling in 10 peated and 10 unpeated Scotch whiskies and listing them separately to give you clear options. I fully get that the earthy, peaty, smoky, and even medicinal peated malts and blends are a lot for some people. This way you can grab a bottle based on my tasting notes that best suits your palate below. And if you’re feeling adventurous for those peaty whiskies, there are plenty of options for those as well.

So, let’s dive right in and find you a great whisky to drink on the rocks. It’s too hot for more preamble anyway.

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months

• All Of Johnnie Walker’s Core Whisky Line, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• Scotch Whiskies Tasted ‘Double-Blind’ And Power Ranked
• The Best Scotch Whiskies Under $50, Ranked
• The Winning Scotch And Bourbon Whiskeys From This Year’s Ascot Awards
• The Best Scotch Whisky Between $60-$70, Ranked

Peated

10. Laphroaig Select

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $55

The Whisky:

Master Distiller John Campbell created this whisky to highlight the diversity of the casking process behind Laphroaig’s classic expressions. The juice is a blend of four casks, marrying their quarter, Pedro Ximénez, triple wood, and 10-year-old casks to create a deeply satisfying bottle of whisky.

Tasting Notes:

The whisky draws you in with hints of red fruit, plums, nuts, and a bit of peated malt. The fruit leads the way on the palate while the wood leans mildly spicy with a bit of alcohol warmth, Ace bandages, smoked salts, and more of that malt. The end lingers as the fruit and wood come together with an ever-so-distant wisp of smoke and Band-Aid.

Bottom Line:

This will be the most divisive whisky on the list. Laphroaig is bold, medicinal, and peaty AF. Some people fall in love with it from the first sip. Some spit that sip out as soon as it hits their tongue. That’s why I’m ranking it in tenth place — it’s too hit or miss for some people to rank it in the top rungs.

9. Bunnahabhain 12

ABV: 46.3%

Average Price: $55

The Whisky:

Back on Islay, this peated malt is another great gateway to the Island’s smoke whiskies thanks to being extremely lightly peated. This expression is made from 12-year-old barrels that once held bourbon or sherry. Those barrels are vatted and the whisky is proofed down and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this opens with mild notes of smoked cherry next to burnt candle wax, tart apples, and salted caramels laced with orange oils. The taste mellows with a creamy vanilla pudding base with notes of Black Forest Cake and plenty of brandied cherries and dark cacao and a faint hint of cherry wood smoke way back in the background. The finish leans into that dry and fruity wood and leaves you with a touch more vanilla silkiness and singed cherry wood.

Bottom Line:

This peated whisky is a bit of a magic trick. The peat/earthiness is buried under a ton of sweet and bitter notes that make this feel more like a classic unpeated malt more than a peated one. That, in turn, ranks this a little lower on the ‘peated’ whisky side of things. Still, this is a good pour over the rocks no matter how little peatiness comes through.

8. Highland Park 12

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $46

The Whisky:

This is a pretty unique whisky. The distillery is located in Scotland’s far north Orkney Islands. The juice in the bottles is a classic peaty single malt that spends 12 years maturing in European and American oak, both of which were seasoned with sherry. The whiskies are then married and proofed down to a very accessible 40%.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a real sense of rich and almost rummy holiday cake full of dark spices, dried fruits, candied citrus, and nuts with a hint of smoke. A touch of fragrant honey arrives to smooth out the texture while adding sweetness. That smoke pops back in on the finish but it’s more like a chimney smoke from a house a few doors down on a snowy day than a funky peaty smoke from a bog.

Bottom Line:

This is where things get pretty even-keeled. The peatiness is abundant but really calms down with a few rocks. The water lets the fruit and nut notes come to the fore with a nice sweet smokiness underneath.

