I’ve been documenting hip-hop for over three decades, and I can safely say there’s no one like Gorilla Nems. The fiercely proud Coney Island, Brooklyn native lights up any room he walks in with his larger-than-life personality and imposing frame. Far from an overnight celebrity, Travis Doyle has been releasing music since 2010. His classic underground New York-inspired sound seamlessly blends the harsh realities of street life with humor. Filled with potent punchlines and sincere personal declarations, Nems makes the most motivational yet equally disrespectful rap music you’ll ever hear.
Nems’ personal no-holds-barred journey is one of resilience and authenticity, rising from homelessness and addiction to becoming a force in the music industry, all while staying true to his principles. His signature catchphrases — “Bing Bong,” “F*ck Your Life,” and “Don’t You Ever Disrespect Me” — have transcended hip-hop and become viral cultural moments, proving his undeniable influence beyond the music.
Riding backseat in an SUV on his way to his beloved hometown, Nems candidly opens up about the inspiration behind his latest project, America’s Sweetheart, which, like Drake and PartyNextDoor’s latest, was released on Valentine’s Day. Hey, ladies!
Nems reflects on his unrelenting drive, the evolution of his career, and the key role that legendary manager Paul Rosenberg has played in his recent endeavors. He also breaks down his creative process, from viral moments to carefully crafted records, offering an in-depth insight into what fuels his artistry.
So, you got to tell me: where were you when you came up with the incredible title “America’s Sweetheart”?
All my albums have had a gorilla theme, Planet of the Apes, Congo, Rise of the Silverback, Gorilla Monsoon. I felt like I had done all I could with the gorilla names. Then one day, I posted something, and someone commented, “Yo, it’s crazy how the ‘F*ck Your Life’ guy has now become America’s Sweetheart.”
That’s wild. Did you immediately know that had to be your next album title?
Instantly. It was too perfect. I’ve always been the underdog, and for years, people told me I’d never make it, saying “F*ck Your Life.” And now? Look at me. I got kids, grandparents, people of all backgrounds rocking with me. It’s crazy. So flipping that expectation with “America’s Sweetheart” felt right.
Your music stands out because it’s both raw and motivational. How do you strike that balance?
Man, I’ve been through it all: homelessness, addiction, jail. But I’ve also made it out and built something for myself. I talk my sh*t, but at the same time, I want people to know they can overcome whatever they’re going through. You can’t have highs without lows, and my music reflects that.
Your catchphrases — Bing Bong, F*ck Your Life, Don’t You Ever Disrespect Me — have all taken off. How did they start?
“F*ck Your Life” started back in ’98. My crew in Coney Island would say it all the time. We weren’t even rapping yet, but when I started, it stuck. Over time, people came and went, but I kept running with it. I knew, even if someone doesn’t like Nems, they’d still buy a “F*ck Your Life” T-shirt.
“Bing Bong” started when I was showing off merch in my living room. I’d say “Bong!” when holding up a new drop. One day, I just kept saying, “Bing Bong!” People laughed, it stuck, and then Sidetalk picked it up. The rest is history.
“Don’t You Ever Disrespect Me” came as a promo for my album Congo in 2019. I had no budget, so I started roasting people on video. “Don’t you ever disrespect my album, coming out in seven days.” People loved it so much they didn’t want the album to drop! Then I made it into a song with Ghostface. Everything turns into a track eventually.
There’s no one like you in hip-hop. You are a true original. How does that make you feel? Do you consider yourself an underdog or an outlier?
Well, first let me say that’s a great compliment coming from you, because I know you are of the culture and, if there was anybody that would know if I sounded like somebody, it would be you. So I take that as a badge of honor. Yeah, I’m an underdog. I’m like a real rapper slash comedian. Like a Sean Price, but different. It’s an acquired taste, but I’m trying to expand without losing out on who I really am.
There’s always a discourse around the state of New York hip-hop. How do you view the current landscape, and what do you feel your position is in it?
I’m the face of New York City! Not even just hip-hop. It’s like when people are out of town, and they look online, they can see me. I’m the face, I’m New York City, rolled up into one person. I just did a Funk Flex freestyle the other day, where I said that.
I represent New York and as far as us in the state of hip-hop, we are all over the place with this young generation with the drill sound, the older guys like me that’s still keeping it authentic to what the sound was, but adding a little new flavor.
But right now, the West Coast got it, hands-down — and that’s okay. It all comes full circle. You can never be mad at letting the next man shine. As long as you are confident in your abilities. The East Coast had it. We had a nice run, New York, then it went to the South, they had their run. So we are on the West Coast now. We’ll get it back in due time.
On the album, you proclaim that Coney Island is the only part of Brooklyn that hasn’t been gentrified. Why do you think that is?
Because that sh*t is at the bottom of Brooklyn. People from Brooklyn don’t even want to go to Coney Island. They go in the summer time, but from September to March, it’s a dead zone. Ain’t nobody trying to move over there that has to go to the city (Manhattan) because it’s a f*ckin’ mission. Even driving, it’s a mission.
Paul Rosenberg has been a big part of your recent success. How did that connection happen?
Paul followed me on Instagram a couple of years ago. As soon as I saw it, I hit him up like, “Yo, I need management.” He was like, “Bro, I’m not managing anybody new.” But I kept working. When we played my Scram Jones album (2023’s Rise Of The Silverback) for him, he loved it. I told him, “Yo, my next album is even better.” He said, “Give me six months, I’ll create a situation for us.” And he did. Now we talk regularly. He told me, “I’d rather see you become a huge success than make another million dollars.” That’s real.
Let’s talk about your creative process. How do you approach making an album?
I don’t force anything. I let the music come naturally. For America’s Sweetheart, I recorded about 40 songs and then narrowed it down to the best 13. Every track had to mean something. I don’t do filler tracks — I want every song to hit.
How do you decide what makes the final cut?
If I can’t imagine performing it live and getting a crazy reaction, it doesn’t make the cut. I need that energy. I also play songs for people I trust, my close circle. If they’re not feeling it, I take that into account.
Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with other artists?
I love collaborating, but I’m picky about who I work with. The chemistry has to be real. That’s why working with Ghostface was dope — it was organic. I don’t like forcing features just to chase clout.
What does success look like for you now?
Small goals. I remember wanting a Rolex. I put away $400 a week until I could buy it. Next year, I got another one. Now, my goal is to drop these albums with Goliath and then, TV projects. But the ultimate goal? To live a happy, fulfilled life. I want to be 80 years old and look back, saying, “I did that sh*t.” It’s not about material things. It’s about memories and good times with good people.
You’ve spoken about making gratitude lists. Is that still part of your daily routine?
Absolutely. Every morning, I do a mental gratitude list. Even something as simple as waking up without a sore throat -— I appreciate that. When you focus on gratitude, everything else falls into place.
America’s Sweetheart is out now via Goliath Records. You can find more info here.
For the past decade, the “Florida Man” meme has been dedicated to collecting — and mildly ridiculing — odd news stories that come out of the Southeastern state, usually including outrageous activities perpetrated by the titular “Florida Man.”
But in Luh Tyler‘s swaggering “Florida Boy” video, there is absolutely no shame in the 19-year-old rapper’s game as he proudly waves the flag for his home state, showcasing staples of The Sunshine State’s vibrant hip-hop culture. Everybody in the video has grills, locs, and chains; Tyler gets his hair done outside an apartment building; and the fellas alternate between hollering at ladies as they pass by and dismissing them in favor of continuing to hang out on the block.
The song’s been going strong on TikTok since its release a few weeks ago, and is keeping the buzz from his 2024 debut album, Mr. Skii alive, despite not appearing on the album. It’s his first single of 2025, picking up where he left off with December’s “Bandz Up” and its predecessor “Money Virus.”
