Month: March 2024

No one will blame you for doing a spit-take when you see a bottle of bourbon costs $200. It’s a lot. That said, it’s also… not that crazy. Bourbon is a commodity that gets rarer with age — and rarity drives prices up. Still… asking someone to pay two bills for a single bottle of bourbon feels like a thing — which means that the bourbon in that bottle had better be f*cking amazing.

You’re in luck. There are a lot of great bourbons out there that costs between $150 and $200 that are freaking great, live up to the price, and even deserve the hype. Below, we’ll be listing 12 of them.

The thing about bourbon at this price point is that there’s a lot of variation. We’re talking about bourbons with very unique oak finishes, special single barrels, high-age statements, special batches, and one-offs. The flavor profiles can be polar opposites on some of these, so I did rank them. While all of these bourbons slap, some are transcendent.

Let’s dive in!

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2023, Ranked
• The 100 Best Kentucky Bourbons, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Tasting Bourbons Under $50, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The Best Bourbons Under $100 For Thanksgiving Dinner, Ranked

12. Old Man Winter Bourbon From The Black Hills

ABV: 54.9%

Average Price: $154

The Whiskey:

This new release is a masterful blend of whiskeys from the core of America’s distillery region. The blend in the bottle is a batch of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee whiskeys that are balanced to highlight classic bourbon notes at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Peach cobbler with a big scoop of malted vanilla ice cream pops on the nose with a light sense of rye bread crusts, caramel pie, and mild orange zest cut with oaky tobacco.

Palate: Apricot jam over buttermilk biscuits leads the taste toward white pepper spiciness, winter spice barks, and a bright burst of grapefruit pith before this mild sense of white grape juice and almost savory melon arrives.

Finish: That melon goes full honeydew on the finish with a bit more of that orange before black peppercorns and smoldering smudging sage drive the end toward woody tobacco boxes wrapped in old leather.

Bottom Line:

This is a very fruit-forward bourbon blend. That fruit manifests more as stewed summer fruits in a nostalgic way — think one of your grandparent’s peach cobblers with a big ol’ scoop of vanilla ice cream. Classic woody spice notes, tobacco, and light citrus bitterness nicely balance that fruit. It’s a complex whiskey that’s amazingly approachable, and delicious in a whiskey cobbler cocktail.

11. Old Carter Straight Bourbon Whiskey Very Small Batch 3-KY

ABV: 58%

Average Price: $180

The Whiskey:

Old Carter is a hidden-away bottler right off Whiskey Row in Louisville. It’s still very insider. Their process is all about finding great barrels of whiskey, blending them, and bottling them for whiskey lovers in the know. In this case, that was a very small batch blend that yielded only 1,116 bottles.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A thickness comes through on the nose with a creamy vanilla and maple syrup vibe with a buttery underbelly accented by old corn husks, woody cinnamon, allspice, and lush nutmeg with a hint of hazelnut.

Palate: Thick salted caramel sauce vibes with a black-tea-soaked date feel as cinnamon syrup and smoldering orchard wood leads to a big mid-palate Kentucky hug.

Finish: That warmth fades quickly as hints of dried cranberry tobacco and cedar braids filled with wicker and sweetgrass end the sip on a dry note with a touch of floral honey lurking underneath it all.

Bottom Line:

Old Carter has been sourcing and bottling stellar whiskey over the years. While you might not be able to find this exact bottle (very little makes it out of Kentucky), try any bourbon from them. You should be able to find these at really good whiskey bars. Buy a pour and take it slow, this is great slow-sipping whiskey.

10. Chicken Cock Red Stave Petite Sirah Barrel Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon

ABV: 51.2%

Average Price: $199

The Whiskey:

Chicken Cock is great at dropping big limited releases every year. 2023’s big bourbon was a “Red Stave” Kentucky straight bourbon made from a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley. That whiskey is left to age for an undisclosed amount of time before being re-barrelled into select J. Wilkes Petite Sirah barrels for a final mellowing run.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a sweet mulled wine cut with piney honey, plenty of spice barks, and hints of dried red berries before veering toward creamy toffee and vanilla beans.

Palate: Wild berry jam and bold winter spices mingle with rich dark chocolate, creamed honey, and vanilla lattes on the palate before the mulled wine spices start sneaking in and building.

Finish: The mulled wine-soaked red berries and raisins drive the finish toward a lush toffee and vanilla cream with a bold warming winter spice layered into a rich pipe tobacco.

Bottom Line:

Bourbon and red wine-soaked oak just works (for this whiskey critic anyway). There’s a nice sense of dark and dank red fruit that accents the warming spiced bourbon wonderfully. There’s also a nice whisper of pine dank in there that takes this one to a new level. I’d recommend pairing this as a neat pour with a dessert course or putting it into a funky Manhattan with some dark red fruit vibes.

9. Blackened x Rabbit Hole A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys Distilled in Tennessee & Kentucky Finished in Calvados Casks Cask Strength

ABV: 53.3%

Average Price: $160

The Whiskey:

This collaboration between Metallica’s Blackened and Rabbit Hole is masterful whiskey. The blend is a 13-year-old Tennessee high-rye bourbon batched with Rabbit Hole Heigold High-Rye Double Malt Bourbon (with malted rye and malted barley). Once batched, the whiskey was re-barreled into Calvados casks (an apple brandy) for a final rest before 100% as-is bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a nice sense of chili pepper warmth on the nose with a hint of macadamia cookie nuttiness, honey Graham Crackers, light summer florals, and a whisper of darkly stewed apple.

Palate: Cinnamon-infused pear brandy sparks on the palate with a sense of clover honey, walnut loaf, and this thin line of smoked applewood with a good sense of barrel warmth.

Finish: The honey and walnut drive the finish toward a soft warmth that leaves the gentlest numbness on the senses.

