Month: November 2023

Limited-edition bourbon whiskey is often the very good stuff. It’s the whiskey that bottlers, blenders, and distillers release to showcase the best barrels in their warehouses. That means it’s often extremely tasty. But it’s also often fleeting. And expensive.

Spending a lot on a bottle of whiskey is no small ask — so let me help you find some great limited-edition bourbons that are worth the coin. To do that, I’m conducting a blind taste test of new limited-edition bourbons. Most of these were released in the last few weeks with a few coming in in the past month or so. They cover everything from special cask finishes to barrel entry-proof releases to bold craft whiskeys alongside some of the best small batches coming out of Kentucky right now.

Our lineup today stars the following bottles of limited-edition bourbon:

• Woodford Reserve Sonoma Triple Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Starlight Distillery Carl T. Huber’s Limited Release Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Second Oak Barrel French Oak
• Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Series #11
• Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Widow Jane The Vaults Aged 15 Years A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys
• Booker’s Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2023-03 “Mighty Fine Batch”
• Maker’s Mark 2023 Limited Release BEP Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Finished With 10 Virgin Oak Staves
• William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Proof (BTAC 2023)
• Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse “Camp Nelson F” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Joseph A. Magnus Cigar Blend Straight Bourbon Whiskey

After blind tasting each of these bourbons, I went ahead and ranked them based on taste. But taste is more than just “yum, that’s good!” I’m also looking at the depth of the profile, how balanced and complex it was, and how powerful those ABVs were. It’s a complex look at complex whiskey — let’s dive in!

• 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 Limited Edition Bourbon Blind Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Freshly ground cinnamon drives the nose toward grilled peaches and pineapple before deep and oily vanilla arrives with a sense of fresh plums dusted with a hint of salt.

Palate: Those plums stay fresh on the palate as the vanilla really kicks up with a nice balance of old oak, a hint of leatheriness, and old tobacco dipped into mulled wine.

Finish: That mulled wine takes on an oakiness with more leathery tobacco on the finish as the plums are just stewed with winter spice barks and then folded into berry pie.

Initial Thoughts:

This has a great nose, a good body, and a cognac-like finish. I like this a lot but it’s very unique.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Your grandma’s caramel candies draw you in on the nose with a light sense of vanilla malts topped with whipped cream and cherry before the oak arrives with a sense of sweetness and light mocha espresso vibes.

Palate: The dark cherry takes on a mild cola feel before it drives toward rich vanilla buttercream cut with poppyseeds and nutmeg next to a hint of that sweet oak dipped in salted caramel.

Finish: Rich tobacco leaves wrap themselves around that caramel oak before a whisper of apple blossom and maybe some brandy-soaked pear round out the finish.

Initial Thoughts:

This opens with a soft nose that then gives way to a bold and very hot mid-palate with a warming end. A lot is going on with this profile and it feels like it needs a rock or some time to air before sipping more.

Taste 3

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 opens beautifully and then just gets more luscious as you go. This is a winner and it’s delicious.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a rush of sharp cinnamon bark wrapped up with old saddle leather, freshly fried apple fritters, walnuts, old cedar bark braids twisted up with dried wild sage, and a hint of dried yellow mustard flowers with an underlying sense of maple syrup over pecan waffles.

Palate: The palate leans into the spice with a hint of allspice and ginger next to apple pie filling with walnuts, brandy-soaked raisins, and plenty of brown sugar next to spiced Christmas cake dipped in dark chocolate sauce.

Finish: The end takes its time and meanders through salted caramel, stewed plums with star anise and sharp cinnamon, a hint of vanilla Dr. Pepper, and a mild sense of chocolate-cinnamon-spiced chewing tobacco buzziness with a warming Texas hug that’s part Hot Tamales and part chili-spiced green tea.

Initial Thoughts:

This is a big crafty Texas whiskey (the color is a dead giveaway). It’s very good but also extremely hot. This needs ice ASAP.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Perfectly toasted marshmallow gives way to cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven with a sense of real-deal sasparilla cut with vanilla ice cream and a hint of mint before an almost savory fruitiness arrives that’s part sandy pear and part yellow melon.

Palate: The vanilla takes on a lemon chocolate vibe (a very underrated combination) before the mint shocks the palate toward rich and chewy tobacco dipped in honey.

Finish: Sharp cherry cola drives the finish toward fresh honeycombs with a hint of nutmeg sprinkled in next to vanilla pound cake cut with poppyseeds and almond oils.

Initial Thoughts:

This was very light comparatively. There’s a lot of good stuff going on the profile but there’s no wow factor.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dark brown sugar and cask warmth pops on the nose with a sense of deep and very real vanilla under a heat lamp and lashing the air with deep vanilla smells as caramel sweetens the rest of the air with bourbon-y vibes of oak, leather, and tobacco.

Palate: That deep and warm vanilla drives the palate toward a Kentucky hug from a grizzly bear as the ABVs warm toward sharp winter spice barks, dark cherry cola, and marzipan cut with dark chocolate and more dark cherry before the old oakiness arrives with a hint of warehouse floor.

Finish: The grizzly bear Kentucky hug only gets sharper and hotter on the finish as the brown sugar, dark cherry, and old oak lead to a creamy lush vanilla finish that’s just kissed with eggnog, marzipan, and spiced holiday cookies.