7. Lagavulin 8

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $66

The Whisky:

This expression was originally released to celebrate the distillery’s 200th anniversary. The whisky was created to mimic the juice that was being bottled back in the 1880s, during a high point in Lagavulin’s history. The whisky became a modern hit and is now part of their core line.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is full of honey-orange, dry and earthy malts, and a nod to chocolate-covered cherries with the slightest hint of fried cod wrapped in newspaper. The taste brings a solid billow of campfire smoke with traces of dark chocolate, burning cinnamon sticks, dry mint, and burnt potato skins (yes, really). The end is long-ish and marries the tastes together, leaving you with the memory of drinking a dark mint-chocolate spiked espresso next to a smoldering backyard fire on a cold autumn night, while somewhere in the distance, the sea laps at the shore. The very end has a whisper of new Band-Aids still in the box.

Bottom Line:

This is just a classic all-around but on the bolder side. With a few rocks, you get a good dose of smoked chocolate and spices more than just one or the other.

And from here on, we’re dealing with killer bottles.

6. Caol Ila Distillers Edition

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $88

The Whisky:

This yearly release from the tiny Islay distillery, Caol Ila, is all about the finish. The 12-year-old juice is finished in Moscatel sherry casks to give it a truly deep fruitiness next to that briny Islay peat.

Tasting Notes:

Smoked apricots lead to singed star anise and a honey-chocolate note on the nose that’s subtle and very enticing. Crispy salmon skins and anchovy oils counter a soft and distant beach campfire on a rainy day with smoked sea salts, buttery toffee, and smoked apricot. That apricot drives the mid-palate towards silky layers of orange oils, more of that fatty salmon skin, and a final wisp of that campfire smoke from way down the beach.

Bottom Line:

Speaking of killer bottles, this one really hits the nuanced vibes well. Over a couple of rocks, the ocean vibes and smoke mellow toward rich chocolate with a buttery lushness.

5. Oban 14

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $69

The Whisky:

This is a great gateway to both Oban and scotch to have on hand. The juice is classically made and then matured in the Oban storehouses for 14 long years — all within a stone’s throw of the sea.

Tasting Notes:

Citrus, salt, and a billow of peat smoke open this one up in classic fashion on the nose. That citrus carries on as a foundation for mild spices on the palate as a note of honey, hints of pears, and plummy dried fruits mingle on the tongue. The oak spice and extremely mild peat smoke meet on the end with a slight malty sweetness as the sip fades.

Bottom Line:

This is great neat. So there’s that. Adding that ice really lets the brightness of the citrus and pear shine through with a creamy honey silkiness.

It’s crazy that this is only fifth on this ranking. There are some great whiskies coming up.

4. Talisker 10

ABV: 45.8%

Average Price: $64

The Whisky:

This is one of the most awarded single malts ever. The juice is matured in ex-bourbon casks in Talisker’s warehouse which is literally feet away from the sea. The subtly peated malts take on a real seaside feel as those years tick past, creating a whisky that will not disappoint.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a distance to Talisker that draws you in on the nose — I’ve often described it as campfire smoke from a few hundred yards down a rainy beach. The sea spray mellows the smoky peat to a fine point as oyster shells dance with almost dry pears, dried apricot, and rich malt. The end doesn’t overstay its welcome and reminds you of oyster liquor and that smoldering campfire somewhere far down a rainy beach.

Bottom Line:

This whisky was made to be sipped on the rocks — with a plate full of raw oysters on the side. That ice really lets the orchard fruit and creamy oyster liqueur rise to the top and accent the beauty of this whisky.

3. Johnnie Walker Green Label

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $55

The Whisky:

Johnnie Walker’s Green Label is a solidly crafted whisky that highlights Diageo’s fine stable of distilleries across Scotland. The juice is a pure malt or blended malt, meaning that only single malt whisky is in the mix (no grain whisky). In this case, the primary whiskies are a minimum of 15 yearsold, from Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, and Linkwood.

Tasting Notes:

Soft notes of cedar dance with hints of black pepper, vanilla pods, and bright fruit with a wisp of green grass in the background. The palate really delivers on that soft cedar woodiness while edging towards a spice-laden tropical fruit brightness. The finish is dialed in with hints of cedar, spice, and fruit leading towards a briny billow of smoke at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This is just a great whisky, to begin with. Over a few rocks, the spiciness and lush vanilla really amp up with cedar giving way to a soft holiday spice vibe and some fruit cake with a hint of lush chocolate.

