“I don’t think that we should be telling women anything. I think we should be telling men not to rape women and start the conversation there with prevention.”
So essentially — instead of teaching women how to avoid rape, let’s raise boys specifically not to rape.
There was a lot of ire raised from that idea. Maxwell was on the receiving end of a deluge of online harassment and scary threats because of her ideas, which is sadly common for outspoken women on the Internet.
People assumed it meant she was labeling all boys as potential rapists or that every man has a rape-monster he carries inside him unless we quell it from the beginning.
But the truth is most of the rapes women experience are perpetrated by people they know and trust. So fully educating boys during their formative years about what constitutes consent and why it’s important to practice explicitly asking for consent could potentially eradicate a large swath of acquaintance rape. It’s not a condemnation on their character or gender, but an extra set of tools to help young men approach sex without damaging themselves or anyone else.
But what does teaching boys about consent really look like in action?
Well, there’s the viral letter I wrote to my teen titled “Son, It’s Okay If You Don’t Get Laid Tonight” explaining his responsibility in the matter. I wanted to show by example that Maxwell’s words weren’t about shaming or blaming boys who’d done nothing wrong yet, but about giving them a road map to navigate their sexual encounters ahead.
There are also rape prevention campaigns on many college campuses, aiming to reach young men right at the heart of where acquaintance rape is so prevalent. Many men are welcoming these efforts.
And then there are creative endeavors to find the right metaphors and combination of words to get people to shake off their acceptance of cultural norms and see rape culture clearly.
This is brilliant:
There you have it. Seven comparisons that anyone can use to show how simple and logical the idea of consent really is. Consent culture is on its way because more and more people are sharing these ideas and getting people to think critically. How can we not share an idea whose time has come?
Actor Mark Wahlberg recently attended a daddy-daughter dance with his 10-year-old, Grace. Sadly, Grace had no interest in seeing her father strutting his stuff on the dance floor.
“I didn’t get one dance,” Wahlberg told Ellen DeGeneres. “And I told her we were going to do the whole big circle and I was going to go off. And she said, ‘Dad, if you embarrass me, I will never talk to you again.’ But what she did do is she hung out with me.”
No matter who your dad is, especially if you’re a 10-year-old-girl, you have zero desire to see him dance in front of your friends.
But the parents at the dance probably would have had a blast seeing Wahlberg bust out some of his old-school ’90s Marky Mark moves.
However, Wahlberg couldn’t help but leave his mark on the music being played at the dance.
Let’s not forget, he didn’t get famous for his acting but for showing off his abs in the “Good Vibrations” video.
Being that Wahlberg’s time as a pop star was three decades ago, he couldn’t believe it when he heard the music being played at the dance.
“[Grace] sat there on the edge of the stage, by the DJ. And then I’m sitting there with one other dad and I’m like, ‘This is not an edited version of this song. There are explicit lyrics being played at a school dance for girls and I’m like no good,'” he said.
“I told the DJ and he’s like, ‘Oh, I thought it was.’ I said, ‘What are you doing?’ I’m hearing F-bombs and this and that’s not okay,” Wahlberg said.
He’s right. There’s no place for music with explicit lyrics at a dance for 10-year-old children.
Wahlberg says the DJ didn’t know he wasn’t playing the edited version, but it’s probably more likely that he didn’t even realize the song was a problem. Pop music these days is filled with a numbing amount of violent and misogynistic lyrics.
A recent study from the University of Missouri found that nearly one-third of pop songs contain lyrics that degrade or demean women by portraying them as submissive or sexually objectified.
Currently, three of the top five songs on the Billboard Top 40 contain the word “bitch.” One of them is sung in Korean.
It’s odd that Americans have become more sensitive to misogyny in pop culture in films, television, and comedy, but still have a huge cultural blind-spot when it comes to music.
That’s not a good thing, especially when pop music is marketed to teenagers.
“We know that music has a strong impact on young people and how they view their role in society,” said Cynthia Frisby, a professor in the Missouri School of Journalism.
“Unlike rap or hip-hop, pop music tends to have a bubbly, uplifting sound that is meant to draw listeners in,” Frisby continued. “But that can be problematic if the lyrics beneath the sound are promoting violence and misogynistic behavior.”
Let’s face it, pop stars are role models. Their examples show young people what to wear and how to behave. That’s not to say that kids will blindly follow someone just because they like their music. But it has an undeniable effect.
