Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. This week, for the first time in SNX history, Nike isn’t completely dominating our list. Generally, the Swoosh brand has the best offerings on a week-to-week basis, but this time around New Balance is taking the majority of space with four sneakers out of nine. In fact, if Nike didn’t have Jordan and Converse under its umbrella, Nike wouldn’t even be able to compete with New Balance. That’s a big deal, Nike is undoubtedly the biggest brand in streetwear right now, but that title can be taken away! It’s important to remember that Nike wasn’t always the hottest footwear brand.
Are we there yet? Probably not, but we’re excited another brand is out there keeping the mighty Swoosh on its toes. Let’s dive into this week’s best sneaker drops.
New Balance MADE in USA 990v3 Green with Gold
New Balance
New Balance is having a Nike-sized week and kicking off the drops is this spring green and gold MADE in USA 990v3. Featuring a premium pigskin and mesh upper, this 990v3 sports ENCAP midsole cushioning, an NDurance rubber outsole, and vintage New Balance tongue branding atop an off-white midsole with silver details. It exudes ‘80s footwear vibes in all the best ways.
The New Balance MADE in USA 990v3 Green with Gold is set to drop on March 30th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $199.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.
New BalanceNew Balance
New Balance MADE in USA 990 Green With Gold
New Balance
Not digging the v3? NB is also dropping an earlier version of the sneaker that ditches all the mesh in favor of more suede, hairy suede to be exact! Mesh is still utilized as the base layer of the upper, ensuring this sneaker is as lightweight as it is stylish. Rounding out the design is a large logo ’N’ branding and a sleeker profile over the same ENCAP-style midsole.
The New Balance MADE in USA 990 Green with Gold is set to drop on March 30th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $189.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.
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Parks Project x New Balance Fresh Foam x Hierro v7
New Balance
It’s quite a week for people who love green shoes! New Balance teams up with Parks Project this week for a new take on the Fresh Foam X Hierro v7. Inspired by urban green spaces, this sneaker features a synthetic breathable upper draped in green tones with a Fresh Foam X midsole and hairy suede overlays with reflective webbing, a dual-branded tongue, and a graphic sock liner that depicts a Central Park-esque urban green space.
It looks fit for both the streets and the trails thanks to a heavy tread Vibram Megagrip EVO outsole.
The Parks Project x New Balance Fresh Foam x Hierro v7 is set to drop on March 30th at 7:00 Am PST for a retail price of $154.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.
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Converse x Stüssy Chuck 70
Nike
Converse and Stüssy have given us a pretty good grip of team-ups in the last year and most of those drops celebrated the latter brand’s foothold in the skate scene, but now the duo is teaming up for a drop that celebrates Stüssy’s roots as a surfwear brand.
Inspired by the crunchy hippie lifestyle of late ‘80s surf culture, this Chuck 70 is outfitted with an all-hemp upper with glittering pearlized studs that reference both early Chucks and Stüssy’s iconic double S logo.
The Converse x Stüssy Chuck 70 is set to drop on March 30th at 9:00 AM PST for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
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Nike Foamposite One Black and White
Nike
It’s clear from many of the sneakers dropping this week that spring is here, the colors are getting brighter, and the designs are leaning toward low-key and casual designs, so if you’re not all about that life, this week’s Foamposite One is for you.
Featuring a swirling black washed-out upper, this sneaker sports pigskin accents over a patent-leather-like upper that exudes all sorts of attitude. It’s a brutal contrast to what the rest of the week offers.
The Nike Foamposite One Black and White is set to drop on March 31st at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $250. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT.
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New Balance 9060 Mushroom with Aluminum and Cyclone/ Mineral Red with Truffle and Rain Cloud
New Balance
The new hybrid design 9060 returns this week with two new colorways that highlight the next-level design of this y2k-inspired sneaker. The primary build of this sneaker is mesh with pigskin suede overlays and a dual-density midsole that combines ABZROB and SBS cushioning. The sneaker is lightweight and incredibly stylish in both the mushroom with aluminum and mineral red with truffle colorways.
It’s hard to pick a favorite here, both look amazing and capture that light and breezy spring vibe.
The New Balance 9060 Mushroom with Aluminum and Mineral Red with Truffle is set to drop on April 1st at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $149.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.
New BalanceNew Balance
Nike Air Jordan 11 Low Cement Grey
Nike
Nike might’ve been overtaken by New Balance this week (the first time that’s happened!) but don’t worry Jordan heads, the Swoosh has still got your back with this rerelease of the Cement Grey Jordan 11. This low-profile version sports an icy outsole, a bright white midsole, and a patent leather upper that combines cement grey tones with white and University Blue accents. Peep that embroidered mini Jumpman at the heel!
Cement Grey is easily one of this sneaker’s top five colorways, and while I’m sure a number of people would rather hold out for a high-top version, this is all you’re getting, so grab it while you can!
The Nike Air Jordan 11 Low Cement Grey is set to drop on April 1st at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $185. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
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Nike Air Force 1 University Red
Nike
Simple, but effective, this week’s Air Force 1 University Red is a celebration of Nike heritage. It combines one of Nike’s most famous, and possibly best silhouettes, the AF-1, and dresses it in one of the brand’s most iconic colorways, University Red. It’s a Nike sneaker made almost explicitly for Nike fans and yet it somehow manages to have universal appeal.
The Nike Air Force 1 University Red is set to drop on April 1st at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
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PUMA x RHUIGI B-Boy Suede Sneakers
PUMA
It’s not every day that we highlight a PUMA drop in SNX, but it’s not every day that PUMA links up with someone as dope as Rhuigi Villaseñor, aka RHUDE’s owner and main creative force. The RHUIGI B-Boy sports a full suede upper over a rubber midsole that celebrates late ‘70s NYC hip-hop culture in a colorway that, let’s face it, never would’ve existed back then.
