This morning, May 4, The Athleticspoke with Snoop Dogg about the validity of his involvement.
“This ain’t no joke or no gimmick — or an image or likeness play. This is a real ownership play,” he told reporter Ian Mendes. “And Snoop will put his foot in the town.” (You know it’s serious when someone busts out third-person.)
Is this a PR stunt?
Why doesn’t he buy a team in Atlanta or Houston?
What about the hockey side?
There have been questions floating around Snoop’s interest in the Sens.
In his first interview with an Ottawa reporter, he provided me with some answers. https://t.co/mOipvLutE9
“I want Ottawa because Ottawa wants me. It’s a thriving city. The team is going to make a U-turn once we get ownership. The players are inspired. The community is inspired. I felt like this is what Ottawa needs. […]
“I love the city. Every time I’ve come through the city, they’ve rolled out the red carpet for me. The fans, the city. Everyone. It’s been nothing but love. When you go around the world as much as I have, there are certain places that stick out in your heart. Everywhere I go in Canada, it’s always been love, but there’s something about Ottawa. And the opportunity for the team to be bought? It’s impeccable timing right now.”
He described his potential role in ownership as “a community activist,” and Senators fans or Ottawa residents at large could expect to “become family.”
Per The Athletic‘s initial reporting on May 1, the Senators are expected to draw a sale “eclipsing $1 billion, although it is unclear how much of a financial stake Snoop has put into the group.”
Snoop made the emotional stakes clear while appearing on Tuesday’s (May 2) episode of First Take on ESPN. Watch clips below.
“The kids need to know that there is an option to play hockey if you look like me” @SnoopDogg on why joining the @Senators ownership bid matters to him.
Artists are in the midst of finding ways to protest Tennessee’s ban on drag performances. Madonna is bringing Caldwell Tidicue, who performs as Bob the Drag Queen, on her tour. Yo La Tengo dressed up in drag to make a point. However, Hayley Kiyoko experienced struggles at her show in Nashville.
The singer shared an Instagram post, saying an undercover cop attended her soundcheck and informed her that she can’t have drag performers because the gig is all ages.
“This is f*cked up. This is so f*cked,” she said. “And I’m so sorry to my community and I’m just devastated, this is just not right, it’s not okay. And my heart just goes out to everyone navigating this.”
She also refused to give up, inspiring fans to maintain hope: “We will not be silenced,” she wrote.
The show successfully went on with the drag queens.
Find the full post below.
“At soundcheck the day of, I was advised by local law enforcement that having a drag performance at my all ages show could result in legal action. They warned us to not bring any drag performers on stage. I was shattered as you can see in the videos I recorded reacting to the situation in real time before the show started.
I never want to put anyone in a position to be at risk or in danger in any way. But also where is the line of being silenced? How do we navigate these absurd threats and laws against our community? I find pride in making sure my concerts are safe places for ALL. How can I do that if we aren’t allowed to be ourselves, especially at a predominantly queer concert? We deserve to have a safe space to be ourselves while we navigate the evil that is threatening our own existence.
When the queens arrived it was about 10 minutes before the show. I was distraught and let them know what was communicated to us and our concerns. They showed no fear and said they wanted to continue with the show and come out on stage. So they did.
Thank you @theladylibertea and @jivy85 for joining us last night. You looked radiant and truly inspire me.
We will not be silenced. We will find ways to continue to be our authentic selves, no matter what. We will not give up.
No matter how hard they make it. I love you all so much.”
With the average electronic music tour averaging over 1,300 miles, electronic music producers hold some of the best knowledge for all things travel. So we picked the brain of 13 globally recognized DJs and producers to find their best travel hacks and wisdom — plus some of their favorite destinations as the summer travel season approaches.
Frameworks (@frameworks_uk): Dress comfy, use Apple Airtags when traveling, use Virtual SIMs [eSIMs]
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: Shambhala Music Festival, Cascade Equinox Festival
My first travel hack is using Apple Air Tags. I have one in each bag I carry including checked bags. These are so great for knowing where the luggage is. As soon as I board a flight, I check the location of my “Peli case” and watch it make its way onto the plane. They’re just really helpful to keep your mind at ease when you’re waiting for your gear to come off a long haul knowing it’s actually made it to the destination.
Number two is super obvious but it always surprises me the amount of people that don’t do it — DRESS COMFY! Flights can be long and laborious. I was wearing a full tracksuit like I’m planning on sitting around the house! It just makes things so much more doable when you’re comfy and at ease.
My friend TOR put me onto this one when traveling internationally — Virtual Sims [eSIMs]. They basically allow you to use the internet without using your current mobile provider. I have no idea how it works but you pay for an amount of data that you then use via this virtual SIM that you install and it saves you so much money. I was always using my current provider and coming home with £300 phone bills for being away for like two weeks. So worth it.
For destinations, I’m really looking forward to playing at some great destination music festivals this year. I’ll be back at Shambhala Music & Arts Festival this summer in Canada. I had the pleasure of performing there before and it’s just a great experience. It’s in a really beautiful part of Canada. From the crew to the crowds, it’s all really great vibes. There’s also Cascade Equinox Festival. This is the first year for this festival but it’s come out the gates swinging with some big names on the bill. I’ve always been a fan of Oregon which is where the festival is to be held and just really looking forward to experiencing this one.
