Month: October 2023

Barrel-strength bourbon is bold by design. Some would argue that it’s the opposite of “smooth” — refined, polished, and without rough edges — on purpose. It’s often hot, brash, BIG whiskey. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be refined, polished, and without rough edges — aka “smooth” at the same time. The whiskey in question is often selected at its barrel strength (or “barrel proof” or “cask strength” depending on the label’s chosen language) because that’s where there’s a perfect balance between the heat and the more polished flavor notes.

To prove that, I’m conducting a big bling taste test of 12 barrel-proof bourbons (many of them brand new) that offer a smooth drinking experience and a bold ABV. I grabbed 12 barrel-strength bourbons and my wife was kind enough to shuffle, pour, and catalog them for me. Our lineup today features the following bottles of barrel-strength bourbons:

• Penelope Barrel Strength Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys Aged 9 Years
• Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Series #11
• 291 E Colorado Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Aspen Wood Staves
• Old Dominick Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey Fall 2018 Batch No. 2
• Lost Lantern Single Cask Series Ironroot Republic Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Green River Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Full Proof
• Frey Ranch Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey Farm Strength Uncut
• Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch No. C923
• Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Tale of Two Islands Cask Strength
• Maker’s Mark Bill’s Recipe No. 46 French Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength
• George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2023
• Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels

After I blindly tasted through these pours, I ranked them. Of course, overall taste was the cornerstone of the ranking. I also looked at balance to find the truly “smooth” barrel-strength bourbons on the panel. That balance meant finding the whiskeys that were not blown out by massive ABVs that muted or completely erased the more nuanced flavor notes. Moreover, that meant looking at the overall depth of the flavor profile. If any bourbon pour is too one note, it’s out of balance.

Okay, let’s dive in and taste and rank some barrel-strength bourbons!

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys From Kentucky, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The ‘Smoothest’ Bourbons Under $100, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• The ‘Smoothest’ Bourbons On The Market, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• The 100 Best Bourbons Under $100 Right Now, Ranked

Part 1 — The Barrel-Strength Bourbon Blind Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Nose: You get a sense of dry cornmeal on the nose next to apple crumble, plenty of wintry spice, a hint of mulled wine, wet brown sugar, and a thin layer of wet yet sweet cedar.

Palate: A hint of brandy-soaked cherries arrives on the palate with a dusting of dark chocolate powder next to more apple pie filling, spice, and buttery crust alongside a sweet, toffee-heavy mid-palate.

Finish: The end arrives with a dry wicker vibe, cherry tobacco chewiness, and a hint of that dark chocolate.

Initial Thoughts:

This is good barrel-strength bourbon. It’s not a “wow” but it is balanced and tastes really nice overall.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Tart cherries and rich toffee rolled in roasted almond and dipped in salted dark chocolate drive the nose toward cinnamon spice cakes with a hint of dried cranberry, plummy sauce, and rich tobacco.

Palate: The taste leans into caramel-covered peanuts with a hint of red fruit leather, old spice barks, and a whisper of orange rinds next to a touch of Cherry Coke, old leather tobacco pouches, and the old beams from a whiskey barrel house.

Finish: The end leans into a lush vanilla buttercream with notes of old back porch wicker, almost sweet cedar kindling, smudging sage, and cinnamon bark soaked in cherry brandy with a touch of chili-cut dark chocolate.

Initial Thoughts:

This is excellent whiskey. There’s a deep nuance to the profile the runs deep and is intriguingly fresh. It’s quintessential while also feeling warming without feeling hot.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with a very craft nose of Graham Cracker dipped in honey and rolled in cinnamon before hitting a hint of bubble gum and Hot Tamales.

Palate: The palate is hot with a clear sense of sharp cinnamon and sweet grits next to dark wood, old leather, and blood orange rinds.

Finish: The end really leans into the cinnamon heat with a hint of sweet honey underneath before diving deep into dark chocolate, cherry, and winter spice with dried fruits and rock candy.

Initial Thoughts:

This starts off so strong but then just builds and builds heat until you’re left with a numb mouth. It’s a lot.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Honey waffle crackers, rich vanilla buttercream, and dark cherry present on the nose next to nasturtium floral spiciness and a hint of garden store potting soil bags (almost a halfway point between burlap and old leather).

Palate: Dry straw and more burlap potting soil drive the earthy palate toward corn husks, black tea, and leathery tobacco countered by toffee and cherry with a hint of cinnamon.

Finish: The cherry and cinnamon make for a spicy sweet finish with a nice creaminess from the vanilla and toffee that’s all accented by a lot of earthiness.

Initial Thoughts:

This is very earthy Tennessee whiskey. It’s nice enough but that earthiness ends up going sort of one note.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a mix of rich caramel and freshly grilled pancakes next to cherry jam, dried cranberry, and vanilla cake.

Palate: That vanilla drives the palate toward creamy and moist marzipan, a touch of old oak, and a hint of cranberry sauce cut with star anise and clove next to a whisper of fresh cornbread with melted butter on top.

Finish: The end leans into the corn and oak as the cinnamon sweetness amps up the warmth of the finish with a hint of earthy and leathery tobacco just kissed with dark cherry.

Initial Thoughts:

This is nice enough. It’s a tad earthy but that’s balanced by nice sweetness, creaminess, and spiciness. It’s a little warm at the end but nothing overpowering.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Cream soda and honeycomb greet you on the nose with a light sense of spiced holiday cakes, vanilla sheet cake, soft-dried chili, and old woody spice.

Palate: The honey and vanilla bond on the palate to create a luscious mouthfeel that leads to balanced notes of sharp dried chili spice, soft worn leather, pipe tobacco, and rich walnut bread with plenty of butter, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Finish: The end leans toward the leather and tobacco with a chili-choco vibe accented by soft walnut and even softer vanilla.