This bright pink upper features thick laces, gold foil accents, and a contrasting dual-branded PUMA RHUIGI tongue tag and speaks to the color palette of spring.
The PUMA x RHUIGI B-Boy Suede are set to drop on April 1st for a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair exclusively at the Puma webstore.
Spirits awards are a funny prospect. On the one hand, they’re a great indicator of what’s hot right now. On the other hand, they can be a bit stuffy and elitist. The latter point is rapidly changing from the old days of closed-off rooms with industry experts (usually old white men) sitting around a table and sniffing whiskey, rum, tequila, and more to a more inclusive and open experience. People of color have a seat at the table these days, as diverse tastemakers, and the people actually making the booze come from all genders and walks of life. Sure, there are still stuffy old white dudes but they’re no longer the absolute standard.
Case in point, the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) has made great strides in diversifying its judging base with leaders from every facet of the spirits industry. Educators taste side by side with distillers, influencers, blenders, distributors, bartenders, authors, and critics to find the best of the best every year with a very international focus.
All of this is leading to a list for your bourbon-drinking pleasure. I compiled a list below of all the”Gold” and “Gold Outstanding” bourbon whiskeys of 2023. Basically, the IWSC judges rate their picks with numerical values that inform the medal that a pour gets — Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Gold Outstanding (it’s a bit more complicated than that, but that’s the gist). Bronze is below 89 points. Silver is 90-94 points. Gold is 95 to 97 points. And Gold Outstanding is 98, 99, and the nary achieved 100 points.
For the list of new and tasty bourbons below, I’ve listed them by points from 95 to 98 (there were only two “Gold Outstanding” bourbons this year and they’re at the bottom). I’ve also added the tasting notes from the IWSC along with my own notes if I’ve also tasted the bottle this year. In the end, if any of these sound like something you’d be into, then click those price buttons and see if you can find these wherever you are (though some haven’t even been released to the public yet).
Let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
While Uncle Nearest is distilling their own juice these days, this is still the work of Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler with carefully sourced Tennessee whiskey barrels. In this case, Eady Bulter hand-selected the best-of-the-best from their inventory to create the perfect whiskey to exemplify the brand and Tennessee whiskey traditions.
“A dark and sweet character with dense notes of ginger cake, candied apple, black pepper, and aniseed. The palate has good concentration with a soft, silky texture. The finish is long and dry, balancing the overall sweetness.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose leans into sticky toffee pudding with a sense of black licorice that’s almost absinth adjacent as soft caramel and winter spice round things out.
Palate: Gingerbread cookies and stewed pears mingle with sharp chili spice, red peppercorns, and a hint more of that dark licorice on the palate with this mild sense of creamy vanilla oils and maybe some maple syrup fresh from the tap.
Finish: The pepperiness really drives the finish toward a creamy vanilla cake end with a nice balance of woody winter spices and a hint of soft leather.
Bottom Line:
This is a pretty delicious place to start. Uncle Nearest’s team really hits it out of the park with these single-barrel releases. While this one is stellar, anyone that you find out there is going to be a treat. So don’t sweat if you can’t find this exact one.
Bradshaw Bourbon is made by Green River Distilling Company in Owensboro, Kentucky. The bourbon is a collab between former Super Bowl champ Terry Bradshaw and Silver Screen Bottling Company, which acts as a sort of bottling fixer between a celebrity and a distiller or barrel house. The whiskey is a two-year-old bourbon made with 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, proofed to a hefty 103.8.
“A creamy butterscotch profile with bright orchard fruit and floral notes which cut through the sweetness and provide lift. The palate is dark and chewy with a defined spicy ginger finish.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: This opens with Werther’s Originals and old library books, with a whiff of aftershave on the nose that’s oddly comforting.
Palate: A soft spice drives the palate as dry reeds lead towards cherry toffee and apple candies.
Finish: The spice warms slightly on the finish as the tobacco dries out and those reeds make a return.
Bottom Line:
Yes, Terry Bradshaw’s bourbon is really good. While I prefer his rye expression, this is classic bourbon through and through. Grab a bottle if you’re looking for an old-school feeling bourbon-y bourbon.
This is the whiskey that heralded a new era of bourbon in 1999. Famed Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee came out of retirement to create this bourbon to celebrate the renaming of the George T. Stagg distillery to Buffalo Trace when Sazerac bought the joint. The rest, as they say, is history — especially since this has become a touchstone bourbon for the brand.
“A fabulously bold, classic Bourbon; brimming with aromas of caramel, antique polish, char, and syrup. The palate reveals further complexity and intermingled flavors of butterscotch, black tea, and hedgerow fruit alongside tones of savory pepper and toasty oak. Sublime!”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: Classic notes of vanilla come through next to a dark maple syrup sweetness, a flourish of fresh mint, and a leatheriness that’s just punctuated by dark burnt orange.
Palate: The palate cuts through the sweeter notes with plenty of spices — like clove, star anise, cardamom, and cinnamon — next to a hint of tart berries, a whisper of dark chocolate, and a dash of sweetly spiced oak.
Finish: The end is long and lush and slowly fades back through the dark citrus and berries with a lively spiced finish.
Bottom Line:
This is another classic. It’s also a bottle from Buffalo Trace that you can generally actually get for a good price (depending on your region). That all said, I primarily use this for mixing up old fashioneds, Manhattans, and boulevardiers.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 95 Points, Gold
Buffalo Trace’s Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch is an entry point to the other 12 expressions released under the E.H. Taylor, Jr. label. The whiskey is made from Buffalo Trace’s iconic Mash Bill No. 1 (which is a low rye recipe). The final whiskey in the bottle is a blend of barrels that meet the exact right flavor profiles Buffalo Trace’s blenders are looking for in a classic bottled-in-bond bourbon for Taylor.