SKYLER (@skylersoundsx): Walk, bike, and eat all the cheese through Amsterdam
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: To be announced in the coming weeks
Amsterdam hands down has got to be one of the most magical cities I’ve had the pleasure of traveling to thus far. Unlike a lot of popular city destinations, Amsterdam is a city you can truly get lost in to quickly feel like a local. You can wake up with a loose itinerary, jump on a bike and stumble upon the most unique hidden gems. Making it feel like an authentic non-scripted experience, which is my ideal vacation.
Between the breathtaking historical structures, the exciting food and drink scene to indulge in and, of course, all of the fun tourist attractions to explore, I recommend staying here at least three nights to dive into it all. After a week of exploring the Netherlands’ capital, here are some of my personal travel hacks. Let me preface by saying that I am a cheese enthusiast so many of these places made the list for their extraordinary cheese selections.
It seems like it’s easier to find beer in this city than it is water, so naturally, my first recommendation is the “Brouwerij ’t IJ” for an industrial-style brewery experience based inside a giant windmill. They’re the oldest brewery in the city, serving some of the best IPA I have ever had which pairs perfectly with their delectable meat and cheese offerings (of course). This city’s canal system is absolutely stunning. It gives Amsterdam its character. So, one of my favorite activities was relaxing on a beautiful wooden saloon boat and learning about Amsterdam’s history and culture. I won’t spoil them for you, but there are so many cool hidden facts that only make this place more of a gem. And, the best part, they never stopped pouring the wine and refilling the cheese the full hour of the tour.
If I haven’t convinced you that Amsterdam is one of the best cheese destinations yet, there’s one more place that may sway you – a rotating Dutch cheese bar called Kaasbar. The best way to experience this place is to sit at the bar and pick up cheeses passing on the conveyor belt. It’s a cheese lovers fantasy.
If you’re craving something other than beer or wine, I fully recommend you stop by the Flying Dutchman. Sharing a bathroom with a burlesque bar (which makes for an entertaining experience), this place feels like you discovered a secret locals-only bar featuring award-winning cocktails by some of the best mixologists in the world.
Another must-do (if you partake in recreational cannabis) is the famous “Bulldog Cafe”’ Coffeeshop which is another hotspot known around the city where you can purchase cannabis from downstairs and indulge in their indoor consumption lounge. You can expect a really chill and fun atmosphere, listen to engaging music, and buy a bunch of snacks to munch on for your enduring kickback!
Besides beer, cheese, and the Red Lights District, Amsterdam is also famous for their museums. Some of my favorites were the Rijksmuseum, Moco, Van Gogh, and the Anne Frank House. Even if you aren’t able to go into each museum, I had a blast walking around the picturesque gardens around the area called Museumplein.
The best way to fully enjoy this city is either walking or biking, hands down. There’s honestly so much beauty to see in every little part of this city in the most simplest of ways and I think that’s also why it has become my favorite travel spot. My favorite memories are biking through the city, stopping at a local coffee shop for a cappuccino and pre-roll, and pulling over at a canal to smoke and enjoy the breathtaking views of everyday Amsterdam life.
Francis Mercier (@francismercier): Use a sleep mask on intense global flights
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: Vagalume, Deep Root Tribe, Blue Marlin Ibiza
FRANCIS MERCIER
My travel hack is using the sleep mask brand, Alaska Bear – specifically their mask with the contoured eyecups. It only costs about $10 and can be purchased on Amazon. When constantly on the road, sleep is power, and these help me fall asleep virtually wherever and whenever as they are 100% blackout, cooling, and extremely comfortable. It worked like magic during my intense travels to Hong Kong earlier this year for my performance at Cassio.
Honeyluv (@honeyluv): Strive to travel like a local
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: Hangout Music Festival, Elements Festival, Tomorrowland
HONEYLUV
My travel tip is to always treat yourself like a local when visiting a new place. Dive into their way of life; there is so much to be learned. My favorite travel destinations as of now are Bangkok (Thailand), Sevilla (Spain) and Milano (Italy).
I’m also really excited to travel and spend some time in Ibiza this summer to join Calvin Harris, Jamie Jones, FISHER, The Martinez Brothers, and more for various residencies.
Sullivan King (@sullivanking): Grab a big bottle of water at the airport before headlining global festivals
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: GRIDLIFE Midwest Music Festival, Tomorrowland
I don’t really have much for ‘hacks’ as much as routines. As soon as I get to an airport and get through security, the first thing I do is get whatever the largest bottle of water is. I’ve been in way too many situations where I’ve been stuck on a plane, delayed for hours and the AC is off, etc. and it was miserable.
I’m also a maniac about what kinds of planes I fly because certain ones have better exit rows and whatnot (if an exit row has two rows, always take the back row, because the first row of seats won’t recline!). So it’s little things like that that make life on the road a little bit easier. I always wear ALO yoga pants with zippers on the pockets so that my wallet or passport or whatever doesn’t fall out of my pocket mid-flight or mid-Uber, I’ve had way too many close calls with that.
