For a long time, there was a heated debate on if The Flash would ever make it to theaters, which it did, although semi-reluctantly. Though the reviews were promising, the movies underperformed by a longshot, which was just another nail in the DC coffin. If you were one of the millions who decided to skip out on the movie opening weekend, then you’re in luck! The movie is heading to streaming much sooner than anticipated.
The film, starring Ezra Miller, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, and Michael Keaton, will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on August 29th. The movie follows Miller as The Flash as he travels back in time to try to save his family from meeting their untimely death, though he subsequently re-writes history into a grim timeline and must enlist in former superheroes to help get the world back on track.
The Flash will run all the way to Max on Friday, August 25th, nearly two months after the film hit theaters. For comparison, last year’s summer blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick landed on streaming over six months after the film’s release. But then again, The Flash didn’t have Tom Cruise, though it did have a small dose of Ben Affleck. It’s all about celebrating the small wins.
Will there be a sequel? Probably not, but now that James Gunn has taken the reigns, you never know what could happen. Maybe Henry Cavill will return after all! Though it’s unlikely.
If you were thinking about buying a MacBook from an Emmy-winning actor on Twitter, maybe don’t?
Last week, The Americans star Matthew Rhys had his account hacked by spammers selling laptops. “I was hacked and locked out of my account for over a week. I sincerely hope that no one paid any attention (or more importantly money) to those who were trying to sell computers on the account In that time. Many apologies,” he wrote once he got his access back.
Now the hackers have gone after another Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winner.
Incredible.
Bryan Cranston’s Twitter account got hacked in one of those MacBook Pro schemes, but the person who did it tried to make it authentic with a personal message…except they misspelled his name. pic.twitter.com/6ho8gbMUm4
That’s classic Bryan Cranston for you, always signing his tweets and misspelling his name. “Say my name.” “Brian Cranston?”
In a follow-up tweet, the “Breaking Bad star” “wrote,” “It still continues to be sold. In answer to many questions, our sponsors are the reason why the payment method is Crypto. It was reported that the majority were sold. Follow the steps from the link to buy.” Please do not follow the steps from the link to buy.
The tweets have since been deleted (the real Cranston hasn’t tweeted since February), but now I’m concerned. Which prestige drama star will the hackers come after next? Look out, Bob Odenkirk!
The Afro Nation festival series is arguably one of the most important live events in today’s Black music market as it bridges together the genres pioneered by Black entertainers, including Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, Amapiano, R&B, hip-hop, and more. At the inaugural installment of Afro Nation Detroit 2023 this weekend (August 19 and 20) held at the Bedrock’s Douglass site, artists such as Burna Boy, Davido, Ari Lennox, Latto, and will amplify the sounds heard around the world.
Burna Boy spoke with Los Angeles Times journalist Kenan Draughorne about the growing movement amongst native Africans and people with African ancestry living around the world, saying, “They’ve successfully broken us apart, to where many of us don’t even want to identify with each other. The primary objective for our people should be unity, and to build a bridge between us that can never close or break. With the music, I try to play my little part in trying to do that.”
Afro Nation Detroit is a mere example of this comradery, with music at the center of it all. View the set times below.
Limited VIP and general admission tickets are still available for Afro Nation Detroit 2023. Find more information here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Back in April, after Bud Light teamed up with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney for an ad campaign, Kid Rock expressed his dissatisfaction with the brand and it was pretty extra: He shared a video of himself shooting a bunch of Bud Light cans with a gun before saying, “F*ck Bud Light. F*ck Anheuser-Busch. Have a terrific day.”
It appears, though, that Rock didn’t keep up his boycott for too long. In July, his Nashville bar was selling Bud Light. Now, Rock isn’t afraid to throw one back himself: TMZ has photos and videos of Rock attending a Colt Ford concert at Skydeck in Nashville last night (August 17), holding one of the distinctive blue Bud Light cans and enjoying the beverage.
It’s not just Rock who’s softening on Bud Light, it seems: Business Insider reports that according to a recent Deutsche Bank survey, “Crucially, the proportion of former Bud Light drinkers who are say they are very unlikely to buy the brand in 3-6 months time has reduced from 18% to just 3%, a significant improvement.”
As CBS News notes, after the Mulvaney video, the next month, Bud Light lost its longtime status as the best-selling beer in the US, falling behind Modelo Especial. To get into specifics: “In the month ending July 15, Bud Light’s US sales were down 26.5%, while Modelo’s were up 13.5%. Bud Light held a 6.8% share of the US beer market in that period, while Modelo held an 8.7% share.”
There are some people who live under the illusion that everything they say is deeply interesting and have no problem wasting your time by rambling on and on without a sign of stopping. They’re the relative, neighbor or co-worker who can’t take a hint that the conversation is over.
