Have kids, they said. It’ll be great, they said. Well, one dad may have a bone to pick with those mysterious “they,” in that colloquial saying. A man running the Instagram account Havea_676, posted a video that has parents on the internet not only laughing at his tender moment turned embarrassing, but sharing their own savage kid moments.
The dad was having a sweet moment with his daughter asking her about her day and what she was excited about for the next day before tucking her into bed. Things appeared to be going well and his daughter who is off camera can be heard answering all of the questions. But at some point during the father daughter moment, the little girl was over the many questions the man was asking.
“Daddy, can you please stop with your questions, I’m trying to sleep and also your breath stinks,” the litter girl reveals.
Yikes. Dad didn’t have much to say after that bombshell. He simply readjusts so his mouth isn’t pointing in her direction and says, “goodnight, I love you.” There went that sweet moment being caught on video but after uploading the unexpected roast session, the dad was joined by fellow parents commiserating.
“Kids are brutally honest with no filter. I was helping my daughter button her shirt one morning and I asked her if she brushed her teeth. She said yes… then there was an awkward pause before she frowned and said ‘did you? Cuz it don’t smell like it’ Needless to say I don’t help the lil heffa get dressed for school anymore lol,” one mom says.
“Kids know how to cut deep with one slice!! Haha,” someone else writes.
“I came home yesterday and asked my daughter if she missed me…She said NO with her whole chest,” another commenter reveals.
Kids are just brutally honest until they get a bit older to realize there are gentler ways to deliver news. But if this dad learned one thing from his lengthy conversation, it’s to brush your teeth before goodnight chats so you don’t melt your kid’s face off.
Some songs remain profoundly moving no matter how they are reimagined. “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” though of course nobody sings it quite like Judy Garland, arguably could be considered one of those songs.
Several artists have indeed put their own wonderful spin on the tune over the years—Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, to name a few.
And now, we can add singer Loren Allred to that impressive list.
Even if you’ve never heard of Allred, you probably have heard her. Most notably, she was the voice of “Never Enough” on the Oscar-nominated and Grammy award-winning “The Greatest Showman.” She also sang with Michael Bublé on “Help Me Make it Through the Night” for his 2019 Love album. Heck, if you’ve been to Disneyland California Adventures to see the World of Color show, you’ve heard her.
Allred recently performed the classic ballad on “America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League.” And while she honored the original’s sort of dreamy whimsy at the beginning with soft, angelic breathiness, Allred vocally soared over the rainbow with some powerful high notes.
But rest assured—though Allred’s rendition had more of a pop belt to it, it was every bit as magic as the original (and other covers).
As one person in the Youtube wrote, “Loren’s rendition is a beautiful combination of some of the most memorable renditions such as Israel kamakawiwo’ole, Leona Lewis,, Katharine McPhee and of course the original by Judy Garland.”
Another added, “When I first saw it was Over The Rainbow, I said uh oh. Everybody knows this song (good) but everybody has sung it (bad). But you just took it to another level as you changed it to a singing lesson.”
Even judge Simon Cowel called it a “masterclass,” while Heidi Klum said “it gave us all the feels.”
“Somewhere Over The Rainbow” might have all the initial ingredients to tell a universally moving story, but it takes a master storyteller to really bring that story to life. Kudos to Allred for making that happen.
Everyone loves Meryl Streep and everyone (or almost everyone) loves Martin Short. The two finally got to work together when she joined the third season of Only Murders in the Building. But to some they didn’t seem like they were just colleagues. Could they, these people opined, be dating? The answer is no, with Short himself trying to put the rumor out of its misery.
“We’re not a couple, we are just very close friends,” Short said during a recent appearance on Club Random with Bill Maher, per People.
Maher then joked that maybe getting together is a good idea.
“Well, you should because there’s nothing more powerful in Hollywood than a power couple,” Maher told him. “It worked for Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, it worked for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.”
The Strep-Short dating rumors popped up earlier this month after the two were spotted looking awfully friendly together at the Golden Globes. Rumors quickly spread, a rep for Short shot them down, saying the pair are “just very good friends, nothing more.”
On Murders in the Building, Streep played Loretta Durkin, a long-aspiring Broadway actress who finally nabbed the role of a lifetime. She even sings a song, which was released on Spotify.
We’ve spoken in detail about the ridiculous number of breweries in the United States. We’ll never come close to trying all of the craft beers made here. And that’s not just because there are over 9,000 breweries currently operating, it’s also because we’re spending a lot of time drinking beer from other countries—namely Germany.
We don’t just stick to one beer style when we drink German, either. We love Kolsch-style beers, weissbiers, doppelbocks, pilsners, helles lagers, rauchbiers and everything else the nation has to offer. Why not drink the beers that countless American brewers have attempted to emulate since this country was founded?
Lucky for us, there are many amazing German beers available at most grocers and beer stores. We found eight of our favorites and ranked them on overall flavor and balance. Keep reading to see if your favorite beer made the list!
Founded in 1894, to say that Cologne, Germany’s Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf has been brewing for a while is a bit of an understatement. Its popular Kolsch is top fermented and matured for weeks before being sold. The result is a crisp, dry, lightly fruity, highly refreshing beer.
Tasting Notes:
Classic Kolsch aromas of grassy hops, hay, honey, bready malts, citrus peels, and cereal grains greet your nose before your first sip. The palate has a ton of lemon zest, freshly-baked bread, barley, hay, honey, and earthy, floral hops. The finish is crisp, dry, and memorable.
Bottom Line:
If you’ve never had a German Kolsch before (specifically Reissdorf Kolsch), what are you waiting for? It’s dryer and less fruity than the American version and much more satisfying.