I’m doing a TON of Europe and overseas shows that I’m insanely stoked for! I love going to the EU and getting outside of the States. I’m also incredibly stoked to be doing some different events than normal like GRIDLIFE Midwest, Tomorrowland, and a few other fests. I definitely have a very busy summer and fall!
Destructo (@destructoamf): Become an AMEX Platinum member
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: Shambhala Music Festival
First, scan and email your passports yourself. I took my wife’s passport once by mistake on a trip and it was not fun when I got to the airport with the wrong passport.
Second, become an AMEX platinum member because if your flight gets delayed, you can go to the airport lounge to change your flight, instead of having to go to the main counter and wait in the long line. Also, use a gold/rose gold Amex to get 4x points on dining and groceries which gets you airline points faster.
This year is full of amazing travel destinations and festival appearances. I’m most excited to play Shambhala this year! It’s one of my favorite festivals to play, it takes place in the woods in British Columbia. It is super special because the people are amazing and I get to play the sunrise for a sermon set which is always my favorite.
Hannah Wants (@hannah_wants): Get good sleep so you can explore
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: Defected Leeds, EDC, Defected Croatia
HANNAH WANTS
When I’m touring, exhaustion is the hardest part and so trying to level up my sleep quality is a huge focus for me. I’m someone who can’t sleep unless I’m in pitch black and in complete silence so my eye mask and earplugs save me.
I stay on UK time whilst I tour, wherever I am in the world, and so in Las Vegas for example my bedtime is approx 3/4 pm. Most hotels have blackout blinds but some don’t and not all hotels are quiet either. One time in Tulum, I had a five-hour window to try and get some sleep before I DJ’d and then did an all-nighter of travel to make an afternoon festival set in Arizona but the bass from the beach club was literally shaking my room.
Needless to say, I never know what I’m going to encounter when on the road and I won’t leave my house without packing numerous masks and earplugs. They’re my essentials.
I could list so many beautiful destinations that are beautiful in so many different ways but I’m going to say Miami right now because I’ve recently got back from there and so my memories are fresh in my head. The weather is great, the food is amazing, the culture runs deep and I really dig the heavy Latin influence in the city. There’s also so much to do, you can have the most crazy night out on Miami Beach, visit the vibrant Wynwood district, or go and enjoy a day on a boat and in the ocean. Miami, it’s a hella fun place and it’s big ratings from me.
San Holo (@sanholobeats): Keep your passport in the same place, always
Upcoming Featured Tour Dates: Electric Forest, Lollapalooza, FM4 Festival
SAN HOLO
If you’re traveling back to back every night, use the laundry bag found in the hotel closest to separate your laundry from your clean clothes.
Whatever you do, keep your passport in the same compartment of your bag wherever you go and only take it out if it’s absolutely necessary.
My favorite travel destination currently is Hawaii; You’ll find the most beautiful sunsets, almost every night.
Flux Pavilion (@fluxpavilion): Keep the technology charged
Upcoming Featured Tour Dates: Bassrush x Circus Records, Global Dub Festival, Forbidden Kingdom
FLUX PAVILION
Buy good quality USB cables, and included in that is good quality power delivery. You don’t need to go crazy but learn a little about wattages and what your devices need for fast charging — most likely you can find one charger that can do it all. I use Anker stuff when I’m on the road, it’s super reliable.
Wooli (@woolimusic): Munch on weed edibles before a long flight to “time travel”
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: EDC, Lost Lands, GRIDLIFE Midwest
WOOLI
My best travel hack would be taking as many edibles as possible before a long flight so you time travel and wake up in a new city all confused. Some other hacks include taking a hanger that has the clips from a closet in a hotel and using the clips to close the black-out blinds together so you get a perfect seal and complete darkness when it’s daytime and you need that quick nap.
I’m excited about a lot of shows this year. This year I have a lot of big festivals planned including EDC, Lost Lands, and GRIDLIFE Midwest with all the homies. That lineup, in particular, is stacked!
Sam Divine (@samdivinedj): Check with your bank for premium banking services
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: Defected Ibiza, Movement, Defected Croatia
SAM DIVINE
Check in with your bank to see if they offer any premium banking services which normally include lounge access to many lounges all around the world. When booking flights around Europe book seat 1A, priority, and fast-track boarding. If traveling for more than a weekend, roll your clothes up in hand luggage to save space.
My current favorite travel destination is Croatia. Everything about the country, from the people, food, culture, and everything in between.
Paul van Dyk (@paulvandyk): Explore local markets and rent a scooter where you can
Featured Upcoming Tour Dates: Shine IBIZA at Club Eden every Thursday, Mysteryland
First, hire a scooter to explore the island of Ibiza. Check out Sunset Ashram, the Hippie market, and Benirrás beach. Of course, Ibiza can be expensive. If you don’t want to break the bank, check out local supermarkets. They’ve got tasty snacks and cold beer. Stay hydrated! It gets very hot in the summer – day and night. A day trip by boat to the island Formentera is good fun. Make sure to dance the night away! Join us for SHINE Ibiza at Club Eden every Trance Thursday for great music, great people, and a fun night on the white island.