Of all these people, the co-worker who can’t stop talking may be the most challenging because you see them every day in a professional setting that requires politeness.
There are many reasons that some people talk excessively. Therapist F. Diane Barth writes in Psychology Today that some people talk excessively because they don’t have the ability to process complex auditory signals, so they ramble on without recognizing the subtle cues others are sending.
It may also be a case of someone who thinks they’re the most interesting person in the conversation.
For others, it’s a symptom of a disorder. Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks, a licensed marriage and family therapist, writes that excessive talking can also be a symptom of, among other things, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or anxiety.
“Anxiety can cause someone to speak excessively,” Brooten-Brooks writes at Very Well Health. “While many with social anxiety may avoid social interactions, some may inadvertently talk excessively when in social situations out of nervousness and anxiety.”
So what do we do when we’re stuck in a situation where someone just keeps talking? A Reddit user by the name of Spritti33 asked for some advice about how to “politely end a conversation with a person who won’t stop talking” and received some very practical and funny responses from members of the online forum.
A lot of folks pointed out that it’s not impolite to walk away from a person who is incessantly talking because they are being rude by disrespecting your time. Others shared how, in some cultures, there are ways of shutting down a conversation while allowing both parties to save face.
Here are 19 of the best responses to Spritti33’s question, “How does someone politely end a conversation with a person who won’t stop talking?”
1.
“In Flanders we have a word for it, ‘bon,’ and then you say something ‘I have work to do,’ ‘It’s time to go home,’ ‘It’s time to get drinks.’ And people realize the other person wants to leave without being mean,” — ISuckAtRacingGames
2.
“In Ireland we do like a little clap/slap our thigh/clap the person’s shoulder and say ‘Right! Shur look, I’ll let you go…’ as if we’re being polite and letting the other person off the hook, but actually, it’s like get me the fuck out of here haha!” —funky_mugs
3.
“If they keep talking over polite cues, I have found there really isn’t a polite way to exit the conversation,” — Binder_Grinder
4.
“This is so true. People that do this don’t care whether you’re into the conversation or not, they’re talking simply because they want to. I’ve gotten better at just interjecting (even mid-sentence if I’ve already tried everything else) with, ‘I’m sorry, I have to go. (start walking away at this point) It was nice talking to you.’ Don’t give any excuses or reasons for leaving, just do it otherwise they’ll try to talk about your reasons.” — PSSaalamader
5.
“As a teacher, I have learned how to interrupt people who do not leave any pauses when they’re speaking: start nodding and verbally agreeing with them, ‘Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh…’ You can’t interrupt these people, but you can start agreeing while they speak, then raise your voice and say, ‘Yeah, wow, excuse me but I must go,'” — Janicegirlbomb2
6.
“Remember that it is them who is being impolite by talking incessantly about things of no interest to their audience,” — Orp4mmws99
7.
“Source: am a therapist. What you do is recap their last story and in the same breath add a goodbye.
I.e. ‘Sounds like you guys found a bunch of great deals at the mall, that’s awesome! Thanks for meeting with me, you’ll have to tell me more next time we run into each other. It was great to catch up!'” — pikcles-for-fingers
8.
“Just start coughing these days it’ll clear a whole room in seconds,” — Sinisterpigeon
9.
“People who are like this expect folks to just walk away from them while they are talking because that’s the only way the conversation ends. It’s not rude to them, it’s normal. So, it’s entirely okay to say, ‘all right this has been great, see you later,’ and then just walk away smiling,” — Underlord_Fox
10.
“If you can practice this, start to train one of your eyeballs to slowly drift off whilst the other eye remains locked on theirs. That should do the trick,” — The-Zesty-Man
11.
“At 62, I just walk away. My bullshit filter has disappeared,” — Negative_Increase
12.
“You gotta realize that everyone else they talk to just walks away. They’re used to that. They think a conversation is you just talk at someone til they walk away. It’s not weird to them,” — DelsmagicFishies
13.
“I don’t know why some people are so afraid of this. It is not rude. You don’t need to lie. ‘We can speak more other time. Goodbye,’ is fine,” — Kooky-Housing3049
14.
“On a more serious note, I typically do an ‘oh shit’ type of face like I’ve just remembered I had something important scheduled. I say ‘Sorry, what time is it? check the time Ah crap, I hate to cut you off but if I don’t head out now I’m going to be late for ____.’ Then I scurry away like I’m really in a rush. If you’re in a situation where you can’t straight up leave, I swap ‘gotta head out’ for ‘I told someone I’d call them at [time] and they’re waiting on my call’ and then make a fake phone call,” — teethfairie
15.