Considering Tyler’s prodigious work ethic, don’t be surprised to see him follow up Mr. Skii sooner rather than later as he continues to build on the buzz he’s built since graduating from high school just two years ago.
More and more American whiskey producers have embraced the category, so we consumers have more options than ever before. Coming off 2024, which was a banner year for rye whiskey, you may be looking to expand your personal whiskey collection with some bottles of rye, but where should you start? I firmly believe that you don’t need to break the bank to get your hands on some world-class whiskey, and rye whiskey provides excellent value for thrifty buyers.
When it comes to American whiskey, the sub-$100 category is really the sweet spot, as you can find whiskeys, young and old, that deliver some serious bang for your buck. So, for this list, we decided to taste and rank all of the best bottles of rye whiskey at under $100.
Redwood Empire out of California has been quietly producing some phenomenal whiskeys that the rest of the country has been all too slow to pick up on. Here at UPROXX, we’re happy to sound the alarm because Batch 001 of this fantastic rye, made from a mash bill of 67% rye, 31% malted barley, and 2% wheat, is sure to convert some new fans for the brand. This small lot expression is blended from 45 barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Pine, Manuka honey, and mint tea form a delicious trifecta on the nose, which then leads the way to cedar, tobacco leaf, and black pepper aromas.
Palate: Honey and black pepper hit the palate at first, with the cedar and faint mint following closely behind as black tea curtails the sweetness at mid-palate. The texture is impressive and allows a second wave of sweetness in the form of confectioner’s sugar to kick in before the ample finish.
Finish: The finish is medium length, with honeysuckle and nougat taking shape, along with a little bit of orange blossom and oak.
Bottom Line:
Redwood Empire Van Duzen Rye has a funny name, but its instantly familiar medley of well-developed flavors is indicative of the fact that the folks behind this brand are dead serious about crafting high-quality whiskey. That small percentage of wheat in its mash bill likely contributes to its creamy mouthfeel, while that atypical but entirely welcome high-barley content keeps things interesting.
Southern Distilling Co., out of Statesville, North Carolina, is putting out some incredibly underrated whiskey. Their wheated bourbon is getting a lot of attention, but their rye is secretly the show’s star. This blend of straight ryes is finished in ex-bourbon barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A bunch of honeycombs and fresh mint aromas leap out at you when you first whiff of this whiskey, along with some green tea, vanilla ice cream, and sugary cucumber.
Palate: Honeyed mint tea with matcha makes the first impression of this whiskey a stellar one. Add a bit of dried strawberry and juicy orange. Southern Star’s rye has a delicious and weighty palate that rolls over your tongue and impressively coats the roof of your mouth along with your tongue.
Finish: The finish has an iron grip as the honey makes you suck your teeth to reveal more dried fruit and a floral note of rosewater. Black pepper and cucumber can be found on this lengthy finish as well.
Bottom Line:
Here’s another stunning new rye ready to compete with the big boys. As aforementioned, Southern Distilling Co. is starting to turn heads with its superlative whiskey, and if you’re a fan of excellent rye, then you need to add this to your shopping list immediately.
This blend of 95/5 straight rye whiskeys, double casked in Madeira and rum barrels from Blackened, has surprisingly flown under the radar for a few years now, rewarding Metallica fans and perceptive enthusiasts while the rest of the world is left scratching its head as to whether this is another hollow celebrity whiskey or not. Its placement on this list should assuage any doubts; this non-chill-filtered whiskey is a solid sipper.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Mint and sorghum lead the aroma notes with dusty books, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and freshly cracked black pepper coming on strong and some faint lemon zest and butterscotch notes providing additional nuance.
Palate: Cinnamon cookies with lemon frosting hit the tip of the tongue as the more prominent flavors of mint and sorghum slip to the middle of the palate, carrying vanilla, leather, and lemonade in their tow. There’s also an underlying sweet and savory tone with stewed peaches, mocha, and chili pepper tendrils branching up the roof of the mouth while brown sugar and black pepper expand on the tongue.
Finish: The finish is appropriately medium-length, with an impressively intact balance of sweet and savory flavors. A bit of barrel char and butterscotch blend well with tobacco leaf, cayenne, and cinnamon cookies to close things out.
Bottom Line:
Initially released back in 2018 under the stewardship of the late legend Dave Pickerell, the team at Blackened (now led by Rob Dietrich) has continued to expand his vision for this expression, making subtle tweaks that have benefitted the end product. This is one of those expressions that forces you to forget that the bulk of celebrity alcohol actually sucks because all it holds are the hallmarks of refined craftsmanship.
Bulleit 12-Year Rye is back again after being originally released in 2019. The 2024 edition actually contains whiskey from the first release, which, if you do the math, means there’s much older whiskey in this blend.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Green caramel apple aromas fill the glass and waft over the rim with a touch of honeyed mint tea, allspice, buttercream, and sweet oak. There’s also a distinctive floral aspect that draws you in.
Palate: Oak and allspice take the lead, but those notes are soon supplanted by a dollop of caramel, a mint milk chocolate shake, and the crisp green apple found on the nose.
Finish: Sweet oak and white pepper are abundant on the finish, which has a medium length that gently recedes, leaving you craving the next sip.
Bottom Line:
Look, Bulleit’s 95% rye and 5% malted barley grain recipe is famous for a reason — it’s a crowd-pleaser that helped redefine the category. With some added age, the whiskey takes on a richer depth of flavor and delivers an incredible value that’s well worth taking advantage of while supplies last.
After the success of Old Forester Rye, the brand followed that up in June 2021 with the release of their very first single-barrel, barrel-proof rye. This expression takes the same 65% Rye, 20% Malted Barley, and 15% Corn mash bill as its 100-proof alternative and bottles it undiluted at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with honeyed green tea before plunging you into deep caramel, nutmeg, dense oak tones, and even some chalky dark chocolate. Mint and rye spice run a ring around these aromas, eventually growing in prominence with a few swirls in the glass.
Palate: On the palate, the chalky dark chocolate and deep caramel notes lead the charge as mint sprigs, allspice, and mocha flavors shoot up the roof of the mouth. Black pepper and dense oak begin the transition to the finish on this full-bodied pour before the alcohol intensity begins to catch up to the flavor, which is a bit distracting.
Finish: The finish is lengthy and undulating, displaying mint and rye spice on the peaks with barrel char and nutmeg accenting the valleys. It’s a bit more interesting than enjoyable, making one wish it were a bit shorter.
Bottom Line:
What separates Old Forester 100 Proof Rye, the bartender’s best friend, and this expression (besides the leap in proof) is that it leans more heavily into variation as a single barrel. It also brings a much bolder flavor profile to the fore at barrel-proof. The results are often stunning, as Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye delivers a depth of flavor unmatched in Old Forester’s limited rye lineup. T
Ol’ New Riff is a bit of an oxymoron and doubly so because this “Ol’” expression is the newest release in New Riff’s lineup. With a grain bill of 65% balboa rye, 30% heirloom corn, and 15% two-row malted barley, this expression has only been on the market since mid-May 2024.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Admire the air out of this glass as the aroma of candied walnuts and paprika combine with leather, Red Vines, and figs. Then, go in for a second whiff as vanilla and clove appear out of nowhere.
Palate: More ripe figs can be found on the palate, along with an abundance of delicious nutmeg and root beer notes. Plumbing the substantive mouthfeel reveals further flavors like coffee bean and hazelnut spread.
Finish: The finish is where the hazelnut shines, along with a bit of barrel char and cinnamon. It’s also surprisingly long-lasting, and I hate to say that when tasted blind, it did have something of a “dusty” quality, making it seem “Old.”