Wahlberg, and any parent who monitors what their kids are listening to, deserve credit for protecting the minds and hearts of their kids.
Frisby has some great advice for parents concerned about negative imagery in pop music.
“Ask your daughters and sons what songs they like to listen to and have conversations about how the songs might impact their identity,” Frisby said.
“For example, many songs might make young girls feel like they have to look and act provocative in order to get a boy to like them, when that isn’t necessarily the case. If children and teens understand that what they are hearing isn’t healthy behavior, then they might be more likely to challenge what they hear on the radio.”
He’s right. There’s no place for music with explicit lyrics at a dance for 10-year-old children.
Wahlberg says the DJ didn’t know he wasn’t playing the edited version, but it’s probably more likely that he didn’t even realize the song was a problem. Pop music these days is filled with a numbing amount of violent and misogynistic lyrics.
A recent study from the University of Missouri found that nearly one-third of pop songs contain lyrics that degrade or demean women by portraying them as submissive or sexually objectified.
Currently, three of the top five songs on the Billboard Top 40 contain the word “bitch.” One of them is sung in Korean.
It’s odd that Americans have become more sensitive to misogyny in pop culture in films, television, and comedy, but still have a huge cultural blind-spot when it comes to music.
That’s not a good thing, especially when pop music is marketed to teenagers.
“We know that music has a strong impact on young people and how they view their role in society,” said Cynthia Frisby, a professor in the Missouri School of Journalism.
“Unlike rap or hip-hop, pop music tends to have a bubbly, uplifting sound that is meant to draw listeners in,” Frisby continued. “But that can be problematic if the lyrics beneath the sound are promoting violence and misogynistic behavior.”
Let’s face it, pop stars are role models. Their examples show young people what to wear and how to behave. That’s not to say that kids will blindly follow someone just because they like their music. But it has an undeniable effect.
Wahlberg, and any parent who monitors what their kids are listening to, deserve credit for protecting the minds and hearts of their kids.
Frisby has some great advice for parents concerned about negative imagery in pop music.
“Ask your daughters and sons what songs they like to listen to and have conversations about how the songs might impact their identity,” Frisby said.
“For example, many songs might make young girls feel like they have to look and act provocative in order to get a boy to like them, when that isn’t necessarily the case. If children and teens understand that what they are hearing isn’t healthy behavior, then they might be more likely to challenge what they hear on the radio.”
A father-daughter snowboarding session takes the cuteness up a notch, thanks to dad’s brilliant idea to attach a mic to his 4-year-old. Sweetness ensued.
Sporting an adorable dinosaur onesie, the “powder-saurus” glides through their “secret path,” warning dad of intruders. Cause clearly, it’s THEIR secret path.
As she does, she sings her song of resilience and courage.
“I won’t fall … maybe I will … that’s okay … cause we all fall.”
One person astutely wrote in the comments, “this is the mantra we all need in 2022.” I mean … it’s accurate.
Another added, “this child gave a TED Talk about the power of positive self-talk.”
Indeed, “Shredder Dad” shares footage of our loveable snowboarding dinosaur making a few face plants, but she quickly bounces back. Nothing can stop her from her “weewhoos.” Nothing.
That is, until she becomes a “stuck-asaurus.” A truly relatable moment for all ages. Aren’t “indiscernible verbal struggles” part of the soundtrack of life? Still, she takes it all in hilarious stride, laughing all the way, and the positivity is heartwarming.
This video quickly put a smile on more than 6 million faces, and even got a comment from Walmart, which agreed that “we all fall sometimes.”
Turns out that there’s even more wholesome adventure content on the family’s TikTok. They even have a very thorough guide for teaching a toddler to snowboard here.
And by the way, yes, that dinosaur outfit does come in an adult size.
Next time you’re feeling down, just think of the powder-saurus song, and you’ll be back to “weewhoo” in no time.
It hasn’t even been a year since the beloved series “Ted Lasso,” which told the story of a kind hearted, folksy football coach and his team of believers, came to its final episode.
And yet, since the series ended, fans have yearned to have any type of chance to see some of their favorite characters come together again—which is what makes a surprise rock-n-roll duet between Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso himself, and Hannah Waddigham, who played boss and bestie Rebecca Welton.
A video quickly making the rounds online starts with Sudeikis sharing the stage with fellow “Saturday Night Live” star Will Forte, telling him “there’s nobody I would rather be singing this song with. ”
Then the recognizable guitar intro to “Shallow,” originally sung by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga for the 2018 film “A Star is Born,” begins to play. Cue crowd applause.