Initial Thoughts:

This is a nice and very easy-drinking whiskey. It has a really nice depth and balance and doesn’t feel overpowered at all. You know the warmth is there but it makes sense to the overall flavor profile.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose bursts forth on this one with deep cinnamon candy, nutmeg-heavy eggnog, creme bruleé, salted caramel, and buttery croissant next to old cedar kindling, dark boot leather, and a hint of dusty old wine cellar.

Palate: There’s a Black Forest cake vibe on the front of the palate that leads to clove-studded oranges, leathery apricot, black-tea-soaked dates, and rich and moist pound cake just kissed with poppy seeds and vanilla oils.

Finish: The end leans into black cherry with a flake of smoked salt, dark orange, and fresh cacao with a return of that cedar kindling and old boot leather next to this faint note of old rickhouses full of well-aged barrels of whiskey.

Initial Thoughts:

This is just good whiskey. It has a warmth to it but it never dominates the profile. It’s all in balance, delivering a deeply nuanced profile.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Big notes of stewed apples lead to apple cider spiked with dried red chili, allspice, and anise on the nose before dark chocolate oranges and salted caramels give way to old oak staves with a hint of vanilla-mint tobacco.

Palate: That vanilla creates a silky palate with tons of butterscotch and caramel popcorn with a good flake of salt as cinnamon and chili-heavy cider leads to Christmas nut breads and old leather tobacco pouches with a hint of dark cherry.

Finish: The end amps up the ABVs dramatically as chili, black pepper, and anise drive the end toward an almost cool mint tobacco vibe with a vanilla buttercream underbelly.

Initial Thoughts:

This starts off kind of chill then goes almost off-the-charts hot on the finish. This left my palate abuzz and really burnt out.

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with big notes of bananas foster, peach cobbler, and blackberry crumble next to roasting herbs, smoldering smudging sage, old cedar kindling, and rich vanilla-chocolate malted tobacco with a dash of Cherry Coke and Almond Joy.

Palate: Lushness dominates the palate with dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, candied orange peels, candied almonds, black cherry soda, cream soda, plum pudding, and mincemeat pies dusted with powdered sugar before dark and lightly smoked oak arrives.

Finish: That smoky oak leads to pepper brisket fat and salted butter cut with cedar tobacco before veering toward blackberry pie and red currants swimming in dark chocolate with a faint whisper of fresh vanilla pods.

Initial Thoughts:

This was nice but very light all things considered. When looking for a balance of ABV warmth and an overall balanced profile, there… wasn’t a lot there — even though the profile ran very deep.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose draws you in with a sense of old rickhouses and mincemeat pies with a hint of plum jam over buttermilk biscuits just kissed with clove and nutmeg.

Palate: Those biscuits turn into Christmas spice cakes with plenty of nuts and dried fruits with a candied orange hint next to caramel sauce and vanilla cake.

Finish: The end is lush at first with a nice earthiness that plays into rum raisin and brandy-soaked holiday cakes before fading abruptly.

Initial Thoughts:

This was just nice. It was by far the coolest ABVs of the bunch (I’d guess this is in the 50% area). That said, it is still a well-built whiskey with a really pleasant overall profile.

Taste 11

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a classic sense of Cherry Coke, old leather tobacco pouches, and rich buttercream made with real vanilla next to fall leaves in an orchard and then this sense of Neoplotian ice cream creeps in that leans toward the strawberry and chocolate ice cream part.

Palate: The palate opens with a deep sense of an apple orchard on a cold fall day with leaves underfoot next to deeply-seeded dark cherry, cinnamon bark, clove buds, and allspice berries with a sense of the Neopolitan ice cream popping up again late.

Finish: The creamy vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry drive the finish back toward the old orchards, fall leaves, rickhouse floors, and soft cherry-spiced tobacco leaves rolled with cedar and smudging sage with a nice warming Kentucky hug on the very end.

Initial Thoughts:

This is goddamn delicious whiskey. The ice cream vibes really add a whole new dimension to the experience and offer the perfect counterbalance to the heat (which is bold).

Taste 12

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Spiced cherry cake mingles with rich and buttery caramel sauce, toasted marshmallows, rum raisin, black-tea-soaked dates cut with cinnamon and nutmeg, and a deep sense of mulled wine cut with dark chocolate.

Palate: The palate leans into the mulled wine and sticky toffee pudding with a flourish of sea salt and orange zest next to lush vanilla buttercream, dark cherry spiced tobacco leaves, and old motorcycle jacket leather.

Finish: The end leans into brandy-soaked cherries dipped in dark chocolate next to dry sweetgrass, smudging sage, and cedar bark braided and stacked in an old cigar humidor next to a dry red wine cork with winter spice cakes, pear brandy marzipan, and deep dried fruits rounding out the end.

Initial Thoughts:

This is also just excellent. It reminds me of an old dusty bourbon from the 1970s (well-aged, deep and dark, and decadent). The proof is there in a warming sense that tracks with the sweet spiciness that’s layered throughout.

Part 2 — The Barrel-Strength Bourbon Ranking

12. 291 E Colorado Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Aspen Wood Staves — Taste 3

ABV: 60.8%

Average Price: $149

The Whiskey:

This bespoke Colorado craft whiskey starts with a malted wheat bourbon at its core. That bourbon is married to another wheated bourbon with rye malts in the mix, creating a four-grain bourbon in the final batch. That whiskey is then bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

This was very hot on this panel. There’s a lot of nuance on the profile but it needs a rock or few drops of water to get at that nuance. Neat, it’s just too warm.

11. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch No. C923 — Taste 8

ABV: 66.5%

Average Price: $74

The Whiskey:

The last drop from Elijah Craig Barrel Proof of 2023 is a big one. The whiskey in the bottle is a 13-year and 7-month-old bourbon that was bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

Again, this just ended up too warm when poured and tasted neat. If I had given it half an hour to open up from the air and then added a little water to help it bloom in the glass, it’d probably have scored higher. As it stands, it’s just too tilted toward hefty ABVs.

10. Old Dominick Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey Fall 2018 Batch No. 4 — Taste 4

ABV: 57.28%

Average Price: $69

The Whiskey:

Old Dominick’s new Small Batch Series is a four-batch look at how the same whiskeys perform in different batching formats. Each whiskey is hewn from a mash bill of 52% corn, 44% rye, and 4% malted barley that’s left to age for four years in new West Tennessee White Oak barrels down in Tennessee. In this batch, select barrels were chosen for their barrel-proof beauty. Once batched, the whiskey was bottled as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

This was nice but leaned very one note with all that earthiness. If that’s what you’re vibe is, then go for it. This is a very earthy Tennessee pour with classic bourbon notes hiding underneath it all.

9. Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Tale of Two Islands Cask Strength — Taste 9

ABV: 59.11%

Average Price: $89

The Whiskey:

This new release from Barrell Craft Spirits is a unique one. The whiskey in the bottle is batched from Indiana bourbon (five, six, and nine-year-old barrels) with Maryland bourbon (five and six-year-old barrels). Once batched, the whiskey is re-barreled into rum casks and Islay whisky casks. Then those barrels are batched and the whiskey is bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

This was just a little light today. It wasn’t bad or faulty by any stretch. This was tasty. It just didn’t jump out. Part of that was that there was just so much going on on the profile that it kind of got lost in it all.

8. Lost Lantern Single Cask Series Ironroot Republic Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 5

ABV: 68.6%

Average Price: $119

The Whiskey:

This new single barrel from Lost Lantern is a Texas all-corn bourbon exclusive. The whiskey was made with 65% Yellow Dent corn, 30% Bloody Butcher corn, and 5% Floriana corn. The barrel was three years old when it was chosen for this bottling 100% as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

Knowing now that this is a 100% corn bourbon, I would have expected it to be far earthier. But this was nicely balanced between earthiness and more classical bourbon notes. This was nice overall but didn’t jump out of the pack and grab me by the collars to keep my attention.

7. Maker’s Mark Bill’s Recipe No. 46 French Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength — Taste 10

ABV: 55.15%

Average Price: $68

The Whisky:

This version of Maker’s 46 is all about shining a light on the brilliance of their stave program. The wheated bourbon is a small batch (made in a 1,000-gallon vatting tank) that’s re-barreled into used Maker’s Mark barrels that are fitted with heavily seared French oak staves. That whisky rests for another few months before bottling 100% as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

This was the lightest pour of the bunch by a country mile. It was also just really nice. There was a deep profile that delivered classic bourbon notes that all made sense and beckoned you back for more. The only reason it’s this low is that this pour barely registered as a barrel-proof or cask-strength whiskey. It was so light that it was barely warming at all.

Then again, that might be exactly what you’re looking for…

6. Penelope Barrel Strength Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys Aged 9 Years — Taste 1

ABV:54.5%

Average Price: $69

The Whiskey:

This blended bourbon is a masterful lesson in the power of blending. The three bourbons that end up in the blend create a four-grain bourbon via their mash bills. The final blend is comprised of 44% 10-year-old Indiana bourbon, 46% nine-year-old Indiana bourbon, and 10% nine-year-old Kentucky bourbon. Once batched, the whiskey is bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

This is where we get into the good stuff. This is just good, well-balanced, and nuanced bourbon. There’s a nice warmth that makes sense to all the layers of flavors in the profile.

5. Green River Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Full Proof — Taste 6

ABV: 59.5%

Average Price: $59

The Whiskey:

The latest addition to the core Green River lineup is a doozy. The Kentucky whiskey is a rye-forward single-barrel bourbon. The mash bill is 70% Kentucky-grown corn with 21% rye and 9% malted barley. That whiskey rests for at least five years before water is added to bring the proof back down to entry proof, hence “full proof”. The whiskey is then bottled directly from the barrel as-is.

Bottom Line:

This is another one that’s ~ just nice.~

It’s super easy-drinking as a sipper, and I imagine this would also make a mean whiskey-forward cocktail.

4. Frey Ranch Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey Farm Strength Uncut — Taste 7

ABV: 62.15%

Average Price: $79

The Whiskey:

This new release from Nevada craft farm distillery, Frey Ranch, is a true grain-to-glass experience. The mash is Frey Ranch’s classic four-grain mash of 66% non-GMO corn, 12% Two-Row malted barley, 11.4% Winter rye, and 10% Soft White Winter wheat — all grown on the ranch. After almost five years of aging in the mountains of Nevada, the whiskey was batched and bottled 100% as-is.

Bottom Line:

This isn’t just nice, it’s great. There’s so much going on with the profile that I want to go back and find more to enjoy. Moreover, the warmth of the ABV always made sense and helped amplify whatever was happening on the nose or palate. This is the good stuff, folks.

3. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels — Taste 12

ABV: 59.1%

Average Price: $229 (Coming Soon)

The Whiskey:

This is the 12th Cask Strength Bourbon release from Angel’s Envy but the first under new Master Distiller Owen Martin. Martin brings a deep knowledge of craft Colorado whiskey making and Scotch whisky to the table and it shows in this new release. The whiskey is a masterful blend of Angel’s Envy’s port-finished bourbons at cask strength, allowing the barrels to really shine through. As a limited edition, there were only 22,656 bottles produced. The good news is that they’re going out to all 50 states.