Initial Thoughts:

This is classic with a bold AF Kentucky hug. Again, this is begging for a big ol’ rock.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Roasted vanilla beans and pan-toasted winter spices (nutmeg, clove, allspice, and cinnamon) mingle with lush and butter caramel sauce, brown-sugar rock candy, and a whisper of old wicker furniture with a hint of pipe tobacco.

Palate: That brown-sugar sweetness drives the palate toward woody and warm winter spices that create a nice buzz alongside a creamy eggnog edge next to vanilla sheet cake sprinkled with toffee chards and dried orchard fruits.

Finish: The end dries out a tad as the warm spices ramp up toward a holiday cake made with plenty of vanilla, brown sugar, buttercream, and toasted woody spices before being kissed with fresh pipe tobacco that was left in a cedar box for a spell.

Initial Thoughts:

This is nice and balanced with a very lovely (approachable) flavor profile. I like this one.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Deep and dark candied black cherry mingles with dry cedar bark, molasses, real vanilla beans, nutty brown butter, and old leather rolled in pipe tobacco and just kissed with smoldering sage and dry chili pepper flakes.

Palate: The palate opens with a full blast of ABVs, making the front of your tongue tingle, as floral honey, cherry cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream, and brown butter streusel cut with nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove lead to a hint of dry orange tobacco.

Finish: Cinnamon sticks and clove buds floating in maple syrup arrive on the finish with a sense of old leather boots, the oak in an old rickhouse, orchard barks, and soft notes of vanilla and cherry cake.

Initial Thoughts:

This has a beautiful nose, palate, and finish. It’s warm but not hot. It’s pretty much a perfect pour of bourbon that actually goes beyond classic and into bourbon glory.

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Wild Turkey’s iconic spiced cherry vibe is present in spades on the nose with a deep and dark cherry cut with anise, clove, allspice, and cinnamon next to rum-soaked raisins, black tea-soaked dates, and a rich and lush vanilla foundation.

Palate: The clove attaches to dried orange rinds as salted rich caramel drives the taste toward more dates, plum sauce, and leathery prunes with a deep winter spice bark vibe next to a dash of powdery white pepper.

Finish: Honeyed tobacco mingles with sticky toffee pudding, mincemeat pies, and sweet oak mixed with richly spiced tobacco rolled with cedar bark, sage, and old wicker porch furniture.

Initial Thoughts:

This is both classic and delicious. There’s a serious depth that shines brightly on quintessential Kentucky bourbon flavor notes.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with sticky toffee pudding that really amps up the cinnamon and nutmeg next to black-tea-soaked dates next to some stewed prunes wrapped in chili-chocolate-laced tobacco leaves and dripped in honey and then walnuts.

Palate: A savory fruitiness opens the palate with figs and pumpkin that leads towards an apricot jam with a hint of clove and cinnamon next to light touches of old library leather and funk.

Finish: A faint hint of dark berries arrives on the mid-palate before the finish luxuriates in burnt toffee, almond shells, more of that leather, and dried-out apricots.

Initial Thoughts:

This is really nice bourbon. It’s kind of funky and fresh with a killer essential foundation of bourbon iconography on the profile.

Part 2 — The Limited Edition Bourbon Ranking

10. Widow Jane The Vaults Aged 15 Years A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys — Taste 5

ABV: 49.5%

Average Price: $249

The Whiskey:

This year’s Widow Jane The Vaults takes the age statement up to 15 years. The whiskey in the bottle is a blend of Tennessee and Indiana bourbons that rested for 15 years before batching and re-filling into Chinquapin oak casks for another three months of mellowing in Widow Jane’s Red Hook warehouse.

Bottom Line:

This is pretty good but was the lightest pour of the panel. It felt more like a base for a cocktail than a sipper today.

9. Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 4

ABV: 70.45%

Average Price: $249

The Whiskey:

This year’s Cowboy Bourbon from Garrison Brothers is a blend of only 118 barrels of six-year-old Texas bourbon. 1,000 bottles of the crafty Texas whiskey will be available in mid-September at the distillery with an additional 8,600 bottles going out nationwide the first week of October.

Bottom Line:

Ah, that ABV is a lot. This presented as a hazmat whiskey and it was hard to get into the flavor profile with all of that heat. That said, this over some ice is usually magical.

8. Booker’s Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2023-03 “Mighty Fine Batch” — Taste 6

ABV: 63.3%

Average Price: $175

The Whiskey:

This new batch from the Beam team honors Beam Master Distiller Booker Noe’s old favorite phrase when a batch of bourbon worked out just right. The cask-strength batch of bourbon was pulled from prime barrels from prime spots across the Beam warehouses in Clermont, Kentucky. Once batched, the whiskey was bottled 100% as-is at barrel strength.

Bottom Line:

Again, this was so hot that sampling it neat was a lot to deal with. That said, I’ve been drinking this over a big ice cube and it’s fantastic. You know what to do.

7. Starlight Distillery Carl T. Huber’s Limited Release Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Second Oak Barrel French Oak — Taste 2

ABV: 59.8%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

This is a four-year-old Starlight bourbon that was aged in French oak casks from the jump. Then that same whiskey was refilled into new French oak casks for a final maturation before batching and bottling to help with prostrate cancer research via bottle sales this year.

