The Power Universe is currently on break for the summer as the current season of Power Book II: Ghost is set to continue with the second half of season four in September. It’s at this point that the Power Universe will undergo some big changes. Power Book II: Ghost will conclude after this season, and it’s not the only show that failed to get a renewal from STARZ. Power Book IV: Force will also end after it’s upcoming third season. Joseph Sikora and showrunner and executive producer Gary Lennon shared the news with fans in messages shared on Instagram and Deadline, respectively.
Power Book IV: Forceseason two ended with a dramatic cliffhanger, and what season three has in store for us remains to be seen. As we wait, let’s do go through some of the things we know and can expect for the upcoming season.
Is There An Official Premiere Date?
At this moment, a premiere date for Power Book IV: Force season 3 has not been shared yet. Fans can expect the new season to come out at the end of 2024 or spring 2025. The Power Universe is currently on a summer break, with the second half of Power Book II: Ghost set to resume on September 6 and continue through October 4. After that, fans can expect the premiere of either Power Book IV: Force season 3 or Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 4. A more specific premiere date will be revealed at a later time.
Cast
There will be a lot of names absent from the cast list for Power Book IV: Force season 3 compared to last season after a number of characters were killed off in season two. They include Tommy Flanagan’s Walter Flynn, Cayen Martin’s Leon, Guy Van Swearingen’s Uncle Paulie, and Dominic DeVore’s Brendan Doyle. The status of Lili Simmons’ character Claudia “Claud” Flynn is still up in the air after she was stabbed in prison in the season two finale.
With that being said, here’s who you can expect in the main cast for season three:
Here are the list of actors expected to return for supporting roles in season three:
Konstantin Lavysh as Rodovan Mirkovic
Ahmad Nicholas Ferguson as Marshall Cranon
Patricia Kalember as Kate Egan
Plot
An official synopsis for season three has not been revealed yet but the cliffhanger in the season two finale proved that there’s plenty of drama to expect in season three. First off, it’s still unknown if Claudia died as a result of her prison stabbing. Regardless of what happens, you can expect a drama storyline to form from it.
Secondly, season three will let us know what happened to Mireya. Her older brother Miguel found out about her relationship with Tommy, and in retaliation for Tommy gaining access to half of his Chicago territory, Miguel promised that Tommy will “never” see Mireya again. Knowing Tommy, we know he won’t give up that easy.
In a video message to fans on Instagram, Joseph Sikora, who plays Tommy Egan, teased what fans can expect in season three. “When Gary Lennon and the other writers and I were mapping out our third season, we saw that we were telling a complete story,” he said. But don’t worry, Tommy’s journey is far from over with. We’re just getting warmed up, and I can’t wait to show you what we have planned next. Showrunner and executive producer Gary Lennon also shared his thoughts in a statement to Deadline, adding, “Season 3 will question everything we thought we knew of Tommy’s world and I promise you it will not disappoint!”
Is There A Season Three Trailer?
No, STARZ has yet to release an official trailer or teaser for Power Book IV: Force season three. Fans expect a preview for the new season to arrive in the coming months.
Power Book IV: Force Season 3 Schedule
Power Book IV: Force season three is expected to have 10 episodes, just like the first two seasons in the series. This means the new season will run for two and a half months before the series ends for good.
How To Watch Power Book IV: Force Season 3
When Power Book IV: Force season three comes, fan can expect to watch new episodes weekly on STARZ. The new episodes will premiere on Fridays at 12am ET/PT on the STARZ app before airing on the STARZ TV channel at 8 pm ET/PT.
‘Power Book IV: Force’ season 1-2 are available to stream on the STARZ app.
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about this, like the fact that NBC has experience with major sports properties (NFL, college football, the Premier League) and just generally knows what it is doing when it enters that world. For basketball fans, one thing really sticks out: the possibility that “Roundball Rock” comes back. The iconic anthem for the NBA on NBC, “Roundball Rock” was recorded by John Tesh and is arguably the most recognizable sports theme song of all time.
It’s been adopted by Fox for its college basketball broadcast, and even was the subject of a legendary Saturday Night Live sketch. Now that NBC is getting back into the NBA broadcasting world, the question of whether or not we’ll hear it again is one that plenty of fans want answered. And fortunately, Tesh has told Dan Le Batard that there have been some conversations about this already, in part because of the upcoming Olympic Games.
“They have, actually, yeah,” Tesh said when asked if NBC has reached out about reviving the song. “Nothing firm, but they said, ‘Hey, can you stay frosty on this?’ Like a Navy SEALs thing … We’re actually talking right now about licensing it to them for the Olympics in Paris. So, we’re actually going in at the end of June, we’re heading to Nashville and we’ve got a full orchestra on hold, we’re gonna re-record it. The recording, I think it still sounds great, but I wanted to make a few changes — maybe open up the middle, maybe we’ll send it to you guys, you can turn it into an EDM track.”
And this tease by Tesh got turned into reality after the league announced its new media rights deal. First, NBC tweeted out confirmation with a video that prominently featured the song.
And in its release about the news, NBC told fans that “Roundball Rock” will, indeed, be the theme music. For ’90s NBA fans, it’s hard for there to be better news.
Starz is home to many ridiculously popular series, but real ones also know that the Outlander craze began dominating the premium cable network back in 2014 around the time that 50 Cent’s Power Universe debuted and prior to P-Valley, and BMF. Upon Outlander‘s debut, of Diana Gabaldon’s same-named book series tuned in for bodice ripping and stayed for the highly enjoyable blend of fantasy, history, and an epic romance with a feminist bent.
The show will conclude with the eighth season, which is currently filming, but before that lands, Outlander must finish airing its seventh installment. The wonky timing can be chalked up as a 2023 strike casualty, but the back end of this season does have a release date, and there’s even better news: Blood of My Blood, a prequel series that revolves around the parental love stories of the Outlander leads, has been filming as well. This guilty pleasure has new sights and sounds in store upon its return, so let’s discuss what fans can expect:
Plot
Starz
Starz released these new images to tide over Outlander addicts who are growing frustrated over the wait for more episodes. Clearly, Claire Randall Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) are still going strong, but viewers (and readers of the books) would expect no less. A look at young Ian can be found below, too.
StarzStarz
Unfortunately, however, Claire and Jamie will not be having the most stress-free experience with other aspects of their lives when the show comes back. Executive producer Maril Davis warned that although the pair (along with Young Ian) travels home (to Jamie’s childhood abode, Lallybroch), they find that “[I]t’s a homecoming, but things happen that are more of a sad note.” Additionally, Davis declared, “Home is never the home you knew. It’s never going to be the same. That’s true when we come back — there’s troubling things on the horizon and some painful stuff. It’s bittersweet.”