This highly popular helles lager is made following the Germany Purity Laws, the Reinheitsgebot, which says beer can only be brewed with malt, hops, water, and yeast. The result is a light, flavorful lager that’s sure to quench your thirst any time of year.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you’ll find barley, cereal grains, lemon peels, cracker-like malts, and floral, Noble hops. Drinking it reveals an extremely balanced beer with a ton of bready, caramel malt up front followed by lemon peels, honey, and herbal, floral, lightly bitter hops at the finish.
Bottom Line:
This is as classic as German helles lagers get. It’s light, yet completely balanced and complex. A must-try beer.
Also referred to as the “Original”, this iconic wheat beer is brewed using Georg I. Schneider’s original recipe from 1872. Brewed with Hallertauer Tradition, Hallertauer Herkules hops as well as wheat malt and barley malt, it’s known for its classic wheat beer aromas and flavors.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is freshly baked bread, cereal grains, wheat, orchard fruits, bananas, cloves, and floral hops. The palate is centered on sweet wheat, yeasty bread, wintry spices, ripe bananas, and floral, herbal, noble hops. The finish is crisp, dry, and lightly sweet.
Bottom Line:
Germany knows its wheat beers and Schneider Weisse Hefeweizen is one of the best. Add this to your wheat beer bucket list.
Often referred to as the “father of all strong beer”, Paulaner Salvator is a doppelbock that’s been brewed the same way for more than 375 years. This 7.9% banger is brewed with Pilsner malt and Munich malt and gets its hop presence from the addition of Herkules and Hallertau Tradition hops.
Tasting Notes:
Complex aromas of bready malts, caramel, honey, raisins, and dates are found on the nose. The palate is loaded with freshly baked bread, caramel malts, cereal grains, raisins and other dried fruits, light spices, and a nice kick of floral, herbal hops. The finish is dry, sweet, and leaves you wanting more.
Bottom Line:
This is a big, bold beer for fans of dried fruits, caramel, and other rich, boozy flavors. This is a warming beer for the coldest days of the year.
When it comes to rauchbiers, there aren’t any more well-known than Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen. German for “smoke beer”, this popular beer gets its unique, campfire flavor from the use of barley malts that are kilned over beechwood fire.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is dominated (in the best way possible) by smoke. Behind it is caramel malts, dried fruits, wintry spices, and freshly baked bread. The palate continues this trend with notes of caramel candy, freshly baked bread, dried fruits, roasted malts, and a ton of smoked bacon, campfire smoke.
Bottom Line:
If you’ve never tried a raucbier, make it Aecht Schlenkerla. It’s a smoky, memorable experience that’s definitely worth having.
Weihenstephaner takes great pride in the fact that it’s the world’s oldest continuously operating brewery with a genesis in 1040. One of its most well-known beers is its Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier. This classic German wheat beer is known for its cloudy appearance and full flavor.
Tasting Notes:
It all begins with a nose of cloves, bananas, and sweet wheat. The palate continues this pleasant trend with flavors of wheat, bananas, cloves, bubblegum, yeasty bread, and light, floral, spicy hops to tie it all together nicely at the finish.
Bottom Line:
There’s a reason this is one of the most popular wheat beers in the world. It’s as close to perfect as a wheat beer gets.
You don’t need a party to try this award-winning, bottom-fermented dark doppelbock. Although, when you crack one open, it’ll feel a celebration thanks to the rich caramel and coffee sweetness. It’s a great choice for cold weather, but tastes great any time of year.
Tasting Notes:
A nose of caramel malts, dark dried fruits, cherries, coffee, and rich chocolate greet you before your first sip. On the palate, you’ll find molasses candy, caramel malt, coffee beans, dried cherries, chocolate, and light spices. It’s rich, indulgent, and highly flavorful.
Bottom Line:
For a beer this spectacular to be available all over the country is pretty special. If you see it, grab it. You’ll be really happy you did.
Who doesn’t love a classic German pilsner, right? In a country filled with iconic pilsners, Rothaus Tannenzäpfle is one of the best. Brewed since 1965, it gets its floral aroma and flavor from the addition of Tettnang and Hallertau hops. It’s malty, crisp, and extremely well balanced.
Tasting Notes:
Before drinking, you’ll be met with aromas of freshly baked bread, cracker malts, honey, citrus, and floral, earthy, Noble hops. Sipping it brings you flavors like cracker malts, toffee, bread, grass, hay, light citrus, and a ton of floral, Noble hops. It’s crisp, thirst-quenching, and ends with lightly spicy, floral hops.
Bottom Line:
If you enjoy the classic aromas and flavors of a well-made, balanced pilsner, you must try Rothaus Tannenzäpfle. If you only try onw beer on this list, make it this one.
Thanks to A Boogie’s latest announcement across his respective social media pages, supporters know his time on the stage is far from over. On January 29, A Boogie unveiled his massive 39-date tour schedule. Beginning in April, A Boogie’s Better Off Alone Tour will kick off in New Zealand. This go around the globe NLE Choppa, Luh Tyler, Dess Dior, Fridayy, and Byron Messia will serve as special guests on select dates.