Bottom Line:

This is another really good bourbon that needs a touch of water or ice to let it bloom and cool a tad.

6. Woodford Reserve Sonoma Triple Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 1

ABV: 45.2%

Average Price: $149

The Whiskey:

The latest Distillery Series from Woodford leans into the California oak. In this case, the whiskey in the bottle was made from barrels of bourbon finished in Sonoma County Pinot Noir, brandy, and red wine bourbon barrels. Those barrels were then batched and just proofed down before bottling for this special release.

Bottom Line:

Okay, now we’re into the easy-going sippers with solid depth. If you’re looking for a killer red wine pairing whiskey for a big dinner party, this is the bottle to have on hand.

5. Joseph A. Magnus Cigar Blend Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 10

ABV: 50.35%

Average Price: $194

The Whiskey:

This sourced bourbon is built from 11 and 18-year-old bourbon barrels. The real star of the show with this whiskey is that those bourbons were finished in Armagnac, Cognac, and sherry casks before vatting and bottling as-is.

Bottom Line:

This is just nice AF bourbon that’s so easy to drink while giving you a deep and fun profile. It’s not classic and sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed to change things up.

4. Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse “Camp Nelson F” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 9

ABV: 58.8%

Average Price: $300

The Whiskey:

The second release from Wild Turkey’s Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Collection moves to the Camp Nelson campus in Kentucky to highlight the terroir and aging happening in Rickhouse F. The whiskey barrels were pulled from the center cut of the warehouse — floors four and five (out of seven). Once batched, the whiskey was bottled 100% as-is.

Bottom Line:

This is another whiskey that’s just excellent. Pour it over a big ice cube and you’re good to go.

3. Maker’s Mark 2023 Limited Release BEP Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Finished With 10 Virgin Oak Staves — Taste 7

ABV: 55.35%

Average Price: $69

The Whisky:

This is the final chapter of Maker’s Mark “Wood Finish Series” before the next set starts dropping. The whiskey in the bottle is made from classic Maker’s that’s batched at barrel entry proof (BEP), which is 110-proof. Next, the whiskey is finished with ten bespoke wooden staves inside the barrel, all made from new (or “virgin”) oak. Those barrels are then batched and bottled without any proofing water.

Bottom Line:

This feels like a great digestif whiskey pour after a big holiday meal. Pour it neat or on a big rock and you’ll be set.

2. Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Series #11 — Taste 3

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 is one of the best whiskeys of the year.

1. William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Proof (BTAC 2023) — Taste 8

ABV: 66.8%

Average Price: $1,499

The Whiskey:

This is Buffalo Trace’s classic wheated bourbon. This year’s Weller BTAC was distilled back in the spring of 2011 and left to rest in warehouses C, L, M, and N for 12 long years. Those barrels were batched and this whiskey was bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

This is a hallmark bourbon. If you want to get sneaky with it, use it for a Manhattan to really take your cocktail game to the next level.

Part 3 — Final Thoughts on the Limited Edition Bourbons

Cards on the table, all of these are pretty great bourbons. They all offer something unique. Find the tasting notes that speak to you and the price that fits your budget and away you go! You’ll be in for a treat.

If you want to go all in on the best bourbons right now, anything from the top four or five are stellar choices. But as with all limited edition anything, they’re going to be hard to find and likely pretty expensive. Consider yourself warned.

Apple Music has rolled out a bunch of new features. However, nothing beats the gift of music. And now, Apple Music users can share their favorite music in new ways.

Back in June, Apple Music launched collaborative playlists, which allows two or more Apple Music users to collaborate on a playlist. However, as the feature is relatively new, some Apple Music users are still a bit fuzzy on how to create the collaborative playlists.

Not to worry. Uproxx has put together a step-by-step guide on how to create collaborative playlists between you and your music-loving friends.

First, open the Apple Music app on your phone. Secondly, go to the Library tab and select Playlists. You can then create a new playlist or open an existing one. After you’ve selected the playlist you wish to share — or created it — you can select the three-dot menu in the upper-righthand corner of the screen. From there, select To Collaborate. You can then activate the option Start Collaborating and tap Start Collaboration. According to Gear Rice, if you disable this option, anyone can join without approval.

Once ready, you can share a collaboration link with anyone from your contacts. Collaborators can then add new music to the playlist, change the sequencing, as well as the name and cover art.

It’s no secret that the MCU has found itself in a difficult place, which is predicted to reflect in the The Marvels box-office this upcoming weekend. The DCU isn’t doing splendidly either in that department, although James Gunn is striving to turn things around, and if anyone can do so, it’s the Guardians of the Galaxy maestro. Thinking about that trilogy harkens back to a simpler time, before the MCU became so complicated that it arguably began to wear out moviegoers with different timelines and a zillion references (or “homework”) that virtually required watching several TV shows before a new movie.

Don’t expect that to happen with The Boys and Gen V.

