How do you pregame before performing a sizzling set under the desert sun at the Sparkling Sessions 2.0 kickoff party? If you’re rising country music star Jessie Murph, you cool off with a backstage beverage battle.
Before bringing the heat to Sparkling Ice and UPROXX’s exclusive pre-festival bash just steps away from the Empire Polo Club grounds during Stagecoach weekend, the “Wild Ones” singer refreshed and recharged with a friendly fizzy showdown, identifying some bold flavors while fending off our rapid-fire questions. With every sparkling sip, the Nashville-based songwriter spilled the tea, giving us the inside track on everything from how she keeps her confidence on stage, to the strangest thing to happen while on tour, her favorite cover song, her dream collab, and more.
Murph has had a breakout year so far, with her fusion of soul, southern hip-hop, and down-home twang making her a fan favorite. She’s worked with certified icons and delivered mind-blowing performances at music fests while dropping her debut studio album in just a few months. But as anyone can tell, Murph isn’t nearly ready to kick up her boots and relax just yet.
Check out the full taste test video above and stay tuned here for more Sparkling Sessions updates.
Young Thug thinks Mariah The Scientist deserves to be ranked among the best female artists out there. You will agree after watching the music video for “Burning Blue,” her first new single since releasing 2023’s To Be Eaten Alive.
In the video, Mariah The Scientist is more like Mariah The Soldier as she’s surrounded by a war-ready dance troupe. “I can feel it in the air / My cold sweat dripping everywhere,” she sings, sensually. “I’m all wet / I don’t even care as long as you’re right here, laying in my bed.”
“Burning Blue” is the beginning of a new era for Mariah The Scientist, as she’s “been working on new music which will soon be ready for the world via her fourth studio album,” according to a press release.
Last year, Mariah talked to Billboard about her hobbies while she’s touring (including festival dates at Lollapalooza and Governors Ball this summer). “My cat, I bring him everywhere,” she said. “He’s with me right now. I’ve taken him so many [places] — I’ve taken him places he wasn’t supposed to go. Everywhere we’ve gone. He’s been to Portugal. When I tell you this cat has been all over the world. He has been more places at the age of three than [anybody]. I wonder does he even know the life he lives?”
Now, he’s given the track a proper video that’s out today (May 8). The clip is a bit of a mini-documentary, with Sheeran explaining how the song was inspired by him finding messages and photos on his old phone, and how the experience inspired him to host a pop-up gig where for admission, he asked fans to share meaningful messages or videos from their own old phones.
Ed previously said of the album, “Play was an album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life. Coming out of all of that I just wanted to create joy and technicolour, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring. I made this record all over the world, finished it in Goa, India, and had some of the most fun, explorative creative days of my life. It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music, and the fun in it, but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father.”
Watch the “Old Phone” video above.
Play is out 9/12 via Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records. Find more information here.
Each week our staff of film and television experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.
15. Dying for Sex (Hulu)
fx on hulu
Based on the acclaimed podcast, Dying for Sex follows Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams) who decides to leave her husband (Jay Duplass) after being diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer in order to explore her sexual desires for the first time. She’s joined on her journey of exploration by her best friend Nikki (Jenny Slate). The heart-tugging comedy-drama series was created by Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether, who also created New Girl.
The last time we checked in with Hacks, Deborah (Jean Smart) succeeded in her life-long dream to become a late-night host — but not without betraying her friend and writing partner Ava (Hannah Einbinder), who holds a secret over Deborah. And she’s not afraid to use it. Season 4 finds tensions between the two rising while working on the show.
The Last of Us season 2 picks up five years after the season 1 finale, when Joel (Pedro Pascal) killed a bunch of Fireflies to save Ellie (Bella Ramsey), and then (to put it vaguely) lied to her. Now, they’re “drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.” Get ready for more Clickers, more heartbreak, and the introduction of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), one of the more polarizing characters in video game history.
The Rehearsal, the most brilliantly deadpan show on TV, stars Nathan Fielder as a man on a mission to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life. In season 2, the urgency of his project grows as he puts his resources toward an issue that affects us all: commercial aviation. It’s good to see that laptop harness again.
Étoile is the new show from Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. Set in New York City and Paris, the ballet drama follows the dancers and staff of two fictional ballet companies, Le Ballet National in France and Metropolitan Ballet Theater in the United States, as they embark on an ambitious plan to save their storied institutions by swapping their most talented stars. It’s a world ASP knows well: she used to be a dancer before focusing on her writing career.
