Month: September 2022

Whiskey’s massive growth seems to be continuing unabated. American single malt is finally an official category, new bourbon and rye whiskeys are hitting shelves at breakneck speeds, and small-time/crafty distilleries are popping up in every corner of the country. That means it’s high time to call out our absolute favorite whiskeys from each of the 50 states in this union of ours.

There are a few parameters I need to get out of the way before we dive in.

• This is a list of regional whiskeys. So don’t expect to find these nationally. Availability will likely be limited to one or a few states with a couple of exceptions here and there.
• Price wasn’t really an issue for these, but I did keep this fairly “average” priced between $20 and $150. I did however add one or two wildly expensive bottles (because I think they’re worth at least trying as a pour in a bar).
• These bottles aren’t ranked. Some of them are better than others though. Let’s face it, Hawai’i, New Hampshire, Nebraska, and a handful of other states simply don’t have the massive whiskey industry as, say, Tennessee, Indiana, or freakin’ Kentucky, folks. So look at my tasting notes to see what speaks to you in your neck of the woods.
• The whiskey landscape of the U.S. is ever-changing, evolving, and expanding. Shout out your favorite local bottles in the comments!

Overall, this is an exciting list of great whiskeys from across all categories here in the U.S. There are some serious ryes, bourbons, and American single malts below. The best way to use this list is to travel with it. Seek out those Starlight pours in Indiana, track down Cowboy Bourbon in Texas, and pour some Grand Teton in Idaho.

In the end, this is America — a big, complicated, mixed-up nation — in 50 bottles of whiskey. Ready to dive in?

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months

• We Blind Tasted A Whole Bunch Of $30-60 Bourbons To See If Any Could Beat Weller
• We Put A Whole Bunch Of Bourbons To A Giant Blind Test And Discovered Some Absolute Gems
• We Blind Tasted Classic Bourbons And Were Shocked By The Winner
• The Best-Known Basic Bottles Of Bourbon, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• All The Double Gold-Winning Straight Bourbons From This Year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Alabama — Dettling Single Barrel Cask Strength

ABV: 55.4% (Varies)

Average Price: $79

The Whiskey:

This Alabama whiskey is all about that grain-to-glass experience. What really stands out, though, is that this whiskey aged for four years. The whiskey takes on a dark hew thanks to it being stored at the top of the rickhouse and in hot and balmy Alabama. The results are bottled from a single one of those barrels without any cutting or fussing.

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this one starts with cornbread that’s been baked in lard in a cast-iron skillet with an almost burnt crust, plenty of salted butter, and a dollop of honey that’s been cut with orange oils. The palate takes that cornbread, crumbles it up, and mixes in fresh cracked Tellicherry black peppercorns, dried roses, a touch of cedar, and a mild echo of orange-laced tobacco leaves. Finally, the sip layers in a wintry spice combo that leans toward cinnamon sticks soaked in mulled wine and apple cider that leads towards a soft finish with a dried mint that’s… almost menthol tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This was one of my favorite pours of 2021. There’s some serious depth here that really plays well with a little water or a rock or two.

Alaska — Port Chilkoot Wrack Line Rye

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

This 70-percent Alaskan rye focuses on organic grains, double distilling, and aging for three years in newly charred American oak. Those barrels expand and contract during warm summers and severe Alaskan winters before batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a brightness to the spice on the nose, kind of like peaches stewed in cinnamon and nutmeg with plenty of syrup. The palate is light yet full of floral notes, oaky vanilla, and peppery rye spices. That line of stonefruit sweetness comes in late which leads to a spicy warm finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a good standard rye. I’d use it more for mixing Manhattans or old fashioneds than as a sipper though.

Arizona — Del Bac Dorado American Single Malt

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

Del Bac Dorado is Arizona peated, so to speak. The local barley is malted with mesquite wood as a heat source (instead of peat). Those malts are then mashed, fermented, and distilled. After a few years of resting in oak, the barrels are batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is full of chocolate tobacco with a hint of dried ancho chili, old cedar bark, and whispers of a crackling campfire in the high desert. The palate has a mild tannic vibe with a dash of espresso bean and vanilla next to soft toffee with a hint of an almond shell. The end leans into that campfire smoke with a dash more of that chili pepper before the cedar and choco-tobacco merge on the finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a unique “smoky” whisky that really feels like where it’s from. This is also really good in an old fashioned (and really wakes up with a little water or ice).

Arkansas — Rock Town Single Barrel Cask Strength Arkansas Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: Varies

Average Price: $72

The Whiskey:

Rock Town is all about using Arkansas ingredients to make Arkansas whiskey. The mash is made with local corn and wheat that’s grown right outside of Little Rock. Every step of the process happens on site from the milling of the grains to the aging of the juice. After four years, barrels are hand-selected for single barrel processing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a hint of minerality on the nose next to fresh honey, dark cherries, peaches, pie crust, and a touch of maple syrup. The palate has a sense of tangerine next to bran muffins with a whisper of green grass and vanilla wafers. The end is a little tinny with soft toffee and mild spiciness.

Bottom Line:

This has some serious potential. The minerality can be covered up in a good cocktail or by adding a little ice to let the deeper flavors bloom.

California — Redwood Empire Whiskey Grizzly Beast Bottled in Bond Batch #002

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $79

The Whiskey:

The latest batch of Redwood Empire’s Grizzly Beast is a four-grain bourbon. The California whiskey was made with 69 percent corn 22 percent rye, five percent malted barley, and a mere four percent wheat. After five years of maturation, 26 barrels were picked for this batch. Those barrels were vatted and the juice was just kissed with pure water from a local Russian River Valley aquifer.

Tasting Notes:

Cherry pie with plenty of winter spice leads off on the nose with buttery brown sugar, tart red berries, and walnut shells. The palate opens with burnt orange, salted caramel, and more of those tart berries swimming in rich vanilla cream before a hint of spicy warmth arrives. The end leans into brown sugar and winter spice-laced butter with walnut tobacco leaves wrapped in vanilla husks and cedar bark.

Bottom Line:

This is a very good whiskey and worth seeking out, even if you’re not in California.

Colorado — Leopold Bros. Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

This Colorado crafty whiskey gets a lot of attention from bourbon drinkers in the know. The mash is made from 64 percent corn, 21 percent malted barley, and 15 percent Abruzzi Heritage Rye that Master Distiller Todd Leopold malted at his malting house at the distillery in Denver. That mash ran through a classic pot still before it was barreled and left to rest for five years.

Tasting Notes:

The floral and spicy nature of that Abruzzi rye really comes out on the nose with a touch of candied apples, Quick chocolate milk powder, and the faintest hint of sourdough rye with a light smear of salted butter. The taste leans into stewed pears with nutmeg and clove spices leading the way as Almond Roca and green peppercorns jostle for space on your palate. The end mellows out as that spice fades towards an eggnog vibe with a creamy vanilla underbelly and a final touch of that floral rye and hint of pear.

Bottom Line:

This is a very solid crafty. It’s deeply flavored but not uninviting by any stretch. Mostly, this just works both neat or in a cocktail.

Connecticut — Litchfield Distillery 5-Year Double-Barreled Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

Litchfield is one of those local craft distilleries that do a little bit of everything. Their Double-Barreled 5-year-old is a highwater mark of the operation. The juice is made from locally grown Connecticut grains. That whiskey is then aged for a few years. Finally, it’s proofed with local water and re-barreled to add an extra layer of woody depth to the bourbon.

Tasting Notes:

The sip starts with an almost vinous note that goes into sweet caramel and spice. There’s a clear vanilla essence through the woody oak. The aged-grape flavors come in again with a slight sweetness before a warm, woody, and spicy finale.

Bottom Line:

This is a classic and easy-drinking whiskey. It’s definitely worth ordering a pour if you’re in, say, New Haven and looking for something local.

Delaware — Dogfish Head Let’s Get Lost American Single Malt Whiskey

ABV: 51%

Average Price: $63

The Whiskey:

All whiskey starts off as beer so it makes a lot of sense when brewers start distilling. Industry darling, Dogfish Head, did just that with this expression. The base is 100 percent barley with a mix of Pale Malt, Crystal Malt, Coffee Kiln Malt, and applewood smoke Malt. That mash is fermented with Dogfish Head’s own ale yeast before distillation, aging, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Orange and honey mingle with a salted nuttiness next to vanilla pudding and a touch of dry cherry tobacco. The palate has a touch of that fruity yeast next to a slight chili-choco vibe that leads back to the tobacco with a cinnamon Red Hot edge. The finish really leans into the dryness of the chili-chocolate’s bitter end — to the point of conjuring an espresso bean next to a touch of smoked cedar.

Bottom Line:

This is a very solid American Single Malt. There’s a nice depth. I’d usually pour this over some rocks and enjoy it slowly after an IPA.

Florida — St. Augustine Port Finished Bourbon

ABV: 51%

Average Price: $80

The Whiskey:

This Floridian bourbon rests for three years in American oak first, giving it a classic base, before it goes into port casks from San Sebastian for six solid months. Those barrels are then batched and proofed before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

The woodiness that leads this one feels more like a cedar than an oak. Corn comes into play, along with a sweet dried fruit meatiness a la port wine. Vanilla and hints of mint show up and are later washed out by oak, bitterness, and a whisper of ripe red berries.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice and very straightforward whiskey. It makes a mean cocktail and works on the rocks as a sipper in a pinch.

Georgia — Moonrise Distillers Select Rye Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $48

The Whiskey:

This Georgia whiskey is relatively new on the scene. The mash is a four-grain whiskey built around local rye. After a couple of years of mellowing under the hot and humid Georgia summer (and spring and falls), this whiskey is small batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Sweet and salted caramel lead on the nose with a hint of sourdough rye bread crust, sour butter, mild winter spices, and a hint of green herbs. The palate leans into the sharpness of the brown spices while toffee and walnut lead to a hint of red peppercorns and maybe a little dark chocolate. The end is slightly woody with a sense of cinnamon bark and pine tar next to apple cores.