2. Ardbeg 10

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $49

The Whisky:

This is a classic bottle of peated malt. The Islay whisky is made with iconic Port Ellen peated malts and then primarily matured in ex-sherry casks for at least 10 years. Those casks are married and then cut with local lake water before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of stonefruit, orange oils, and earthen peaty smoke that greets you. The palate leans into the iodine and earthiness with plenty of campfire smoke next to black pepper, vanilla, and an underlying nuttiness. With a little water, a coffee bitterness arises next to a hint of black licorice. The end really embraces the smoke, adding fattiness like an old meat smoker as the fruit and nuts make a final appearance on the very slow fade.

Bottom Line:

This whisky shine on the rocks thanks to those bright orange oils and fatty vanilla creaminess coming to the fore. Overall, the smokiness becomes more of a smoked fat than an ashtray with plenty of lush creaminess backing it up.

1. Dalwhinnie 15

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $73

The Whisky:

This entry-point bottle to the wider world of Dalwhinnie is a hell of an easy drinker. The juice is aged in Scotland’s oldest distillery, making the maturation process a severe one. The juice spends 15 years hiding in those barrels as the temperatures dip well below freezing across all those winters on a windswept hill.

Tasting Notes:

Imagine a bowl of pear and apple peels sitting next to an open jar of floral summer honey on the nose. Dots of citrus oils mingle with that honey as a smooth vanilla character arrives on the back of sweet brown bread bespeckled with smoked walnuts. The nuts, sweet bread, and floral honey all converge on the finish as it slowly fades towards a final billow of sweet smoke at the back of your mouth.

Bottom Line:

This is another whiskey that really dials back the hefty peat notes while leaning into fruit and honey. That honey gets very silky with some ice as the smoke attaches to the sweet fruits with a soft and very lush mouthfeel.

Unpeated

10. Glenfiddich 12

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $44

The Whisky:

This is an entry whisky not only to Speyside but to single malts in general. The juice is aged in a combination of used American and European oak before it’s married, rested, proofed with Speyside’s iconic water, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

This dram is creamy like a vanilla pudding with a bright pear orchard vibe, some mild toffee, and hints of sweetgrass next to mild oak. That leads towards a very easy and soft woodiness with a touch of candied pear and more vanilla cream before hints of soft cinnamon spice poke up in the background with those soft malts. By the end, it’s clear how light and approachable this whisky is as that pear, vanilla cream, and milt spice slowly fade away, leaving you with a silken mouthfeel and just enough malts and toffee.

Bottom Line:

This is a quintessential “on the rocks” pour. While I might use this more for cocktails (hence it’s ranked tenth), this works wonders on ice thanks to all that orchard fruit and vanilla really shining through.

9. Compass Box Orchard House

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $58

The Whisky:

The blended malt leans into apples as a predominant flavor note of sweet Scotch whisky. The juice in the bottle is a blend of 39% Linkwood single malt that aged in ex-bourbon barrels, 20% Clynelish single malt also aged in ex-bourbon barrels, and Benrinnes single malt from ex-bourbon barrels. The next eight percent is a single malt from a distillery in the town of Aberlour (not the distillery) that aged in ex-sherry butts with two percent from a Highland malt blend that aged in custom-built and toasted French oak barrels, and the final two percent from a peated malt from Caol Ila that matured in ex-bourbon casks.

Tasting Notes:

Naturally, apples burst forth on the nose with tart, sweet, and juicy notes next to a soft pear vibe, lemon and lime zest, a touch of sweet pineapple, and a soft echo of dry but fragrant Earl Grey tea leaves. The palate leans into fresh ginger soaking in a pot of floral honey next to minor notes of fresh strawberry shortcake with a soft vanilla sponge cake, fresh berries, and a dollop of vanilla-laced whipped cream. The finish leans into a light white floral note while the pear and apple return with a ripeness that feels like they’re fresh off the vine and a final note of lightly spiced malts with a whisper of applewood smoke.