50 Cent alerted everyone something was coming, but nobody could have expected this. The iconic rapper and entertainment mogul posted a countdown clock across his socials on Wednesday, May 3, teasing “20 Years Later…” Of course, in February, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ celebrated its 20th anniversary (as did Uproxx).
This morning, May 4, 50 Cent confirmed that the commemorative celebration has only begun by announcing his global The Final Lap Tour for his debut album’s 20th anniversary, produced by Live Nation and presented by Sire Spirits.
“You’ve waited long enough! THE FINAL LAP TOUR celebrating GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN’ – 20 YEARS LATER with special guest and longtime friend, Busta Rhymes, across all dates and Jeremih on all North American dates is coming your way in 2023!” 50 Cent wrote on Instagram. “I’m hittin’ the globe on this one, making stops across North America and Europe including Toronto, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Houston, Amsterdam, Oslo, Paris, and many more. Additional markets and special guests to be announced soon.”
The Final Lap Tour will kick off on July 21 in Salt Lake City and snake through North America until September 17. The European leg will start in Amsterdam on September 28, and the grand finale is scheduled for November 12 in Birmingham, England — one day after hitting London’s famed O2.
The presale will begin on Wednesday, May 10, and the general public sale is slated for Friday, May 12, beginning at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets to the European leg “will be available starting with local presales on Wednesday, May 10 at 10 a.m. local time” before becoming available to the public on Friday, May 12, at 10 a.m. local time.
North American ticketing is hosted by Ticketmaster, and European ticketing will be facilitated through 50 Cent’s official website.
Below, check out 50 Cent’s official The Final Lap Tour artwork and all of the announced dates.
07/21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Maverik Center
07/23 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
07/25 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – STL
07/27 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
07/28 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
07/29 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
07/31 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
08/02 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
08/03 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
08/05 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater
08/06 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center
08/08 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
08/09 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
08/11 – Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre
08/12 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
08/13 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
08/15 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
08/16 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
08/17 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
08/19 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
08/20 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
08/22 – Tuscaloosa, AL @ Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
08/24 – Houston, TX @Toyota Center
08/25 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
08/27 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
08/29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
08/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
08/31 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
09/02 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
09/04 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
09/06 – Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
09/07 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
09/08 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
09/10 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
09/11 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place
09/13 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre
09/15 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
09/16 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
09/17 – Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
09/28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
09/29 – Hamburg, Germany @ Barclays Arena
09/30 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
10/04 – Oslo, Norway @ Spektrum
10/05 – Trondheim, Norway @ Spektrum
10/07 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena
10/09 – Riga, Latvia @ Arena Riga
10/11 – Lodz Poland @ Atlas Arena
10/14 – Berlin, Germany @ Mercedes-Benz Arena
10/15 – Oberhausen, Germany @ Rudolf-Weber-Arena
10/20 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
10/21 – Nice, France @ Palais Nikaia
10/22 – Milan, Italy @ Mediolanum Forum
10/24 – Munich, Germany @ Olympiahalle
10/25 – Mannheim, Germany @ SAP Arena
10/26 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National
10/28 – Prague, Czech Republic @ O2 Arena
10/31 – Strasbourg, France @ Zenith
11/02 – Nantes, France @ Zenith
11/03 – Paris, France @ La Defense Arena
11/06 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena
11/09 – Glasgow, Scotland @ OVO Hydro
11/10 – Manchester, England @ AO Arena
11/11 – London, England @ The O2
11/12 – Birmingham, England @ Resorts World Arena
Marjorie Taylor Greene, who probably reads Playboy for the articles, only goes to adult websites for Hunter Biden research.
For the second time this week, the national divorce nut ranted about the president’s son and “pornography sex websites,” specifically Pornhub. “Hunter Biden is such a filthy human being that he had multiple accounts on Pornhub, that disgusting pornography website,” Taylor Greene whined to fellow conservative Benny Johnson on his podcast (via Raw Story). “It’s a massive business. And he hasn’t shut them all down. He still, as of last week, I had it verified, had one of his accounts open on Pornhub, where anyone that is friends with him on Pornhub could go and view his sex tapes.”
The Trump ally called Biden “repulsive” and “vile,” and insisted that “he has no shame,.” This description also applies to someone else I know.
“I feel very vindicated that my articles of impeachment were right from the beginning,” Greene added. “And it turns out I was right all along. And I think that’s really why they kicked me off committees. I think that’s the true reason.”
Taylor Greene previously claimed that she only recently learned about Pornhub. “It is a disgusting porn website. As a matter of fact, it should be illegal. I can’t even… I don’t even know why it exists,” she said. If she ever learns about Only Fans, it will be the only thing she talks about for a month.
In recent days, Ed Sheeran has had a lot going on. One of the more annoying is surely the lawsuit he’s been facing from the heirs of Ed Townsend, a co-writer of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” In the suit, it is alleged that Sheeran stole elements of the song and used them in his own hit single, 2014’s “Thinking Out Loud.” Now, the trial has concluded and the jury has reached a ruling, The Associated Press reports: He didn’t do it.
