Month: March 2024

PSA: We’re just four days away from the opening salvo of SXSW in Austin, Texas. Since its inception in 1987, SXSW has grown to become one of the largest and most influential events in the world — showcasing a wide range of emerging and established talent in the music, film, media, and technology industries.

And any event that combines keynote speakers and panel workshops, industry networking, and awesome parties will always be high on our list. We like fun stuff.

With the event spanning 10 days, making sure your accommodations are dialed in is key to ensuring a smooth experience. If you’re still sorting where to stay in Austin for your SXSW festivities, we compiled our list of some of our favorite hotels for SXSW 2024, based on proximity to the Austin Convention Center and overall guest offerings.

citizenM Austin Downtown

What better way to kick back during your downtime at SXSW than in Austin’s newest affordable luxury hotel?

Having just opened its doors, citizenM Austin Downtown features 344 signature rooms with XL king-size beds, a 24-hour gym, a rooftop bar and pool, and lots of contemporary art.

The hotel will be hosting an array of complimentary SXSW programming for guests and the public from March 8th-16th. Guests can participate in its “bucking bed” experience on March 8th at 99 Trinity Square to win a free night at the hotel and also unwind at the hotel’s “unplug zone” throughout the week with complimentary barista-brewed coffee from 2-5 pm. There will also be signature cocktails at the SXSW Second Play Stage from 5-7 pm.

Amenities:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Fluffy pillows
• European cotton sheets
• Colored mood lighting
• Power shower
• XL King bed
• Blackout blinds
• 24/7 food & drinks
• World-class art

Price: $419 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.70 Miles

Book Here

Thompson Austin & tommie Austin

Located in downtown Austin’s music and entertainment district, Thompson Austin and its sister property tommie Austin offer sibling boutique luxury escapes. The “two hotels in one” span 32 stories full of sleek, architectural elements with bold design and airy, urban spaces — making the properties a comfortable retreat for guests attending SXSW. The Thompson and its adjoining restaurant, Diner Bar by Mashama Bailey, were featured on the 2022 Uproxx Fall Travel Hot List, where Uproxx travel editor Steve Bramucci called Bailey’s fried ugali the best bite he tasted that year.

Along with being in walking distance to many SXSW activations, the hotel features beautifully appointed rooms and suites with stunning views of the city skyline or Lady Bird Lake, a rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic views, as well as a signature restaurant serving locally inspired cuisine. And, unlike many of Austin’s downtown properties, it has a pool with a

Amenities:

• Rooftop pool
• Patio
• Four onsite restaurants and bars
• Floor-to-ceiling windows
• Cityscape views
• Hardwood floors
• Leather furnishings
• Stone mosaics
• Electric vehicle charging
• Free Wi-Fi
• Fitness center
• Golf simulator
• Pet friendly (free!)

Price: $850 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.16 Miles

Book Here

JW Marriott Austin

Located right in downtown Austin, JW Marriott Austin is a popular choice for SXSW attendees due to its proximity to the conference venues. The hotel offers luxury comfort paired with sophisticated amenities, including an on-site spa, outdoor rooftop pool, room service, seven bars, four restaurants, Starbucks, and the largest guest rooms in the city.

Each of its 1000 rooms features floor-to-ceiling windows,

During SXSW, the JW Marriott Austin provides exclusive services such as a dedicated concierge for event information and planning, as well as transportation assistance.

Amenities:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Seven bars
• Four restaurants
• Floor-to-ceiling windows
• On-site spa
• Fitness center
• Rooftop pool & patio
• Electric car charging station

Price: $539 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.19 Miles

Book Here

The Driskill

Recognized as a coveted Austin hotel since 1886, The Driskill offers a grand, historic setting entrenched in timeless charm. With a prime downtown location off of 6th Street, the hotel is the perfect vantage point for exploring Austin’s entertainment district and be in the thick of the action for SXSW. Guests are welcomed into a grand columned lobby with marble floors and stained-glass windows before settling into one of its 189 historic rooms and suites adorned with luxury and gold, vintage furnishings.

Additionally, the hotel is home to one of Austin’s most iconic upscale restaurants, The Driskill Grill.

Amenities:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Three onsite restaurants & bars
• Business services
• Room service
• 24-hour fitness center
• Concierge
• Pet friendly
• Art history tours
• Live music
• Afternoon tea service
• Valet parking
• Custom furnishings
• In-room balconies

Price: $561 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.31 Miles

Book Here

Hilton Austin

If you want to stay right in the heart of the action of SXSW, then Hilton Austin is your go-to hotel as it’s linked to the Austin Convention Center. The hotel offers over 800 rooms and suites, providing a comfortable and modern hotel stay for guests who want direct access to most events and activations for SXSW.

When you’re not at SXSW, you can explore East Sixth Street nightlife just two blocks away while the historic Rainey Street is less than a mile away.

Amenities:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Two restaurants
• Full service spa with steam room and sauna
• Rooftop pool
• City views
• Topgolf swing suite
• 24-hour fitness center
• F45 training studio
• Business center
• UPS store
• Pet friendly
• Electric vehicle charging stations

Price: $756 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.04 Miles

Book Here

Fairmont Austin

The Fairmont Austin is a luxurious hotel located in downtown Austin located amid the greenery of Palm Park and Waller Creek, offering a sophisticated retreat for SXSW attendees. Featuring 1,048 rooms stacked across 37 stories, guests will wake up each morning with picturesque vistas of Austin’s dramatic cityscape, Lady Bird Lake, and the State Capitol.

During SXSW, Fairmont Austin offers exclusive services such as a dedicated concierge for event planning and transportation assistance to the Austin Convention Center.