“Subtle aromas of spice, pineapple, and grain on the nose combining with tropical fruits, caramel, nuttiness, and herbaceousness on the palate giving great mouthfeel with a deep chili heat, nice progression, some complexity, and a long solid spicy finish.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a sense of soft corn mush with a hint of fresh green chili, Saigon cinnamon (a little sweet), orchard tree bark, and the black mildew that grows on all the whiskey warehouses in Kentucky.
Palate: The palate leans into buttery toffee with a twinge of black licorice next to cinnamon-spiced dark chocolate tobacco and a hint of huckleberry pie with vanilla ice cream.
Finish: The end has a salted caramel sweetness that leads back to a hint of sweet cinnamon and dark tobacco with a light sense of the fermentation room with a hint of sweet gruel.
Bottom Line:
This is another favorite of mine. I love this one over a few rocks at the end of the day. It’s super easy to drink while offering some serious depth. Though, it will be a little harder to source.
Master Maker & Blender J. Arthur Rackham selected 10 single barrels of bourbon — ranging from 121 to 126 proof — for this set of limited edition whiskeys. Each barrel of whiskey was double sugar maple charcoal filtered (which means that the yeast notes in the spirit are allowed to shine more brightly than the oily grain notes). In this case, a four-year-old whiskey went into the bottle without any proofing.
“A moreish sweet pastry character with pepper and treacle. A distinct toffee flavor builds on the palate, with touches of nut and licorice culminating on the finish. Very good concentration and length.”
Bottom Line:
This is a brand that’s based in the U.K. and dialed a bit more toward the palate profile over there. I’ve yet to try it but it certainly sounds interesting thanks to the double charcoal filtering.
Heaven Hill Distillery Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 95 Points, Gold
This is Elijah Craig’s entry-point bottle. The mash is corn-focused, with more malted barley than rye. The whiskey is then rendered from “small batches” of barrels to create this proofed-down version of the iconic brand.
“Furniture polish, mahogany, caramel, and charred wood come together marvelously on the nose; before flavors of cinnamon spice, burnt honeycomb, and maple on the palate. Amazingly complex and harmonious, with an impressive interplay between bitter oaky tones and sweetness. Divine!”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a light sense of rickhouse wood beams next to that mild taco seasoning on the nose with caramel apples, vanilla ice cream scoops, and a hint of fresh mint with a sweet/spicy edge.
Palate: The palate opens with a seriously smooth vanilla base with some winter spice (especially cinnamon and allspice) next to a hint of grain and apple pie filling.
Finish: The end leans towards the woodiness with a hint of broom bristle and minty tobacco lead undercut by that smooth vanilla.
Bottom Line:
Classic Elijah Craig is hard to beat. It’s a great cocktail base that you can actually find for a great price. It should be on your bar cart right now.
This new expression from the brand uses classic Elijah Craig Small Batch and gives it a finishing maturation. Basically, the whiskey is transferred to toasted oak barrels for a spell so that the whiskey can really capture more of that oakiness.
“A sweetly perfumed nose, with fruity aromas of date and raisin, alongside notes of caramel, charred oak, and vanilla. The mouthfeel is velvety and luxurious, revealing butterscotch, black treacle, and dark honey. Rich, indulgent, and extremely long. Exquisite!”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: Naturally, you get a woodiness on the nose that teeters between soft cedar and sweet, almost fruity hardwoods, with a hint of caramel sweetness as a counterpoint.
Palate: That caramel has a somewhat orange-chocolate edge with hints of clove, cinnamon, and white pepper lurking in the background.
Finish: The spices dry out (think cinnamon sticks or spice barks), the sweetness subsides, and you’re left with a touch of that soft cedar and some well-warmed senses.
Bottom Line:
This is a nice step up from classic Elijah Craig. The woodiness is a bit dialed back on this expression but provides a deeper-than-usual edge compared to the much sweeter EC Small Batch.
If you’re looking to dip your toe into something a little more nuanced from Elijah Craig, this is it.
Heaven Hill Distillery Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 95 Points, Gold
Look, Heaven Hill makes great whiskey, especially inexpensive bottled in bonds. This “b-i-b” is tailored for the Evan Williams flavor profile. Still, this is Heaven Hill, so we’re talking about the same mash bill, same warehouses, and same parent company as several entries on this list. This is simply built to match a higher-end Evan Williams vibe.
“A bold toffee apple character with concentrated aromas of burnt sugar and old barrel spice. The dense palate is well-rounded with lashings of brown sugar and nut notes. Nicely balanced.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a lovely nose at play with soft taco mix spice next to creamy vanilla, caramel-dipped cherries, a hint of pear skins, and plenty of nutmeg.
Palate: The palate has a minor note of cornbread muffins next to cherry-vanilla tobacco with a dash of leather and toffee.
Finish: The end leans into some fresh gingerbread with a vanilla frosting next to hints of pear candy cut with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Bottom Line:
This is classic, cheap bourbon. You’re not going to have your socks blown off by this one, but it will be very satisfying. Basically, this is a bourbon lover’s bourbon at an amazing price point.
15 STARS First West Platinum Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 95 Points, Gold
This new limited edition expression from Kentucky bottlers 15 STARS (they’re also distilling some amazing stuff that’ll drop in the next few years) is a blend of 10-year-old barrels. That whiskey then is just kissed with water before bottling.
“Rich and vibrant with layered notes of juicy raisins, toffee apple, and gingerbread. Moreish with a savory edge, there is a pleasant vein of sweetness that runs throughout, providing wonderful depth and complexity.”
Bottom Line:
Unfortunately, I haven’t tried this one yet. But the new 15 STARS that I have tried have been spectacular. This undoubtedly will be too.