Today (May 4), the New York jury shared their conclusion about if “Sheeran proved he didn’t infringe upon the copyright” and they took his side. When the verdict was delivered and the two-week trial came to a close, Sheeran “briefly put his hands over his face in relief before standing and hugging his lawyer.”
In a recent interview with Zane Lowe, Sheeran said, “The thing with these cases, it’s not usually songwriters that are suing songwriters. I feel like in the songwriting community, everyone sort of knows that there’s four chords primarily that are used and there’s eight notes. And we work with what we’ve got, with doing that.”
Sheeran was so frustrated by the lawsuit that he recently said of potentially being found guilty, “If that happens, I’m done, I’m stopping. I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it.”
Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
To be perfectly frank here, no one knows for sure that Kevin Costner is definitively leaving Yellowstone. Still, rumors have persisted for months, which culminated this week in an Entertainment Tonight report that Costner was heading off into the sunset at the end of Season 5. As for the “why” of the equation, that wasn’t clarified, but reading between the lines, it sure seems like Costner would like to focus upon his directing career, and a demanding TV shooting schedule makes that difficult.
Or perhaps it’s the opposite. The juggernaut Paramount Network series aired its mid-Season 5 finale in January, and according to continuing hints, including from actress Lainey Wilson, no one knows when filming will resume for the back half of the season. So, they’re apparently on an indefinite pause right in the middle of a season, which isn’t optimal even though other Taylor Sheridan shows are in plentiful supply for Paramount+.
Meanwhile, Costner has been planning out a two-part set of Western films, Horizon (in which he will direct and star), which began shooting this week in Utah. One imagines that he will be tied up doing so for quite some time, so don’t hold your breath on hearing about Yellowstone filming again anytime soon in Montana.
This sounds as messy as one could imagine after months of reports of friction for Yellowstone, including an alleged rift between Sheridan and Costner. Additionally, neither of them surfaced (as confusingly advertised) for the April 1 Paleyfest panel, where none of the present panelists could provide an answer on when filming would begin once more.
Also meanwhile, Sheridan is readying yet another sure-to-be-a-hit Paramount+ TV series, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, which recently announced Donald Sutherland within the cast. And Vanity Fair has provided a first look at Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman in Sheridan’s upcoming Lioness series, which will sit outside the Yellowstone primary stable of shows. In other words, a lot of balls are flying through the air right now, and Yellowstone will have to wait.
Añejo tequila is elevated stuff Good agave-fueled distillate rests in oak for a year or two and takes on a litany of new flavor notes that feel familiar — winter spices, vanilla, leather, and dark fruits to name only a few. The result is a deeper experience all around. But that doesn’t mean that it’s automatically a better experience. Shitty base tequila is going to give you subpar aged tequila and many tequila aficionados like the vegetal agave notes of a good blanco (we often fall in the “reposado is the sweet spot” tequila camp).
What does that mean exactly? I’ll give you the short version. For an añejo tequila to get one of those coveted “double gold” medals at SFWSC, every judge has to unanimously give that pour a gold medal in a blind test. The judges don’t know what medals each judge is giving while they’re tasting, meaning that one judge can’t influence another judge. Moreover, the judges at the table are titans in the booze industry from bartenders to distribution icons to production legends to critics (like yours truly).
In the end, of the hundreds of tequila entries judged this year, only nine añejo tequilas took home the double gold. With 80 añejo tequilas in the mix, just over 10% of them actually achieved this coveted award. So let’s dive in a find you a great añejo tequila to add to your bar cart before Cinco de Mayo this year. Take a gander at my tasting notes for each one and then click on the price link of the tequila that speaks to you.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Tequila Posts Of The Last Six Months
This tequila from the wetlands of Jalisco (Ciénega) is made at Destileria La Experiencia. It’s made using brick ovens to roast the agave hearts, roller mills, classic fermentation in steel tanks, and double distillation in a stainless pot still with copper coils. The hot juice then goes into old American whiskey barrels for 15 months of resting before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this one leans into rich bourbon fruits — think cherry and banana with a touch of orange — next to rich caramel sauce and vanilla cake with an underlying spiced chocolate warmth and roasted agave vegetal-ness.
Palate: The palate is lush and leans into caramelized roasted agave over hints of banana bread with plenty of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and handfuls of walnuts with a hint of old tobacco and dark agave.
Finish: That dry tobacco leads to woody dark spice and a hint of burnt aloe over dark cherry and soft vanilla with a hint of pepper in the background.
Bottom Line:
This is a super lush sip of tequila that leans hard into bourbon/whiskey notes. In short, if you’re looking for a sweet whiskey-influenced tequila, this is it.
This tequila comes from the Ciénega (wetlands) and Highlands of Jalisco. The process at Integradora San Agustin distillery is pretty common with stone ovens, steel tanks, copper stills, and deep well water. The tequila ages in used bourbon and new white American oak before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Oak tannins drive the nose initially before soft roasted agave with a deep caramelization comes in with a nice pepperiness and almost sour cherry tossed with sea salt.
Palate: That rich and caramelized agave vibe carries over to the palate with a sense of old oak and almost floral honey, winter spice, and old savory dried herbs.
Finish: The oak really drives the finish with the caramel and agave creating a nice balance.