Amenities:

• Five onsite restaurants and bars
• Rooftop pool
• Spa
• Fitness center
• Meeting & business center
• Free Wi-Fi
• Parking
• High ceiling-high windows
• Plush bathrobes

Price: $640 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.05 Miles

Book Here

Austin Marriott Downtown

The Austin Marriott Downtown is a contemporary hotel located in the heart of Austin, offering a convenient and comfortable stay for SXSW attendees. Boasting over 600 modern rooms and suites, guests will be able to enjoy its rooftop pool and tiki bar, two-level lobby bar, and signature restaurant Corinne while not staying busy with SXSW programming.

The property is a great choice for guests at the conference in work more — with 60,000 square feet of meeting space and a location across the street from the Austin Convention Center.

Amenities:

• Rooftop pool & bar
• Meeting space
• Fitness center
• Free Wi-Fi
• Parking
• Electric car charging station
• Gift shop

Price: $484 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.05 Miles

Book Here

Courtyard Marriott – Downtown

Recently renovated, the Courtyard Marriott – Downtown Austin offers a convenient and comfortable stay for SXSW attendees. With its prime location adjacent to the Austin Convention Center and within walking distance of the 6th Street music scene, the hotel provides easy access to SXSW events, dining, and entertainment venues. The hotel features modern and spacious rooms, perfect for relaxing after a busy day at SXSW, as well as the fitness center, business center, and rooftop terrace.

The hotel also offers a bistro serving breakfast and dinner options, as well as a 24-hour market for snacks and drinks.

Amenities:

• Starbucks
• Onsite restaurant
• Parking
• Fitness center
• Indoor pool
• Rooftop terrace
• Free Wi-Fi
• GoBoards
• Communal work tables
• Business center
• Skyline views
• Fold out sofa sleepers

Price: $539 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.06 Miles

Book Here

Westin Austin Downtown

The Westin Austin Downtown offers a modern and upscale stay for SXSW attendees, conveniently located one block away from 6th Street and the Austin Convention Center. With over 360 rooms and suites, the hotel provides a comfortable retreat after a day of exploring or attending SXSW events without a huge crowd of guests in the hotel. Guests can enjoy several dining options onsite, a rooftop bar and pool with panoramic views of the city skyline, and more.

Amenities:

• Onsite restaurant & bar
• Rooftop pool & lounge
• Heavenly® Beds
• Heavenly® Showers
• 20th floor, 24-hour WestinWORKOUT fitness studio
• Concierge
• Pet friendly
• Business center
• Free Wi-Fi
• Gift shop
• Parking
• Electric vehicle charging stations

Price: $538 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.15 Miles

Book Here

Hotel Van Zandt

Hotel Van Zandt is a trendy boutique hotel located in the vibrant Rainey Street district, offering a unique and stylish stay for SXSW attendees. The hotel features 319 modern rooms and suites, each with a distinct Austin vibe. Guests can head to the 4th floor of the hotel to catch nightly live music and unique Austin experiences, including vinyl brunches and local songwriter showcases.

Additionally, the hotel offers complimentary social hours from 5-6 pm with housemade margaritas, beer, and wine, as well as discounts to partnered local businesses. The best part? The property is an easy five-minute walk to the Austin Convention Center.

Amenities:

• Rooftop pool
• Complimentary check-in beverage
• Complimentary locally brewed drip coffee from Café 605
• Complimentary usage of TREK Bikes
• Daily $10 credit to Geraldine’s, The Pool Deck or Café 605
• 10% off all retail and treats at Barkin’ Creek’s Rainey Street location
• Complimentary Charred Edamame from Anthem
• 24-hour fitness center
• Room service
• Mini-bar
• Plush robes
• Printing services
• Free Wi-Fi
• Pet friendly (free!)

Price: $572 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.18 Miles

Book Here

LINE Austin

The LINE is downtown Austin’s newest hotel brand, boasting unique and stylish accommodations on the banks of Lady Bird Lake. The redesign of the 1965 jazz club showcases art by emerging local artists throughout the property and features multiple locally sourced dining options, including an Alfred coffee bar in the lobby.

The hotel features 428 modern rooms and suites with stunning views, as well as a rooftop pool, fitness center, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The hotel offers complimentary weekly events for guests, including fireside tarot readings, happy hour, slow-flow yoga, and more.

Amenities:

• Saltwater infinity pool
• Pet friendly (free!)
• On-site dining
• Spa
• 24-hour fitness center
• Local Texas art
• Free Wi-Fi
• Minibar
• Room service
• Complimentary bikes
• Valet parking

Price: $505

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.25 Miles

Book Here

W Austin

Located in the Second Street District, W Austin is a vibrant and modern hotel offering a stylish and energetic stay for SXSW attendees. The hotel features 251 contemporary rooms and suites, each designed to provide a comfortable and luxurious experience. Guests can enjoy special amenities such as a 24-hour fitness center, a rooftop pool and bar with panoramic views, a modern steakhouse, a café, and more.

The hotel also hosts weekly live music events, specifically Sunday pool parties.

Amenities:

• Rooftop pool & bar
• Spa
• 24-hour fitness center
• 24-hour in-room dining
• Pet friendly
• Scott Newton famous music scene photography
• Turndown service
• Parking
• Live music

Price: $400 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.40 Miles

Book Here

Hotel Indigo – Downtown Austin

Located in the heart of downtown Austin, Hotel Indigo features 134 stylish and modern rooms designed to reflect the vibrant culture of Austin. Surrounded by neon lights and soulful sounds, the pet-friendly hotel offers a fitness center, business center, locally-sourced cuisine, rooftop bar, and more.

Located just a short walk from the Austin Convention Center, Hotel Indigo is a great choice for your stay during SXSW.

Amenities:

• Skyline rooftop pool & bar
• 24-hour fitness center
• Valet parking
• Onsite restaurant
• Live music
• Local art
• City views
• Room service

Price: $410 per night

Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.33 Miles

Book Here

Comic book movies are in a rough patch these days. Once a sure bet, they’re now like to underperform if not outright bomb. As it happens, there’s already a major makeover afoot over at the DCEU, who brought in James Gunn — director of the only superhero smash of 2023 — to bring us things like a new, less brooding Superman. While he’s at it, maybe he needs another new Batman (apart from the one already played by Robert Pattinson, of course). If so, John Oliver has a suggestion.

On Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight, the HBO host unloaded on Donald Trump’s claim that former president’s need to have total immunity. The Supreme Court recently agreed to take up his claim, answering the question of whether ex-commanders-in-chief should be prosecuted if they commit crimes. Oliver thinks there’s already a clear answer: “Yes.”

To drive his point home, he laid out some other questions with obvious answers: “Did Robert Durst kill those people? Or Which cereal mascot f***s the most? Or who should play the next Batman? And for the record, the answers are, absolutely, it’s not even close [Tony the tiger], and Natasha Lyonne.”

Eventually Lyonne herself caught wind of Oliver’s pitch, to which she agreed, sort of, writing, “we all know I should be playing the Penguin but I’ll handle Batman if that’s what Gotham needs.”

Lyonne also enthusiastically responded to someone who said she should play a female Riddler instead.

The actress and filmmaker also dug up an old joke tweet from 2022 in which she wrote, “Excited to announce I play Batman in the new Batman film.”

So how about it, James Gunn and fellow DCEU honcho Peter Safran? Maybe there should be two Batmans: one incredibly serious, starring Pattinson, and one a little goofier, with Lyonne as either the Caped Crusader or a villain, much the way the ’60s TV version cast hams like Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Eartha Kitt, and Otto Preminger to play the baddies.

You can watch the latest Last Week Tonight over at Max.

(Via Deadline)

For the first 30 years of his music career, Sean “Diddy” Combs was known for being a hit music producer, ace talent evaluator, and bombastic (if sometimes a bit unscrupulous) businessman. These days, though, you’re more likely to see his name associated with the fallout from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura’s accusations of sexual abuse against him.

He’s lost business partnerships, stepped down from roles in companies he’s created, and distanced himself from the public eye, all while maintaining that the growing number of similar allegations against him are false. He’s currently facing a slew of lawsuits and fans might be wondering what he’s accused of and by whom. Find out here. Trigger warnings for descriptions of sexual assault below.

November 2023: Two Women Sued Diddy For Sexual Assault

Shortly after settling Cassie’s lawsuit against him for an undisclosed sum, Combs was sued again by two women in separate lawsuits. Joie Dickerson-Neal filed suit in New York Supreme Court on November 23, accusing him of drugging her drink on a date in 1991 and sexually assaulting her. Dickerson-Neal says Combs also recorded the incident and showed it to others, making her a victim of revenge porn.

Another woman filed an anonymous lawsuit, claiming Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Hall took turns raping her and her friend in 1990 or ’91.

December 2023: Another Woman Accused Diddy Of Raping Her When She Was 17 Years Old

In a new lawsuit filed in December, a third woman came forward with allegations against Combs, once again filing as a Jane Doe. In her suit, she claims Combs and two other men raped her in 2003, when she was 17 years old, after picking her up at a club in Detroit.

February 2024: A Former Diddy Producer Accused Him Of Sexual Harassment

The latest complaint against Combs came from Rodney Jones — aka Lil Rod — a producer on Combs’ 2023 album Off The Grid. He said while staying with Diddy from September 2022 to November 2023, Diddy forced him to have sex with prostitutes, threatened, and harassed him.

Combs’ attorneys have dismissed all of the accusations against him as “money grabs,” but they’ve still affected his business partnerships

Ah, fish sandwich season. That special time of year when restaurants across the fast food universe turn their focus from chicken sandwiches and cheeseburgers to the mighty fish sandwich. We’re about a month deep into the season (which begins on February 14th to coincide with Lent) and we’ve already launched one big fish sandwich ranking by Uproxx’s resident whiskey and fish sando expert, Zach Johnston.

While I stand behind and fully co-sign Zach’s ranking, I couldn’t help but notice his ranking left off a few of my personal favorites (which aren’t as easy to come across down Kentucky way). So to give you the full and comprehensive picture of fast food fish sandos (Zach’s word, I’m stealing it!), I decided to hit the sandwiches Zach couldn’t get to and pit them against one another in a blind taste test.

Methodology

Fish sandwiches are best enjoyed when they’re piping hot, so I kept this list relatively short and picked up the sandwiches I could collect quickly to ensure they were still hot. Here is our tasting class today:

• Carl’s Jr Panko-Breaded Fish Sandwich
• Popeyes Spicy Flounder Fish Sandwich
• Wendy’s Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich

Luckily, where I’m located I can pick up all three of these sandwiches and get back to my apartment in just 15 minutes, which is a fast food blind taste test record for us.

Once I had the sandwiches in my apartment, I took some pictures and then had my girlfriend shuffle them up and serve them to me one at a time under the cover of a blindfold.

Here are the results:

PART I — The Fish Sandwich Blind Taste Test

Taste 1:

A pungent garlic and onion flavor balanced by a bright, slightly sweet, and buttery fish flavor, with a crispy bite, and a slightly salty finish. The bun is buttery, nice and spongey, and a great canvas for the rich flavors.

We’re off to a good start!

Taste 2:

The fish here is markedly different than Taste 1, it’s sweeter, and milder, with a very clean and buttery flavor. I’m also tasting a bit of cayenne spice and smoked paprika which pair nicely with the pickles.

I’m not tasting any tartar sauce here, what we have instead is something far smokier that sort of… ~sizzles~ on the aftertaste in a very addicting way.

This sandwich pulled me in for another bite.

Taste 3:

This one is just lacking. The lettuce is noticeably wilted, the tartar sauce is runnier and not as rich as Taste 1, and the fish itself isn’t very flavorful. The panko breading surrounding it is nice and crispy, with a great crunch, but I’m just not getting a whole lot of flavor here.