Bottom Line:
The name of this whiskey is a bit too tongue-in-cheek for my liking, but your tongue-in-cheek will absolutely adore the liquid itself. New Riff has mastered Bottled in Bond whiskey and the sweet mash process, especially with their rye expressions. This is the finest example of their mastery yet.
Hard Truth has been winning high praise across the American whiskey industry, and their prodigious, popular rye is the number one reason why. Utilizing an increasingly popular “sweet mash” process, which has a tendency to produce leaner, more clearly defined flavors, this whiskey is made with a mash bill of 94% rye and 6% malted barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is surprisingly lively, with brown sugar, maple syrup, rye spice, and lemon zest standing tall. Prolonged interaction with oxygen awakens the aroma of chocolate bonbons, youthful oak, and caraway.
Palate: On the palate, what really pops here is the flavor of orchard fruits like ripe green apples in concert with apricots, sage, honey, and rye spice. There’s a bit of lemon zest that crops up at midpalate and opens the door for milk chocolate and young oak to steer the transition to the finish.
Finish: The finish is where this whiskey’s restrained texture holds it back a bit, as it tapers off in a flash but leaves dried apricot, honeyed black tea, faint mint, and peppercorn notes in its wake.
Bottom Line:
While so-called “95-5” ryes are all the rage, Hard Truth is blazing its own trail with a recipe that only slightly tweaks tradition but is causing a massive uproar among those in the know. This is a great brand to watch moving forward, and their outstanding sweet mash rye deserves the lion’s share of the credit for that.
Knob Creek has been putting out stellar rye for a long time, but their brand new 10-year-old expression was released in early June and is now the oldest age-stated rye in the Knob Creek lineup.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Knob Creek 10-Year Rye is oaky with an intriguing note of petrichor to go along with dark chocolate and a Brazil nut meatiness.
Palate: Pecans and nutmeg are the standout flavors on the palate of this pour, with a bit of wheat toast and honey bolstering this fine-tuned and expertly balanced whiskey. The robust mouthfeel defies its modest proof and serves as a fat red cherry on top.
Finish: More honey and wheat toast define the back end of this pour, while a touch of barrel char contributes to the outstanding finish as well.
Bottom Line:
Knob Creek’s regular 7-year rye is not exactly my jam, but that’s not because it’s flawed. It’s just okay. It’s ironic then that adding some oakiness is just what it needed to turn the dial from ehh to eleven. This is sure to be a new standard for a lot of rye enthusiasts, and it should be.
The modern Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. has been on the scene since 2015, and like many other brands, it opted to forgo releasing an unaged spirit at its start. Rye whiskey was their first release, and their now 3-year-old flagship rye continues to be their bread and butter.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Buttered wheat toast and herbal tea perfume the air with a nice proofy punch — that’ll wake you up. With the aroma of vanilla cone and peppercorns providing some support in the background, this is an earthy, subtly sweet nose.
Palate: Once this pour reaches your palate, it continues to translate with earthy tones of clove, gentle oak tannins, and black tea with hazelnut cream. The mouthfeel is light and spry, with a slightly citric flavor that gives some zip to the midpalate.
Finish: The finish has whipped cream and black pepper in spades that run down your chest, but it grips the palate with some oaky astringency before it goes.
Bottom Line:
Peerless Rye is made using the sweet mash process, wherein the fermenters are completely emptied and cleaned for each batch of whiskey they make. That meticulous process is most evidenced by the liquid’s ‘clean’ mouthfeel and distinctly layered rich flavors. Peerless Rye is a standout because it delivers an extra kick of flavor with these deceptively zippy barrel-proof small-batch offerings.
This award-winning whiskey might just be Still Austin’s best everyday offering. Nancy Fraley hand-picks the distillery’s most exceptional barrels for blending in this release and bottles the results at their undiluted barrel proof best.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this whiskey is bursting with lemon zest, cherry cobbler, candied ginger, and graham cracker pie crust while accents of black pepper spice, polished leather, and an undercurrent of mocha provide a base for those sweeter notes to grow.
Palate: The fruity notes from the nose continue to evolve on the palate, where grilled peaches, ripe apples, dried apricots, and lemon zest align well with more ginger, black pepper spice, and flashes of singed mint. The texture is fairly lean, which inhibits the depth of the flavors just a bit, but overall, this whiskey is a total pleasure to sip.
Finish: The finish is medium-to-long and highlighted by notes of black tea, brown butter, muddled cherries, and mint leaves.
Bottom Line:
Still Austin’s Cask Strength Rye is an enchanting blend of richness and ripeness, with a lively texture that belies its young age but a depth of flavor that gives the impression of a much older whiskey. All told it’s a winning combination that’s likely to keep improving over time.
There was a ton of excitement in the whiskey world when Wild Turkey fans found out that the brand would be reigniting its single-barrel rye program. These private selections, bottled at Wild Turkey’s world-famous 101 proof point, landed at the perfect time, right in the middle of an American rye whiskey renaissance.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this single barrel is classic Wild Turkey rye all the way with a hefty pop of rye spice playing well with brown sugar, orange zest, peanut oil, and a faint bit of star anise.
Palate: Once this liquid reaches the palate, you’ll find that all of the aroma notes are holding strong, forming a delightful melange that is well-developed despite its restrained proof. The effect makes it a pleasure to pick each layer of flavor apart to appreciate them all individually, and the whiskey’s lean texture makes cycling through each note a bit easier as it washes over every part of your mouth with spritely vigor.
Finish: The finish is short-to-medium but full of more rich flavors with peanut oil, orange zest, brown sugar, and sweet mint leading the way as a bit of barrel char closes things out.
Bottom Line:
While the sticklers out there would love to see Wild Turkey add Russell’s Reserve back to its single-barrel program, these 101-proof selections will fan the flames even as they quench our thirst. The fact that Wild Turkey’s rye whiskey can soar to such heights at such a modest proof point is indicative of the quality of their output.
Wilderness Trail is one of the pioneers of sweet mash American whiskey, and while their standard rye has helped to cause a major shift in the market, their latest 7-year release, which debuted in 2023, is looking to change the game again. Age-stated ryes have become all the rage, and Wilderness Trail is well-positioned to ride the wave.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is full of maple candy sweetness, gentle rye spice, and mellow oak tannins. There’s black pepper and a bit of butterscotch, along with some umami notes that permeate the nosing notes.
Palate: The texture of this whiskey is surprisingly spry, as bubblegum and buttered popcorn come across the palate at first. After chewing the whiskey, a maple candy note comes forth. That maple candy note soon fuses with milk chocolate, nougat, and caramel as the texture becomes leaner and a few more baking spices come into play. Imagine nutmeg and black pepper sprinkled over a Milky Way bar and you’re not too far off.
Finish: The finish is where a fair amount of mint and rye spice is hiding out, a pleasant reminder that you’re sipping a rye whiskey. The finish is also silky and long-lasting, a credit to the whiskey.
Bottom Line:
Wilderness Trail is well-regarded for making high-quality whiskey, and its rye casts the brightest spotlight on its capability. For this new 7-year release, the flavor profile leaves behind the more minty tones in its 4-year product to introduce darker sweet notes that translate well at a higher age.
For this showstopping expression, the boys at Pursuit United take three different ryes sourced from Kentucky and Maryland and finish the blend with 36-month air-dried French oak staves that previously held Sherry.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Tropical fruits, herbal tea, and coconut make up the base of the aroma notes, while red berries, sweet mint, and honey accents add to the affair. After sitting in the glass a few beats, the red berry aroma grows in prominence, as does the rise of rye spices and the aforementioned mint.
Palate: The palate on this whiskey is marked by a supple texture that gently cascades over your tongue, giving it a creamy mouthfeel that rewards the sweet flavors of butterscotch, brown sugar, and Rainier cherries while curbing the harshness of black pepper spice, barrel char, and raw mint that offer balance to each sip.