The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke discussed when The Boys Season 4 takes place, and there’s excellent news on the way for those who appreciate a straightforward approach to telling a kickass story. Long story short: he and other producers see what’s going on in some comic book universes, and they won’t go there. So, after the Gen V finale when Homelander (appropriately for him) steals the show, and we find out that Billy Butcher (in a credits scene) is aware of the Supe virus shenanigans, only a few days will pass before Season 4 begins. Via Variety:

“In our minds, it’s only a couple of days after whatever the events are of ‘Gen V.’ We try to keep the timeline super simple because all that folding-in-on-itself timeline stuff that I think other comic book universes find themselves having to do is just bewildering for me as a viewer. So it’s all very modular. It’s like there’s Season 3 of ‘The Boys,’ and then after that ‘Gen V’ takes place, and then after that ‘The Boys’ Season 4 takes place. And then after that, ‘Gen V’ Season 2 takes place. It’s all more like cars on a train than it is a plate of spaghetti.”

Spaghetti (or angel hair) rules, yes, but not so much as a cinematic narrative. And it’s wonderful to know that The Boys and Gen V viewers can look forward to continued complexity in characters while not stressing about timelines. Whew.

(Via Variety)

Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie?

The case for Halloween: Henry Selick’s stop-motion musical was originally released in October 1993. The case for Christmas: I mean, it’s right there in the title. Plus, it’s about a guy (well, a singing and dancing skeleton) who is so sick of spooky season that he gives Halloween Town a Christmas makeover.

The latest update in the Halloween vs. Christmas debate comes from the Billboard Hot 100, where the Danny Elfman-penned “This Is Halloween” charted for the first time. Billboard reports that “the song, on Walt Disney Records, debuts at No. 41 with 12.4 million streams (up 152 percent), 511,000 radio impressions (up 815 percent) and 3,000 downloads (up 58 percent) October 27-November 2.” That’s a higher chart placement than some Taylor Swift tracks on the Hot 100, including the re-recordings of “This Love” and “You Are in Love” from 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

It’s a big Halloween (not Christmas) time bump for a song that is definitely stuck in your head now. I’m sorry.

The song’s parent album The Nightmare Before Christmas jumps from No. 54 to No. 25 on the Billboard 200 with 25,000 equivalent album units (up 61 percent). The collection reached No. 22 last year, a new high. On the Soundtracks chart, the set rebounds for a fourth total week at No. 1.

So, is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie? The correct answer: it’s a good movie.

(Via Billboard)

As golf has grown in popularity over the last decade, including a big influx of players in 2020 with golf courses becoming one of the first activities to open back up, we have also seen an expansion in great golf destinations.

Despite being an individual sport, the social aspect of the game has drawn many to it and the golf travel industry stateside has seen a boom as well. From established destinations like Pinehurst and Pebble Beach to newer resorts like Bandon Dunes and Sand Valley, there are a growing number of places where you can go with a group and play golf at different courses to your heart’s content. One of the newer offerings in the golf travel world is Big Cedar Lodge. Johnny Morris’ outdoor resort near Branson (MO) has expanded significantly in the golf space over the last decade to now include three 18-hole courses and a pair of par 3 courses (with a third, Cliffhangers, being built currently).

In October, I got invited out to Big Cedar Lodge as part of a media trip with a pair of other writers to play all five courses and get a feel for what they’ve built as a golf destination with a tour of the new course under construction and play all five of their current ones. I love golf and it’s served as my escape for two decades now, but I’ve only ever done one real golf trip, when a friend and I drove from New Jersey to Pinehurst after covering the 2016 PGA at Baltusrol, playing six courses along the way. As such, I was interested to see what Big Cedar was like and play golf in an area of the country I’d never ventured to before.

What makes Big Cedar Lodge work as a golf destination is that its courses are all very different, both in how they look and how they play. Now, those differences also mean not every golfer will feel the same way about each course. Here, I’m going to give you my perspective as someone in his early 30s who has spent his life playing mostly public courses, is a 2.7 handicap, and needed my massage gun to keep the back loose throughout the trip because it was the most golf I’d played in a single week in at least two years — Pro Tip: Don’t be too proud to bring the Hyperice/Theragun with you. It’s a lot of golf.

Here, we’ll look at mapping out what courses to play and when. To start, here is the schedule we had for playing all five courses in four days, with an 11 a.m. arrival in Springfield on Monday and a 5 p.m. departure on Thursday.

Monday: Ozarks National (1:30 p.m.)
Tuesday: Top of the Rock (9:00 a.m.)
Wednesday: Payne’s Valley (9:00 a.m.); Mountain Top (3:30 p.m.)
Thursday: Buffalo Ridge (8:10 a.m.)

That schedule spaced out the rounds pretty nicely (which my back appreciated), and logistically it worked very well by keeping us from trying to make long pilgrimages from one course to another. We did have to push our tee time on the first day back a touch with some late arrivals, so that’s definitely something to be mindful of, but otherwise we weren’t ever pressed for time.

Now, you might not be worried about playing all five courses but still want to know a bit more about each of the courses to make your selection. Below you’ll find my thoughts on each course, as well as the price during peak season (April 17 – October 29), to help you figure out which courses fit what matters most to you as a golfer. While part of what makes Big Cedar a really good golf destination is the courses all play differently and have very distinct styles if you know there are certain course styles you’re not a fan of or ones you really love, it might help you figure out if you want to double up on one and skip another.