A Boogie’s artist presale for his Better Off Alone Tour will launch on Tuesday, February 6. Mastercard holders will gain access to the presale on Wednesday, February 7. The public on-sale date is listed as Friday, February 9. Find more information here. View the full tour schedule below.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s ‘Better Off Alone Tour’ dates
04/10 — Auckland, NZ @ Spark Arena
04/12 — Melbourne, AU @ John Cain Arena
04/14 — Brisbane, AU @ Riverstage
04/16 — Sydney, AU @ Hordern Pavilion
04/23 — Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
04/24 — Cologne, DE @ Palladium
04/28 — Paris, FR @ Zenith
05/01 — Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live#%
05/02 — London, UK @ The O2#%
05/05 — Birmingham, UK @ Utilita Arena#%
05/18 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena^@&%
05/20 — Portland, OR @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum^@&%
05/22 — Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord^@&%
05/23 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum^@&%
05/24 — Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre^@&%
05/26 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre*@&%
05/29 — Somerset, WI @ Somerset Amphitheater^@&%
06/01 — Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory^@&%
06/02 — Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman^@&%
06/04 — Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s Place^@&%
06/05 — West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre^@&%
06/06 — Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater at the FL State Fairgrounds^@&%
06/08 — Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre^@&%
06/09 — Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion^@&%
06/11 — Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater^@&%
06/12 — Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live^@&%
06/14 — Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre^@&%
06/16 — Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre^@&%
06/18 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center@&%
06/20 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden^@&%
06/22 — Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre^@&%
06/24 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden^@&%
09/10 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena%
09/11 — London, ON @ Budweiser Gardens%
09/12 — Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre%
09/15 — Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre%
09/17 — Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome%
09/18 — Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place%
09/20 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena%
^ with NLE Choppa, @ with Luh Tyler, & with Dess Dior, # with Fridayy, and % with Byron Messia
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s ‘Better Off Alone Tour’ poster
Atlantic
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
To that end, I’m calling out 20 bottles of bourbon that you 100% should buy, try, and add to your rotation. Yes, 20. The best part is that we’re at the beginning of the year and some seriously hard-to-find bottles are hitting shelves right now (I’ll get to that below,scroll to the top five).
These bottles are ranked, as the title promises. While all of them are fire, some are just deeper, tastier, and more iconic. That also means that some of these might be harder to find depending on where you live in the U.S. For context, the prices below are linked to Total Wine in Louisville, Kentucky.
Let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This new(ish) KY bottler is sourcing some serious Kentucky bourbon barrels. This small batch is made from a mash of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. That whiskey is left to age for five years and 10 months before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Buttery berry crumble with a scoop of vanilla ice cream dominates the nose with a hint of cinnamon toast and freshly cracked black pepper.
Palate: That creamy vanilla dries the palate toward spiced oak with cinnamon bark, clove, and allspice next to woody berries and a hint of tobacco warmth.
Finish: That spiced oak drives the finish with a hint of blackberry and vanilla tobacco packed into an old cedar box.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bottle to grab for mixing up some serious fruity-forward bourbon cocktails. It also works as a nice summer sipper over some ice thanks to the light berry profile with a deep classic bourbon foundation.
19. Rieger’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond
This small craft whiskey from Kansas City, Missouri is made with a mash of 56% corn, 30% rye, and 14% malted barley. The whiskey was left to age for six years before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is old and leathery with a good layer of salted caramel over pecan waffles with buttercream and cinnamon syrup next to a hint of black peppercorn and woody orchards.
Palate: Maple syrup attaches to the pecan waffles with a sense of Christmas nut cake, dried cranberry, and vanilla cream with a touch of winter spice barks and burnt orange.
Finish: The end has a classic warmth derived from spiced wood notes next to a hint of winter cake tobacco with plenty of dark and spicy syrup and buttery caramel.
Bottom Line:
Reiger’s is helping put Missouri on the map for great bourbon (more on that below too). This is just good bourbon, folks. I tend to lean more toward classic whiskey cocktails with this one, but you can sip in over ice without hesitation.
18. Barrell Foundation Bourbon Aged 5 Years A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys
Barrell Craft Spirits have cornered the market on cask-strength single barrels and batched blends of bourbon, rye, and American whiskey. Now, they’re finally releasing a non-cask-strength bourbon for the masses. This whiskey is a batch of bourbons from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Maryland that is proofed down to 100-proof.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Candied cherries and cranberry sauce drive the nose toward hints of dark chocolate, brown butter, and cardamon cake.
Palate: Pecan waffles dripping with brown butter and maple syrup lead on the palate with a sense of rye fennel and anise notes next to lemon poppyseed cake, a note of cinnamon cookie, and maybe a touch of eggnog-spiked lattes.
Finish: That creaminess leads back to the rich vanilla and woody spice barks with a sense of toffee rolled in roasted almond and dipped in salted dark chocolate before a rich pipe tobacco rolled with old saddle leather arrives.
Bottom Line:
Barrell Craft Spirits has finally made a blend for the masses and it’s a homerun. Overall, you’ll want to focus on refined whiskey cocktails with big rye vibes — so Manhattans, Sazeracs, boulevardiers, etc.
17. Heaven’s Door Revival Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This new re-design of Heaven’s Door Tennessee Bourbon is a minimum of six years old. Those barrels are left in single-story rickhouses in Tennessee where cool air dominates and you never get the extremely high temps of crow’s nests on high floors. Once just right, the barrels are batched, the whiskey is proofed, and the bourbon is bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich vanilla and caramel lead the nose toward crafty sweet grain porridge, old firewood, and a mild sense of chocolate malt milkshakes just kissed with winter spice.
Palate: That winter spice amps up through the palate with a sweet sense of eggnog and cinnamon toast with a hint of toffee and earthiness tied back to the old firewood on the nose.
Finish: That woodiness drives the warm finish with plenty of spice accented by creamy cinnamon honey.
Bottom Line:
Heaven’s Door really came into its own in 2023. Their core line was re-envisioned and the juice in the bottles is that little bit better to make it a must-try. This whiskey is best used for classic whiskey-forward cocktails or easy everyday sipping over some rocks.