Finish: The finish lingers for a moderate amount of time, leaving behind cinnamon, subtle splashes of milk chocolate, and black-pepper-specked vanilla ice cream before dissipating fully.
Bottom Line:
Pursuit United has never been shy about its commitment to uncovering some of the best-kept secrets in the American whiskey-making landscape and artfully blending them to create something greater than the sum of its parts. For proof of this, behold their Sherry Revere Rye. This balanced and flavorful spin on the rye category offers a bit more sweetness, which is as likely to create new fans as it is to earn the respect of experienced rye-slugging enthusiasts.
Willett Family Estate bottlings are legendary in both the bourbon and rye whiskey world, with high-end expressions in both categories that fetch tens of thousands of dollars on the secondary market. They take choice barrels of rye and bottle them at cask strength for their standard four-year-old expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of fresh red grapes and candied green apple is really rich on the nose, with butterscotch, pine needles, and a faint bit of fudge and polished leather adding to the affair.
Palate: Dark chocolate, savory dates, butterscotch, and some clove come through in a major way on the incredibly dense palate. The whiskey itself just feels heavy, rolling over your tongue while subtly coating it.
Finish: A medium-long finish where leather and milk chocolate leaves a welcome impression along with black pepper and, surprisingly… bay leaves? That’s not what you might expect, but it’s there, and it delivers.
Bottom Line:
Willett Family Estate Rye is so polarizing because of the variety that exists under the brand’s banner, but when you find exceptional barrels, you’ll understand the hype. This particular single barrel is full of magic and goes to show why folks say that rye can be truly special, even at only four years of age.
6. Starlight Old Rickhouse Rye Single Barrel Selection by Justins’ House of Bourbon
Starlight is a craft distillery that has been putting out some of our favorite single-barrel ryes, with each bottling hitting our palates better than the last. This remarkable selection from Justins’ House of Bourbon in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, aged for 5 years before bottling, represents some of their best output yet.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is impressively expressive from the outset, with notes of honey and lavender joined by some light black pepper, caramel, sugar cookies, and bubblegum.
Palate: Bubblegum and sugar cookies are heavily featured on the palate at first, with layers of caramel cascading over the tongue, and then a note of edible flower/lavender comes in at the back end. Each sip is very sweet and delightfully viscous.
Finish: This one has a brief finish, but it’s juicy and causes your mouth to water in anticipation of further sips. That’s my kind of rye.
Bottom Line:
While I’m already partial to Starlight’s rye whiskey, the single barrels that they roll out represent some of the best whiskey the precocious craft distillery is producing right now. When you combine the experienced private selection team at Justins’ House of Bourbon with the prodigious liquid coming out of Borden, Indiana, you’re getting magic in every sip — as this offering shows.
Pikesville Rye used to be a pillar of America’s twin whiskey capitals, Maryland and Pennsylvania, calling the former home. Now, this whiskey is made in Kentucky by Heaven Hill but still honors its past with its throwback label.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Pikesville Rye is incredibly expressive with dense molasses, pine, rye spice, raw mint, potting soil, and dark chocolate. It’s a tightly wound and delightful nosing experience that rewards your patience as those notes slowly uncoil.
Palate: The tip of the tongue is briefly greeted with the citrus splash of tangerines before dark chocolate, allspice, and raw mint sink their hooks into your palate. The toffee aroma from the nose then makes its way to the palate along with a splash of sorghum, red pepper flakes, and, finally, a turn towards milk chocolate that sweetens it up a bit.
Finish: The lengthy finish is full of hazelnut spread, rye spice, mint, and overtures of freshly cracked black pepper. It continues the bold streak that this whiskey kicked off from the moment I opened the bottle.
Bottom Line:
Pikesville Rye is one of the more full-bodied and robust rye whiskeys on this list, making it perfect for punchy, whiskey-forward cocktails. Bourbon drinkers will admire its breadth of barrel-driven flavors, and while it is certainly a rye— complete with pine and dark chocolate notes — it’s that depth of richness that will bring you over to the dark side.
E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Rye has long been teased, hitting the TTB website a few years back, but it’s finally ready for market in 2024. Aged at Buffalo Trace Distillery, this brand-new release marks the second rye expression in the E.H. Taylor lineup, joining E.H. Taylor Jr. Straight Rye, which is Bottled in Bond.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of thick honeycomb, sweet peas, restrained mint, and chocolate truffle dust accent the air around the glass after pouring this dense whiskey. The proof seems tame and allows you to dip your nose into the glass and truly explore each layer of flavor, with some gooey caramel, peanut brittle, and charred red pepper also making an appearance.
Palate: The texture is immediately dense on the palate. This robust rye whiskey brings plenty of Manuka honey, rich chocolate truffle dust, and freshly picked mint rolling over the tongue in a viscous wave. On the second sip, the proof becomes more evident as the flavor of charred red pepper and vanilla ice cream’s sweetness fuse with a touch of cayenne and white pepper.
Finish: The finish is remarkably lengthy and mouth-warming as the liquid penetrates every corner of your palate and gives your upper chest a gentle hug full of clove, mint, and peanut brittle.
Bottom Line:
Expectations were high for E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Rye as a brand-new cask-strength bottling from one of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s most well-regarded whiskey lineups. Those expectations have been exceeded.
Despite its significant proof, this rye whiskey couples an impressive approachability with a remarkable depth of flavor that will leave you sucking your tongue and parsing additional layers long after your last sip. It’s stunning to think that this is just the first release in what will surely be a highly sought-after line extension from America’s oldest continuously operating distillery.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye directly reflects Wild Turkey’s burgeoning commitment to making some of the best rye whiskey on the planet. Officially launched in 2020, Rare Breed Rye is a barrel-proof, non-chill filtered blend of Kentucky straight ryes.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rye spice, sorghum, chocolate truffle dust, and orange buttercream fill the air once this whiskey leaves the bottle and enters the glass. There’s lots of ginger and nutmeg, adding depth to the overall aroma profile, along with touches of crème brûlée and floral notes.
Palate: Waves of orange buttercream spill over the palate, carried by the whiskey’s oily texture. Some well-developed milk chocolate notes introduce a darker sweetness at midpalate to contrast with the citrus quality at the tip of the tongue, along with some freshly cracked black pepper and clove.
Finish: Rising spice is very prominent on the finish, which has a medium length before being curtailed by chocolate truffle dust and fresh mint.
Bottom Line:
It is a crime not to include this world-beater of a rye whiskey as one of the best rye whiskeys under $100. Rare Breed Rye is frequently overshadowed by its equally stellar bourbon counterpart, but this killer rye definitely deserves its own shine.
2. New England Barrel Company Small Batch Select Cask Strength Rye
New England Barrel Company is one of the biggest brands in the region, and their superb, sourced stock of whiskey has been turning a lot of heads this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dense caramel and chocolate wafer aromas come tumbling over the glass’s edge, with honeyed mint tea and graham crackers competing with cinnamon bark and flan for your full attention.
Palate: The flavor of chocolate wafers, cinnamon bark, and some fresh sprinkles of nutmeg wash over the palate at first. There’s some mocha and oak at midpalate with potting soil and mint sprouting towards the back of the mouth. The liquid has a nice, viscous, mouth-coating texture, and it drinks well below the proof
Finish: Menthol and barrel char flavors combine with lady fingers and black pepper on the lengthy finish, which lingers courtesy of the proof, which is felt primarily at the midpalate and roof of the mouth.
Bottom Line:
The world of rye whiskey covers so much ground, from light and bright whiskeys to floral, grassy ones and even lush, dark pours. NEBCo’s delicious small-batch, cask-strength rye ticks the latter box, delivering a high-quality sipping experience for a screaming good deal at less than $60.
