Over the past few years, women named Karen have taken a lot of heat in the media. The term “Karen” has been used to describe a specific type of entitled, privileged and often middle-aged white woman. Typically, “Karen” is depicted as demanding, self-important and constantly seeking to escalate minor inconveniences to authority figures, like demanding to “speak to the manager.”
Identifying the folks who create unnecessary drama in our world is important. But calling them a “Karen” isn’t the best way to solve the problem. There are many reasons to have an issue with the “Karen” stereotype. First, it’s terrible for people named Karen, and it’s also a connotation that many feel is racist, sexist and ageist.
Further, according to a new study by Trustpilot, the stereotype isn’t accurate. A recent survey by the online media site found that the people who leave the most one-star reviews aren’t female, and the women who do it the most aren’t named Karen.
Trustpilot is a site where people can review a business from which they’ve purchased a product or contacted customer service. According to TrustPilot, the number one biggest one-star reviewers are named John, not Karen.
“The name John is top for [one-star] reviews in the US, with the rest of the top five positions filled by David, Michael, Chris and James,” the site wrote in a press release. “Looking at specific categories, John is also first for negative reviews in Business Services, Electronics and Technology, Shopping and Fashion, and Money and Insurance. Meanwhile, Lisa left the most [one-star] reviews in our Beauty and Wellbeing category.”
So, if your name is Karen, keep this story in your back pocket next time someone stereotypes you as an entitled complainer. The real complainers are the Johns and, for the women, Lisas.
Why do people go online and write negative reviews? Psychologist William Berry writes in Psychology Today that people get many positive benefits from complaining, although they may annoy everyone around them.
The first big reason is an ego boost. When people complain, they feel validated. It also makes them feel superior to others. Complaining can also bring like-minded people together. If you and a significant other have ever been mistreated in a restaurant or car dealership, having a mutual enemy can work wonders for your relationship.
There are also entire groups of people who bond over a common gripe.
People who habitually complain may do so because of the brain’s negativity bias. “The human brain, geared for survival, focuses on negatives (as they appear more threatening to survival) than on positives (which enhance life but are less vital for survival),” Berry writes. “As the brain perceives negatives at an approximated ratio of five to one, there is simply more to complain about than there is to be grateful for. Additionally, this may lead to less general happiness.”
Here are the top 15 names of consumers who leave the most one-star reviews on Trustpilot. (Also known as the folks that owe the Karens out there an apology.)
Step aside double cheeseburger, the chicken sandwich is now the king of fast food. In fact, we’re living in a golden age of chicken sandwiches — the fastest-growing chains are putting a focus on chicken, and over the past five years just about every fast food restaurant has launched a chicken sandwich hoping it will be the next big thing. Burgers had their moment, now it’s the chicken sandwich’s turn to shine, and we’re here for it.
So who makes the best? It’s a question we’ve attempted to answer repeatedly, and while we love a big ranking as much as the next person, there is something imperfect about a traditional ranked list. Why? With a traditional list, we’re forced to pick a number one and that always leaves a few options that get short-changed.
So in an effort to get even more nuanced than usual — we’ve ranked fast food burger patties, our passion knows no bounds! — we present to you the first Uproxx Chicken Sandwich Awards. This is a place where we can shout out all the very best chicken sandwiches, be it fast casual, fast food, grilled, spicy, and just for fun, we’ll even talk about which sandwich we think has the most room for improvement.
A quick explanation before we jump in: all of these chicken sandwiches are amazing, they represent the very best in fast food, so wherever you land on this list (with the exception of our last pick), you’re going to have a good experience. This is merely a way for us to celebrate and go deep on all the delicious sandwiches out there. If you want a hard ranking, you can always check out last year’s Best Fast Food Chicken Sandwich ranking here.
Okay, let’s jump in!
Best “Never Misses” Fast Food Chicken Sandwich: Chick-fil-A — Spicy Deluxe
Chick-fil-A
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Here is what I love about this sandwich: it’s crunchy, tender and juicy, and remarkably, almost eerily consistent. Every time I order a Spicy Deluxe, the experience is essentially the same, this means every time I eat a Spicy Deluxe, it’s delicious.
The sandwich has this mild sense of heat courtesy of the heavily seasoned batter the filet is breaded in. The heat comes from a light dusting of cayenne which pairs nicely with the black pepper, garlic, paprika and onion powder. While this is a “spicy” chicken sandwich, the heat isn’t overwhelming, it’s very much designed to appeal to the widest audience possible.
So as a “spicy” sandwich, it falls short, but that doesn’t matter because the flavor combination is complex, and the filet itself is juicy enough that the sandwich doesn’t need a sauce. The full build consists of green leaf lettuce, tomato, and a slice of pepper jack cheese.
The Bottom Line:
This chicken sandwich checks all the boxes: it’s juicy, tender, crunchy, and full of flavor with a gentle kick of heat that keeps things interesting.
Best Fast-Casual Chicken Sandwich: Shake Shack — Avocado Bacon Chicken
Shake Shack
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
There are days when I think Shake Shack’s Avocado Bacon Chicken Sandwich is the best in all of fast food. And then I’ll get a sandwich that is lacking in some ways (overripened avocado, poorly cooked bacon, an underseasoned filet) and I change my mind. So the quality control here leaves something to be desired, but when it’s good, it’s f*cking great.
Let’s start with the build: we’ve got a chicken breast filet that is breaded in an airy and crispy batter topped with thin but delicious bacon, and fresh slices of avocado, and sits on a bed of thick pickles, lettuce, and buttermilk herb mayo.
One bite into this sandwich is a wonderful world of texture and flavors, the chicken and bacon keep things crispy and crunchy, while the avocado adds a fresh nutty butteriness, which pairs nicely with the earthy tang of the pickles, all held together by an herbal savory finish. Of all the chicken sandwiches in fast food, this one has the best build, easily.
Where it falls short is quality control. For whatever reason, I’ve had sandwiches that miss the mark in some small way. It’s delicious enough that I’ll take the gamble though.
The Bottom Line:
A delicious and satisfying fried chicken sandwich with a build that we’d love to see replicated at other chains. Avocado and bacon are always a winning
combination.
Best Spicy Chicken Sandwich: Dave’s Hot Chicken — Hot Chicken Slider
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
I love the Chick-fil-A Spicy Deluxe, obviously, but if you’re looking for blazing heat that sandwich falls short. If you want something truly spicy, you’ll have to hit up Dave’s Hot Chicken and grab a Chicken Slider.
Between a buttery bun sits a gargantuan chicken tender drizzled with a comeback style sauce sitting on a bed of thick and crunchy pickles, kale cabbage slaw, and cheese. The sandwich is customizable with seven different levels of heat, and we suggest starting with “Hot,” and working your way up to “Extra Hot,” or “Reaper,” if you want a sweat-inducing experience.
The flavors in this sandwich are all wonderfully harmonious, and the kale-cabbage slaw helps to tamp down the heat a bit. My only gripe here is that the chicken itself is much bigger than the bun that houses it, so you’re going to have a few bites that are just chicken. Luckily that chicken is well-seasoned, tender, and crunchy.
The Bottom Line:
Easily the hottest sandwich in all of fast food, and if you for some reason need more heat, you can always go up a few heat levels.
Best Grilled Chicken Sandwich: Smashburger — Colorado Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Smash Burger
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
While they aren’t as indulgent and decadent as their fried counterparts, don’t sleep on grilled chicken sandwiches. When done right they are delicious, and there isn’t a better one out there right now than Smashburger’s Colorado Grilled Chicken Sandwich.
The chicken filet is flattened out, which allows it to get a good char from Smashburger’s grill without drying out the meat. This results in a filet that is tender, juicy, and full of smokey flavor. On top of the filet is a layer of pepper jack and cheddar cheese, giving it a creamy, nutty, and salty element with a generous serving of grilled Anaheim chilis that help to emphasize the smokiness and add a vegetal tang to the finish.