Bottom Line:

This really felt like a big progression of the Angel’s Envy Cask Strength line. The overall vibe of the bourbon is akin to a 1970s Old Grand-Dad 114, which is beloved for a reason (hint, it’s delicious). This is quintessential bourbon that reminds you why you fell in love with bourbon in the first place.

2. George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2023 — Taste 11

ABV: 67.5%

Average Price: $124 (MSRP)

The Whiskey:

The new Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) George T. Stagg has arrived. This year’s batch was distilled in the spring of 2008 and left to rest in warehouses C, I, K, L, and M around the Frankfort Buffalo Trace campus. After 15 long years of rest, the barrels were batched and bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

This is a great pour of whiskey. The heat is there but it’s always counterbalanced with deep creamy and earthy flavor notes that always make sense. The creaminess of the vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry helps this reach new heights as the more classic Buffalo Trace earthy fall orchards, barrel house, and rich tobacco vibes help it feel familiar. It’s great.

1. Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Series #11 — Taste 2

ABV: 59.05%

Average Price: $139

The Whiskey:

The latest release from Bardstown Bourbon Company is a full-on Kentucky bourbon blend. The whiskey is made with 73% 13-year-old Kentucky bourbon, 21% 10-year-old Kentucky bourbon, and 6% of Bardstown’s own six-year-old Kentucky bourbon. Once batched, the whiskey mellows before bottling 100% as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

This has it all. It’s warm, nuanced, and delicious. There’s just so much going on and it all works. I want more of this whiskey in my life.

Part 3 — Final Thoughts on the Barrel-Strength Bourbons

Overall, the top six are beyond reproach. There’s something for everyone in there. Nitty-gritty, the top two are the true winners. While the Stagg will be nearly impossible to get outside of lotteries and secondary markets (with massively inflated prices), you can get the Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery #11 pretty easily if you move fast.

My advice? Move fast! It’s 100% worth the price tag and may well be your new favorite bourbon pour of 2023.

The Uproxx 2023 Fall Travel Hot List is live! Visit here for the full experience!

As an avid outdoor adventurer, I always look for new regions in the United States to hike and explore. And as an amateur oenophile (sounds better than wine-drinker or the pejorative wino), I’m always looking for wineries that might be nearby said outdoor recreations. Few things are better than wine after a hike. So when I started reading about the Finger Lakes region of New York, I knew I had to get there for a solo trip.

With over 140 wineries and vineyards, the Finger Lakes are the largest wine-producing region in the United States east of California. Named fourth best wine region by USA Today and third best fall vacation spot in the United States by US News and World Report, I decided that a fall trip would be my best bet to get in the mix and see what this Western Upstate New York region offers.

Made up of 11 long, narrow, finger-like lakes just south of Lake Ontario, the region is surprisingly quaint considering its size and population. I didn’t have unlimited time, so I began my trip in Rochester, spending three days visiting cities mostly near the two largest lakes – Seneca and Cayuga. Here’s my itinerary, with recommendations for eating, drinking, sleeping, exploring, and tasting a whole lot of wine.

LEG 1 — START IN ROCHESTER

I flew into Rochester to begin my solo adventure without really knowing what to expect. Rochester, to me, was always just one of those cities that I knew existed. And… that’s it, for better or worse. After spending a short time there, I can say that the vibes are excellent – the people, food, and drink all exceeded my expectations. I only wished I had more time to savor them.

Consider that as you plan your own trip.

Where to Eat & Drink:

CURE

My favorite meal in Rochester was at Cure, a local seasonal French eatery in the Rochester Public Market neighborhood. I loved the low lighting, stylish decor, inventive cocktails, and, of course, the meal. The grilled bread was exceptional, and the Saucisse Boudin Blanc recommended by my server was a delight.

LIVING ROOTS WINE AND CO.

My first wine tasting set a high bar, to say the least. I visited Living Roots Wine and Co’s Rochester urban tasting room and enjoyed the “Bubbles” flight of sparkling wines. With wineries in both the Finger Lakes and the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia, the family-owned and operated winery is a treat.

I especially enjoyed the Adelaide Hills Sparkling Red with notes of raspberry, chocolate, savory pepper, dried herbs, and fine tannins. No, I don’t feel guilty for picking a wine from a different region as my favorite.

GENESEE BREW HOUSE

You can’t visit Rochester without doing two things: drinking a Genesee Beer and eating a Garbage Plate. I checked both boxes during a lunchtime visit to Genesee Brew House on the Genesee River in downtown Rochester – where the views are as impressive as the brews. I enjoyed a traditional cheeseburger Garbage-inspired Plate (originally conceived at Nick Tahou Hots) consisting of fries, macaroni salad, and protein topped with raw onions and varying condiments.

The Rochester classic paired nicely with my flight of classic Genesee beers – I recommend the Cream Ale and Ruby Red Kolsch.

Where to Stay:

HAMPTON INN DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER

You might be surprised that a Hampton Inn is something that I, someone who makes their living travel writing, would include in a piece like this. I am kind of surprised myself. Not that there’s anything wong with Hampton Inns, it’s just that they are primarily straightforward establishments. But this newly built downtown location felt new and much more upscale than others I’ve visited. The location is incredible, the ceilings are high, the art is interesting, the bar and restaurant are stylish, and my room even had a large balcony with city views.

It was a great surprise to start my journey.