Bottom Line:

This is just a really nice sipper, folks. It’s deep and balanced with a classic sense of bourbon that then goes beyond the ordinary with a nice nuttiness, honeyed sweetness, and subtle warmth. Sip it over a big rock while you listen to your favorite Metallica album. You can’t go wrong.

8. Hardin’s Creek ‘Frankfort’ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 55%

Average Price: $199

The Whiskey:

This is the same 17-year-old Beam bourbon aged at the Frankfort, Kentucky campus. This set of warehouses is more easterly in the state where the humidity gets bold in the summer and the foothills of Appalachia start to roll in. The actual buildings are also tighter with less ventilation, creating a more enclosed hot box vibe for the ricks.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Soft woody notes pop on the nose with a sense of old tobacco in a cedar humidor next to toasted marshmallows over a smoldering campfire with rum raisin, bespoke cherry soda pop, and salted caramel that’s cut with molasses leads to a medley of sugar cookies cut with almond and lemon oils next to spiced nut cakes.

Palate: The caramel gets dark and salted on the tip of the tongue as the palate leans into mincemeat pies and dark mulled wine with a sense of brandy-soaked fruit cake, rich marzipan, and soft pipe tobacco with a sense of floral honey backing everything up.

Finish: The end takes on a woody vanilla pod vibe over soft notes of winter spice barks, soft cedar, and old saddle leather shined with cherry wax and honeycomb before a malty chocolate shake arrives with a lush and silky finish full of holiday spices and dry smudging sage piled up in an old rickhouse on a warm but musty day.

Bottom Line:

First, 17-year-old Beam whiskey is pretty freaking amazing. Add in a delicately balanced batch from a specific location and you have a great bourbon. This one rewards you for taking your time, nosing, adding water, going back and forth, and really digging in. There’s so much going on and it’s all good.

7. Frank August Case Study 2: XO PX Brandy Cask Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $199

The Whiskey:

This Kentucky bourbon is all about time … and old-world oak. The whiskey was batched and then re-barreled into a 1992 cask that held PX brandy for 17 years. Another portion of the whiskey went into an XO PX brandy cask from 1948. The barrels were still wet when they arrived in Kentucky and re-filled with this bourbon, adding to the depth of that final aging of the final batch.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This starts with a deep sense of old-world oak before diving into dark prunes and dates with stewed apricots, soft dark chocolate, spicy mulled wine, and brandy-soaked pears rolled with rose-water-soaked marzipan with a hint of soft buttery toffee underneath it all.

Palate: Those dark fruits and murky spices drive the palate toward brown sugar, rum raisin, more of that brandied pear, old oak staves from an older cellar, soft reminiscent notes of cognac and Norman cider, and this fleeting sense of stewed prunes with a whisper of birch smoke.

Finish: The end goes full cognac with bright orchard fruits and berries with a hint of floral honey, soft vanilla oils, and sharp marmalade next to soft scones bespeckled with rum raisin and smeared with softly whipped salted butter over a plate made from dessert-wine-soaked oak staves.

Bottom Line:

This is a fantastic sipper. I’d highly recommend pairing this with a big East and/or Southeast Asian meal. There’s something about the honey, orange, plums, and pears that speaks to those flavor profiles.

6. Knob Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 18 Years

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $196

The Whiskey:

This is a super rare limited release for fall 2023. The whiskey in the bottle is Beam’s standard mash bill that’s distilled at a slightly different temperature and treated with a little more care during aging by placing barrels in very specific locations throughout their vast warehouses. After 18 long years, the best of the best barrels are small batched, and just proofed before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dark molasses and pecan clusters with salted dark chocolate lead to brown butter, old figs, and salted caramel with a woody sense of cherry and apple bark next to cinnamon-laced cedar sticks with burnt orange.

Palate: The palate is full of lush vanilla notes next to singed cherry bark and apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks, star anise, salted black licorice, and dark chocolate-covered espresso beans with a hint of dried red chili spice turning up the heat on the mid-palate.

Finish: The end has a floral honey sweetness that balances everything toward orange blossoms and bruised peaches, cherry tobacco, and clove tobacco.

Bottom Line:

Speaking of old Beam whiskey, this is another masterpiece. The beauty of this one is that it never feels “over-oaked” — or too woody. It’s soft and delicate with a luxurious mouthfeel that highlights soft sweetness, dark fruit, and warming spice. Pour it neat and enjoy the ride.

5. Rabbit Hole Heigold Singel Barrel Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 52.8%

Average Price: $173

The Whiskey:

This is a four-year-old single-barrel version of Rabbit Hole’s beloved Heigold expression. That’s the brand’s double malt (malted rye and malted barley) that has a high-rye bourbon mash bill (70/25/5 corn/malted rye/malted barley). Prime barrels are bottled as-is at cask strength to highlight the beauty of Rabbit Hole’s spirit.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is lush with deep layers of maple syrup over pecan waffles with a good hit of salted butter (really good butter) next to dark chocolate chips, old boot leather, smudging sage that’s just smoldering, and a fleeting sense of old rickhouses on a crisp fall day.

Palate: The palate follows the nose’s path with caramelized pecans finished with floral honey and dusted with candied orange peels, ground pear chips, and very dark chocolate with a pinch of salt and apple blossom before the sharp and woody winter spice kicks in.

Finish: The end leans into the dryness of the winter spice mix before silky marzipan and maple syrup creamed with butter creates a luscious finish that slowly fades from warm to comforting.

Bottom Line:

This is a lush sipper. It’s so deep and fun with a sense of quintessential Kentucky bourbon vibes. While the price makes this feel like a celebratory sipper, this is the sort of bourbon that you’ll want to enjoy every day.