Sorry, Cardi B, but this is the final season of You. You can read all about what’s in store for Joe here, but let’s give it up for the latest addition to the cast, Madeline Brewer. The actress, who plays free-spirit bookseller employee Bronte, kills (no pun intended?) it in everything she’s in, especially The Handmaid’s Tale and Cam. “I think they do it really, really beautifully,” Brewer said about the final season of You, “I also think that the finale episode is one of the best things I’ve ever been a part of. I’m so proud of it.”
Andor is not only the best Star Wars show. It ranks high among the Star Wars, well, anything — movies, books, video games. The politically-charged series takes place as war draws near and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance. Here’s more: “Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas will become profound.” We know how the story ends, but it’s been a blast(er) getting there.
Black Bag is a fun, sexy spy movie from Steven Soderbergh that stars Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Marisa Abela (Yas from Industry!), Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan — and it didn’t even make its budget back at the box office? Come on, America. Do better! You’re out of excuses now that Black Bag is on streaming. It’s one of the year’s best.
The Four Seasons comes from the all-star team of Tina Fey (30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, etc.), Tracey Wigfield (30 Rock, the canceled-too-soon Great News, Peacock’s shockingly good Saved by the Bell), and Lang Fisher (the sweetly funny Never Have I Ever). Based on the 1981 movie of the same name, it follows three married couples — Kate (Fey) and Jack (Will Forte), Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), and Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani) — across spring, summer, fall, and winter. It’s a breezy and heartfelt good time.
Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively are back for Paul Feig’s Another Simple Favor. In the sequel to the 2018 film, Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Lively) reunite on the island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to an old-money businessman. But there’s murder afoot! Well, murder, new extravagant outfits, and a wild sex scene.
Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s new show is about an octopus. Or more accurately, an octopus! Exclamation mark very much intended. The documentary series, which is also narrated by Waller-Bridge, follows the eight-legged ocean dweller through its lifespan, as well as “an eclectic mix of characters” who have a special connection to them, including 30 Rock‘s Tracy Morgan (he’s a big fan). It’s weird enough to work.
Just because it’s no longer Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Heart Eyes. The throwback slasher is directed by Werewolves Within’s Josh Ruben and stars Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding as co-workers who are mistaken for a couple by a lovey dovey-hunting killer with (you’ll never believe it) hearts for eyes. Give it a heart on Letterboxd, I dare you.
Summer of 69 received strong reviews coming out of South by Southwest, where it premiered earlier this year. Directed by the very funny Jillian Bell in her feature-length debut, the comedy is about an awkward high school student (Sam Morelos) who hires an exotic dancer (Chloe Fineman) to help seduce her longtime crush before graduation. If you’ve ever wanted to hear a stripper do a Jennifer Coolidge impression, this is the movie for you!
Following on the heels of the delightful movie Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. comes another adaptation of a Judy Blume book. Inspired by the 1975 novel of the same name, Forever is described as an “epic love story of two Black teens,” high school students Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), as they prepare for college. The reviews are off the charts for the series, which was adapted by Girlfriends creator Mara Brock Akil. If you don’t watch Forever, you’ll regret it, well, forever.
Created by Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is a very good movie, and Knives Out), Poker Face stars Natasha Lyonne as a former casino employee who has an ability to determine when someone is lying — a skill that she uses to solve various murders across the country. It’s a blast, and season 2 has an insane number of guest stars, including Cynthia Erivo, Giancarlo Esposito, John Cho, John Mulaney, Justin Theroux, Kumail Nanjiani, Margo Martindale, Patti Harrison, Richard Kind, and Sam Richardson. Don’t be surprised if Poker Face ends up as one of the best TV shows of 2025.
In April, JID took the stage at the Dreamville festival and performed a new song called “Wrk,” which he released properly a couple weeks later. The song seemed to signal the start of a new era, and indeed, it did: Today (May 8), JID announced a new album, titled God Does Like Ugly.
He also shared a minute-long trailer for the album, which is cinematically shot and depicts a post-apocalyptic setting. A press release notes the video depicts “scenes from a lost word, borrowing inspiration from films like The Warriors and Mad Max but as always with J.I.D, set upon the backdrop of Atlanta.”
JID also said in a statement:
“Starting this new journey coming off The Forever Story has been a very strange, productive yet tedious process, but I live my life by the saying ‘You can only control what you can control.’ So this is the first step into a new world that I control. And. It’s. F*cking. UGLY.”
A pre-order page for the project also calls it “a testament to prioritizing lyricism and artistry above all else,” and that JID “carries the torch for South-East Atlanta, its stories and people coming this summer.”
Check out the trailer above.
God Does Like Ugly is out 8/8 via Dreamville/Interscope. Find more information here.
One of the most eagerly awaited films of the summer is F1, the fast-cars action movie from Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. The soundtrack is equally anticipated, since it features new music from Dom Dolla, Ed Sheeran, Tate McRae, Roddy Ricch, and Chris Stapleton, among others.