This new whiskey is a highlight for Alabama’s Clyde May’s new Conecuh Ridge Distillery in Troy, Alabama. The whiskey in the bottle is sourced from Indiana and is a blend of five-year-old barrels. The blend is meant as an example of the whiskey that’ll be produced at the new Troy distillery.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a nice dark and almost tart cherry on the nose with a sense of rich toffee rolled in almonds and dipped in chocolate with a whisper of rummy molasses and mulled wine spices.
Palate: The palate is classic in all the right ways with a deep and rich caramel and vanilla creaminess touched by dark cherry, orange zest, almond paste, and mulled winter spices.
Finish: The end is long and creamy with deep caramel, soft cherry tobacco, and a fleeting sense of an old barrel house full of aging oak.
Bottom Line:
This is another whiskey that’s just solid and on point and flat out good. It’s exactly what you want from a classic and deeply hewn bourbon for simple and tasty cocktails.
This release from Nelson’s Green Brier is a big evolution for the brand. This high-rye bourbon is aged for four years before it’s masterfully blended into his expression. It’s then bottled without any fussing or meddling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A vanilla wafer with soft nougat greets you on the nose with a hint of burnt orange zest, Christmas cake, candied cherry, and a little bit of apple pie filling.
Palate: The taste has a moment of grilled pineapple that leads to brandy-soaked dark chocolate-covered cherries with a supporting act of zucchini bread, pecan pie, and a whisper of lemon meringue pie — it’s kind of like being in an old-school diner.
Finish: A mild dusting of white pepper ushers in the finish with a smooth green tea cut with menthol tobacco.
Bottom Line:
This is a great high-rye bourbon with a deep finish that takes you well beyond “classic” bourbon notes. I’d tend to use this as a rye replacement in Manhattans but you can easily sip it too.
14. FEW Spirits Alice in Chains “All Secrets Known” Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tequila Barrels
FEW Spirits just dropped their second Alice in Chains collab and it’s a doozy. The whiskey in the bottle is made with FEW’s award-winning bourbon that’s been re-barreled into ex-tequila casks for another six months of maturation. Those barrels were batched and then the whiskey was just kissed with local water before bottling. Finally, a special label was created by creative artist Justin Helton, who worked with the band on the artwork.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The whiskey draws you in with a classic sense of spiced cherries over vanilla pound cake with plenty of deep and rich oak, caramel, and winter spices with a hint of apple orchards full of falling leaves.
Palate: Those falling leaves and hints of smoldering smudging sage lead back to the dark cherries soaked in brandy and dipped in dark chocolate with a flake of salt before a rich and creamy caramel arrives.
Finish: That caramel binds with lush vanilla on the finish next to moments of apple orchards, cherry pie, and dry bales of straw next to piles of cedar-laced tobacco in leather pouches.
Bottom Line:
This is the perfect bottle to crack open when you’re feeling that early 1990s grunge vibe and need a bold neat pour to enjoy while spinning some era-appropriate vinyl.
This Tennessee whiskey blend was how we were introduced to Uncle Nearest five years ago. The expression remains the core bottle of the line with subtly blended Tennessee whiskey (which is legally bourbon) that’s at least five years old and cut with a touch of water before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a medley of winter spices, soft molasses, pecan waffles, and plenty of maple syrup just kissed with salted butter and vanilla extract.
Palate: The spices notch up on the palate with a clear clove, cinnamon, and cardamom vibe next to burnt orange syrup over sourdough cinnamon rolls, a hint of pecan pie, and rum raisin.
Finish: The end thins out toward orange-chocolate tobacco with a hint of musty oak and woody spice barks.
Bottom Line:
This is where Uncle Nearest really finds its feet as a sipper and great cocktail base. Pour this into your favorite whiskey cocktail and enjoy the ride.
12. New England Barrel Company Single Barrel Select 5 Year Bourbon
These single barrel selections come from Green River Distilling down in Owensboro, Kentucky. Great barrels are selected by the New England Barrel Company team and bottled 100% as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Soft dried red fruits, old spice barks, and lush vanilla lead on the nose with a sense of wet brown sugar and spiked cider with a fleeting sense of old oak and fall leaves.
Palate: The fruitiness gets leathery on the palate as the vanilla leads to eggnog spice and creaminess with a light sense of minced meat pies, winter spice cakes, and almond paste dipped in pear brandy with a touch of cherry lurking underneath.
Finish: That dark cherry attaches to the tobacco and spice barks on the finish as warmth builds towards a long Kentucky hug.
Bottom Line:
Green River has some amazing single barrels sitting in their warehouses that are just starting to trickle out. This is a great example and should get you pretty excited about what’s to come from the distillery over the next years. Pour it neat or into your favorite bourbon cocktail and you’ll be in for a treat.
11. New Riff Single Barrel Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
These releases from New Riff will vary from location to location as they’re largely reserved for retailers. The whiskey in the bottle is New Riff’s standard bourbon mash of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. The spirit is aged for at least four years before they’re bottled individually without cutting or filtration.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on these tends to be soft, kind of like freshly baked rye bread, with notes of eggnog spices, slick vanilla flan, thin caramel sauce, and hints of spicy orange zest.
Palate: The palate amps everything up as the orange peel becomes candied and attaches to a moist holiday cake, dried cranberry and cherry, more dark spice, a touch of nuttiness, and plenty of that vanilla.
Finish: The end takes its time as the whole thing comes together like a rich and boozy fruit cake as little notes of leather and tobacco spice keep things interesting on the slow fade.