It’s clear that his is the weakest of the bunch.

PART II — The Fish Sandwich Ranking:

3. Carl’s Jr. — Panko-Breaded Fish Sandwich

The real draw of Carl’s Jr.’s Panko-Breaded Fish Sandwich is that you can pick up two for only $6, which hovers around the cost of just one sandwich from Wendy’s or Popeyes.

I love a deal as much as the next person but if what you’re after is flavor, this one is going to leave a lot to be desired.

The Bottom Line:

The sandwich isn’t as thick and luxurious as the competition, but at two for $6, this is the best deal you’re going to find.

2. Wendy’s — Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich

For some people, Wendy’s is going to be the number one choice. If you want that classic Alaskan Pollock meets tartar sauce flavor profile, this sandwich delivers.

This sandwich has a great flavor, all of the ingredients are well considered and work harmoniously, plus it has cheese — always a welcome addition and brings a bit of creaminess into the equation. But it didn’t win me over like our number one choice.

The Bottom Line:

If what you love about fish sandwiches is that mild and delicate fish meets rich tartar sauce flavor profile, this sandwich is one of the very best in all of fast food.

1. Popeyes — Flounder Fish Sandwich

Two things make this sandwich a cut above the rest. The first is that it uses that winning Popeyes flavor profile that makes the chicken sandwich such a game changer. It takes that same spice blend and pairs it with a spicy and savory cayenne-based sauce. It’s savory, smokey, and rich.

It also has a novelty factor. Most fast food fish sandwiches utilize Alaskan Pollock, which is a fine option, but Popeyes uses flounder, which tends to have the same delicate flavor profile but a more flaky texture. That textural difference makes the Flounder Fish sandwich melt in your mouth in a way the other fast food sandwiches just don’t.

The Bottom Line:

Our favorite fish sandwich in this taste test, to be sure! It’s only available for a limited time, so be sure to hit up Popeyes before the month’s end if you want to experience what makes this sandwich special.

This time last year Scott Adams, aka the guy who does Dilbert, wasn’t doing so hot. Perhaps attempting to seize the title of “world’s most divorced man” from Elon Musk, the cartoonist went on a leftfield rant advising white people to “get the hell away from Black people.” As a result his comic strip was yanked from scores of papers nationwide, his career effectively torched. Did this convince him to tone it down a hair? Of course not. In January he dropped some kooky ideas about how the border crisis can really be blamed on sperm. Now his bozo thoughts on election integrity have gotten him thoroughly and patiently schooled.

Per Raw Story, it all started when Adams decided to randomly write about the last presidential race. “We can disagree on whether there is proof the 2020 election was rigged,” he said. “But can we all agree our election systems are not fully auditable and lots of stuff goes ‘missing’ the day after the election? Our system is not designed for us to know it worked or did not work. That’s not an accident.”

But what if the Dilbert guy has no idea what he’s talking about? That’s basically what Stephen Richter, a County Recorder for Maricopa, Arizona (and a Republican), suggested when he chimed in with a lengthy tutorial on what he was getting wrong, which was a lot.

“Hi Scott! Big fan of your work (minus the racist stuff of course),” Richter wrote. “No election is perfect. And no election administrator would ever claim a perfect election. But U.S. elections are actually designed to be auditable; they must be reconciled; and they must be tested.”

Richter went on to explain — at great length, in a tweet/post that ran over 600 words (and who knows how many characters) — how elections are carried out in the U.S. versus how they’re done elsewhere.

“For example, while some countries allow digital voting (e.g. Brazil) or even internet voting (e.g. Estonia), the vast, vast majority of U.S. jurisdictions (93%) use paper ballots,” Richter explained. “This can put to rest any allegation of hacking. This can put to rest any allegation of “vote switching.” This means there is an auditable paper trail that can be tested after the election.”

Richter also reminded Scott that there were many, many times people contested the results of the 2020 election, and how each were handled accordingly (and reiterated that Joe Biden absolutely defeated Donald Trump).

“I’m sure you’re aware that were many, many legal challenges to the November 2020 election — close to 100 by my last count,” he explained. “Many of these afforded evidentiary hearings. For a summary, see this report: https://lostnotstolen.org. For anyone claiming significant error or fraud in the 2020 election, that person would have to explain why the courts got it wrong, every single time. Or why plaintiffs consistently demurred when asked for evidence in court.”

As for the whole idea that who won the 2020 presidential race is up for debate? Richter had a good line for that one:

So while I suppose, “we can disagree on whether there is proof the 2020 election was rigged,” that’s like saying we can disagree that the Rangers beat the Diamondbacks in the last World Series. Sadly, the Rangers won.

Adams did respond to Richter, though he admitted he stopped reading in the middle of the first long paragraph. He wondered why voting machines exist when there are paper ballots. He then declared “Checkmate.”

But Richter responded to him anyway, explaining — again, patiently ‚— that machines help tabulate votes faster than by hand, though there’s usually a hand-count afterwards to ensure accuracy.

Surely Adams has some other tinfoil thoughts he’d still has yet to share with the world. And surely we’ll see some of those at some point, because the Dilbert guy has a lot of free time these days.

(Via Raw Story)

On the day of the NBA trade deadline in February, the Toronto Raptors made a somewhat unexpected move to acquire veteran big man Kelly Olynyk, along with young wing Ochai Agbaji, via a trade with the Utah Jazz. While the Raptors remain in something of a transitional phase, Olynyk has fit in well in Toronto, and word broke from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday evening that the 32-year-old will be sticking around on a two-year contract extension.

As noted in ESPN’s reporting, the Raptors were limited on how much money they could offer Olynyk on an extension. The most he could sign for would be a five percent raise from his current salary, and Olynyk, who was born and raised in Canada, could add two years to his current deal if he agreed to do so by the end of the league year on June 30.