As the synopsis reveals, the show returns with the trio traveling home to Scotland while the Revolutionary War continues to throw up obstacles:
Coming off of the first half of ‘Outlander’ season seven, viewers find Claire, Jamie and Young Ian leaving the colonies and arriving in their beloved homeland: Scotland. The perils of the Revolutionary War force them to choose between standing by those they love and fighting for the land they have made their new home. Meanwhile, Roger (Richard Rankin) and Brianna (Sophie Skelton) face new enemies across time, and must battle the forces that threaten to pull their family apart.
At present, Starz hasn’t revealed how or when the lead in to the Blood of My Blood prequel will happen. Since the series is filming simultaneously with Outlander‘s final season, it seems likely that the prequel will air in between seasons while detailing the separate love stories of two couples, who happen to be parents of the leading duo.
Cast
Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe have embodied their roles for over a decade now, and the rest of the cast includes Richard Rankin, Sophie Skelton, David Berry, John Bell, Izzy Meikle-Small, Joey Phillips, and Charles Vandervaart.
Release Date
November 22 is the magic day for eight more weekly episodes to begin and eventually complete the sixteen-episode season. Unlike most split-season occasions, however, Outlander will return after not airing any episodes for a full year (since August 2023). Hopefully, the wait for the eighth season won’t be as enduring.
Trailer
Starz released this teaser with a full trailer pending.
This past Saturday, Cordae announced his third album is on the way, and today, he followed up with its first single, the punchline-packed “Saturday Mornings.” The song finds Cordae reuniting with his rhyme hero Lil Wayne to trade bars full of wordplay over an easygoing soul sample produced by Boogz. The video, directed by APLUS, sees the two rappers doing their thing outside of an airplane hangar, interspersed with day-in-the-life footage from the recording process of Cordae’s upcoming follow-up to From A Birds Eye View.
Although it’s been two years since that album was released, Cordae has kept up a relatively steady stream of single releases, including the Anderson .Paak collaboration “Two Tens” (part of a collection of J. Cole-produced tracks between the two that could fill out an EP), the Juice WRLD collaboration “Doomsday,” which appeared on Lyrical Lemonade’s new album this year, and “Make Up Your Mind.” He also created a collaboration with tennis star Naomi Osaka — their baby daughter, Shai.
“Saturday Mornings” marks the Uproxx cover star‘s second outing with Lil Wayne, with whom he previously collaborated on From A Birds Eye View single “Sinister.”
You can watch Cordae’s video for “Saturday Mornings” featuring Lil Wayne above.
Within all of that, the WNBA also has a new rights deal alongside the NBA’s, as the league also officially announced on Wednesday their portion of the new 11-year deal (worth a reported $2.2 billion) with the same three networks. ESPN and Amazon are part of the current TV deal, but NBC is the new addition, and will seemingly be replacing CBS as the network TV partner (with ABC also continuing to carry games as part of the Disney/ESPN package). According to the league, the new agreement means ESPN and ABC will carry a minimum of 25 regular season games, NBC platforms (including USA and Peacock) will carry 50 games, and Prime Video will carry 30 games.
The biggest change is that the playoffs and Finals will now rotate between the networks. ESPN and ABC will carry eight semifinals and five Finals, while Prime Video and NBC will carry seven semifinals and three Finals each. ESPN networks will continue to have All-Star and the WNBA Draft, while Prime Video will retain the Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
The NBA’s highly-anticipated new media rights deal is finally here. After lengthy negotiations to figure out which networks will serve as the league’s broadcast partners going forward, the confirmed in a statement the long-reported news that three places won out: Disney, Amazon, and NBCUniversal. The deal will run through 2035-36, and while the NBA did not confirm a price on the deal, reports have indicated that it will bring in $76 billion over the next 11 years.
“Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world,” Adam Silver said in a statement. “These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade.”
In an unsurprising bit of continuity, Disney will continue to be the league’s top broadcast partner, which means that it will get the opportunity to broadcast the NBA Finals, as it has done since 2003. Additionally, the network would get one conference finals matchup in ten of the 11 years of the deal, along with 80 regular season games, all of the Christmas Day games, the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, NBA Draft, NBA Draft Lottery and half of the games that make up NBA Summer League games.
NBC and Amazon will be the two other participating networks — the former was a longtime NBA broadcaster before its partnership with the league came to an end in 2002, while Amazon has been slowly but surely growing its footprint in the world of live sports in recent years. For NBC, this arrangement will give them the league’s opening night, more than 100 regular season games, and all of the events at All-Star weekend other than the Celebrity Game. Amazon will get the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals of the NBA Cup, along with the Play-In Tournament and 66 regular season games. Both will get a conference finals broadcast in six of the 11 years.
The regular season games will be divvied up based on nights of the week. Disney will get games on Sunday afternoons, along with Saturday, Wednesday, and Friday nights; NBC will get Sunday and Tuesday nights; and Amazon will get Thursday and Friday nights, along with Saturday afternoons. Streaming will also be an important part of the deal, with Peacock getting a Monday doubleheader every week, Amazon airing all of its content on Prime Video, and both ESPN and NBC airing its nationally broadcast games on its apps.
Home theaters are where it’s at for escaping the heat (after you have watched Twisters), and Netflix is already prepared for your arrival. This month, the library gets stocked with an assortment of AMC shows (Daryl Dixon is included, along with Dark Winds, Interview with the Vampire, and more) and Mia Goth crushing the acting game in Pearl. Also, a two-part director’s cut of Rebel Moon will surface for those who wanted the full Zack Snyder treatment.
Additionally, new original series are coming your way, including the fourth seasons of The Umbrella Academy and half of Emily In Paris. What will you do with this array of content? Hopefully, you’ll watch it.
Here’s everything coming to Netflix in August:
The Umbrella Academy: Season 4 (Netflix series streaming 8/8)
Do the Hargreaves siblings have it in them to stop a final apocalypse? That question would assume that they have a choice in the matter, and this time, a fix will be rough since the group lost their powers when Allison hit the reset button. As long as Klaus hasn’t lost his oddball behavior, this will be just fine, but watching the group be “ordinary” might be heartbreaking, so they shall need to figure out what the hell is going on set the world right. This season will include Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, and David Cross along with the usual sibling mess led by Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, and Robert Sheehan.
Emily in Paris: Season 4: Part 1 (Netflix series streaming 8/15)
Geez, Emily, get it together, and stop worrying about dudes at every moment. The good news is that she will begin this season by being single and happy, but then the drama will return, along with both Gabriel and Alfie, and nobody will ever face a single consequence on this show. Tune in for more drama, Ashley Park singing songs that she could do in her sleep, and more inexplicable “fashion” that Emily could never afford on her salary. Yep, this is totally a Darren Star show, which accounts for its addictiveness, too.
The Union: Season (Netflix film streaming 8/16)
If it feels like Netflix tends to pull “A-lister Mad Libs” for movie casting, well, that vibe is alive with Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg starring as ex-high school sweethearts. Little did they realize that one of them would spend his adulthood working out at 4:00am, and the other would do this to mark the 20th anniversary of Catwoman. Sure, that’s blurring the lines of reality and entertainment to mention these things, but that might also work as a movie. The real summary: the pair gets pulled into espionage while riding in fast cars.
TERMINATOR ZERO: Season (Netflix anime series streaming 8/29)
Finally, the live-action sequels have taken a breather with a much more palatable anime series moving to the forefront. Voice talent includes Timothy Olyphant, Sonoya Mizuno, Rosario Dawson, Ann Dowd, and André Holland.
Avail TBA The Frog
KENGAN ASHURA: Season 2: Part 2
Avail. 8/1 A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Borderless Fog
From Me to You: Kimi ni Todoke: Season 3 Love is Blind: Mexico
Mon Laferte, te amo
Unstable: Season 2 Bride of Chucky
Child’s Play 2
Child’s Play 3
Cult of Chucky
Curse of Chucky
Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: Batch 4 Fire Country: Season 1 Fury
Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color
Jack Reacher
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Monster House
Mr. Deeds
The Next Karate Kid
Not Another Teen Movie
Pawn Stars: Season 15 RED
RED 2
Room
Save the Last Dance
Seed of Chucky
The Spectacular Now
Tarot
White Chicks
World War Z
Avail. 8/2
Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli Rebel Moon — Part One: Director’s Cut
Rebel Moon — Part Two: Director’s Cut
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
Avail. 8/3 Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats
Avail. 8/5 Gabby’s Dollhouse: Season 10
Avail. 8/6 The Influencer
Reminiscence
Rising Impact: Season 2
Avail. 8/7 Lolo and the Kid
Love Is Blind: UK
Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough
Avail. 8/8 The Emoji Movie
Shahmaran: Season 2 The Umbrella Academy: Season 4
Avail. 8/9 Blue Ribbon Baking Championship
Inside the Mind of a Dog
Mission: Cross
Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba
Pokémon Horizons: The Series Part 3
Avail. 8/10 Romance in the House
Avail. 8/11 Night School
Avail. 8/13/24
Matt Rife: Lucid – A Crowd Work Special
Avail. 8/14 Daughters
Worst Ex Ever
Avail. 8/15 Average Joe: Season 1 Backyard Wilderness
Emily in Paris: Season 4: Part 1
Avail. 8/16 I can’t live without you
Pearl
The Union
Avail. 8/17 Love Next Door
Avail. 8/19 A Discovery of Witches: Seasons 1-3 Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches: Season 1 CoComelon Lane: Season 3 Dark Winds: Seasons 1-2 Fear the Walking Dead: Seasons 1-8 Gangs of London: Seasons 1-2 Interview with the Vampire: Season 1 Into the Badlands: Seasons 1-3 Kevin Can F**k Himself: Seasons 1-2 Migration
Monsieur Spade: Season 1 Preacher: Seasons 1-4 That Dirty Black Bag: Season 1 The Terror: Season 1 The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: Season 1 UnREAL: Seasons 1-4
Avail. 8/20 Langston Kerman: Bad Poetry
Terror Tuesday: Extreme
Untold: The Murder of Air McNair
Avail. 8/21 The Accident
Back to 15: Back to 18
Nice Girls
Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE
Wyatt Earp and The Cowboy War
Avail. 8/22 Baby Fever: Season 2 GG Precinct
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie
Secret Lives of Orangutans
Avail. 8/23 Incoming
Tòkunbọ̀
Avail. 8/27 Untold: Sign Stealer
Avail. 8/28 Untamed Royals
Avail. 8/29 Chastity High
KAOS
Represent: Season 2 TERMINATOR ZERO
Avail. 8/30 A-List to Playlist
Breathless
The Deliverance
(Un)lucky Sisters
And it’s your last chance to stream these titles:
Leaving 8/3 Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
Leaving 8/12 The Woman King
Leaving 8/13 Paddington
Leaving 8/15 Dumb and Dumber To
Walk of Shame
Leaving 8/22 Everything Everywhere All at Once
Leaving 8/23 Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Leaving 8/24 Berlin Syndrome
Leaving 8/26 The Accountant
Leaving 8/31 The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
American Hustle
Beverly Hills Ninja
The Blind Side
Burn After Reading
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
The Edge of Seventeen
First Knight
First Sunday
The Gift
Liar Liar
Miami Vice
The Nutty Professor
The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
Pineapple Express
Spider-Man
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 3
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2
That’s My Boy
Total Recall
Unthinkable
Sugar Honey Iced Tea, Latto’s new album, has an official release date: August 9. The “Big Mama” rapper teased some of the album’s music with a cinematic trailer obviously inspired by the movie ATL, paying homage to her hometown with landmarks from all over the Big Peach (Cascade roller rink, what’s up!) and cameos from Georgia legends 2 Chainz and T.I. There’s even narration from Big Rube, making Sugar Honey Iced Tea a true ATL affair.
Among the songs teased in the trailer are the previously released “Big Mama,” a song featuring an appearance from SZA, and another that samples T.I.’s “24’s.” Check it out above.
Sugar Honey Iced Tea allegedly takes its title not only from the signature drink of the South, but also from Latto’s recent, short-lived battle of diss tracks with Ice Spice. With Ice lashing out with a song called “Think You U The Sh*t (Fart),” it’s kind of funny to think Latto would name her album after the “polite” acronym, offering an unrepentant response to Ice’s challenge. Yes, she thinks she’s the sh*t — so much so, that she’s going to make us all acknowledge it.
Sugar Honey Iced Tea is out on 8/9 through RCA Records. You can find more info here.
In 2024, if you haven’t noticed, the whiskey world is very accessible online and there’s steady chatter about drops, what’s hot, and aftermarket prices. People across the globe are connecting over a shared passion for distilled spirits, bourbon in particular. With brands like Buffalo Trace, Sagamore Spirits, and Holladay Distillery tapping the power of the online bourbon community to craft unique releases catered to their real-world audiences, it’s clear that the innovative people who have amassed online can significantly impact the industry.
Buffalo Trace notably harnessed the power of the internet to create a special ongoing expression, Weller C.Y.P.B., short for Choose Your Perfect Bourbon, which allowed consumers to visit their website and vote for their ideal whiskey production conditions. Initially released in 2018, the expression has been a big hit with fans (like the rest of the Weller lineup), so much so that bottles of Weller C.Y.P.B., which carries a suggested retail price of $49.99, regularly sell for north of $500 online. Is the bourbon perfect? Many people who frequent digital whiskey spaces like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram don’t seem to think so.
Still, the excitement behind the idea resulted in a hit whiskey for the brand.
For their part, Sagamore Spirits in Baltimore, Maryland, recently reached out directly to well-known influencers to craft a special release that they dubbed “The Creator’s Cask.” Bringing in four whiskey influencers to select a unique two-barrel blend went one step beyond the typical single-barrel selections that have become so popular in American whiskey. The release itself was well-received and further underscores the growing trend of internet personalities and content creators gaining real skin in the game.
Now that creators have a larger say in what major distilleries produce, it only makes sense to tap them directly for insight into the trends that they’re seeing and, in some cases, contributing to in the American whiskey space. After all, content creators are often among the select few who can consistently score prized expressions — typically doing so before those offerings reach the general public. Armed with that type of premium advance access, content creators are often uniquely positioned to be canaries in the coal mine, signaling to the public which of the whiskey calendar’s rapidly expanding “limited editions” are worth hunting down.
To that end, we reached out to several creators across different digital platforms to ask them directly: what are the internet’s favorite bourbons of 2024, and which of them are worth your time? Their industry credentials are real, and they run the gamut from spirits competition judges, brand owners, and experienced single-barrel selectors. It’s interesting to note that several bottles on this list were cited multiple times. Still, the overall picture these creators collectively paint is one of wide-ranging variety, showing how whiskey fans in different corners of the web have developed their respective tastes.
Without further ado, here are the internet’s favorite bourbons of 2024!
The Creator: Lynn Palmer (@the_whiskey_gal) 26.8k followers on Instagram, Bourbon Charity Ambassador.
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1. Hard Truth Sweet Mash Wheated Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Hard Truth’s Sweet Mash Wheated Bottled in Bond Bourbon, made from 69% Corn, 19% Wheat, 12% Malted barley, is the fledgling distillery’s first wheated bourbon expression. Though their still was only built in 2018, Hard Truth has been gaining ground in the past two years among internet-savvy bourbon aficionados, primarily thanks to their rye.
Lynn’s Notes:
It’s everything I love in a Wheated bourbon. It’s full of vanilla, sweet bread, and butter, as well as baking spices with a lovely caramel apple note that just keeps me coming back to this one!
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Hard Truth utilizes a sweet mash process that tends to produce a leaner and, arguably, more approachable whiskey. With lightly sweet notes and a surprisingly delicate mouthfeel, this under-the-radar bourbon deserves its swelling hype.
2. Milam & Greene Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon
Milam & Greene Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon comes from the Fall 2019 distilling season and is aged for 4+ years in char 4 barrels. The expression is part of Milam & Greene’s “Blender’s Reserve Releases.”
Lynn’s Notes:
This one gets its notes from that Texas heat. It’s earthy, leather, and chocolate right off the bat. It leads into more honey and floral notes the more I sip…which just pulls me into this one. It’s ever-evolving.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
While Texas whiskey can be polarizing because it has a misconception of being overtly brash, Milam & Greene takes another tack with this release. Much of that heat is kept in check at a Bottled in Bond regulated 50% ABV, yet it can still put forth a cavalcade of bold flavors. Saddle up because you know this is the ride for you.
Barrell Batch 36 is the eye-catching new release from the brand, which marks the debut of their new packaging. This cask-strength blend of straight bourbon features 9-year bourbon from Kentucky, 7.5, 8, and 10-year bourbon from Indiana, and 8 and 15-year bourbon from Tennessee.
Lynn’s Notes:
Barrell never fails. This Batch 36 is just more proof of that. It’s full of honey, citrus zest, cinnamon-dusted donuts, and all with a lengthy finish. It’s truly one I keep pouring.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
This bourbon already made it into the top 3 of our “Best New Bourbons To Buy This Summer” list so it seems the internet got this one right! Not only is it chock-full of bold flavors, but it’s also relatively easy to find and moderately priced for an allocated cask-strength bourbon that is sure to surprise.
The Creator: TJ Gamble (@Brewzle) 651k subscribers on YouTube
Green River fulfilled a lot of bourbon fans’ wishes when they took their already successful single-barrel program and added cask-strength bourbon to the mix earlier this year. This expression was announced in conjunction with a small batch version: Green River Full Proof Bourbon.
TJ’s Notes:
I’ve been a fan of Green River since its release a couple of years ago. I’m a sucker for fruit-forward bourbons, but I needed more proof and intensity of flavor than those early releases provided. I was excited when I finally saw Green River Single Barrels at cask strength, followed by a cask strength small batch release. That citrus-forward bourbon with all the proof that the whiskey deserves did not disappoint, and the hype for these bottles is well-deserved.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Similar to Green River Full Proof, the Cask Strength Single Barrel version is an outstanding value. While they’re a bit harder to come by, this Owensboro, KY, offering is more readily available than many other barrel-proof, single-barrel bourbons. This expression is a total game-changer with a chest-warming ABV and the added allure of single-barrel variety.
Old Dominick Bourbon’s unique proof point was selected to honor their home zip code, 901.
TJ’s Notes:
I spend considerable effort trying to find the best up-and-coming regionally distributed brands that offer something different than the mainstream producers on the market. Old Dominick’s Bourbon definitely fits that bill. Rye is often a four-letter word to bourbon enthusiasts, mostly due to a lack of experience with good rye whiskey. In an effort to appeal to the masses, many larger producers shy away from showcasing the rye in their bourbon. Even if it’s a major part of their mashbill, its flavor impact is usually minimized. Old Dominick is unapologetic with its 44% Rye mashbill, which provides a complexity and sophistication that you just don’t see in a lot of bourbons.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
At a lower ABV than their Huling Station Straight Bourbon, the distillery’s namesake expression is a tad more approachable, even with its unconventional mash bill. In contrast to their Huling Station lineup, this expression isn’t quite as easy to find, but that will surely continue to evolve as its popularity grows.
Double Oaked Bourbon is the latest release from Pursuit United, which first hit shelves in March of this year. This limited-release bourbon was created in partnership with InnerStave, which provided the custom 36-month air-dried French oak staves that Pursuit United’s signature bourbon blend was finished in for this release.
TJ’s Notes:
I was lucky enough to swing by Pursuit Spirits while they were releasing their distillery-only Double Oaked project. It was an overwhelming caramel butterscotch bomb that you rarely see on an unflavored whiskey. I fell in love instantly and have been hearing rumblings that the batch 2 release might be even better. I think they are still distillery only at this point [it’s also available online], but I’d definitely keep an eye out for a bottle of the new Pursuit Double Oaked Bourbon.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
As a bit of internet inception, Pursuit United was started by a pair of popular whiskey podcasters, Ryan Cecil and Kenny Coleman. The duo have turned their depth of knowledge and prodigious blending prowess into an increasingly popular brand and with this outstanding Double Oaked expression catching on like wildfire across the web, the only time better than now to pursue this limited edition bourbon is yesterday.
The Creator: Danielle K. (@coffeeblackwhiskeyneat) 37.4k followers on Instagram
Meeting the standards of 1897’s Bottled in Bond Act, this new bourbon expression from Hard Truth Distillery in Nashville, Indiana is quickly becoming their most popular bourbon expression.
Danielle’s Notes:
Originally known for their sweet mash rye whiskies, Hard Truth has released their latest hit, a sweet mash bottled in bond wheated bourbon. I love the rich cherry cobbler, dark chocolate, blueberry jam, and charred marshmallow notes that you get in this pour. And at 100 proof, it is the perfect balance of flavor and strength.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
With two votes for this bourbon now on the board, it should be dawning on you that Hard Truth brought the goods. Those fruit-forward notes and relatively approachable ABV make this an ideal bourbon for anyone who’s curious about the output of American craft distilleries in 2024.
New for 2024, Green River launched their Full Proof Bourbon late last spring. Clocking in at a shade over 117 proof, this expression continues the brand’s trend of delivering moderately priced, high-quality bourbons.
Danielle’s Notes:
Green River’s Full Proof Bourbon checks all the boxes that I look for in a whiskey: cask strength, aged 5-7 years, and under $50. It brings notes of beignets, clove, honeydew melon, and maraschino cherries.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Bourbon at a higher ABV is all the rage these days, so to create one here that allows the proof to run wild while the cost is kept in check is exactly what consumers are looking for. This bourbon is a no-brainer and a must-buy.
15 Stars is a non-distilling producer that honors Kentucky’s history as the 15th state. This particular release, their limited edition First West Bourbon, has been racking up awards since it was first released in 2022.
Danielle’s Notes:
Another brand that has been getting a ton of recognition lately is 15 Stars, particularly with their latest release, First West. A blend of bourbons from 7-15 years old, bringing notes of Boston cream pie donuts, pecan shortbread cookies, and an intense oak finish. This whiskey is a great representation of a traditional bourbon that also showcases a complex flavor profile for connoisseurs and beginners alike.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
15 Stars has rapidly proven to be a non-distilling producer of note on the American whiskey scene. Since its founding in 2021 by father and son duo Rick and Ricky Johnson, the brand has won awards up and down their portfolio — each seemingly more successful than the last. While they also have hits with their Triple Cask and Sherry Cask finished bourbons, this one equally deserves your attention if you aren’t already familiar with those releases.
The Creator: Denaya Jones (@DEEStilled) 3k followers on Instagram, Seelbach’s Warehouse Manager, and Soul Palate Podcaster
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1. Rare Character Old Cassidy Bourbon – Selected by @BourbYourEnthusiasm
This highly limited expression from Rare Character was 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 (yours truly), this exclusive single-barrel offering sold out in less than a minute when it was released on Seelbach’s website this past June.
Denaya’s Notes:
This is one of those bourbons that I am so happy to say lives up to the internet hype. I live for a dram that takes me to a place of nostalgia, and that peanut butter/chocolate chewy bar note on this bourbon gives me all of the yummy nostalgic feels.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Rare Character has arguably been the hottest bourbon brand online over the past year, and Old Cassidy is just a continuation of that trend. This release has already landed in the top five of our “Best Bourbons of 2024 (So Far)” list and sold for over $1,000 at a recent Sotheby’s whiskey auction. Let this endorsement be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and leads you to seek it out — if you can find it.
By now you should know the drill with this one. This small batch of select barrels features bourbon with a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley.
Denaya’s Notes:
Green River has been getting so much well-deserved love this past year. Their Full Proof bourbon expression is a beautiful balance of smoke, spice, fruit, earth, and leather. It’s a Kentucky Bourbon drinker’s dream, for sure.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
While having an internet signal isn’t a prerequisite for enjoying this bourbon, it certainly helps raise awareness of its popularity. You can trust that the popularity is warranted, or you can buy a bottle and try it. The choice is yours.
Seelbach’s has been entrenching itself in whiskey’s digital retail space since July 2018. In that time, they’ve become one of the internet’s most trusted sites for curated craft whiskey selections thanks to founder Blake Riber’s passion for bringing high-quality, small-scale whiskey producers to the masses. They’ve since moved into independent bottling and private blending with this 9-year, 5-month bourbon from a 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley mash bill, marking just their 6th foray in their Private Reserve series.
Denaya’s Notes:
At the risk of sounding biased, Seelbach’s 9-Year would be an easy daily drinker if I identified as the daily drinker type. The rich dark chocolate, freshly opened leather, pepper, and maple syrup are just classic enough and just special enough to classify as “crushable.”
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
As the folks responsible for not just tasting the vast majority of the internet’s favorite craft whiskey brands but also the ones responsible for bringing them to the attention of a wider audience, it’s safe to say that Blake, Denaya, and the team know a thing or two about bourbon. With each Private Reserve release, they’re only gaining more experience as producers, adding to the fountain of knowledge they’ve acquired over six years as tasters and retailers. That unique nexus of expertise is on full display with this expression.
The Creator: Jason Callori (@TheMashAndDrum) 91.3k subscribers on YouTube
The most popular selection on this list, Green River Full Proof strikes an awesome balance of affordability and great taste.
Jason’s Notes:
As Green River continues to solidify itself as a pillar of quality and value, no bourbon to me says this more right now than Green River Full Proof. For about $50, this bourbon punches above its price point and delivers rich flavors that can go up against bottles 2-3x its price.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
If you want an incredibly flavorful and exceedingly well-priced bourbon, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than Green River Full Proof. While so-called influencers are sometimes derided for showcasing expensive bourbon, this is one bottle that high rollers and the hoi polloi alike can stand behind.
Featuring a blend of 14-year Kentucky, 11-year Kentucky,10-year Kentucky, 9-year Indiana, and 8-year Indiana Bourbon, Bardstown Bourbon Co. Collaborative Series: Amrut marks a first-of-its-kind partnership between a major Indian whisky brand with a major bourbon brand. For the release, Bardstown Bourbon Co. aged their unique blend of bourbons in former Amrut Indian Single Malt casks for 18 months.
Jason’s Notes:
This collaboration with Amrut Distillery blew me away with its rich characteristics of Amrut Indian Single Malt fused together with Kentucky and Indiana whiskeys. It’s one of the most unique whiskeys I have tasted in a long time. The deep cherry cordial flavors, coupled with the smoked chocolate maltiness of the Amrut, make this one a must-have for bourbon drinkers who want to try something unique.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
While American whiskey drinkers may not be as familiar with Indian Single Malt as they are with bourbon, this collaboration will go a long way in changing that. For bourbon fans who shy away from the prototypical flavors found in malt whiskey, Bardstown Bourbon Co. Collaborative Series: Amrut will release the shackles. This expression amplifies the best of both worlds, creating a captivating mash-up that deserves immediate attention.
This bourbon lived up to the hype for me personally because it reminds me of some of my favorite Wild Turkey offerings from the 80s and 90s. There is a throwback flavor profile that brings rich dark fruit, molasses, oak, and a long concentrated finish that goes on for days. It’s a pricey bottle at an MSRP of $250, but other bourbons this year will have a tough time being more impressive than this one. Time will tell!
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Russell’s Reserve 15 has been one of the most buzzed-about bourbon releases of the year, and let’s be clear about why — it’s age-stated, limited edition, delicious Wild Turkey whiskey. We even contributed to some of the buzz ourselves. This is truly one of the bourbons you don’t want to miss in 2024. Chances are you’ll be hearing about how good it is for years.
The Creator: Sarah Jeltema (@whiskynomad) 109k followers on Instagram
Crafted from a blend of 66.6% non-GMO Corn, 12% two-row Barley, 11.4% winter Rye, and 10% soft white winter Wheat, Frey Ranch’s mash bill isn’t the only thing unique about their grain input. They also grow 100% of the grains that go into their whiskey on their family-owned farm. This expression is their first cask-strength release.
Sarah’s Notes:
Frey Ranch embodies the ground-to-glass/farm-to-table concept. It is meticulously crafted from a family-owned, sustainable farm, ensuring exceptional quality and a distinct profile that reflects the terroir of Northern Nevada. I love their single barrels most, but the Uncut is fantastic.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
We already named Frey Ranch’s showstopping Cask Strength Bourbon among the “Top 10 Non-Kentucky Bourbons” of 2024, and that’s for good reason. By marching to the beat of their own drum, Frey Ranch is beating out the lion’s share of their competitors with this excellent barrel-proof bourbon.
2. Ironroot Republic Apotheosis VI Triple Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon
Apotheosis VI is a fairly unique bourbon blend in that it utilizes three different Sherry finishing casks: PX, Oloroso, and Amontillado.
Sarah’s Notes:
Ironroot Republic Distilling’s Apotheosis VI Triple Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon is my second choice. Their combination of French techniques with Texas-grown and heirloom corn is both innovative and a great representation of how amazing Texas spirits can be. They use three different sherry finishes in this bourbon, resulting in a fantastic flavor journey.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
We’re already fans of Ironroot Republic, whose Head Distiller, Jonathon Likarish, is leading the brand to the forefront of Texas whiskey. While they’ve already figured out Straight Bourbon, it’s their knack for multiple cask finishes that have been catching eyes throughout the industry. Apotheosis VI certainly deserves a seat at the head of the class when it comes to that category.
3. Lost Lantern Summer of Bourbon 2024 Single Casks: Boulder Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished In An Armagnac Cask
Featuring a mash bill of 51% corn, 44% malted barley, and 5% rye, the 7-year-old bourbon from this single cask yielded 300 bottles. Released at cask strength and non-chill filtered, this is the first cask-finished expression under the Lost Lantern banner. The whiskey itself was aged for 4.5 years in New Oak and then finished for 2.5 years in an Armagnac cask.
Sarah’s Notes:
Lost Lantern hunts down some of the best independent bottles I’ve ever seen. This one is no exception. Boulder Spirits, out of Colorado, uses their elevation to make some truly bold bourbons, and this is the first finished bourbon I’ve seen that comes from that distillery. The high malt bourbon base pairs fantastically with the sweet finish.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
If writers are the proto-whiskey content creators, then it makes sense for things to be coming full circle here. Prior to founding Lost Lantern Spirits, co-founder Adam Polonsky was a Senior Whisky Specialist at Whisky Advocate. Together, he and his partner Nora Ganley-Roper are swiftly becoming the preeminent independent bottlers in America. If you want to discover just what makes that producer category so interesting, then this unique Armagnac-finished straight bourbon from Colorado’s Boulder Spirits should be one of your first stops.
The Creator: Kevin Carlson (@bourbon_notes) 69.3k followers on TikTok
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1. Old Fitzgerald 13-Year Bottled in Bond Wheated Bourbon VVS
Comprised of tanked bourbon from a bygone time, Old Fitzgerald VVS 13-Year was distilled in 1999, not long after the company acquired the Bernheim Distillery. After spending 13 years aging the traditional way, this liquid was deemed superlative enough to warrant being dumped in steel tanks to halt the maturation process before it was set aside for another 12 years. Now, in 2024, to commemorate 25 years of Heaven Hill owning the Bernheim Distillery, this bourbon is finally ready to see the light of day.
Kevin’s Notes:
Since Old Fitzgerald VVS first splashed on the scene, I have literally not seen a negative review on it. It also might be the only bourbon I have seen actually increase in value on the secondary market in 2024. I’m dying to get this decanter, but for now, I have some samples on the way.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
This bourbon landed all the way at the top spot on our recent “Ranking All 28 Bourbons From Heaven Hill” round-up, and we aren’t alone in the praise. While you’ll have to either pay a visit to the distillery or shell out a pretty penny online to buy this bottle due to its outsized popularity, rest assured that if you happen upon a taste of it, you won’t be disappointed.
Russell’s Reserve 15-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the brand-new limited release from Wild Turkey’s Russell’s Reserve lineup. With 13 years marking the previous pinnacle of age statements in the series, this new 15-year expression has two years of extra age and an increase of three proof points while remaining non-chill filtered.
Kevin’s Notes:
Russell’s Reserve 15 literally broke the internet — TWICE! This bottle has the biggest hype I’ve seen online so far for “Whiskey of the Year” contention. The question is, can it really be better than Wild Turkey Generations from this past fall? Many whiskey personalities I trust have anointed it as a true George T. Stagg competitor for overall bourbon supremacy. That’s saying a lot. When my bottle gets in, I’m going to blind it against Generations, which was my favorite in a recent Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse, Elijah Craig Batch C923, and George T. Stagg blind-tasting lineup. We shall see!
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
We deemed this the number one new bourbon to buy this summer, so it ain’t just the internet going nuts over this well-aged Wild Turkey whiskey. Though, to be sure, folks are going crazy over this one online, with whiskey fans causing multiple site crashes when the brand announced a series of releases on their website.
The brand-new Green River Full Proof Bourbon is clearly on the top of many whiskey reviewers’ minds. While Green River has been applauded since its 2022 reintroduction across the web, this Full Proof addition to its core lineup is receiving the most buzz.
Kevin’s Notes:
Green River Full Proof Bourbon might be my new king of the “under $50” category. Delicious, full of flavor, and surprisingly drinkable for a barrel-proof bourbon.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
We can’t seem to stop adding to the chorus of folks who are huge fans of this whiskey now. Come for the incredible medley of flavor, then add a second bottle to your shopping cart thanks to the budget-friendly price.
The bourbon that goes into K. Luke’s Small Batch Bourbon blends come from a variety of distilleries in Kentucky and Indiana, but each batch is meticulously blended by husband-and-wife co-founder team Jonathan and Jennifer Maisano.
Da’Mon’s Notes:
I personally have had 3-5 different batches from K. Luke’s bourbon lineup, and I’ve really enjoyed them all. What’s been fun to see is that ever since I first got into their whiskey, I’ve noticed a lot more people posting about a variety of different batches online and comparing them. As an experienced barrel selector who’s just getting into blending, I’d say their blends have always impressed me.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
There are always slight variations between K. Luke’s small batch blends, but Batch 9, in particular, indicates that they’ve hit a stride. First-level certified sommelier Jonathan Maisano and his wife and co-founder Jennifer Maisano may be running a nascent brand, but their industry experience runs deep. Trust us when we say that you need to start collecting these batches sooner rather than later. The internet is already catching wind of how great each release is, and you don’t want to be last.
2. Rare Character Old Cassidy Bourbon – Selected by @BourbYourEnthusiasm
This exclusive single barrel expression, hand-selected by Pablo Moix and Frank Dobbins III, is the only release from Rare Character’s Old Cassidy brand. The liquid in this release came from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery and was bottled at cask strength.
Da’Mon’s Notes:
What hasn’t been said (positively speaking) about this brand at this point online, right? Rare Character has kind of taken the whiskey world by storm online and it’s been really cool to see. I talked about Old Cassidy single barrel on one of my recent Instagram Live broadcasts, and I came to the conclusion that this is an elite pour. I officially can’t drink this bottle by myself anymore. I want to share it with as many close friends as I can.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Sure, I picked this barrel, so you can take my thoughts on the matter with a grain of salt. But when you consider two votes of confidence from prominent whiskey influencers and the fact it sold for north of 3x the retail asking price on Sotheby’s auction? Well, it’s safe to say that this is a special release.
3. Old Fitzgerald 13-Year Bottled in Bond Wheated Bourbon VVS
Old Fitzgerald’s latest distillery-exclusive Bottled in Bond Decanter expression featuring tanked bourbon from 1999 was set aside and saved because the distillery believed it was truly special. The whiskey was dumped into steel tanks back in 2012, where it rested for 12 years until bottling in Spring 2024.
Da’Mon’s Notes:
Old Fitzgerald VVS…oh man. The internet’s reactions to this one were pretty crazy, to say the least. I hadn’t seen that much hype for an Old Fitzgerald release since maybe Old Fitzgerald 16, and still, I feel like this release topped that one. Once I had a pour of this bottle, I completely understood why. No one gassed this…it’s just that damn good.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
As you already know, Old Fitzgerald’s 13-Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon topped our recent best-of Heaven Hill rankings as well as our “Best Bourbons of 2024 (So Far)” list. The quality of the liquid 100% supports the internet frenzy that’s been generated around it. Contrary to Public Enemy’s immortal words, you should believe the hype.
The Creators: Chad Perkins & Sara Ahlgrim (@ItsBourbonNight) 111k subscribers on YouTube
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1. Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
Ben Holladay Distillery is having a big year. Their Bottled in Bond expression is made from a mash bill of 73% corn, 15% red wheat, and 12% malted barley, with all the grains being grown and processed in Missouri. The bourbon is self-distilled at the Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri before filling Missouri white oak barrels and being left to age for six years.
Chad and Sara’s Notes:
A 6-year bourbon that tastes older than its age statement advertises. We’re used to seeing the tradition of Bottled-in-Bond bourbons honored in our home state of KY but it’s great to see the Holladay folks in MO are respecting it as well. For those looking to up the proof a bit, their new Rickhouse Proof is also excellent. There are notes of sweet cinnamon candy, caramel, oak, and orchard fruits on the nose that carry through to the palate, along with a hint of oak on the palate with a decently long finish.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Ben Holladay bourbon has been popping up in our best-of lists for quite a while now, and if you’re going to take a chance on this up-and-coming distillery, then this is the bottle to place your bets on.
For the first year since Russell’s Reserve 13 Year’s introduction in 2021, there won’t be a release of it in 2024, but don’t fret bc the 15 year is taking its place and we couldn’t be happier about that. While the 13-year is excellent, the 15-year reaches the level of exquisite. With a nose that’s almost reminiscent of vintage Wild Turkey, there are notes of classic caramel and vanilla along with a solid dose of charred oak, rich stone fruit, and baking spice. A spiced stone fruit jam lands on the palate and lingers with the oak into a long finish. The 117.2 proof seems to walk a perfect line of packing an experiential punch without crossing over into a dry, tannic oak.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
A common thread in the reviews from people who have tried Russell’s Reserve 15-Year Bourbon is that it elevates the already well-regarded Russell’s Reserve 13-Year Bourbon. That’s an impressive feat. This isn’t simply a case of recency bias or shiny new toy syndrome; this is just world-class whiskey and it’s worth hunting down.
3. Dark Arts Whiskey House Barely Legal Cask Strength Small Batch Bourbon
While sourced Indiana whiskey may not be uncommon, this bourbon’s 51% Corn, 39% Rye, and 10% Malted Rye will surely raise some eyebrows. From the minds of the good folks behind Dark Arts Whiskey House, each batch of this cask-strength bourbon is crafted from just 3-barrel blends.
Chad and Sara’s Notes:
Newer to the whiskey scene, Dark Arts has made a big splash in the spirit competitions and the whiskey community alike. Known for its expert blending practices and finishing techniques, this whiskey is a tried-and-true bourbon with a slightly more unique mash bill of 51% corn, 39% rye, and 10% malted rye. Each small batch blend is made up of only 3 barrels and always presented at cask strength, which usually comes in around 115 proof. Our bottle (BL1) offers a buttery mouthfeel with effervescent rye spices and orchard fruits on the nose. The palate welcomes a citrus and black pepper pop with graham cracker and honey, followed by a lingering finish. This bottle drinks to an older profile than the youngest barrel in the blend (six and half years for our batch).
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Dark Arts Whiskey House is currently enjoying some serious IYKYK status among bourbon aficionados online, but that under-the-radar appeal comes with some seriously tasty juice. These carefully crafted 3-barrel blends reflect the bespoke nature of Dark Arts’ wizardry, and you should take advantage of any opportunity you have to catch their next trick.
The Creator: Tyler Zoller (@LouisvilleBourbonBuzz) 213k followers on Instagram
Starlight Distillery, located in Borden, Indiana, can comfortably be considered one of the best craft whiskey distilleries in the entire country. For this mouth-watering Mizunara-finished release, they take barrels that were initially earmarked for their premium “Family Reserve” lineup, age them for at least four years, and then rest them for an undisclosed period of time in exotic Japanese oak casks. The resultant whiskey carries a 7-year age statement.
Tyler’s Notes:
I am a big fan of Starlight and what they have been putting out. As soon as I tasted their Mizunara finished bourbon, I was in love. It has the perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and everything nice. Notes of brown sugar, snickerdoodle cookies, toasted sugar, and sweet oak make this one a winner.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Simple; we’ve already crowned it one of the ten best non-Kentucky bourbons that you can buy today. We rated it pretty highly, and with this second vote of confidence from Tyler, you know both the internet and Louisville are buzzing about this product of Indiana.
2. Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
Holladay has amazed me with everything that I have tried from their distillery. The soft red wheat has a fruit-forward nose with cherry, citrus, peach, and honey. The palate has vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, cherry, and powdered sugar. If this is what Missouri bourbon tastes like…give me all of it!
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
As if two placements on this list weren’t enough, we also rated this as one of the “Absolute Best Tasting Bourbons Under $60” earlier this year. If you love bourbon and you don’t want to break the bank, we know you’ll do the right thing and add this one to your collection.
3. James E. Pepper Decanter Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
The original James E. Pepper Decanter Bourbon was produced back in 1945 but this 2023 re-release absolutely nails the retro look. The distillery lists its low entry-proof as one of the keys to making sure the liquid in the bottle lives up to its historic billing.
Tyler’s Notes:
Not only is the bottle absolutely gorgeous, but the bourbon is wonderful too. This has an explosion of caramel on the palate with the perfect amount of fruitiness and spice. This is the type of bourbon that, every time I revisit it, I wonder how I still have any left!
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
In a modern world where so many brands are seemingly falling over themselves trying to reinvent the wheel, here’s an expression that succeeds because it’s true to what we all love. Full-bodied, flavorful, no-frills bourbon. It sounds simple, but the complexity on the nose and palate of James E. Pepper Decanter Bourbon indicates otherwise. As they used to say, this is the real McCoy.
*Bonus* The Creator: Frank Dobbins III (@BourbYourEnthusiasm) 9.2k followers on Instagram and UPROXX Whiskey Writer
Premier Drams is a totally new brand that was launched early this summer by the same man behind Washington D.C.’s legendary whiskey bar, Jack Rose, Bill Thomas. 8 years ago, Bill Thomas began procuring contract-distilled whiskey from an elusive producer in Bardstown, Kentucky, and aging it at the site of the historic Old Taylor Distillery, which today is the home of Castle & Key. Due to Castle & Key’s uniquely cool maturation facilities, many of the barrels that went into these Premier Drams single barrels saw a significant drop in ABV, with the majority hovering right around the 100-proof mark at cask strength.
Frank’s Notes:
Premier Drams is a brand that immediately grabbed my attention when I first caught wind of it. Exclusive whiskey from a distillery that isn’t typically known for selling barrels combined with Kentucky’s most unique maturation warehouses? At the very least, I knew this would be super fun to try, so I kept my expectations in check, but also my fingers crossed that it would deliver the goods. Frankly, those expectations were blown out of the water. By delivering such a low-proof, cask-strength bourbon, Premier Drams can pack a remarkable amount of depth and flavor into its whiskey while remaining approachable enough to make it an every-occasion easy-sipper. To have such a substantial mouthfeel and flavor profile at a proof this low is a feat unto itself, but the real shock comes when you realize you’re on your third glass because you can’t stop drinking it.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
For whiskey drinkers who have fallen under the spell of believing cask strength is king, this is one brand that will completely elevate your appreciation of the category. That’s not pure lip service. Premier Drams is bringing a fresh take on American whiskey to market, and discerning drinkers are already reveling in the revolution while quietly stockpiling as much of this rare liquid as they can. I know because I’m one of them.
This inaugural release from Binder’s Stash, the brainchild of content creator Bill Binder, didn’t just put him on the map — it set the digital whiskey world on fire. At 14 years old, hazmat proof, and hailing from the most well-known distillery in Indiana, this fiery bourbon is one hell of an introduction to a new brand. The mash bill is 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley.
Frank’s Notes:
Since this whiskey packs a wallop, I won’t pull any punches myself — this is one of the boldest bourbons on the market. Think of the full-body thrill you get from something like George T. Stagg, where the hair on your arms and the back of your neck stand up, a Kentucky hug seizes your chest, and your knees turn to jelly from pleasure. Now, throw the shock of surprise on top of all of that because even with the specs on this bourbon, you probably aren’t prepared for how jaw-dropping it is.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
Binder’s Stash Bourbon has a hefty price tag. You pay the price and savor every drop; it’s really that simple. While Bill Binder is an internet sensation in his own right, with Binder’s Stash Bourbon slowly racking up IRL awards, this whiskey is becoming one of the rare viral sensations that elude being a mere flash in the pan. This crowd-pleasing brand is here to stay.
Fortuna Barrel Proof is one of two evergreen products from the internet’s favorite whiskey brand, Rare Character. This barrel-proof bourbon is the preferred choice as the cask-strength alternative to Fortuna Bourbon. Produced in limited batches of 3-5 barrels and aged for at least 7 years, there are rumors that this release may soon be receiving an age statement, and get this, the word is it’ll feature a big fat 8.
Frank’s Notes:
Fortuna Barrel Proof was one of the new expressions I was most excited to try in 2023, and upon doing so, I immediately knew that the American whiskey world was in trouble. While expressions like Stagg, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof are rightfully hailed as some of the kings of the category, when it comes to robust, cask-strength bourbon, it’s been clear to me from the first sip that Fortuna Barrel Proof deserves a seat at that table. Blackberries, butterscotch, and clove are a few hallmarks of this batch, but there’s a fair bit of batch variation as they all offer something different. All of them are delicious.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
If you’re someone who goes crazy seeking out the aforementioned barrel-proof bourbons from Buffalo Trace, take note: this is an expression that’s relatively easier to find than them both, and can even exceed them in quality. While Rare Character has several offerings that you’re probably chomping at the bit to try, longingly watching as social media users post haul after haul of their typically superlative single-barrel expressions, this small-batch bourbon has the consistency and quality to make Rare Character a household name and not just an internet sensation.
The NBA’s new media rights deal has yet to be announced, and right now, all signs indicate that the league is going to have two partners: Disney and NBCUniversal. As for the third, while the league entered into an agreement with Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it enacted its matching rights — while its exclusive negotiating window with the league came and went, the opportunity existed for Warner Bros. Discovery to match a deal if it wanted.
The problem: The NBA, per reports, did not view the ability to match as a purely financial one. And in a statement released by the league on Wednesday afternoon, its argument became clear, as the NBA stated that it is going to enter into an agreement with Amazon while thanking Turner Sports for its longtime partnership.
Here is the full statement:
Warner Bros. Discovery’s most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon.
Throughout these negotiations, our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans. Our new arrangement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable and streaming packages that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements. All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience.
We are grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT.
We’ll now have to wait and see if this becomes an issue that heads to the courts, as it’s unclear if the specific language in Warner Bros. Discovery’s contract was solely financial or, as the league appears to believe, goes into the ability to bring the NBA to more people.
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