We’ve already heard “Lose My Mind” by Don Toliver and Doja Cat, now comes “Messy” from Rosé. The ballad’s music video is set in Las Vegas, and features the Blackpink member walking the Strip (which was shut down for her) and sitting on what appears to be a pile of diamonds in the club, as one does.
You can watch the “Messy” music video above, and check out the F1: The Album tracklist below.
F1: The Album Tracklist
1. Don Toliver — “Lose My Mind” Feat. Doja Cat
2. Dom Dolla — “No Room For A Saint” Feat. Nathan Nicholson
3. Ed Sheeran — “Drive”
4. Tate McRae — “Just Keep Watching”
5. Rosé — “Messy”
6. Burna Boy — “Don’t Let Me Drown”
7. Roddy Ricch — “Underdog”
8. Raye — “Grandma Calls The Boy Bad News”
9. Chris Stapleton — “Bad As I Used To Be”
10. Myke Towers — “Baja California”
11. Tiësto & Sexyy Red — “OMG!”
12. Madison Beer — “All At Once”
13. Peggy Gou — “D.A.N.C.E”
14. PAWSA — “DOUBLE C”
15. Mr Eazi — “Attention”
16. Darkoo — “Give Me Love”
17. Obongjayar — “Gasoline”
F1: The Album is out 6/6 via Atlantic Records. Find more information here.
For the last 25 years, Virginia Tech begins every game at Lane Stadium the same way: by blasting Metallica‘s “Enter Sandman” while the Hokies take the field.
“It’s just a different type of feeling,” wide receiver Ali Jennings told Hokie Sports about the experience. “I get chills every time I think about it – the stadium actually shakes.” The stadium was certainly shaking on Wednesday night (May 7), when Metallica performed at Lane Stadium for the first time.
So much so that “Enter Sandman” registered on the Richter scale from an estimated 65,000 concertgoers jumping up and down in unison.
Here’s how a Virginia Tech student described it to local ABC affiliate WSET: “Experiencing that live; the actual band playing it rather than the games because we already get hyped from the games themselves, but hearing Metallica playing in the stadium live, it’s awesome, man.”
The “Enter Sandman” tradition dates back to 2000, when it beat “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses and “Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project as the team’s walk-out song in a fan vote. “The next thing you know, the whole band is jumping up and down, and then the next thing you know, the whole stadium is jumping up and down,” former director of the Marching Virginians David McKee toldThe Washington Post. “It was one of those accidental traditions.”
In case you missed it, we’re at the start of a new Lorde era. She shared the single “What Was That” a couple weeks ago, then followed it by announcing a new album, Virgin. Now, we’ve reached the natural next step: Today (May 8), Lorde announced the Ultrasound world tour.
The dates run from September to December and will hit North America and Europe. Ticket sales kick off with a pre-sale starting May 14 at 10 a.m. local time, followed by the general on-sale on May 16 at 10 a.m. local time. More information can be found here.
Lorde recruited a strong roster of openers that includes Blood Orange, The Japanese House, Nilüfer Yanya, Chanel Beads, Empress Of, Jim-E Stack, and Oklou.
In an email message shared with newsletter subscribers, Lorde wrote:
“I am going on tour in support of my new album, Virgin.
Every show I play is a collaboration between you and me. We meet in a room and we make music together, our bodies and the machines in search of something bigger together. 12 years of meeting up and making sound that’s just for us. Since last time I’ve been stripping away unnecessary layers, finding us more room to move. I think that Ultrasound could be our masterpiece.
Very proud and excited to be bringing my most talented friends in support.
Tickets on sale May 16th, pre-sale May 14th. Come see what’s under the skin.”
Find the tour dates below.
Lorde’s 2025 Tour Dates: Ultrasound
09/17 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center !*
09/19 — Chicago, IL @ United Center !*
09/20 — Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle !*
09/23 — Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center !*
09/24 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena !*
09/26 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden =!
09/27 — Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre =!
09/30 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center =!
10/01 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden !*
10/03 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Petersen Events Center !*
10/04 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem !*
10/07 — Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena !^
10/09 — St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena !^
10/10 — Milwaukee, WI @ UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena !^
10/11 — Minneapolis, MN @ Armory !^
10/14 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre =!
10/17 — Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena =!
10/18 — Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum =!^
10/19 — Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre !^
10/21 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center !^
10/22 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena !^
11/09 — Luxembourg @ Rockhal $
11/10 — Paris, France @ Zénith de Paris @ La Villette %
11/15 — Manchester, UK @ AO Arena =%
11/16 — London, UK @ O2 Arena &%
11/19 — Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro &%
11/20 — Birmingham, UK @ Utilitia Arena &%
11/22 — Dublin, IE @ RDS Simmonscourt &%
11/24 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFAS Live &
11/27 — Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National !