For the season, Olynyk is averaging 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game with 54.2 percent shooting and 39.8 percent from three-point distance. His efficiency is down in a small sample with Toronto, but Olynyk does open things up on the offensive end with his floor-spacing and passing ability in the frontcourt.

Though Toronto’s forward-facing direction remains a bit unclear as the team battles in the play-in race in the East, this is a solid contractual value for Olynyk. He also pairs well with many kinds of players, even with defensive challenges along the way, and Olynyk was clearly happy enough in his return to Canada to commit there for two more seasons.

Once you reach over $100 for a bottle of Scotch whisky, you’ve arrived at the beginning of the truly good stuff. Sorry, but that’s the reality as we’re still pretty far from the coveted 20-year-old bracket in this category. Still, this is where things start to get special — so there’s a ton to adore about Scotch whisky priced between $100 and $125 per bottle.

Below, I’m calling out 12 Scotch whiskies that all freaking rule and cost just under $125. The throughline here is simple — these are all whiskies that you should know, buy, and try. I’ve included unpeated and peated malts, great blends, and one-offs that are exemplars of their respective whiskey regions. Essentially, if you try every whisky on this list, you’ll be giving yourself an advanced course in whisky knowledge and palate expansion.

This being Uproxx, these whiskies are ranked. Some of them just hit a little bit deeper than others. No matter what, you cannot miss when sampling any bottle listed below. So read through my tasting notes, find what speaks to you, and then hit those price links to snag yourself a bottle.

Let’s dive in!

• The Best Scotch Whiskies Of 2023, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Whiskeys To Chase Down This October
• The Best Whiskeys Of 2023, According To The John Barleycorn Awards
• Every Bottle Of Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky, Power Ranked For 2023
• One Of The World’s Biggest Whiskey Influencers Shares His Favorite Pours Of 2023

12. Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $104

The Whisky:

This blend used to be called Johnnie Walker Platinum, which was also aged 18 years. You might still see some of those bottles on shelves where scotch sells slowly. This is the same whisky and comprises 18 whiskies (single grain and single malt) all of which are a minimum of 18 years old. The primary distilleries in the bottle are Blair Athol, Cardhu, Glen Elgin, and Auchroisk.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Apple chips and toffee mingle with ripe berries, old leather, and supple malts with a hint of dark brown spice mingle on the nose.

Palate: The palate is a mix of salted caramel next to marzipan and vanilla pudding with a touch of canned tangerine.

Finish: The end is sweet with a line of dark chocolate cut with dried chili flakes with an ever so slight smoked edge.

Bottom Line:

This is a great high-end version of Johnnie Walker. This is a succinct pour of whisky that delivers more creamy desserts and fruit than bold smokiness. That makes this a nice sipper over some rocks after a big meal. Likewise, you can make a great cocktail with this one if you’re looking for spice and fruit in the mix.

11. Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky “Darkfest” Aged 15 Years

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $124

The Whisky:

This bottle from Islay’s Bowmore is a 15-year-old whisky that’s a blend of American and European oak. For the first 12 years, this whisky rests in ex-bourbon barrels. For the last three years, the whisky was transferred to Oloroso sherry casks. The whisky is then finished with local spring water, bringing it down to a very approachable 86-proof.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a dash of chocolate malts next to rum-raisin, meaty dates, and sourdough bread crusts with a hint of butter and fig jam.

Palate: The palate has a woody vibe that’s part cedar box and part orchard wood smoking chips next to prune, dried cherry tobacco, salted pear chips, and a hint of smoked cinnamon.

Finish: The end boils down some plums and figs into a hazelnut spiced cake with a touch of oatmeal cookie, walnut, sultanas, and nutmeg leading to cinnamon-apple tobacco packed into that old cedar box.

Bottom Line:

This is where Bowmore starts to shine. The mix of old bourbon and sherry casks works wonders with the very faintly peated Islay malt. There’s a gentleness to this pour that’s enticing and draws you back again and again, especially if you’re making whiskey-forward cocktails.

10. Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Càirdeas Warehouse 1

ABV: 52.2%

Average Price: $104

The Whisky:

2023’s Càirdeas release celebrates the Friends of Laphroaig and how they keep the brand going. The whisky in the bottle is made from Laphroaig’s high-phenol peated malt right next to the sea on Islay. The hot spirit was then filled in first-fill limited edition single barrel Maker’s Mark bourbon barrels. The barrels were then stored in the famed four-story Warehouse 1 right next to the crashing sea until they were just right and then bottled as-is after vatting.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a huge note of smoked grainy malts next to an un-opened box of Band-Aids, peppery smoked brisket with plenty of smoked fat, and smoked sea salt counterpointed by vanilla sheet cake with a honey icing and dusted with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Palate: The palate opens with burnt yet buttery toffee next to white wildflowers, dried fennel, and rich and creamy honey smoothness and sweetness.

Finish: The end gets a little woody with a fatty smoked peppery vibe next to more toffee and a dash of seawater-washed granite.

Bottom Line:

This is a divisive whisky. You’re either going to fall in love with it from the jump or need a lot of coaxing to get your palate adapted. The seawater, green herbs, and creamy floral honey are wonderful but you have to get past big medicinal notes to get there.

It all works, in the end — trust me.

9. Highland Park 15 Years Old Viking Heart Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 44%

Average Price: $119

The Whisky:

Highland Park’s Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion hand-picked sherry-seasoned American oak barrels of single malt to create this new expression. The whisky is then decanted/bottled in a throwback ceramic bottle from Wade Ceramics, which has been making bottles like this since the early 1800s.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Even though this is a peated whisky, the nose is all about bright notes of orange and lemon oils with a deep vanilla sauce vibe, a touch of dried heather, and old sticks of cider-soaked cinnamon.

Palate: The palate lets the smoke sneak in via grilled pineapple that turns towards smoked plums, soft and moist Christmas cake with plenty of dried fruits, and a sense of cinnamon-flecked tobacco leaves that have just been singed around the edges.