Bottom Line:

This is a pretty solid sip overall. I wouldn’t go out of my way to track it down but would be more than happy to enjoy a pour or cocktail made with it the next time I’m in Georgia.

Hawai’i — Ko’olau Old Pali Road Whisky

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $75

The Whisky:

Ko’olau’s Old Pali Road is a special whiskey. The spirit is made from local Hawaiian-grown corn and mineral water straight from a volcanic spring. Then the booze is aged for a short spell before being blended with five-year-old mainland whiskey to create a balanced elixir.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of banana fruit and dried plums upfront. That’s then cut by oaky vanilla and mild warming spice on the back end. That being said, this whiskey feels young and fruity with a wet green depth.

Bottom Line:

This is among the weaker whiskeys on the list. It’s not undrinkable. It’s just very young and crafty and works only as a mixer at the end of the day.

Idaho — Grand Teton Private Stock Straight Corn Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $80

The Whisky:

This high-altitude whiskey is made with 100 percent Idaho-grown corn. That corn is mashed with pure Rocky mountain water, which is also used to proof the juice before bottling. But first, the whiskey spends 6.5 years resting in oak before single barrels are picked for a bottling run.

Tasting Notes:

Maple syrup and clove-studded oranges lead on the nose with rum-raisin, mild sour butter, and a hint of old cellar beams. The palate is lush with a warm sense of mulled wine spices and sour cherry next to cinnamon buttered toast and soft yet sweet corn muffins. The end has a smooth vanilla base with a hint of date and black tea next to buttery cornmeal with a hint of brown sugar.

Bottom Line:

This is a pretty damn good corn whiskey. It’s great with a single rock or a few drops of water to really let it bloom in the glass.

Illinois — FEW Bottled in Bond Bourbon

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

This expression from Illinois’ FEW Spirits marks the 125th anniversary of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. The juice is made from 70 percent corn, 20 percent rye, and ten percent malted barley. That whiskey spends four years resting before it’s proofed down to 100 proof and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with a sense of vanilla cream pie with an extra thick vanilla pudding next to dry cedar bark with a touch of white moss, a touch of black licorice, and a hint of barrel smoke. The palate leans into cherry bark with a light cherry tobacco spiciness that melds with the vanilla pudding, a pan of fresh sticky buns with plenty of cinnamon and walnuts, and a hint of black pepper and more of that dry cedar bark. The finish has a bit of an oatmeal cookie vibe that leads back to the spicy cherry tobacco and white moss.

Bottom Line:

This is a very solid pour that’s getting easier to find outside of the Midwest. It also makes a hell of a cocktail base.

Indiana — Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Huber’s Old Rickhouse Rye Whiskey Finished in Tokaji Barrels

ABV: 51.5%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

This Indiana rye from Huber Winery’s Starlight Distillery is an instant classic. The juice is made from Starlight’s 85 percent and 15 percent malted barley rye mash. It’s then aged for at least four years before moving into a Hungarian Tokaji barrel for a final rest. The whiskey is then picked one barrel at a time and just proofed before single-barrel bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Old wicker canes and cardamon pods lead to nutmeg, golden sultanas, date skins and pits, and a whisper of fresh red chili on the nose. The palate lays down a lush vanilla foundation and builds layers of soft winter spices, quince jelly, allspice berries, and apricot skins with a whisper of dry cedar bark and waxy cacao nibs. The end lets the vanilla soften everything toward soft and lush raisins with a hint of nutshell and stonefruit in the background of the silken finish.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the best whiskeys of 2022. If you’re anywhere near Indiana (or the Ohio River Valley), track some of this down.

Iowa — Cedar Ridge The Quintessential American Single Malt

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is all about a grain-to-glass experience. The juice is made with 100 percent 2-Row Pale Malted Barley (the same stuff used in some of the biggest craft beers) from up in Saskatchewan. The whiskey is matured in ex-bourbon barrels for an undisclosed term. That whiskey is then finished in a combination of brandy, rum, wine, port, and sherry barrels before it’s vatted. The whiskey’s blend is then made using the solera method — where the vat is never fully emptied before the next barrel is added.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is immediately full of bright fruit with a peach and pear vibe that leans into a malty banana bread with plenty of butter, cinnamon, and walnut next to a touch of Almond Joy (but the good ones from a high-end shop). The palate is soft and subtle with hints of spiced malted gingersnaps, light cream soda vibes (maybe a light sasparilla), and a mellow and creamy base of chocolate that’s not dark but not milky either. The mid-palate has a nice sweetness that’s slightly apple adjacent with an apricot hint that mellows into a final note of chewy toffees with rum-raisin lurking on the very backend.

Bottom Line:

This is a killer American single malt pour. These are the releases that should get you excited about the category as it expands.

Kansas — Union Horse Distilling Rolling Standard Midwestern Four Grain Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

This Kansas whiskey is a uniquely American whiskey expression all around. The bottle marries two American whiskey styles with four separate grains involved. It’s part American wheated bourbon and part American single malt. Locally sourced corn, wheat, rye, and barley are utilized in the mash. Then the booze is mellowed in used oak barrels from Missouri until it’s just right.

Tasting Notes:

The grain-to-glass whiskey opens with classic notes of oaky vanilla, banana, cloves, and mild pepperiness. On the palate, a maple syrup earthy sweetness cuts through along with a roasted almond fatty nature. Dark pitted cherries come into play right before the rye kicks in with a hint of cinnamon on the mildly spicy finish.

Bottom Line:

This is good, standard American whiskey. It’s not life-changing but it makes a great cocktail. Sometimes that’s enough.

Kentucky — Michter’s 20-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

ABV: 57.1%

Average Price: $8,970

The Whiskey:

Master Distiller Dan McKee personally selects these 20-year-old (at least) barrels from their rickhouses based on, well, excellence. The juice is bottled at cask strength after Michter’s bespoke filtration.

Tasting Notes:

Imagine dark and sweet cherries smothered in rummy molasses with a touch of dried roses, nuts, and cedar all leading towards the soft — almost wet — tobacco leaf. That’s just the nose. The palate doesn’t veer too far from those notes but adds in a touch of burnt ends from vanilla pods with a light spice that leans more towards that tobacco than woody brown spices. The finish really embraces the cherry but more towards the stem and seed as the nuttiness leans marzipan and the tobacco takes on an ever-so-slight chewiness.

Bottom Line:

If this list was ranked, this would be number one.

Louisiana — LA1 Louisiana Bourbon

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $62

The Whiskey:

Donner-Peltier Distillers out in Thibodaux has been distilling and aging an award-winning whiskey for years now. The spirit is a unique one that incorporates locally grown rice into the mash bill alongside the classic ingredients of corn, rye, and barley.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sweetness from the rice that accents the corn. A funky rye note comes in with an almost pumpernickel essence, followed up by a sugary sweet note. Notes of oaky vanilla sit next to buttery toasted rye bread and hints of deeply roasted cacao nibs. The finish is bold and brings the peppery rye spice to tie it all together.

Bottom Line:

This is an easy-going pour that works as well on the rocks as it does in a Sazerac (well, maybe a little better in that Sazerac).

Maine — Fifty Stone Single Malt Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $50

The Whiskey:

This is a Scottish-style single malt made in Portland, Maine. The distillers take 100-percent locally grown barley and malt it with locally sourced peat and seaweed. This imbues a clear and unique smokiness you won’t find in any other single malt.

Tasting Notes:

This one opens up with a clear sense of the barley via a warm scone covered in salty butter and honey. Then the smoke comes into play next. It’s subtle. There’s a briny nature like you’re about to enjoy a crab boil off a campfire right on the beach. You sense the sea spray through the smokiness. The honey and salty butter come back into play as the smoke leads to a soft finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a great pull if you’re looking for something very unique. That maritime vibe runs deep and gives this unique feel.

Maryland — Sagamore Rye Port Finish

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $76

The Whiskey:

This Maryland whiskey is a blend of two ryes (one sourced and one their own) that are aged four to five years. Those barrels are vatted and re-barreled into port barrels for a final rest. Finally, this whiskey is small batched and then bottled with a whisper of proofing water.

Tasting Notes:

You’re greeted here with notes of buttery toffee, rich and meaty plums, and a matrix of baking spices. Sharp and sweet dark cherries and red berries come into play alongside a caramel smoothness. Then a bitter note comes in as the port fruitiness fades and rye spice rises. Finally, that sweet, plummy port nature takes over towards a dry-ish, warm end.

Bottom Line:

This is a great entry into the wider world of Sagamore’s great finished ryes catalog.

Massachusetts — The Notch Nantucket Single Malt Whisky Aged 15 Years

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $569

The Whiskey:

The Notch is continually named the “best” American single malt in the world, including at 2020’s World Whisky Awards. Like many of the single malts on this list, this hinges on the quality of the beer brewed as the base. They use the much-coveted Maris Otter barley that’s processed on-site at the brewery before being sent to the distillery to start this whisky. The hot juice is then barreled and stored next to the sea. This expression is a blend of whiskies aged in former sherry barrels, Cognac barrels, wine casks, and sauternes barrels (a sweet French wine).

Tasting Notes:

The oak comes through up top and is supported by dried red berries, dried tobacco, worn leather, creamed vanilla, and a hint of dark spice. The sip leans into aged notes and oak as the spice wanes and a musty nature takes over with an old hay edge. The warmth of the dram is drawn back and edges more into the peppery spice as the fruit and tobacco help the sip fade slowly away.

Bottom Line:

This is going to be hard to come by. That said, this is worth the effort. It actually does live up to the hype.

Michigan — Traverse City Bourbon Barrel Proof Single Barrel

ABV: 59%

Average Price: $87

The Whiskey:

This Michigan whiskey is made to highlight a true grain-to-glass experience. The juice is made from a mash of 71 percent corn, 25 percent rye, and four percent barley. It’s aged for four years in the extreme weather of the Great Lakes. Barrels are then hand-picked and bottled with no fussing.