11/29 — Bologna, Italy @ Unipol Arena !
11/30 — Zurich, Switzerland @ Halle 622 !
12/01 — Munich, Germany @ Zenith !
12/03 — Cologne, Germany @ Palladium !
12/05 — Berlin, Germany @ Max-Schmeling-Halle !
12/06 — Lodz, Poland @ Atlas Arena !
12/08 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ K.B. Hallen !
12/09 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Annexet !
= with Blood Orange
! with The Japanese House
& with Nilüfer Yanya
* with Chanel Beads
^ with Empress Of
% with Jim-E Stack
$ with Oklou
Wild Turkey is one of my favorite whiskey brands on the planet.
I know that some in this space like to feign objectivity, as though their personal biases and preferences are as easy to ignore as a manufacturer’s suggested retail price is for a retailer, but that’s just not reality. Whiskey tasting, and by extension, criticism, is a subjective field. The best way of stripping personal biases is by blind-tasting, but even then, we all have our own preferences and palates.
I say all that because what’s more important than objectivity is trust. I want you to know that I am personally predisposed to enjoying Wild Turkey whiskey. It’s a double-edged sword because I tend to prefer their distillate, even when tasting blind, which can be seen as a disservice to the impossible standard of objectivity, but in this case, it’s an advantage. Due to that preference, I have tasted more rare bottles from Wild Turkey than any other brand. I also like to think that I know a thing or two about the distillery’s baseline flavor profile. Thus, I can appreciate the occasions when they differ from the norm in an academically intriguing or sensory-based fashion.
In short, everyone’s palate is different, but this is a question I’ve pondered more than almost any other in the whiskey world: What’s the best bottle of Wild Turkey whiskey ever?
Before we get into my full ranking, I wanted to note something. For those unfamiliar, Wild Turkey began its life as an NDP or non-distilling producer. Essentially, they purchased whiskey produced at a distillery that they did not own and bottled it under their brand name. It was a common practice at the time, and it’s arguably an even more common practice today, one that shouldn’t be dismissed outright. However, for this list, I made an effort to only include whiskey that is known or widely believed to have been distilled at Wild Turkey, with an exception or two.
It may seem semantic, but in effect, it eliminates a lot of the “Dusty Turkey” that fans of the brand hold in high regard. It also gives us a much simpler (and shorter) timeline from which to draw entries for this list. There’s no hard-and-fast cutoff, but most experts agree that by 1990, 100% of the whiskey put out by the brand would’ve been made in-house.
Okay, rant over!
It’s time to break down our complete ranking of the best bottles of whiskey Wild Turkey has ever released!
To honor Wild Turkey’s unique history as home to two generations of active Master Distillers and the third generation, Bruce Russell, holding the title of Head Blender, they sought to celebrate their respective legacies with this special expression that they all had a hand in creating. This particular expression is a blend of 9-, 12-, 14-, and 15-year-old whiskey hand-selected by the Russells.
The end result is non-chill filtered, bottled at barrel strength, and was initially priced at an MSRP of $450, making it the most high-priced Wild Turkey offering of all time.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
This is arguably one of the most unique and off-profile Wild Turkey releases out there. That said, it isn’t just on this list as a curiosity. This is actually a full-throttle, flavorful bourbon that is just as special for its vanilla-forward, creamy profile as it is for the fact that three generations of the Russell family contributed to its creation, and have their names prominently displayed on the bottle.
You can make the case that this is one of the most special bottles in the history of bourbon for that last point, but if you pop the top, you’ll find that the liquid itself is commendable as well.
At its core, this is (reportedly) a blend of 6-12-year-old bourbon, bottled as a limited edition under the Whiskey Barons series by Campari to honor the legacy of William Butler Saffell, founder of one of Lawrenceburg’s long-lost distilleries. Housed in 375ml bottles, this one was initially released in 2019 and sported “batch 1” on the neck tag, but several batches later, sometime between then and now, that batch identification info has been omitted.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
It ain’t the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog! W.B. Saffell was released officially by Campari as the third expression in the Whiskey Barons series. I’ll come clean and admit that, despite being a fairly cool concept, I’m not quite sure why Campari created the lineup at all. The first two releases were generally panned for being substandard. For the third iteration, however, they brought in Eddie Russell to right the ship, and it’s been smooth sailing for this bold, bite-sized bourbon ever since.
This one can still be intermittently found on shelves even though, best I can tell, it doesn’t have a regular release schedule. Given it’s size and outstanding quality, you’d be wise to buy two or more.