Bottom Line:
New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon is one of the best hidden gems of the Kentucky bourbon scene. If you can find it, grab a case and make it your house pour for the rest of the year.
The first Larceny Barrel Proof release of 2024 is a classic. The whiskey in the bottle is a blend of six- to eight-year-old bourbons from the wheated bourbon barrels at Heaven Hill. Those barrels were batched and then went into the bottle 100% as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This feels warm on the nose with a sense of cinnamon toast, pecan waffles covered in maple syrup, and buttery vanilla paste with a hint of prune and maybe some dates swimming in mulled wine with a whisper of dark fruity brandy.
Palate: Rummy syrup with a deep sense of Nutella spread over a toasted brioche drives the palate toward fig jam, sticky toffee pudding, and a dark caramel cut with burnt orange and salt flakes on the mid-palate.
Finish: That caramel gets so dark that it turns into cinnamon-laced dark chocolate with a touch of allspice and clove before a dry sense of old oak staves wrapped in tobacco round out the hot and dry end.
Bottom Line:
This just dropped so you should be able to find it for the suggested retail price. It’s also a classic bourbon with a deep sense of dessert and dry barrels houses, which makes it very fun to sip after a big meal.
These single-barrel releases from Huber Winery’s Starlight Distillery are starting to light up the craft bourbon scene. The Indiana bourbon is real craft from a family tradition going back to the mid-1800s on the same farm (this isn’t MGP). Depending on the barrel, the mash here is a unique one with 58% corn, 27% rye, and 15% malted barley. That whiskey is aged for at least four years before it’s considered ready for single-barrel bottling as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this meanders from sheet cake with vanilla frosting toward chili-laced dark chocolate ice cream to old leather gloves with a hint of potting soil, soft cedar planks, and a twinge of an orange creamsicle.
Palate: The taste balances a lemon meringue pie with silky cream soda, red peppercorns, and thick toffee sauce with plenty of brown butter.
Finish: The end has a bit of woody spice next to spiced cherry syrup, a crack of black pepper, and crumb more of that cake from the nose with a counter of those old leather gardening gloves finishing off the taste.
Bottom Line:
This is a great example of craft distilling in 2024. This is great whiskey. Mix it, pour it neat, throw in a rock, whatever floats your boat … this whiskey is going deliver.
8. Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Aged 8 Years 1 Month
Baker’s is pulled from single barrels in specific warehouses and ricks across the Beam facility in Clermont, Kentucky. The bourbon is always at least seven years old. In this case, it was aged eight years and one month before bottling as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Sourdough rye crusts and star anise with a fleeting hint of caraway counter cellar funk and cherry/vanilla tobacco on the nose.
Palate: The palate lets that vanilla get super lush with a sense of cinnamon bark and allspice berries next to hints of dill and fennel.
Finish: The end has an eggnog softness with a bit of Red Hot and chili-laced tobacco.
Bottom Line:
This is where the team at Beam really gets to have fun with unique flavors. This is a great neat pour that goes in so many directions while making total sense at the end. Try it neat, add water, and let it guide you on a flavor trip through Kentucky bourbon that few other whiskeys can.
7. Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 9 Years
This single-barrel bourbon is from Beam’s private barrel pick program for retailers and at the distillery. That means your local retailer goes out to Clermont, Kentucky, and picks a single barrel for their store only. That then means these will vary from store to store ever so slightly but still carry that classic Knob Creek vibe.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This is bold on the nose too with plenty of lush vanilla next to salted caramel, a touch of barrel char, brandy-soaked cherries, and a hint of dark chocolate-covered espresso beans with a little date/prune action.
Palate: The palate pops with dark chocolate Almond Joys next to cherry root beer and old oak with a hint of potting soil.
Finish: The end softens toward a mocha espresso with a dash of nutmeg next to dry cedar and cherry tobacco wrapped around a box of Red Hots.
Bottom Line:
This is another Beam product that slaps. Overall, if you’re looking for quintessential Kentucky bourbon with a big bear hug on the finish, this is it.
6. Green River Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Full Proof
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.
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 that’s accented by soft walnut and even softer vanilla.
Bottom Line:
This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the greatness we’re about to see coming out Green River in the next years. You should be very excited. Gradioisity aside, this is a wonderfully deep sipper that delivers a sharp profile that’s still approachable and very sippable without blowing out your palate with too high ABVs.
5. Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-In-Bond Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This new kid on the block (relatively) from Missouri is making big waves thanks to incredible juice. The whiskey in this bottle is made from a 73/15/12 mash bill of corn/red wheat/malted barley that’s grown and processed in Missouri. The whiskey is made at the Holladay Distiller in Weston, Missouri where it’s filled in Missouri white oak barrels and left to age for six years.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich and buttery toffee leads to floral honey, moist vanilla sheet cake, and a hint of woody winter spices with a nice layer of brandy-soaked raisins and plums on the nose.
Palate: There’s a deep berry crumble on the palate with a big dollop of rich vanilla buttercream next to cinnamon sticks and spice barks over a hint of marshmallow, strawberry shortcake, and old oak staves.
Finish: Those oak staves get dipped in salted dark chocolate with a hint more of that rich vanilla buttercream next to spiced tobacco rolled with spicy winter cakes stuffed with plum jam and mulled wine.
Bottom Line:
This whiskey has grabbed the attention of the American whiskey nation and it’s not letting go. It’s great whiskey that feels “of a place.” It’s also a great sipper that makes a hell of a cocktail.
4. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond
Buffalo Trace’s Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch is an entry point to the other 12 expressions released under the E.H. Taylor, Jr. label. The whiskey is made from Buffalo Trace’s iconic Mash Bill No. 1 (which is a low rye recipe). The final whiskey in the bottle is a blend of barrels that meet the exact right flavor profiles Buffalo Trace’s blenders are looking for in a classic bottled-in-bond bourbon for Taylor.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a sense of soft corn mush with a hint of fresh green chili, Saigon cinnamon (a little sweet), orchard tree bark, and the black mildew that grows on all the whiskey warehouses in Kentucky.
Palate: The palate leans into buttery toffee with a twinge of black licorice next to cinnamon-spiced dark chocolate tobacco and a hint of huckleberry pie with vanilla ice cream.
Finish: The end has a salted caramel sweetness that leads back to a hint of sweet cinnamon and dark tobacco with a light sense of the fermentation room with a hint of sweet gruel.
Bottom Line:
Normally, I’d list this whiskey at its secondary price. But this is on shelves right now at this price. I got two bottles last week for $52 each. If you can, hit your local high-end liquor store now and you might get lucky too. This is great small-batch bourbon. It sips perfectly. It makes a mean cocktail. And you’ll impress your whiskey friends when you pull this off the shelf (especially if you paid $50 for it).
3. Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond: Fall 2019 Vintage Straight Bourbon Whiskey
The latest Chattanooga BIB is made from whiskey barreled back in the fall of 2019. After four years, 10 to 12 barrels were batched and proofed to create this release.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Milk chocolate lattes mingle with sharp root beer, almond oils, and deep cinnamon pudding with a hint of pumpkin pie by way of a buttery pie crust and a dollop of vanilla-laced whipped cream.
Palate: That root beer gets sweet on the palate as cinnamon spice cakes cut with almond oils and orange zest drive the taste toward sweet potatoes soaked in brandy-laced molasse.
Finish: The chocolate circles back on the finish with a sense of Amaretto cut with orange oils and a whisper of buttermilk laced with nutmeg before a rich pipe tobacco in an old leather pouch finishes things off.
Bottom Line:
This is another hidden gem that should be on your shelf right now. This is f*cking delicious whiskey. Period.
2. Weller The Original Wheated Bourbon Antique 107 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This is a non-age-statement bourbon that’s called “Old Weller Antique” (OWA) by those who love the old-school vibes of the expression’s previous iteration. The ripple with this expression is the higher proof. The barrels are vatted and barely proofed down to 107-proof before bottling (the entry proof is 114).
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a lovely sense of vanilla pods and orange blossom with a hint of old saddle leather and cedar bark next to wild sage, cinnamon and caramel apple fritters, and salted black licorice with a bundle of holiday spices and barks tied up with burnt orange and pine.
Palate: The palate is lush with a cream soda float with malted vanilla ice cream cut with cherries, dark chocolate chips, and espresso flakes next to cinnamon cherry bark tobacco on the mid-palate.
Finish: The end dives toward a thick braid of cedar bark, sage, and blackberry tobacco with a thin line of sweetgrass and vanilla pods woven in there.
Bottom Line:
Again, this would usually fall under a higher price point but you can get this right now at MSRP at the lqiuor store. Get as many as you can as it’ll likely be another year before you see it again.
Not for nothing, this is the best cocktail borubon on the list by a country mile.
1. Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This Single Barrel from Four Roses is a slightly proofed version of their famed OBSV recipe (read about what that means here). That’s a bourbon recipe with delicate fruit yeast and a high-rye mash bill. A single barrel of that was picked from the north side of Warehouse P (a beloved position for Four Roses’ single barrel fans — yes, barrel position and warehouses make a big difference).
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Woody maple syrup and cinnamon sticks lead to a hint of pear candy with a vanilla underbelly on the nose.
Palate: The palate lets the pear shine as the spices lean into woody barks and tart berries next to leathery dates and plums with a butteriness tying everything together.
Finish: A spicy tobacco chewiness leads the mid-palate toward a soft fruitiness and a hint of plum pudding at the end with a slight nuttiness and green herbal vibe.
Bottom Line:
Bourbon or not, this is a great whiskey. An all-time great. It’s succinct and carries a deep bourbon vibe that then goes so much further. When you see these on the shelf, it should be an automatic grab.
Last week the frontunner for the GOP’s presidential ticket was ordered by a jury to pay $83.3 million to a woman he’s said to have sexually assaulted. The former president, who acted like a petulant child throughout the trial, has sworn to appeal the decision. But when/if writer E. Jean Carroll, who’s sued him for defamation twice so far, gets that fortune, she wants to spend it in ways that make him even angrier than he is already.
E. Jean Carroll on what she wants to do with the $83.3 million:
“I’d like to give the money to something Donald Trump hates. That will cause him pain for something, to give money to certain things. Perhaps a fund for the women who have been sexually assaulted by Donald Trump.” pic.twitter.com/B7LQdr8LWH
“I’d like to give the money to something Donald Trump hates,” Carroll said on Good Morning America,per Raw Story. “If it will cause him pain for something, to give money to certain things. Perhaps a fund for the women who have been sexually assaulted by Donald Trump.”
There sure are a lot of women who have alleged that Trump assaulted or sexually harassed them. Not that his dedicated fanbase cares. Again, this guy, who racked up four indictments last year totaling 91 criminal charges, is killing it in the polls, at least among GOP voters.
Elsewhere during Carroll’s GMA appearance, she talked about what it was like to see Trump, who she claims raped her in a department store dressing room in the ‘90s, in court.
“He was like nothing, like an emperor without clothes,” Carroll said. “All my terror leading up to it, and there he is. He’s just something in a suit.” Seeing him without his usual posse, just standing there in court he was, she said he had “no power. He was zero.”