4. Augusta Distillery Buckner’s Aged 13 Years Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 60% (varies)

Average Price: $199

The Whiskey:

This is a very niche brand out in rural Kentucky that’s sourcing old barrels. The whiskey in the bottle is a Kentucky straight bourbon that rested for 13 years before it was bottled completely as-is both unfiltered and at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a sense of old barrel houses full of sweet and spice bourbon next to a gentle moment of creamy vanilla honey with old corn husks stuffed in the honey which is poured over spiced winter nut breads with a hint of butteriness and earthy nutshells.

Palate: The clove, allspice, and anise of the nut bread amp up the buttery palate with a sense of Earl Grey tea leaves, salted caramel, and mocha-heavy espresso beans next to a light marzipan moistness and hints of burnt orange next to old dry black cherry bark.

Finish: The end lingers for a while as the marzipan and orchard barks fade toward sharp eggnog spices and soft creaminess before the vanilla creamed honey slathers old oak staves with a good dose of earthy fall vibes kind of like a forest floor on a frosty day.

Bottom Line:

This is bold bourbon that’s balanced and subtle. It’s soft in all the right places and engagingly brash as a counterbalance. This will widen your eyes and then comfort you with that iconic Kentucky hug by the end.

3. Hardin’s Creek ‘Boston’ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 55%

Average Price: $169

The Whiskey:

This is part three of the Hardin’s Creek 2023 releases. This whiskey is a 17-year-old bourbon made with Beam’s classic mash bill. The whiskey spent all 17 of those years in rickhouses on the Boston, Kentucky campus (a little further south of the Bardstown area). Those warehouses are in a flatter area (instead of tucked away in hollers or perched atop hills). So the actual buildings had more access to bathing warm sunlight, wind, and rain — all of which slightly shifted the aging process of the barrels in those warehouses.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a classic medley of wet brown sugar cut with rich vanilla buttercream, cinnamon bark, and dark cherry cola just kissed with dark chocolate and salt.

Palate: The taste leans nutty (more almond shell than marzipan) with a deep sense of salted dark chocolate-covered espresso beans next to sticky toffee pudding, salted caramel sauce cut with orange zest, and a hint of coffee cake dipped in black tea with a fleeting sense of old rickhouses floors and dry tobacco.

Finish: That dry tobacco and earthiness amp up the finish as the spice barks sharpen toward a warming finish full of Kentucky hugs, vanilla beans, and soft spiced brandied cherries dipped in dark chocolate.

Bottom Line:

This is a great example of how much the place a whiskey is aged can affect the final product. This has a depth that’s dark and almost murky with heavy chocolate and coffee oils that feel real with a sense of essential Beam flavor notes subtly layered in. It’s a dream to sip.

2. 15 STARS Fine Aged Spirits Sherry Cask Finish A Select Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys Finished in Sherry Casks

ABV: 57.5%

Average Price: $179

The Whiskey:

This 2023 release from 15 STARS was made from a blend of 10 and 13-year-old Kentucky and Indiana bourbons. Those barrels were batched by the 15 STARS crew and then the whiskey was re-barreled in sherry casks for a final touch of maturation. That whiskey was then bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Plums, dates, and figs come through on the nose with deep marzipan cut with pear brandy and dipped in salted dark chocolate next to eggnog spices and creaminess with a good dose of Christmas nut cakes.

Palate: The eggnog lusciousness leads the palate toward soft vanilla cookies, salted caramel chews, and a hint of spiced plum jam next to buttermilk waffles studded with pecans before old cellar oak adds an earthen layer.

Finish: The sweetness of the leathery dried fruits drives the finish toward winter spice barks and berries with a sense of old pipe tobacco braided with smudging sage and a whisper of dried mint next to cedar and fall leaves.

Bottom Line:

This is an award-winning bourbon that lives up to the hype. It’s one of those bourbons that as soon as you sip, you’ll know why it’s so special. It’s straight-up delicious.

1. Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished In Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout Barrels

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $159

The Whiskey:

This new release from Bardstown Bourbon Company is a collaboration with Chicago’s Goose Island’s iconic Bourbon County Stout. The whiskey in the bottle is a blend of six- and seven-year-old Kentucky bourbons that are batched and then re-barreled into Bourbon County stout barrels. 12 months later, the whiskey is blended with another 9-year-old Kentucky bourbon, barely proofed, and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A moment of honey draws you in on the nose before veering toward rich and very dark chocolate with a deeply stewed cherry cut with oily vanilla, mulled wine spices, and pear brandy-soaked marzipan with a hint of candied orange zest, dry espresso beans, and moist tobacco leaves.

Palate: There’s a moment of malted chocolate shakes on the taste that leads to a rich spiced Christmas cake brimming with walnuts, sultanas, candied cherry, candied lemon rinds, and leathery dates that lead to moments of creamy and very boozy eggnog poured over a Black Forest Cake.

Finish: The Christmas spices, fruit cake, dried fruit, and eggnog all combine on the finish to create a rich and sumptuous finish full of luscious textures and just the right amount of spiced whiskey warmth.

Bottom Line:

This was one of my favorite pours of 2023. It’s rich, lush, and brings all the right depth while holding onto a silky texture. This is also a great pairing whiskey for big meals with big flavors — it can stand up and will accentuate anything (try it with wild game, trust us).

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists.

Bryson Tiller, after nearly four long years, returned to announce a new album, dropped a new single with “Calypso,” and revealed the dates The Bryson Tiller Tour. He also shared new details behind that rumored “Don’t” remix with Drake. Tyla shared the official video for her “Water” remix with Travis Scott while SZA was named as one of the headliners for Lolapalooza 2024. Elsewhere, Mahalia put on a show at her In Her Real Life tour stop in New York and PartyNextDoor was named as a headliner for Broccoli City Festival 2024.

Tyla — Tyla

South African singer Tyla made a splash in 2023 with her breakout singer “Water” and this year, she makes another one with her self-titled debut. Through 14 songs, one of them being the Travis Scott-assisted remix of “Water,” Tyla establishes her independence and breaks free from everything that held her back in prior days. She also gets help from Gunna, Skillibeng, Travis Scott, Tems, and Becky G on the project.