The thing to know about Wild Turkey American Spirit is that, for a long time, it was the brand’s only bottled-in-bond expression. That’s since changed with the release of 2020’s 17-year Master’s Keep. This one was matured for 15 long years before being bottled a hair below Wild Turkey’s iconic 50.5% ABV or 101 proof.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
According to several sources, this is Jimmy Russell’s favorite Wild Turkey expression of all time. That should give you some great insight into not only its superlative quality but also Jimmy’s preferences. He tends to prefer Wild Turkey whiskey under the 10-year age mark, and right at the 101 proof point, the brand is famous for.
Take one sip, and yup, this is a Jimmy whiskey, with stern shoulders from the kick of baking spice, but a medium-bodied base of sweet notes with a touch of bite on the back end. This is just great sipping, through and through.
Wild Turkey’s then-oldest rye to date, Master’s Keep Cornerstone, is an expression that we have thanks to Bruce Russell. Affectionately known as the Russell’s “Rye Guy,” it was his influence that inspired his dad, Eddie Russell, to create a Master’s Keep expression solely using Wild Turkey’s well-aged stock of rye whiskey. This one is a blend of barrels that are between nine and 11 years old.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
It’s chocolatey, it’s full of sweet mint, and it’s arguably the greatest rye Wild Turkey has ever put out. For a brand that’s historically eschewed giving much of its attention to the rye category, they’ve still managed to cook up some dandies in their day.
While some might advocate for the quality of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye, Rare Breed Rye, or the most recent Master’s Keep offering, Triumph, I think it’s fair to say that Cornerstone stands alone as the most convincing of the bunch, with what might be the longest finish of any Wild Turkey whiskey ever.
Since its inception in 1991, Wild Turkey Rare Breed has been noted as a blend of six-, eight-, and 12-year-old bourbon. Also of note, it’s bottled at cask strength.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Oh, Rare Breed. This is the contemporary Wild Turkey expression that I champion the most, not because it is always the best bourbon on the table, but because it can invariably hold its own against the best. Going back to the inaugural release of this expression, the quality was somehow even better with Jimmy coming out of the gates swinging at another iconic barrel proof bourbon: Booker’s, which made its commercial debut a few years prior.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: 12-year, 101-proof bourbon from Wild Turkey. Those specs were in their prime in the 1980s and early 90s when this expression roamed the Earth. It was initially released domestically before being designated as an export-only offering in the mid-80s.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
I know that “split label” versions of this expression are all the rage among Wild Turkey nerds. Hell, I love them too. Maybe it’s the lesser-used turkey depicted swooping across the top of this bottle, but this one in particular holds a special place in my heart. At any rate, most Wild Turkey fans will tell you that 12-year-old, 101 proof bourbon from the brand is as can’t miss as it gets, and Beyond Duplication is frequently cited as proof.
Russell’s Reserve 13 first hit the market with a big splash in 2021. In the four years since its debut, there have been several other batches of the critically acclaimed release to hit the market, with 2024 marking the first year it wasn’t released since its inception. Russell’s Reserve 15 was introduced last year in its staid, though the word on the street is that Russell’s 13 will be making its triumphant return in the near future.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
When it was initially released, bourbon fans kind of lost their minds. The anticipation was through the roof as enthusiasts speculated about just how excellent Russell’s Reserve could be at a slightly higher proof and matured for a bit longer. Expectations were met, and with certain batches (if you pay close attention to laser codes, you’ll notice different batch codes), they were even exceeded.
The first release was rumored to feature whiskey matured for up to 15 years, and as such, it has an oakier backbone that makes it my personal favorite.
The thing to remember about several Wild Turkey releases designated for the French market during this time is that the brand was owned by Pernod Ricard, which is based in ‘L’hexagone.’ This expression, created for that market (though bottles also made their way to the Asian market), is comprised of 12-year bourbon making it akin to “Cheesy Gold Foil” or Beyond Duplication releases from the same time period.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Sadly, very few people stateside have managed to taste this expression. It’s one of countless export-only Wild Turkey offerings that seem to mirror domestic releases, but with whiskey that’s slightly different and arguably better. This limited edition was created specifically for the French market, though cases apparently also made it to the Asian market.
In effect, this is just Cheesy Gold Foil for fans of baguettes, but this 12-year, 101-proof bourbon has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it worthy of mention here.
Released in 1992, this expression was created to send a barrel-proof blend of Wild Turkey bourbon to foreign markets. Allegedly, this one is a blend of 6-, 8-, and 12-year bourbon, and it features a few label quirks that we don’t really know the motivations behind, including a back label that identifies its creator as “Jim” Russell. Huh!?