15 Stars First West Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 95 Points, Gold
The father/son team at 15 STARS is hitting it out of the park with their amazing sourced blends. This new release is a mix of 15, nine, and six-year-old bourbons from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. The marriage of whiskeys is just touched with water before bottling.
“Pronounced aromas of lemon peel and honey leading to a dense palate packed with ginger cake, treacle, and orange oil flavors. The individual notes have good intensity and definition, whilst being part of a harmonious whole.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this one meanders through soft winter spices before hitting a vanilla wafer with a hint of nougat before getting into a woody bramble of orchard trees and firewood bark.
Palate: The palate leads off with a woody edge before diving into holiday spices with a hint of raisin and date next to creamed vanilla butter and a touch of brown sugar.
Finish: There’s a hint of apple/cherry pie filling before the woodiness takes over on the backend with a spicy tobacco edge with a hint of sweet cedar.
Bottom Line:
I have tried this one and it’s great! These are very limited though, so you’re going to have to be in the know to find these very limited gems.
Heaven Hill Distillery Henry Mckenna 10-Year-Old Single Barrel Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 95 Points, Gold
This classic offering from Heaven Hill is actually getting easier to find again (after years of being nearly impossible to find thanks to hype). The juice utilizes a touch of rye in the mash bill and is then aged for ten long years in a bonded rickhouse. The best barrels are chosen by hand and the whiskey is bottled with just a touch of water to bring it down to bottled-in-bond proof.
“An exceptionally well-made example, delivering an intertwined aromatic display of rich caramel, dark honey, and luxurious chocolate. Flavors of mahogany, ripe dark fruit, and caramelized banana appear on the palate, framed beautifully by classy toasty oak and clove spice. Outstanding.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens slightly tannic with rich orange zest and vanilla cream next to woody winter spice, fresh mint, and wet cedar with a hint of gingerbread and burnt cherry.
Palate: The palate hits on soft vanilla white cake with a salted caramel drizzle and burnt orange zest vibe next to apple/pear tobacco leaves dipped in toffee and almond.
Finish: The end has a sour cherry sensation that leads to wintery woody spices, cedar bark, and old cellar beams with a lush vanilla pod and cherry stem finish.
Bottom Line:
This award-circuit-darling is a solid and very classic Kentucky bourbon. I tend to use this for simple bourbon-forward cocktails but it 100% works on the rocks as a sipper too.
“Elegant aromas of grain, barrel spice, and cinnamon. The palate has a creamy butterscotch and crystallized ginger profile, with a good kick of spice and stewed fruit flavors. The finish is long and smooth – a memorable end to a tasty whiskey.”
Bottom Line:
I’m dubious when I read “grain” on a bourbon tasting note and see only three years of aging. That said, this does sound pretty tasty with the “crystallized ginger” and “stewed fruit flavors” so color me intrigued.
“A fragrant nose of incense and candied pear which follow through onto the palate. Beautifully textured with a gentle cask influence, the palate is fruity with pleasing gingerbread and spice notes, which linger on the finish.”
Bottom Line:
Again, I’m intrigued by the tasting notes.
Four Roses Distillery Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 95 Points, Gold
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon is a blend of four whiskeys. The blend is split evenly between the high and mid-ryes with a focus on “slight spice” and “rich fruit” yeasts. The whiskey is then blended, cut with soft Kentucky water, and bottled.
“Bright cereal aromas with a kick of baking and barrel spice. There is a nice fruit sweetness running through the palate, with supporting nut and grass notes. Silky smooth with a good density of chewy spice on the finish.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: Soft and sweet apple and cherry woods greet with a good dose of sour red berries dusted with brown winter spices, especially clove, and nutmeg.
Palate: The palate leans into soft and salted caramel with a hint of those berries underneath while the spices get woodier and a thin line of green sweetgrass sneaks in.
Finish: The finish is silky and boils down to blackberry jam with a good dose of winter spice, old wood, and a hint of vanilla tobacco.
Bottom Line:
Another classic bourbon! This one is a quintessential cocktail base whiskey that’s easily findable and always well-priced.
Barton 1792 Distillery Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Bourbon Whiskey — 95 Points, Gold
This release from Sazerac’s other distillery, Barton 1792 Distillery, has become a yearly standard release. The whiskey in the bottle is generally kept under wraps. We do know that the bourbon is finished in Cabernet Sauvignon casks for a spell before blending, proofing, and bottling.
“Subtle aroma characteristics of cereal and earthy notes shining through on the light and balanced nose combining on the palate with spices, fruitiness, and chocolate flavors showing a full and elegant expression; good progression and, overall, well balanced with a nice finish.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: Stone fruit and vanilla lead on the nose with hints of sugar cookies, bright peach, and old-yet-soft oak.
Palate: The palate leans into cherry bark with plum, mulled wine, vanilla, and sharp sassafras.
Finish: The spice on the mid-palate leads to some old leather, more of that soft oak, and a hint of sweet potting soil with a plummy finish.
Bottom Line:
This is a great food-pairing whiskey thanks to that deep red-wine vibe. It also works as a nice cocktail base or slow sipper after dinner.
This new release from 15 STARS is a blend of two bourbons with a big finishing run. The whiskey is made from an eight and 16-year-old blend that was finished in Kentucky in port, cognac, and rum casks for eight additional months before batching and bottling.
“A richly fruited nose brimming with a hint of lit cigar aroma. The palate has an initial sweetness that journeys into spice and charred wood, a seamless and balanced transition. Flavors of orchard fruit, vanilla cream, and citrus oil.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: Woody huckleberry jam over raisin scones mingle with eggnog spices and brown sugar cookies, spiced cherry fruit leather, and a twinge of sweet yet old oakiness.
Palate: That dark fruit leather leans into brandy-soaked dates and prunes with a sense of old oak cellars next to rich vanilla, soft apples, and sticky toffee pudding.