Ozarks National ($225 resort guest/$250 public)

This will likely be the favorite course of those who are really into golf course architecture, as the Coore & Crenshaw design presents the most challenges of the three tee-to-green. It is the course where you have to be really intentional in thinking your way around the most, with tricky sight lines, blind tee shots, fairways that run out into native areas and off the sides of the mountain, and plenty of well-placed bunkers — of all the courses, this is the one that I’d suggest getting a caddie for some course knowledge that goes beyond the cart GPS system. All of those challenges also make it the lowest rated by the public, as it is the most rustic of the Big Cedar courses (while still being in terrific shape) and is the one that brings big numbers into play most often (especially if the wind picks up) that can leave you very frustrated. I felt it was the most difficult of the courses (I shot an 80) because of how challenging it was off of the tee, but it’s also the one that I would be most excited to get another crack at.

Once you’ve played it, you’ll know where to go and where not to and will have at least a handful of shots you’ll want to have back with a different club in your hand. There are some great risk-reward holes and scoring opportunities if you can get the ball in the fairways, but also plenty of big numbers lurking and the gnarliest rough on the property thanks to fluffy Bermuda that engulfs golf balls. If you were going to double up on a course on a Big Cedar trip, I’d suggest Ozarks because you will be left thinking about what could’ve been. That’s part of why I think it should be the site of your first 18-hole tee time, with the other reason being once you’ve navigated around Ozarks, even if it’s not your cup of tea, the other courses will feel much friendlier.

Payne’s Valley ($350/$450)

The signature course at Big Cedar is Tiger Woods’ only public course on his (still young) design resume. It is an unmissable drive-in, with the massive green fairways running through the valley, making for a rather stunning view from the road up above. Payne’s is the public’s choice and for good reason. It is in unbelievable shape, as Tiger took a cue from Augusta National with perfectly manicured grass all over the course (there is no rough at Payne’s Valley, only various cut heights), as the Big Cedar agronomy team works wonders on the zoysia running tee to green. The fairways at Payne’s are very generous, and you are rarely having to use your imagination with where to go off of the tee. The challenge comes on the green complexes that feature large ridges dividing sections of the green, tons of sloping and big breaking putts, and gigantic bunkers framing almost every green to swallow up misses. However, the grass around the greens is so perfect you’re never left with a bad lie, and if you have the hands for it, you can create the spin to get up and down from pretty much anywhere.

The back nine is the stronger of the nines at Payne’s, as the front is fairly straightforward and didn’t make me feel like I had to plot my way around too much. The back had more character, in part because it brings you back up the hill (and for me, back into the wind as well) and presents more challenges off the tee while still giving you generous landing areas. Low scores are very possible if you’re ball-striking is on point and you take advantage of the pristine turf around the greens with your short game. I had my best round of the week at Payne’s (74) and, as is the refrain from all golfers, I think it probably should’ve been better if I hadn’t botched the three short par-4s and had a few putts drop in that burned edges.

For those that play top courses regularly, Payne’s Valley probably won’t be the favorite because a good bit of its value comes from the condition it is in. I talked to a friend who falls into that category who felt it was “overdone” and I could see how that would be the case because it is a lot and at times feels like it’s trying to be Augusta Light. However, for the majority of the public (including me), this will be the best-maintained golf course they will play all year and it really is a treat. I’m not a huge course architecture person so I’m not going to try and argue anyone’s points against it, but I did think the back 9 was pretty strong in presenting challenges that could still be overcome by good shots, which is all I really ask of a course. Beyond all that, even if the design isn’t your favorite, sometimes it’s just really fun to play a course that doesn’t have a single misplaced blade of grass, especially if that’s not available to you at home.

If you were making a return trip to Big Cedar, I could absolutely see leaving this off the itinerary once you’ve done it because it is the priciest of the courses and I wouldn’t begrudge anyone for preferring to double up Ozarks or Buffalo Ridge. That said, it is a stunning course visually and it’s a joy to hit off of perfect grass for every shot, so if you don’t get that type of experience often, it’s worth the price of admission.

Buffalo Ridge ($200/$225)

The oldest 18-hole course on the property is Buffalo Ridge, which Tom Fazio redesigned once it got purchased by Big Cedar, and it is aptly named as there are multiple spots where you might encounter some buffalo roaming or eating on the other side of the electric fence.

The front side is the more open of the two, almost easing you into the round (aside from a pretty tight driving window on the second) before putting your nerves and confidence off the tee to the test on the back. It’s not crazy tight, as the fairways are still plenty big, but the penalties for missing those fairways get much stiffer once you hit the back, with more trees and creeks lining the fairways as you wind through the hillside. It has the visuals you expect from a Fazio design, with cascading water features running along the fairway of various holes like the signature 15th hole, and it’s a really fun course to play.

The front is certainly where you want to get most of your scoring done, as the back nine is both tighter and longer. That said, I thought the back was the most fun, even as I found myself scrambling a lot just to get looks at par and bogey (I went 35-42 to limp home with a 77). There aren’t any blind shots, but it does force you to be more intentional with your tee shots and approaches, as there’s more movement from tee to green. The 18th is a particularly strong closing par 5, presenting an awkward, demanding tee shot in the form of a dogleg left with bunkers lining the left edge (left of that being a sharp dropoff) and trees and rocks all down the right.