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
This is essentially Rare Breed for the export market, but with a few additional odds and ends. You can see design shades that make it comparable to Rare Breed: barrel proof bourbon, aged for at least 6 years (despite being a non-age-stated product that blends in older stock), and they share a similar bottle shape. That said, at times throughout its history, it almost felt like Wild Turkey was rewarding the export market for standing by them through the lean years with whiskey that was a shade better than its domestic offerings. This expression is one of those examples.
11. Wild Turkey Kentucky Legend Single Barrel Bourbon (The Donut)
This product of the late 90s (1998) was the first and last time bourbon fans have seen single-barrel, barrel-proof bourbon with “Wild Turkey” plastered on the front label. Bottled without an age statement, this expression notably shares a name with a duty-free offering that was bottled at 101 proof in the early 90s.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Prior to the release of Wild Turkey Generations, these “Donut” expressions were the highest proof bottles that Wild Turkey ever released under its own banner. That alone makes them a cool consideration for any Wild Turkey fan, but they also match that high-ABV with a ton of flavor. Wild Turkey fans have been pining for single-barrel, barrel-proof bourbon ever since this expression was discontinued after about one year in 1998, and it isn’t just for the specs. The quality of Kentucky Legend was, as the kids say, like that.
This whiskey, the first in Wild Turkey’s Master’s Keep lineup, featured a bourbon aged for 17 long years (only the second time the brand had released a bourbon so well-aged) at a surprisingly low cask strength proof point: 86.8. The story generally goes like this: Wild Turkey decided to store a few barrels in the atypically cool warehouses of Castle & Key which subsequently saw the hyper-aged whiskey lose proof points over the years, resulting in one of the more unique expressions in the brand’s storied history.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
I’m well aware that this is one of the more controversial picks here, but for me, this is the best Master’s Keep of all time, and the best Master’s Keep definitely deserves a spot on this list. While the Bottled in Bond 17-Year Master’s Keep bourbon features an almost medicinal cherry cough drop note, this one has the genuine article in spades. It’s full of lush black cherry notes, has a lovely viscous mouthfeel, and is deceptively vigorous despite its modest cask strength proof point.
9. Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson B
Always the product of barrels from a single rickhouse, thus the name — 2024’s Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse focuses on the brand’s Camp Nelson B rickhouse. Also of note: this is the highest proof offering to ever come from the Russell’s Reserve lineup at 120.2 (landing just shy of Wild Turkey Generations’ 120.8 for the highest proof from a Wild Turkey offering).
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
This expression is quite capable of outperforming Russell’s 13 or Russell’s 15 in a blind tasting, which should tell you everything you need to know. While it is slightly off-profile for the brand and has a bit more in common with Wild Turkey Generations than other Russell’s Reserves, the creamy, vanilla-laden layers of flavor on offer with this expression make it a must-try for any fan worth their feathers.
The year was 1994, and while the eight-year age statement had disappeared from Wild Turkey 101 labels, this new expression emerged, and it is believed to have been matured for roughly the same period of time. The early releases of the new expression, Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit, were a hit and featured an impressively styled glass bottle in the image of a turkey with its tail feathers plumed.
This is essentially single-barrel Wild Turkey 101, but due, in part, to its fancy bottle, it’s widely believed this expression was created not just to pick up the slack of the sunsetted age-statement on 101, but also to rival the success of Buffalo Trace’s Blanton’s.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
You know those prosaic bottles of Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit that adorn liquor store shelves these days? They’re delicious, albeit slightly overpriced, right? Well, they descend from a great bird that not only sported a fabulous fan-tail bottle (Wild Turkey, for the love of all that is good, please bring those bottles back!) but early versions also wore a pewter top, thus the nickname.
Kentucky Spirit continues to be an incredible expression, one you should go out and buy at your earliest convenience, but there was something magical about earlier releases. Especially those early ones with a pewter top.
This limited, one-time release produced 5,000 bottles and was primarily targeted at the export market in Japan, though an unspecified, and surely much smaller number, of bottles made their way to the domestic market. Not much is known about the reason for this release, or any of the additional specs behind it, other than the fact it’s 17-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
This bottle pairs an ornate package with scant details or differentiators. Details be damned, it’s just really good bourbon. If I were to nitpick, and I’m forced to here, like other 17-year expressions that Wild Turkey released in its wake (there are two 17-year Master’s Keep bourbons), it feels as though the age and proof on this bourbon thinned out its mouthfeel a bit.
The flavor is still robust, and indeed it’ll stop you in your tracks from the first sip, but competition is cutthroat, and if there were anything that keeps this one out of a higher spot, it’d be that minor quibble that logs it as potent but not perfect.