Rounding out the build is some crispy lettuce, juicy tomato, and mayo on a toasted chipotle bun. As the sandwich comes its delicious, but if you want to take it up a notch consider adding bacon and smashed avocado to this sandwich.
The Bottom Line:
Proof that grilled sandwiches can be just as good as their fried counterparts.
If you were wondering why Popeyes didn’t take the spot in the “Best Fast Food” category, this is why. Popeyes still makes the best chicken sandwich in fast food. Believe the hype.
The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich is the spark that ignited the chicken sandwich wars, and fast food is better because of it. Since that initial launch, Popeyes has made a few tweaks and alterations, our favorite is this Bacon & Cheese version.
The filet is heavily breaded in a mix of garlic, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and other seasonings which give each bite a buttery flavor with a subtle hint of sweetness that makes each bite more addicting than the last.
Joining the filet is a slightly spicy and sweet sauce with some juicy pickles (a bit too wet), and a layer of crispy smokey bacon and Havarti cheese, which helps to emphasize the buttery quality of the filet breading.
Each bite is like heaven on Earth. It’s crunchy, tender, nuanced, and full of complementary flavors that work together to be greater than the sum of its parts. Popeyes doesn’t make the prettiest chicken sandwich in fast food, but one bite will prove that looks aren’t everything, especially when it comes to flavor.
The Bottom Line:
The greatest chicken sandwich in all of fast food. It’s perfect.
The Sandwich With The Biggest Room For Improvement: Raising Cane’s Chicken Finger Sandwich
Raising Cane’s
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
I originally wanted to name this category “The Worst Chicken Sandwich,” but there isn’t much to gain in talking about something bad.
Yes, I believe we live in a golden age of chicken sandwiches, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t bad ones out there. Arby’s, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Sonic, and yes, even McDonald’s, all make chicken sandwiches I would describe as straight-up “bad,” but no sandwich frustrates me like Raising Cane’s Chicken Finger Sandwich.
My issue is that Raising Cane’s has easily the best chicken in all of fast food. It’s fresh, breaded in-restaurant, and juicy and tender, so naturally the brand should be able to make a great chicken sandwich, and yet this one leaves a lot to be desired.
The build is bad, it consists of three chicken tenders on a single leaf of green lettuce with a double dose of Cane’s sauce on the bottom and top bun. The sandwich is good for one bite and then it falls apart. Eating this sandwich is a constant battle where you’ll be balancing and readjusting the three tenders between the bun. You’re better off ditching the bun and dipping each strip into some Cane’s sauce, which means you’re better off not ordering the sandwich in the first place and instead just getting an order of chicken tenders.
This feels like a sandwich that was added to the menu because Cane’s felt the need to compete with the likes of Popeyes and Chick-fil-A. Just imagine how good a Raising Cane’s chicken sandwich would be if it was made with a juicy freshly breaded fried chicken filet instead of three chicken tenders?
The Bottom Line:
There is potential here but a sandwich made of multiple chicken tenders rather than one filet will always be a disappointment, no matter how great the chicken is.
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. Did J Balvin solve the sneaker bot problem that plagues us all? In an attempt to fight the ever-pervasive bots who cause us all to take L after L on big sneaker release days, J Balvin listed his new Jordan 3 Rio at $25,000 on his website.
Fans and members of Balvin’s Familia Club received a discount code that cut the sneakers down to the actual retail price of $250, helping to ensure that real Balvin fans were able to pick up the sneakers while bots got scammed. Did any actual bots go through with the purchase? We can’t say for sure but hopefully, the move helped get these sneakers into the hands of fans rather than resellers.
For that alone, we’re going to go ahead and call the Rios the “sneaker of the week.” If you’re not down with Jordan 3s (you okay?) we’ve also got some dope drops from Nike SB and Futura Laboratories, the Jordan 12 Taxi Flip, the return of the Nike Air 180, and a new collaboration between Sporty & Rich and Adidas.
It’s a short drop list but everything here is fresh. Let’s dive in.
American tennis star Coco Gauff’s New Balance signature sneaker looks to ‘90s design details for inspiration, and the result is a sneaker that is equal parts nostalgic and contemporary.
What the sneaker borrows from the pass is its shape, it has that classic B-ball silhouette, but is outfitted with a mix of lightweight mesh, hairy suede, and an Energy Arc carbon fiber plate designed to increase stored energy and maximize energy return on the court. Or you know, wherever you wear them.
The Coco is made with play in mind though, the sneaker sports a saddle gore band for added support during lateral cut maneuvers. It’s both functional and fashionable, a great first addition in the Coco lineage of footwear.
The New Balance Coco CG1 in Slate Grey is set to drop on May 24th at 12:00 AM EST. Pick up a pair at New Balance.
J Balvin can’t miss. The reggaeton star has 4 Jordans bearing his name, and they’re all dope. Albeit, they’re all pretty safe too, Balvin isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel, but he’s proven to have great taste in colorways, so who are we to complain?
His latest, the Jordan 3 Rio features a stealthy black upper with accents in Solar Flare and Total Crimson throughout, meant to mimic a Medellín sunset. One constant in Balvin’s designs is his love of the sky, he is always finding a way to work in a bit of the wondrous allure of our natural environment, and it’s working for him.
Balvin has managed to give us another sneaker that’ll likely hit our year-end list come December. Let’s hope he has even more surprises in store.
The Air Jordan 3 x J Balvin Rio is out now for a retail price of $250. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
If you missed your chance at copping last week’s Futura SB Dunk drop, you’ve got another chance this week via the general SNKRS release.
The sneaker features a bleached canvas upper with two-tone laces, swirling psychedelic panels, contrast stitching, and embroidered Futura branding at the heel and tongue. It is easily the best Dunk to drop this year (so far).
The Nike SB Dunk Low x Futura Laboratories White and Geode Teal is out now for a retail price of $135. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
NikeNike
Nike Women’s Shox R4 White and Metallic Platinum
Nike
Price: $150
The Nike Shox is fully back and looking better than ever. Now essentially a women’s exclusive, the Shox R4 is enjoying a second life as a hyper-stylish staple of modern women’s fashion. This rendition sports a synthetic upper with ripples and laser perforations, with an upper inspired by astronaut space suits.
If you told me five years ago the Shox would be back and look great, I would’ve laughed in your face.
The Nike Women’s Shox R4 White and Metallic Platinum is set to drop on May 23rd at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Anytime Nike wants to reach into its vaults and release a classic — I’m there. The Air 180 first dropped in 1991 and gets its name from its 180 degrees of visible Air cushioning. The sneaker was designed for runners by Tink Hatfield and features a mesh meets suede upper in its original Ultramarine colorway.
It’s not a sneaker for everyone, but if you’re a hardcore Tinker Hatfield fan, this is one of his more obscure designs. That novelty alone makes it worth the pickup.
The Nike Air 180 Ultramarine is set to drop on May 24th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
If you’re not into the obscure Hatfield designs and just want something beloved by the masses, look no further than the Jordan 12. This week the Taxi Flip colorway makes a return which features a premium leather build with a white upper and black and Gym Red accents.
Similar to the Balvin Rio, this sneaker looks to the sky for inspiration, with stitching darting across the upper that is meant to evoke sun rays during a sunrise.
The Air Jordan 12 Taxi Flip is set to drop on May 25th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
Emily Oberg’s Sporty & Rich is back with a new take on the Adidas Spezial. Sporty & Rich is at its best when it keeps things minimal and clean, and the Spezial is a perfect silhouette for that with its classic design and simple shape.
The sneaker features a smoothed-out leather upper with textile lining, Sporty & Rich branding, a classic gum sole, and drops in three beautiful soft-toned spring colorways.
The Adidas Handball Spezial Sport & Rich pack is set to drop on Thursday, May 23rd at 8:00 AM PDT. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app.
AdidasAdidas
Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.
Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. Whether or not you have family members who have served in the military, you’re probably looking forward to this year’s long weekend. It gives us all a chance to catch our breath before the final slog toward the summertime, and what better way to chill than by scooping up some great food deals?
Any time we have a long weekend ahead, indulging in your favorite foods is necessary; and the only thing better than your favorite food is getting that food for a massive discount. Luckily for all of us, several fast food and sit-down restaurants are offering some pretty sweet savings, especially for meals catering to larger parties.
So grab your family, friends, or whatever, and get fed some good food on the cheap. Here are the best food deals for Memorial Day Weekend 2024.
Arby’s — Rewards members will receive 50% off any burger when ordering online or through their app beginning on Memorial Day.
Buffalo Wild Wings — All month receive six free wings when placing an order over $20. To snag the deal use the code “GOWINGS.”
Dave & Buster’s — Beginning Sunday, May 26th, pick up $2 beers. On Memorial Day, new and existing loyalty members will receive 50% off their food purchases.
Dunkin’ Donuts — Between Wednesday, May 22 and Sunday, May 26, Dunkin Rewards members will earn 3x the points on any large iced beverage posted.
Fogo de Chão — Veterans and Active Duty military personnel will receive 50% off a churrasco meal, and the rest of your table will receive 10% off no their matter status. Throughout Memorial Day weekend you can also enjoy free delivery.
Hooters — Between May 24 through the 27th, you can grab a build-your-own-burger special for just $13. That includes a burger, fries, and a Dos Equis.
Krispy Kreme — Between Friday, May 24th to Monday, May 27th (Memorial Day) you can pick up a dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts for just $3.84 when checking out with the promo code “ROADTRIP” as part of Krispy Kreme’s Doughnut Detour Deal.
Why $3.84? Because AAA is projecting that 38.4 million people will travel by car at least 50 miles over Memorial Day Weekend. And for some reason, Krispy Kreme felt like they should make a deal based on that projection. We’re not mad at it if it gets us cheap doughnuts, but that doesn’t mean we don’t think it’s weird.
Long John Silver’s — Between May 23rd and May 24th you can receive $5 off all Family Meals when you check out with the code “5OFFFAM.”
Marco’s — For just $19.99, receive Marco’s Mega Deal (large one-topping pizza, Cheezybread, and Cinnasquares) any day during Memorial Day Weekend. To claim the deal checkout using the code “MEGAMEAL.”
Morton’s Steakhouse — Between May 22nd and May 27th, you can order from a special dinner-for-two menu that includes a starter, 18-ounce dry-aged, bone-in
Kansas City Strip, Lobster Ravioli, and your choice of toppings and accompaniments.
Sonic — Throughout Memorial Day Weekend you can pick up a shake for half-price anytime after 7 p.m.
TGI Fridays — This is technically a graduation-specific deal, but it’s extending through Memorial Day weekend. Receive 25% off any party platters when checking out with the code “GRAD24.”
Wendy’s — On Friday receive a free order of fries with any purchase from the Wendy’s app.
White Castle — During Memorial Day weekend, you can save $3 off a Crave Clutch order. That’ll get you 20 sliders of your choice. Checkout using the code “CLUTCHDEAL.”
We’re almost at the halfway mark for 2024 and if you haven’t been paying attention, it’s been a BIG year for bourbon. As the American whiskey landscape has continued to expand we’ve seen stellar new releases from heritage brands and young upstarts all the same. Let’s face it, the bourbon boom is still in full swing and despite some stagnation in production and conservative sales reports — there’s a ton of great bourbon being produced.
With the boom, we’ve gotten some of the best bourbon in decades. The quality of bourbon has steadily increased amidst all of the competition in the marketplace and advances in technology. We’ve also seen a pretty rapid expansion in the amount of parity in the bourbon game and the number of premium products to hit liquor store shelves seems to still be rising.
In short, 2024 is full of critically lauded expressions with every week seemingly bringing another new “must-buy” bottle. So… how are we supposed to keep track of it all?
That’s where Uproxx comes in. Label bias is a real thing and so are the preconceived notions that would have you believe every expensive bottle is great and every affordable bottle is quotidian. The cure for those concerns is blind tasting. Truly the only way for you to dispense with your subconscious favoritism is to try a number of pours without knowing exactly what they are and, in such a great year for bourbon, now marks the perfect occasion to do so.
So we rounded up 24 of the best bourbon bottles to hit shelves this year (so far) and blind tasted then ranked them. Here are the contestants:
• Abraham Bowman Oak Series: French Oak
• Bardstown Bourbon Company Amrut Collaboration
• Barrell Mizunara Finished Bourbon
• Ben Holladay Bourbon Lore Collaboration 18-Barrel Blend
• Blood Oath Pact 10
• Booker’s 2024-01 “Springfield Batch”
• Dark Arts 6.5 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B524
• Heaven Hill 18-Year-Old Heritage Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 2
• Jeptha Creed Wheated Bourbon
• King’s County Barrel Strength Bourbon
• Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B524
• Michter’s Single Barrel Bourbon
• Milam & Greene Bottled in Bond Bourbon
• New Riff 8 Year Bourbon
• Old Fitzgerald 13-Year Bottled in Bond
• Old Forester 1924
• Old Stubborn Batch 2
• Penelope Architect Series Build 10
• Rabbit Hole Founder’s Collection Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Japanese Oak
• Rare Character Old Cassidy Bourbon
• Starlight Mizunara Finished Bourbon
• Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 3
As you can probably guess, the competition was stiff. Bourbons from places as predictable as Kentucky, and as unexpected as Missouri were represented, and discerning the quality between some of them was like splitting hairs. There’s a LOT to be said about just how good some of these pours were as well as some of the surprises we discovered along the way.
That said, let’s get into the full list of the 24 best bourbons of 2024, blind-tasted and ranked!
Made up from a mashbill that’s 75% Bloody Butcher Corn, 20% Malted Wheat, and 5% Malted Barley, Jeptha Creed’s new Wheated Bourbon is the fourth ongoing expression from the craft brand.
Tasting Notes: Nose: The nose is full of red apple cores, wheatgrass, and just a touch of youthful oak.
Palate: On the palate Jeptha’s Wheated Bourbon holds a lot of those apple notes from the nose, though it tacks more towards applesauce.
Finish: A little bit of peanut brittle and herbal tea stand out on the finish which has a satisfying medium length.
Bottom Line:
Jeptha Creed’s Wheated Bourbon is a strong new entry into their portfolio, in fact, it’s the best bourbon they’ve got. The grain-forward vibe they achieve throughout their core lineup is evident here, but with the welcome addition of fresh apples, it has a cider-like profile that just works.
Booker’s is back with their first of four releases this year, 2024-01 which they’re calling the Springfield Batch. The batch is named for the town in central Kentucky where the bourbon’s namesake, Booker Noe, hails from.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Potting soil joins a floral aroma that fuses with nutmeg and spiced orange peel on the nose of this pour.
Palate: Once on the palate, Booker’s Springfield Batch is again floral and citrus-forward with accenting notes of oak and nutmeg keeping things interesting.
Finish: The finish is where Booker’s signature hazelnut note emerges and hangs on to stay. It’s a rich and lengthy finish that’s only curtailed by further floral aspects that throw things a tad bit out of balance.
Bottom Line:
Booker’s first batch of 2024 is a down-the-middle-of-the-road release from the brand that will serve, more than anything, to appease their core fans despite doing little to convert the uninitiated. It has plenty of classic Booker’s notes but doesn’t bring any new flavors to the party, which is a bit of a bummer.
Old Stubborn is following up their polarizing inaugural wheated bourbon release with something a little different — a rye-recipe bourbon. A premium marriage of 10, 11, and 12-year-old pot still straight bourbon went into this second expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Grain-forward with plenty of pot still funk, Old Stubborn Batch 2 is full of malted chocolate and earthy notes on the nose reminiscent of oak and mocha.