Bottom Line:

A little bit of ice with this fruit bomb is a great thing. The water lets the ginger sharpen while the vanilla and honey only get more creamy and lush. Still, this stays an apple bomb after pouring it over ice, so that ranks it a little lower on this list.

8. Loch Lomond ‘The Glengarry’ 12

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $76

The Whisky:

This single malt from the famed Loch Lomond Distillery is all about the aging process. The hot juice is loaded into ex-bourbon, re-fill bourbon, and re-charred oak barrels for 12 long years. Those barrels are then blended and the whisky is proofed down with Highland spring water.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is a mix of white summer flowers and a lot of fruit, kind of like a fruit salad out of the can. The palate really amps up the fruitiness with overripe peaches, bruised pears, and plenty of grilled pineapple next to a rummy spiced cocktail vibe with a little bit of vanilla, allspice, and woody cinnamon. The finish keeps it easy with more canned fruit syrup, a hint of sweetgrass, and a bit of malty spice.

Bottom Line:

The sweetness of the fruit really shines through when you pour this over ice. The spice also sharpens it a bit, adding to that “spiced cocktail” vibe. Overall, this is a solid summer sipper over some ice but might lead you to just making a tropical cocktail instead.

7. The Macallan 12

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $62

The Whisky:

Where many scotches spend time in ex-bourbon and then ex-sherry casks or some combination therein, this expression spends all 12 years of its maturation just in sherry casks. The barrels are imported from Jerez, Spain, and hand-selected for their excellence to mature this much-beloved whisky.

Tasting Notes:

Apple cider with a cut of cinnamon and clove in the juice greets you with a clear sense of vanilla, nuts, and plums on the nose. On the tongue, those plums turn into prunes as orange peels mingle with sweet oak and a hint of tobacco spice. The end is long, full of that sherry, dried fruit, and sweetness, and returns back to the chewy tobacco spice.

Bottom Line:

This is another classic choice for pouring over a rock or two (to the gasps of purists). The orange and vanilla sort of combine into a soft orange cream with a nutty edge to it that’s very refreshing.

6. Glenfarclas 12

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $60

The Whisky:

Glenfarclas is a bit of an outlier. The whisky is distilled with old-school fire-heated stills (most stills use steam) to this day. The juice is then aged exclusively in ex-sherry casks for 12 long years.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a rumminess to the nose that touches on molasses, prunes, nuts, and jam. The taste holds onto that vibe to the point of having an almost spiced rum sweetness and clear notes of holiday spices, plenty of dried fruit, and a roasted almond element. The end is long and spicy, leaving you with a warming Speyside hug.

Bottom Line:

That rumminess calms down a bit as the darker fruits and nuts rise to the top with a good dose of woody spice when you add ice. Overall, this is just an easy sipper that delivers a straightforward sweet scotch experience.

5. The Balvenie DoubleWood Aged 12 Years

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $70

The Whisky:

This is the whisky that launched the “double aging” trend back in 1982. This unpeated single malt spends 12 years mellowing in ex-bourbon casks before it’s transferred to ex-sherry casks for a final maturation of nine months. Finally, the whisky is vatted in a “tun” where it rests for three to four months before proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Soft and floral honey mix with a hint of vanilla extract, sweet red berries, and wine-soaked oak. The palate meanders through light touches of marzipan with a hint of cinnamon and fields of plum trees with a whisper of tree bark and leather lurking in the background. The finish lets the spicy malt kick in with a dose of hot cinnamon and honey tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This is another whisky that I love to use for cocktails, thanks to its spicy nuttiness. That also translates to over ice on a hot summer day. The ice really mellows the spice toward more of a spiced honey cake with a rich marzipan layer. It’s a nice sip of whisky and a good start for the top five on this list.