“‘Wow, you have a lot of opinions about this subject…’ and then never stop angling the conversation back to how weird it is that they’re still talking,” — Ordsmed
16.
“Had a friend who would put his hand gently on your shoulder and kindly say, ‘I love you , but I just don’t care, good (night/day),'” — Think-Passage-5522
17.
“While not exactly polite, my Aunt Sophie had a great way of ending a conversation. When the monologue got too much she would nod her head like she was listening and then at the slightest pause she would go, ‘The end.’ And walk away.
She mostly did it with kids who didn’t realize they were yabbering on about Thundercats too long. (It was me, I was yabbering on about Thundercats too long.)” — theslackjaw727
18.
”Change your stance, instead of facing them head on turn 90° your body language will end the conversation quickly without being rude,” — Zedd2087
19.
“Where possible, I’ve always found it best to tell these people up front that you have somewhere to be 15, 30, 45, etc minutes from now. If that’s not realistic, I’ve found that if you can usually find a gap to say you need to run if you focus on doing only this for 3-5 minutes,” — Pretend_Airline2811
Many great comedians have sat at the helm of the “Weekend Update” desk on “Saturday Night Live” over the show’s 48 seasons. Chevy Chase was known for his cool deadpan. Dennis Miller was the hip intellectual. Norm Macdonald will go down in history for his endless OJ jokes that eventually got him removed from the desk. Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon were a great double act that was a fun mix of high-brow and low-brow humor.
The current anchors, Michael Che and Colin Jost, will probably best be known for making fun of each other. Over the years, one of the duo’s signature bits has been writing jokes for each other and reading them live for the first time. It seems like every time they do that bit, Che finds a new way to embarrass Jost.
On Saturday, April 1, Che was at it again, this time with a brutal April Fool’s prank where he secretly asked the audience not to laugh at any of Jost’s jokes.
Che and Jost opened their segment with jokes about the indictment of former president Donald Trump, but the audience laughed much harder at Che than at Jost. A few minutes into the bit, Jost made a joke at his own expense and it received only a smattering of laughter.
“At this point, it feels like even pro-Trump people have moved on,” Jost said, referring to the trial before a superimposed image of him wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and a sign that read, “LET OUR BOY GO!” appeared on the screen.
The gag was met with an audience member screaming, “You stink!” The heckle was the last straw for Jost, who hung his head in his hand in shame. At that point, Che gave up the gag.
“I told them not to laugh at you for April Fools,'” Che told Jost, and the two couldn’t keep it together. “That’s the meanest thing you’ve ever done to me. I’m covered in sweat,” Jost told Che through fits of laughter.
“I was truly like, ‘Am I not mic’d?’ And then I was like, ‘Oh, I just suck,” Jost joked.
The crowd broke out in applause for Jost, but he wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of acknowledging them after they refused to laugh at his jokes. “No, no! Don’t even dare! Don’t you even dare try now.”
When it was Jost’s turn to tell his next joke, a bit about Florida Ron DeSantis, Che said, “They’ll probably laugh at this next one.” And the audience did.
The episode was hosted by Abbot Elementary’s Quinta Brunson, who shined in “Traffic Altercation,” a sketch where she and Mikey Day played motorists screaming at each other in traffic. The crux of the bit was that they couldn’t hear what each other was saying, so they had to argue using hand signals.
Arjun Mahadevan gave the world a gift when he crowdsourced the best “life pro tips” from nearly 22 million people. He shared the top 20 in a Twitter thread that’s got over 619,000 views. Mahadevan sourced the tips from the Life Pro Tips subforum on Reddit, which has been running since 2010.
Mahadevan is the CEO of doolaHQ which he calls the “business-in-a-box” for LLCs.
Mahadevan labeled his advice “20 life tips you wish you knew when you were 20,” but they are helpful for everyone regardless of age. They’re useful for anyone who is in a relationship, has a job or wants to stay sane in an aggravating world.
Many ideas involve reframing how we judge others to see them with more compassion. Mahadevan also has some advice for professionals to prevent them from making embarrassing mistakes or wasting other people’s time.
Sometimes the simplest change in behavior or perspective can drastically affect our lives. Here are Arjun Mahadevan’s 20 life tips you wish you knew when you were 20:
u201cMost life hacks suck. n nSo I crowdsourced the best from 21.9 million people on Reddit.nnHere are 20 life tips you wish you knew when you were 20:u201d
1. “If you’re stuck on an annoying call, put your phone on airplane mode instead of just hanging up. The other person will see ‘call failed’ instead of ‘call ended.'”
2. “When you sign up for anything online, put the website’s name as your middle name. That way when you receive spam/advert emails, you will know who sold your info.”