SiR — Heavy

Nearly six long years removed from his beloved third album Chasing Summer, TDE singer SiR is finally back with a new body of work. Heavy arrives with 16 songs featuring Ty Dolla Sign, Isaiah Rashad, Anderson .Paak, Ab-Soul, and Scribz Riley, all of whom help the TDE singer dive into an honest tale of his recovery, mental health, and physical transformation over the last few years.

Genia — “Let Me Wander”

Victorville, California singer Genia is back with another reason for us to be excited about her upcoming 4am In The Ville project. Her latest single “Let Me Wander” showcases her range with her soulful voice coasting over an acoustic guitar and textured drumbeat. She does it all while tackling the ups and downs of a relationship that no longer serves her, a realization that eventually pushes her to walk away.

Kaash Paige — “Superstar”

Pushing onward with her independent status, Kaash Paige is back with “Superstar.” Her second single of the year, Paige rocks out, true to her superstar name, over the track’s thumping bass. Here, Paige is the star of her own world and she’s not afraid to rock any stage that stands in front of her.

Loony — Loony

It’s been almost three years since Scarborough singer Loony arrived with her debut EP Soft Thing, the Polaris Music Prize nominee is back with her official debut album. The self-titled effort checks in with 12 songs and is an equally soothing and vibrant debut release from Loony who is set to head out on The Loony Tour next month.

Amaria — “Beggin’”

Los Angeles’ Amaria is almost a year removed from her All For You project, and she’s back with her second single since the project’s release. “Beggin’” is a silky-smooth record buried in funk and jazz flavor that altogether serves as the backdrop for Amaria’s plea to have another round with her lover.

Kelz2busy — “cdg.wav”

New York City singer Kelz2busy ended his 2023 year with his 3 Typa Nights EP and now he’s back in 2024 to get back to work. Kelz2busy drops “cdg.wav” which put his signature falsetto melodies back in the ears of his growing fan base as Kelz2busy speaks to an ex-lover and declares his love for her while accepting that their relationship is now a thing of the past.

Debbie — “It’s Been A Week”

Hopefully, 2024 is the year that London singer Debbie delivers a new project, but a new single for the time being is enough to hold us over. She’s back with “It’s Been A Week” which strikes as a defiant message on pushing through and getting to the light at the end of the tunnel following a tough breakup. “‘It’s Been A Week’ is a reflection (albeit a dramatic one) of pain and regret I was feeling with one particular lover,” she said about the song. “I was just expressing myself and escaping.”

Bairi — “Come My Way”

This year is lining up to be a big one for Pennsylvania native Bairi as she announced her long-awaited debut project Fire Siren. Following singles like “Paraíso” and “Spring Cleaning,” Bairi checks back in with “Come My Way.” Her usual sweet and soothing R&B gets swapped out for an upbeat dance number that bubbles with sensuality and anticipation as she waits for the moment her partner arrives to fulfill her needs.

Bri Steves — “Lonely With You / Back Outside”

Philadelphia singer Bri Steves took her talents to A Colors Show to debut two songs “Lonely With You” and “Back Outside.” The former is a sweet record that Steves uses to drop her guard and ask her future partner to love her for her best qualities and her flaws. “Back Outside” is brash and confident as an attempt at love fails and Steves brings her guard back up in self-defense as she recovers from the new bruises.

Shanae — “Leave It”

With a gig as the opener for SZA’s SOS Tour in Australia, singer Shanae is making the most of her moment with her brand new single “Leave It.” The thumping single is rough around the edges with a nostalgic touch that draws you for its two-minute duration. It’s a song the Australian-born, South African artist uses to move on from a lover who fails to do their part in the early stages of their relationship.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Even though St. Patrick’s Day is over, it’s never too late to celebrate the fine folks of Ireland, as it really is their year. Last week, honorary Irish Princess Ayo Edebiri shared a photo with actual Irish Prince Paul Mescal to celebrate the occasion, leading some to believe the two would be starring alongside each other. To the surprise of the internet, that concept is not too far-fetched.

Writer Emily Henry reposted Eedebiri’s image on her Instagram story, causing fans of her best-selling books to raise some eyebrows. Three of Henry’s novels, People We Meet on Vacation, Book Lovers, and Beach Read are all on track for film adaptions, and Henry seems open to casting Mescal and Edebiri for…something.

“I can’t confirm or deny anything with casting for any movie. I will say that those are two of my favorite ‘Irish’ actors,” Henry told Variety, a nod to Edebiri’s honorary heritage. Though she can’t comment on casting choices, Variety asked Henry if she could see the duo in the leading roles. “I do. I think that they would be amazing. I actually saw them being discussed [online] for several different roles — and I definitely have a favorite,” she said, referring to the online campaign to get Edebiri and Mescal cast in Beach Read.

Henry added that the actors would be great in any role. “But it’s fun, because different adaptations would either have one of them playing to type, or one of those adaptations would have them both playing to type, and one of them would have them both playing against type. It’s an interesting thing. I mean, they’re great, they could do anything,” she said.

Scripts are still being written for Henry’s upcoming adaptations, so if there is any casting news, we likely won’t know for a while. But while we’re at it, maybe someone can get Saoirse Ronan on board for some more Irish representation.

(Via Variety)

For those in the military, sleep can mean the difference between life and death. But shut-eye can be very hard to come by, especially during active conflict.

According to Sharon Ackman, the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School developed a scientific method to help its pilots fall asleep. Through this technique, 96% of the pilots were able to fall asleep in two minutes or less.

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If pilots could fall asleep during war, you should be able to use it to knock out in the comfort of your bedroom.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Relax in your seat

Given the space restraints of a typical plane, the pilots were taught to sleep in a seated position. They put their feet flat on the ground, while relaxing their hands in their laps.