Palate: On the palate there’s an unsweetened Apple Jacks note that immediately entices repeat sips before hints of honey begin to bloom at midpalate.
Finish: The finish features the honey in full swing while the earthy oak tones from the nose reemerge along with black pepper and herbal notes.
Bottom Line:
Old Stubborn’s first release may have been polarizing but Batch 2 seems firmly focused on gaining mass appeal. Classic bourbon notes pair well with the grainy texture and medium-length finish on this pour to make for a rock-solid sipper.
Starlight’s Mizunara Finished Bourbon begins with straight bourbon barrels that were initially set to go into their premium “Family Reserve” lineup that was subsequently finished in rare Mizunara oak casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: After nosing this one blind there were notes of nutmeg, hazelnut, faint mocha, and oak spice that came wafting out of the glass. Candied ginger and orange pith also come through with a gentle cinnamon dusting.
Palate: On the palate there are plenty of bright cherry notes that go with some cedar, cinnamon, and buttercream that sadly fades a bit quickly.
Finish: The finish is marked by the oak spice and bright cherry notes but the quick dissipation of vanilla and buttercream makes it seem shorter than it should be. Bottom Line:
Starlight’s excellence with finishing bourbon is again on full display here as they utilize the rare Mizunara oak to elevate their already outstanding base liquid. While several more experimental finished whiskies are coming out of the Borden, Indiana distillery this is certainly one of their best.
Milam & Greene out of Blanco, Texas is producing some solid stuff and this new Bottled in Bond effort, distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Company, is a head turner. From the Fall 2019 distilling season, this bourbon features a mashbill of 70% corn, 22% malted rye, and 8% malted barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Freshly baked cinnamon cookies, and robust red fruits — like stewed raspberries, dried cranberries, and spiked apple cider — hit the nose at first. Those notes are anchored by clove, herbal tea, and a bit of bubblegum.
Palate: On the palate the clove becomes stronger than it was on the nose with cinnamon bark following in its wake before the layers of red fruit recede leaving mostly red apple skin on the tongue with a touch of dark chocolate.
Finish: The finish has a slightly chalky texture as this pour gently undulates away with some savory baking spices like dried basil and caraway.
Bottom Line:
Milam & Greene employs a talented team to spearhead their whiskey efforts. Led by CEO and Master Blender, Heather Greene, along with Master Distiller Marlene Holmes, they seldom miss. This Bottled in Bond bourbon is just further proof that they know how to build a robust flavor profile that can keep pace with some of Kentucky’s best — even exceeding many legacy distilleries.
19. Dark Arts 6.5 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch 2
Dark Arts is the newest brand on this list and they describe themselves as a, “blending, rebarreling, and finishing house in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.” Led by President and Chief Blender Macaulay Minton along with CEO and Master Distiller David Peet (though they aren’t currently distilling) the brand was founded in 2023.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Vanilla buttercream and apple aromas hang in the air upon first nosing this whiskey along with a surprising hint of oak from a 6.5-year bourbon.
Palate: The palate begins very sweet and creamy, with a mouth-coating texture that warms the roof of your mouth and sticks to the back of your teeth. Bits of butterscotch grow in prominence at midpalate with each effervescent sip that leads to lots of salivating making this anything but a drying pour.
Finish: Luxardo cherries begin to pop on the finish of this bourbon while the butterscotch notes become a bit more tampered down and the oak presence grows. Overall it’s a fairly short finish, which makes sense for a younger bourbon, but the flavors it imparts are enjoyable.
Bottom Line:
Dark Arts Whiskey House is coming out of the gate strong with this solid bourbon carrying an equally impressive age statement. While most upstart brands are left blending 4-year-old scraps from barrel brokers, Dark Arts is delivering a more mature experience right off the bat — and that’s commendable by itself.
For this new cask-finished bourbon, Barrell takes Indiana Bourbon whiskeys 6, 7, and 9 years old and blends them with Kentucky Bourbon whiskeys 8 years old and Tennessee Bourbon whiskeys 8 and 14 years old. Once blended those whiskies are finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of green apples, butterscotch, and black pepper is effusive on the first pass. Soon after that, aromas of sherry, cedar, and oiled leather come on strong.
Palate: Honey that’s drizzled over flaky pastry shells stands out on the palate. The mouthfeel, which is lush and full-bodied, provides a sturdy platform for lemongrass and cornbread to combine while the darker sweetness of date syrup finds its footing.
Finish: The finish is surprisingly short which curtails all of that rich goodwill wrought by the palate. Closing with a touch of lime zest and palo santo woodsy notes makes for a delightful goodbye to each sip.
Bottom Line:
The second Mizunara-finished bourbon on this list makes a strong impression thanks to the depth of its rich flavors and substantial sweetness that avoids becoming cloying. Barrell Bourbon features one of the industry’s premier blending groups and they made sure to remind us of it with this prototypically strong release.
Blood Oath Pact No. 10 is Lux Row Master Blender John Rempe’s 10th anniversary at the helm and this time for the ever-changing series the bourbon is double finished in Cabernet Blanc and Merlot barrels. This release will see a total allocation of 51,000 bottles, with 1,400 of those bottles being held for a future Trilogy release.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Nosing notes include sliced green apples, freshly baked pie crust, and star anise. On the second pass, those aromas continue to evolve along with a bit of jammy red fruit aromas.
Palate: The palate immediately comes across as a cinnamon roll that’s light on the cinnamon. A touch of cedar, honeysuckle, and mellow oak tones begin to add to the complexity in due course.
Finish: The finish features twin spires of well-developed oak and sticky-sweet honeysuckle that provide the perfect roundness to close out each sumptuous sip.
Bottom Line:
Lux Row’s well-regarded Blood Oath series has another strong entry in Pact 10. With a decade of experience now under his belt, Master Blender John Rempe continues to fine-tune each release, maintaining a level of quality commensurate with his ability to surprise the brand’s fans.
New Riff, out of Northern Kentucky, is a highly regarded craft distillery that’s increasingly adding age-stated products to their lineup. This new 8-year expression features a mashbill of 65% Corn, 30% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of apple cider with mint sprigs punctuates the air around this glass and leaves just enough room for well-oiled leather to make an impression too. It comes across as a lower proof when nosing it blindly, but only because the ethanol presence is light — the flavors it carries are rich.
Palate: Immediately you’re struck by how well-structured this bourbon is. The mouthfeel is even-keeled and the flavors in each sip are surprisingly well-behaved. Chocolate-dipped raspberries, notes of flan, and slightly overcooked caramel corn each take their turn to dance across the palate, never disturbing one another.
Finish: The finish is where that caramel corn note and a bit of honeyed oak close the ceremony. The finish is medium in length but high in pleasantness. Bottom Line:
When New Riff first burst onto the scene with excellent 4-year-old whiskey the industry rejoiced…and then they seemingly stalled out, with 4-year whiskey becoming their default for a spell. It turns out that they were merely biding their time to release some truly solid bourbon with a higher age statement. If this 8-year bourbon is any indication, their well-aged stock will recapture any fans they may have lost along the way.
Larceny Barrel Proof has become one of the most anticipated batched releases of the bourbon calendar each year since its inception in January 2020 (remember those times?). This year’s second batch of the wheated bourbon is aged, as always, for 6-8 years. The mashbill is 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Candied orange, dipped in chocolate, comes through on the nose in rich waves. Oak soon takes the wheel, but it’s joined by more cocoa notes riding comfortably in the passenger seat.
Palate: Once on the palate that initial impression of orange marmalade coats the tongue on the heels of some high heat. Once acclimated to that heat, however, one discovers a nice note of cinnamon bark and even some surprising bits of pistachio.
Finish: The finish is lengthy with a spiced orange wheel and the slightly nutty quality of the palate — now reminiscent of toasted almonds — making for the perfect marriage.