Finish: The peat sneaks in late via an almost sea salt element that lets the orange oils, vanilla, and cinnamon tobacco all mellow towards a silky finish.

The Bottom Line:

This is the peated malt that you pour for bourbon lovers. The smokiness is bold but it’s tied to familiar notes of caramel, spice, and tobacco that help this feel like a distant cousin to something deeply familiar. Pour it neat and then play with this one. It’ll be a lot of fun (and may get you hooked on smoky whisky).

8. Aberfeldy Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 16 Years Old

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $104

The Whisky:

Aberfeldy is at the heart of Dewar’s blend. The whisky here is a classic Highland whisky aged in American oak and finished in sherry casks. That whisky is then cut down to proof with water from Pitilie Burn, a bubbling stream with gold deposits next to the distillery.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Aberfeldy is renowned for its honeyed nature and this shines through on the nose with hints of clove-studded oranges, a touch of that sherried wood, and soft notes of heather, tobacco, and baking spice.

Palate: The palate holds onto the wet sherry wood while going full holiday cake with spices, nuts, dried and candied fruits, and a sweet maltiness.

Finish: The end reveals a mild note of bitter dark chocolate next to the honey and spices as it slowly fades through brandied cherries dipped in dark chocolate and layered into rich tobacco leaves.

Bottom Line:

This is just a nice sipping whisky. Sometimes that’s enough, folks.

7. Glenmorangie A Tale Of The Forest Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $119

The Whisky:

This expression from Glenmorangie’s mad scientist Master Distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden is a total departure. Dr. Bill kilned the barley (the drying process during malting) with a very old-school method using local botanicals from the Highlands. The kiln was accented with a bushel of juniper berries, birch bark, and heather flowers which layered their flavor notes into the malted barley that was used to ferment the juice that eventually was distilled, aged, and bottled in the Highlands.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This lives up to its name from the jump with a nose full of dank pine resin, fresh juniper, and dry coriander with a hint of malted rye cakes and the faintest whisper of wet campfire smoke.

Palate: The palate leans into bitter burnt orange rinds with a sense of clove buds and chinotto leaves next to oolong tea leaves cut with eucalyptus and a kiss of old oak.

Finish: That old oak and tea vibe drives the finish toward a hint of spiced malt cakes and a drop of fresh honey cut with wild sage and Scotch broom flowers with a fleeting sense of that dank pine from the nose reappearing briefly.

Bottom Line:

This is a wildly unique bottle of whisky that stuns. It’s so deep and funky but still delivers this old-school nostalgic vibe that transports you to the Highlands of Scotland on a sunny day. This is some beautiful juice that deserves your time with drops of water and re-tastings. You’ll be rewarded with a vibrant and ever-changing profile of great whisky where you feel the distiller beckoning you deeper and deeper into the forest to find more.

6. Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $109

The Whisky:

This whisky is named after the world’s second-largest ocean whirlpool, called Corryvreckan. The whisky in the bottle is Ardbeg Ten blended with single malt that’s been aged exclusively in new French Limousin casks.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a softness on the nose that leans into dark yet slightly tart berries under layers of sharp spice, wet brown sugar, and plenty of sea salt.

Palate: The palate ups the saltiness as yellow Scotch Broom flowers mingle with creamy dark chocolate, dashes of freshly cracked black pepper, and a light hint of citrus oil.

Finish: The finish is soft and creamy thanks to that dark chocolate with mild spice cut by more sea salt and a hint of ground mushroom powder with a mossy edge.

Bottom Line:

This is a boldly peated whisky that leans into earthiness above ash or medicinal vibes. The overall feel of this whisky is a gentle stroll through a mossy forest with a sense of the sea just beyond the tree line. It’s magically gentle and inviting.

5. Springbank Aged 10 Years Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $104

The Whisky:

This is the gateway to Springbank, one of the world’s most elite distilleries. The single malt is aged in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks with a 60/40 split respectively in the final blend. That blend of barrels is just kissed with iconic Campbeltown spring water and then bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is smooth as can be with a nose full of bourbon vanilla, dark plums, soft toffee, and a hint of wet forest floor countering a spicy and honeyed maltiness with a hint of sagebrush.

Palate: The taste feels like an orchard in the summer full of fruit — tart, ripe, sweet, overripe — next to big notes of ground black pepper, apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks, freshly ground nutmeg, and plenty of cloves.

Finish: The finish is subtle and sweet with a good dose of salted caramel next to a whiff of dried peat with a hint of wet straw.

Bottom Line:

This is another gently sweet and inviting peated malt. There’s a clear earthiness that’s accented by deep notes of dark fruit and creamy vanilla/caramel. It’s bourbon adjacent, making this a killer prospect for bringing American whiskey drinkers over to the peated side of Scotland.

4. Kilchoman 2023 Limited Edition 100% Islay Single Farm Single Malt

ABV: $104

Average Price: 50%

The Whisky:

Kilchoman is the whisky lover’s distillery on Islay. The small family-run operation just dropped their beloved 100% Islay release. The whisky is made from barley grown on Islay (from a single farm) that’s then malted at Kilchoman with their own peat from a few steps down the road. That peated malt is then long fermented and distilled before resting in ex-bourbon casks until just right. This year’s batch yielded 13,000 bottles.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Canned brown bread and walnut loaf pop on the nose with nutmeg, clove, and plenty of fresh butter next to orange rinds, pear brandy, and a whisper of smoked sea salt over some almost floral honey.

Palate: Deep and creamy bourbon vanilla greets you on the palate with a sense of smoked toffee rolled in smoked raisins and dipping in dusty brown winter spices before that honey makes a creamy and lightly savory comeback.