Sudeikis, singing Cooper’s part, completely delivers the perfect blend of twang and rock needed for the tune—but then has one more trick up his sleeve. For just as Forte opens up his mouth to sing in place of Lady Gaga, a woman’s voice is heard instead.
Not just any woman, in fact. But ‘Ted Lasso’ costar and Broadway legend Hannah Waddingham.
Waddingham playfully shoos Forte away to take her rightful place on stage, where both she and Sudeikis finish out the iconic song.
Needless to say, viewers were beside themselves. Especially “Ted Lasso” fans.
“I can never ever properly put into words how much this video (of two of my LITERAL favorite human beings from my VERY favorite show) brings me the most joy I may have ever felt. Thank you times infinity for this!!!!!!” one person wrote on Youtube.
Another added, “This is perfect in all levels! 💜💜💜”
Perhaps the only thing better than seeing these two widely loved actors singing together, is the reason behind their surprise duet. Sudeikis was hosting for THUNDERGONG!, a benefit concert held by Steps of Faith, which helps amputees gain access to prosthetic limbs.
Brendan Hunt, aka “Coach Beard,” also made a guest appearance, making it a wholesome “Ted Lasso” reunion for a great cause.Watch. And enjoy Waddingham’s out-of-this-world belting ability:
Arjun Mahadevan gave the world a gift when he crowdsourced the best “life pro tips” from nearly 22 million people. He shared the top 20 in a Twitter thread that’s got over 619,000 views. Mahadevan sourced the tips from the Life Pro Tips subforum on Reddit, which has been running since 2010.
Mahadevan is the CEO of doolaHQ which he calls the “business-in-a-box” for LLCs.
Mahadevan labeled his advice “20 life tips you wish you knew when you were 20,” but they are helpful for everyone regardless of age. They’re useful for anyone who is in a relationship, has a job or wants to stay sane in an aggravating world.
Many ideas involve reframing how we judge others to see them with more compassion. Mahadevan also has some advice for professionals to prevent them from making embarrassing mistakes or wasting other people’s time.
Sometimes the simplest change in behavior or perspective can drastically affect our lives. Here are Arjun Mahadevan’s 20 life tips you wish you knew when you were 20:
u201cMost life hacks suck. n nSo I crowdsourced the best from 21.9 million people on Reddit.nnHere are 20 life tips you wish you knew when you were 20:u201d
1. “If you’re stuck on an annoying call, put your phone on airplane mode instead of just hanging up. The other person will see ‘call failed’ instead of ‘call ended.'”
2. “When you sign up for anything online, put the website’s name as your middle name. That way when you receive spam/advert emails, you will know who sold your info.”
3. “Always tell a child who is wearing a helmet how cool you think their helmet is. It will encourage them to always wear it in the future.”
4. “When you don’t have all the facts, try to give people the most generous reason you can for their behavior. Annoyingly slow driver? Maybe it’s a mom with a birthday cake in the back. This mindset will gradually make you less reactive and more compassionate.”
5. “Do not try to be the man your father would want you to be. Be the man you would like your son to be. It more clearly defines your own convictions, desires, goals and motivates you to be your best.”
6. “When a friend is upset, ask them one simple question before saying anything else: ‘Do you want to talk about it or do you want to be distracted from it?'”
7. “After a bad breakup, do 10 things that your ex would never do with you. You’ll feel better and realize how much of yourself was being held back.”
8. “Before you give your child a unique name, try it out first. Use it on food orders, reservations, appointments where applicable, etc. It’ll give you a glimpse of what they’ll deal with when they’re older and could prevent future issues.”
9. “If you need to cancel a hotel reservation but are unable to because of a 24-hour policy, call the company and move your reservation to a later date. Call back within a few days and cancel for no charge.”
10. “If you tell someone you need to talk to them, for the love of God give some indication of what you need to talk about, or at least that it’s not bad news.”
11. “Never send a work email when you’re emotionally compromised. Type it up, save it as a draft, and walk away. Ideally, sleep on it. You’ll make a smarter choice when you’re not heated.”
12. “Don’t just let kids win at games. You can slow it down, you can teach them strategy, but keep it real. Someday, they will beat you fair and square, and it will be a moment they always remember with pride.”
13. “When cooking things on aluminum foil, first scrunch the foil up, then lay it loosely flat again out on your baking tray. The juices will stay put—and the food will not stick to the foil half as much, if at all.”