Wild Turkey 101, perhaps more than any other offering, helped maintain the bourbon industry’s viability in the global market through the lean years of the 70’s and 80’s. While domestic sales of bourbon were in the toilet during those decades, it was the inventiveness of distilleries and the explosion of the foreign market, primarily Japan, that kept many of bourbon’s most storied producers in business.
For Wild Turkey, that meant offering their 101-proof bourbon in several styles to the export market. The success of its bourbon sales in Japan helped keep them afloat and produced some now-legendary expressions like this one, affectionately known as “Cheesy Gold Foil” due to the shiny label that adorns it. It’s an age-stated 12-year bourbon bottled at the brand’s most iconic proof point.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Without a doubt, Cheesy Gold Foil (or CGF) deserves a spot among the best Wild Turkey expressions of all time. The issue? Expressions released in the mid-to-late 80s may have come from a source other than Wild Turkey Distillery, while later releases did come from the modern distillery. That means there’s a degree of variance among them, with some preferring and lionizing the more modern versions, while some “dusty Turkey” fans go to bat for the releases of unspecified origin.
Things can get almost religious for worshippers of Wild Turkey.
That said, assessing only the releases from 1990 onward, you’d be hard-pressed to call this anything but exceptional bourbon. Even with Wild Turkey releasing a number of bottles bearing similar specs, Cheesy Gold Foil still continues to hold up as a fan-favorite.
Russell’s Reserve 15 is Wild Turkey’s latest age-stated release, and boy, has it been met with enthusiasm. The brand’s digital launch caused its website to crash both days it made the expression available online. This expression is non-chill filtered, and given their track record, one can safely assume there’s bourbon even older than 15 years in this blend.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
For contemporary bourbon fans, this bottle needs no introduction. You can sit it down at literally any bourbon tasting and watch a flock of fans crowd around, crooning its praises.
Suffice it to say, this is the best Wild Turkey expression released in the last ten years, and for a brand that’s arguably in its second or third golden age, that’s really saying something.
Wild Turkey has a funny way of reusing names, which can be confusing to the layperson. The original Wild Turkey “Tradition” was a late-90s export expression that came in a cool, unique, and shapely bottle. This version, released in 2009, went to both the domestic and export markets, produced 30,000 bottles globally, and features some atypically ornate packaging which comes complete with a box and a brass base for the bottle.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
I had the pleasure recently of tasting this expression side by side with Russell’s 15, which, by all accounts, is the best Wild Turkey product of the last ten years. I hate to say, it wasn’t even a close competition. This is another incredible Wild Turkey bottle that somehow vastly outperforms its specs on paper and offers up a tasting experience that, well, has to be experienced to be fully appreciated.
Rich flavor, a buttery mouthfeel, and a finish that grips both your palate and your imagination. Imagine that, and you’ve got the general outline of Wild Turkey’s 14-year Tradition export bottling.
In 2004, Wild Turkey released twin expressions sporting the “Tribute” name, with one going to the domestic market at 101 proof, and this 110-proof version reserved for the export market. By all accounts, both expressions featured the same liquid, with the only differences being those already named: domestic vs. export and proof point. Created to honor Jimmy Russell’s 50 years of service at Wild Turkey and housed in the brand’s defunct but iconic “tail feather” bottle with a faux gold topper, the packaging was every bit as refined as the man responsible for the whiskey inside.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
I’ve had avid Wild Turkey fans argue the point that Wild Turkey 15-Year Tribute, the domestic version, is the best gobbler of all time. They, of course, are wrong, because as amazing as that expression is, there’s another feral bird bearing its name that bests it: this export-only version.
The slight uptick in proof delivers everything the domestic version does and more, making for a Wild Turkey expression that captures the essence of its classic “dusty” profile thanks to its age but with a depth of flavor that goes well beyond almost anything else I’ve experienced in a bourbon.
Imagine, if you will, a time when Jimmy Russell isn’t playing a pivotal role in the Wild Turkey brand. It’s that very (harrowing) thought that inspired this limited edition, which was comprised of 23 hand-selected barrels that Eddie Russell set aside in 1998. The idea was that they would eventually be bottled as a tribute to his dad Jimmy on the eve of his retirement. A swan song befitting of the Buddha of Bourbon.
Well, 15 years later those barrels had reached the peak of their maturity but Jimmy wasn’t going anywhere.
The barrels were dumped into steel tanks to preserve their flavor before being bottled and released in 2015. Despite its limited quantity and what was then an eyebrow-raising asking price of $250, the 2,070-bottle batch sold out quickly and is commonly cited as the very best bottle of Wild Turkey ever sold in America.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Are you a fan of Russell’s Reserve? Pick one: 10-Year Small Batch, Single Barrels, or the 13- or 15-year-old expression. If you answered “yes,” then let me explain it this way: this is the greatest Russell’s Reserve release of all time, full stop.