3. “Always tell a child who is wearing a helmet how cool you think their helmet is. It will encourage them to always wear it in the future.”
4. “When you don’t have all the facts, try to give people the most generous reason you can for their behavior. Annoyingly slow driver? Maybe it’s a mom with a birthday cake in the back. This mindset will gradually make you less reactive and more compassionate.”
5. “Do not try to be the man your father would want you to be. Be the man you would like your son to be. It more clearly defines your own convictions, desires, goals and motivates you to be your best.”
6. “When a friend is upset, ask them one simple question before saying anything else: ‘Do you want to talk about it or do you want to be distracted from it?'”
7. “After a bad breakup, do 10 things that your ex would never do with you. You’ll feel better and realize how much of yourself was being held back.”
8. “Before you give your child a unique name, try it out first. Use it on food orders, reservations, appointments where applicable, etc. It’ll give you a glimpse of what they’ll deal with when they’re older and could prevent future issues.”
9. “If you need to cancel a hotel reservation but are unable to because of a 24-hour policy, call the company and move your reservation to a later date. Call back within a few days and cancel for no charge.”
10. “If you tell someone you need to talk to them, for the love of God give some indication of what you need to talk about, or at least that it’s not bad news.”
11. “Never send a work email when you’re emotionally compromised. Type it up, save it as a draft, and walk away. Ideally, sleep on it. You’ll make a smarter choice when you’re not heated.”
12. “Don’t just let kids win at games. You can slow it down, you can teach them strategy, but keep it real. Someday, they will beat you fair and square, and it will be a moment they always remember with pride.”
13. “When cooking things on aluminum foil, first scrunch the foil up, then lay it loosely flat again out on your baking tray. The juices will stay put—and the food will not stick to the foil half as much, if at all.”
14. “If you think of a good idea, write it down. Your brain will try to trick you into thinking you will remember it later, but it’s a liar! Therefore: Write it down!”
15. “It takes 4 minutes a day and almost no cost to maintain dental hygiene. It takes a lifetime and a lot of money to correct it. 2-minute brush and mouthwash in the AM, 2-minute brush and floss in the PM.”
16. “Don’t wait until you have ‘time’ to start a fitness program. Because then when you get busy again, you’ll stop. The best time to start is actually when you’re busy. Learning how to fit it in when time’s are tough means you’ll stick with it over the long haul.”
17. “When using text messages or IMs for business, say everything you need to say in the first message. Don’t just say ‘hi’ or ‘hey’ or ‘are you there’ or ‘are you busy.'”
18. “Instead of feeling that you’ve blown the day and thinking, ‘I’ll get back on track tomorrow, think of each day as a set of four quarters:
• Morning• Midday• Afternoon• Evening
If you blow one quarter, you get back on track for the next quarter.”
19. “Many problems in marriage are really just problems with being a bad roommate. Learn how to be a good roommate, and it will solve many of the main issues that plague marriages. This includes communicating about something bothering you before you get too angry.”
20. “Ask yourself ‘what does it matter to me’ the next time you find yourself judging someone for their clothing or hobbies. The more you train yourself to not care about the personal preferences of other people, the more relaxed and nicer you become as a person.”
Let’s get this out of the way — older bourbon isn’t always the best bourbon. But there is a sweet spot that a lot of bourbon can hit somewhere between six and 15 years that just works. It doesn’t really matter if it’s single barrels, bottled in bonds, or small batch bourbons — there’s a heightened sense to most bourbon whiskeys at these ages. Beyond 15 years and the bourbon can get very tannic (woody and bitter); while younger than six years and you’ll get more goopy porridge and plasticky vanilla.
Fair warning — bourbon also gets pretty freaking expensive when it’s over 10 years old. So hunting it down and purchasing it isn’t for the faint of heart. To that end, I’m going to lend my expertise via yet another bourbon blind taste test, with the goal being to help you spend your money on truly special bottles.
This time around, I’m picking mostly 12-year-old bourbons to find the absolute best. Since this is a narrow field, I also added two 13-year age statements to widen the pack a bit (also because there are even fewer 13-year-old bourbons on the shelf). It just felt right because — insider alert! — most of these 12-year-old bourbons have older barrels in the mix, some up to 15 years old. If you want to get really insider-y, Michter’s 10-Year Bourbon is mostly 15-year-old single barrels. So age ain’t nothing but a TTB-approved label number (in reality the label’s age has to be the youngest barrel in the batch).