14. “If you think of a good idea, write it down. Your brain will try to trick you into thinking you will remember it later, but it’s a liar! Therefore: Write it down!”
15. “It takes 4 minutes a day and almost no cost to maintain dental hygiene. It takes a lifetime and a lot of money to correct it. 2-minute brush and mouthwash in the AM, 2-minute brush and floss in the PM.”
16. “Don’t wait until you have ‘time’ to start a fitness program. Because then when you get busy again, you’ll stop. The best time to start is actually when you’re busy. Learning how to fit it in when time’s are tough means you’ll stick with it over the long haul.”
17. “When using text messages or IMs for business, say everything you need to say in the first message. Don’t just say ‘hi’ or ‘hey’ or ‘are you there’ or ‘are you busy.'”
18. “Instead of feeling that you’ve blown the day and thinking, ‘I’ll get back on track tomorrow, think of each day as a set of four quarters:
• Morning• Midday• Afternoon• Evening
If you blow one quarter, you get back on track for the next quarter.”
19. “Many problems in marriage are really just problems with being a bad roommate. Learn how to be a good roommate, and it will solve many of the main issues that plague marriages. This includes communicating about something bothering you before you get too angry.”
20. “Ask yourself ‘what does it matter to me’ the next time you find yourself judging someone for their clothing or hobbies. The more you train yourself to not care about the personal preferences of other people, the more relaxed and nicer you become as a person.”
Actress Julia Roberts was late to the game when it came to joining social media, so she was blown away when she finally saw first-hand how toxic it could be. She started an Instagram account in June of 2018 and, shortly after, was the target of trolls mocking her appearance in a post by her niece.
Roberts was upset about the negative comments people made about her looks and then was gutted when she considered social media’s effect on young women. In a 2018 interview with Oprah Winfrey for Harper’s Bazaar, Julia recounted the story.
“Although something did happen recently on my niece Emma’s Instagram that I think taught me a lot about what it’s like being a young person in today’s society. One weekend morning Emma slept over, and we got up and were having tea and playing cards and having this beautiful morning, and then a couple of days later, she posted a picture of us,” Roberts recalled.
“And the number of people who felt absolutely required to talk about how terrible I looked in the picture—that I’m not aging well, that I look like a man, why would she even post a picture like this when I look that terrible!” she continued. “And I was amazed at how that made me feel. I’m a 50-year-old woman and I know who I am, and still my feelings got hurt. I was sad that people couldn’t see the point of it, the sweetness of it, the absolute shining joy of that photo. I thought, ‘What if I was 15?’”
Beauty influencer Samantha Marika combined the audio of Julia telling the story, added it to the candid photo of her and Emma, and posted it to Instagram, and it went viral.
Julia’s concerns about teenage mental health aren’t unfounded.
A 2022 report by Pew Research shows that online bullying is pervasive among teenagers and looks are a common target. “Nearly half of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, with physical appearance being seen as a relatively common reason why,” the report said. “Older teen girls are especially likely to report being targeted by online abuse overall and because of their appearance.”
Even though online bullying is common, those who watched Marika’s video were disturbed by what happened to Roberts and her young niece.
“Before I listened to the whole thing I thought to myself how wholesome this photo was that the two of them are playing cards and look so happy! People are really sad and depressed that they wanna judge on how someone should look it’s the saddest thing about humans. We can’t even see joy anymore,” ChantsBoomBoom wrote in the comments.
Even though Roberts was disturbed by the comments she saw on Instagram, she’s glad that it helped her grasp what’s happening to young people online.
“I was so happy that happened because I had this whole new glimpse into a way of living that I didn’t get at all,” she told Winfrey. “You have to go through things to understand them, and this was just a little paper cut of what can really go on with social media.”
The Milwaukee Bucks are officially in the danger zone after dropping Game 3 to the Pacers in an overtime thriller that saw Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-winning, and-1 floater to negate a sensational performance from Khris Middleton.
Part of the reason the Bucks needed late-game heroics to tie the game twice in the final seconds of regulation and overtime from Middleton was an injury suffered by Damian Lillard at the end of regulation. The Bucks star guard was seen grabbing at his Achilles going to the bench in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, and while he played in overtime he was mostly a non-factor.
After the game, Doc Rivers said Lillard came to him and said he would serve as a decoy in the overtime period, noting he couldn’t really do much but knew he’d still draw some attention away from Middleton. Lillard said he hoped to get right for Game 4, but given his issue is with the Achilles, it wasn’t something you can really mess with too much.