Finish: There’s a dark cherry spiced vibe to the finish that leans into fresh chewy tobacco packed into an old oak box and then wrapped in leather with a burnt orange rind and winter spice bouquet on top.
Bottom Line:
This is delicious whiskey. It’s a great sipper that really benefits from a drop of water to let it bloom in the glass. You’ll get a creamy, nutty, almost fatty lusciousness that just vibes wonderfully with everything going on in the flavor profile already.
Kentucky Owl is another resurrection brand by Master Blender Dixon Dedman, the great-great-grandson of the shingle’s original founder. This is contract-distilled and sourced whiskey from the famed Bardstown Bourbon Company, meaning the fidelity is very high here.
“Friendly nose showing great bourbon aroma characteristics with caramel, orange, and cinnamon notes combining on the palate with plenty of fruit, milk chocolate, sweet cardamom, and baking spices showing and overall soft mouthfeel; well balanced with some complexity and a hot finish.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: Light notes of rye crust and star anise mingle on the nose with old oak, vanilla, and cherry.
Palate: The palate warms with dark and woody winter spices next to more of that oak, raw leather, and some black licorice.
Finish: The end warms with the spices before touching cherry tobacco wrapped up in dry sweetgrass and old leather with a hint of vanilla pudding and cinnamon bark.
Bottom Line:
This is a really good whiskey that has a huge fan base. This is something I reach for when I want a rye-forward bourbon.
While Uncle Nearest is distilling their own juice these days, this is still the work of Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler with carefully sourced Tennessee whiskey barrels. In this case, Eady Bulter hand-selected the best-of-the-best from their inventory to create the perfect whiskey to exemplify the brand and Tennessee whiskey traditions.
“Attractive nose with aromas of apple Danish, golden syrup, and young wood. Rich palate packed with butter toffee and sweet red fruit notes. A bright and enjoyable offering.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a lovely sense of sourdough old-fashioned doughnuts dusted in cinnamon on the nose with a hint of brown sugar, nutmeg, pecan, and cedar/tobacco with a warm edge.
Palate: The palate layers those pecans into a waffle with plenty of butter and maple syrup next to dried sour cherries with old leather, dried corn cobs, and spiced cherry tobacco next to dry black dirt with a hint of sweetness to it.
Finish: The end lessens the cherry and leads to peppery tobacco with a warm finish full of dry firewood, more of that woody maple syrup, and a dash of vanilla cream underneath it. Though, I’d pour this one over a single rock to add a little water. It’ll get super creamy and lush.
Bottom Line:
These have been stellar releases over the last year or so and this is another one. If you can track this down, you’ll be in for a classic-tasting American whiskey treat.
Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 96 Points, Gold
This entry point to the much older and much higher-priced, George T. Stagg, is killing the bourbon game right now. The whiskey is generally eight to nine-year-old bourbons, made at Buffalo Trace, and batched and bottled with no fussing, cutting, or filtering. The results are an award-winning bourbon that’s getting harder and harder to find for its MSRP.
“Great mocha and corn aromas with spice and underlying fruitiness on the nose combining with licorice, earth, chocolate, fresh cake, and a touch of citrus on the palate showing a soft mouthfeel with nice progression, delicious taste, and great finish.”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: There is distinct and rich molasses next to hints of pecan, dark and bold holiday spices, and vanilla oils on the nose.
Palate: The palate holds onto those notes and adds a cherry sweetness with a hint of woody apple in the background and a touch of toffee.
Finish: The end is long and very hot, leaving you with a spicy tobacco buzz on your tongue and senses.
Bottom Line:
This is another crowd-pleasing favorite. Stagg stans go deep with their fandom. These get a little too hot for me, so I recommend a rock or two. That said, if you’re looking for an ABV/proof explosion, this is the bottle for you.
William Heavenhill 9th Edition 15-Year-Old Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 97 Points, Gold
The latest edition of Heaven Hill’s super exclusive William Heavenhill release was made from just 34 barrels. Those barrels were from a specific floor of a specific warehouse where they rested for 15 long years before batching and bottling as-is.
“Deep caramel, cigar box, leather, and rich red fruit combine to make for an enticing and expressive nose. Notes of furniture polish, toasted grains, and hedgerow berries too; layered and complex with a lingering savory, smoky finish. Fabulous!”
Our Tasting Notes:
Nose: That oak comes through like a dank old cigar box with a sense of cinnamon bark, whole nutmeg bulbs, and stewed cherry syrup with a whisper of sassafras and marzipan.
Palate: The palate is lush with a sense of old rye bread crusts next to huckleberry cobbler, more marzipan, orange oils, vanilla oils, and a touch of singed cedar kindling.
Finish: Salted caramel peanut clusters and thick cherry tobacco chewiness mingle with old oak cellars with dirt floors and a fleeting sense of falling fall leaves.
Bottom Line:
This is delicious, hard to get, and very rare. That said, I walked into the Heaven Hill bottle shop and it was right there behind the cash registers for sale for around $240 per bottle. So it’s not impossible. But that was pure blind luck. Otherwise, expect very high, unicorn whiskey prices.
This whiskey from Sazerac’s other Kentucky distillery, Barton 1792, is a low-key masterpiece. The whiskey is rendered from a high-rye bourbon mash bill that’s left to rest for 12 years. Finally, the barrels are batched and bottled as-is.
“Well-defined aromas of plum and bramble sit alongside cinnamon and clove. Flavors of dried fig and date, as well as toasty oak and pepper, present themselves on a beautifully creamy palate. Superbly elegant and an excellent example of its kind.”
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Black Forest cake with the moistest chocolate sponge, creamiest vanilla cream, and almost tart-sweet cherry compote drive the nose with a hint of pepperiness and dark chili.