Bottom Line:
Larceny Barrel Proof is somehow still underrated among bourbon enthusiasts but the consistently strong expression had a banner year in 2023. With two strong releases already sitting on shelves in 2024, it seems like things are continuing to trend upward for Heaven Hill’s premier wheated bourbon.
14. Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaboration Series Amrut
Bardstown Bourbon Company’s ethos of collaboration permeates the entire brand. As one of the more prominent contract distilleries that spirit of collaboration is cooked into their modus operandi and they put their pride in that ethos on full display with their Collaboration Series. This Amrut collaboration marks the first time a major American whiskey brand has been finished in Indian whisky barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich, well-defined oak, leather, syrupy black cherry, and sticky caramel make up this borderline decadent nose. There’s also a fair bit of cola nut and some restrained mocha as well.
Palate: Like a milk chocolate truffle on the palate, this medium-bodied pour features a lovely transition from sweetness to earthiness and then to spice. Black pepper and basil comprise the spice component while the cola nut and oak notes at midpalate account for the earthiness.
Finish: The finish is where you’ll find notes of leather and more baking spices like clove and bay leaf. This whiskey has a medium-length finish that hangs around just long enough to savor but brief enough that it leaves you wanting more…which is what leads to repeat sips.
Bottom Line:
This surprising collaboration has produced stellar results with the malt chocolate notes from Amrut’s casks lending themselves nicely to Bardstown Bourbon Company’s exceptionally clean liquid. Though this is only the first collaboration of its kind between an American whiskey brand and an Indian whisky brand, this should certainly be the blueprint for future partnerships.
The inaugural expression in the Abraham Bowman Oak Series, French Oak, is unique in that it spent all 12 years of its life aging in French Oak Casks. Also of note is the fact that the whiskey in this blend was aged in both charred and what the brand calls “no char” barrels, which means this isn’t technically a bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Apple leather isn’t a thing as far as I know, but it certainly exists in this glass. The aroma of vanilla cone and marzipan further bolsters this light-and-sweet nose.
Palate: On the palate this whiskey is surprisingly spry, with a low viscousness that manages to coat the palate all the same. The flavors from the nose come through, albeit in a slightly muted form, making this an easy-sipping treat that eschews complexity in favor of approachability.
Finish: The finish is uncomplicated with a bit of white pepper and toasted oak notes taking the lead. A touch of marshmallow and faint maple candy notes round out each sip.
Bottom Line:
While this whiskey’s profile could be aided by a bump in proof, the liquid itself is still a surefire success thanks to its crowd-pleasing bevy of flavors. Abraham Bowman has laid the groundwork here for solid whiskey and anticipation for the second installment in their Oak Series should be high.
Wyoming Whiskey has done a host of work aiding in the maintenance and rehabilitation of America’s national parks and they honor that charitable work with their National Parks series. For the third iteration of the series, they’re honoring Grand Teton National Park.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, National Parks No. 3 is full of the aroma of slightly sweet Apple Jacks with green apple slices, and young oak. Nutmeg and a big dose of tasty cinnamon and vanilla ice cream can be found as well.
Palate: The palate showcases all of the nosing notes in impressive form but welcomes the addition of some truly lush Rainier cherry flavors that suit the austere but auspicious mouthfeel well.
Finish: On the finish is where the Rainier cherry flavor really fuses together with some dense oak, pink peppercorn, and Manuka honey notes. It’s short to medium in length but so satisfying that you’re sure to return for more sips pretty quickly.
Bottom Line:
At only 5 years old, Wyoming Whiskey’s National Parks No. 3 is one of the biggest surprises of this entire tasting. Boasting an outsized flavor profile for such a relatively young whiskey, this outstanding release goes to show just how dialed in the flavors are in Wyoming’s limited edition offerings.
11. Heaven Hill 18-Year-Old Heritage Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Heaven Hill’s Heritage Collection came out the gates strong two years ago with a 17-year-old bourbon utilizing their classic 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley recipe. After last year’s 20-Year Corn Whiskey was met with a tepid response the brand opted to double down on their initial success by releasing another bourbon, this time with an additional year of age from the same mashbill.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Juicy orange notes combine with a fair bit of rich oak and a distinctly floral aroma at first. In time there are further aromas of peanut shell that arise, though the lovely floral aspects are really driving the nosing notes on this bourbon.
Palate: Some more muted peanut notes enter the palate before they’re completely washed away by decadent butterscotch, a few shakes of clove, and gentle oak tannins. Caramel corn and tobacco leaves begin to take root at midpalate before shooting up the roof of the mouth.
Finish: On the finish there’s more caramel corn to go with some creme brulee notes and leather. The ethanol is kept mostly in check, despite the high proof, throughout the lengthy finish of this bourbon.
Bottom Line:
While it doesn’t ascend to the heights achieved by its predecessor, Heaven Hill’s 18-year-old bourbon remains an exemplary release in the brand’s historic portfolio. By showcasing what hyper-aging can do for their classic bourbon mashbill, one is left to wonder what another year or two might bring.
10. Rabbit Hole Founder’s Collection Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Japanese Oak
Rabbit Hole’s Founder’s Collection features some of the best liquid in the brand’s entire stock of well-aged whiskey. For this Mizunara-finished expression — the highest ranking of three such expressions on our list — only 2,200 bottles were produced.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Vanilla and toasted brown marshmallow notes are immediately striking on the nose along with a fair bit of leather. This is really worth sitting with and nosing for a while. In due time you’ll notice nutmeg, allspice, and walnuts begin to creep from behind those sweeter aromas.
Palate: At first pass this immediately tastes well-aged and has robust sweetness upfront before the oak overtakes it on the back end with some barrel char smokiness cinnamon bark. The Mizunara finishing cask melds well with the base bourbon, which creates a really intriguing evolution from the front of the palate to the back.
Finish: The finish is spice-laden as allspice and palo alto fuse with barrel char and cherry juice for a medium to long finish.
Bottom Line:
The price is eyebrow-raising, but so is the flavor profile. While it’s true there are more affordable Mizunara-finished options on the market, you can’t argue with the end results in Rabbit Hole’s latest Founder’s Collection offering.
Penelope is a brand on fire ever since their acquisition by MGP subsidiary, Luxco, Inc. but one of the best labels they put out both before and after the deal has been their Architect Series. Made in collaboration with Tonnellerie Radoux of France, Penelope uses their oak staves to handcraft each batch of Architect Bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: An impressive show of buttered brown muffins with chocolate chunks and black cherry come bounding out of the glass at first. Those aromas are buttressed by sticky toffee and brioche buns in addition to notes of maple candy.
Palate: Buttered brown muffin flavors penetrate the palate along with the sticky toffee on this overtly sweet yet balanced pour. Hints of clove and black pepper provide a welcome spice presence to counteract those sweeter tones as toasted butterscotch and seasoned oak tones soon join the fray.
Finish: The finish is resplendent with the notes found at midpalate — from toasted butterscotch to seasoned oak. It’s also a surprisingly lengthy finish where a bit of molasses can also be found.
Bottom Line:
Penelope’s bourbon should be familiar to most by now but their relatively newer Architect series is still winning converts as perhaps the most impressive showcase for the brand’s Head Blender Danny Polise and VP of Production Jayce Chavez. Build 10 of their Architect Series goes to show that the Penelope team can outpace even more established brands with relative ease.
Old Forester 1924 is the first expansion of the brand’s “Whiskey Row” series in several years and it’s the first iteration to feature an age statement. Using the same mashbill as Brown-Forman’s budget bourbon, Early Times, this more mature whiskey was first released earlier this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The rich nose, resplendent with ripe plums, honey, and buttery pie crust aromas makes you immediately take notice. After a few swirls in the glass, you’ll find black cherry, leather, and polished oak emerging from this whiskey as well. It’s definitely a delightful melange.
Palate: On the palate it’s those notes of black cherry that really take the reins, along with a touch of oiled leather. It’s hard to deny how perfectly proofed this whiskey is, as the viscousness coats your palate, and the flavors you get from 10+ years in a barrel are on full display without ever becoming overaked.