Kings County operates out of the Brooklyn Naval Yard and is highly regarded as New York’s oldest distillery. It’s also one of the inaugural Committed Members that got legislation passed to officially recognize “Empire Rye” as a designation. That means 75% of the mash bill must be New York State-grown rye and aged for a minimum of two years, among other specifications. This particular single barrel is over three years old.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: French vanilla and dates are immediately evident on the nose, along with some sassafras, toffee, and plenty of barrel char.
Palate: On the palate, you’ll find those rich dark notes take the lead, with toffee and barrel char being the main players. On the periphery, there’s a bit of smokiness, some piquant lemon zest, a touch of mintiness, and some of the French vanilla from the nose.
Finish: The finish is long and buttery, with a drizzle of honey serving to lighten up the overall flavor profile.
Bottom Line:
Kings County’s Empire Rye is a revelation in that it’s a far departure from their bourbon’s much darker, more brooding profile. The light notes of lemon zest and honey cling to the palate, making this one rye you’ll want to savor over hours, not minutes.
Few things in fast food hit like the perfect breakfast sandwich. When else in the day can you eat such an indulgent salt-heavy carb-bomb guilt-free? The beautiful thing about a breakfast sandwich is that no matter how indulgent, you can partake knowing you have the whole day to burn it off. That’s part of the reason breakfast as a whole is all about going HAM (it’s also the best time of the day to eat ham), it’s a reward for pulling yourself out of bed, getting ready, and wading out into the world (and traffic), and we want you to only have the very best.
That’s why we set out to rank the absolute best breakfast sandwiches in fast food right now. We have one rule here: we’re only shouting out one sandwich from each of our favorite fast food restaurants. That’s might leave a lot of really great sandwiches off this ranking, but if you agree with our take on a given sandwich, use that as an invitation to further explore that restaurant’s menu.
Having said that, this is our definitive list. These are the sandwiches that are so delicious, they’re actually worth getting out of bed over. Let’s eat.
11. Subway — Bacon, Egg & Cheese Wrap
Subway
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Do we really need to say anything about this thing? Just look at it, you can tell it’s awful. But by all means, if you’re a Subway fan, go for it, just know that we ate it so that you didn’t have to.
The fried egg in this thing is flavorless, offering little more than a webby dry texture. The bacon is thin, floppy, and sickeningly sweet, and the cheese looks and tastes like melted plastic. Having said that, we like that you’re able to add and additional ingredients Subway has on hand, like bell peppers or spinach, which sort of turns this thing into an omelet, but at that point, you’re probably better off just ordering a sandwich.
The Bottom Line:
A big skip.
10. Sonic — Sausage Breakfast Toaster
Sonic
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Sonic’s Sausage Breakfast Toaster is not our go-to breakfast order at Sonic. We much rather order one of Sonic’s many very delicious breakfast burritos, but including a burrito on this list of fast food sandwiches would be wrong, so here we are, stuck with the Sausage Breakfast Toaster.
This sandwich is just fine; it features a thick, dry, folded egg, a thin patty of sausage, and American cheese sandwiched between two thick slices of Texas toast. Sounds great right? Unfortunately, none of the ingredients really come together. The bread is often stale and stiff and acts as a giant sponge to soak up all the grease, making the dominant tasting note of this sandwich oil. It tastes cheap.
The only thing it really has going for it is the sausage, which has a nice peppery and meaty flavor, but you can barely taste it under the bread. If this sandwich was a bit meatier, it would taste a lot better.
The Bottom Line:
Just order one of Sonic’s breakfast burritos instead.
The last time we ranked breakfast sandwiches, we included Starbucks’ Bacon, Gouda & Edd Sandwich, and ranked the sandwich last, saying “It’s actually mind-blowing how bad Starbucks’ breakfast sandwiches are.” That resulted in a lot of feedback from Starbucks fans telling me I “had to try” The Double-Smoked Bacon, Cheddar, and Egg Sandwich. Well we’ve tried it, and I’ll give it to Starbucks fans — they’re right, this sandwich is much better.
But is it a good sandwich? I don’t think so. Sure, I’d order it at an airport, or if I’m at Starbucks and don’t have time to stop somewhere else before work, but I’d never willingly wake up just to eat this sandwich.
Inside a croissant bun sits a fried egg, bacon, and a slice of cheddar. The sandwich has a nice smokey flavor, but its individual parts taste cheap. The egg is bone dry, the bacon looks crispy but tastes microwaved, and the cheese hardly melts and mostly tastes of salt. I think my favorite part of this sandwich is the bread, which is airy and buttery with a slight sweetness to it, but when the bread is the highlight, you’ve got a problem.
The Bottom Line:
Quite possibly Starbucks’ best breakfast sandwich, but that isn’t saying much. Order it if you don’t have time to go anywhere else.
8. Burger King — Fully Loaded Croissan’wich
Burger King
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
In my years of covering Burger King, I’ve come to taste most, if not all, of its very extensive menu, including the over 10 breakfast sandwiches they have. I’ve found that Burger King has a lot of really great ideas, but rarely executes them very well. But the Fully Loaded Croissan’wich is one of the few things BK is getting right.
The build on this thing is admirable; you’ve got bacon, sweet and salty Black Forest ham, melted American cheese, a thick and meaty sausage patty, and a folded egg that looks like a blanket served atop a flaky, buttery croissant bun. Biting into the sandwich, you’re greeted with a medley of smokey, sweet, salty, and savory flavors with a nice buttery finish.
But, there are better sandwiches out there. So order this if Burger King is the most convenient drive-thru for you to hit, but by no means should you wake up just to eat this sandwich.
The Bottom Line:
Layers of sweet, salty, and smokey meats with a wonderfully crispy texture and a buttery finish. Good, but far from the best.
7. Dunkin — Sourdough Breakfast Sandwich
Dunkin’
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Dunkin’ wants so badly to be your local coffee/bagel shop. Unfortunately, while all their breakfast food — and coffee — looks the part, it doesn’t quite reach the same level.
The Sourdough Breakfast Sandwich is Dunkin’s very best breakfast sandwich, but it’s far from perfect. The sandwich features two eggs that, get this, actually taste like eggs and not just a weird dry texture like all the stuff ranking lower, five pieces of crispy smokey bacon, and a layer of sharp melted white cheddar served on warm sourdough toast.
The bread isn’t real sourdough, it’s a lot softer and easier to chew through, but it still has that characteristic tang that pairs nicely with the other ingredients.
The Bottom Line:
Yo Starbucks, this is how a coffee chain makes a delicious breakfast sandwich. However, your local bagel shop probably does it better.
Panera’s Chipotle Chicken, Scrambled Egg & Avocado has an interesting build. The sandwich features Peppadew peppers, salt and pepper, cilantro, gouda cheese, Chipotle aioli, smoked chicken, scrambled eggs, and avocado, on an artisan ciabatta bread. It should be amazing, but for some reason it comes across as a bit flavorless, despite all its ingredients.
The chicken is bland, the egg is just fine, and the chipotle aioli is sour and doesn’t provide any heat. That leaves the avocado — which is never ripe — peppers, cilantro, gouda, and bread to do all the work. Overall, this sandwich looks and sounds better than it actually tastes.
We’d say it’s solidly good, but not great.
The Bottom Line:
Not bad by any means, but given all the fresh and fancy ingredients, we expected way more.
5. Jack in the Box — Loaded Breakfast Sandwich
Jack in the Box
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Jack in the Box is one of the few fast food chains that serves all-day breakfast, and that’s probably because most of the restaurant’s best menu items are from its breakfast menu. Our favorite is the Loaded Breakfast Sandwich, which features a dense, chewy, subtly sour sourdough-style bread bun with a layer of smokey bacon, grilled ham, a freshly fried egg, a double dose of cheese, and a pepper-forward sausage patty.