Tasting Notes:

The milled corn comes through with a touch of orange zest, vanilla, toffee, and lemon jam. The taste amps up the toffee with a caramel kettle corn vibe next to hints of cedar and orchard fruit. The end is long and very clearly all about the velvety vanilla and toffee sweetness with a slight alcohol warmth, thanks to a touch of spice and citrus.

Bottom Line:

These single-barrel picks are always fun and fresh.

Minnesota — Tattersall Minnesota Wheat Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $46

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is made from 100 percent locally grown Minnesota wheat, which adds a nice depth of local flavor. That wheat is then fermented with a fruity yeast strain before distilling. The juice is then cold aged in those Minnesota winters before batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Hints of berries and bananas lead towards a caramel spice undercut with vanilla. There’s an echo of rye spice in the background here that helps lead to a big finish with more fruit and a warm alcohol buzz.

Bottom Line:

This is a decent whiskey that’s really best used for cocktails.

Mississippi — Cathead Old Soul Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $45

The Whiskey:

This is a blend of two bourbons. The base is a five-year-old, high-rye mash bill bourbon from MGP. That juice is cut with a four-year-old bourbon distilled in Mississippi that also has a high-rye mash bill. Once batched, the juice is proofed with local water and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Caramel and vanilla greet you in classic bourbon form. Then the sip veers into an old library with a pall of tobacco smoke and the lingering presence of old leather. Ripe cherries take you in another direction before the caramel sweetness returns and the rye spice to finish things off.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice, classic pour of whiskey. It’s simple and easy, which is nice sometimes.

Missouri — Still 360 Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $45

The Whiskey:

“Missouri” Straight Bourbon has to be made with corn grown in Missouri only while also being fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled in the state. The juice from Still 360 has a pretty standard mash of corn, rye, and barley. In this case, the barrels are five years old before they go into the bottle only slightly cut with local water.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is like opening a can of creamed corn that leads towards a vanilla husk, cherry tobacco, and a note of egg nog spice. Those cherries carry through to the palate with a sense of brandy-soaked cherries dipped in dark chocolate next to a spicy tobacco leaf and a touch of butterscotch hard candy. The tobacco leaf drives the dry-yet-warming finish.

Bottom Line:

This is one I’d certainly seek out if I was in Missouri. Overall, I think I’d use this more for highballs or cocktails than a sipper though.

Montana — Glacier Distilling North Fork Rye Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $38

The Whiskey:

North Fork Rye won gold at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which helped put it on the map. The whiskey uses a mellow mash of rye and corn, charred American white oak aging, and local water for proofing to create a wonderfully balanced and easily drinkable sip.

Tasting Notes:

The sweetness from the corn meets you upfront. There’s a clear sense of oaky vanilla and mild caramel that’s cut by a mellow rye peppery nature. Hints of orchard fruits and whispers of the corn marry that rye spice to propel the dram towards a well-balanced finish.

Bottom Line:

This is basic stuff that gets the job done. There are no bells or whistles but it doesn’t need them. Just enjoy this for the simple and tasty whiskey that it is.

Nebraska — Cooper’s Chase Bourbon

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $25

The Whiskey:

This is one of the few craft bourbons coming out of Nebraska these days. The juice is a bit of a sphinx though, the distiller doesn’t publish the mash bill or aging process besides that it’s all done in-house in Nebraska.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a classic mix of vanilla, caramel, and spicy on the nose with a slight oaky edge. The palate delivers on that while adding in apple cores, cinnamon tobacco, and a touch of buttery toffee. The end is short and sweet with a slight mineral water vibe cutting through the warmer end of the sip.

Bottom Line:

This is pretty standard stuff.

Nevada — Frey Ranch Small Batch Bourbon Batch #5

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

Frey Ranch is all about the farm behind the whiskey. In this case, that’s a 165+-year-old farm in the Sierra Nevada basin near Lake Tahoe. The grains (corn, wheat, rye, and barley), fermentation, distilling, aging, and bottling all happen on-site at Frey Ranch.

Tasting Notes:

Fruity cherry gummies mingle with raw sourdough bread dough, vanilla beans, dry firewood, and burnt brown sugars on the nose. The taste has a very crafty corn chip vibe that leads to tart cranberry, more of that vanilla, and a cinnamon-spiced oatmeal raisin cookie. This all coalesces on the finish with the spice, oats, tart red fruit, and vanilla playing second fiddle to the dry firewood and slightly spiced tobacco end.

Bottom Line:

These releases just keep getting better and better with more refinement coming into play.

New Hampshire — Tamworth The Old Man of the Mountain Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $70

The Whiskey:

This New England bourbon is all about grain-to-glass — with a mash bill of 82.4 percent organic yellow corn, eleven percent organic rye, and 6.6 percent malted barley. The juice is then aged for five years in medium-charred Kentucky barrels before it’s bottled according to bottled-in-bond regulations.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is all about that rich Christmas cake brimming with candied and dried fruits, dark spices, and nuts soaked in brandy topped with a dollop of vanilla-infused brandy butter. The palate delivers on those promises of the nose while adding hints of dark chocolate-covered cherries, cedar, spicy tobacco, and a hint of Tellicherry black peppercorns. That dry spiciness drives the finish to an end that’s warm yet sweet with that cherry.

Bottom Line:

This is very nice, almost surprisingly so. It’s an unexpectedly deeply hewn whiskey with an approachable flavor profile that really benefits from a bit of water to open it up.

New Jersey — All Points West Malt and Grain Pot Still Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $64

The Whiskey:

This New Jersy whiskey leans into Irish whiskey traditions with a lower corn mash bill. The whiskey is fermented in a pot still with German and Irish malts alongside corn and water from New Jersey’s mountains. The juice is then aged for 24 months before proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Cedar and cherries mingle with vanilla and toffee on the nose with a very distant whisper of campfire smoke. Cherry blossoms, honey, cedar, and spicy tobacco lead the palate with a hint of dried roses and a touch of cream soda. The finish is longish with a sense of spice, fruit, and flowers lingering the longest.

Bottom Line:

This is a good, standard whiskey. It’s easy-going and easy drinking.

New Mexico — Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $53

The Whiskey:

Colkegan is a combination of the Scottish Highlands and New Mexico’s ingredients. Instead of smoking their barley malts with peat, Santa Fe Spirits uses local mesquite logs in the kilning process, giving the base of this whiskey a clear New Mexico vibe. The juice is then aged at 7,000 feet above sea level in a climate-controlled warehouse that drops the temperatures to near freezing before amping them up extremely high while also lowering and heightening the humidity in the room.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a subtle balance of brisk desert smoke next to olive brine umami. Then hints of rich and sweet marzipan arrive with white chocolate fattiness and whispers of vanilla blossoms. The smoke carries through with a sense of dark, tart berries and rhubarb, and dry mesquite wood. That berry fruit feel carries on into the mellow finish as the smoke dissipates.

Bottom Line:

This is another great example of that high desert smokiness in whiskey. Just make sure to add a little water or a rock to let it bloom in the glass.

New York — Eaves Blind Kings County Bourbon Barrel Strength

ABV: 63.5%

Average Price: $150

The Whiskey:

Marianne Eaves — who came up as the Master Blender at Brown-Forman and Master Distiller at Castle & Key — released a full line of bourbons from outside of Kentucky this year. This one is from Kings County in Brooklyn, New York, and highlights Eaves’ master blender status. The juice is Kings’ four-year-old bourbon that Eaves blended to create a barrel-proof expression.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a nice balance of red fruit on the nose with woody pomegranate, burnt orange, sour cherry, and maybe some blackberry jam next to mild winter spices, light cedar, and a hint of dark and old leather. The palate leans into brown sugar and maple syrup with a hint of cinnamon butter, walnut, and raisin before a warming and sharp cinnamon and dried red chili pepper peek in. The end leans back toward the dark red fruit with a hint of cedar and cinnamon bark layered over dry tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This is a stellar one-off. Seriously, there’s some real depth that sings when you take your time nosing and sipping with a little water.

North Carolina — Southern Star Paragon Cask Strength Single Barrel Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 58%

Average Price: $104

The Whiskey:

This North Carolina bourbon is starting to make some serious waves. This very limited batch of single barrel bourbon is made from wheated bourbon mash bill with 70 percent corn, 16 percent wheat, and 14 percent malted barley. The juice was left for around four years before the barrel was hand-pocked and bottled as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with a sense of orange blossoms and apple orchard with a hint of pear and plum next to walnut shells, old honey bottles, and rich vanilla sauce with a hint of poppy seed. The palate has a touch of dark chocolate powder sweetness that melds with walnuts and honey to make a cluster before the brown spice kicks in with sharp cinnamon and a touch of root beer. The end leaves the spice and warmth behind for smooth vanilla walnut cake with a hint of apple-honey tobacco wrapped up with old cedar bark.

Bottom Line:

This was freakin’ delicious. If you can get your hand on a bottle, buy two.

North Dakota — Proof Glen Fargo American Malt Whiskey

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $180

The Whiskey:

This American Single Malt from North Dakota is all about double barreling. The local juice is first aged in new American white oak. Then, that juice is moved into an ex-bourbon barrel for a finishing maturation.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of that bourbon barrel with notes of rich vanilla pudding next to mild spice and a green sense of malts. The palate follows that lead while adding in apples, pears, and a touch of honey sweetness. The end is long with a touch of oak and vanilla with a grassy finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice example of American single malt whiskey.

Ohio — Middle West Straight Wheated Whiskey Michelone Reserve

ABV: 62.1%

Average Price: $47

The Whiskey:

This Ohio whiskey is all about grain-to-glass. The juice is made from a mash of sweet yellow corn, soft red winter wheat, dark pumpernickel rye, and Two-Row malted barley. The whiskey spends about four years in oak before it’s bottled as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

A hint of sourdough doughnuts dusted with cinnamon and sugar leads to maple syrup, coconut cream pie, marzipan, and a hint of toffee. The palate dries out toward an almond nutshell before hitting a rum-raisin/Cherry Coke vibe next to woody winter spices on the mid-palate. That spicy warmth fades toward cedar bark, Almond Joy, and spiced cherry tobacco on the finish with a hint more of that warm doughnut from the nose.