On Saturday, Chris Haynes brought word that Lillard had a Grade 1 Achilles strain that would leave him doubtful for Game 4 on Sunday, putting the Bucks in serious peril.
Milwaukee has had to play the first three games without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is dealing with a calf strain and hasn’t ramped up to be ready to play yet, and Khris Middleton was questionable himself with an ankle injury that he was able to play through in Game 3. If Giannis is not back for Game 4 and Lillard can’t go, it’s really hard to see where the Bucks turn for an offensive spark beyond Middleton. The frontcourt will have to be more involved, with Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis needing to turn in bigger scoring nights, while Pat Connaughton and Patrick Beverley will need to provide something from the backcourt.
Doja Cat has been a fierce lion online. The “Pain The Town Red” rapper hasn’t been pussyfooting around anything attached to her name. Whether addressing the leaking of Scarlet II or parents who bring their children to her uncensored shows, Doja shared a few choice words online. Well, that unfiltered approach has seeped into her photoshoots.
Yesterday (April 26), Doja released a series of waterside NSFW photos sporting a transparent white one-piece bathing suit. The images captured by Jacob Webster quickly began circulating across social media for more reason than one. While most users began to lust over the entertainer’s curves, others saw it as an opportunity to put their photo editing skills to go use, thus Asszilla, or #Dojzilla was born.
Using one of the images from the gallery, seemingly captured around her critically acclaimed headlining set at Coachella 2024, one user attempted to recreate a screen from Godzilla. But instead of the monster terrorizing the city, that terror was replaced by Doja’s butt. Doja decided to get in on the budding joke by uploaded the meme to her official X (formerly Twitter) page.
It’s been a long time. We shouldn’t have left you. We took a little break last week, but now, we are BACK with some of the best hip-hop to grace our favorite streaming platforms for the past seven days — and maybe even a little longer. This week saw a smorgasbord of new releases, including:
Chance The Rapper’s kung-fu movie-inspired comeback with “Buried Alive“:
Coi Leray’s steamy workout in the video for “Can’t Come Back“:
Gucci Mane’s new track turning Diddy’s misfortunes into a punchline:
Saba And No ID’s ode to the hair journey in “Head.Rap“:
And YG’s first solo single in two years, “Knocka“:
Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending April 26, 2024.
Albums/EPs/Mixtapes
AG Club — Brodie World
AG Club
The rowdy Bay Area crew continues to carry the torch of similar raucous giant groups like Odd Future and Brockhampton with their latest freewheeling release. Unique production carries the laid-back, anything-goes raps, and it’s clear these guys are just having fun with it. Hangout rap at its finest.
Ahmad Anonimis — Mnt. Snug
Ahmad Anonimis
Tidal’s recommendation algo is getting a little too good at figuring out what I’m going to like on NMF. A cozy, stream-of-consciousness flow accompanied by vibey, unhurried beats will always give me a reason to stop and listen, and this Georgia native makes it worth the stream.
Anycia — Princess Pop That
Anycia
Another Georgia native, Anycia drops her debut project with a co-sign from one of her home state’s biggest contemporary stars, Latto. After the two rappers teamed up for “Back Outside,” Anycia serves up another 12 songs making use of her laconic delivery and unpretentious humor. Cash Cobain and Luh Tyler also guest.
Yung Bleu — Jeremy
Yung Bleu
The trend of artists using their government names as album titles continues. Bleu does what Bleu does best here, swerving from full-throated crooning to spacey rapped boasts over inescapable production.
Singles/Videos
Blimes — “Somebody To You”
While Blimes garnered the lion’s share of the attention for her music with her collabs with Gifted Gab, the former battle rapper has been on her own journey lately, expanding her sound (she sings!) and addressing new topical avenues like personal growth, mental health, and of course, finding love.
Foggieraw — “Stay Awhile” Feat. Ari Lennox
The social sensation looks to be kicking off his campaign for cultural ubiquity in earnest with his first single since last summer’s “Psalm 62” and “Ms. Johnson.” Tapping Dreamville’s soulful singer Ari Lennox for a smooth chorus, all of Foggie’s DMV charm is on display here.
Flyana Boss — “Skateboard”
The creative duo keeps up their unstoppable stream of new music with another metaphorical celebration of sexual intercourse. The way these two keep coming up with new analogies for getting busy is honestly impressive, and whenever they drop their full album, it’ll be fun to see what else they come up with.