Finish: On the finish there are slight signs of hyper-aging as it becomes a bit drying and the length is disappointingly short considering how rich the flavors are.
Bottom Line:
The primary knock against Old Forester 1924 (aside from the price) is the fact that it gets progressively weaker as you go from the aroma, to the flavor, and finally the finish. That said, it starts off strong and still finishes well above average as repeat sips will allow you to unlock deeper layers of flavor. Despite the short finish, this is a well-made whiskey. You just have to have several sips to fully appreciate it, and we aren’t complaining about that.
7. Ben Holladay Bourbon Lore Collaboration 18-Barrel Blend
This 18-barrel blend from Holladay Distillery is the result of a collaboration between Bourbon Lore and Master Distiller Kyle Merklein. The limited-time release, which sold out in less than 30 minutes at the distillery, is the first of its kind for the brand.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Cinnamon, rich oak, and a faint smokiness provide an intriguing introduction to this bourbon.
Palate: Juicy cherries, well-aged oak, and faint leather notes are immediately evident on the palate. Each sip is a showcase in fantastic balance as the well-delineated flavors are given ample space to strut their stuff.
Finish: This bourbon is even-keeled through the lengthy finish with balance, again, standing out as its hallmark feature. Look for brown sugar, black pepper spice, and seasoned oak tones to define the finish. Bottom Line:
This is just an incredibly well-made whiskey. The richness of the flavors never threatens to drown one another out as a deft balance and a sumptuous finish will leave any bourbon aficionado in awe.
Kings County is New York City’s oldest distillery and all that experience is brought to full bear with their Barrel Strength Bourbon. For their premier undiluted offering, the brand uses some of their oldest barrels which are aged between 4 and 7 years.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Green grape skin and brown sugar are striking at first, but wait…there’s more. Enter the custard with lemon zest, black pepper, nutmeg, Brazil nuts, and honey to add to the depth.
Palate: The flavor of corn pudding, honey, and golden raisins splash across the palate adding surprising levity to the dense and dark liquid in the glass. It coats your palate at once and beckons the back of your tastebuds to explore more as each sip slowly dissipates.
Finish: The finish is incredibly long-lasting and it’s there that you’ll find more baking spices and barrel char to corral those sweeter top notes.
Bottom Line:
It’s well-known by now that Kings County produces bourbon that can punch above its weight on the national scene. If more people were to try the best of their bourbon — and these barrel-strength releases are definitely among the best of their bourbon — next to some of Kentucky’s heavyweights, I have no doubt that Kings County would hold its own.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is often heralded as the single best value in all of bourbon. Why? Because it’s a consistent product, released three times a year, that clocks in at full barrel strength and aged for at least 11 years. This year’s “B” Batch, B524, was aged for 11 years and 2 months.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: My initial nosing notes say, “This is just dope.” I hope that begins to explain. The aroma of buttery croissants and cinnamon reach the nose along with some hazelnut spread and honey brioche buns.
Palate: The palate finds earthy toasted almond notes coming together with decadent dark chocolate and more buttery, flaky croissant flavors. Excuse my French, but pain au chocolat ain’t got shit on this. The texture is well-fused and oily, which causes it to stick to your teeth despite the high-octane proof point which makes this one dangerous pour.
Finish: The finish is properly lengthy and introduces a bit of walnut meat, hazelnut, and a few shakes of clove and nutmeg to the palate.
Bottom Line:
Even when it isn’t at its best, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is one of the best bourbons on the market. Rest assured, after a polarizing “A” batch earlier this year, Elijah Craig is back on its “A” game for 2024’s second release.
This extremely limited expression from Rare Character marks the first time they’ve released the brand Old Cassidy into the wild. The brainchild of founder, Pablo Moix, and selected in collaboration with Bourb Your Enthusiasm (my nom de guerre on the bourbon battlefield known as Instagram) this exclusive single barrel offering sold out in less than a minute when it was released online earlier this June.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: After nosing this blind I had to appreciate how consistent this bottle has been from the early selection process through now. Rich black cherries, flaky pastry notes, and well-integrated oak dominate the nose. Not to be confined by those, there are further aromas of peanut brittle and dark chocolate chunks along with a touch of allspice that really help to round out the whiskey.
Palate: Oak, flaky pastry, and cherry rhubarb flavors come barreling down the palate on the first sip. After sip number one, you’ll find a slight herbal tea note hanging around at midpalate which turns almost sour before transforming into apple cider at the back of your palate. The oak tones rise and fall in prominence which allows bits of brown sugar and dark chocolate to get in a word otherwise.
Finish: The finish comes complete with bright red cherry notes and Manuka honey for a medium-length sendoff that’s sure to please.
Bottom Line:
I already confidently stood behind this release and after seeing it placed so highly in a blind tasting I think it’s safe to say the proof is in the pudding. The folks behind Rare Character are purveyors of some of the best bourbon on the planet today, and Old Cassidy is a prime example of them being the ne plus ultra of non-distilling producers.
3. Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 2
Jack Daniel’s is probably the one American whiskey brand that needs no introduction — but their Age Stated Series just might. Launched in 2022 with their inaugural 10-year Tennessee whiskey, Jack Daniel’s followed that up with the introduction of their 12-year expression which is now in its second year of production.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: My first nosing note? “Wow.” Rich caramel and leather are all over the aroma of this pour along with a sultry maple syrup note that comes directly from the Lincoln County Process.
Palate: Almond extract and milk chocolate pool around some sticky caramel on the palate making this one taste like a boozy Snickers bar right off the bat. The texture isn’t overly viscous, opting instead to remain spry so that it can reach every corner of your mouth on repeat sips without becoming cloying.
Finish: The finish is where the well-aged oak and deeper barrel tones help tie it all together. The finish is medium-length, but you might think it’s longer due to the richness of those milk chocolate and caramel flavors.
Bottom Line:
For the second year in a row, Jack Daniel’s has surprised me by producing one of the best American whiskies on the planet. Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise. While the brand’s inaugural 10-year age-stated was a delight, the inaugural 12-year expression quickly supplanted it as king of the hill. With rumors that Jack Daniel’s has a 14-year version coming down the pipeline at some point in the next year, it will have to be extraordinary to supplant the brand’s new title holder.
Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon is one of the more rigorously refined bourbons on the market. That’s not just lip service. Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation, Andrea Wilson, painstakingly comb through Michter’s voluminous well-aged barrel inventory for this release annually and subject it to their own proprietary custom filtration process to dial in the flavor. Sure, there’s a big fat 10-year age statement on it, but as the two of them are fond of saying, “We don’t just age it for 10 years and a day.”
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Incredibly refined and dense oak notes combine with mature leather on the nose. It’s rewarding that this immediately comes across as a hyper-aged bourbon. My notes say, “satisfyingly sexy oak” and while I’m not entirely sure what that means, I hope you know what I meant.
Palate: Buttery viscosity leads the charge as this pour sets out to conquer four of your five senses (it looks dark and inviting in the glass, as well). There’s a decadent vanilla cream note that sits atop the mature leather and dense oak tones that are impossible to turn away from. The taste of black cherry enters before the transition to the finish and pools at the middle of the tongue before branching out along the roof of the mouth.
Finish: Tasted blind, I was impressed at how lengthy the finish on this whiskey was but upon learning it’s only 94.4 proof I became doubly so. There are gentle baking spices on the back end to go along with those oak tones but the earthy, mature bourbon notes really carry it through.
Bottom Line:
For me, this was the biggest shock of the bunch. Not because Michter’s 10-year isn’t typically excellent, but because one might expect its low proof — exceptional in solo settings — to get drowned out among some of the high-ABV bruisers in this blind. Nevertheless, quality wins out. Michter’s 10-year Single Barrel Bourbon is one of the best bourbons to come out in 2024.