Where to Explore:

THE STRONG MUSEUM OF PLAY

Here again, you might wonder why I – an adult woman – would include this entry on her recommended travel itinerary. But you obviously have not visited The Strong Museum of Play. The massive interactive museum is not just for kids (although there is plenty for them to explore) but for visitors of all ages. Home to the World Video Game Hall of Fame and the National Toy Hall of Fame, it has not just the largest collections of games, toys, and dolls in the world but stars tons of interactive elements that will make anyone smile.

From a butterfly garden to the world’s largest playable Donkey Kong arcade game, vintage pinball machines, and an arcade filled with nostalgic working games – this was a real surprise for me and a definite treat.

RIVERFRONT HIGH FALLS

I didn’t have much time to explore the outdoors near Rochester, but luckily, you don’t have to go far to get your fix — there is a striking 96-foot-tall waterfall right downtown. High Falls provides a gorgeous juxtaposition to the city’s urban backdrop, whether walking along the pedestrian path or enjoying the view from nearby Genesee Brew House.

LEG 2 – ROCHESTER TO GENEVA (NY)

Geneva, New York, despite its small size, is, as they like to say: “uniquely urban.” The downtown area is slight but feels much more metropolitan than the population would suggest. With the gorgeous Linden Street, the historic Smith Opera House, award-winning dining, and the notable Geneva Row Houses all set against the magnificent backdrop of Seneca Lake, this is an ideal base for exploration and wine tastings in the Finger Lakes.

Note: The drive from Rochester is roughly an hour. Since you’re on vacation, I recommend traveling outside of work commute hours.

Where to Eat & Drink:

FOX RUN VINEYARDS

The Seneca Lake Wine Trail is packed – so I had to choose my two tasting locations wisely. By this, I mean I asked two people, and when they both recommended the same wineries, I was sold. And luckily, their recommendations were excellent.

I loved walking right into Fox Run Vineyards (and any winery in the area) for a tasting or a tour without the hassle of a reservation like you find in Napa. But despite the more casual approach, the wine was anything but. I enjoyed a very approachable red wine tasting and walked away feeling like I had learned a few things, too.

BILLSBORO WINERY

Billsboro Winery, on the North end of Seneca Lake near Geneva, is the scene I’d hoped to find in an upstate winery. A barn on the top of a hill overlooking a lake on 60 acres surrounded by century-old walnut trees: how is that not paradise? And that’s before I even tasted any wine.

Billsboro Winery crafts dry, classic European wines, and I was impressed by each of them. I especially loved the Rosé Pinot Noir-Syrah.

VINIFERA

Vinifera New York, is truly a gem in downtown Geneva. As the only wine shop and tasting room featuring exclusively Finger Lakes regional wines, it’s a must-stop. Add in the speakeasy below the wine shop – the first and only in the Finger Lakes region – and you’ve got the perfect spot to walk to before or after dinner in Geneva. Founder Jim Cecere and his creative director, Kevin San Jose (who was recently named to Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 Tastemakers for 2023), have genuinely put love and care into Vinifera’s wine list, decor, and atmosphere.

I loved enjoying a local red in the speakeasy. It felt, as the best speakeasies do, like a portal to another time.

KINDRED FARE

Dinner at the cozy Kindred Fare was the perfect end to my day in Geneva. The restaurant, which sources all ingredients from local farmers and producers, operates by the motto “to share is to love” – which comes through in everything. The dining room was packed on a weeknight, with groups enjoying delicious food, drinks, and laughs in a very familiar way. I enjoyed the Crispy Calamari and Chickpea appetizer, local Lively Run Finger Lakes goat cheese, and a perfectly cooked grilled sliced local grass-fed beef flank steak with black garlic butter, house steak sauce, rosemary fries, and garlic aioli.

Where to Stay:

41 LAKEFRONT HOTEL

I stayed at the 41 Lakefront Hotel in Geneva, ideally situated on Seneca Lake and within walking distance to anywhere you want to travel downtown. My room had a gorgeous lake view facing the sunrise, and the newly renovated rooms were clean and spacious.

I loved sitting outside at night by the lake with a glass of wine from the on-site farm-to-table restaurant F2t Kitchen and walking along the lake path.

Where to Explore:

DEER HAVEN PARK

If you’re looking for something slightly more off-the-beaten-path or an unexpected stop between wine tastings, head to Deer Haven Park, the home of the Seneca White Deer. I went into my auto tour expecting wildlife sightings but came out with many interesting facts about the land’s former use as the Seneca Army Depot. It was fascinating to see how nature has taken over the onetime military compound and helped to provide a space for wildlife to thrive.

LEG 3 – GENEVA TO WATKINS GLEN

Watkins Glen is known for world-class road racing, incredible waterfalls, and of course wine. Known as the “Home of Road Racing,” the first post-war road racing event was held in 1948. It’s a fascinating place to visit for any of the above reasons, but if you’re not yet convinced, it’s also a prime spot to view the April 2024 eclipse, as it will experience 99% magnitude.

Note: The drive here will take roughly 45 minutes.

Where to Eat & Drink:

RYAN WILLIAM VINEYARD

The drive from Geneva to Watkins Glen has it all: gorgeous lake views, rolling hills, and wineries every few yards – it seems like. It was tough to choose one to visit, but when I saw the striking and modern Ryan Williams Vineyard up on a hill, I knew I had to check it out. Using 100% estate-grown fruit in their winemaking, Ryan Williams Vineyard is committed to preserving the sanctity of the region and stewarding the land, which has led to many award-winning wines.

I loved my tasting enough to check a bag to take a bottle of rosé home.