On Monday, The View found creative way to weigh in on the enormous sum Trump owes Carroll, walking onstage to the theme from his old TV show, The Apprentice.
When thinking of California wine country, the area that comes to mind first is undoubtedly Napa. Or Sonoma. Both. It’s a tie.
Everyone else is a few miles down the list, in terms of notoriety. And while I fully agree that those legendary wine regions are well worth the bucket list trip, I was surprised to find that just around an hour and a half East of Napa lies America’s largestwine-growing region – producing more wine than Napa and Sonoma combined.
Kinda wild, right?
Lodi, the unassuming wine region south of Sacramento, with its 100,000 acres of wine grapes, boasts over 85 wineries, and the country’s highest concentration of old vines. Known for its zinfandels, there are over 125 grape varieties grown in the region, with enough gorgeous wineries, approachable tastings, and excellent food options to make it the ideal spot for a more low-key California wine getaway.
Here are my recommendations on where to sip, eat, sleep, and explore when you visit:
PART I — WHERE TO SIP
With over 85 wineries in a town of just 67,000 people, you have options. Like, a lot of options. Here are the ones I recommend for a first-time visitor:
ACQUIESCE WINERY
Emily Hart
Although Lodi is known for its zinfandels, I was excited to try some white varietals. Acquiesce, a winery specializing in white Rhône grape wines, was the perfect stop. The family-owned and operated boutique winery is eclectic and friendly, offering expertly paired tastings with delicious small bites. I spent time with the owner/founding winemaker Susan Tipton and current winemaker Christina Lopez, who happily answered my many questions.
I recommend the Elevated Tasting Experience and can’t wait to return for a Harvest Educational Vineyard Tour.
Tasting Info: Elevated Tasting Experience is $20 per person and includes four wines, each paired with a bite. Reservations can be made here.
HARNEY LANE VINEYARDS
Emily Hart
Harney Lane Vineyards is a fifth-generation family-owned and operated vineyard the family has farmed since 1907. Under the Lodi Rules sustainable viticulture program, the Certified Green vineyard has been developing estate wines from their vineyards since 2006. The tasting room and gardens are stunning and the perfect spot for a tasting or a glass (or a bottle, I won’t judge).
I especially enjoyed tasing the Albariño and dry rosé.
Tasting Info: Hosted tastings cost $30 per person and up to $50 for the most elevated tasting.
Reservations can be made here. Walk-in tastings and bottle/glass service are available in the tasting room.
BOKISCH VINEYARDS
Emily Hart
Markus and Liz Bokisch fell in love with Spanish wines while living in Spain and traveling across the country in their VW bus after meeting in the 90s. After returning to California, they bought their vineyard and produced Spanish varietals, including Albariño, Tempranillo, and Graciano. Their vineyard has grown through the years to produce nine estate Spanish varieties, including Garnacha Blanca, Verdejo, Garnacha, and Monastrell, and now the Tizona label, which produces Malbec, Petit Verdot, Old Vine Zin, and specialty blends. The vineyard was highly recommended for its wines and incredible views – and I wasn’t disappointed.
The perfect spot to spend an afternoon, the property in Clements Hills – just 15 minutes outside of Lodi – is spectacular, and the wines live up to the atmosphere.
Tasting Info: Tastings of 5 wines start at $20, and walk-ins are welcome. More information here.
OAK FARM VINEYARDS
Emily Hart
Oak Farm Vineyards is another family owned and operated estate winery that I highly recommend visiting in Lodi. The 70-acre property is truly stunning, with a modern and warm tasting room with knowledgeable and friendly staff. I visited for a tasting bar experience and learned so much about the estate wines made from 14 different grape varietals. The atmosphere inside and out at Oak Farm is lovely, with charcuterie boards available, glasses and bottles.
I could easily spend an entire afternoon here.
Tasting Info: Tasting bar experiences vary from $20 to $30 and include five wines. Reservations can be made here.
METTLER FAMILY VINEYARDS
Emily Hart
The Mettler family has been growing grapes in Lodi for over 100 years, and its evident when tasting the wines at Mettler Family Vineyards. The vineyard is proudly farmed using responsible practices to produce certified organic and sustainable wines. Farming grapes for eight generations, the family is involved in every step of the winemaking, producing many varietals from Estate Grown Old Vine Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albarino, and Roses. I especially loved tasting the Pinotage in the exceptionally friendly and helpful tasting room before heading out to the immaculate and relaxing grounds to enjoy the pond and willow trees.
Tasting Info: The tasting fee is $15, and reservations for the tasting room are required. Make reservations here.
PART II — WHERE TO EAT
TOWNE HOUSE RESTAURANT
Emily Hart
The on-site restaurant at Wine & Roses resort came highly recommended. With an extensive wine list, including over 80 wines just from the Lodi Appellation, the fresh, seasonal menu is upscale and delicious. I loved starting my meal with warm honey wheat bread and cranberry butter, followed by risotto with Hubbard squash mascarpone sauce, sherry, and foraged mushrooms.
The ambiance was elegant with a lively crowd of people and daily live music.
PEITRO’S TRATTORIA
Emily Hart
A travel truth: when you enter into an unassuming quiet neighborhood restaurant, but still have to circle the block more than a few times to find parking — keep at it because you’ve found something special. From the minute I walked into the crowded Peitro’s Trattoria I knew I had found a new place to add to my running “best meals ever” list. The family-owned and operated Italian restaurant was first opened in Vacaville, California, in 1956 and the Lodi location in 1985. The atmosphere was lively and fun, the decor was authentic without feeling cheesy, the wine list was – like most places in Lodi – exceptional, and the food.