The latest expression from Heaven Hill’s Old Fitzgerald lineup made a special journey from distillation to bottling. That’s due, in part, because the liquid in this bottle was distilled back in 1999 in the wake of Heaven Hill’s catastrophic 1996 fire. To honor the 25th anniversary of Heaven Hill acquiring the distillery, which helped them rebound from the historic setback, they opted to release this whiskey, which has been sitting in stainless steel tanks waiting for its moment in the sun since 2012.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich butterscotch comes bounding out of the glass with a depth and lusciousness I’ve rarely experienced on a modern bourbon. Leather notes and Rainier cherries are also evident along with the aroma of freshly toasted wheat bread with a honey spread. An undercurrent of milk chocolate and clove helps to prop up this magnificent nose as well.
Palate: Those Rainier cherries become bright red cocktail cherries on the palate, whose deceptive sweetness clears the way for more nuanced notes of honey, and sweet oak while clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon can be found rafting along the buttery viscosity of each sip.
Finish: The finish is velvety, with a gentle sweetness encasing the oaky core of each pour. It’s a medium to long finish, but the remarkable balance between oak and sweet notes is enhanced by the way the finish clings to your palate after every sip.
Bottom Line:
One of the things that make this bourbon so awe-inspiring is the fact that it defies expectations. The silky viscosity stands in defiance of its 50% ABV level. The delightfully lengthy finish rebukes presuppositions of it being short and sweet. The depth of flavor sends a thunderous jolt through any forecast predicting feeble top notes and little else. To state it plainly, Old Fitzgerald 13-Year Bottled in Bond is the best bourbon to come out in 2024 and even with half of the year ahead of us, that’s unlikely to change.
The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Vince Staples, Cash Cobain, Don Toliver, and more.
You know what’s fun? Watching how, in the aftermath of the whole Drake/Kendrick kerfuffle, J. Cole has sort of gone the André 3000 route, taking on (well, returning to) his role as a sort of mythic and chill hip-hop Bigfoot, popping up on beaches and delivering unexpected guest verses like the one he does on Cash Cobain’s “Grippy.”
Some fans have determined that another aftereffect of the battle is rappers getting back to the gritty sound of the ’90s — y’know, “real hip-hop.” While I’m still skeptical about that being the motivating factor, I sure am glad to hear Common return to his Golden Era roots on “Wise Up” with Pete Rock.
Meanwhile, someone who rarely lets what’s going on in the wider world shake him is Don Toliver, who forged ahead in his Hardstone Psycho rollout with “Attitude” — also featuring Cash Cobain, who is clearly this week’s WINNER.
You know who else has determined he could take or leave all the nonsense going on outside? YG. The Compton veteran declared gossipy dudes (and a whole plethora of other violators) “Weird” in his latest.
Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending May 24, 2024.
Albums/EPs/Mixtapes
Baby Jungle — Jungle Book
Baby Jungle
This one wasn’t on my radar, but after giving it a spin (largely on the basis of its DJ Drama intro), I found myself thoroughly enjoying the Atlanta rapper’s first major effort. His fried vocal tone and straightforward storytelling set him apart from other rappers in his lane, and his hard pivot midway through to wounded warbling keeps things fresh enough to warrant multiple play throughs.
Juicy J — Mental Trillness 2
Juicy J
Memphis trap rap pioneer Juicy J doesn’t have to do too much to produce a quality body of work. He’s been doing this long enough that you know what you’re getting, and he knows what you want. This sort of symbiosis between artists and their fans is getting eerily rare, so it’s nice when it happens.
Sexyy Red — In Sexyy We Trust
Sexyy Red
An underrated fun thing about Sexyy Red is that, despite her popularity, she’s still largely independent, meaning she gets to drop new music at her own pace, while her name is still hot in the streets. It certainly is that at the moment thanks to her proximity to a certain Canadian rapper and the success of her song of the summer candidate “Get It Sexyy,” so Memorial Day Weekend is probably the perfect time for her to drop a new project.
Vince Staples — Dark Times
Vince Staples
Dropping basically out of nowhere with little-to-no warning would be the death knell for many artists’ new albums, but Vince Staples is in the midst of one of hip-hop’s hottest hot streaks. If there really is a vacancy for a new Big Three, I would very quickly submit the Long Beacher’s name for contention. Dark Times is Vince’s final album for Def Jam — and somewhat improbably, considering the quality of the work he’s put out lately — one of his best.
Singles/Videos
Big Hit, Hit-Boy & Alchemist — “Gank Move” Feat. HitgirlLena
The family affair continues, with Big Hit, his son, and Alchemist maintaining the generation-spanning groove they’ve settled into. A new wrinkle here: The addition of HitgirlLena, who is, yes, Hit-Boy’s sister and Big Hit’s daughter. If anything, her verse here is even more assertive than her dad’s; rarely has rap nepotism hit such a sweet spot.
Blxst — “Risk Taker” Feat. Offset
Incorporating Afrobeats into his usual G-Funk-flushed rap-crooning formula, Blxst opens a whole new lane for himself — or, at least, a greater share of LA’s brunch scene setlists for the coming summer (it’s sunny outsiiiide). Offset acquits himself adequately, putting his experience as a go-to pop feature to subtle work.
Key Glock — “Q-Dogz”
Employing a ghostly loop and the familiar thump of Memphis’ signature trap drums, Key Glock delivers a short, but effective shout-out to historically Black fraternity Omega Psi Phi, relating their brotherhood to that of the streets.
Maiya The Don — “Frenzy”
WNBA mania is taking over, and Maiya The Don is catching the wave. The ostensible Liberty fan has already placed the track with the home team’s in-house DJ, meaning she’ll be soundtracking plenty of close games and 20-point beatdowns over the summer and stuffing a few more wins in her own Telfy.
Quavo — “Clear The Smoke”
For someone who hasn’t announced an album this year, Quavo sure has been busy as hell. Huncho’s collection of releases this year includes “Himothy,” “Potato Loaded,” and “Tender” so far, and here he is with another anthemic declaration of his own realness.
The Simpsons has paved the way for other animated shows to outlive us all. Family Guy is entering season 23 (and a new day of the week), while Bob’s Burgers recently concluded its 14th season on Fox. Then there’s South Park.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s Comedy Central series premiered in 1997. Since then, there’s been over 300 episodes, 10 video games, a great movie, and multiple Paramount Plus specials, including “South Park: The End of Obesity,” which is streaming now. Skinny Cartman can’t hurt you… he’s not real…
What’s next for Trey and Matt? Besides funneling millions of dollars into Casa Bonita, god bless them, they will eventually begin working on season 27 of South Park. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming season, including whether there’s a release date.
Plot
Trey Parker and Matt Stone rarely give interviews, so they haven’t said anything about season 27. But even if they went on Hot Ones tomorrow, they wouldn’t have any teases for the new season due to South Park‘s quick production schedule, as covered in the fascinating 6 Days to Air documentary.
(Side note: how has Randy Marsh not staged his own Hot Ones yet?)
Season 26 covered TikTok, ChatGPT, Harry and Meghan leaving the royal family, and woman-hater Andrew Tate, so what topical references will season 27 have in store? Well, it won’t be Ozempic, that’s for sure. Everything else — including (oh god) the presidential election — is fair game.
Cast
You know the deal: Trey Parker and Matt Stone voice nearly every character, including Kyle, Stan, Cartman, Kenny, Butters, Randy, etc. The most prominent non-Trey and Matt voice actors are Mona Marshall, April Stewart, and Kimberly Brooks as a majority of the female characters, and Adrien Beard as Token.
Release Date
Conspiracy-minded South Park fans have theories about when season 27 will premiere, but Comedy Central hasn’t made anything official. It will hopefully be before the end of 2024. The last year without a new episode of South Park (if you include the specials) was 1996… because the show didn’t exist yet.