Bottom Line:

This has serious depth, but you’ll want a rock or a little water to calm down those ABVs and let it bloom.

Oklahoma — Red Fork Reverence Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

Oklahoma isn’t exactly a bastion of whiskey. Red Fork Reverence is a hand-crafted bourbon from a tiny local distiller in Tulsa. Beyond that, not much is known about this whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

This is very broadly bourbon from the nose to the end with caramel apples, Red Hots, and vanilla extract driving the nose and the palate. The finish is short, a little yeasty and raw, and slightly warm.

Bottom Line:

This is solid but very standard craft whiskey.

Oregon — McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey Aged 6 Years

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a marriage of Scotland and Oregon in the bottle. The mash is made from 100 percent peat-malted barley from Scotland that’s fermented by Widmer Brothers Brewing and then distilled at Clear Creek Distilling on their Holstein pot still. That spirit then spends six years resting in air-dried Oregon oak before proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

The whiskey opens with a wet brown sugar that leads to a sticky toffee pudding with black-tea-soaked dates, plenty of cinnamon and nutmeg, toffee sauce just touched with dark rum, and candied cherries on top. That candied vibe carries through on the palate with red cotton candy, rock candy sticks, and Red Hots on the mid-palate. The finish veers away from all of that with a mix of woody winter spices, old leather, and cinnamon/cherry tobacco with a very dry edge over a hint of cedar.

Bottom Line:

This is another one that just rules. The whiskey is so damn good and well-made. This is definitely a bottle (or pour) worth tracking down.

Pennsylvania — Wigle Pennsylvania Straight Bourbon

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

Wigle makes an organic Straight Bourbon in Pittsburgh that really nails the region’s whiskey history. The local distillery uses a mash bill of winter wheat, malted barley, and Wapsie Valley corn. The Iowa corn is distinctive and said to be some of the best corn out there for making bourbon. The grains are brought to Pittsubrugh where they’re milled and then fermented and distilled all in-house.

Tasting Notes:

Corn is what hits you first. It’s fresh, bold, and accompanied by classic notes of oaky vanilla and rich caramel on the nose. Whispers of smoke creep into the sip with hints of dark cocoa, burnt brown sugars, and meaty strips of salty and peppery jerky. Finally, the oaky spiciness returns with another whisper of that age-old smokiness.

Bottom Line:

This is a good, standard local bourbon. It’s great for mixing cocktails.

Rhode Island — Sons of Liberty Uprising

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

Uprising has its foundation in local craft beer. The malts used in the 100-percent malted barley mash bill are the same roasted malts (Chocolate Malt, Crystal 45, and Biscuit) used to make a stout. It’s fermented with ale yeast, distilled, and then goes into charred American oak and toasted French oak to rest for a few years. Finally, the whiskey is blended to create a unique American single malt.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a toasted, buttery nature to this sip. Notes of vanilla creaminess, rich caramel, dark chocolate, and well-roasted coffee beans are all in play, giving this one a stout feel. Finally, spicy notes kick in and cut through the fatty and bitter coffee and chocolate to bring along a warm finish.

Bottom Line:

This is another great standard that’s more suited to cocktails than sipping.

South Carolina — William Alan Small Batch

ABV: 45%

Average Price: Distillery Only

The Whiskey:

This South Carolina bourbon is all about small batching and farm-to-glass experiences. The corn-fueled spirit with a very high malted barley component is aged for four years before it’s re-barreled in new toasted oak barrels for a final three-month rest. Those barrels and then vatted and the whiskey is proofed with local water for bottling.

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this is very crafty in the best way with a bowl full of white grits cut with butter and brown sugar with a hint of burnt orange, dried rose, and fresh mint rounding things out. The palate leans into woody wintery spices before circling back around to those sweet grits, Cherry Coke, ginger juice, and a hint of savory fruit — think pumpkin flesh just touched with cinnamon. The end leans into that fresh savory fruit before hitting on a moment of black peppercorns and cinnamon bark with a lush burnt orange finish.

Bottom Line:

This is delicious, especially on a single rock.

South Dakota — BlackFork Farms Bourbon American Toasted Oak Finish

ABV: 46.5%

Average Price: $95

The Whiskey:

BlackFork Farms is a very new and small crafty whiskey distillery. Heritage corn (grown and smoked on the farm with apple and cherry wood) is mashed with Black Forest German rye, which they smoke on the farm as well. The juice is then aged for a couple of years before the whiskey is re-barreled into new toasted American oak for a final rest.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with a sense of apple orchards next to piles of firewood, dry hay stacks, and soft toffee laced with winter spice. The palate has a note of corn husk next to peppery rye and dried dill with a touch of sweetgrass braided with cedar bark and tobacco leaf. The end layers in dark chocolate and chili spice with singed orchard wood and burnt chocolate tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This is pretty damn nice for such a small crafty whiskey.

Tennessee — Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled In Bond Spring 2018

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

This particular whiskey was made back in spring 2018 and released in June 2022. The whiskey is a blend of four mash bills that all feature specialty malts ranging from honey malts to oak-smoked barley to naked oats to chocolate roasted barley to caramel malts and many more. The throughline is yellow corn, bonded warehouse aging, and proofing down to 50 percent ABV.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with rich toffee leading to dark chocolate, tart red berries, malted vanilla milkshake, orange oils, old leather, and a hint of cornbread dripping with maple butter cut with cinnamon. The palate sweetens the tart berries slightly toward cherry root beer with buttery Southern biscuits dipped in honey leading to a vanilla wafer vibe. The end leans into spicy barks and cherry tobacco with a hint of hickory and huckleberry on the dry and robust finish.

Bottom Line:

This was the hardest state to call. There’s just so much great stuff going on in Tennessee right now and this bottle is the epitome of it all. It’s just freakin’ delicious from top to bottom.

Texas — Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon

ABV: 65.65%

Average Price: $300

The Whiskey:

Cowboy Bourbon has become Garrison Brother’s signature bottle of whiskey. The juice from Texas is from barrels that are hand-selected for their depth and deliciousness and then aged for a few more years before being small-batched. The whiskey is then bottled as-is — with no filtering or cutting — leaving you with the purest essence of what great Texas bourbon can be in every single sip.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a rush of very sharp cinnamon sticks next to a pile of wet cedar shingles and an almost Chinese hot mustard spice and miso edge that’s as baffling as it is enticing. That spicy/umami nose makes you want to dive into this sip. Once you do, you’re greeted with an apple pie overflowing with walnuts, spices, and syrupy brown sugar encased in a flaky lard pie crust as spicy plum puddings sit next to more cedar and a throughline of caramel. The end turns to velvet as a vanilla tobacco vibe arrives to calm everything down and numb your tongue with a buzz.

Bottom Line:

This is the best whiskey from Texas, full stop. I’d also argue it’s one of the best barrel-proof bourbons on the market right now too.

Utah — High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram

ABV: 49.3%

Average Price: $125

The Whiskey:

Each year, this limited drop varies slightly. Last year’s release was a mix of MGP rye (95 percent rye) and High West rye (100 percent rye) finished in French oak barrels that held port. The barrels picked for this batch were between four and seven years old.

Tasting Notes:

This bursts forth with bright red berries covered in rich and bitter dark chocolate with sultanas, burnt orange peels, and nutmeg-heavy French toast custard. The palate really holds onto the berries while savory rhubarb cobbler mingles with dates, old leather tobacco pouches, and vanilla pudding with a salted caramel drizzle. The end leans into eggnog spices with a touch of bitter black tea, more leathery tobacco, and a whisper of fresh mint.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice and lush sip of whiskey that feels like a warm embrace from a loved one.

Vermont — WhistlePig Beyond Bonded FarmStock Rye

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $110

The Whiskey:

The vast majority of WhistlePig is still made from Alberta and Indiana rye juice. That said, the brand is making its own juice and it’s starting to make an appearance in the Farmstock line. This expression is made with 100 percent Remington Rye grown on-site at WhistlePig. The juice is then aged for around four-plus years before blending and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

This rye leans into dry wood, lemon zest, and plenty of cinnamon that’s a little sweet and buttery, like a cinnamon toast. The woodiness leans towards dry cedar bark with black tea next to peach, more lemon zest, and a holiday cake spice matrix. The finish starts to dry out with those spices as hints of burnt orange peel and marshmallow lead towards a note of fresh dollar bill from a new stack.

Bottom Line:

This is pretty good overall. If you already love WhistlePig, then this is going to be your jam.

Virginia — Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction Cuvee

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $68

The Whiskey:

Virginia Distillery Co. is doing some of the most interesting things with American single malt — so let’s start here. This expression is made from 100 percent malted barley distillate that’s aged for three years in Cuvée wine casks. Those barrels are vatted and proofed down with local water and bottled without filtration or coloration, letting the barrels shine in the glass.

Tasting Notes:

Berries burst forth on the nose with a raspberry and blackberry bramble leading toward a cherry orchard with plenty of wood and fruit, a hint of malty spice, and a tiny whisper of brown butter. That butter layers into the palate with a berry cobbler vibe full of malty biscuit topping and spiced red berry filling that’s all dusted with plenty of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little allspice. The finish layers in a creamy note of honey, some more woody spice, and a tart, almost sour cherry end.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the better examples of how great American single malt can (and will) be.

Washington — Woodinville Moscatel Finished

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $70

The Whiskey:

This whiskey starts as Woodinville’s award-winning five-year-old bourbon. That juice is then re-barreled into Moscatel wine casks for a finish maturation period. After nearly a year, the whiskey goes into the bottle having just been touched by water but otherwise as-is.

Tasting Notes:

The nose presents as sweet with hints of sweet prunes and dates but runs deep and dark with smoked apricot, five spice, dark chocolate creaminess, and black tea cut with burnt orange. The palate mixes Almond Roca (toffee covered in roasted almonds) with peach pits, vanilla pound cake, poppy seeds, black molasses, rum-raisin, black-tea-soaked dates, and rich Christmas cake spices with candied zests. The end leans into those dark spices and adds a woody edge that leads to dry porch wicker, choco-date tobacco, and cedar bark dipped in toffee.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the best pours of 2022, and it’s finally available nationwide.