Mountain Top ($80/$95)

Of the two par 3 courses currently open at Big Cedar, Gary Player’s Mountain Top was probably my favorite, especially factoring in the price. The 13-hole, walking-only course is totally exposed up on top of the mountain (hence the name) and it’s a really fun challenge when the wind gets blowing. We played in the afternoon after Payne’s Valley (they share a clubhouse) and by the time we got out the wind was steady at 15-20 with gusts near 40, and when that’s happening, the course demands great ball-striking and full commitment from each swing. The views of the Ozarks off in the distance make for a tremendous backdrop as you try desperately to figure out how far each hole is really playing with the wind and elevation changes.

Top of the Rock ($135/$150)

The first course built on the Big Cedar property is Jack Nicklaus’ Top of the Rock, which initially opened in 1998, closed for a while after a fire destroyed the clubhouse, and reopened in 2014 after a total redesign. The 9-hole par 3 features some absolutely gorgeous vistas with the lake in the background and a couple of wild elevation changes. It, like all of the courses, is in terrific shape and will make you hit six or seven different irons and wedges throughout the round — which is a must to avoid being stale as a par 3. The reason this would be the one I would skip if I wasn’t looking to do all five has little to do with the course itself (the view from the 9th tee is maybe the best on the entire property).

It is the only course not in the same area as the other courses, as it’s over by the main property, and it also is pretty pricey for a 9-hole par 3. That said, if you’re going to be over at the main property or Top of the Rock for something else, it is a gorgeous course with some outrageous slopes on the greens that can make for quite the challenge, even if the greens themselves are pretty generous in size.

How you plan your trip really depends on what you want to get out of it — and also how much other stuff you want to do at Big Cedar. One of the things that makes it different from other golf destinations is the alternative activities beyond just golf, but it’s also easy to make it all about golf. We’ll keep it to what the best four-day, three-night trip looks like (like the one I did) that is focused solely on playing golf in two different forms.

Some of this will depend on where you’re staying, as the Payne’s Valley cottages allow easy access (you can walk up the road) to Payne’s Valley, Mountain Top, and Ozarks National, while being a short drive to Buffalo Ridge. If you’re at the main property, you’ll have more of a drive to each course.

The “Hit Every Course” Trip

Day 1: Top of the Rock PM
Day 2: Ozarks National AM, Buffalo Ridge PM
Day 3: Payne’s Valley AM, Mountain Top PM
Day 4: Ozarks National AM

This gets you to all five courses, only asks you to play 36 holes in a day once, and lets you double up Ozarks — which is the one I’d definitely want two cracks at in one trip. Playing Top of the Rock would be a nice way to ease in off the plane and you can snag a little bit of a later tee time to avoid a rush from the plane to the course, although, you might want a breakfast ball off the first with no range at Top of the Rock. The Payne’s/Mountain Top back-to-back is particularly easy to do since they share a clubhouse, while the Ozarks/Buffalo back-to-back gets your 36-hole day out of the way on the first full day.

The “36 Every Day” Trip

Day 1: Ozarks National PM
Day 2: Payne’s Valley AM, Buffalo Ridge PM
Day 3: Ozarks National AM, Payne’s Valley PM
Day 4: Buffalo Ridge AM

Some groups aren’t about that par 3 lifestyle and just want to play as much 18-hole golf as possible. I can respect that, even if I don’t think my body would hold up. If you’re doing that, I’d go with this rotation that gets you to all three courses twice, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, allowing you to see the courses in, quite literally, a different light each time. I personally think starting with Ozarks is the best way to go at Big Cedar, because it presents the biggest challenges straight out of the gate, but I felt it focused my game and made me much more prepared and comfortable going to the rest of the property.

I will say, one of the biggest selling points for sticking to the 18-hole courses only at Big Cedar would be maximizing your opportunities to get the free bison dogs at the turn houses. They are delicious.

Beyond “get as many bison dogs as possible,” I do also want to provide some general tips for planning your golf trip with an understanding of the specific challenges that present themselves at Big Cedar. For one, book your rounds early if you’re staying on the property. Resort guests get first crack at tee times and can book months in advance, while non-resort golfers can book 30 days out for every course other than Payne’s Valley, which opens the tee sheet to the public 14 days in advance. As such, it’s vital to make golf plans first, get those tee times locked in, and then plan the rest of your visit around those — the easiest course to get on late is the Mountain Top par 3, if you have a sudden window of time free and want more golf.

The second thing is to be mindful of transportation. You are likely going to fly into Springfield unless you can afford to fly private or are flying from one of the few destinations that go to the Branson airport. If you are renting a car, be prepared for a fairly long line when you get in — especially at the Enterprise desk — and budget a little extra time for that on top of the hour-long drive before booking a round on your arrival date. You also could get a car service from the airport to the resort and then navigate via shuttles once there, but if you do that, you will want to make sure you’re on top of things. The shuttle system is solid if you build in time for it, but sometimes they’re light on shuttles and it might take 30 minutes to get one. They do have a shuttle app that you can check for how long it’d take to get one, but you do need to be aware that it won’t always be immediate and you’ll need to plan ahead to not have any issues with tee times.

The last thing is for those who are shipping clubs out there rather than flying with them, you’ll want to specify what course you’re playing first to ensure your clubs are at the right place for your first round. Ozarks National, Payne’s Valley, and Mountain Top share a cart tent, but Buffalo Ridge and Top of the Rock do not, and if the clubs aren’t going to be with you, you’ll need to make sure they have your name, the group name (aka, the person booking the rounds), and the course you’re starting at. From there, they do a great job getting clubs from course to course for you if you’d like, but the initial “where to ship” is something to be mindful of.