Breathe slow, deep breaths while relaxing every muscle in your face and letting your forehead, cheeks, mouth, tongue, and jaw go limp.

Step 2: Relax your upper body

Let your shoulders drop as low as you can. Allow the muscles in your neck go lifeless.

Starting with your dominant side, let your bicep feel like it’s falling off your body. Then move to your forearm, hand, and fingers. If a muscle isn’t relaxing, tense it first, then let it go loose.

Slowly exhale your tension.

Step 3: Relax your lower body

Tell your right thigh muscle to sink, then move down your leg, saying the same thing to your calf, ankle, and foot. Your leg should feel like it has sunk into the ground. Then move on to your left leg.

The final step is to clear your mind for ten seconds. You can do this by paying attention to your breath as it moves through your nostrils or holding a static image in your mind.

Once your body is relaxed and your mind quiet, you should slip away into darkness.

For more information on this sleep technique, check out Ackman’s Medium blog.

This article originally appeared on 04.11.19

PawsLikeMe might know you better than you know yourself.

Hello from the other siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide!!! I’m a dog and I love youuuuuuuu!!!

Because PawsLikeMe knows about your dreams.

Your DOG dreams, that is.

How? A dog-human personality quiz!

A sophisticated one, too! From their website:

“The personality assessment is based on 4 core personality traits that influence the human-canine bond; energy, focus, confidence, and independence.”

It also takes into account environmental factors and other special circumstances as well.

It’s not uncommon for dogs that are adopted to be returned because they just aren’t compatible with their owner’s life.

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PawsLikeMe aims to stop dog-owner mismatch by playing dog matchmaker! Its goal is to help people find the right dog for them.

Need a dog that’s friendly with kids but loves learning tricks and is also house-trained? DONE. Have other specific requirements? DONE!

Ya got options.

When you go on the website, you can opt to just answer the four most important questions in a dog owner’s life:

1. What’s your energy level?

2. What kind of parties do you like?

3. What kind of dog personality do you want?

4. What is your personality like?

After those four questions, you can begin searching for a doggie match.

Or you can opt for the full questionnaire (you should) … and basically feel very, VERY understood.

I took the full PawsLikeMe quiz, and when I saw the results I was kindof taken aback:

PawsLikeMe GETS ME!

Then I was the whisked away to dogs who are just ready to love me.

Listen. My apartment in NYC doesn’t allow dogs. But if it did? I’d be 91% ready to adopt Carli. She’s perfect, and I love her. CUE ADELE and her songs of lost opportunities to love!

With all the 80 gajillion personality quizzes out there in the world, this one is hands down THE BEST.

Take it for yourself! You won’t regret it.

This article originally appeared on 11.06.15

Diddy’s Los Angeles mansion was reportedly raided by Homeland Security today in connection with a federal sex trafficking investigation. According to Fox’s Los Angeles affiliate, federal agents not only raided the house — which is registered to Bad Boy Films and one of Diddy’s daughters — but also detained several people.

The embattled music impresario has been under severe scrutiny since November of 2023, when his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against him for sexual assault and abuse. Although the suit was settled the next day, within a week, two more women had filed simliar lawsuits, offering their own stories of mistreatment at the hands of the Bad Boy Entertainment founder.

Early this year, yet another lawsuit was filed, this time by music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who said that while living and working with Diddy during the recording of his most recent album, the mogul had engaged in a plethora of questionable behaviors, and even participated in a shooting at a Los Angeles studio attributed to an attempted robbery.

While Diddy has denied all of the allegations against him, he also experienced hits to his standing at businesses he founded; in November, he stepped down from his role as chairman at Revolt Media, and since then, his Hulu show was canceled, several brands departed his Empower Global marketplace, and he sold his stakes in DeLeón Tequila.

Arnold Schwarzenegger had open-heart surgery last week, but you wouldn’t know it considering the Governator was already mixing it up with Jane Fonda just a few days later. The FUBAR star made the announcement on the latest episode of his Arnold’s Pump Club podcast where he couldn’t resist making a Terminator joke.

“Last Monday, I had surgery to become a little bit more of a machine,” Arnold quipped. “I got a pacemaker.”

The actor has suffered from “genetic heart issue” that required him to get valve replacement surgery in 1997. He had another valve replacement surgery in 2019 that went sideways after doctor’s accidentally nicked his heart wall, which Arnold has admitted was one of the most terrifying moments of his life. Scar tissue from that incident led to his most recent surgery and the installation of a pacemaker.

Via People:

“First of all, I want you to know I’m doing great! I had my surgery on Monday, and by Friday, I was already at a big environmental event with my friend and fellow fitness crusader Jane Fonda,” he continued. “Nobody would ever have thought I started the week with a surgery.”

“I want to thank my whole team at the Cleveland Clinic. All of the doctors and nurses took amazing care of me and made the surgery as painless as possible,” he added.

Despite the near-death experience in 2019, Arnold has nothing but respect for his physicians. The actor takes his heart condition seriously and always listens to his doctor’s advice following the death of his mother in 1998. She refused to get valve surgery for a similar condition, and Arnold vowed to not make the same mistake.

“I could have kept it a secret. But I know that we have more than 750,000 subscribers now — the village is a city now — and a lot of you are probably dealing with your own health challenges,” Arnold said. “I want you to know you aren’t alone. And if you’re putting something off out of fear, I hope I inspire you to listen to your doctors and take care of yourself.”

(Via People)

Rappers, broadly speaking, are known for being about as reckless with their money as they are gifted with wordplay. If you’re gettting “millions” for your records, why wouldn’t you spend it on throwaways, just to prove you have it?

Viewed from that perspective, it makes sense that the primary feature of Future and Metro Boomin‘s “Young Metro” video is a Tesla Cybertruck. There’s almost no other purchase that screams “ostentatious wealth” and “no f*cks given about utility” like copping a vehicle that rusts if you leave it out on a misty night.