West Virginia — Smooth Ambler Contradiction

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $50

The Whiskey:

Smooth Ambler is a great example of how smaller craft operations get up and running. This expression is a blend of sourced high-rye bourbon that’s aged for nine years with their own-make, a wheated bourbon that’s aged for two years. The sourced bourbon is MGP of Indiana, giving the blenders a quality foundation to build their bourbon.

Tasting Notes:

Classic notes of bourbon vanilla and oak mingle with spicy stewed cherries buried in a sourdough pancake on the nose. The palate holds onto that sweet fruit and spice, as notes of worn leather and soft cedar arrive with a hint of grain. The end is short-ish with the spice, oak, and cherry lasting the longest until a nice and velvety vanilla mouthfeel arrives.

Bottom Line:

This is just a good, old-school whiskey. Make an old fashioned with it, pour it neat, add some rocks … it always works.

Wisconsin — J. Henry Small Batch Bourbon Aged 5 Years

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $54

The Whiskey:

This whiskey benefits greatly from Wisconsin’s mild yet varied weather — think warm summers and bitterly cold winters with proper fall and spring rains. The juice is a blend of only 16 barrels of five-year-old bourbons.

Tasting Notes:

Butterscotch and vanilla-lemon pudding lead the nose with a touch of orange peel and honey. The palate leans into the spicy warmth with Red Hots and cloves next to cherry tobacco and more of that butterscotch. That vanilla-lemon pudding comes back into play late, as the finish sweetens into a creamy yet spicy end.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice, standard whiskey with a lovely flavor profile.

Wyoming — Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 5 Years Limited Edition National Parks No. 2

ABV: 52.5%

Average Price: $83

The Whiskey:

This bottle celebrates our National Parks with each limited edition release. In this case, the release celebrates Yellowston’s 150th anniversary with part of the proceeds from each bottle sold going to Yellowstone Forever, which helps protect the park. The whiskey in the bottle is a special release from Wyoming grains — 68 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, and 12 percent malted barley — and water. After five years, the barrels are small-batch blended and bottled with a drop of proofing water.

Tasting Notes:

Soft holiday spices mix with orange creamsicle, dry sweetgrass, old boot leather, a dash of dark chocolate powder, and a hint of cedar. The taste feels like you’re on a back porch on a sunny day with rich toffee, cherrywood, and vanilla next to buttery zucchini bread with walnuts and plenty of cinnamon. The end takes on this woody and sweet carrot vibe while lush marzipan brings a nutty sweetness with a hint of Earl Grey and walnut loaf with low notes of soft cedar and warm tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This is a great pour for a great cause. I like it over a rock or two as a slow sipper, but it works wonders in a Manhattan too.

Samia is closing the chapter of her hypnotic 2020 debut The Baby, a collection of intimate indie songs that resonated with many. Today, she announced her next album Honey and unveiled the elegiac lead single “Kill Her Freak Out.”

Despite the aggressive title, “Kill Her Freak Out” is actually a gentle, organ-driven ballad that almost sounds like a funeral dirge. It seethes with an alluringly quiet rage as she narrates her resentments and lamentations: “Can I tell you something? / I’ve never felt so unworthy of loving.”

“I wrote ‘Kill Her Freak Out’ at my loneliest and most delusional,” she said in a statement. “I’d been quieting my true feelings for fear that someone would leave. The chorus is a reaction to constantly downplaying the emotions that felt wrong; it was cathartic to say the opposite of what I’d been saying for so long to this person I was trying to impress. I didn’t want to kill anyone, obviously, I just wanted to yell. It sort of marks the end of The Baby‘s story.”

Listen to “Kill Her Freak Out” above. Check out the Honey album artwork and tracklist below.

1. “Kill Her Freak Out”
2. “Charm You”
3. “Pink Balloon”
4. “Mad At Me”
5. “Sea Lions”
6. “To Me It Was”
7. “Breathing Song”
8. “Honey”
9. “Nanana”
10. “Amelia”
11. “Dream Song”

Honey arrives 1/27/23 via Grand Jury. Pre-order it here.

Isaiah Garza knows a thing or two about struggle. Having lived in poverty and been in and out of homelessness growing up, the Los Angeles-based designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and public speaker hasn’t traveled an easy road, but has always felt compelled to make life better for others and inspire future generations.

Thanks to Rihanna being photographed wearing one of his jewelry designs on the cover of a French magazine, Garza has gotten to fulfill his dream. His successful design business has enabled him to spend a chunk of his money and time making people’s days a little brighter and sharing the effects of simple, kind and generous acts on social media.

For example, Garza recently invited a 100-year-old veteran he bumped into to spend a day with him at Disneyland. The man uses a walker, and most people probably wouldn’t think to ask a centenarian with mobility challenges if they want to go to a theme park, but the day they had together speaks to the power of reaching out without assumptions about limitations.

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Garza’s video begins with him approaching the gentleman as he’s out for a walk.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” Garza says, “but I’ve had a really rough day. I just wanted to see if you would be willing to go to Disneyland with me today?”

Right off the bat, the ask is a lesson in kindness. Garza isn’t saying, “Here, let me do this nice thing for you,” but rather he’s asking the gentleman to do him a favor by accompanying him.

The man’s surprised reaction was understandable, but he said yes. What do you have to lose at 100? What followed was a delightful day for both of them as the man got to experience a day of Disney magic, which somehow always manages to work no matter what your age.

Watch and enjoy:

@isaiahgarza

I took a 100 year old veteran to Disneyland & we became best friends ❤️ #disneyland #kindness #friends #veteran #bestfriends

When the man tells Garza, “I thought my life was over,” it’s clear how much this day meant to him. When we’re young, we’re often so busy that we don’t recognize that not everyone lives like we do. Older people often get lonely and can easily be overlooked by society, and Garza approaching this man with a Disney day invitation let him know he wasn’t forgotten.

It also told him that he was seen as a full human with agency and capacity. Not many people see an old man with a walker and think, “I bet he’d like to go spend a day at Disneyland,” but look how happy it made him. Assumptions about what people who are older or people with mobility issues can do—or what they might want to do—can cause us to miss out on mutually enjoyable experiences. Perhaps not everyone this gentleman’s age would enjoy something as energy-filled as a day at Disney, but you never know, and it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask.

Imagine if each of us reached out to an elderly neighbor and invited them to do something fun with us. It doesn’t have to be a full day at a theme park—it could be a museum tour, a walk in the park, a coffee, a movie date and so on. Just the simple act of reaching out to let them know they are remembered and valued can make a big difference, but taking the time to share some joy together can be life-changing.

Garza’s kind and thoughtful approach is one we can all learn from and emulate. Thanks for showing us that it doesn’t take an enormous amount of effort to make the lives of those around us a whole lot richer and brighter.

Frankie Cosmos are set to release their new album Inner World Peace next month. After the release of previous singles “One Year Stand” and “Aftershook,” they’re giving us another taste with the endearing “F.O.O.F.” which comes with an equally enjoyable music video made by artist Cole Montminy.

“For me, ‘F.O.O.F’ is about creating random boundaries and schedules for yourself in an attempt to feel in control,” explained bandleader Greta Kline. “Feeling time passing at varying speeds and time traveling with music. I love Cole’s art, and we were all so excited and grateful they were on board to make this video. I’ve struggled with feelings of isolation as a result of the pandemic, combined with escalated use of technology. This video embodies that, and the ending provides a sense of relief and freedom from those feelings. We could all stand to smash our computers and go touch some grass.”

Clocking in at two and a half minutes, the laid-back song soars by the listener and puts them in a soothed daze. Kline’s vocals are enchanting exhales that encapsulate that sensation of exhaustion that the pandemic has sparked in most people. The ballad is relatable and therefore provides a lasting sense of comfort.

Listen to “F.O.O.F.” above.

Inner World Peace is out 10/21 via Sub Pop. Pre-order it here.

Not that we’re saying that you should drink beer every day, but there’s a big difference between an everyday beer and a beer that you mostly feel comfortable sipping in specific weather conditions or certain times of the year. We’re talking about the “everyday sipper” — the beer that you immediately see when you open the fridge and don’t even look around for something else.

For many drinkers, this is a crisp, refreshing, easy-going lager. You know, the kind of beer that pairs with anything.

Luckily, even in this age of barrel-aged stouts, milkshake IPAs, and fruited sours, there are countless crushable, light, full-flavored lagers that can easily be sipped after a long day of work, paired with your favorite foods, or brought to share at a fall tailgate. Many of these gems aren’t given the respect they deserve, either — as the aforementioned styles get most of the love. That’s why we thought it was a great time to not only list eight of our favorite everyday drinking lagers but eight underrated everyday drinking lagers. Naturally, we ranked them because… why the hell not?

8) Jack’s Abby House Lager

ABV: 5.2%

Average Price: $10.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

This 5.2% ABV beer doesn’t try to hide what it is. It’s a simple clean Helles-style lager that was crafted to taste like the traditional lagers found in Germany. It does this with traditional German malts and hops. It’s crisp, light, and malty.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find some sweet malt, cereal grains, and lightly grassy hops. Overall, the nose is fairly faint and muted. The palate follows suits with more cereal-like grains, slight citrus, and floral hops. It’s a crushable beer, it’s just that it’s fairly unexciting overall.

Bottom Line:

Jack’s Abby House Beer is the kind of lager that is exactly like it seems. It’s light, malty, and crushable. There isn’t too much substance beyond that.

7) SKA Mexican Logger

ABV: 5.2%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

The Beer:

This 5.2% ABV lager was made to pay homage to the classic, crisp, easy-drinking lagers of Mexico. That’s why this Saaz-hopped refresher is named Mexican Logger. This Mexican-style lager shines when paired with late-season grilling.