Altogether these smokey, savory flavors combine for a damn good breakfast sandwich. We’d like to give a special shoutout to the fact that JiB grills its ham, giving it a nice toasty flavor and a seared edge — something that we wish more fast food chains would do.
The Bottom Line:
Smokey, sweet, savory — Jack in the Box’s Loaded Breakfast Sandwich is a greatest hits sandwich of your favorite breakfast flavors.
4. Chick-fil-a — Spicy Chicken Biscuit
Chick-fil-A
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
I want to rank this one higher because it’s delicious, but its bare-bones build makes it come across as a bit boring. Ultimately, whether or not you like this one is going to come down to how much you like Chick-fil-A’s chicken.
The biscuit is perfect — it’s soft and buttery with a pinch of salt and works very nicely with the spicy cayenne pepper heavy flavor of the chicken breast filet. each bite is sweet, crunchy, and buttery with a nice kick of heat on the backend.
But I’d be lying if I didn’t say it didn’t feel like this sandwich was missing something. Still, I’ve never had one of these and been disappointed in the flavor.
The Bottom Line:
A delicious and tasty breakfast sandwich, but a little bare bones and boring. It almost feels like you need two of these to be truly satisfied, yet two is too many.
3. McDonald’s — Sausage McMuffin with Egg & Cheese
McDonald’s
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin with Egg & Cheese is perhaps the most famous breakfast sandwich in all of fast food. If someone says “do you want fast food for breakfast?” your mind probably conjures up this sandwich, and there is a reason for that. This sandwich is pretty damn delicious.
The sausage is savory and meaty, with a strong black pepper prominence. The cheese adds the perfect salty touch and brings in a bit of much-needed moisture. The fried egg is… fine. It’s soft and serves as a great counterbalance to the toasty English muffin bun. That bun is legendary – it’s craggy, toasted to perfect, and works as the perfect sponge for all the flavors to soak into.
You can’t go wrong with this sandwich, but it’s not our favorite.
The Bottom Line:
A near-perfect breakfast sandwich. But you can do better!
2. Carl’s Jr. — The Breakfast Burger
Carl
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
When you think staple breakfast meats, sausage, bacon, and maybe ham probably come to mind. But who says those have to be the standard? Some people want to start off their day with a big juicy flame-grilled burger, and that’s okay!
The Breakfast Burger is just that. A charbroiled burger topped with crispy mini hashbrowns, bacon, a folded freshly fried egg, American cheese, and a whole lot of ketchup.
Each bite is a wonderful medley of meaty, savory, moist, sweet, salty, crispy, and smokey flavors. That’s a lot of flavors for a single sandwich! As delicious as this sandwich is though, it’s not our absolute favorite.
The Bottom Line:
If you want your breakfast sandwich big, indulgent, and as satisfying as anything you could order at lunch, the Breakfast Burger is for you. This sandwich makes the case for the hamburger patty as a new breakfast staple.
1. Wendy’s — Bacon, Egg & Cheese Muffin
Wendy’s
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Before we dive into what makes this deceptively simple sandwich so good, we’d like to give a special shout-out to the Breakfast Baconator. That sandwich is almost neck and neck with this one; it’s greasy, indulgent, and full of flavor. If that’s the vibe you’re after, you’re going to love the Breakfast Baconator, but ultimately, we’re bigger fans of the Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Muffin.
A large part of what makes this sandwich so great is the bacon. It’s smokey, thick, crunchy, and oven-baked in-restaurant every morning, resulting in perfectly rendered full-flavor bacon. This stuff tastes straight-up homemade and probably better than the bacon you cook yourself (unless you’ve got skills).
Add to the delicious bacon a freshly fried egg, melted American cheese, and a toasted browned butter English muffin, and you have the perfect breakfast sandwich — crunchy, textural, savory, buttery, and smokey with a bit of sweetness on the aftertaste that pulls you in for more.
Sure, it’s not as indulgent as Carl’s Jr’s Breakfast Burger, or as iconic as McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin, but every ingredient feels well thought out and works in harmony with one another.
The Bottom Line:
A sandwich worth waking up early for. The Wendy’s Bacon, Egg & Cheese Muffin offers the absolute perfect breakfast bite, and because of that, it’s the one true fast food breakfast sandwich worth waking up for.
Before Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and EuroTrip, Michelle Trachtenberg — who tragically passed away this morning at 39 years old — was a Nickelodeon icon. She was Nona F. Mecklenberg on The Adventures of Pete and Pete, a.k.a. Twin Peaks for kids, and played the title role in the first Nickelodeon Movies production: Harriet the Spy. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but for millennials like myself, it’s a coming-of-age classic with a hilarious, heartfelt performance from Trachtenberg.
If it’s been awhile since you last watched Harriet the Spy (or you want to show it to your kids for the first time), the film isn’t streaming on Netflix or Hulu or Paramount Plus. But it is on Pluto. You can also rent Harriet the Spy on Prime Video and YouTube. Be sure to check out our oral history, too.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Sixth grade outcast Harriet (Michelle Trachtenberg) is an only child who has mostly been raised by her nanny, Golly (Rosie O’Donnell), rather than her materialistic parents. Harriet wants to be a writer when she grows up, and only Golly encourages her creative pursuits. Meanwhile, Harriet dons a yellow raincoat and a belt full of gadgets to spy on everyone around her, including her eccentric neighbor with a lot of cats and the other kids at school. Carefully taking notes in her private notebook, Harriet makes clever and cruel observations about her subjects, including her best friends, would-be scientist Janie (Vanessa Lee Chester) and overburdened Sport (Gregory Smith). Harriet’s world begins to change when Golly leaves, signaling that it is time for her to grow up. Then a snobby girl at school, Marion, gets her hands on Harriet’s special notebook and makes its contents known to the whole school. Soon everyone is against Harriet, and she must concoct a plan to get even.
Much like Justin Vernon secluded himself in a cabin in remote Wisconsin, New York-based songwriter Cornelia Murr absconded to a town in Nebraska called Red Cloud, home to fewer than 1,000 people. Whereas Vernon set out with the goal of making an album that reflected the wintry scenery, Murr’s sole objective was to restore a dilapidated house and, hopefully, herself.
She emerged recentered, but in that same process, she made her first full-length album since her 2018 debut. Run To The Center, the album in question, is a product of its geography; rife with meditations on self-improvement, motherhood, and financial strife, Run To The Center finds Murr doing exactly that.
Ahead of the album’s release on Friday, Murr sat down with Uproxx to talk about Aretha Franklin, ramen, Christina Ricci, and more in our latest Q&A.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Soft. Shiny. River. Stone. (I never know how to describe it. I endeavor to write songs that can hold up as songs without all the bells and whistles, but I do love the bells and whistles.)
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
As a balm in turbulent times.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
I don’t know about the style of my work, but as an artist and vessel of supreme idiosyncratic force, Nina Simone.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life and what was it?
A bowl of ramen in Tokyo.
What song never fails to make you emotional?
“Call Me” – Aretha Franklin
What’s the last thing you Googled?
online i Ching
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa. A good Google.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform and what’s the city you hope to perform in for the first time?
I think New York is my favorite because it feels like home. But there’s so many cities I’d love to play that I haven’t. New Orleans is one. Mexico City is another… hard to choose because I want to play everywhere.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Music is meant for other people to hear. Don’t be a hoarder.
What’s one of your hidden talents?
I’m a pretty good masseuse.
If you had a million dollars to donate to charity, what cause would you support and why?