Trailer
No season 27 trailer. But South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut is being re-released into theaters for a “25th Anniversary Sing-A-Long” in June, so please enjoy opening number “Mountain Town.”
I’m going to let you in on a little secret as someone who has access to website traffic: People like different things when it comes to NBA content. There are, of course, plenty of basketball fans who want to listen to really in-depth, rich, and incisive commentary from folks who can explain the nitty gritty of professional basketball, the ones who read every single word from the best minds in the game in an effort to become the smartest possible fan. But sometimes, it’s 1:29 a.m. EST and you just want to hear Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal roast the city of Galveston, Texas.
It works like anything else, where going too far in one direction or the other can be a problem — there are certainly nights when Chuck or Shaq’s approach can rub people the wrong way, for example. The secret is to try and find the right combination for your network/outlet/audience and do that to the best of your ability.
And yet, ESPN’s never seemed to figure out what, exactly, is the best approach for its basketball coverage, as its hoops programming for years has never been quite right. You’re almost certainly aware of what the arguments against it are: Too star-focused at the expense of smaller markets/lesser heralded players. Too motivated by breaking down what Giannis Antetokounmpo sneezing on the bench means for his future in Milwaukee. Too much time spent on how Stephen A. Smith is a Knicks fan and how that has caused eternal suffering for him. Too much time spent on how Stephen A. Smith, despite the aforementioned eternal suffering, believes that Stars A, B, C, D, etc. should all join the Knicks.
Their shows, particularly their pregame show NBA Countdown, have always wanted to look for an answer. Over the years, the hosts have changed, the pundits have changed, and through all of it, the sense that it could be better remains. And then, the games end, and ESPN’s best NBA analyst goes to work.
“This is the best version of them … this team we expect to be in the NBA Finals.”
Tim Legler has been with the Worldwide Leader in Sports since the Clinton administration, as he was hired back in 2000 and has used those two-plus decades to establish himself as an authoritative voice in the league. In addition to his work for ESPN, Legler has SiriusXM radio and podcast responsibilities where he once again shines.
The thing that makes Legler so good is that his ability to watch a game, break down the details in a way that anyone can understand, and (the most important part, in my opinion) add historical context that applies to the specific teams and players who he is talking about in a given segment. The above clip is a great example of that, as he expressed his long-held belief that the Celtics shouldn’t break up Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and that the pair have really grown as players who compliment one another on the offensive end of the floor in specific ways. It is the sort of thing that you can only say and elaborate on when you’ve poured the time and the focus into making sure that when you’re put in front of a microphone, you can speak on the subject as well as anyone.
Legler doesn’t just do this for prominent teams like the Celtics. If you listen to him speak on any team, it’s clear that he wants to make sure he can give an informed opinion on the Charlotte Hornets just as easily as he can the Los Angeles Lakers. In a recent interview with Ryen Russillo, he claimed that he was in meetings all year pushing for more Indiana Pacers coverage on television based on how their style of play captivated him. This dedication came through when he called a game between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves, too, as the care and attention, particularly when he was able to look at something and immediately figure out the most effective way to explain it, was on full display.
There are plenty of people in the basketball media game who make these sorts of observations and convey them clearly and effectively, Legler is just one who is in ESPN’s ecosystem and could immediately improve shows like NBA Countdown, which has long felt like it prioritizes Smith being the centerpiece over everything else. A major part of this is an issue of time commitment — this piece by my colleague Robby Kalland is a few years old, but it does get to the heart of why the network’s halftime show is not good enough — and goes much deeper than the talent.
But it’s not hard to understand that a huge reason Inside the NBA is the best sports show of all time revolves around a mix of chemistry and the right personalities. It’s a rock solid host and three supremely charismatic former players who are given the freedom and the time to let things go in whatever direction they want. ESPN has the rock solid host (Malika Andrews is one of the best point guards you’ll find on television), but their current NBA Countdown crew is two journalists-turned-pundits (Smith, Michael Wilbon) and an agent-turned-executive who (Bob Myers). Adrian Wojnarowski is the best insider in the game, and his segments are usually informative, but that can only provide so much.
If the decision was made to give Legler more of a platform — assuming he wants one, which is a gigantic caveat here — he’d immediately make that show better, as he can bring insights as a seasoned analyst and a former player that Countdown just lacks right now. There are other current and former players, either on the network’s roster (Chiney Ogwumike, for example, is a breath of fresh air) or elsewhere in the media game, who could be smart additions and help shape the overall tone/voice of a pregame show, and who knows if any of the Inside guys become attainable in the coming years should Turner lose media rights as expected.
On that note: With the NBA media landscape looking like it’s going to change in a big way over the next few years, ESPN is going to either freshen things up, or keep doing what it’s doing while Amazon and NBC presumably enter the space and try to put together programming that fans find more compelling. We’d find ourselves back in this very spot, wondering why the most prominent sports network on the planet is leaving meat on the bone with one of its highest-profile properties. And a really good way to avoid that is to take their best analyst and give him a more prominent role.
Just like how everyone has a favorite Taylor Swift era or astrological sign, everyone has a specific Real Housewives franchise that they identify with. These things are obviously comparable if you don’t think about it too much. You might be a RHONJ fan or a RHOSLC fan, but whoever you follow, you are not alone. Anya Taylor-Joy is right there with you.
Taylor-Joy might be hanging out in dystopian wastelands, but in her off-time, she has been binging The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. While on Friday’s episode of TODAY, the actress told Hoda and Jenna how her obsession with the show started.
“I never understood reality TV, I wanted to, and a lot of people find a lot of comfort in it,” she said. “Someone showed me the season finale, and I was like, I need to know what possessed all of these people to behave in this way.” Andy Cohen has spent over a decade trying to figure that out.
“Started from season one, cannot wait for the next season, I am so in,” Taylor-Joy continued before the hosts said they had a surprise for her: a video message from Lisa Barlow. Normally, messages from Barlow are met with serious push back, but Taylor-Joy was besides herself!
| While promoting Furiosa, Anya Taylor-Joy raves about her love of #RHOSLC and gets a surprise message from Lisa Barlow! pic.twitter.com/FiY1lShybf
— The Real Housewives of SLC (@housewivesofslc) May 24, 2024
The video features Barlow calling Taylor-Joy “baby gorgeous,” her signature line, to which the award-winning actress said, “I am not okay! My team back there is gonna lose it.”
The hosts then asked if Barlow is Taylor-Joy’s favorite “character,” clearly forgetting that these are the real housewives, not some fake character actors (they are all on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills). The Furiosa star declined to pick a favorite. “I can’t pick!” she said, adding, “Get back to filming!”
In the wise words of Jon Hamm, Bravo is “going to get us all eventually” so you might as well hop on board.
George Miller has no interest in lore. “All the films have no strict chronology,” the mad genius director said about the Mad Max movies. “It’s probably after Thunderdome, but it’s an episode in the life of Max and this world. It’s basically an episode, and it’s us revisiting that world. I never wrote the story, any of the stories, with a chronological connection.”
But how does Miller, who followed up 2015’s masterful Mad Max: Fury Road with 2024’s nearly-as-good Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, feel about post-credits scenes? And does the Anya Taylor-Joy-starring film have one?
It does! Sort of!
The Furiosa end credits are accompanied by clips from Fury Road, and anyone who sticks around until the very end to learn who the additional boom operator was (shout out to Simon Allen) will see a quick shot of Nux’s bird skull bobblehead. What does it mean? Well, either it’s a tease that Nux will return in a potential Furiosa sequel (he died in Fury Road, so it can’t take place after the events of that film), or Miller just thought it looked cool. Maybe both!
Here’s more on the prequel:
As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is out in theaters.
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since the Clinton administration, as he was hired back in 2000 and has used those two-plus decades to establish himself as an authoritative voice in the league. In addition to his work for ESPN, Legler has SiriusXM radio and 
| While promoting Furiosa, Anya Taylor-Joy raves about her love of 