Tasting Notes:

A nose of lemongrass and light cereal grains greets you before your first sip. The palate is loaded with bready malts, corn grains, more lemon, and some floral, earthy hops. The finish is slightly bitter. This is the epitome of no frills. It’s simple and clean, but nothing to rave about.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a light, slightly citrusy crusher, grab a SKA Mexican Logger. If you’re looking for anything more than that, keep on moving.

6) Narragansett Lager

ABV: 5%

Average Price: $7.99 for a six-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

A truly classic, refreshing beer, Narragansett Lager is well-known for being the beer that was “crushed by Quint” in the first ever summer blockbuster ‘Jaws’. But it’s more than simply a movie novelty, it’s a flavorful, well-balanced beer that’s been brewed since 1890.

Tasting Notes:

Classic aromas of cereal grains, sweet corn, honey, and citrus peel greet your nose before your first sip. While the nose is pleasing and welcoming, the palate is a little more muted. There are cereal grains, light malts, and citrus, but it’s mostly a crisp, slightly watery, easy-to-drink beer. It’s not bad and it’s not outstanding either.

Bottom Line:

Narragansett Lager has been around for a long time for a reason. It’s the kind of beer that’s always there. It’s crisp and easy to drink, but the definition of no-frills.

5) Lone Tree Mexican Lager

ABV: 5.3%

Average Price: $10.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

One of the first canned Mexican-style lagers brewed in Colorado, Lone Tree Mexican Lager gets its flavor from the addition of simple malts, hops, water, and flaked corn. This light, refreshing, easy-drinking lager is the kind of beer you search for after a long day.

Tasting Notes:

Sweet grains, lemon zest, straw, and lightly floral hops are found on the nose. The palate is centered around bready, sweet malts, cereal grains, corn, and spicy hops at the finish. There’s nothing really negative that can be said about this beer besides the fact that its sweetness-to-bitterness ratio is a little off.

Bottom Line:

It’s hard to find a lot of fault with this lager. It ticks all of the easy-drinking lager boxes. Except for one thing. It’s a crushable beer, but a little too sweet for my palate.

4) Modelo Especial

ABV: 4.4%

Average Price: $8.50 for a six-pack

The Beer:

We’ve already seen a few Mexican-style lagers on this list of refreshing, everyday beers, so why not an actual Mexican lager? While Corona seems to get all the press when it comes to Mexican lagers, we think the best, most-balanced Mexican beer is actually Modelo Especial.

Tasting Notes:

Prior to sipping, you’ll be met with aromas of grassy hops, cereal grains, honey, and bready malts. The palate is filled with notes of fresh corn, bready malts, more honey, citrus zest, and floral, grassy hops at the very end to tie everything together nicely. Overall, it’s a crisp, well-balanced lager.

Bottom Line:

Next time you’re craving an authentic Mexican beer, don’t settle for a beer that you need to add a lime to enjoy, grab a sixer of the crisp, refreshing Modelo Especial instead.

3) Trumer Pils

ABV: 4.9%

Average Price: $10.50 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Part of the appeal of Trumer Pils is the fact that it’s as authentic as crisp, easy-drinking pilsners get. Using the standards set forth by the Austrian Purity Law, it’s made with simple ingredients like water, malts, hops, and yeast.

Tasting Notes:

A nose of honey, cereal grains, sweet corn, freshly cut grass, and slightly spicy, floral hops greets you before your first sip. The palate is highlighted by bready malts, honey, cereal grains, light citrus, and more grassy, earthy hops. The crisp, dry finish is what completes this iconic beer.

Bottom Line:

This is a well-balanced, crisp, sublimely dry beer that’s well-suited for warm weather drinking, but does the trick pretty much all year long.

2) East Brother Bo Pils

ABV: 5%

Average Price: $10.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

If you’ve never heard of Richmond, California’s East Brother, you’re really missing out on some great beer. One of its best is its Bo Pils. A 5% ABV Bohemian-style pilsner, it’s known for its mix of Noble hops and sweet, cereal grain flavor.

Tasting Notes:

Complex aromas of pale malts, bready malts, wet grass, honey, and floral, earthy hops are prevalent on this beer’s nose. Sipping it reveals notes of lemongrass, cereal grains, honey, and floral hops. The finish is a mix of spicy hops and sweet malts. It’s the kind of pilsner you’ll want to drink all day.

Bottom Line:

When it comes to American craft takes on traditional pilsners, it’s tough to beat the complexity and overall flavor of this Bohemian-style pilsner.

1) Zero Gravity Green State

ABV: 4.9%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

The Beer:

This classic, crisp pilsner is brewed with German Pilsner malts, Hallertau Mittelfruh and Saaz hops as well as House Lager yeast. It’s known for its clean, refreshing, complex flavor profile.

Tasting Notes:

Lemon zest, fresh grass, bready malts, floral, herbal hops, and just a hint of spice make for a very appealing nose. The palate is a combination of sweet grains, bready malts, cereal grains, and slightly bitter, floral, spicy hops. It’s a very well-rounded, complex, highly drinkable lager.

Bottom Line:

We suggest that if you find some Zero Gravity Green State Lager on your local beer store’s shelves, buy it. It’s complex, balanced, and simply an exceptional, easy-drinking lager.

Donald Trump has had a heck of a time finding good legal representation, and that’s a shame: He certainly has a ton of legal (and financial) woes on his plate right now. Turns out if you’re infamous for stiffing contractors (or trying to pay lawyers with a horse), to say nothing of generally being a difficult person, that may come back to bite you. Now his problems appear to be getting even worse: As per CNN, an experienced — and very expensive — lawyer he hired less than a month ago has already been sidelined.

After the FBI searched the resort he now lives in, Trump scrambled to find attorneys to help him deal with a matter that could land him in the slammer. One person he landed on, after a weekslong search, was Chris Kise, a former Florida solicitor general. Kise had been seen as a good get for Trump, as he has a deep understanding of Florida law, which is exactly what he needs in a case involving the former president absconding with 11,000 government documents, some of them of a highly combustible nature.

For his services, Trump paid Kise an unusually large retainer fee of $3 million. He did so upfront, perhaps because, again, Trump has a history of not paying those in his employ.

But now, while Kise will stay on Trump’s legal team, his role is being diminished, multiple sources tell CNN. A Trump spokesperson denied the change in Kise’s position.

So far, Kise only appears to be involved in Trump’s Justice Department case, involving the documents seized by the feds, but even there his role seems to be relatively minimal. He wasn’t, for instance, at the DC federal courthouse when Trump attorneys attempted to block a grand jury from seeing conversations he had towards the end of his presidency, when he was trying to stay in power.

Kise has a pretty impressive CV. He’s won four Supreme Court cases, and he’s previously worked for the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, whom Trump reportedly hit with some insults that could also pertain to himself.

(Via CNN)

Costco’s whiskey selection is riveting. Their Scotch, Tennessee whiskey, Irish whiskey, and bourbon are beloved and pretty goddamn cheap. On a recent Costco run, I poked my head into the liquor store (in Kentucky, all booze is sold in its own section of the store with its own entrance and exit) and found about three bottles of Kirkland Signature Single Barrel Bourbon left on the shelf. I really liked their Small Batch version — also from the Barton 1792 Distillery — so I knew I had to try this one, especially in a blind taste test.

For this blind taste test, I’m pitting Costco’s new single barrel bourbon against some similarly-priced and stellar single barrel bourbons. I wanted to see (and taste) how this bourbon stood up to every weight class of brown juice. Frankly, I was shocked. Bottles I adore didn’t rank nearly as high as I would have guessed. I won’t spoil anymore, but this was a very hard and wild ranking of eight pretty great bourbons.

Our lineup today is:

• Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Huber’s Rickhouse Select Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Baker’s Single Barrel Aged 8 Years 1 Month
• Lost Lantern 2022 Single Cask #13 Cedar Ridge Iowa 5-Year-Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Kirkland Signature Single Barrel by Barton 1792 Master Distillers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel
• Jim Beam Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Michter’s Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Aged 9 Years

Okay, let’s get into and see how Costco’s new single barrel bourbon stands up to the (heavy) competition.

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months

• We Blind Tasted A Whole Bunch Of $30-60 Bourbons To See If Any Could Beat Weller
• We Put A Whole Bunch Of Bourbons To A Giant Blind Test And Discovered Some Absolute Gems
• We Blind Tasted Classic Bourbons And Were Shocked By The Winner
• The Best-Known Basic Bottles Of Bourbon, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• All The Double Gold-Winning Straight Bourbons From This Year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

There’s a nice and sweet sense of vanilla pound cake with a hint of dried chili and dark chocolate next to leather, black dirt, and cedar bark with a hint of an orange creamsicle. The palate has a Key lime pie vibe next to cream soda, peppercorn, and rich toffee. The end leans into woody winter spices with a nice cherry sweetness next to vanilla smoothness and a hint of old leather gloves from an old wooden gardening shed.

Damn this is tasty and deep. I really like this.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Sourdough rye crusts and star anise with a fleeting hint of caraway counter cellar funk and cherry/vanilla tobacco on the nose. The palate lets that vanilla get super lush with a sense of cinnamon bark and allspice berries next to hints of dill and fennel. The end has an eggnog softness with a bit of Red Hot and chili-laced tobacco.

This is another winner with a bit of funk. It kind of reads more rye to me though with those green herbal notes.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this one is luxurious with salted caramel drizzled over apple pies full of walnuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg with plenty of brown sugar and butter next to oily vanilla pods and a hint of bruised peach and sun-kissed wicker lawn furniture. The palate simmers those old peaches in winter spice with a woody edge and plenty of brown sugar with a hint of cardamom and mace next to supple vanilla cream sauce with poppy seed and a hint of warmth from those woody spices. The end levels off toward rich toffee next to very creamy eggnog with a hint of cream soda before old cedar bark and sweetgrass are braided together and wrapped up in an old cinnamon/apple tobacco leaf and put into a leather pouch.

Wow. This is great.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this one is pure classic bourbon with rich vanilla, salted caramels, sweet oak staves, winter spices, and a hint of Almond Joy. The palate leans into sour red wine spiced with woody winter spices and cut with brown sugar before a sense of corn husks, creamy eggnog with plenty of nutmeg, and cherry/chocolate tobacco leaves kick in. The end has a nice warmth, kind of like a spicy ancho-dark hot chocolate flaked with salt and rolling around next to cherry tobacco.