Lola Brooke — “Shelter Baby”
Lifted from the deluxe edition of the Brooklyn rapper’s debut, Dennis Daughter, “Shelter Baby” reproduces Mobb Deep’s “Get Twisted” beat from its original sample (Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science”) to thug out with that surprising growl of hers.
Monaleo — “Ranchero”
The video for the Houston rapper’s latest may have a country Western theme in keeping with the revived yee-haw agenda sparked by Beyoncé’s new album, but the beat is just a straight-up block beater and her bruising bars are best yelled at the top of one’s lungs in a crowded club.
Tobi Lou — Young Bopalopolous
The Chicago rapper’s latest three-song EP is a solid collection of dreamy bangers. “Hitchhiker” is my favorite of the three, but you can check them all out in the Instagram post above.
Wynne — “Dirt (Poem)”
The Seattle wordsmith’s latest indie release takes a turn from her recent party-ready material to a weighty rumination on toxic love. Wynne’s growth as an artist has been impressive to witness, and her profile continues to rise in tandem.
Bourbon is booming and as more folks are becoming curious about America’s Native Spirit it’s a great time to highlight what makes it so special. For some people, it’s the allure of a made-in-America product; for others, it’s the relatively accessible price point compared to Scotch or Japaense whisky. Of course, there’s also the third camp who are simply drawn to the beauty of bourbon’s flavor – whether tasted in a cocktail, on the rocks, or enjoyed neat.
No matter why you’re drawn to bourbon, the list below will highlight 10 bottles that will serve as a proper introduction to the category. While I would advise tasting these bourbons neat on your first try to fully appreciate what makes them great, one of the biggest unwritten rules in the space is that you should enjoy bourbon however you see fit. No whiskey “expert” worth their salt should tell you any different.
With that out of the way allow me — and your curiosity— to guide you through the 10 best introduction to bourbon bottles, ranked.
Buffalo Trace is one of the biggest names in the bourbon world because it produces legendary expressions like Pappy Van Winkle as well as bottles from the critically acclaimed Buffalo Trace Antique Collection like George T. Stagg and William LaRue Weller. Their flagship product is the perfect entry point both for anyone interested in bourbon and anyone curious about those more elusive expressions.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Honeysuckle and gentle baking spices like white pepper combine with saltwater taffy, vanilla, and caramel to form an approachable but well-refined bouquet of aromas.
Palate: On the palate you can expect to find notes like crisp apple and caramel joining some of the flavors that were immediately evident on the nose.
Finish: Pleasantly sweet with a bit of oak and further splashes of vanilla are present on the finish, making this an easy pour to enjoy again and again.
Bottom Line:
Buffalo Trace Bourbon skews a bit on the lighter side of the sweetness spectrum with vanilla, caramel, and delicate oak showcasing the classic trio of prototypical bourbon flavors. Not to be overlooked as a mere beginner’s pour, there is enough depth to these flavors to keep even a more seasoned drinker engaged.
9. Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Bourbon
Bardstown Bourbon Company has billed itself as the Napa Valley of Bourbon Country and when you visit their distillery it’s easy to understand the claim. Their distillery grounds are pristine and expansive, their welcome center is state-of-the-art and features world-class food options, and the volume of whiskey they produce is remarkable. Their newly unveiled flagship lineup – The Origin Series – is headed by a stellar rye and two bourbons, with this high-rye bourbon being the better of the two at this stage.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Initially fruit-forward with plenty of confectioner’s sugar on top, this also carries a distinct dusty note on the nose. Those richer sweeter notes are accented by the aroma of woodchips with some faintly floral aromas in the background.
Palate: On the palate there’s a big handful of dried cranberries that comes through with a bit of mineral water, peppermint, and oregano in the mix as well. The texture remains consistent throughout, offering just enough grip on the palate to keep your senses engaged as you untangle each layer of well-delineated flavor.
Finish: Charred apple peel and nutmeg blend well with honeyed cereal notes making this an approachable and enjoyable sip all the way through.
Bottom Line:
For their Origin Series, Bardstown was intent on delivering a solid product to market that could be readily available after the success of their more elusive Discovery and Fusion lineups. Mission accomplished. With their high-rye Origin Series Bourbon, the brand has delivered a nuanced and remarkable sipping experience that can not just hang with the legacy distilleries’ best entry-level offerings – it can actually beat them at their own game.