FINGER LAKES CIDER HOUSE

Enjoy some cider, farm-to-table food, apple picking, a tour, and maybe even some music and barbecue during a Finger Lakes Cider House visit. This thriving, diversified organic farm specializes in the champagne method of cider making, and after trying nearly all of them, I can say they have it dialed. The food is next level, and the care for the land, animals, and people in the community is super evident here.

THE GRILL AT THE LAUREL

The Grill at the Laurel was a nice treat while staying at The Hotel Laurel at Seneca. After a long day hiking and exploring, the atmosphere was approachable while still feeling sleek, with an excellent selection of entrees and wine. The view over the lake at sunset can’t be beat.

Where to Stay:

THE HOTEL LAUREL AT SENECA

Known for its NASCAR and Formula 1 racing history, Watkins Glen has long been a stop for car racers and celebrity enthusiasts. Legend has it that many would stay at the former Glen Motor Inn, which has recently been renovated and reopened as The Hotel Laurel at Seneca. The traditional motor inn is updated while still keeping its mid-century modern design and charm, with rooms overlooking the lake, a great bar and restaurant, and a large patio to enjoy the view.

YURT AT GOOD LIFE FARM

While I didn’t get to stay in the Yurt on the Good Life Farm and Finger Lakes Cider House property, I was entranced during a quick tour. The handmade yurt feels like stepping into a hobbit world, with a babbling brook, tall trees, modern amenities, and design just steps from the Cider House but somehow it feels much more remote.

Where to Explore:

WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK

Watkins Glen State Park was a highlight of this trip and my travel period. The easily accessible park, formerly a resort bought by New York State in 1906, is simply stunning. I loved hiking the famous Gorge Trail, a short 1.9-mile trail that packs a punch with an impressive 19 waterfalls along the short path. You’ll also want to check out South Rim Trail and Finger Lakes Trail.

WATKINS GLEN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

After your hike, stroll to Watkins Glen downtown (accessible directly from the park) for quaint shopping, drinking, and eating. The town is pulled straight from a Hallmark movie, with historic storefronts and plenty of charm. I was lucky to visit during the Watkins Glen Grand Prix, which included a tribute road race through downtown using the race’s original 6.6-mile road course used during the races of 1948-1952.

LEG 4 – WATKINS GLEN BACK TO ROCHESTER

Where to Eat & Drink:

CRICKETS

For a quick stop between Watkins Glen and Rochester (1.5 hour drive), opt for a bite at Crickets in Geneseo. The eclectic coffee, kitchen, and bar were lively on a Saturday morning, with a great diverse crowd enjoying coffee, breakfast, and cocktails. My Lazy Lavender latte was just flavored enough, and the Hangover Egg Sandwich was… aptly named and did the trick.

DEER RUN WINERY

Located on Conesus Lake – the furthest west of the finger lakes – Deer Run Winery is the oldest operating winery in the region. I had a blast at my tasting on the winery’s gorgeous property, sampling various wines. The Conesus White was a stand-out.

Where to Explore:

LETCHWORTH STATE PARK

Known as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth State Park is stunning. The roughly 17-mile-long park follows the Genesee River through its impressive gorge and waterfalls. The three central falls are straightforwardly named Upper, Middle, and Lower. But don’t let the names fool you – they are anything but standard. The park is impressive any time of year and will be even more so when the leaves peak this autumn.

Martin Scorsese didn’t always make long pictures. Some of his best — Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, to say nothing of his actual short films like The Big Shave or It’s Not Just You, Murray! — don’t take too long to watch. He’s also, especially in the last couple decades, made really, bewilderingly long movies. His latest, Killers of the Flower Moon, runs nearly two whole hours longer than another of his finest, 1985’s After Hours. Some may feel that’s excessive. But is it? Is it too long in an age of bingeing entire seasons in one fell swoop? That’s the argument Scorsese himself is making when people carp about its length (which is 206 minutes, by the way).

“People say it’s three hours, but come on, you can sit in front of the TV and watch something for five hours,” Scorsese said during an interview with Hindustan Times (in a bit teased out by Entertainment Weekly). “Also, there are many people who watch theatre for 3.5 hours. There are real actors on stage, you can’t get up and walk around. You give it that respect, give cinema some respect.”

Granted, modern moviegoers should be used to seeing long, long movies. Oppenheimer was a mere half hour shorter than Flower Moon. Avatar 2 ran over three hours and still gobbled up a fortune. Comic book movies are now regularly longer than Scorsese’s Goodfellas, which runs a very filling 146 minutes and should be the benchmark by which we measure which long movies are too long.

Flower Moon was financed in part by Apple TV+, and though it will stream at some point, they’re actually giving it a proper theatrical release. Scorsese doesn’t think people should wait to watch it on their couch.

“In the case of Killers of the Flower Moon, it should be seen on the big screen,” he said. “Are we intending to make a blockbuster? No, we’re making a movie, which should watched on the big screen. Other pictures I made? Maybe not. Sometimes, it’s the strength of the picture too, if it plays well on a smaller screen, that’s interesting. Killers could play on a small screen, but in order to truly immerse yourself, you should take out the time.”

Killers of the Flower Moon hits theaters on October 20.

(Via Hindustan Times and EW)

50 Cent has never been one to mince words or bite his tongue. While he has occasionally apologized for his acts of trollerism on the timeline, he hasn’t made any apparent effort to curb them. Most recently, he accused Diddy of being involved in the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, adopting an oft-repeated conspiracy theory while continuing his campaign against the fellow rap mogul, whose parties he criticized a few days before.

He even admitted to seeking help for this tendency at the recent stop in Latvia for his Final Lap Tour. “I got to stop doing that sh*t,” he said. “I’ve been talking to a therapist who trying to help me with the sh*t I’m saying. It’s some crazy sh*t that comes out of my mouth for no reason.”