This is really goddamn good. (This is also where the wheels come off in my mind, as I don’t know how to rank these first four.)

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

The nose is as bold as it is classic with a spice matrix brimming with cinnamon, clove, star anise, cardamom, and nutmeg next to dry cedar kindling, black-tea-soaked dates, rum-raisin, and tart dried cranberry tobacco. The vanilla creates a lush underbelly as old boot leather mingles with marzipan, orange blossoms, and creamy dark chocolate flaked with salt. The end is softly warm with a sense of that marzipan covered in lightly spiced dark chocolate next to old tobacco braided with old wicker and dry cedar bark.

Yup, freakin’ delicious. The only thing that pinged in my mind is that the proof was a little lower.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with classic notes of vanilla, caramel, winter spice, and cherry pie next to a hint of dried corn husk. The palate layers in floral honey and orange zest next to winter spices, old leather, and cherry tobacco. The finish leans into more woody winter spices (especially cinnamon bark) with salted caramel, cherry tobacco, and soft cedar rounding things out.

This was the thinnest pour by far but still had great depth.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

This has a big nose full of sweet cedar, tart red berries, burnt orange, salted caramel, and sticky toffee pudding. The palate has a hint of sourdough pancake off a buttered griddle next to vanilla tobacco, dark chocolate, marzipan, brandy-soaked cherry, and a touch of bitter espresso beans. The end arrives with a hint of black peppercorn next to cinnamon-spiced tobacco with a hint of blackberry and minced meat pie next to wicker and cedar with this faint whisper of singed marshmallow on the very back end.

Another winner. Though, there was a lightness here that pinged on the finish (it’s certainly lower proof).

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

This is bold on the nose too with plenty of lush vanilla next to salted caramel, a touch of barrel char, brandy-soaked cherries, and a hint of dark chocolate-covered espresso beans with a little date/prune action. The palate pops with dark chocolate Almond Joys next to cherry root beer and old oak with a hint of potting soil. The end softens toward a mocha espresso with a dash of nutmeg next to dry cedar and cherry tobacco wrapped around a box of Red Hots.

This was damn tasting and had a big palate.

Part 2: The Ranking

8. Jim Beam Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 6

ABV: 54%

Average Price: $24

The Whiskey:

Each of these Jim Beam bottlings is pulled from single barrels that hit just the right spot of taste, texture, and drinkability, according to the master distillers at Beam. That means this juice is pulled from less than 1% of all barrels in Beam’s warehouses, making this a very special bottle at a bafflingly affordable price.

Bottom Line:

Okay, this makes sense here in that it felt the thinnest compared to the others on this list. That said, this had a solid palate and definitely can work as a sipper.

7. Baker’s Single Barrel Aged 8 Years 1 Month — Taste 2

ABV: 53.5%

Average Price: $59

The Whiskey:

Baker’s is pulled from single barrels in specific warehouses and ricks across the Beam facility in Clermont, Kentucky. The juice is always at least seven years old. In this case, it was aged eight years and one month before bottling as-is.

Bottom Line:

This ranked a little lower to me today because it felt a little herbal-heavy and like a high-rye, which it is not. It’s still really good, it just stood out today in a way that didn’t quite hit right for me.

6. Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel — Taste 5

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $59

The Whiskey:

Bourbon legend Jimmy Russell hand selects eight to nine-year-old barrels from his warehouses for their individual taste and quality. Those barrels are then cut down ever-so-slightly to 101 proof and bottled with their barrel number and warehouse location.

Bottom Line:

I’m shocked at where this bottle landed. I love this stuff. I guess today it just had a little too much proofing to pop against this particular set of pours.

5. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Aged 9 Years — Taste 8

ABV: 60%

Average Price: $72

The Whiskey:

This single barrel bourbon is from Beam’s private barrel pick program for retailers and at the distillery. That means your local retailer goes out to Clermont, Kentucky, and picks a single barrel for their store only. Beam then cuts the bourbon to 120 proof (if needed), bottles it, and delivers it to the store. That also means these will vary from store to store ever so slightly.

Bottom Line:

This did pop on the palate. It’s bold and spicy with a nice edge. I can see ordering this on a single rock and being very happy about it.

4. Michter’s Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 7

ABV: 47.2%

Average Price: $512

The Whiskey:

The juice in this bottle is a little under wraps. Michter’s is currently distilling and aging its own whiskey, but this is still sourced. The actual barrels sourced for these single barrel expressions tend to be at least ten years old with some rumored to be closer to 15 years old (depending on the barrel’s quality, naturally). Either way, the juice goes through Michter’s bespoke filtration process before a touch of Kentucky’s iconic soft limestone water is added, bringing the bourbon down to a very crushable 94.4 proof.

Bottom Line:

Again, I’m shocked. I would have put money on my blindly picking this as my number one. Well, here we are. Again, I pinged this for having a little lower proof on the finish. That said, I was looking for anything to try and rank these. So take that as the grain of salt it is.

3. Kirkland Signature Single Barrel by Barton 1792 Master Distillers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 4

ABV: 60%

Average Price: $32

The Whiskey:

This Costco release is sourced from Sazerac’s other Kentucky distillery, Barton 1792 Distillery down in Bardstown, Kentucky. The whiskey in the bottle is very likely the same distillate/barrels as 1792 Full Proof. However, this is proofed down a tiny bit below that at 120 proof instead of 125 proof, adding some nuance to this release.

Bottom Line:

Well, well, well… This was really f*cking good. It finished nicely. It was well-rounded. The only reason it’s third instead of first is that it was slightly less refined than the next two, but only if you put a microscope on it. If you’re passively drinking this (as you should be), it’s truly a great pour.

2. Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Huber’s Rickhouse Select Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 1

ABV: 57%

Average Price: $55

The Whisky:

These single barrel releases from Huber Winery’s Starlight Distillery are starting to light up the craft bourbon scene. The Indiana juice is real craft from a family tradition going back to the mid-1800s on the same farm (this isn’t MGP). Depending on the barrel, the mash here is a unique one with 58 percent corn, 27 percent rye, and 15 percent malted barley. That whiskey is aged for at least four years before it’s considered ready for single barrel bottling as-is.

Bottom Line:

This is stellar. Find it, buy two, and give one to a friend (it’ll make their day).

1. Lost Lantern 2022 Single Cask #13 Cedar Ridge Iowa 5-Year-Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 3

ABV: 61.54%

Average Price: $100

The Whiskey:

This single barrel from Lost Lantern’s latest 2022 barrel release is a special one. The juice is from Iowa’s famed Cedar Ridge and is made with 74 percent corn against 14 percent rye and 12 percent malted barley. The barrel they picked was aged for five years before they found it. It turned out to be a “short cask,” meaning that the standard 53-gallon oak barrel only yielded 100 bottles (a little less than half of what’s normal at that age). What was left from the angel’s share was bottled as-is.

Bottom Line:

This was beautiful. That crafty edge that Cedar Ridge often has is gone and, instead, there’s this deep sense of classic bourbon. Yet … it’s still unique and engaging with a hint of freshness.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

Time to cut to the chase, if you’re near a Costco and they have this single barrel in stock, go buy a case. This is an excellent, award-winning single barrel bourbon from one of the most respected distilleries in Kentucky that costs $32 for a goddamn liter bottle. It might just be the absolute best deal in all of bourbon whiskey right now. F*ck it, I’m calling it.

Costco’s Barton 1792 Single Barrel is the best deal, best value per dollar, and best single barrel buy in bourbon in the year of our lord 2022.

Look, the rest of these bottles are all truly good sips. You’d be set with any one of them on your bar cart. But some of these are allocated. One of them is only a 100-bottle release. Some of these bottles will be “one per customer” purchases. You might be priced out of some of them, I don’t know your finances. That Costco Single Barrel is available and you can buy a case if you want. I was told when I bought mine, “Grab a few more, there’s no limit on those for some reason.”

Yes, two bottles beat it out, but only barely. I know I’m being effusive, but that’s only because you won’t see these at Costco forever. Get some now while you still can. It’s a great sipper that also happens to be the best-priced-for-quality bottle I’ve seen in ages.

Things could be going a lot better for the United States men’s national team right now. In a major improvement on how things went in 2018, the team is headed to the World Cup this year — it’s in Qatar, it starts in November, their group includes England, Iran, and Wales, all that stuff. It must be stressed that after the catastrophe that was not making the last one, going to this World Cup is a gigantic improvement, even if that should be the team’s expectation and is therefore like saying “paying your rent is an improvement on not paying your rent.”

After drubbing Panama, 5-1, on March 27, the U.S. basically needed an all-time catastrophe to miss out. They avoided that, but still, here is how things have gone since then:

• Costa Rica 2 – 0 USMNT (World Cup Qualifying)
• USMNT 3 – 0 Morocco (friendly)
• USMNT 0 – 0 Uruguay (friendly)
• USMNT 5 – 0 Grenada (CONCACAF Nations League)
• El Salvador 1 – 1 USMNT (CONCACAF Nations League)
• Japan 2 – 0 USMNT (friendly)
• Saudi Arabia 0 – 0 USMNT (friendly)

So, basically, they beat one of the two teams they played that are not going to the World Cup (I’m gonna toss a big ol asterisk on the El Salvador one because, well, look at the conditions on this bad boy), they rinsed a Morocco team that is headed to Qatar, and the rest has gotten progressively worse and worse. In 270 minutes against Costa Rica, Uruguay, Japan, and Saudi Arabia — four countries that will be represented at the World Cup — the team has put 11 shots on target for zero goals. Six of those came against Costa Rica back in March. In the last two games, which served as the Americans’ final tune-ups before they kick off against Wales in November, the United States registered two shots, both of which came against the Saudis on Tuesday.