Colloquially known as “Evan Williams White Label” to differentiate it from its better-selling sibling, Evan Williams Bourbon, I’d highly recommend springing for this Bottled in Bond version. Abiding by the Bottled in Bond regulation which mandates a bourbon be 100 proof, the product of a single distillery, and a single distilling season – among other stipulations – this is a classic representation of the bourbon category.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Honey-roasted peanuts fuse with a dash of freshly cracked black pepper to give this pour a bit of sweetness and zip in the aroma department.
Palate: Once on the palate that black pepper kick is a bit more pronounced, but there’s also a floral aspect combined with a touch of cinnamon and citrus which keeps things interesting.
Finish: The citrus and spice are found in spades on the finish which provides a bit of a “Kentucky hug” – the warming sensation of alcohol traveling down your chest on its way to… greeting your liver.
Bottom Line:
Evan Williams Bottled in Bond has more of a spice kick than Evan Williams “Black Label” which makes it a suitable choice for serving in cocktails, if that’s your preferred way to imbibe. However, if you choose to try it neat or on the rocks, it will reward you with a depth of flavor that the black-label alternative simply can’t match.
Woodford Reserve is owned by parent company Brown-Forman, which produces some of the biggest and best-selling whiskey brands in the world including Old Forester and Jack Daniel’s. It’s worth noting that Woodford Reserve is famously known as the presenting sponsor of the Kentucky Derby – and is popular in mint juleps during Derby season.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Brown sugar and mellow oak lead the way but you will also discover some toasted marshmallow emanating from your glass after pouring this one.
Palate: On the palate that trio of flavors will continue to blossom and the gentle texture of the liquid makes it so this pour is almost refreshing – leading to the kind of enjoyment that the phrase “easy-sipping” espouses.
Finish: The finish concludes with a flourish of black pepper and mellow oak that serves as a reminder that this is, indeed, bourbon you’re drinking.
Bottom Line:
Seemingly made with easy-sipping in mind, this 90.4 proof bourbon is a great gateway for anyone in search of rich flavor but averse to a high ABV. Again, I’d advise trying it neat to get a sense of the flavors it contains but it’s impossible to refrain from recommending you utilize this bourbon in a mint julep during, or even outside of, Derby season.
Michter’s US*1 lineup features all of their flagship products and they represent, perhaps, the pinnacle of well-made lower-ABV American whiskey. Thanks to the fact that Michter’s is currently distilling its own whiskey, Michter’s US*1 is now an entirely in-house product.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aromas in Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon lean heavily on rich caramel and stone fruits like cherries and nectarines.
Palate: On the palate that balance of caramel sweetness and rich, fruit notes is on full display with an impressive presence of oak and vanilla extract helping to balance it out.
Finish: The caramel carries through to the finish where aspects of nutmeg and allspice can also be found, affording further balance to this light and approachable pour.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon is the kind of readily available and flavorful offering that does well to represent the category as a whole. With an abundance of fruit flavors on display, this is one bourbon I’d certainly recommend tasting neat or with a big cube in the summertime so that you can fully tease out all of its richness.
Knob Creek’s Small Batch Bourbon is made by the same folks behind Jim Beam and the years of experience they’ve gathered in crafting their flagship expression is on full display with this bottle.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Peanut shell, brown sugar, caramel, and rich oak can be found on the nose of this bourbon which comes together in impressive harmony thanks to those 9 years spent developing in the barrel.
Palate: On the palate those flavors come together in a surprisingly rich and harmonious symphony of flavor that coats the palate and even evolves over time to reveal an additional layer of nuttiness.
Finish: On the finish, both the proof and the age of this bourbon reveal themselves as it introduces a slight earthy, sweetness reminiscent of hazelnut spread along with allspice and nutmeg.
Bottom Line:
Aged for a minimum of 9 years and minimally diluted down to 100 proof, this is a serious – and seriously versatile – bottle of bourbon. Neat drinking will fix you up fine but you should also really consider pouring this bottle into a booze-forward cocktail like an Old Fashioned and admire how well it holds that additional sweetness together.
Four Roses has come a long way from its reputation as the kind of whiskey swigged by cornermen for upstart Philly boxers. These days, Four Roses is enjoying a decades-long reputation as one of the best bourbons on the market and that’s due in part to its underrated yet incredibly flavorful single-barrel expression. Because single-barrel bourbon has a bit more variance from bottle to bottle than its small-batch counterparts, chasing single barrels can be both more rewarding and frustrating – but therein lies the fun.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Immediately floral and resplendent with red berries, there’s also a significant baking spice presence – punctuated by black pepper and oregano, but balanced by gooey caramel and well-developed oak aromas.