Palate: The taste leans into the dark fruits — prune, fig, date, rum raisin, dried cranberry — hard as burnt orange, fatty nuts, and more vanilla cream dip in and out of the palate.
Finish: The end has a soft dark chocolate creaminess with a flake of salt, more dark fruits, and a lush vanilla.
Bottom Line:
This is just delicious. It’s very allocated and, thereby, hard to get a hold of but worth the hunt.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 98 Points, Gold Outstanding
This new expression from Bardstown Bourbon Company is the team shining a light on their own barrels. The juice for this one is made from a mash bill of 36% rye, making this a classic “high-rye” bourbon. The blend is then built for perfect cocktail mixing.
“A dense, rich toffee popcorn character shines through, with complex black tea, red fruit, and mint notes acting in support. The palate has a wonderful depth of flavor and elegance, with a masterful balance between cask and spirit.”
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a nice sense of toffee, corn husks, and apricot jam on the nose with a hint of eggnog just kissed with spearmint.
Palate: The creamy eggnog — vanilla and nutmeg heavy — drives the palate toward a whisper of cedar and mint chocolate chip with a touch of cedar bark.
Finish: The end is short and dry with a hint of vanilla pod, old cherry syrup, and dank tobacco in a cedar box with a touch of red chili and dry black tea leaves.
Bottom Line:
This is built as a cocktail whiskey, use it accordingly.
Nearly one month later, Joey confirmed that, in this particular case, life isn’t imitating art during an interview with Complex posted yesterday (March 28).
“We’re not,” he said when asked if he and Serayah are together.
And then he was asked to explain the idea behind “Show Me” rollout.
“Honestly, it wasn’t anything that was anticipated at first, but when we got back all the assets, like the photos, I started to [think], ‘Oh, it’s something that could be done with these. This could tell the story,’” Joey responded. “So, you know, that’s kind of what I wanted to do. I knew it was gonna catch people, like, you know, by surprise a little bit. That was the hardest part — waiting 48 hours.”
“Show Me” is housed on Joey Badass’ 2000 album from last July, which also boasted “The Baddest,” “One Of Us” featuring Larry June,” and “Wanna Be Loved” featuring JID. He’s next set to feature on Larry June and The Alchemist’s forthcoming project, The Great Escape.
Davido announced his fourth studio album Timeless just the other week. He shared the news with a trailer, in which he said, “There is a time for everything, a time to grieve and a time to heal, a time to laugh and a time to dance. A time to speak, and a time for silence.”
Today (March 29), only days away from the new LP, he gave fans more exciting news via a trailer. “Our guest tonight is a voice of a generation,” a voice says. “And now I know we can’t wait for the new album to drop, but for the moment, he’s been kind enough to let us in on the tracklist.”
The tracklist was then read aloud, and you can see it in full below; it has features from Asake, Skepta, and more.
Dominion Voting System’s super-sized lawsuit against Fox News continues to heat up, with news that some of its biggest stars might have to take the stand to defend spreading voter fraud nonsense they knew was bunk. There’s also some new Tucker Carlson texts. The last time Dominion made public correspondences from the network’s biggest celebrity, we learned that, at least in the aftermath of the 2020 election, he secretly hated Donald Trump “passionately.” Now we know he hated someone else in his orbit even more.
As per Mediaite, multiple texts show Tucker railing against Sidney Powell, the kooky lawyer and Diet Dr. Pepper fanatic who fed inventive nonsense into the about-to-be-ex-president’s ear. In one exchange, an unnamed staffer told Carlson that Powell had been “shunned” by Team Trump over her increasingly loony claims.
“That cunt,” he wrote back on November 22. “I hope she’s punished.”
The staffer responded, “I’m going to destroy her.”
It wasn’t the first time Carlson had trashed Powell. Days before he said, straight up, “Sidney Powell is lying.” He added, “F*cking bitch.”
An also unknown staffer replied, “She’s a psychopath. She’s getting Trump all spun up and has zero evidence.”
“F*cking bitch,” Carlson replied. “Crazy person.”
Cut to earlier this month, and Carlson was still disseminating voter fraud bunk during his infamous segments in which he whitewashed the Jan. 6 rioters as mere “sightseers.”
“The protesters were angry: They believed that the election they had just voted in had been unfairly conducted. And they were right,” Carlson claimed. “In retrospect, it is clear the 2020 election was a grave betrayal of American democracy. Given the facts that have since emerged about that election, no honest person can deny it.”
But perhaps Powell’s conspiracy theories went too far even for him.
Fox News responded to Mediaite publishing Tucker’s texts by claiming the documents made public by Dominion featured “cherry-picked quotes without context to generate headlines in order to distract from the facts of this case.”
Tucker wasn’t the only one whose correspondences were made public. An email from CEO Suzanne Scott shows her ordering Fox News fact checkers examining voter fraud claims had to “stop now,” claiming that it was “bad for business.”
Donald Trump is on his third presidential campaign, and polls have him crushing his GOP rivals. He even has a not-quite-hit record, sort of. And yet he’s beset upon by all sides. He thought he was going to be indicted last week, and he still might be. But if the Manhattan D.A. case against him blows up, there are plenty of other legal headaches that could land him in the slammer. But you know what? It’s not his oldest daughter’s problem.
Sources told People that Ivanka Trump, who gave up her own ambitions to work closely with her father during his lone term in the White House and who recently seemed to throw her own family members under the bus, is done trying to help him.
“Even though Ivanka loves her dad, she knows how impossible he can be,” one source said. Instead, she’s busy “recreating her business life and raising her children which are her priorities. She is through with politics.”
The same source said Ivanka laments that she’s been all but banished from New York City, her former home, but she’s enjoying her new life in Miami. “She has started over and pursues interests in business, design, and being involved in the lives of her children,” they said.