Overall, I thought Big Cedar presented a great golf experience across the five courses, with each presenting a different look and feel. I also know that my enjoyment of the courses was enhanced by finding my best form of the year, but I don’t think that was just a coincidence. Golf has always been a 2-4 hour escape from the real world for me, but having four days to be immersed in your game, particularly when playing on perfectly manicured courses, can do wonders. Big Cedar has a little something for every kind of golfer, and hopefully my experience can help you plan your own golf trip to the Ozarks.

Uproxx was invited on a hosted trip to Big Cedar Lodge for reporting on this piece. You can find out more about our policy on press trips/hostings here.

The Miami Heat picked up a 108-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night in a tense, back-and-forth game that saw a wide open Cam Reddish three at the buzzer rim out after he received a pass from LeBron James.

James has, rather famously, always been willing to make the right read and right pass to teammates for better or worse throughout his career. For years, he got ripped for doing that in his first stint in Cleveland, as people questioned whether he had the “clutch gene” and if he deferred too much, often comparing him to Kobe Bryant who always hunted for the last shot (to varying results). However, there is one moment in James’ career where he was never going to pass the ball, and that was last year against the Thunder in L.A. when he was set to break the NBA’s all-time scoring record.

On James’ record-breaking shot, the photos from the opposite baseline (like the one above) show Thomas Bryant sealing off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander under the rim and calling for the ball as James rises up to set the NBA scoring record. Given the situation, it’s extremely funny to see Bryant calling for the ball, and as he got set to face the Lakers on Monday with his new team in Miami, the Heat broadcast asked him to walk them through why he was calling for the ball in that moment and he had a reasonably (but still funny) explanation.

Bryant was just trying to do what LeBron always asked him to do in that situation, which is duck in, get a seal, and get ready for a pass when he got a mismatch. The problem was, Bryant did his math wrong and thought LeBron was still six points from the record, not two, so there he is, calling for the ball in a landmark moment in NBA history and wondering why everyone has their phones out.

Just a few days before its release, the final trailer for The Marvels has arrived with a surprisingly different and game-changing look at the Captain Marvel sequel. More notably, the film drops another X-Men tease that heavily suggests the mighty mutants could make an appearance.

While previous trailers played up the more comedic elements of The Marvels and made it seem like the trio of Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau/Photon, and Ms. Marvel would have to team up to stop a generic alien invasion as their powers go haywire, the final trailer adds a whole new epic twist.

After strangely invoking Thanos, the trailer reveals that Zawe Ashton’s Dar-Benn is tearing a hole in time and space, causing another reality to bleed into the MCU thus continuing the ongoing Multiverse Saga. Marvel fans are heavily speculating that reality is the universe containing the live-action version of the X-Men from the Fox films.

That speculation kicked into overdrive with a random promo from last week that leaned into the letter X. With the final trailer, the X-Men logo can be clearly spotted in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment.

You can see a screengrab below:

The moment occurs as Teyonah Parris’ Monica watches a mysterious costumed figure walk by as Nick Fury warns “They’re here.” While some Marvel fans think the figure is Halle Berry’s Storm, the character is most likely Binary.

In the comics, Binary is an extremely powerful energy-based version of Captain Marvel with a strong connection to, you guessed it, the X-Men. Carol operated under the name while helping out the mutants during a mission in space.

Whether Binary in The Marvels will be an alternate reality version of Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers or someone else entirely, remains to be seen. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness already introduced a Captain Marvel that was Monica’s mother Maria, so anything is on the table.

The Marvels changes everything on November 10.

Tierra Whack has another hit on her hands. Today (November 7), the Philly rapper has shared her new single and video for “Chanel Pit.”

The song is a dedication to Whack‘s fans, who have gone hard for her over the years. She alludes to the mosh pits at her shows in the song’s chorus, as she sings “mosh pit smell like Chanel / Yes, Microsoft, I’ma Excel / nine, ten, eleven, f*ck 12,”

Whack is specifically alluding to the Chanel Gabrielle fragrance, which she has been wearing for years. In an interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, Whack said the perfume has become her “signature scent.”

“I think I was at an event, a show, a concert or something, and [my friend] pulled up and he said he knew that I was there because he knows my scent,” said Whack. “I don’t know if it was an Earl Sweatshirt concert or something. It was something. But everybody’s like, moshing going crazy. And he was like, I was walking, he was like, ‘I smell Whack. She’s here.’ Then he made his way backstage and he found me, and he was like, ‘Yo.’ That always just stuck in my head.”

In the song’s accompanying music video, Whack is seen rapping, as she rotates through an automatic car wash, setting the stage for a new era.

Elsewhere in her aforementioned interview, Whack revealed that her new album will arrive early next year.

“I promise. It’s done. It’s finished,” said Whack. “We’re just making it all make sense, putting the pieces together, and we’re giving it to you.”

You can see the video for “Chanel Pit” above.

Stock photos of any job are usually delightful cringey. Sure, sometimes they sort of get the essence of a job, but a lot of the time the interpretation is downright cartoonish. One glance and it becomes abundantly clear that for some careers, we have no freakin’ clue what it is that people do.