The D12tance Puncher’s Chance Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels Aged 12 Years
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey 12 Years Old
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Years Old Lot “B” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Baker’s Single Barrel 13 Years Minimum Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Weller The Original Wheated Bourbon Aged 12 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Knob Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 12 Years
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat Recipe Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
George Dickel Tennessee Whisky Bottled In Bond Aged 13 Years
Since I’m tasting old bourbons on this panel, my ranking will go a little deeper than “Does it taste good, yes or no?” Bourbon has to be aged in new oak vessels. That fresh wood has a lot going on and imparts a lot of wood sugars readily (depending on a gazillion mitigating factors that we don’t need to get into right now). More time does mean more wood influence in the spirit though. Too much or perhaps more importantly not a deft enough hand at building a batch or finding a single barrel can mean an over-oaked and overly tannic or bitter product. And while some folks like chewing on kindling in their whiskey, it’s not generally ideal.
So I’m looking for balance in the spirit and wood that sings while tasting really f*cking good from top to bottom. Sound good? Let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
Part 1 — The 12-Plus-Year-Old Bourbon Blind Tasting
Zach Johnston
Taste 1
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a sense of cherry Tums next to soft grains, dried sage and thyme, and a hint of smoked pork fat.
Palate: The taste leans into that Tennessee whiskey vibe with soft grains next to vanilla Necco Wafers, old cellar floors, and a good dose of sharp winter spices.
Finish: The finish lets the cherry chine with a hint of old glove leather, apple pie filling, and a sour sense of butter with a garden-center earthiness.
Initial Thoughts:
This is actually pretty dynamic all things considered. It’s clearly from Tennessee (that Tums’ vibe) but goes beyond that in great ways (that hint of smoked pork fat is really good).
Taste 2
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is creamy with deep notes of old boot leather, dark and woody winter spices, black-tea-soaked dates, plum jam with clove, and an underbelly of chewy toffee-laced tobacco.
Palate: That creaminess presents on the palate with a soft sticky toffee pudding drizzled in salted caramel and vanilla sauce next to flakes of salt and a pinch of orange zest over dry Earl Grey tea leaves with a whisper of singed wild sage.
Finish: The end leans into the creamy toffee chewy tobacco with a hint of pear, cherry, and bananas foster over winter spice barks and a deep embracing warmth.
Initial Thoughts:
This is f*cking fantastic. There’s a perfect balance between the wood and deeper bourbon-y notes that explode on the senses in all the right ways. This is a winner right here, folks!
Taste 3
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a throughline of a caramel apple with a slightly tart edge, sourdough apple malt doughnuts dusted with cinnamon and brown sugar, and a braid of old dry sweetgrass, cedar bark, worn leather, and dry tobacco leaves.
Palate: The palate adds some walnuts to apple pie filling with a hint of rum-raisin sneaking next to vanilla malts, salted caramel, and a dash of eggnog spice.
Finish: The end leans into the dried fruit and spent vanilla pods with a sweet sense of cinnamon and apple-spiced tobacco leaves folded up with old leather and cedar with a whisper of dark chocolate bitterness behind it all.
Initial Thoughts:
This is really classic bourbon. There wasn’t a lot of pop to the whole affair but it kind of didn’t need thanks to a crystal clear bourbon feel.
Taste 4
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a nice sense of dried sweetgrass, salted ballpark peanuts, and old vanilla pods that leads to softer notes of marzipan, vanilla sheet cake, and mild cherry.
Palate: Soft winter spices and minty tobacco drive the palate toward smudging sage and roasting herbs with a sense of marzipan slowly building on the mid-palate with a minor key of orange and cherry.
Finish: The vanilla sneaks in on the finish with more roasting herbs and dry grassiness with a hint of menthol and peanut shell and distant oak.
Initial Thoughts:
This is very rye-heavy bourbon (all those herbs and grasses) but kind of light all things considered.
Taste 5
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose hits softly with bruised peaches and old pears next to fresh wool sweaters, vanilla pancake batter, and moist marzipan next to orange oils, worn-out wicker deck furniture, and old Buffalo Trace leather with a faint hint of dried roses.
Palate: The palate kicks around cherry bark and apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks with spiced cranberry sauce over buttermilk biscuits and gingerbread.
Finish: The end leans into the sharp brown spices with a mild sense of vanilla cake with apple cider and cinnamon frosting, a touch of burnt orange, and more of that moist marzipan covered in salted dark chocolate.
Initial Thoughts:
This is just good whiskey. It’s so well-rounded and delightfully bold while never overpowering any one note. This is a stand-up and start a “slow cap” sort of whiskey.
Taste 6
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This opens with clear notes of dark rum-soaked cherry, bitter yet creamy dark chocolate, winter spices, a twinge of a sourdough sugar doughnut, and a hint of menthol.