Ivanka’s so wrapped up rebuilding her life in a new location that she’s not going to intervene in her father’s chaotic affairs, as she has in the past.
“Donald does what he wants, and she can’t help him now,” the source said. “His help is in the hands of his lawyers and advisers. She is no longer working in that capacity.”
Another source told People that Ivanka may have regrets helping out her father, who helped make her name persona non grata, at least in NYC.
“She basically wants a new life to compensate for what she lost when she spent four years in her father’s Washington,” they said. “She misses her active social life and group of friends.”
What does Trump, who famously prizes loyalty about all, think of his own daughter turning her back on him? Perhaps he forgives her. Or perhaps he’s not above throwing even her under the bus if need be.
It’s been well over a decade since Fidlar first began releasing their fuzzy and raucous music that captured massive audiences and packed sweaty venues. In the time since, the band has learned a lot about themselves. But it wasn’t until a literal and figurative trip the band took during lockdown that they transformed those lessons into songs.
The result of that trip is That’s Life, a six-song EP that comes to terms with the ups-and-downs of relationships, mental health, and substances with tracks like “FSU” and the titular “That’s Life.” “My girlfriend says I lack empathy / Thinks I’m a narcissist and I need gnarly therapy,” lead singer Zac Carper belts in the first line of EP opener “Centipede.” But even with the earnest lyrics, Fidlar don’t lose their sight of their gripping energy and gritty, irreverent sound. Oh, and there’s plenty of angsty shouting.
To celebrate the release of their EP, Fidlar sat down with Uproxx to talk Keanu Reeves, sleeping next to a litter box, and crowd member proposing during their concerts in our latest Q&A.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Loud. Fun. Louder. Pissed.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
As the greatest music of the last 40 years.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?
In recent history…our show a few days ago in Portland went off. Someone proposed during our set.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
Keanu Reeves, because how could he not?
Where did you eat the best meal of your life?
Catania, Sicily.
What album do you know every word to?
Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange.
What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?
Flaming Lips at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in 2011.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
Jumpsuit…loose fitting, pockets for picks, easy to put on, looks fire.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
Warning: This post contains vague-ish spoilers for John Wick: Chapter 4, now in theaters.
Much like the original The Fast and the Furious, the first John Wick was a relatively simple affair: It was about a hitman who comes out of retirement because someone killed his puppy. He didn’t even leave the New York City area. By Chapter 2, the world building got such that our ever-vengeful hero was a globe-trotting man of the world, even trying out different genres star Keanu Reeves and series director Chad Stahelski adore. Indeed, it was their love of all the different flavors of action cinema that inspired Chapter 4’s somber/downer conclusion.
In a new interview with Vulture, Stahelski reflects on how they came up with the “samurai thing” that concludes the fourth — and probably at this point not final — installment.
“Keanu and I were sitting around many months after we completed John Wick 3 in Tokyo at the Imperial Hotel at the Scotch bar doing a little press, and we’re like, ‘Yeah, wouldn’t it be fun if John Wick was in Japan? Yeah, I don’t know if we could build a movie around it, but that’d be fun,’” he recalled. “Because, we never did nunchucks. We never did Enter the Dragon. I’m a huge Sergio Leone fan. I never got to do the Spaghetti western–style showdown that I wanted to do.”
At this point, something clicked in Reeves’ Japanese scotch-inspired mind. “Then Keanu just looks at me and goes, ‘John Wick needs to die,’” Stahelski recalled. “I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ He says, ‘Well, let’s do the samurai thing.’”
What is “the samurai thing”? It comes from a canonical book entitled the Hagakura, a practical and spiritual guide for a warrior dating back to 18th century Japan. Stahelski said that among the commentaries contained within are notes on “the way of dying, the art of dying.” He added, “You can only have a good death if you’ve had a good life. We started going down this road of Bushido samurai and anti-samurai mentality. And how does this philosophy tie into all the movies? How’s he going to get out of this?”
And so that’s how John Wick achieved a good death — or did he? Reeves and Stahelski may have planned Chapter 4 to be their fond farewell to their beloved character, but unfortunately, it made so much money that Lionsgate brass are already demanding more. Perhaps John Wick will have to find a second peaceful death.
Don’t blink now, but the Minnesota Timberwolves are on a winning streak, claiming four straight after a tight win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday. By nature of the Western Conference and the perpetual state of chaos that exists in the middle of the playoff and play-in races, that’s vaulted the Wolves from the fringe of the play-in to the seventh seed as of Wednesday morning.
Chris Finch’s continual tinkering of lineups has led to five player unit that’s finally finding success on both ends — across ~500 possessions, the Conley/Edwards/McDaniels/Anderson/Gobert lineup is outscoring teams by +10.5 points per 100 possessions, with above-average marks on both sides of the ball. Jaden McDaniels’ emergence as a legitimate two-way force, in particular, is a pivotal aspect to Minnesota finding a semblance of stability during a tenuous season.
The Wolves played 12 games in March. In them, McDaniels is averaging 15.5 points per game on 61.3 percent true-shooting while hitting 41.7 percent of his four three point attempts per game. He’s set and tied his career-high of 25 points in a game twice in a week’s span. And it’s not just that McDaniels is scoring that’s impressive, it’s how those buckets are coming.
All season, there have been glimpses of McDaniels’ offensive growth, but March has inarguably been the most fruitful and consistent month of his young career as a secondary scorer. Sixty percent of his shots this season are coming within 14 feet, as opposed to 52 percent last season, per Cleaning the Glass.
Finishing through and handling contact was a problem for McDaniels his first two seasons, but he’s found more ways to readily leverage his strength at present.
McDaniels is spindly, but his functional strength is unquestionable, as he regularly holds his own on an island against any and every player archetype in the book of basketball. With some added tightness in his wide and high handle, he’s finding ways to employ that same physicality in getting downhill. If he can burrow his shoulder into a defender’s chest, he has the touch to rise over via the modicum of space created to hit lofted fade-ways and craft finishes with lengthy extensions.