Dr. Kit Chapman, an award-winning science journalist and academic at Falmouth University in the U.K., recently held an impromptu contest on Twitter where viewers could vote on which photos were the best of the worst when it came to jobs in scientific fields.

According to Chapman’s entries, a day in the life of a scientist includes poking syringes into chickens, wearing a lab coat (unless you’re a “sexy” scientist, then you wear lingerie) and holding vials of colored liquid. Lots and lots of vials.

Of course, where each image is 100% inaccurate, they are 100% giggle inducing. Take a look below at some of the contenders.

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Chapman’s unofficial photo competition received nearly 500,000 votes cast throughout four rounds. The grand prize winner was a photo of a female scientist holding a soldering iron (very much not in the right way) as she is “working” on some kind of electrical board.

It’s titled, “Hold My Soldering Iron.”

Time to vote for the worst science stock photos ever!

1. Hold My Soldering Iron. pic.twitter.com/fc76jz8Bs4

— Dr Kit Chapman (@ChemistryKit) October 12, 2022

“I mean there’s the obvious thing that she’ll burn her hand, but nobody ever talks about how she’s ‘soldering’ the wrong side of the board,” one person quipped.

Of course, “Talk to Us, Dr. Chicken” was also popular.

2. Talk To Us, Dr Chicken. pic.twitter.com/IMh0LsmGcg

— Dr Kit Chapman (@ChemistryKit) October 12, 2022

Clearly using the scientific method to figure out why exactly Dr. Chicken crossed the road.

But not as popular as “Syringe Chicken,” where, for some reason, a scientist covered in a mask and safety goggles inspects a raw, syringe-filled chicken with his teeny tiny magnifying glass. For science!

2. I, too, store half-used syringes inside an uncooked chicken. pic.twitter.com/noEBQKqbO3

— Dr Kit Chapman (@ChemistryKit) October 12, 2022

This one was the winner of the second-to-last batch.

Ever wonder where space is? Don’t worry, leave it to the professionals to point the way.

3. TO SPACE!!!! pic.twitter.com/ae1XzzQSKE

— Dr Kit Chapman (@ChemistryKit) October 12, 2022

“To space!” Chapman captioned.

Speaking of professionals, everyone dresses for research this way, right?

3. Science: It’s a Girl Thing. pic.twitter.com/ogIOrKHWe1

— Dr Kit Chapman (@ChemistryKit) October 12, 2022

Chapman titled this “Science: It’s a Girl Thing.”

People were quick to chime in with their own contributions, including:

“Woman Brain Surgeon”

My personal favorite https://t.co/MPbQCO5qSF

— MAJ Moe MD 🏝 (@donaldmoe) October 13, 2022

Otherwise known as a jello mechanic.

And some kind of … corn scientist? From the future?

I think you’re missing the best of them all pic.twitter.com/MBgEO4fByk

— autoproclamada generala da URSAL (@generaladaursal) October 12, 2022

Why does this seem like it belongs in an Annie Lennox music video?

As well as a group of scientists that belong in a Marvel movie for their ability to manipulate atoms.

Do not forget manipulating atoms by handhttps://t.co/FTRzyUJp7m

— Katie 🎃Boo👻-mah (@nuclearkatie) October 12, 2022

While these are certainly not an accurate depiction of the vast and wondrous world of scientific research, it did cause many a scientist to share a giggle. So no harm, no foul. Not even to chickens.

This article originally appeared on 10.27.22

Kids, man. I’m not sure of the scientific way audacity is distributed, but kids have a lot of it and somehow make it cute. That audacity overload is especially interesting when you’re the default parent—you know, the parent kids go to for literally everything as if there’s not another fully capable adult in the house. Chances are if your children haven’t sought you out while you were taking a shower so you could open up a pack of fruit snacks, then you’re not the default parental unit.

One parent captured exactly what it’s like to be the default parent and shared it to TikTok, where the video has over 4 million views. Toniann Marchese went on a quick grocery run and *gasp* did not inform her children. Don’t you fret, they’re modern kids who know how to use modern means to get much-needed answers when mom is nowhere to be found. They went outside and rang the doorbell.

Back when we were children, this would’ve done nothing but make the dogs bark, but for Marchese’s kids, who are 3 and 6 years old, it’s as good as a phone call.

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You may be questioning why this mom left her two young children home alone. She didn’t. Their father was home, likely wondering why the children were playing so quietly. But. He. Was. Right. There. And the kids still bypassed him to talk to their mom through the Ring doorbell camera. It was pressing business, after all.

“My tablet is dead,” the 3-year-old said.

The kids ignored Marchese’s questions about where their dad was and continued to complain about their tablets. The entire situation is enough to make any default parent chuckle and maybe sob a little.

Watch the urgent doorbell call below:

@tinyann22

Moms can never get a minute of peace lol #momsoftiktok #momlife #ring #camera #kidsoftiktok

And if you’re skeptical that dad was within shouting distance, the mom of two uploaded a part two where dad comes into the frame.

@tinyann22

Replying to @iustmerlp part 2… daddy was found! Lol #kidsoftiktok #momsoftiktok #parentsoftiktok #fyp #ring #prioritiesfirst

This article originally appeared on 3.22.23