I would somehow put that money towards changing building codes in this country far and wide to make it easier to permit natural buildings like cob and straw bale homes, which are healthy to live in and tend to be the safest in fires and earthquakes. Then I’d have tons of them built in cities like LA as free options for people experiencing homelessness. Might need a few more million but that’s the direction.
What are your thoughts about AI and the future of music?
Helllllp but also when the grid goes down there will still be human beings making music.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location it would be held.
Jessica Pratt, June McDoom, Rahill, Clairo, and Angel Olsen in someone’s backyard and everyone can lie on the grass with pillows and blankets.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on social media?
I have cry-laughed countless hours thanks to Brian Jordan Alvarez.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
Zero tattoos, happy to say. Many close calls.
What is your pre-show ritual?
No small talk and licorice tea.
Who was your first celebrity crush?
Leo D like everyone my age. And Christina Ricci in Now And Then.
You have a month off and the resources to take a dream vacation. Where are you going and who is coming with you?
I’d take my mom wherever she wanted to go. Maybe Beirut where she lived a few years as a child.
What is your biggest fear?
Indecision.
Run To The Center is out 2/28 via 22Twenty. Find more information here.
Austin’s flagship music, film, and tech festival SXSW is back March 7th-15th, and if you haven’t locked in your accommodations yet, now’s the time. Since launching in 1987, SXSW has grown into a global powerhouse, bringing together the brightest minds and boldest creatives across industries. This year’s festival is packed with inspiring speakers, cutting-edge exhibitions, insightful panels, film and TV premieres, high-energy music showcases, and endless networking opportunities — so you’ll want to be right in the middle of it all.
By now, your SXSW badge should be secured. But you probably still need a place to stay. We’ve got you covered. While hotel availability is getting tight, we’ve rounded up the best spots still accepting bookings — all within walking distance of the Austin Convention Center, so you won’t miss a beat.
W Austin
W AUSTIN
For an ultra-stylish and high-energy SXSW stay, W Austin is where music, culture, and luxury collide. Nestled in the Second Street District, this freshly reimagined hotel brings a bold new chapter after a $40 million renovation, making it one of the hottest spots to stay during the festival.
With 251 redesigned rooms and suites, W Austin seamlessly blends modern comfort with Texas-inspired design — a perfect retreat after a packed day of panels and showcases. But the action never stops here. The hotel is a social hub at the heart of the city, featuring a revamped rooftop WET Deck with a pool and bar boasting panoramic skyline views
Serenade, a brand-new restaurant serving refined Texan smoke and French flavors, 2nd and Roast café for your morning fuel and Blue Room for craft cocktails and nightcaps, AWAY Spa for signature massages and ultimate relaxation, a 24-hour fitness center, and direct access to jogging trails along Lady Bird Lake.
Live music is in W Austin’s DNA, and during SXSW 2025, it’s bringing the heat. On March 10th, LP Giobbi, W Hotels’ Music Director, takes over the decks for an unforgettable DJ set featuring her signature live keyboard performance. On March 11th, W Austin hosts The Femme House, an interactive hub designed to empower emerging musicians, featuring hands-on experiences, resources, and programming to help artists build their brands.
For an elevated SXSW experience, look no further than Fairmont Austin, a sophisticated urban retreat nestled amid the greenery of Palm Park and Waller Creek. Towering 37 stories high, this luxury hotel boasts 1,048 elegantly designed rooms, each offering stunning views of the Austin skyline, Lady Bird Lake, and the Texas State Capitol—a breathtaking way to start your festival-filled days.
But the real game-changer? Fairmont Austin keeps you directly connected to SXSW with its $6 million, 33-foot aerial skyway, linking the hotel to the Austin Convention Center. No need to navigate crowded streets or hail a last-minute ride as you’ll be just steps (or an elevator ride) away from all the action. The hotel will also host a variety of official SXSW events, including a Metaverse Happy Hour, XR Experience, a panel discussion on Ukraine’s cultural frontlines, and more.
Amenities:
Direct skyway connection to the Austin Convention Center
What better way to kick back during your downtime at SXSW than in Austin’s newest affordable luxury hotel? This hotel isn’t for relaxing, it’s for socializing and it is buzzing with creative, trendy travelers who operate at their best at night.
Having just opened its doors last year, citizenM Austin Downtown features 344 signature rooms with XL king-size beds, a 24-hour gym, a rooftop bar and pool, and lots of contemporary art. All rooms are identical and feature colored mood lights, free Wi-Fi, jungle-like power shower, luxury towels, wall-to-wall windows, and more.
For an unbeatable SXSW experience, Austin Marriott Downtown puts you right in the center of the action. Just steps from the Austin Convention Center, this sleek, modern hotel is more than just a place to crash—it’s a hub for networking, unwinding, and soaking in the festival energy.
With 600+ stylish rooms and suites, you’ll have a comfortable retreat after a packed day of panels and showcases. But the real magic happens in the hotel’s lively social spaces. Take in Austin’s skyline from the rooftop pool and tiki bar, grab a craft cocktail at the two-story lobby bar, or fuel up at Corinne, the hotel’s signature restaurant serving elevated comfort food.
For those mixing business with festival fun, Austin Marriott Downtown delivers with 60,000 square feet of meeting space, making it a prime spot for impromptu brainstorms and deal-making.
Plus, this year, the hotel is hosting three official SXSW events, including an Early Bird Social, a thought-provoking panel on the future of education and HBCUs, and a high-profile leadership networking event — so you’re not just staying near SXSW, you’re staying in it.
For a boutique SXSW stay with serious Austin flair, Hotel Van Zandt delivers a stylish, music-infused experience in the heart of the Rainey Street District. Just a five-minute walk to the Austin Convention Center, this trendy spot blends modern comfort with the city’s creative energy, making it a prime choice for festivalgoers who want a one-of-a-kind stay.
With 319 chic rooms and suites, each space is designed with a distinct Austin vibe, perfect for unwinding after a packed day of panels and showcases. But the real magic happens on the 4th floor, where you’ll find nightly live music, vinyl brunches, and local songwriter showcases that keep the SXSW spirit alive even after hours.
Hotel Van Zandt goes the extra mile with thoughtful perks including house margaritas at the front desk from 12pm to 9pm, complimentary bottle of water at check-in, daily $15 credit to Geraldine’s, the Pool Bar, or Brass Poppy, reusable YETI water bottles to refill at hydration stations, complimentary TREK Bikes, YETI dog bowls and beds (upon request), and more. The best part? The property is an easy ten-minute walk to the Austin Convention Center.
Amenities:
Rooftop pool
Complimentary check-in beverage
Complimentary locally brewed drip coffee from Café 605
Complimentary usage of TREK Bikes
Daily $15 credit to Geraldine’s, The Pool Deck or Café 605
For a seamless SXSW stay, the Courtyard Marriott – Downtown Austin delivers both comfort and convenience in the heart of the action. Located right next to the Austin Convention Center and just a short stroll from the legendary 6th Street music scene, this recently renovated hotel puts you steps away from SXSW panels, showcases, and nightlife, no rideshares needed.
After a long day of networking and discovery, unwind in modern, spacious rooms designed for relaxation. Need to recharge? Hit the fitness center, take care of business in the 24-hour workspaces, or soak in the city views from the rooftop terrace. When hunger strikes, grab a bite at the on-site bistro, stock up at the 24-hour market, or fuel your festival days with a latte from the on-site Starbucks. Whether you’re in town to hustle, explore, or a little of both, Courtyard Marriott Downtown Austin keeps you close to the energy of SXSW while offering the perfect place to recharge.
For those seeking a boutique luxury stay in the heart of downtown Austin’s music and entertainment district, Thompson Austin and tommie Austin offer a dynamic, design-forward escape. This dual-hotel concept spans 32 stories, blending sleek architectural elements with bold interiors, creating an elevated yet laid-back retreat for SXSW attendees.