Well, maybe he needs to up his number of weekly sessions or change doctors because it clearly isn’t working. As he told the crowd in Latvia, he reckoned that the reason he went off on Puff’s parties was because of his belief that Diddy had Tupac killed. “Maybe I said that sh*t about Puffy because he got Tupac killed,” said 50, “I thought it was for a real reason, and then I just thought of that. I wanted to post the sh*t I seen online.”

Maybe we should consider limiting rappers’ screen time the way we do kids and teens. They seem pretty prone to falling down the wrong rabbit holes and repeating anything they see, regardless of evidence. In any event, Las Vegas Police believe they’ve got the right guy after 27 years, finally garnering enough evidence to actually prosecute Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who has admitted his alleged involvement multiple times over the past several years.

There was a point where fans of All-American: Homecoming were unsure if the show would have a third season. The series completed its second season in May without confirmation of a renewal and the wait for an answer began. Thankfully, fans didn’t have to wait too long as CW confirmed just a month later that there would indeed be a third season of All-American: Homecoming. The next question that’s left for fans to receive an answer to is when will the win season premiere? There isn’t a precise date yet, but we do have an expected time period that the new season will debut.

When Does All-American: Homecoming Season 3 Come Out?

Thanks to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, we can expect the new season of All-American: Homecoming to arrive sometime in April along with the sixth season All-American. It’s expected that the new season will run from April into the summer, a schedule that’s similar to the one CW had when its shows returned from the pandemic.

There are a few changes in store for season three of All-American: Homecoming. First, the season has been reduced from 20 episodes to just 13, a change that was also put in place for the upcoming sixth season of All-American. Secondly, Peyton Alex Smith and Kelly Jenrette will not be series regulars for season three of All American: Homecoming.

Smith played the role of star baseball player Damon Sims, who was also a love interest of Simone Hicks (played by Geffri Hightower) while Jenrette Amara Patterson, Hicks’ aunt and the president of Bringston University. It’s likely that Smith and Jenrette will have recurring roles next season, but it remains to be seen what their roles will look like.

Lastly, Camille Hyde, who plays Thea Mays, remains undecided for season three as her status for the new round of episodes is unknown at the moment.

Crypto-billionaire-turned-alleged-felon Sam Bankman-Fried once floated another title for himself: President of the United States of America.

The FTX schemer is currently on trial for defrauding customers by committing wire fraud and money laundering, mismanaging billions of dollars in order to pay off his startup’s debts. On Tuesday, his ex-girlfriend and the former CEO of his failed hedge fund, Alameda Research, took the stand to not only disclose his criminal dealings but to shed light on the hubris of the most infamous name in Crypto at the moment.

According to Caroline Ellison, Bankman-Fried theorized he had a 5% chance of becoming president, a prediction that stunned his ex-girlfriend because the FTX founder had little political experience. Bankman-Fried was so interested in wading into the political arena that he even contemplated giving $5 billion to Donald Trump to ensure he wouldn’t make another run for office. Instead, he allegedly stole $100 million from customer accounts to make campaign donations during the 2022 Midterm Elections in an effort to gain political favor for his company.

Ellison has already pleaded guilty to helping Bankman-Fried defraud FTX customers but on Tuesday, she painted the picture of a bumbling math genius with an overinflated ego who thought he was too smart to get caught and too rich to not be in power.

(Via Forbes)

The Boys spinoff Gen V has already given us characters worth velcroing to our sleeves after a handful of episodes. Those include the occasionally fun-sized Little Cricket, portrayed by Lizzie Broadway, and the blood-bending Marie Moreau, played by Jaz Sinclair. Two other actors, however, portray the same character, Jordan Li, who holds “classic” powers like shooting energy at opponents and, on a more individualized note, is also capable of gender-bending in the blink of an eye.

As seen above, this Asian-American Godolkin University student with a runner-up ranking to enter The Seven cuts an imposing figure. Actually, they cut two imposing figures, given that the show portrays two incarnations of the genderfluid character. This makes Jordan’s newfound relationship with Marie even more celebrated by fans, but also, two different actors gain a chance to shine in this plum role. Who are they?

On the right, London Thor is not only the cast member with the most awesome real-life name but also a Korean-American actress who has been building up her presence in the streaming realm. In addition to roles in You and Never Have I Ever, Thor has appeared in Lady Bird and an arc in Showtime’s U.S.-based Shameless.

On the left, Derek Luh portrays the more indestructible incarnation of Jordan who tends to surface during physical altercations. As well, the Supe tends to greet their parents with this outward physicality. (However, both actors have appeared in romantic scenes with Marie.) Luh’s credits include an arc on Shining Vale as well as appearances on All Rise and Runaways.

As a package deal, Jordan Li can not only kick some serious ass and keep their wits about themselves amid the apparent corruption at God U, but the show’s interpretation of their genderfluidity might be the coolest Supe power in The Boys history.

Amazon’s Gen V streams new episodes on Fridays.

It was hard to make out exactly what was happening at first. The doors at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles had only been open for a few minutes and Olivia Rodrigo fans were scampering around the venue’s foyer, choosing whether to get in line for exclusive merch, go upstairs for a “matcha experience,” hit up one of the many selfie stations and photo booths, or use the restroom before the women’s lines became untenable (some enterprising young ladies eventually just stormed the men’s room, which seemed very reasonable all things considered). But occasionally, eruptions of noise exploded from within the crowd, the kind of noise usually reserved for when an A-list celebrity is spotted at a show.