Finish: Smoked lavender and freshly toasted sourdough pop at the end with more salted butter with a twinge of smokiness from an old wood-burning stove in a brick and clay kitchen from yesteryear as that lush vanilla rounds out the very end.

Bottom Line:

This is another whisky that’s just delicious. It’s so deep and varied while offering this clear sense of home and nostalgic comfort. It balances savory, creamy, and sweet with a great sense of sharp spice and soft lushness perfectly. Sip it slow and enjoy the ride.

3. The GlenDronach Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Cask Strength Batch no. 12

ABV: 58.2%

Average Price: $104

The Whisky:

Last year’s batch from Dr. Rachel Barrie at The GlenDronach is all about long aging. The whisky is left to mellow in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía, Spain. The age statement is on the bottle, but the blends tend to lean over a decade. The final mix is then bottled at cask strength to really highlight that Spanish oak.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Scoops of decadent dark chocolate powder draw you in with a hint of espresso cream, burnt orange, and marzipan with a moist sticky toffee pudding vibe next to a faint whisper of dried rose.

Palate: The palate is lush with a roasted and rich espresso bean vibe with salted dark chocolate, chinotto orange, and more rich and moist marzipan with a dash of ginger candy dipped in clove and allspice tea.

Finish: There’s a rich vanilla underbelly that smooths everything out on the end with a sense of rum raisin and faint bourbon cherry tobacco layered with soft cedar and mocha lattes.

Bottom Line:

This is nostalgia in a glass. It goes hard on the holiday vibes while delivering a deep and dark profile that goes beyond the ordinary and into the spectacular. That’s especially true if you’re coming from a rich and creamy bourbon background/palate.

2. Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky “The Wild Explorador” Special Release 2023

ABV: 59.7%

Average Price: $124

The Whisky:

2023’s Talisker Special Release is a unique version of the iconic whisky from Skye. Classic Talisker was finished in a trio of port casks — Ruby, White, and Tawny — before small batching and then bottling 100% as-is at cask strength. The throughline was to lean into the flavor notes of Portuguese “explorers” from the last centuries.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens has a classic Talisker with deep smoked pear and softly minerally campfire smoke next to moments of oyster liqueur before moving toward brandy-soaked prunes and mulled wine with plenty of molasses, cinnamon, and anise over a creamy sense of dark chocolate oranges.

Palate: The taste leans into that creaminess with a lush palate full of blended dates, figs, and prunes with smoke sea salt, smoldering spice barks, and the embers of an orchard bark fire on a cold and rainy day next to the sea.

Finish: The end amps up the smoke in a way that’s like restoking a campfire with fresh apple and pear logs and nutshells and then tossing on a bunch of spice barks for good measure as the sea crashes mere feet away and you settle into a big slice of mincemeat pie.

Bottom Line:

This is a divine one-off of Talisker that takes the seaside gentle malt to new heights. Every single moment of this whisky is firing on all cylinders with a deep sense of clarity and beauty. Sip this one slowly and dive deep. It’ll repay you in gorgeous nuance.

1. The Dalmore Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 14 Years

ABV: 43.8%

Average Price: $114

The Whisky:

This Highland single malt is a classic malted whisky from The Dalmore that spends 14 years mellowing. Then The Dalmore’s Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass hand-selects specific barrels for vatting and re-barreling in very rare Pedro Ximénez casks from the House of Gonzalez Byass in Spain. Once Glass deems those barrels just right, they’re vatted, proofed, and bottled exclusively for the U.S. market.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a sense of subtle citrus — almost bitter orange and lemon — next to salted black licorice, caramel malted ice cream, toffee candies, and marzipan cake covered with poppy seeds and vanilla wafers.

Palate: The palate is pure sticky toffee pudding fresh out of the oven with a little bit of orange zest and flaked salt next to black-tea-soaked dates, sweet cinnamon, fresh nutmeg, rum-soaked caramel sauce, and a dollop of brandy butter with a twist of dark chocolate nibs.

Finish: The end leans into the dates and marzipan with a touch of spiced fig jam and prunes dipped in creamy yet very dark salted chocolate.

Bottom Line:

This whisky feels quintessential from the first sip to the last. It stands alone as a deep and beautiful sipper that hints at comfort and nostalgia without fully giving in to it. This is the best sipper at this price point with the most nuance and depth.

First that long-threatened Party Down revival actually happened, now it looks like that also long-threatened Community movie might come to fruition, too. Last month, alum Donald Glover offered a promising update on the film that would reunite (most of) Greendale Community College’s most beloved study group, saying that a) he wasn’t too busy to do it and b) the script is done. Now we have further reassurance from another cast member, Joel McHale.

While chatting with Deadline about his new show Animal Control, the actor and game show host said he was pretty sure the Community movie would start shooting “this year.” In fact, he’d be “shocked” if it didn’t, though they were “basically working around Donald’s schedule.”

What will the Greendale gang be doing in this movie? For that McHale had some jokes. “We go to the center of the earth,” he cracked. “It’s like the movie The Core.”

As it happens, we already do have some idea of what will go down. Glover told The Hollywood Reporter that the story revolves around a “college reunion,” with Danny Pudi’s Abed Nadir having become “this big director.” Is he as big a director as two of the show’s frequent directors Anthony and Joe Russo, who went on to helm a couple of them Avengers movies? We’ll find out, eventually.

Community began in 2009 on NBC, where it lived for five seasons. After they cancelled it, Yahoo! Screen picked it up for a sixth and final season, which ran in 2015. Most of the original cast is expected to return — not just Glover and McHale and Pudi but also Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ken Jeong, and Jim Rash. No word on Chevy Chase, but that, well, seems unlikely.

(Via Deadline)

Towards the end of The Beatles’ illustrious but brief career, Paul McCartney wrote “Let it Be,” a song about finding peace by letting events take their natural course. It was a sentiment that seemed to mirror the feeling of resignation the band had with its imminent demise.