Beyond their prime location — just a short walk from the Austin Convention Center and countless SXSW activations — these sister properties cater to different styles of travelers. Thompson Austin delivers sophisticated luxury, with spacious rooms and suites featuring stunning skyline or Lady Bird Lake views, while tommie Austin provides a playful, minimalist approach, perfect for guests who want a stylish yet functional home base.
Guests can enjoy an impressive lineup of dining and social spaces, including Diner Bar by Mashama Bailey, the award-winning chef’s celebrated restaurant, hailed by Uproxx for serving one of the best bites of 2022; Wax Myrtle’s, a rooftop bar and restaurant with a vibrant poolside scene and sweeping city views; and coffee and cocktail bars, ensuring you stay fueled and refreshed.
For a front-row seat to SXSW, Hilton Austin is the ultimate stay as it’s directly connected to the Austin Convention Center for unbeatable access to panels, showcases, and activations. With 800+ modern rooms and suites, this hotel is designed for guests who want to stay immersed in the festival without missing a beat.
Beyond the conference halls, the best of Austin is at your doorstep. Just two blocks away, the legendary East Sixth Street nightlife awaits, while the charming bungalow bars of Rainey Street are less than a mile away. Whether you’re here to network, discover, or celebrate, Hilton Austin puts you right in the heart of the SXSW experience, from morning keynotes to late-night adventures.
For a stylish and serene SXSW stay, The Westin Austin Downtown strikes the perfect balance between festival energy and upscale comfort. Just one block from the Austin Convention Center and 6th Street, this sleek retreat keeps you close to the action without the overwhelming crowds.
With 360+ modern rooms and suites, The Westin offers a peaceful escape after a packed day of panels and showcases. But when you’re ready to unwind, the hotel’s rooftop bar and pool — offering breathtaking skyline views — is the perfect spot to sip a cocktail and soak it all in. Onsite dining options mean you’ll never have to go far for a great meal or a quick bite between events.
For SXSW 2025, The Westin is offering a special festival package, which includes a three-night minimum stay (March 7–16) and a $50 food and beverage credit per night at any of its on-site bars and restaurants.
For a luxurious SXSW experience, JW Marriott Austin offers sophisticated comfort and top-tier amenities, all within walking distance of the festival’s biggest events. With 1,000 spacious rooms—the largest in the city—each featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, this downtown hotspot is the perfect place to relax and recharge between panels, showcases, and afterparties.
Guests can indulge in next-level amenities, including a full-service spa, rooftop pool, room service, seven bars, four restaurants, and an on-site Starbucks. Whether you’re grabbing a quick coffee before a keynote or winding down with craft cocktails, JW Marriott delivers convenience and luxury in one spot.
During SXSW, the hotel takes things up a notch with exclusive services like a dedicated concierge for festival info and itinerary planning, plus transportation assistance to help you navigate the city with ease. This year, JW Marriott is offering the “Sip, Snack, & SXSW” package, which includes breakfast for two at Corner Restaurant and a $50 food and beverage credit redeemable at Dean’s Italian Steakhouse, Corner, or Edge Rooftop.
Standing proudly at the corner of 6th and Brazos since 1886, The Driskill is more than just a hotel—it’s a living piece of Texas history. With its grand marble-columned lobby, stained-glass windows, and vintage gold-accented furnishings, this legendary landmark blends timeless charm with modern luxury, making it a coveted stay for SXSW attendees.
Located in the heart of downtown Austin, The Driskill places you steps away from the city’s buzzing entertainment district and just a short walk from the Austin Convention Center. Each of its 189 well-appointed guestrooms—including 14 stately suites—offers a refined, historic ambiance, providing the perfect retreat after a day of festival action.
Beyond its stunning accommodations, The Driskill boasts two distinctive dining and bar experiences, including the iconic Driskill Grill, one of Austin’s premier upscale restaurants. Guests can also take part in exclusive experiences, such as afternoon tea, Bolos & Bourbon tastings, guided history tours, and an immersive art audio tour, ensuring a stay that’s as enriching as it is luxurious.
The rapper has announced a new album, Lotus, the title of which is meant to embody “renewal and growth, mirroring her evolving artistry and the album’s thematic voyage through life’s intricate phases,” according to a press release.
Little Simz also shared the video for tense first single “Flood,” which features Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly and production from Miles Clinton James. “Not the type that would trip off nostalgia / Told lies but my silence is louder,” the Coldplay collaborator raps over a percussive beat. “Spend nuff, but my finances louder / I’m not the type to abuse all my power.”
You can watch the video for “Flood” above.
This June, Little Simz is also curating the 30th edition of Meltdown, the U.K.’s longest-running artist-curated music festival held at London’s Southbank Centre. “Little Simz’ ability to forge new genre-defying ideas and her ambition to inspire the next generation of creators aligns with what the Southbank Centre’s artistic programme and vision stands for,” Southbank Centre head of contemporary music Jane Beese said. The festival lineup will be announced at a later date, but you can check out the Lotus album cover below.
Little Simz’s Lotus Album Cover Artwork
AWAL RECORDINGS
Lotus is out 5/9 via AWAL Recordings. Find more information here.
There’s a bit of mystery surrounding the upcoming Jane Remover album Revengeseekerz right now: It’s set for release “soon” via deadAir, but it doesn’t yet have an exact release date. When she announced the project earlier this year, though, she shared the song “JRJRJR.”
Now we have another new one, as today, she shared “Dancing With Your Eyes Closed,” a kinetic digicore number that goes back to Jane’s stylistic origins.
Listen to “Dancing With Your Eyes Closed” above. The tour dates that Jane Remover announced a few months ago are also starting soon, so find those below.
Jane Remover’s 2025 Tour Dates: Turn Up Or Die
4/23/2025 — Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry*
4/25/2025 — Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall*
4/26/2025 — Detroit, MI @ El Club*
4/27/2025 — Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups*
4/30/2025 — Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground*
5/02/2025 — Boston, MA @ The Sinclair*
5/03/2025 — Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg*
5/04/2025 — Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church*
5/05/2025 — Washington, DC @ Atlantis*
5/07/2025 — Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade – Hell*
5/09/2025 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall – Upstairs*
5/10/2025 — Austin, TX @ Parish*
5/12/2025 — Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater*
5/13/2025 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court*
5/16/2025 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos^
5/17/2025 — Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl^
5/18/2025 — Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre^
5/20/2025 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent^
5/21/2025 — Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre^
5/22/2025 — Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom^
all dates with dazegxd
* with d0llywood1
^ with Lucy Bedroque
Michelle Trachtenberg, who had her first big break with Harriet The Spy and forged into TV primetime territory with the CW’s Gossip Girl and the WB’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has passed away at age 39.
ABC News reported from law enforcement sources that the actress was found dead by a family member in her NYC apartment on Wednesday morning. She had reportedly “recently underwent a liver transplant and may have been experiencing complications.” Further, “Trachtenberg is believed to have died of natural causes and no foul play is suspected.”
Upon word of this news, multiple co-stars immediately paid tribute to Trachtenberg with her Harriet co-star, Rosie O’Donnell, telling US Weekly, “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years.” Likewise, fellow Buffy alum David Boreanz expressed his sympathies in an Instagram story, in which he wrote, “[H]orrible news. R.I.P. and prayers to her and her family.” And fellow Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick chose the same medium to declare, “So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg. Sending prayers.”
Trachtenberg gathered up a wide array of film and TV credits over a few decades. Those projects further include a guest stint on the Gossip Girl reboot, Sleepy Hollow, Weeds, 17 Again, and EuroTrip, but she remains best known for her portrayal of Dawn Summers, sister to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s title character, on the beloved Buffy series.
At present, her cause of death is unknown pending autopsy results.
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