The Weeknd also makes a cameo appearance with a bandana over his face like an old-timey cattle rustler. Naturally, there are also the requesite shots of beautiful, scantily-clad young women, one of whom braids Metro’s hair. Another playfully “lifts” the truck over her head as the others tastefully drape themselves across its blocky frame — these guys certainly have a sense of humor.

“Young Metro” appears, of course, on Future and Metro’s new album, We Don’t Trust You, which has been receiving plenty of attention over the weekend — both for the novelty of the two artists reuniting for a full project and for some of the more incendiary features. It’s out now via Epic and Republic and you can check it out here.

At $200 a bottle, we’ve finally landed on the great bottles of Scotch whisky. This is where it gets fun! We’re not anywhere near the top of Scotch Mountain — there’s so much more Scotch out there to talk about. But we are in the first real sweet spot with amazing special releases, cask-strength variants, and one-of-a-kind bottlings.

The 10 amazing Scotch whiskies profiled below are all so freaking good. They deserve the hype and are worth those hefty price tags. The fact is, Scotch whisky is such a broad category with unique creations that you sometimes have to put aside the price point — you certainly can’t compare it to the price of bourbon, which is simply cheaper to make.

We ranked these whiskies according to where we found the most depth. That said, it’s really up to you to decide on the “bottom line” that fits your taste!

• 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

10. Roseisle Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years “The Origami Kite” Special Release 2023

ABV: 56.5%

Average Price: $199

The Whisky:

Diageo adds a unique release to its Special Release lineup every year and 2023’s honor went to Roseisle. The distillery and malt house are very new, it opened in 2010. The whisky in this new release is a 12-year-old single malt that was aged in first-fill ex-bourbon and re-fill ex-bourbon casks for all 12 of those years. Once batched, the whisky was bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich and silky bourbon vanilla pops on the nose with a clear sense of stewed apples and pears with plenty of winter spice, buttery caramel, and almost tart red berries just starting to dry out and sweeten.

Palate: That vanilla really amps up on the palate as the red fruit sweetens and darkens toward raspberry crumble and brandy-soaked cherry before this lush sense of macadamia nut cookies arrives with a burnt sugar vibe (think of fresh cookies from the oven).

Finish: Finally, the old oak arrives with a deep winter spice bark vibe over hints of white chocolate mocha lattes that are verging on eggnog territory with a whisper of (very mild) peppermint and nutmeg working in tandem.

Bottom Line:

The fact that we got a single Roseisle is a bit of a miracle. This is a very new distillery in Scottish terms. It opened in 2010 and the whisky, so far, has largely been left to age while the younger juice is being used for Diageo’s wide range of blended Scotch whiskies. This is the first sneak peek into what’s coming from the distillery and it’s exciting in that this is pretty goddamn delicious for a 12-year-old single malt.

9. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $199

The Whisky:

This is the mountaintop of Johnnie Walker’s whiskies. The blend is a marriage of ultra-rare grain and malt stock from extinct Diageo distilleries around Scotland. That’s just … cool. This expression is all about barrel selection and the mastery of a great noser and blender working together to create something special.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose on this one feels like silk with soft malts, dried plums, good marzipan, old boot leather, mulled wine spices, and a whisper of fireplace smoke.

Palate: The taste layers orange oils into the marzipan as rose-water-infused honey leads to a line of bitter dark chocolate that’s touched with smoked malts and nuts.

Finish: The end has an even keel of velvet mouthfeel next to floral honey, soft smoldering smoke from a fireplace, and old dried fruit.

Bottom Line:

Johnnie Blue is an icon. This is one of the most coveted blended Scotch whiskies on the market, and it’s easy to see why. This is a super easy sipper that delivers a nicely balanced and deep profile without overwhelming smoke. It’s subtle and delicious, especially over a single large ice cube.

8. Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Vintage 2013 Cask Strength Batch 01

ABV: 59.7%

Average Price: $199

The Whisky:

This late 2023 Benromach release was 10 years in the making. The batch is made from a mix of first-fill ex-bourbon barrels (that means that this whisky was the first thing to go into the barrel after the bourbon was dumped) and ex-sherry casks. Those casks were vatted and then the whisky was bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Stewed plums and mulled wine-soaked cinnamon sticks mingle with dark salted chocolate-covered espresso beans, vanilla husks, and creamy toffee rolled in roasted almond.

Palate: Sticky toffee pudding with a hint of black tea and plenty of nutmeg and cinnamon drive the palate toward a moment of burnt orange that’s just kissed with smoldering cacao nibs.

Finish: Smoked plums and black-tea-soaked dates lead to old winter spice barks and more musty orange on the finish with a hint of buttercream.

Bottom Line:

This is a great bridge between subtle bourbon and bold cask-strength single malt. It’s incredibly sippable over some ice and will remind you of spicy, jammy, and nutty bourbons.

7. Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Càirdeas 2023 White Port And Madeira

ABV: 52.3%

Average Price: $165

The Whiskey:

2023’s Càirdeas from Lahroaig was a banger. This whisky was aged right by the sea in Islay in White Port and Madeira casks until just right. Then the whisky was vatted and bottled at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Fresh ginger coins and green apple pulp dance on the nose with caramelized pear cut with orange zest and ground cinnamon that’s all countered by a sense of old campfire coal that’s still just smoldering and spitting tiny drops of rain.

Palate: Honey malt cakes dipped in orange syrup draw the palate toward heavy oak dipped in Nutella and caramel before the peat kicks in with massive amounts of bandages, seawater, and smoldering orchard barks.