Bottom Line:
This is very straightforward in the best way. There are no surprises but what is here is finely tuned. Pour it over some rocks to amp up the creaminess and you’ll find a chocolate tobacco addition.
The key to this classic tequila from Jalisco’s Highlands is that it’s double-barreled and very refined before it goes into the bottle (though it is made using a diffuser and column still which some will balk at). The hot juice spends 12 months in both American and French oak resting. After batching, the tequila is then slowly filtered to remove all the color before proofing and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a light woody spice on the nose with a hint of roasted agave and black pepper next to a dash of lime and orange oils.
Palate: The palate is so soft and smooth with a hint of river rock next to aloe vera oils and a flutter of vanilla creaminess.
Finish: The end is short and sweet with a light sense of mineral water next to more of that citrus and agave.
Bottom Line:
This was so smooth it was… almost too smooth. Still, that means this was super fine and easy drinking with some serious flavor left deep in the body of this sip.
This is a very straightforward aged tequila from a smaller distillery relatively (IBEV Casa Tequilera). The juice is made with an autoclave and stainless steel pot still. It then rests in used American oak barrels for 12 months before batching, proofing with deep well water, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a distinct sense of chocolate nut clusters on the nose with deep woody winter spice and vanilla pods over a light sense of sweet roasted agave, black pepper, and old oak.
Palate: Lush cherry vanilla ice cream and chocolate oranges mingle with tannic oak and old pipe tobacco with a hint of leatheriness and cedar round out the taste.
Finish: The woody tobacco and spice really amp up with a black peppery base before the soft cherry and vanilla temper everything on the very end.
Bottom Line:
This is complex and bold. The wood really drives the taste, which is what you want from an oak-aged tequila after all. Still, this is balanced enough to be a fine and slow sipper, especially over a rock or two.
This is an interesting expression. The blend is made from an eight-year-old tequila and an 18-month-old tequila. Basically, the older tequila is used to naturally amp up the color and flavor profile of younger stuff.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a rush of tannic oak with a sense of smokiness, roasted almonds, and burnt pineapple and mango skins on the nose next to rich and buttery salted toffee with a hint of dark chocolate.
Palate: Burnt orange and black cherry lead the taste toward winter spice cake with a hint of mincemeat pies, deeply roasted agave, and bourbon vanilla.
Finish: That bourbon vanilla leads the end toward soft but dark cherry tobacco spiked with caramelized agave, white pepper, and more burnt orange with a whisper of marzipan.
Bottom Line:
This is a Frankenstein’s Monster tequila, sure. But it’s also really freakin’ tasty. So enjoy it slowly on a nice sunny day with an ice cube or two in the glass.
This tequila brand was founded by country singer Thomas Rhett and his cousin, Jeff Worn. The actual tequila in the bottle is an añejo that spent 13 months resting in old bourbon barrels at Destiladora Gonzalez Lux.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is layered with dark berries, rich tobacco, black peppercorns, clove buds stuck in orange peels, and buttery salted caramel just kissed with dark chocolate-covered espresso beans.
Palate: The soft caramel sweetness meets sharp spice barks and more black pepper with a deeply roasted agave that feels still warm from the oven next to dark fruit leather and cherry tobacco.
Finish: That woody and sweet tobacco leads the finish to a spice bark end with plenty of dark agave vibes and sweet bourbon vanilla.
This is classic autoclave cooked agave that’s sent through stainless steel pot stills before a long rest. The tequila barrels — both used American whiskey and French wine — are matured for 22 to 28 months before cold filtering, batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is all about grilled peaches dipped in dark salted chocolate sauce and dusted with cinnamon before a tannic oak vibe sets in with a hint of smoldering sage and agave leaves.
Palate: That woodiness drives the palate toward rich chocolate cake with a dollop of vanilla ice cream next to leathery dates and prunes with a light sense of fig tobacco.
Finish: The softness of those fruits attach to woody spice and black pepper with a counterpoint of rich and creamy choco-caramel aura over darkly roasted agave.
Bottom Line:
This is another one that’s just good. Drink it slowly and enjoy the ride.
This is from a tasting kit that’s available right now. The idea is that tequila fans will buy the pack and choose one of the añejo tequilas, and then they will bottle and release of crowd-sourced tequila to the open market. Evidently, the bottler sent in each of the four tasters for adjudication from the judges at SFWSC too.
The tequila in the bottles comes from Casa Maestri Distillery in Tequila, Jalisco, which makes over 170 brands of tequila. This tequila then spent 12 to 16 months resting in old American whiskey barrels.
Tasting Notes:
None are available as it’ll undermine the whole project’s point of blindly crowd-sourcing a tequila.
Bottom Line:
Feels like these folks found a way to get the best palates in the world to find which tequila for them to bottle. Just sayin’.
This is another sample from the same crowd-sourced tequila pack as above. So the same goes here.
Tasting Notes:
None are available as it’ll undermine the whole project’s point of blindly crowd-sourcing a tequila.
Bottom Line:
To be fair, I really want to see which of the four samples is trending with the most votes from the general public and how that matches up with the two double gold medals that two of the four received from the judges at SFWSC.
Or… will the votes be swayed to these two picks over the other two now that they’ve medaled so highly?