Palate: The palate leans into a red berry crumble — brown sugar, butter, and spice — with a hint of dried chili flake, salted caramels covered in dark chocolate, and a spicy/sweet note that leads toward a wet cattail stem and soft brandied cherries dipped in silky dark chocolate sauce.
Finish: The very end holds onto that sweetness and layers in a final note of pecan shells and maple candy.
Initial Thoughts:
This is deep Kentucky bourbon with a beautiful balance between well-aged and holding onto bright and fun bourbon vibes. This is another winner.
Taste 7
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose feels like a slice of emmer wheat sourdough bread covered in seeds that you get in a very good bakery somewhere like Germany (I honestly cannot think of a U.S. analog for it) next to Nutella, fresh orange zest, and salted caramel with a hint of marzipan.
Palate: Bright orchard fruits pop on the palate as fresh honeycombs (with a hint of earthiness) vibe with more marzipan, deep sourdough bread notes, and a good bit of old oak in old rickhouses just kissed with falling leaves and soft rain.
Finish: That Buffalo Trace leatheriness comes through on the finish with more of that oak and warehouse vibe next to orchard bark, dark winter spice, and creamy honey kissed with rum raisin.
Initial Thoughts:
This is so bready that I can barely feel the age. If I didn’t know better, I’d peg this as a six-year-old crafty.
Taste 8
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Sour cherries, maple syrup, and pecan waffles mingle with dried apple chips, old leather boots, and winter spice with a hint of vanilla wafers on the nose.
Palate: The taste leans toward spicy apple pie filling with walnuts, plenty of cinnamon, and some raisins before malted vanilla milkshakes, blueberry cotton candy, and dark chocolate milk arrives on the mid-palate and lead toward a moist oatmeal cookie dipped in salted caramel.
Finish: The end has a dry woody spiciness with star anise, cinnamon, and allspice mingling with marzipan and cherry/cinnamon tobacco.
Initial Thoughts:
This is very Tennessee (vanilla wafers) that goes so much further in all the right ways. It’s just really good and has a great balance of age, Tennessee vibes, and old-school bourbon feels.
We finally have a brand-new Weller release from Buffalo Trace (at an incredible cost). The whiskey in the bottle is an experimental wheated bourbon made from Emmer wheat (an ancient Egyptian strain). That whiskey is then left alone to mature for 12 years before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Bottom Line:
This is so bready and grainy that it’s hard to find anything else in the pour. That said, I would reach for this when I was in the mood for something completely different. In the same vein, there are other crafty bourbons that cost a f*ckton less than this one and accomplish the exact same thing.
This is a pass from me. Don’t worry, folks, the good people at the Sazerac Company will be just fine.
7. Baker’s Single Barrel 13 Years Minimum Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 4
This brand-new re-release of Beam’s Limited Edition “Minimum 13 Year” Baker’s just dropped. The whiskey in the barrel is from single barrels that hit just the right mark for something special. Beyond that, there’s not much else to know besides this is Baker’s at a high age that shines bright.
Bottom Line:
This is good but the thinnest pour by far on this panel. I liked all the rye vibes on the palate — it truly felt unique and balanced. I just wanted more, which means that I’ll likely be using this for Manhattans and Sazeracs this fall/winter.
6. The D12tance Puncher’s Chance Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels Aged 12 Years — Taste 1
This sourced whiskey is a 12-year-old Tennessee straight bourbon whiskey. Those barrels are emptied and the whiskey is refilled into old Cabernet Sauvignon casks for a final maturation before proofing and bottling.
Bottom Line:
This is good whiskey. It balances wood, Tennessee, and bourbon notes very well and delivers a fun sipping experience. It wasn’t as deeply hewn as the rest of the panel from here but that’s not a knock.
Brasstacks, if you’re a UFC or Bruce Buffer fan who likes a nice pour of good whiskey, this is a no-brainer purchase. I’d sip it over ice though to let it open up a bit more in the glass.
5. George Dickel Tennessee Whisky Bottled In Bond Aged 13 Years — Taste 8
Nicole Austin has been killing it with these bottled-in-bond releases from George Dickel. This release is a whiskey that was warehoused in the fall of 2008. 13 years later, this juice was bottled at 100 proof (as per the bottled-in-bond law) and left to rest.
Bottom Line:
This has a great balance of age and American deep whiskey notes. There’s a lot going on and it all works while adding that Tennessee dimension in the best ways. It’s distinct. That said, this still feels like a great cocktail base more than a neat sipper. So … make some awesome cocktails with this one.
4. Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Years Old Lot “B” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 3
This is an interesting wheated bourbon. The “Lot B” moniker means that these barrels were tested at 12 years and marked for “Van Winkle” batching, which means they weren’t going in the right direction to be batched into the “Pappy Van Winkle” line with more aging (which is 15 years and older). In this case, instead of aging further, the barrels are set aside, batched, and cut with that soft Kentucky limestone water to bring them down to a manageable 90.4 proof, then bottled.
Bottom Line:
This is what I love about blind tastings and rankings. I like this whiskey a lot and probably would have ranked it higher given the label. At the end of the day, this is a really good sipping bourbon that’ll make an amazing cocktail, which is exactly what you’d expect from a $79 price tag (the MSRP).
3. Knob Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 12 Years — Taste 6
This is the classic Beam whiskey. The juice is left alone in the Beam warehouses in Clermont, Kentucky, for 12 long years. The barrels are chosen according to a specific taste and mingled to create this aged expression with a drop or two of that soft Kentucky limestone water.
Bottom Line:
This was dynamic and delicious. Over some ice, it’ll shine as a sipper. In a simple whiskey-forward cocktail, it’ll shine even brighter. This is a great high-end bourbon that just works while giving you a little age and fantastically quintessential Kentucky bourbon vibes.
2. Weller The Original Wheated Bourbon Aged 12 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 5
This Buffalo Trace wheated bourbon rests in the warehouse for 12 long years in the same barrels and warehouses as Pappy. The difference between this and Pappy 12 — good ol’ “Lot B” — is pretty simple actually. If the barrel doesn’t hit the exact flavor profile needed for a Pappy, it’s sent to the blending house to become a Weller (as long as it hits Weller’s flavor profile, of course). So, yes, this could have been a Pappy 12 had the flavor profile been slightly different in the barrel.
Bottom Line:
This is a cracking bourbon. You can feel the age but it never overpowers. This is a great pour to sip any old day or night any time of year. You can’t go wrong here.
1. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey 12 Years Old — Taste 2
The mash at the base of this whiskey is a mix of 80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye. Those grains are milled in-house and mixed with cave water pulled from an on-site spring and Jack Daniel’s own yeast and lactobacillus that they also make/cultivate on-site. Once fermented, the mash is distilled twice in huge column stills. The hot spirit is then filtered through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal that’s also made at the distillery. Finally, the filtered juice is loaded into charred new American oak barrels and left alone in the warehouse. After 12 years, a handful of barrels were ready; so they were batched, barely proofed, and bottled.
Bottom Line:
This is phenomenal whiskey. It’s aged but then goes so much further into beautifully rendered bourbon notes that all shine succinctly and build to a bigger whole. This is far and away the best pour of the panel and it’s not even close. This is a “holy shit!” pour of whiskey.
Part 3 — Final Thoughts on the 12-Year-Old Bourbons
Zach Johnston
Look, if you want the best 12-year-old bourbon, then buy Jack Daniel’s 12-Year. It’s far and away the best pour at that age statement. That’s it. Period. End of story. Good night, Tennessee. There will be no encores.
If you ever wanted to take a look into the mind of Lil Nas X, your chance is nearly here. The “Industry Baby” rapper will bring his talents, or at least a film centered on them, to the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Filmmakers Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel’s directorial undertaking, Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero, will debut globally at the esteemed festival starting September 9.
The documentary, filmed during Lil Nas X’s Long Live Montero World Tour, is described on the TIFF website: “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero offers a joyous immersion in the world of a game-changing artist and the fans who’ve joined him in that change. To watch concertgoers express what it means to share space with a Black, gay superstar, with their fellow fans, and with thousands of families brought into their world through the power of pop music, is to capture a precious image of how transformation happens.”
TIFF’s CEO Cameron Bailey spoke about the selection in a statement, saying, “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero is a triumphant ode to the extraordinary power of self-expression, music, and identity. In this groundbreaking documentary, we witness Lil Nas X challenging boundaries and reshaping the artistic landscape. The film’s captivating journey underscores the profound impact of Lil Nas X, who fearlessly brings audiences together through the universal language of music. We are thrilled to host Lil Nas X at TIFF this year.”
First poster for Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel’s ‘LIL NAS X: LONG LIVE MONTERO’.
The film follows Lil Nas X on an emotional odyssey through the creation & performance of his “Long Live Montero” show. pic.twitter.com/UURJ2q46RU
The 2023 Toronto International Film Festival is set to take place between September 9 and 17 at various venues. Tickets for the Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero screenings are on sale now. Find more information here.
Last week’s devastating Maui wildfire — which caused untold damage to the town of Lahaina and resulted in the death of over 111 people (and rising) — may be over, but recovery efforts are ongoing as the island rallies to put itself back together after what is being called one of the most devastating US wildfires in centuries. There are countless ways to help the many people who have lost their homes, whether you want to donate food or money directly to organizations with boots on the ground, but if you’re looking for another way to help while also showing solidarity and raising awareness, there are several foundations and brands that have begun selling t-shirts that mark the event with proceeds going directly disaster relief programs.