Palate: At 100 proof this is a zippy pour on the palate with plenty of runway for the taste of red berries and black pepper, but also a great deal of floral rosewater and sticky caramel.
Finish: On the finish you’ll find that the influence of baking spices weigh heavily but they barely exceed the fruity aspect of raspberries and red apples, making this a fun sip to sit and savor – observing the balancing act between the two.
Bottom Line:
Four Roses Single Barrel is among the most spice-laden of the bourbons on this list thus far. While certain other whiskeys combat that with confectionary notes, Four Roses does so with the addition of fruit-forward flavors that are a tad more interesting to explore. It should also be said that, because this is a single barrel expression, it’s unlikely you will get the same experience twice – making Four Roses Single Barrel, and other single barrel expressions, a joy to explore neat.
Russell’s Reserve 10-Year Bourbon is an underrated display of refinement. Not only is it an incredible value at $40 and readily available at most liquor stores, but it’s also an expertly crafted display of artisanship from one of the most respected distilleries in the industry – Wild Turkey.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Waves of butterscotch and oak wash over your senses as the rich notes developed over 10 years in the barrel slowly unwind. A scoop of vanilla ice cream, dashes of powdered nutmeg and black pepper all meld well with a healthy helping of cooked red apple on the nose.
Palate: The palate is home to more of the same, with stewed red apple taking the driver seat and bringing robust baking spices, refined oak, and the gentle accent of cinnamon bark in its tow.
Finish: On the finish is where you find caramel and apple fusing into a lovely apple tart note complemented by dashes of black pepper.
Bottom Line:
While some of the refinement of Russell’s Reserve 10 Year is lost in a cocktail (this is where the ubiquitous Wild Turkey 101 should come in handy) when enjoyed neat this is one of the better examples of well-aged American whiskey on the market. When you consider that, on top of the fact that it’s incredibly well priced and exceedingly available, that makes this bottle one of the best introductions any prospective fan could have to bourbon.
Fortuna is a pre-Prohibition brand that dates back to 1869 which Rare Character revived with the aim of recreating the flavor profile of its forebears. Having succeeded in that endeavor this 6-to-12 barrel blend, which is always aged at least 6 years, is now Rare Character’s flagship brand.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Brown sugar, pie crust, and rich leather fuse together along with grapefruit peel and the aroma of old books reminiscent of so-called “dusty” bourbons from yesteryear. Palate: Surprisingly lively – despite what the slight dustiness on the nose would have indicated – the first sip is full of butterscotch, spiced Brazil nuts, red chili flakes, and grilled pineapple. It’s unlike any other “entry-level” bourbon out there, and that’s a great thing for your palate.
Finish: Full of brown sugar and oak with a chewy viscosity that will lead to a lot of lip-smacking and teeth-sucking, the finish is long-lasting and well-balanced.
Bottom Line:
Fortuna Bourbon offers insight into both the past and the future of bourbon. For someone new to the category, ready to enjoy the flavor on its own merits, there’s an abundance of bourbon’s prototypical DNA to serve as an ideal introduction. Additionally, the dusty aspect offers a peek into what bourbon used to be and with regards to its high level of quality, an indication of what we can expect moving forward.
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon is an absolute classic bourbon. Price and availability are part of that equation but so are flavor and tradition. Facetiously named after the “inventor of bourbon” you can toss out the lore but stay for the liquid.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, Elijah Craig Small Batch is full of earthy and nutty notes with walnuts and red apple featured prominently and a stern oaky backbone lying in wait.
Palate: Once on the palate, Elijah Craig Small Batch really struts its stuff. Caramel, well-developed barrel notes, and the red fruit from the nose come alive and are soon joined by a touch of mocha and nutmeg. It’s an overall very straightforward affair.
Finish: On the finish, Elijah Craig gently undulates out of existence leaving black pepper, refined oak, black tea, and dried raspberries behind to savor long after each sip.
Bottom Line:
Sometimes you want a sweet bourbon or an oak-forward bourbon, perhaps even some fruit. Elijah Craig Small Batch delivers on each of those desires and bolsters those bonafides by being available everywhere and affordably priced. This is as classic as it gets when it comes to America’s Native Spirit, and if you want to experience bourbon – even just once – you’d do well to make Elijah Craig Small Batch your bourbon of choice.
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