Where do I start? The fresh, housemade bread service is something I’ll be dreaming about for years to come, followed by the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted, accompanied by a local Bokisch Tempranillo.
LODI BEER COMPANY
Emily Hart
Despite being known for its wine, Lodi is also home to a not insignificant number of breweries and taprooms. I visited Lodi Beer on my last visit for lunch with a brew, and wasn’t disappointed. The large restaurant and brewery is perfectly located downtown, family-friendly, and offers a large menu alongside its substantial beer list ranging from classics to innovative sips.
I enjoyed the refreshing Raspberry Hefeweizen alongside my Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.
DANCING FOX WINERY & BREWERY
Emily Hart
Stop for a meal and a glass of wine or a brew downtown at Dancing Fox Winery & Brewery. The eclectic family owned and operated restaurant offers a large menu along with their wine and beer. I enjoyed a club sandwich with a raspberry sparkling wine, enjoying the ambiance and friendly service before heading out for an afternoon of exploring.
TOWNE CORNER CAFE & MARKET
Emily Hart
Stop by Towne Corner Cafe on the grounds of Wine & Roses for your morning coffee and breakfast, or for lunch a some wine later in the day. The always changing seasonal fresh menu items are delicious, and the vibe is clean, lively, and innovative.
PART III — WHERE TO SLEEP
WINE & ROSES
Emily Hart
During my recent trip to Lodi, I stayed at the aptly named Wine & Roses, a locally owned hotel. The luxurious property offers 66 hotel rooms and suites, botanic gardens, a restaurant, a spa, several event spaces, and a coffee shop/market. I loved that the resort is in town but somehow feels very separate and serene.
My room was luxe, with a spa bathroom, comfy bed, and a large patio to enjoy a glass of wine or sip of coffee surrounded by beautiful landscaping and chirping birds. I didn’t have a chance this visit to spend any time at the pool or full-service spa – but they are on my list for next time.
PART IV — WHERE TO EXPLORE
DOWNTOWN LODI
Emily Hart
If you have time between tastings, head to the walkable downtown area of Lodi for some shopping, gallery hopping, and maybe more wine tasting (there are 13 tasting rooms downtown). The downtown area is quaint and feels almost movie-like, with plenty of stops for an afternoon. I recommend visiting (and tasting) at Cheese Central, walking under the Lodi Mission Arch for a fun photo op, and visiting Jeremy Wine Co. for a tasting.
SIDE TRIPS — 2.5-ISH HOURS FROM LODI
Emily Hart
If you’re in Lodi for a couple days and want to explore more of what’s in the area, it is perfectly situated for adventure. Just under two and a half hours from Yosemite in one direction and about the same distance in another to Lake Tahoe, its the perfect relaxing and boozy stopover.
Looking for a little inspiration this afternoon, but don’t actually want to be uplifted?
Well, then get a boost from the solemn Teutonic prose of legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog via the genius Tumblr project Herzog Inspirationals.
Take comfort and advice from the man for whom getting shot in the gut was NBD as you learn about the humble simplicity of the chicken or the inner life of birds.
Have you heard the one about how Taylor Swift and the Deep State are teaming up to rig the Super Bowl so Joe Biden wins re-election? It’s a real conspiracy theory, touted by arguably the most annoying former GOP presidential candidate. But one thing could actually happen: Swift could inspire legions of Swifties to vote Democrat in November. That might not be enough to trigger a landslide, but it still chills one Fox News contributor to their core.
Fox News guest Charly Arnolt: “It is so scary! There’s a recent poll, 1/5 of Taylor Swift fans said they would back whatever candidate she endorsed… please don’t believe everything Taylor Swift says. We’re begging you!” pic.twitter.com/KeQ4TJP7kF
On Monday Fox News host Martha MacCallum brought on Outkick host Charly Arnolt, who last year got in a tizzy over Disney casting a non-white actress to play Snow White — you know, despite her name. This time Arnolt was, as many on the right weirdly are right now, up in arms over Time’s 2023 Person of the Year, especially since her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, is going to the Super Bowl.
Noting grimly that Swift endorsed Biden in 2020, Arnolt said she’s so worried about her boyfriend going to the Super Bowl that she was rooting for the Baltimore Ravens to beat the Chiefs, “just because we have had enough of Taylor Swift for now.”
Alas, the Ravens lost and Swift’s boyfriend is going to the Super Bowl. But all is not lost. Arnolt noted that there’s an online poll “begging people to become 9ers fans for the next two weeks, just so it doesn’t raise Travis Kelcie aka Mr. Phizer’s star power along with, of course, Taylor Swift.”
Nevermind that it’s probably not possible for Swift to become any more famous than she is already. But that’s what so freezes Arnolt’s blood.
“It is so scary! There’s a recent poll: 1/5th of Taylor Swift fans said they would back whatever candidate she endorsed,” Arnolt warned viewers. She allowed that a good chunk of her fanbase are “15-year-old girls who can’t vote anyways” and that “a lot of the others are liberal women who would support the DNC no matter what.
“But,” Arnolt prophesized, “there’s a lot of other people who need to be careful, because she doesn’t do what she says. For example, the other day, yesterday, she flew private from New York City to Baltimore. Yet she constantly talks about climate change.”
Arnolt asked anyone watching her to “please don’t believe everything Taylor Swift says. We’re all begging you.”
And so continues the right’s bizarre war on someone whose fanbase is not only gargantuan but militant against anyone who dares besmirch her, be they Golden Globes hosts or, possibly, Fox News regulars. Besides, what better way to lock down the youth vote than to the most popular celebrity under 35.
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