Finish: The smoldering bark gets ashy on the finish with a real sense of the inside of a cold smoker that’s smoked everything from pears to salmon to brisket before a lightly sea-salted dried pear comes in with a hint of brandy.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the most “acquired taste” whiskies on the list. It’ll either be love at first sip or completely off-putting. If it is off-putting, add some water or ice and give it time. There’s incredible depth in this whisky that’s waiting for you to find it. Take your time and it’ll reward you.

6. Ardbeg Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $194

The Whiskey:

This Ardbeg limited edition is a funky masterpiece. The Islay whiskey was aged in Sauternes wine casks (a French dessert wine) and ex-bourbon barrels right next to the sea. After 13 years, those barrels were vatted and kissed with local spring water for bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Beeswax and unfiltered olive oil greet you on the nose with a deep sense of fatty roasting herbs, saddle soap, floral honey malted biscuits, vanilla-laced condensed milk still in the can, and blackberry brambles — dirt, berries, thorns, et al.

Palate: The salted meaty fat from the roasting herbs drives the palate toward absinth botanicals, smoldering beeswax candles, raw sugar rock candy, and this fleeting sense of smoldering white moss next to eucalyptus oils in a warm clay pot.

Finish: Smoked apricot and plum arrive on the finish with a hint of toasted coconut layered into a rich and creamy South Asian curry full of turmeric, cumin, and cardamon with a twist of smoked lemon and burnt cinnamon bark.

Bottom Line:

This is a savory, fruity, and smoky delight. Yes, it’s an acquired taste, but it’s so much more … if you give it a chance. Add water, re-nose, play with ice, and give it some effort from your end. Trust me, it’ll draw you in slowly and reveal its beautiful profile. It just might hook you on peated Islay malt.

5. Aberlour Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Double Cask Matured 18 Years Old

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $163

The Whisky:

The expression from Speyside’s Aberlour uses ex-bourbon casks for its primary maturation and ex-sherry for its finishing maturation. Those barrels are batched after at least 18 years and proofed down with soft Speyside water and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: You’re drawn in with a note of hard butterscotch candies next to a touch of chinotto (bittersweet Italian orange), butter toffee, and the slightest wisp of peach pits.

Palate: The taste builds out from that peach pit layer with a note of ripe peach flesh and fuzzy skin while jammy blackberry leads towards a soft cedar.

Finish: The finish really takes its time and leaves you with a silken texture next to a honeyed sweetness and a final roundness of vanilla cream.

Bottom Line:

This is succinct and lush sipping whisky. There’s a lot of connective tissue between this and supple bourbon to draw you in. But in the end, this is a nostalgic malt that’s deep, dark, and delicious. Try it neat, over a rock, and then in a Manhattan. It’ll slap.

4. Springbank Aged 15 Years Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $159

The Whisky:

This is made with Springbank’s mildly peated malts and then aged for 15 years in ex-sherry barrels. The whisky is then blended and proofed down with local spring water before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is a funky and savory nose with hints of teriyaki beef jerky next to powdery stock cubes with a hint of smoked brisket fat next to hydrogen peroxide before turning sweet with stewed prunes with a hint of cinnamon and honey.

Palate: The palate is like a marriage between a nutty and spicy Christmas cake and a low-and-slow brisket with tons of sea salt and fat and a whisper of smoke.

Finish: The finish arrives with a walnut dark chocolate crumble with minor notes of old leather and fireplace ashes next to a thin line of rocky beach after the rain.

Bottom Line:

This is 100% its own thing and it’s delightful. This is the sort of whisky that you feel the depth and brilliance of as soon as you nose it. Try it neat and then over a rock, you’ll be delighted.

3. The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky French Oak Aged 16 Years

ABV: 47.6%

Average Price: $199

The Whisky:

The Balvenie just added a new release to its core lineup late last year. The whisky is a masterful blend from whisky legend David Stewart. After around 15 years of aging, the whisky is transferred to Pineau des Charentes casks (a French fortified wine) for a final maturation, which is The Balvenie’s first foray into French oak finishing. The whisky is then bottled with a touch of water but as-is otherwise.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Red geraniums and fresh honeycomb greet you on the nose with supporting characters of green grass, pear skins, apple cores, a hint of a cinnamon roll with vanilla frosting, and a dash of nutmeg.

Palate: The palate leans into a lemon curd with a hint of grapefruit pith before layering in floral honey, ginger beer, vanilla-heavy shortbread, oatmeal raisin cookies, and a good dose of orange zest with a pinch of dark chocolate powder mixed in.

Finish: The end is light and airy with a hint of savory fig next to ginger-infused rock candy dipped in creamy dark chocolate that’s just kissed with cinnamon spice.

Bottom Line:

This is a breeze to sip. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any meat on the bones. This is a delicate and nuanced pour of incredible malt. It also pairs amazingly well with oysters, crab, and caviar.

2. The Glendronach Allardice Aged 18 Years Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $174

The Whisky:

This Highland whisky is a local tradition of sorts, dating back to the brand’s origins in the 1820s. The whisky in the bottle is hewn from barrels of at least 18-year-old whiskies. The maturation is done exclusively in hand-picked Olorosso sherry casks from Spain.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Old orchard wood, soft leather, dried orange peels, raspberry jam, and creamy dark chocolate gently mingle on the nose.

Palate: That jam leans into a spiced cherry compote as stewed plums with plenty of allspice and clove lead to soft walnut cake with a malty backbone.

Finish: The mid-palate takes that walnut and sweetness and moves the taste toward velvety malts and soft and sweet orchard wood, dusting more of that dark chocolate and dark berry silkiness.

Bottom Line:

This is an essential malt, especially for dark fruit and spiced winter vibes. While that sounds very wintry, this whisky works year-round, especially if you’re looking for something bourbon adjacent.

1. Oban 2023 Distillers Edition Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $162

The Whisky:

This expression is a love letter to the tiny town of Oban on the western coast of Scotland. The whisky is standard Oban that’s finished in Montilla Fino sherry casks to add an extra dimension to the already finely crafted whisky from the distillery. Those casks are then vatted and proofed before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A small billow of smoke greets you on the nose next to notes of sea brine, orange zest, and a hint of vinous fruit that feels a little like saltwater taffy and a little like old Fruit Roll-Ups with a sense of soft winter spices lurking under it all.