He’s shooting a career-high on twos (59.2 percent) while taking more of them on a per-game basis than he ever has, all of which is happening alongside an uptick in self-creation —66 percent of his made twos are assisted, compared to 71.5 percent his first two seasons. Part of this is due to playing with arguably the best spacing he ever has, but McDaniels has also taken advantage of the opportunities this has provided.
There’s a growing sense of control in his game. While McDaniels still has stumbling moments as a driver, he’s found some comfort in size-ups. He takes a half beat to soak in the possession, not in a way that halts the play, but rather to take advantage of the way he’s guarded and how a defense has reacted.
Last season, the sorts of plays in the above clip would have been offensive fouls or rushed attempts more often than not. Slowing down has allowed him to utilize his frame, play like the 6’10 forward he is, and get the most out of his footwork. He’s less choppy on his drives, and while I wouldn’t call him bursty by any stretch of the imagination, he kind of glides with his consistent body control and a sneakily shifty handle.
Every move is a counter. A hesi and stride change to off-put a rim protector and set up his guard. A spin and stride change to attack a defender’s hip. A step through to attack the opposite direction. Your own momentum is your enemy against McDaniels.
McDaniels is brandishing a career-high free throw rate, a byproduct of his guile and jerky nature. Not unlike his teammate Kyle Anderson, he has a verve that can be difficult for opponents to match.
While I still wouldn’t say that McDaniels is taking “the leap,” he’s taking a leap that’s incredibly meaningful for the Wolves and his own development. His shot has remained consistent from deep, recovering after a wayward first month, and that’s allowed him to soak up more usage than he ever has. His usage rate is up to 19.3 percent in March with minimal fluctuation (he was at 15.3 percent usage the first 4.5 months of the season, the same as his 2021-22 season).
By virtue of being consistently guarded, McDaniels has earned more opportunities as a secondary ball-handler, attacking secondary pick-and-rolls. He’s been given opportunities to dive towards the rim with designed cuts. He’s even been employed as a screener and roller of late as the Wolves toggle their lineups.
He hasn’t reached a point where he can be the offense or operate from a standstill, but rather, he’s reaching a point where he cannot be hidden. He has to be guarded given how consistent his shot has become on volume. Within that, he’s found his own offense, an essential part of becoming a higher level secondary scorer.
In recent matchups between the Timberwolves and the Hawks, Atlanta has tried to start the game by having Trae Young guard McDaniels. The third-year forward has responded with two of his best scoring outputs of the year. This clip is a glimpse of exactly what you want to see from him.
The initial drive is taken away, but then he kicks out the ball, receives it back after re-establishing himself, and goes right up with the spinning layup. It’s simple, but simple is all he needs to get an efficient look.
Like-sized defenders that can slide their feet with him and remain disciplined still give McDaniels trouble. He can be forced into contested twos away from the basket. But, that’s the next part of the equation. Defenses are getting to the point where they realize they can’t put their worst defender on him and get away with it, and that’s played a substantial part in the Wolves starting to find offensive stability with McDaniels on the court.
McDaniels is still a fairly average passer, but the decisiveness he’s playing with keeps the flow of the Wolves’ offense in stride. He’s improving as a player who can hit the dunker spot when he draws baseline help, a boon alongside Rudy Gobert. If he’s driving baseline himself, he’s seeing cutters with more regularity. Those actual lanes for cutting and passing are more available when teams have to worry about a 6’10 forward who can finish at all three levels.
He’s been a fantastic complement to Wolves star Anthony Edwards, too. Edwards’ own vision as a playmaker is proliferating, and McDaniels has reaped the benefits while providing as they’ve found greater synergy. Less is expected of the lesser scorers on the team, as an aging Mike Conley can be utilized more as an offensive catalyst and off-ball threat. How the duo fairs with Karl-Anthony Towns regularly in the mix is a notable storyline for the Wolves during the final stretch of the season — Towns, of course, is just returning from missing 51 games due to a calf injury.
Already one of the best defenders on the planet, McDaniels is making noteworthy strides that have bolstered the Timberwolves in recent weeks. The fruits have already been borne by Minnesota, and as a result, the team is playing some of its best basketball as the postseason approaches.
Nicolas Cage would like to set the record straight on recent reports that he stayed in character as Dracula the whole time he filmed Renfield. Director Chris McKay previously told Insider that Cage would “would still be 100 percent living in that attitude after we stopped shooting.” Cage doesn’t remember it that way, but the iconic actor does have an idea of where that notion may have come from.
“I just don’t have that recollection, I don’t know why Chris said that,” Cage told The Hollywood Reporter. “I had a lot of laughs in between takes with both Chris McKay and Nick Hoult so maybe that was his experience, maybe because I still had the fangs in my mouth that made me speak a certain way, but that wasn’t my experience.”
While Cage didn’t go full Method acting, he did put a whole lot of thought into his performance. He also had some unusual inspirations for his portrayal.
“He always spoke with distinction, he was always very elegant and eloquent, he was always the smartest man in every room he walked in and he knew, and he made sure we knew,” Cage explained. “I think Dracula, being around for so many years, would have some of that aura.” He also cited Anne Bancroft’s performance in The Graduate as another inspiration, who he thought was “very seductive and Dracula-esque. So I was looking at her manner of speaking, kind of mid-Atlantic vocalization that both my father and Anne Bancroft had.”
At the end of the day, Cage wanted to make sure he was hitting the right comedic tone, but still honor the terror of the Prince of the Night.
“With this Dracula I was trying to fuse that which is scary and humorous even at the same time in the line delivery,” Cage said. “It was just how can you be creepy and funny at the same time, that was the challenge.”
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