The New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off a trade in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. New England entered the night with the No. 14 pick, while Pittsburgh sat at 17. They ended up swapping those, with the Steelers sending an extra fourth-round selection (the 120th pick this year) to the Patriots.
Pittsburgh was able to get one of the top offensive tackles in the Draft, Georgia’s Broderick Jones, while New England got a steal at 17 in Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. But above everything else, the Patriots got something Bill Belichick values more than any player: the chance to pull a fast one on the New York Jets.
According to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, Belichick did this trade and got back a slightly lower than expected return because, per a general manager, it gave the Steelers the chance to take the player New York really wanted.
“They should have had to give up a [third-round pick] and not a four to move up there,” said one NFL general manager who had been keeping tabs on a potential trade up with the Patriots. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to cause potential conflicts with either team. “Belichick did it just to f— the Jets. He sold low because he knew the Steelers were going to take the kid the Jets wanted to take.”
A personnel executive from a team also picking around the middle of the first round said: “Bill will try to screw them over any chance he gets. He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Jones would have been an excellent addition for the Jets as they look to bolster the offensive line in front of Aaron Rodgers. The funny thing is, if not for the Rodgers trade, New York would have had the 13th overall pick, where it could have taken Jones. Instead, the Green Bay Packers went 13th (they took Lukas Van Ness, a defensive end out of Iowa), while the Jets surprisingly selected Will McDonald IV, a pass rushing specialist out of Iowa State. La Canfora reported that the Jets “coveted” Jones, so I suppose it would not be a surprise to learn that Belichick wanted to use this to his advantage.
It was an interesting season for Alex Caruso. One of the bright spots for the Chicago Bulls this year, Caruso played more than ever before — his 67 games, 36 starts, and 1,575 total minutes were all career-best marks — and mixed his usually stingy defense with a step forward on the other end of the floor. While his raw numbers weren’t as eye-popping alongside some of Chicago’s big hitters on offense, he hit 36.4 percent of his threes, which is right around his career average, with the best marks inside the arc (55.6 percent on twos) and from the free throw line (80.8 percent) that he’s seen in his six-year NBA stint.
While he admits it was “a little bit of an up and down year” for the Bulls, Caruso believes his ability to play more than ever before was a result of “doubling down on being a professional.”
“I think I had a great routine this year as far as training table work before practice, making sure that I get lifts during the year, having my activation before the games, taking care of my body after the games, sleeping enough, getting the right nutrition, and then putting the work in to maintain the level that was necessary,” Caruso told Dime over the phone.
Through his partnership with TravisMathew, we caught up with Caruso to discuss this year, his growth as a player, the 2023 NBA playoffs, his beloved Manchester City Football Club, and much more.
What do you have going on with TravisMatthew?
TravisMatthew and me, I think it’s been a great, great partnership. One, for me, because I just love their clothes. I love the versatility of everything from golf, to lounging back home, to going and grabbing a bite to eat out with my girlfriend or with my friends. I can just throw it on whenever for whatever I’m going to do and I think that’s why I fell in love with it. I think for them, I kind of represent their brand of not taking yourself too seriously and just being able to have a stylish yet real comfortable look.
On the golf course, are you a look good, play good kind of guy? Or are you like me and it doesn’t matter one way or the other what you’re wearing out there?
TravisMathew
I try my best, the look good, play good sometimes works — at least when you play good. But when you look good and play bad, then it’s just kind of like, you’re just there. So, for me, I wish TravisMatthew made me play as good as Jon Rahm or Sam Burns, the guys they have. But unfortunately, it doesn’t affect the skills at all.
Let’s talk a little bit of basketball. What are your big, broad, overarching thoughts on this season, both for yourself and for the Bulls?
For the team, I thought we had a little bit of an up and down year. We beat some of the really good teams in the league, and then dropped a couple contests to teams that you mark down as wins on the schedule when you’re looking at it. And I think that’s probably what just held us back a little was just a little inconsistency. But it’s tough because we know what we were capable of when we played our best, and that’s kind of the sour taste in your mouth as you go home the middle April rather than playing into May. So obviously, a little underwhelming and disappointing year for us, just given what we expected to be at. But I thought at certain points, we played really, really good basketball.
And then for me individually, I thought I had a pretty solid year. I thought I shot the ball, I think I might have had a career-high free throw percentage, field goal percentage, shot the three at league average, if not a little better. And then obviously, everybody knows defensively what I’m capable of and how I operate on that end. And I thought I did a good job of managing that throughout the year. So individually, I felt really, really good about my year, just obviously wish we could still be playing basketball.
You played more than ever before this year. And obviously, health is a big part of that, but where do you feel like you took your biggest step forward as a player this year?
I think it was just the professionalism. I think I had a great routine this year as far as training table work before practice, making sure that I get lifts during the year, having my activation before the games, taking care of my body after the games, sleeping enough, getting the right nutrition, and then putting the work in to maintain the level that was necessary. I think for me, it was probably just doubling down on being a professional. I think that’s probably why I had such a good year individually was because I think my routines and the discipline I had were pretty good.
You look at basically any metrics, and you were one of the best defensive players in basketball. And I want to know, how do the Bulls — Billy [Donovan], your teammates, whomever you would say — put you in the best position to take advantage of what you can do on that end of the floor?
I think they have a lot of trust in me. I think that’s where it begins. Just, they know that I’m always doing things in the best interest for the team. Whether I make the play, I don’t make the play, they know that I have the back of my teammates and they back me in that sense that I can go out there and play my ass off and sometimes make a couple of mistakes, but they understand that there’s gonna be a lot more good than bad. And they believe in me, and they kind of almost encourage me to be more aggressive sometimes. So, I think just having their trust and the faith of my teammates and coaches really goes a long way.
On the other end of the floor, something you mentioned but by basically every metric, you had your best offensive season in the NBA, but also, you had the lowest usage of your career. How do you balance having such a good year with, “I’m going to pick my spots, because we have Zach, DeMar, Nic, etc. out there”?
It’s just taking the role on the team that I needed to play. That’s what I’ve always been about, whether it was from college, to the G League, to breaking into the league. I’m doing what I think, what the coaches think, what everyone thinks is best for the team, that’s kind of just what it was this year. I put in a lot of work last offseason to be able to have those numbers that we talked about as far as career averages. And I’m gonna go back to the same mentality this year, and be ready to take on whatever role that comes my way next season. I’m very excited about being able to have career numbers, but there’s always a carrot in front of you that you’re chasing. And for me, it’s maybe putting in the work so that I can carve out more responsibility on that end, because I carry so much of a load on the defensive end.
One thing that you mentioned was this year, you doubled down on professionalism and your routines and things like that. What were some of the things that you felt like you did that helped put you in the position that you found yourself in this season?
Like you said, being able to play the most games I’ve played in the season so far, just working with my trainer — honestly, the whole training staff. Arnold Lee, that’s the guy that I worked with the most and I’ll give him a quick shout out. But just being consistent, him understanding what happens with my body throughout the season, being able to manage — I had some left foot issues that were going on, and being able to minimize missed games with that. And just keeping on top of it, whether it was stretching before practices and getting treatment an hour, hour and a half before anybody needed to be there, to being at the same … you know, 90 on the clock is when I usually shot pregame. So, two hours before, we’re on the training table getting stretched, and I’m going to the weight room to get activation. Just having that routine I think really opened up for me to have such a good year.
What has stuck out, or surprised you, or made you the happiest to watch as you’ve got to check out these really excellent playoffs so far?
They’ve just been wildly entertaining. It’s been really, really good basketball, all the way around. Whether it’s been upsets like Miami, or even the Atlanta-Boston series being pushed to the brink when everyone kind of thought that would be a four or five-game series. I think the basketball has been at a really high level. Kings-Warriors was a great first round series, Lakers-Grizzlies had their drama, which made that a little bit more entertaining. I just think the basketball, the product on the floor has been great, and usually the first round is a little more storyline filled, and then a little more drama, and then you get on to the second round and the conference finals and the Finals and it’s a little more basketball oriented. But it’s been, I think, great basketball from the start.
Yeah, it feels like it’s very easy to sometimes get caught up in the narrative and the off court stuff, but I feel like when you sit down and watch these playoffs, every game just seems to be a banger for some reason.
And it’s just been wildly unpredictable, which I think makes great entertainment value for the fan.
I need to ask, as a fellow Manchester City supporter, are we winning the treble this year?
I think this is as good a chance as we’ll ever have. I think we get past Real Madrid and the semis of Champions League, and then I think it’s a real conversation to have, because those guys, the history they have in the competition is unparalleled — so, they’ve been there before and they have the confidence, no matter how much time [is left], because we obviously know what happened last year. It’ll be a grind, but I think once we get past them and the semis and we make two finals, and then pretty much hold our own destiny for the Premier League, I think it’s a real possibility.
I don’t know about you, but it feels to me like the way that they handled Arsenal last week, any doubt that I had that they could do it — I don’t know if they will because of how hard it is, but with what they did against Arsenal, it feels to me now, like, okay, I actually believe they could do this.
Yeah, I mean, they’re just clicking on all cylinders, dude. Their defense is playing solid. Midfield has obviously been elite for years now. And then [Erling] Haaland’s Haaland, and you’re getting great play from Jack [Grealish] and Bernardo [Silva] and [Riyad] Mahrez, whoever’s over there on that right wing — and [Phil] Foden hasn’t even play for basically the last month. We got a really good team.
And obviously, they’re very, very, very, very different sports, but you know from your time in L.A., kind of going to Haaland, what it’s like to be on a team before and after it adds those best player in the world kind of guys. Again, not 100 percent the same, but what does it do for the guys who have been around and on a team when a squad-changing addition like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Erling Haaland comes into town?
It’s kind of two parts, right? Like, you kind of gain this confidence of, you have a world-beater on your team that, really, you think you can win every game no matter what, because you have them on your team. But then also, the second part where it brings us responsibility, almost, where you feel like, okay, well, we’re supposed to win now, so now we have to go out there and prove it. And I think as long as you can balance that and not make it seem too big a task, you’ll still go out there and just play how you’re supposed to play and do what got you there. That’s usually when you have good success.
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