It’s not good! Some of these are growing pains for the youngest team to qualify for the World Cup this time around, because outside of right back DeAndre Yedlin (who, despite starting on Tuesday, is almost certainly a backup), no one on this roster has played in that tournament. There are also major caveats about important players who are either injured (Gregg Berhalter has said five starters were unable to participate in this camp) or on some sort of restriction due to injury (Christian Pulisic missed the first game, Gio Reyna was subbed out 30 minutes into the second for apparent precautionary reasons). It is worth mentioning that when the Americans tore up Morocco, it came with first-choice players basically everywhere, with one or two exceptions.

But there are still major, major questions about how this team plays, whether it is getting the best out of its players, and whether they are capable of getting out of their group in Qatar. Berhalter, a former national team player who was part of the team at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, is a romantic about the game if nothing else, and has said on multiple occasions he feels some sort of grander responsibility than just managing the team. “What we’re looking to do is change the way the world views American soccer,” he said in 2019 during his first camp after getting hired. “I don’t mean we qualify for the next World Cup. I don’t mean we go to the second round of the next World Cup. What I’m talking about, guys, is how we play, how we act, who we are as a group. And results. That’s the whole picture. And it starts now.”

It is, despite the nobility of all that, safe to wonder if changing the world’s view of the team is too grand of a task to take on in one cycle. Once defined by a constant, never-ending sense of pride — run fast, run hard, throw yourself at every ball, be generally better than the sum of your parts through sheer force of will, don’t worry about how pretty your football is — the team has wanted to adopt a more progressive, attack-minded approach that is, in theory, more befitting of a collection of young, ultra-talented players in the top leagues in the world.

In the last few games, that style has run into a number of issues. The team struggles to build out of the back, can find itself far too open as a result, and allows opposing teams to create good chances. A potentially big problem here is one theoretical way to fix this, starting Zack Steffen in goal, means removing Matt Turner, who is a much better shot stopper and the sort of player you want to rely on to clean up messes, while Steffen, who is more comfortable on the ball and as a passer, is known for having a mistake or three in him. Berhalter’s belief that his system, one that you can read about here, is capable of creating ample chances with the players involved has not worked out, and is presumably behind this quote about prodigiously talented but out of form striker Ricardo Pepi.

The implication: If our striker is doing what we ask him to do, things will take care of themselves. It is not an inherently bad thing to believe, but when the team is struggling to create chances (let alone finish them), it is fair to wonder if there would be some merit to throwing the baby out with the bath water. Add to that a collection of questions about players: Will Turner get the goalkeeper job over Steffen, who Berhalter has seemed to prefer when he’s been healthy? What’s the best center back duo? Who is the striker? There are more, and they are not things you want to be asking with less than two months before a World Cup.

Compounding all of this is that the team does not have another game before they step onto the pitch in Al Rayyan to play Wales on Nov. 21. Players will return to their clubs. Some, like Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson, will play a lot. Others, like Christian Pulisic and Sergino Dest, will need to fight for time. The guys in MLS will see their season end early enough that they’ll get some time to rest up. Other than the ones who are teammates (Adams and Aaronson at Leeds, Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira at FC Dallas), none of them will step on the pitch alongside one another between now and then. In all, the youngest team in the field will end up playing six games between qualifying for the World Cup in March and the World Cup itself in November.

So, yeah, could be going better. There is optimism in the form of the quality of players, and the hope that they will raise their games when the lights are brightest and, through heart and determination, outperform what is expected of them. This would not change the way the world views American soccer, but considering how things have gone recently, leaning into that reputation might not be the worst idea in the world.

Voices from every part of the world have been calling for action on climate change and the rapid loss of nature for decades, but too many in power have ignored this growing chorus. Even today, with the impacts of climate change starkly evident, many leaders contend that now is *not* the time to take measures to halt or reverse climate change. And despite mounting evidence pointing to the market growth potential of green technology adoption, concerns over the cost of saving the planet at the expense of sparing the global economy from short-term pain have become the preferred stalling tactic.

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We have now arrived at the end of a very long line of “passing the buck” from generation to generation, and might well run out of time before enough gatekeepers in government and business are convinced to act. Concerned only with near-term growth, they could cause the loss of everything in the next decade, including the very ecosystems that they and everyone on earth depend upon for survival and well-being.

On September 23rd, young people all over the world participated in a strike to make that point. The largest generation of youth in history, we represent a massive wave of voters, workers, and consumers who see the direct link between climate action now and the world’s future stability. Our strike underscored the dwindling options available to avert calamity and promote justice for communities bearing the greatest climate change burden.

Our strength comes from common experience. While our day-to-day lives look different depending on the places we live and languages we speak, we are unified by the grim likelihood of an unlivable future. That realization is based on two facts: climate is changing faster than anticipated, evident in the science and increased headlines of widespread wildfires and floods, scorching temperatures, agricultural failures, and vast injustices; and too many of our leaders continue the longstanding tradition of ignoring the threat.

We are not only striking, we are also acting. From Indigenous youth on the frontlines against destructive megaprojects like the US’s Line 3 pipeline and the Philippines’ Gened Dam, to child plaintiffs pursuing environmental justice in the courts – everywhere you look, youth are acting for systemic change. We won’t do it alone; we need those from every generation who understand the urgency of the climate crisis to join us to address its root causes in concrete ways. Here’s where to start:

Society must be unwavering in pursuit of social and environmental justice. Despite contributing the least to climate change, countries and communities across the global south suffer the most severe climate impacts. At the same time, violence against environmental defenders is disproportionately concentrated in this region, overwhelmingly directed at Indigenous Peoples. Every decision must be rooted in a respect for human rights.

We need a transformation of our economic systems. We are living through the dire results of adherence to an economic status quo that expects infinite growth from finite resources. We must actively resist the culture of extraction and acquisition, working to heal our relationship with nature, taking heed of the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples and their stewardship of the land.

We need innovative educational systems that nurture critical thinkers and incorporate traditional knowledge and Indigenous wisdom that support clean economies, setting people up for success in sustainable energy and agriculture. Education has the power to unlock solutions and reshape values, producing lasting change, steering us towards a sustainable, peaceful, equitable future.

Most of all, we need immediate action. This crisis is not happening in some blurry, distant future; it’s happening now, everywhere. We are experiencing the consequences of systems built on power and greed, and people are dying because those in power have decided money is worth more than human life.

The complexity and scale of today’s environmental crises are enough to leave even committed optimists frozen with fear, but the mass mobilization of youth is proving it doesn’t have to be this way. Our generation is carving an identity of perseverance, accountability, and determined resistance to unjust, unsustainable systems. We are bringing our collective voices to international policy processes through self-organized channels, calling for proactive steps toward meaningful youth participation.

This will feel immediately familiar to all who have acted for the environment in the past. Your generation will remember how many in power were quick to dismiss your calls for change. You may have experienced what we face now; in hostile spaces, we are silenced, criminalized, or intentionally misinterpreted to preserve the status quo. Elsewhere, our calls for justice are condescendingly referred to as ‘inspiring,’ but apparently not inspiring enough for those in power to act.

By joining our voices, we can’t be silenced. Our collective future depends on being heard and seen at this crucial moment for our planet.

Katharina Maier and Sefa Tauli are youth activists with Fridays for Future U.S. and the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), respectively. Together, they’re writing on behalf of YOUNGO, the Children and Youth constituency to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; the Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change; and The Major Group of Children and Youth to UN Environment (UNEP-MGCY), which represents over a million young climate and nature advocates across six continents.

When we’re kids, fun comes so easily. You have coloring books and team sports and daily recess … so many opportunities to laugh, play and explore. As we get older, these activities get replaced by routine and responsibility (and yes, at times, survival). Adulthood, yuck.

Many of us want to have more fun, but making time for it still doesn’t come as easily as it did when we were kids—whether that’s because of guilt, a long list of other priorities or because we don’t feel it’s an age-appropriate thing to long for.

Luckily, we’ve come to realize that fun isn’t just a luxury of childhood, but really a vital aspect of living well—like reducing stress, balancing hormone levels and even improving relationships.

More and more people of all ages are letting their inner kids out to play, and the feelings are delightfully infectious.

You might be wanting to instill a little more childlike wonder into your own life, and not sure where to start. Never fear, the internet is here. Reddit user SetsunaSaigami asked people, “What always remains fun no matter how old you get?” People’s (surprisingly profound) answers were great reminders that no matter how complex our lives become, simple joy will always be important.

Here are 14 timeless pleasures to make you feel like a kid again:

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1. Playing with dogs

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Doggos are basically furry children, so this one’s a no-brainer.

2. Legos

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The only thing NOT fun about Legos is stepping on one. Everything else is pure magic.

3. Popping bubble wrap

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With each satisfying “pop” sound, just imagine tiny bursts of dopamine flooding the brain.

4. Riding roller coasters

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While it’s true that riding roller coasters might become less physically possible with age, barring that limitation—you’re never too old to ride one.

5. Arcades

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Playing video games at home is cool, but there’s a special thrill in seeing an arcade absolutely buzzing with different game sounds, colored lights and other people enjoying themselves.

6. Go-karts

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Because speeding in real life is irresponsible.

7. Pillow fights

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A quintessential sleepover activity that can easily be done with a roommate. Bonus points for surprise attacks.

8. Dinosaurs

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Whether in toy or nugget form, dinosaurs are a delight.

9. Dressing up for Halloween

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Halloween costumes can go from a fun form of playful expression in our younger years to a source of self-image issues in our teens and beyond (as so many things in life do). Hopefully though, dressing up for the spooky season can be a highlight on the calendar.

10. Water slides

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Roller coasters in liquid form!

11. Dolls

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We no longer have to hide our passion for toys under the serious moniker of “collecting.” Playing with dolls is a fun practice in storytelling and has even shown a very specific set of therapeutic benefits. Permission, granted!

12. Daydreaming

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Remember peacefully imagining made-up worlds while staring up at the clouds? Those were good times.

13. Swings

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Whether you are a traditionalist or prefer to go crazy and twist yourself up for some epic spins, a swing set is a perfect place to let your inner child out.

14. Taking sick days

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Everything is more fun when you do it during a time you technically should be somewhere else.