4. The Singleton of Glendullan 18

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $90

The Whisky:

This Speyside whisky rests mostly in ex-bourbon casks. The final product adds in a few barrels from Europe to mellow out the heavier bourbon barrels. That blend is then cut down to a low 80 proof for bottling.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with hints of cedar and winter spice underneath caramel candies, roasted almonds, and a hint of stewed orchard fruits. The palate largely carries on those flavors with a subtle hint of bourbon vanilla and spicy tobacco warmth attached to the maltiness, with an echo of dark chocolate-covered hazelnuts. The finish leans into the cedar and tobacco with a slightly mineral water base.

Bottom Line:

This might be another whisky that purists gasp about adding a rock to. Whisky needs water to bloom, especially this one. The addition of water turns this into a creamy and lush glass of malty chocolate cookies with hints of cedar and buttery caramel dancing in between. It’s a delightful sip with some serious complexity once it blooms with that extra water.

3. Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $79

The Whisky:

Chivas 18 is the brand’s signature higher-end blend. The juice is built around a specially made Strathisla 18 single malt. That juice is supported by 20 other single malts from around Scotland with various casking processes.

Tasting Notes:

This just feels classic from the first nose onward. There are clear layers of fancy dark chocolate that’s equal parts creamy and bitter next to dried red berries with a tart edge, buttery toffee, and a hint of dried roses wrapped in old leather. The palate marries the dried roses with the dark chocolate with a hint of smoked cherry and raspberry sneaking next to a touch of old vanilla husks and maybe some dried cedar. The end slowly fades through those florals and chocolate toward a sweet smoked note of tart fruit.

Bottom Line:

Chivas is the original “on the rocks” whisky, so this is a no-brainer. The reason this is third instead of first is that I like this just as much neat as on the rocks. So I was a bit torn about where to put it. In the end, this really opens up the florals and chocolate with those tart berries, creating a great depth and balance to the overall drink.

2. GlenDronach 12

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $63

The Whisky:

This Highland malt is blended by Scotch icon Dr. Rachel Barrie to highlight the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. The juice is a blend of whiskies aged for 12 years in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks before vatting, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with spicy berries next to tart apples with a hint of lemon/lime and old leather. The sip leans into a honey sweetness with vanilla beans, dark plums, and spicy malts. The finish smooths out with a mineral water softness as old cedar boards mingle with a raisin tobacco chewy spice on the very end.

Bottom Line:

I was equally torn with which GlenDronach to put here. I’m a huge fan of the whole line but the 12 feels like the perfect “on the rocks” expression. It really blooms in the glass with a little water, thanks to the vanilla and dark fruits taking on more depth and fattiness as the spiciness leans into the malts. It’s a great overall experience but not quite as perfect as the next pick.

1. Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $79

The Whisky:

This dram from Glenmorangie is a much-loved Highland malt. The juice is matured in ex-bourbon barrels for an undisclosed number of years. The whisky is then transferred to French Sauternes barrels which held sweet dessert wines where it spends two more years finishing.

Tasting Notes:

This has that classic “shortbread cut with lemon and vanilla” vibe that makes some single malts so approachable. The sip has a buttery toffee nature that’s layered with subtle oak, mild brown spices, and more fruits tied into a creamy pudding body. The spice then leans a little towards ginger with that buttery shortbread as it slowly fades out.

Bottom Line:

This turns into a luxurious and malty supple sip over rocks thanks to the shortbread, vanilla, and lemon all leaning into the fats in those flavor compounds. The spices mellow towards a soft woodiness and the “creamy pudding body” really takes in a soft lemon meringue pie vibe that’s downright delectable.

As the weather warms up and music fans spend more time outside in the coming months, the prevailing sounds of our playlists look to shift from the chilly, downtempo mood music of autumn and winter to the upbeat, tropical styles that soundtrack poolside shindigs and rooftop day parties. Murda Beatz has announced his contribution to this trend, “No Más,” coming on July 8. The Canadian producer has enlisted his own “summer anthem” Avengers to assist with the vibe-setting, including Anitta, J Balvin, Pharrell, and Quavo.

In addition, the song will be accompanied by a video that follows the crew as they say, “F*ck it, let’s head to Miami,” which is, of course, one of the premier warm-weather destinations and the perfect visual companion to a song with so much Latin flavor. No doubt the new musical direction for the frequent Drake collaborator was at least partially inspired by one of his collaborators in particular; in addition to working on music together, Murda and Anitta recently went Instagram official as romantic partners.

“No Más” is out on 7/8 via Warner Records. Pre-save it here.

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

Rudy Giuliani is not having an easy time of it lately. First, he was viciously attacked by a man who lightly tapped him on the back and might have called him a “scumbag” at a ShopRite in Staten Island while he was stumping for his son, New York gubernatorial candidate Andrew Giuliani. Then, Giuliani the Younger lost his primary bid, making the Slap Heard ‘Round the World all for naught. And after all that campaigning, Andrew announced that his “Iron Man” and “tough as nails” dad just underwent heart stent surgery. Even worse: the former New York City mayor has been reduced to hawking history’s ugliest sandals for MyPillow maniac Mike Lindell. And now he and Lindsey Graham have been subpoenaed to testify about election meddling in Georgia.

But Rudy’s biggest problem—aside from marrying his cousin—is that that pesky insurrection he purportedly helped to orchestrate just won’t go away. And after former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson mentioned Rudy’s name several times in her testimony, both as someone who helped in the planning of the events of January 6th and someone who asked for a pardon afterward, things really blew up.

Giuliani’s first attempt to discredit Hutchinson in a now-deleted tweet went sideways when he accidentally incriminated himself by stating: “The January 6 Witch Hunt Cabal has now exceeded even its prior fraudulent. The last witness was a reckless liar. Contrary to her false testimony she was never present when I asked for a pardon.” (When he became the butt of many jokes, he quickly deleted that and replaced it with a tweaked version that didn’t make him sound like a total criminal.)

But, really, what seems to be Rudy’s biggest issue: that everyone thinks he’s a criminal. On the July 1st edition of Giuliani’s hysterically named “Common Sense” podcast, he complained about the way he has been treated.

Everyone in Washington wants to make me a liar and a crook, and I’m not. But I know I have to protect myself I could’ve asked for a pardon for a very good reason – because I don’t want to get framed. I know I didn’t do anything wrong. I know I don’t act like they do. I don’t lie like Raskin and Schiff. I don’t take money like Pelosi and Biden and their families. I’ve spent most of my time putting crooks like them in jail. And I’ve acted honorably all my life. But I know they frame people. I know people they framed. So it would have been perfectly legitimate to ask for a pardon—not because I’m guilty of anything. But because they’re going to try real hard to make me guilty of something.”

Like, say, attempting to overturn the results of a completely legitimate election?

It was fun while it lasted, Rudy.

For over a decade now, Queen and Adam Lambert have been performing together, first linking up in 2011, following Lambert’s rise to stardom on American Idol in 2009. Since then, Queen and Lambert have put on hundreds of shows around the world, including a sold-out 10-show run at London’s O2 Arena last month. Turns out the band was filming those shows and now they’re gearing up to present them as Rhapsody Over London, a new concert film.

Rhapsody Over London will premiere on Kiswe’s global streaming platform on July 24 and is only set to be available until July 31. Aside from the base film, additional concerts and interviews will also be available to purchase.

The film includes 28 songs and will be accompanied by a live Q&A with Brian May, Roger Taylor, and Lambert. Fans have until July 19 to submit video questions for the band. The concert was filmed using 26 cameras, over 100 film technicians, so the band went all out for this production.

For more information about tickets, click here, and find the band’s upcoming tour dates below.

07/06 — Madrid, Spain @ WiZink Center
07/07 — Madrid, Spain @ WiZink Center
07/10 — Bologna, Italy @ Unipol Arena
07/11 — Bologna, Italy @ Unipol Arena
07/13 — Paris, France @ AccorHotels Arena
07/15 — Antwerp, Belgium @ Sportpaleis
07/17 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
07/18 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
07/20 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena
07/21 — Oslo, Norway @ Telenor Arena
07/24 — Tampere, Finland @ Tampere Deck Arena
07/25 — Tampere, Finland @ Tampere Deck Arena