The bittersweet song has had an appeal that has lasted generations and that may be because it reflects an essential psychological concept: the locus of control.

“It’s about understanding where our influence ends and accepting that some things are beyond our control,” Jennifer Chappell Marsh, a marriage and family therapist, told The Huffington Post. “We can’t control others, so instead, we should focus on our own actions and responses.”

---

This idea of giving up control, or the illusion of it, when it does us no good, was perfectly distilled into 2 words that everyone can understand as the “Let Them” theory. Podcast host, author, motivational speaker and former lawyer Mel Robbins explained this theory perfectly in a vial Instagram video.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mel Robbins (@melrobbins)

“I just heard about this thing called the ‘Let Them Theory,’ I freaking love this,” Robbins starts the video.

“If your friends are not inviting you out to brunch this weekend, let them. If the person that you’re really attracted to is not interested in a commitment, let them. If your kids do not want to get up and go to that thing with you this week, let them.” Robbins says in the clip. “So much time and energy is wasted on forcing other people to match our expectations.”

“If they’re not showing up how you want them to show up, do not try to force them to change; let them be themselves because they are revealing who they are to you. Just let them – and then you get to choose what you do next,” she continued.

The phrase is a great one to keep in your mental health tool kit because it’s a reminder that, for the most part, we can’t control other people. And if we can, is it worth wasting the emotional energy? Especially when we can allow people to behave as they wish and then we can react to them however we choose.

Stop wasting energy on trying to get other people to meet YOUR expectations. Instead, try using the “Let Them Theory.” 

@melrobbins

Stop wasting energy on trying to get other people to meet YOUR expectations. Instead, try using the “Let Them Theory.” 💥 Listen now on the #melrobbinspodcast!! “The “Let Them Theory”: A Life Changing Mindset Hack That 15 Million People Can’t Stop Talking About” 🔗 in bio #melrobbins #letthemtheory #letgo #lettinggo #podcast #podcastepisode

How you respond to their behavior can significantly impact how they treat you in the future.

It’s also incredibly freeing to relieve yourself of the responsibility of changing people or feeling responsible for their actions. As the old Polish proverb goes, “Not my circus, not my monkeys.”

“Yes! It’s much like a concept propelled by the book ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k.’ Save your energy and set your boundaries accordingly. It’s realizing that we only have “control” over ourselves and it’s so freeing,” 60DaysToLive2012 wrote.

“Let It Be” brought Paul McCartney solace as he dealt with losing his band in a very public breakup. The same state of mind can help all of us, whether it’s dealing with parents living in the past, friends who change and you don’t feel like you know them anymore, or someone who cuts you off in traffic because they’re in a huge rush to go who knows where.

The moment someone gets on your nerves and you feel a jolt of anxiety run up your back, take a big breath and say, “Let them.”

You’ve probably been there. You’re out and about and you see something that just feels … off.

“Should I step in? … But it’s not really any of my business. … And I’m not even sure they need my help…”

---

Our gut tells us to speak up, to ask questions, to tell someone. But often, we don’t.

This happened to Malyk Bonnet, a 17-year-old from Montreal. But instead of ignoring his instincts, he acted brilliantly. It may have saved a woman’s life.

Bonnet had been having a relatively normal day until he spotted something suspicious on his way home.

He’d been waiting for the bus after a shift at the restaurant where he works when he saw a man and woman arguing. He sensed a red flag.

“The guy was screaming at her, the girl,” Bonnet told CBC News. “He wasn’t really gentle with her, and I started watching, because I thought he would hit her, so I approached them a little bit.”

The pair asked Bonnet if he could lend them bus fares to nearby Laval, a city about 25 miles away from downtown Montreal.

Bonnet felt uneasy about what was happening. But instead of declining, he decided to get more involved. He helped the man and woman with their fares and told them he was also traveling to Laval (which was not the case).

“My plan was to keep them in a public place where he wouldn’t hurt her,” Bonnet told Dateline NBC. “I decided to be friendly with the man and have him think I was his friend. I played my game and he seemed to trust me.”

After arriving in Laval, Bonnet suggested they grab a bite to eat. At the restaurant, he gave the pair $50 for food and excused himself to use the restroom. Finally having the opportunity, he called the police and told them “someone had been kidnapped.” Officers arrived minutes later.

What Bonnet hadn’t known at the time was that police were already looking for the perpetrator and his victim.

The abusive man Bonnet reported had abducted his ex-girlfriend just hours beforehand.

“We were looking for a 29-year-old woman who was kidnapped by her former boyfriend earlier that day,” Laval police Lt. Daniel Guérin told CBC News. “We believed that man was very dangerous.”

Previously, the abuser spent time behind bars for assaulting his ex and sending her death threats.

Bonnet told Dateline NBC that while he didn’t speak with the woman after police arrived, he could see how relieved she was. “We made eye contact and she had tears in her eyes. She was really happy.”

Unfortunately, this type of tragic experience isn’t all that rare.

While this particular story unfolded in Canada — where roughly half of women have experienced at least one incident of sexual or physical violence since the age of 16 — you’ll find similarly alarming statistics in the U.S.

1 out of 4 American women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. What’s more, female victims of homicide are far more likely than male victims to be killed by a current or former partner.

Although it may seem easy to simply leave an abusive relationship in the dust, take it from some women who’ve been there — it’s much more difficult than it seems from the outside looking in.

Instead of passing judgment, you can learn more about how you can help friends and family members who may be experiencing domestic abuse.

Bonnet has become a local hero for his selflessness.

“His quick actions may have saved this young woman’s life,” Guérin said. The officers made sure to collect money so Bonnet could be reimbursed for the bus fares and food he purchased while trying to save the victim. “He now has 500 new friends in our department.”

Thank you, Malyk, for reminding me that sometimes the bravest thing I can do is simply listen to that voice when it’s trying to get my attention.

This article originally appeared on 08.20.15