Palate: Sweet caramel malts form on the silky palate as stewed pear and apple mingle with salted toffee and a light sense of oyster shell and toasted seaweed barely breakthrough on the back end.

Finish: That hint of the sea fades on the finish as you’re left with soft caramel maltiness and even softer stewed pear just kissed with saffron, clove, and anise next to a whisper of plum pudding.

Bottom Line:

This is a must-have for any whisky collection. This is one of the best whiskies, full stop. It’s delicate, delicious, and a delight to sip. It’s also amazingly complex without feeling like homework. It’s truly comforting.

(WARNING: Spoilers for The Chi season six will be found below.)

It’s been six months since The Chi paused its sixth season with a midseason break after its eighth episode. The break for The Chi was planned ahead of season six’s debut, but it went on a bit longer than expected thanks to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. After a midseason finale that left a lot of unresolved storylines on the table (Pastor Jackson’s death and the aftermath, Victor’s retaliation against Douda, Papa & Kenya and Jake & Jemma’s up-and-down relationships, and so much more), fans are excited for The Chi to return to finish season six. With a premiere date finally in place, let’s dive into everything you need to know for The Chi season six part two

Release Date

The second half of The Chi season six will premiere on May 10. The premiere episode will be available for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan subscribers on May 10 at 3 am EST/12 am PST. It will then make its on-air debut on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME on Sunday, May 9 pm ET/PT. The show’s return concludes a midseason break that began after the eighth episode in season six which aired on September 24, 2023. The break, uncharacteristic of The Chi, was the result of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes that occurred on May 2, 2023, and July 13, 2023, respectively. Production for the second half of the season was put on pause until the SAG-AFTRA strike ended on November 9, 2023.

Cast

There will be two cast members missing from the sixth season of The Chi. The first is Tory O. Davis’ character Pastor Stanley Jackson who was murdered by Douda at the end of episode six this season. The second is Alex R. Hibbert’s Kevin Williams who departed the show after episode eight to pursue a video game career in Los Angeles. Outside of them, the main cast is expected to remain the same for the second half of season six. Some new names are joining the cast as well including Kadeem Hardison (A Different World), Leon (Swarm), Brett Gray (I’m A Virgo), and Daniel J. Watts (Werewolf By Night). Here’s who you can expect to see in the cast for the remainder of season six:

• Jacob Latimore as Emmett Washington
• Tiffany Boone as Jerrika Little
• Kandi Burruss as Roselyn Perry
• Vic Mensa as Jamal
• Carolyn Michelle Smith as Deja
• Jason Weaver as Shaad
• Iman Shumpert as Rob
• Nia Jervier as Tierra
• L’lerrét Jazelle as Fatima
• Ahmad Nicholas Ferguson as Bakari
• Kennedy Amaya as Kenya
• Genesis Denise Hale as Maisha
• Joel Steingold as Marcus St. John
• Judae’a Brown as Jemma St. Brown
• Miriam A. Hyman as Dre
• Tyla Abercrumbie as Nina
• Zaria Imani Primer as Lynae
• Tai Davis as Tracy Roxboro
• Kadeem Hardison as Professor Gardner
• Leon as Alonzo
• Brett Gray as Damien
• Daniel J. Watts as Pastor Ezekiel

Plot

Specifics about the storyline for the second half of The Chi have yet to be revealed by Showtime, though the platform noted in a press release that in the upcoming episodes, “no one is safe and everyone will be tested as never.” You can read the original synopsis for season six below, but note that it was written before episodes about Kevin’s departure, Victor’s proposal to Fatima to move in with him, Emmett’s dealings with Douda, and more were aired.

This season, life in The Chi reverberates between the highest highs and lowest lows. Big dreams are finally realized but at a cost and everyone will be tested in unimaginable ways as they calculate the risks and rewards of their next big move. Emmett (Jacob Latimore) and Kiesha’s (Birgundi Baker) blissful blended union is tested by his insatiable drive to expand Smokey’s and a new perilous partnership, while Kiesha finally races toward a rewarding new career. Douda (Curtiss Cook) deals with the fallout of Q’s murder and its effect on the shifting loyalty of his inner circle.

Victor’s (Luke James) bold declaration of love for both his new girlfriend and his beloved community will impact his political ambitions. Happily married Jada (Yolonda Ross) mentors Emmett and her besties as they navigate relationships. Kevin (Alex Hibbert) is becoming a brilliant master gamer but struggles with the youthful pitfalls of early independence. Jake (Michael V. Epps) launches a new business, and Papa (Shamon Brown Jr.) falls for an older woman while questioning his faith. What will become of their pursuits will be revealed throughout this season’s sixteen jaw-dropping episodes.

Trailer

Showtime released a teaser video for the second half of The Chi season six on February 8. You can watch that below.

The Chi Season 6 Part 2 Schedule

The Chi season 6 part 2 will have eight episodes and the tentative release schedule for the episodes can be found below.

• May 10: Episode 1
• May 17: Episode 2
• May 24: Episode 3
• May 31: Episode 4
• June 7: Episode 5
• June 14: Episode 6
• June 21: Episode 7
• June 28: Episode 8

How To Watch The Chi Season 6 Part 2

New episodes in The Chi season 6 part 2 will first air weekly on Fridays as it will be available on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan subscribers starting on May 10 at 3 am EST/12 am PST. The new episodes will then air weekly on Sundays with an on-air debut on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME at 9 pm ET/PT.

‘The Chi’ season 6 part 2 debuts on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME on May 10, 2024. Seasons 1-5 as well as season 6 part 1 are available now to stream on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME