We know that food and identity are intricately linked. And when we shame a person’s food choices—especially when the dish is representative of their culture—we are also shaming the individual’s heritage.
Asian-Americans in particular have been on the receiving end of this type of discrimination. It’s such a universal childhood experience that the term “lunchbox moment” was coined to describe having their school lunches being ridiculed.
Fortunately, society is evolving. Diversity, inclusion and blending culture is becoming more the norm. And food, like every art form, follows suit. Hence, delectable fusions that not only delight the taste buds, but cook up a more curious and compassionate world.
Which brings us to Taiwanese-American designer turned food writer and photographer Frankie Gaw.
On his website, Gaw claims he’s “not a chef by any means,” but just one scroll through his blog, titled “Little Fat Boy,” will have you thinking differently.Gaw’s recipes are heavily inspired by the meals prepared to him in childhood by his grandmother, who makes several guest appearances during his videos.
“My hope…is to capture the melting pot of food experiences that I love through recipes, videos, pop-up events, and more. I just want it to feel like you’re eating in my grandma’s kitchen and getting the best kind of fat with 10-year-old plump me with a bunch of steamed buns stuffed in your face, coupled with a little slice of Midwestern suburban goodness,” he says.
That intention certainly comes across with his “American Classics turned Taiwanese” series, where everything from Twinkies to Mcdonald’s Happy Meals to good ol’ mac n’ cheese gets an Asian spin.
Did we mention that he even creates his own version of the food packaging? Yeah, he’s extra in the best way.
With each recipe video, Gaw shares moments of his life, like how he would screen his lunch for non-American snacks and throw them away, or pontificate how life might be different if iconic brands capitalized on different flavors from around the world. Like if Campbell’s soups introduced congee to “made congee into a pantry staple,” or if Cheerios introduced Asian flavors like sesame and miso.
After seeing his creations, it’s hard not to wonder that too. See more below:
Hoping to explore some of Gaw’s recipes yourself? Gaw recently came out with a cookbook, titled “First Generation: Recipes from My Taiwanese-American Home,” which is filled not only with unique, scrumptious meal ideas, but deeply personal stories from his childhood, giving viewers a real opportunity to be transported to new places. And all through food! What’s not to like?
About a year ago, Dr. Federica Gigante, a research associate at Cambridge University, was preparing for a lecture and was looking for a photo of 17th-century Italian nobleman and collector Ludovico Moscardo when she happened upon an image of something exceedingly rare, an ancient Arab astrolabe.
The relic was kept in the same museum as Moscardo’s photo.
According to the University of Cambridge, an astrolabe is an ancient instrument akin to the “world’s first smartphone” that has hundreds of uses, including calculating time and distances, plotting the position of the stars and even making predictions about the future by casting a horoscope.
Dr. Gigante, who is also a former curator of Islamic scientific instruments at Oxford University’s History of Science Museum, traveled to the Fondazione Museo Miniscalchi Erizzo in Verona, Italy three months later to examine the artifact. “I saw it was a lot more ancient than they’d realized,” she told The Guardian. When she began to inspect the astrolabe, she noticed scratches etched in its bronze face and they were no accident.
The u201cVerona Astrolabeu201dnnhttps://t.co/8wTZQ9kKcy
— (@)
She soon realized that the etchings were in Hebrew, showing that over 900 years ago, Muslims and Jews worked together to exchange scientific ideas. Further examination showed that another Western language was also etched onto the astrolabe.
After comparing the astrolabe to similar instruments, she found that it was from Al-Andalus, the Muslim-ruled area of Spain, in the 11th Century.
Gigante believes that the astrolabe eventually left Spain and circulated among the Jewish diaspora living in Italy.
“There’s an added dedication or signature to the object, that reads: ‘For Isaac, the work of Jonah,’” she said. “They’re both Jewish names so it’s very likely that by then, the astrolabe had got into Jewish ownership. But it’s interesting that it’s written in Arabic. Although it was probably in the hands of some Jews, Arabic was the lingua franca and was used by Jews as much as Muslims and Christians.”
Rare eleventh-century #astrolabe discovery in Verona showcases Islamic-Jewish scientific exchange. It bears #Arabic and #Hebrew inscriptions, reflecting multicultural adaptations. https://t.co/d74D333xoP #archaeology
— (@)
Just as smartphones need updates over time, the astrolabe had corrections and updates etched on its surface throughout history. “The Verona astrolabe underwent many modifications, additions, and adaptations as it changed hands. At least three separate users felt the need to add translations and corrections to this object, two using Hebrew and one using a Western language,” Dr. Gigante said.
It is believed that the astrolabe entered the collection of Ludovico Moscardo (1611 to 1681), a nobleman from Verona, and later transitioned to the Miniscalchi family through marriage. In 1990, this family established the Fondazione Museo Miniscalchi-Erizzo to safeguard their collections.
At a time when tensions are high between Muslims and Jews, it’s touching to learn of an ancient artifact that circulated among both groups as a method of sharing knowledge. “We know that in 11th-century Spain, Jews and Muslims and Christians were working alongside each other, especially in the scientific media, and that many Jewish scientists were sponsored and patronized by Muslim rulers with no concern for their religion,” Dr. Gigante said. “This object is Islamic, Jewish and European, they can’t be separated.”
In music, the artist that dominates the charts tends to lead the pack. So, each week, when Billboard reveals the top 10 songs on its Hot 100 chart, entertainers and fans alike pause to comb over the results.
After weeks of streaming battles between music’s biggest names, the new rankings are ready for all to see. Continue below for the track-by-track breakdown for the chart dated March 16.
10. Taylor Swift – “Cruel Summer”
Until Taylor Swift‘s forthcoming album, The Tortured Poets Departmentis released, the Swifties are working hard to ensure the singer doesn’t leave the chart. Instead of latching onto her most recent project, Midnight, they’ve latched onto 2019’s “Cruel Summer.” Her Lover-era is long since over, but the public’s admiration for the track clearly isn’t.
There’s no sleeping on SZA’s sheer star power. The multiple Grammy Award winner’s sophomore album, SOS, is nearly two years old, and yet it still hasn’t left the charts. The project’s fan favorite, “Snooze,” has continued to showcase just how mighty SZA’s pen can be in the No. 8 spot.
The more Zach Bryan travels across the world on his Quittin Time Tour, the more he makes a country music fan out of all within earshot. Undoubtedly, the most addictive song on his self-titled album is “I Remember Everything.” The debut with Kacey Musgraves will surely be looked back on as a classic years down the line. So, it is no wonder why the track sets comfortably at No. 7.
6. Tate McRae – “Greedy”
Uproxx cover star Tate McRae’s recent live performance at the 2024 BRITS gave her breakout hit “Greedy” an added boost on the charts. For 25 weeks, the song has made the Hot 100 chart its home, peaking at No. 3 back in September. But with McRae’s string of live shows and the constant push on TikTok, another surge could be in the works.
5. Beyoncé — “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Beyoncé and her yeehaw agenda is a force to be reckoned with. With Act II only a few weeks away, the project’s lead single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” won’t loosen its grip on the Beyhive. Although it has fallen out of the No. 1 slot, thanks to the fan-crafted viral lineup, it could gitty up right back to the top quite soon.
4. Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” is showing subtle growth. In prior weeks, the track dropped from its peak position at No. 2 to No. 3. But for the week of March 16, the record climbed a slot up to No. 4.
3. Jack Harlow – “Lovin On Me”
Jack Harlow’s viral sensation “Lovin On Me” has refused to fall out of favor. Like the rapper, the record ebbs and flows based on which way the industry trends. While it currently sits at No. 3, it could very easily snatch its previously held No. 1 position.
2. Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
Teddy Swims‘ “Lose Control” glides right back into the top two of this week’s Hot 100 chart. Due to its continued popularity, next week could be the moment when the song takes over at No. 1. But for right now, the growth to No. 2 will work just fine for the singer.
1. Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign — “Carnival” Feat. Rich The Kid and Playboi Carti
At No. 1 is none other than Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign. After a fierce battle with Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” the collaborative duo Vultures 1 track, “Carnival,” featuring Rich The Kid and Playboi Carti, has snagged the top spot. According to Complex, this marked West’s first No. 1 song in 13 years.
This week’s #Hot100 top 10 (chart dated March 16, 2024)
This year’s Oscars had some big surprises: shock wins, a Field of Dreams rant, a Trump cameo, some nudity, a dog. It also concluded with some Al Pacino action. The legendary actor was there to present the final award, for Best Picture. It was a touch awkward, in part because they skipped the traditional part where they run down the list of nominees, reminding viewers about what’s up for the big prize. But Pacino is insisting that wasn’t his fault.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, the “Dunkaccino” guy released a statement the morning after in which he put blame for that omission elsewhere.
“There seems to be some controversy about my not mentioning every film by name last night before announcing the best picture award,” Pacino said. “I just want to be clear it was not my intention to omit them, rather a choice by the producers not to have them said again since they were highlighted individually throughout the ceremony. I was honored to be a part of the evening and chose to follow the way they wished for this award to be presented.
“I realize being nominated is a huge milestone in one’s life and to not be fully recognized is offensive and hurtful,” Pacino added. “I say this as someone who profoundly relates with filmmakers, actors and producers so I deeply empathize with those who have been slighted by this oversight, and it’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement.”
During his presentation, Pacino wasn’t exactly one for Bruce Villanch-y quips. “Ten wonderful films were nominated, but only one will take the award for best picture,” he said, plainly. He then walked the crowd through his modest task. “I have to go to the envelope for that, and I will,” he said, followed by, “Here it comes.” Pacino then skipped the whole “And the Oscars goes to…” business, instead saying, so quiet it hardly felt momentous, “And my eyes see Oppenheimer. Yes. Yes.”
But hey, Pacino can do whatever he wants. He’s Al Pacino. For another, it aided in creating one of the shorter Oscars in ages, running “only” about an hour and 15. Those watching on the East Coast even got to get a good night’s sleep, while those out west got to hit up In-N-Out before their party.
Free agency winds are blowing in the NFL, including standout running back Saquon Barkley leaving the New York Giants in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles. While Barkley joining a new team this offseason was not viewed as a wildly unlikely outcome by any means, Barkley changing teams within the NFC East drew attention, particularly in some corners of the New York media. In fact, former Giants running back and current radio host Tiki Barber apparently took exception with Barkley’s defection, saying “you’re dead to me.”
With that particular comment making the rounds, Barkley torched Barber, first saying (sarcastically) that Barber is “the prime example of loyalty to a team.”
@TikiBarber lol yup you’re the prime example of loyalty to a team.. I got the deal I wanted, secured more gm which wasn’t given to me before… so if fans are gonna hate me for that so be it! But I never turned my back on my teammates and always had theirs https://t.co/6aKgJquD0F
It remains to be seen as to whether Barber will have a direct response, but it is also notable that Barkley shared a post from Jordan Schultz that shed interesting light on the situation. Schultz reported that the Giants “never made an offer to retain Barkley” and that he was choosing between three teams as a result.
Given that context, it is easy to see why Barkley would be particularly bothered by what Barber said. Even without it, though, this kind of language from a former player in the same city, and particularly one who occupied the same position, was always likely to get more attention. Barkley is now heading to Philadelphia, and his first chance to face the Giants will be pretty, pretty interesting.
There were a lot of fun things at this year’s Academy Awards. There was a top shelf musical performance from Ryan Gosling. John Cena got buck naked. There was a dog. But perhaps the most leftfield bit came when John Mulaney presented the Oscar for Best Sound. During his intro, he launched into a prolonged rant about Field of Dreams — a movie that wasn’t even nominated for its sound. Mulaney’s appearance was so well-received that people instantly interpreted it as an audition to host one of the most feared gigs in the business.
John Mulaney absolutely crushed his audition to host the Oscars next year… he’s running
Mulaney’s intro started off with a bang, which is to say a comically over-simplified story about the history of synch sound in cinema. “For years movies didn’t have sound. And then they figured it out,” he informed the crowd. He balked at those who prefer the so-called “silent” era. “These people are difficult and insane.”
Mulaney then argued that famous movie quotes are one of the great joys of movies — quotes like “You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” “I’ll have what she’s having,” and “He was in the Amazon with my mother when she was researching spiders just before she died.” (The latter wasn’t really from a movie — Madame Web — but from its trailer, and the social media dunking that followed was an early sign the film would tank.)
There was another big quote Mulaney dwelled on: “If you build it, he will come.” That led into a lengthy summary of the movie that contains it, 1989’s Field of Dreams, in which Mulaney made it sound like the dumbest movie ever made. He particularly singled out the idea of “Ghost Baseball,” including its bizarre rules — like how the player played by Frank Whaley isn’t allowed to play again after he ages into Burt Lancaster to give young Gaby Hoffman the Heimlich Maneuver.
Despite his making fun of Field of Dreams, he told the crowd that he “loves” it and that “that should win Best Picture.” He added, glumly, “Though they’ll probably go with one of this year’s.”
Mulaney’s epic, out-of-nowhere summation of a movie that was actually nominated for Best Picture 35 years prior made a lot of people wish Kimmel would sit 2025 out.
If Mulaney doesn’t host next year someone fucked up.
The best part of the #Oscars was John Mulaney. Just have him host and do stand-up for the whole four hours. pic.twitter.com/Enme9S3TUp
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) March 11, 2024
1. I totally agree with the “John Mulaney needs to host the #Oscars
2. Can we please do it in a year when Bill Hader can be nominated so he’s in the front row and we can just watch him die laughing at all of Mulaney’s jokes? pic.twitter.com/gX0njhp17l
So the votes are in and Mulaney is the favorite for the 97th Academy Awards. Then again, does he even want the job? Not only is it a tough gig, but it has a history of scaring off comics even after they’ve said yes.
You can watch Mulaney’s Oscar intro in the video below.
And if you aren’t sure Mulaney can hold his own at a movie awards show, just watch him and Nick Kroll kill the opening monologue at the 2017 Independent Spirit Awards:
But to everyone’s surprise—and delight— “SNL” nabbed Scarlett Johansson to play Britt (perhaps as a favor to her husband Colin Jost?), and she absolutely nailed the senator’s laughable-yet-borderline-terrifying original delivery during the show’s cold open.
Donning an near-exact replica of Britt’s cross necklace and emerald green blouse, Johansson “auditions for the role of scary mom” with what she calls “an original monologue called ‘This Country is Hell,” an obvious nod to the outright fiction of Britt’s rebuttal.
Complete with oddly placed giggles, astonished eyes conveying worry like an Oscar depended on it, and “getting weirdly seductive for no apparent reason,” Johansson flawlessly recreates Britt’s now infamous speech, especially the part where she “pivots out of nowhere into a shockingly violent story about sex trafficking. And rest assured, every detail about it is real. Except the year, where it took place and who was president when it happened.”
And this of course takes palace in the kitchen, just as Britt’s did, “because Republicans want me to appeal to woman voters, and women love kitchen.
Things take an even darker turn when Johansson mimics the tea-cup hypnosis scene from Jordan Peele’s “Get Out”—a reference made even creepier by how accurate it is—before assuring the American people “we hear you, we see you, we smell you. We’re inside your kitchen right now looking through your fridge.”
And while the sketch received a ton of positive feedback, especially regarding Johanson’s performance, this comment takes the cake:
“When the source material is 500% stranger than the parody – we’re in new territory.”
Watch the full segment below. And if you’ve missed Britt’s stranger-than-fiction original video, give it a whirl here.
The arrival of spring doesn’t just mean the awakening of nature (and the loss of an hour of sleep), it also brings the recording industry back to life. While the early months of Q1 can generally be a little sleepy — with a few exceptions, of course — as the weather creeps back toward the warmth of the summer, we can expect more new releases from some of the biggest names in music.
These days, it can be a little tricky to anticipate which artists are aiming for a spring release, though. Album release cycles have gotten shorter and shorter, and in hip-hop especially, new projects can fall out of the sky with little to no warning. With that said, we’re going to do our best to run through the most anticipated hip-hop releases of the season, under the assumption that most if not all of the artists named here would like a dominant run thoughout the summer — or at least, some new material for the festivals. Let’s start with the ones we know:
March 2024 Hip-Hop Releases
March 14: Kenny Mason — 9
Atlanta rapper Kenny Mason is easily one of the hottest names simmering just under the radar thanks to his distinctive, grungy style and high-profile co-signs from the likes of Denzel Curry, Freddie Gibbs, and JID. 9 will be his second album after 2020’s Angelic Hoodrat. He just released a pair of singles that suggest his unique blend of shoegaze, grunge rock, and screamo-rap is primed for its next evolution.
March 15: Tierra Whack — World Wide Whack
Fans of the Philly battle rapper turned whimsical mad scientist have been waiting for a proper album for going on six years now. Her 2018 EP Whack World introduced listeners to a fantastical approach toward genre and subject matter that established Whack as one of the most intriguing names in hip-hop, and her debut album — which she announced this January — will give her the opportunity to expand on that foundation.
March 22: Future & Metro Boomin — We Don’t Trust You
It’s only been two months and some change and already a pattern is beginning to develop. If you’re going to release an album fans have been waiting for for years, it seems, you might as well turn it into multiple projects with release dates scattered across months. Kanye (sorta) did it, and now, Metro Boomin and Future are following in his footsteps, announcing that their heavily anticipated joint album will be released in two parts. The first arrives in March.
March 29: Rico Nasty & Boys Noize — HVRDC0RE DR3AMZ
On Leap Day, Rico Nasty announced that her ongoing chemistry with German DJ Boys Noize would bear another new fruit in the form of a joint EP. After teaming up on “Girl Crush” and “Money,” two of Rico’s more intriguing songs of the past few years, it’ll be fascinating to see her step more into her collaborator’s world on the EP, following a number of peers in blending hip-hop with various styles of EDM.
April 2024 Hip-Hop Releases
April 12: Future & Metro Broomin — We Still Don’t Trust You
The second of Future and Metro’s collaborations will arrive just two weeks after the first, an impressive turnaround time that has paid dividends for the Atlanta rapper in the past. Future’s 2017 albums Future and Hndrxx were released just a week apart and both halves of the pair went No. 1, while the first spawned the massive hit “Mask Off” — which was, of course, produced by Metro Boomin. Their creative chemistry is certainly something to look forward to.
April 26: AG Club – BRODIE WORLD
The Northern California rap clique shook up the world in 2020 with the release of their breakout hit “Memphis,” and has kept up a steady stream of releases ever since. With each, they grow a little more polished and a little more experimental, growing into their group name (Avant Garde Club) a little more. BRODIE WORLD will be their first proper release since 2022’s Imposter Syndrome, which is exciting because there’s a lot of growth that can happen in two years.
2024 Hip-Hop Albums Release TBA
Here’s where we start speculating. A large number of rap’s biggest names are set to release albums this year, many of whom will be returning from multi-year hiatuses, making the products of their time away all the more tantalizing. Below are just a few.
ASAP Rocky — Don’t Be Dumb
Rocky’s last album was 2018’s Testing. That’s a long time to go without hearing a new full collection of music from the haute couture Harlemite, who’s been busy with fatherhood (and some ill-timed legal trouble). His album has supposedly been done since 2022, so it’s only a matter of time until he gives listeners a release date; here’s hoping it’s sooner rather than later.
Baby Keem — Child With Wolves
Baby Keem made a huge splash in 2021 with his electrifying debut The Melodic Blue, and recently began teasing a new era after releasing the album’s companion film late last year.
Cardi B — TBA
Let’s say Cardi finally kicks her rollout into high gear after releasing two singles in six months, “Bongos” and “Like What,” and teasing another. It seems she keeps dipping her toe back into an album cycle, but a mean case of imposter syndrome combined with impossibly high standards has made determining if she’s really shooting her shot or just pump-faking again almost impossible to determine. She’s fortunate to be one of the few artists who can keep getting away with this pretty much indefinitely, but I’d like to hope she’s accepted the fear of potential failure and just goes for it. (Or pulls a Kendrick Lamar in 2014 and goes full avant-garde with it, scaring the hoes and making herself pretty much untouchable for the foreseeable future.)
Flo Milli — Fine Ho, Stay
Announced in October 2023, Flo Milli’s second album has the potential to turn her into a household name — especially with the ongoing and growing success of its single “Never Lose Me.” If she wants to strike while the iron is hot, a spring release might be her best bet to maintain momentum.
GloRilla — TBA
Big Glo has a lot of buzz around her name right now, both for her hard-hitting new single “Yeah Glo!” and an oopsie moment on Instagram thanks to her unfamiliarity with her new endowments. Might as well capitalize ahead of the summer, right?
Ice Spice — Y2K
TikTok star and current rap it-girl Ice Spice has been sneakily rolling out her debut album over the past few months, beginning with flying a flag at her label headquarters, dropping another catchy single, and announcing that her album is finished recording. There’s no time like the present, and with her penchant for dropping summertime-dominating tracks, an April or May release would give her plenty of lead time to once again take over the hottest months.
J. Cole — The Fall Off
The only other rapper whose album has been consistently sought after since 2018 (mostly by his own design), J. Cole could overtake friendly rivals Drake and Kendrick Lamar in the conversation if he manages to beat them both to market this year.
Rapsody — TBA
Poor Rapsody. If you happen to follow the North Carolina rapper on social media, you’ve probably seen her repost the near-constant stream of pleas from fans for a follow-up to 2019’s Eve. She’s been promising an announcement is coming imminently, and considering the curtailed album cycles of the current climate, if she does make that announcement in the next few weeks or months, that would almost certainly mean an album is following relatively quickly after.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, married morning talk show hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos caught up with Kimmel after the show for a bit of light behind-the-scenes banter. At one point he recounted the moment when he decided he’d go on stage and read Trump’s rant deeming him the “WORST HOST.”
“They’re like, ‘You’ve got a little bit of time’ and I was like, ‘I’m reading the Trump tweet,’ and they’re like, ‘No, no, don’t read that,’” Kimmel recalled. “[I was like] ‘Yes I am.’”
Here’s what Trump wrote about the show on his rinky-dink Twitter clone, which Kimmel read without telling the crowd who wrote it:
“Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be. Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC ‘talent,’ George Slopanopoulos. He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous. Also a really bad politically correct show tonight, and for years – Disjointed, boring, and very unfair. Why don’t they just give the Oscars to those that deserve them. Maybe that way their audience and TV ratings will come back from the depths. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
After reading the gibberish to peals of laughter, Kimmel asked the crowd, “See if you can guess which former president just posted that?” After revealing the author, Kimmel said he was surprised Trump was still up, cracking, “Isn’t it past your jail time?”
When it comes to bourbon over $100, the bottle better freaking bring it in the flavor department. Branding, bottle design, and hokey stories about grandpappy’s secret recipe don’t mean shit if the bourbon is over $100 and tastes mid (cough, cough, current Kentucky Owl, cough, cough).
Asking you to spend serious money on what’s probably going to be a special gift means that the whiskey in the bottle should be stellar. Period.
To that end, I’m calling out 15 bottles of bourbon that are stellar — all in their own ways. The bottles listed below are between $100 and $125. Each one is unique with a throughline of excellence. That standard doesn’t mean that I didn’t rank these bourbons though. Not all created equal — some are crowd-pleasers and some are acquired tastes.
My advice is to read my tasting notes and find the ones that speak to you, hit those price links, and go from there!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
Barrell puts out a lot of whiskeys every year. We forgive you if you can’t keep up (we barely can!). This edition is a mix of whiskeys finished in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian Amaro casks that are then batched. The juice then goes into the bottle uncut to help highlight the disparate yet similarly cozy flavors given by each of the barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Pear drives the nose with a pear compote or pear butter made with plenty of dark spice and just a hint of dark chocolate and tobacco.
Palate: The taste is warm but slightly rummy with a clear eggnog note acting as a driving force, leading towards hints of black licorice next to creamy toffee next to hefty chocolate bars filled with nougat and walnuts.
Finish: A slight black tea bitterness takes over at the end as the nuttiness, spiciness, and sweetness all come together for a big finish with plenty of warmth and boldness.
Bottom Line:
This has become a mainstay of the Barrell Bourbon line. It’s deep, cutting, and delicious. The best part is that the proof doesn’t overwhelm the overall profile. There’s a silkiness here that makes this a great slow sipper. In the end, this feels like a gateway pour to bigger and more unique flavor notes, so treat it as a palate expander.
14. 291 Bad Guy Colorado Bourbon Whiskey 10th Anniversary
This Colorado whiskey is made from a mix of local corn, malted wheat, malted rye, and beech-smoked malted barley. As per 291’s classic aging methods, the whiskey is aged for about two years with aspen wood staves in the barrel to accelerate the aging process. Finally, this is batched and bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this is a wonderful medley of winter spices — clove, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon — rolled into a leathery tobacco pouch with a deep sense of green tea leaves marmalade, and buttery salted toffee.
Palate: The taste leans into stewed apple and pear candy while the spice really starts to kick up with a deep heat of the ABVs buzzing on all of your senses as old leather, oak, and tobacco sneak in under the heat.
Finish: Dried peach and apricot tie to the tobacco and oak as the spice starts to burn and numb your tongue on the finish with a dark sense of old marmalade tobacco and winter spice barks.
Bottom Line:
This one is big — big flavor notes, big ABVs, big buzzing on that finish. So if you’re looking for something bold, this is the play.
13. Penelope Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Cask Finish Rio
This is damn near a classic now. This year’s Rio is still Penelope’s batch of four-grain bourbon (the blends of barrels work out to 74% corn, 14% wheat, 9% rye, and 3% malted barley). The ripple is that once batched the whiskey is re-barrelled into American honey and Brazilian Amburana oak casks. Those casks are then batched, proofed, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The honey is super creamy on the nose with a hint of pine forest next to hot cinnamon sticky buns with melting buttercream frosting and plenty of winter spice next to a hint of pecan.
Palate: The spiced rolls drive the palate toward a darker gingerbread with fresh and orange-infused honey adding a sharp contrast before the barkier elements of the spices and nuts roll back in.
Finish: The end leans into almost savory figs and date leather with a sense of winter spice barks, burnt orange rinds, and singed vanilla pods next to a hint of marzipan tobacco and soft fresh honeycomb.
Bottom Line:
This is one of those “acquired taste” bourbons I mentioned in the opening. There’s a lot of that’s classic here, but then this goes into new feeling territory with that cask finish. It’s savory and kind of funky in all the right ways. Take your time nosing and tasting this one and it’ll repay you in palate-expanding brilliance.
12. 2XO The Phoenix Blend Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This is the new whiskey from famed blender Dixon Dedman (former head of Kentucky Owl). The whiskey is sourced and highlights the best of the best barrels that Dedman was able to get his hands on.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose draws you in with a deep sense of creme brûlée drizzled with salted caramel and cut with a woody tart apple and light yet sweet oak.
Palate: Red berries and vanilla pods lead to warming winter spices with a woody edge next to apple pies and orange chocolate candies.
Finish: The end has a deep pepperiness that leads back to the winter spices before descending toward that creamy vanilla and soft apple pie filling with a touch of brown butter.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent essential yet fruity bourbon. It’s almost light but not in the sense that it’s thin. It’s approachable while offering depth and balance. This is the bottle you buy for someone who likes their bourbon without the side of homework.
11. Baker’s Single Barrel 13 Years Minimum Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This brand-new re-release of Beam’s Limited Edition “Minimum 13 Year” Baker’s just dropped. The whiskey in the barrel is from single barrels that hit just the right mark for something special. Beyond that, there’s not much else to know besides this is Baker’s at a high age that shines bright.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a nice sense of dried sweetgrass, salted ballpark peanuts, and old vanilla pods that leads to softer notes of marzipan, vanilla sheet cake, and mild cherry.
Palate: Soft winter spices and minty tobacco drive the palate toward smudging sage and roasting herbs with a sense of marzipan slowly building on the mid-palate with a minor key of orange and cherry.
Finish: The vanilla sneaks in on the finish with more roasting herbs and dry grassiness with a hint of menthol, peanut shell, and distant oak.
Bottom Line:
Baker’s has always been the rye lover’s bourbon. The whiskey is so funky and fresh and this expression takes that up a huge notch. This is a great sipper that’s sure to expand your palate and enjoyment of Kentucky bourbon as something more than just a sweet cherry bomb.
10. BLACKENED x Wes Henderson Master of Whiskey Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This new collaboration from Metallica’s whiskey finds Master Distillers Rob Dietrich of BLACKENED working with Wes Henderson, Co-Founder of Angel’s Envy, to create a new expression. The whiskey is a classic Kentucky bourbon aged for six years. Those barrels are vatted and then refilled into white port wine casks for a final rest. Finally, the port barrels are batched and the whiskey is bottled at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a good bit of fruit on the nose with pear skins, rum-raisin, and burnt orange next to dried-up old cinnamon sticks and tobacco leaves.
Palate: The palate stews the pear with honey and wintry spices while a hint of dried chili flake leads to walnut cake and a very mild echo of old wet straw.
Finish: The end is lush and full of oranges studded with cloves and allspice next to pear tobacco and old cedar humidors.
Bottom Line:
You don’t have to be a fan of Metallica to enjoy this whiskey. It’s so succinct and runs truly deep. It’s also an easy sipper that works for the everyday pour or something you share before you finally see the band live. This one also makes a killer old fashioned.
9. Peerless Double Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This whiskey from Kentucky Peerless is around five to six years old and comes from one barrel that lets the grains shine through before it goes into another new oak barrel for a final maturation to let the oak shine through. That final barrel is bottled at cask strength, allowing all that beautiful bourbon and oak aging to shine brightly.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This opens with a nose full of salted butter next to hints of very soft leather, light notes of vanilla bean, a touch of toffee sweetness, and freshly cracked walnuts with a dry edge.
Palate: The taste leans into that oak barrel with dashes of woody spices (think allspice berries, star anise, and cinnamon sticks), dry cherry tobacco leaves, salted caramel, and more of that super soft leather.
Finish: That leads towards a mid-palate of dark red fruits stewed in mulled wine spices and cut with a dollop of fresh honey before the (long) finish dries out towards an old wicker chair, a very distinct hint of a cellar funk, and a touch of dried mint.
Bottom Line:
I know this is a cliche, but if you only buy one bottle of Peerless, this is the one.
Michter’s fills their barrels with 103-proof hot juice off the stills. After a handful of years spent aging, that proof inches upwards as the angels take their share. Usually, the whiskey is cut with that soft Kentucky limestone water before bottling but not in this case. This is pulled from single honey barrels that were too good to cut and bottled at the Fort Nelson Distillery on Louisville’s Whiskey Row.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose draws you deep into the classic bourbon ecosystem of rich buttery toffees next to salted dark chocolate-covered cherries, a touch of smoked stone fruits, and a minor note of spicy tobacco leaf.
Palate: The palate delivers on those notes as the tobacco spice amps up before being smoothed out by rich and creamy vanilla, salted caramel, and apricot stone dryness.
Finish: That dryness drives the mid-palate towards the finish with a pecan shell vibe next to slightly bitter singed cedar bark.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s at cask strength is a mighty fine pour of whiskey. This is quintessential Kentucky bourbon that runs deep but never overwhelms the senses. There’s a soft warmth that accents the flavor profile, leaving you with that iconic Kentucky hug at the very end.
7. Chestnut Farms From Barton 1792 Master Distillers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond
This particular release is part of Total Wine’s Spirits Direct (their barrel pick program). The whiskey in the bottle is a six-year-old high-rye bourbon made at the famed Barton 1792 Distillery (Sazerac’s other famed distillery in Kentkcy — besides Buffalo Trace). The batch of whiskey is bottled with a touch of limestone water to bring it down to 100-proof and bottled otherwise as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This whiskey is a vanilla bomb from the jump with a deep sense of vanilla malts layered into a white cake with white vanilla frosting cut with a rush of sharp and fresh mint.
Palate: Soft vanilla pudding drives the taste as hints of winter spices via eggnog creaminess mingle with a touch of ripe peaches and pears next to a whisper of mint syrup and orange oil.
Finish: The end leans toward rich and salted buttercream with a nice layer of dark fruit leather, sharp winter spice barks, dried red berries, and a hint of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Bottom Line:
This is the biggest sleeper hit on the list. This bourbon quietly wins big awards (Double Gold in San Francisco) and then quietly goes along sitting on shelves in the best whiskey shops and bars. This is fantastic Kentucky bourbon that’ll stir your emotional nostalgic core like Egon tasting Remy’s ratatouille for the first time.
6. Nelson Bros. Whiskey Black Brier A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys Finished in Imperial Stout Casks
This whiskey takes Nelson Brother’s bourbon (sourced from Indiana and Tennessee) and re-loads it into beer casks for a special finish. The bourbon is re-filled into freshly emptied imperial stout casks from Blackstone Brewing Company for a final maturation before batching and bottling as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a fascinating balance of mocha lattes made with cream counterpointed by orange creamsicles on the nose with a deep and most vanilla white cake frosted with a whisper of Almond Joy icing.
Palate: Almost waxy cacao comes through on the palate before the almond and toasted coconut drive the taste toward Nutella-smeared croissants and a flutter of cinnamon-heavy mulled wine with a nice sweetness and a whisper of dried red berries.
Finish: Cinnamon bark and dark chocolate-covered espresso beans come through late with a creamy sense of that Nutella and mocha latte layering into a faint burnt orange tobacco vibe.
Bottom Line:
If you love a good stout, then this is a no-brainer. But it’s so much more than just a good stout-finished bourbon. This is a deep and delicious whiskey that rewards you for patience and time. It also makes one hell of a Manhattan.
The second batch of Booker’s 2023 releases was a banger. This batch is named after the relationship between Booker Noe (who helped define Beam in the 20th century) and his mentor, Carl Beam, back in the 1950s. The whiskey in the bottle is a blend of a lot of barrels from prime spots in several warehouses across the Beam campus. The end blend ended up being 7+-year-old bourbon that’s bottled completely as-is without proofing or filtering.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a brandy-soaked holiday cake with a deep layer of rich vanilla, candied orange, candied cherry, stewed pear, and deeply sharp winter spices.
Palate: The taste is winter nut bread forward and spiced with real clove, allspice, and nutmeg next to apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks, eggnog creaminess, and floral honey.
Finish: The end really amps up those spices with a very barky vibe as the orange turns to marmalade and just keeps going and going until the heat overtakes everything and then crashes down, leaving your tongue buzzing.
Bottom Line:
This is a spicy and warming bourbon. It’s going to be hot neat — which some people seek out. So I’d recommend pouring this one over a big ol’ rock and taking it slowly as a sipper. It’s a fine example of spicy and creamy Kentucky bourbon with a huge Kentucky bear hug at the end.
4. Nashville Barrel Company Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel 6 Years Old UPROXX January 2023 Barrel
The barrel was chosen and bottled at the tail end of 2022 on a visit to Nashville Barrel Company. The whiskey in the bottle is a 6-year-and-two-month-old bourbon from MGP of Indiana. The high rye mash bourbon (75/21/4 corn/rye/malted barley) aged for five years in Indiana before moving to Nashville for an additional 14 months of resting. The bourbon went in the bottle at cask strength straight from the barrel.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with toffee, mild leather, orchard barks, blood orange, soft sweet grains, cinnamon sticks, cherry tobacco, plum, and a whisper of old pine accented by a touch of thyme.
Palate: The taste meanders through salted caramel, dates, cinnamon bark, cardamon pods, clove buds, and soft vanilla cake before leaning slowly into a spiced warmth.
Finish: The end arrives with sweet and chewy pipe tobacco, orange bitters, rock candy, and very light yet creamy cacao lushness next to hazelnut Manner Neapolitan Wafers and dry oak.
Bottom Line:
This barrel pick from last year is still one of the best whiskeys that you can get at this price point. Only a scant few bottles are left. So act fast for one of the best cask-strength bourbons money can buy.
3. Fortuna Rare Character Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Last year’s Fortuna release was an instant classic. This year the Rare Character team has upped the ante with a cask-strength version and, ho boy, they hit it out of the park. The whiskey in the bottle is a small batch of minimum seven-year-old barrels that were expertly batched and bottled 100% as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a sense of deeply roasted walnuts, almonds, and chestnuts dipped in salted toffee with a sense of darkly charred old oak staves countered by a lush vanilla cream cut with winter spices.
Palate: The nuttiness drives the palate toward vanilla buttercream next to winter spice cakes filled with rum raisin, candied orange rind, and brandy-soaked cherries before a hint of sticky toffee pudding arrives with a whisper of roasting herbs and sweetgrass.
Finish: Nutshells and dried pipe tobacco round out the finish with a deep winter spice bark vibe before the luscious vanilla creates a creamy landing for the pour that’s part eggnog and part malted vanilla shake cut with peppermint, clove, and sasparilla.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the most solid whiskeys on the list. There’s a deep sense of iconic flavor notes that run so deep that you’ll need two or three sipping sessions to get it all. Start neat, add water, pour over ice, and try it in your favorite cocktails — have fun with it!
2. Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1924 10-Year-Old
This brand-new release from Old Forester is new in more ways than one. The whiskey is their first age-statement whiskey at 10 years old. It’s also a new mash bill for the heritage brand with a recipe of 79% corn, 11% rye, and 10% malted barley. The whiskey aged in the Brown-Forman warehouse until just right for batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Freshly fried cinnamon doughnuts, soft chocolate shavings, and buttery salted caramel drive the nose toward dry nutshells, a hint of apple fritter, and dark brandy cherries dipped in creamy dark chocolate.
Palate: That chocolate is just kissed with Graham Cracker and marshmallow on the palate with a good dose of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice leading toward a dark brandy cherry tobacco on the mid-palate.
Finish: The dark cherry tobacco and S’mores drive the finish with a sense of dark stewed red fruit, stone fruit, and pear/apple before the oak arrives with a sense of an old cellar on a warm day.
Bottom Line:
This is going to be on a lot of “best of” lists at the end of 2024. This is one of the best Old Forester releases and is highly coveted. That aside, this sips like a dream.
This whiskey heralds back to Michter’s historical roots in the 19th century before the brand was even called “Michter’s.” The old Bomberger’s Distillery in Pennsylvania is where the brand started way back in the day (1753). The whiskey in the bottle is rendered from a very small batch of bourbons that were aged in Chinquapin oak. The staves for that barrel were air-dried for three years before coppering, charring, and filling. The Kentucky bourbon is then bottled in an extremely small batch that yields around 2,000 bottles per year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Sweet mashed grains — think a bowl of Cream of Wheat cut with butter and molasses — mix with sticky toffee pudding, old saddle leather, old cellar beams, and sweet cinnamon with a hint of candied orange and dark chocolate next to luscious eggnog with a flake of salt.
Palate: The palate is super creamy with a crème brûlée feel that leads to soft winter spices, dry cedar, and orange chocolates with a hint of pear-brandy-soaked marzipan in the background.
Finish: The end has a creamed honey vibe next to brandy-soaked figs and rum-soaked prunes with fresh chewing tobacco and salted dark chocolate leading back to dark chocolate and old cellar floors with a touch of smoldering orchard bark.
Bottom Line:
This is the best all-around sipper (and amazing cocktail base) at this price point. Every time that I do a tasting, this whiskey wins — and then the bottle is killed by excited whiskey drinkers.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