After some investigation, the case was solved: videographers were moving throughout the venue, having groups of fans do their best Olivia screams into the camera, reenacting one of the most iconic moments from her recently released and universally beloved sophomore album, Guts. It comes from the album’s first song, “All-American Bitch,” in which Rodrigo follows an offhanded mention of screaming by performing the act, a move less common on pop records but at home among some of her other sonic influences, be it ’90s grunge or ’00s pop-punk.

Toward the end of her hour-long set, she gave the song its proper live debut, but not before discussing the recording of the aforementioned scream in her collaborator Dan Nigro’s garage, and how the many takes left her without a voice. When the time came for her to deliver on that moment, she wasn’t alone, with many in the audience taking the opportunity to sing,… err, scream along. It was catharsis reduced down to its most molecular form. Olivia seemed proud.

The concert, held by American Express as part of their Members Week for a show dubbed “American Express Presents: An Evening with Olivia Rodrigo,” saw the live debut of a number of Guts tunes, along with stories from Rodrigo and Nigro from the recording sessions. Fans were treated to anecdotes about how “The Grudge” almost didn’t make the album, how The Smiths influenced her lyrics, why Nigro wouldn’t order her wine at a restaurant, and the time his baby threw up on Olivia’s face. Amex made the evening feel like more than just a performance with their bells and whistles, including the aforementioned installations and free tacos to all ticket holders upon exiting. And at a mere $25 per ticket with secondary market options disabled, the proceeds from the event were assured to Rodrigo’s new nonprofit Fund 4 Good.

The lasting thought from the show, though, is how ready her fans are to sing these new songs with thousands of their compatriots at Rodrigo’s massive arena tour that will take place across 2024. Over the last couple of years, artists like Harry Styles, SZA, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé have taken touring to a new level in the public consciousness thanks to everything from post-lockdown IRL yearning to social media’s unique facility for amplification. 2024 will undoubtedly see this continue with artists like Rodrigo, Zach Bryan, and Noah Kahan already breaking ticket sites and seeing entry costs skyrocket. While it is certainly a bummer to see secondary resellers making money off this phenomenon, the flipside is that the feverish demand to see today’s of-the-moment artists speaks to a new era of live music, one that will certainly experience plenty of highs and lows and fixes and evolution as artists try to reach more of their fans in an equitable manner.

This new era is already being felt in just how people interact in live spaces. From Beyonce’s “On Mute” to Taylor’s surprise songs, communal, sharable moments are serving multiple functions, as they provide memories to people in attendance and FOMO to those catching up as they scroll, anticipating their own chance to experience it live and in person. For Rodrigo, it will certainly be the scream, the guttural, raw moment of being as un-pretty as possible that feels in tune with a generation putting aside the need for IG perfection. And if it is anything like Monday night’s concert, it will absolutely be worth it.

Check out American Express Presents: An Evening with Olivia Rodrigo on YouTube, dropping today (10/10) at 5 pm PST.

A decade ago Guillermo del Toro made a big monsters vs. big robots movie. It was called Pacific Rim. It did pretty well — well enough that it got a sequel a handful of years later. That one wasn’t directed by del Toro. That’s fine, because instead he made The Shape of Water, which won him Best Picture and Best Director. But why didn’t del Toro make it? Massive artistic clashes? Some behind-the-scenes drama? Actually the reason is a lot dopier than you’d think.

“We were getting ready to do it, it was different from the first, but it had a continuation of many of the things that I was trying to do,” Del Toro said in a recent interview with Collider (as caught by Entertainment Weekly). “Then what happened is — I mean, this is why life’s crazy, right? — they had to give a deposit for the stages at 5 p.m. or we would lose the stages in Toronto for many months. So I said, ‘Don’t forget, we’re going to lose the stages,’ and 5 o’clock came and went, and we lost the stages.”

Luckily there was a Plan B. Unluckily that didn’t work with del Toro’s schedule: “They said, ‘Well, we can shoot it in China.’ And I go, ‘What do you mean we?’ [laughs] ‘I’ve got to go do Shape of Water.’”

Again, in the end it all worked out for del Toro, though not quite for the Pacific Rim gang. When the sequel (helmed by Daredevil show director Steven DeKnight) came out, it scored so-so reviews and middling box office, effectively killing plans for a threequel. (There was an anime version for Netflix in 2021, though.) It also didn’t exactly get del Toro’s blessing.

“I didn’t see the final movie, because that’s like watching home movies from your ex-wife,” he told Collider. “It is terrible if they’re good and worse if they’re bad, or the opposite. You don’t want to know.”

(Via Collider and EW)

Taylor Swift said it best herself: Karma is God who takes all of her friends to the proverbial summit. So when the universe made it clear that Taylor Swift could never star in a successful movie (Exhibit A, B, C), she decided to take Hollywood’s neck by her perfectly polished fingers and wrangle it until she would get herself a box office hit. So she decided to release a concert movie!

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour hits theaters this weekend and the movie is already off to a successful start. The concert film is expected to make $150 million to $200 million in its opening weekend. This puts Taylor up there with Barbie, which secured $162 on its opening weekend alongside that other movie. And at two hours and 48 minutes, it’s still shorter than Oppenheimer. And it features no men talking aggressively with intense eye contact!

Swift’s concert film will hit over 8,500 theaters in about 100 countries this Friday, and it’s important to note that the actual tour itself is only halfway done (she just wrapped up the South American leg) meaning we will be enduring another year and a half of this stuff around the rest of the world. So get used to it! And maybe consider acting Swift in like……..a good movie.

As for now, when you Google “Taylor Swift Movie,” a list of her worst career accomplishments is being drowned out by the millions of dollars she is making from her tour movie, so maybe it will all work out in the end. Karma is that guy on the screen, am I right?!!

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)