From the UFC to The Hundreds, brands are stepping up with bespoke designs that capture the aloha spirit. Here is a roundup of some of the brands offering aid.
Authentic Hawaiian surf apparel brand HIC (Hawaiian Island Creations) is currently taking pre-orders for its Maui Strong Relief t-shirt. This women’s t-shirt features a “Maui Strong” graphic in white and pink over black with a silhouette of the island. The sizing runs from small to 2-XL
100% of the proceeds will be donated to those impacted by the disaster. Pre-order the t-shirt here.
Streetwear brand The Hundreds has remixed their old school Hang Loose Hawaii tee into a graphic t-shirt that reads “Hang Tough Maui,” and features a double-needle sleeve with bottom hem, and puff print. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this shirt will be donated to the Grants Central Station Maui Mutual Aid Fund.
In the event the t-shirt is sold out (they’re moving fast) you can donate directly to the Maui Mutual Aid Fund here.
UFC is selling a simple classic fit black t-shirt that reads “UFC Loves Hawaii” in the organization’s iconic font. The sizing runs from extra small to 6-XL and is currently on pre-order, expected to ship during the last week of August.
100% of the profits* from the sale of this shirt will benefit Hawaii Relief efforts (come on UFC, make it 100% of proceeds — you have plenty of $$$). Pick up the t-shirt here.
The Wyland Foundation, a non-profit organization that tasks itself with promoting, protecting, and preserving the world’s ocean and waterways has produced this beautiful unisex t-shirt with a humpback-whale silhouette. The t-shirt is available in a size run from small to 2—XL and will donate proceeds to the Maui Disaster Relief.
From now until August 19th, the Hawaii-based brand Aloha Modern is donating 100% of profits from online sales directly to the Maui Strong Fund and Maui Mutual Aid. There isn’t a special design that references the events in Maui but several of the products celebrate the Hawaiian spirit.
The brand sells everything from apparel to bags, headwear, and home goods. Check out Aloha Modern here.
Aloha De Mele is a Hawaii-based brand that offers lifestyle pieces inspired by the beauty, culture, and people of Hawaii and is currently taking pre-orders for its Aloha De Maui t-shirt, made in collaboration with Mahalo Shoots.
The T-shirt is available in both black and white with sizes that run from small to 7-XL. The shirt features a 100% combed cotton build and a digital illustration hand drawn by JT Ojerio, the artist behind the Aloha de Mele brand.
All profits from the t-shirt will be directed to nonprofit organizations including Aloha United Way, Maui United Way, Maui Humane Society, Hawaii Community Council, and the Maui Foodbank. Pre-order the t-shirt here.
Hawaiian-based skatewear label In4mation is currently accepting pre-orders for its Come Together For The Island Of Maui, and United Maui Relief & Support t-shirt. Featuring a size run from small to 3-XL, the Come Together tee features a simple white graphic back-printed over a black base and sports a standard fit with a 100% cotton build.
The Unity shirt features the same fit with a white-on-red colorway and a ‘United Maui Relief & Support” graphic back printed.
100% of the profits from the t-shirt will be donated to the Hawaii Community Foundation, Maui Strong Fund, and the Maui Humane Society. Pre-orders end on August 24th.
Aviator Nation is currently selling a Hawaii Relief unisex boyfriend tee in an XS-2XL size run that is hand sewn in Los Angeles and features a trig-blend fabric of cotton, polyester, and rayon. The shirt features a simple design with a small heart and Hawaiian island graphic at the breast and minimal Aviator Nation branding.
100% of the proceeds from the t-shirt will go to the Red Cross. Pick up the shirt here.
Sustainable luxury brand Cariloha is currently selling a t-shirt made from sustainable bamboo in three colors and an XS-3XL size run. The t-shirt features a Hawaiian island graphic and is available in navy, white, and Caribbean blue in both men and women’s fits.
100% of the proceeds will go directly to support the community, with Cariloha matching all donations as it works with local organizations on the ground in Maui.
Lifestyle baseball brand Baseballism is currently taking pre-orders for a special edition ‘Maui No Ka ‘Oi Ali’i’ t-shirt. The shirt is made from a 50-50 blend of cotton and polyester and sports a form-fitting cut in an XS-3XL size run, a back-printed graphic, with minimal branding at the front. The brand suggests you size up if you’re looking for a more comfort-focused fit.
All proceeds from the sale of this t-shirt will be donated to the Maui Food Bank. Pick up the shirt here.
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