This bottle has all the hallmarks of Wild Turkey’s best whiskey. It’s full of baking spices and dark sweetness, decadent layers of flavor, and it has a silky and exceptionally long finish. For those who love the boldness of Wild Turkey’s classic flavor profile, it’s nearly impossible to top this bottle in all of the whiskey world, let alone among the brand’s litany of historic releases.
While Russell’s Reserve 1998 may hold the title of being the best Wild Turkey bourbon ever sold in America, Wild Turkey 14-Year Master Distiller Selection is the international champ. Reserved for the Japanese export market, bottled at 107 proof, and limited to roughly 6,000 bottles, Master Distiller Selection was said at the time to be “Jimmy Russell’s vision of the ultimate bourbon.” With one sip, I was immediately inclined to agree.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Look, I believe that this is the best bottle that Wild Turkey has ever produced. In talking to brand historians and other superfans, many of them would agree, and as I mentioned at the outset of this article, objectivity is an impossible standard in a subjective field. Do you know how hard it is to get a group of whiskey fans to come to a near-unanimous consensus?
Wild Turkey Master Distiller Selection doesn’t have the most eye-popping price tag or the most eye-watering proof point. It isn’t the rarest, nor is it all that exceptional in any one way, except the one that matters most: taste.
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers of the week. For five months now, we’ve been finding excuses and justifications for why this year in sneakers feels so uneventful. Our thinking was that the big brands were responding to an oversaturation of the market, focusing on quality drops rather than quantity. It really felt like that was the trend until these last two weeks.
Now we’re being inundated with all sorts of new releases, colorways, and collaborations, which has us wondering — did it just take five months for this year to really start to cook? We don’t want to jinx it, but from the look of last week, this week, and what’s ahead, it looks like sneakerheads are getting absolutely spoiled with great drops. We’re not here to complain, we say bring it on!
Here are this week’s eight best sneaker drops. Let’s dive in.
Nike Air Force 1 ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ (Dirty Triple White and Triple Triple Black)
This dual pack from Nike is a celebration of the AF-1. Both are designed with wear-away details; the idea here is that each pair tells a story through scuff marks, crease lines, and stains, which this design celebrates. The Dirty Triple White features a pre-distressed AF-1 that scratches away to reveal a crisp clean pair underneath. With The Triple Triple Black, the color intensifies and evokes the look of a polished sneaker.
It’s a weird concept, but we love to see Nike having some fun with wear-away designs. This is a must-buy for hardcore AF-1 heads.
The Nike Air Force 1 Low Dirty Triple White and Triple Triple Black are set to drop on May 7th at 10:00 AM PST for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Nike Air Force 1 Low Retro White and Baroque Brown (Escape)
If you’re not into the gimmick of a wear-away sneaker, keep it simple and classic with this White and Baroque Brown take on the AF-1. A coveted colorway from 2002, the AF-1 “Escape,” features a full-grain leather upper, with a mix of brown tones contrasted with white punch hole paneling and crimson red embroidery.
The Nike Air Force 1 Low Retro White and Baroque Brown is set to drop on May 8th at 10:00 AM PST for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Nike has teamed up with sacai once again, and this time it’s for something other than a waffle shoe! The Zegamadome is a new running sneaker that combines the Zegama upper with the outsole of the Lava Dome hiking boot. The sneaker sports a suede, leather, and textile upper with a protruding heel counter, a double swoosh, and a futuristic design that’ll make you feel like you’re taking a step into the future.
The sneaker is available in two colorways: white and black. Classic.
The Sacai x Nike Zegamadome Summit White and Black is set to drop on May 9th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Sorry if looking at this sneaker blinded you — this sh*t is vibrant as f*ck! Inspired by the fiery game and glamorous lifestyle of Deion Sanders, this sneaker sports an upper of real and synthetic leather, with responsive cushioning, an adjustable strap for a locked-in feel, and a blood red crimson colorway that demands attention anytime you enter the room.
This is the sort of sneaker that is going to inspire onlookers to shower you with compliments, so if that’s your vibe, this is your shoe.
The Nike Air DT Max ’96 University Red is set to drop on May 9th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Country music is bigger now than it has ever been (this is really saying something, as country has always been insanely popular, but not to the degree it is right now) so naturally, Nike had to get in on the hype with its American West rodeo-inspired Tourmaline Dunk.
Affectionally dubbed the “Rodeo,” this sneaker features Old West accents over a suede and leather upper dipped in forest green. Other details include leather piping, a red translucent outsole, and custom sockliner art that celebrates the great frontier. This sneaker isn’t just inspired by rodeo culture, though; it specifically looks to Black ranch owners and hands who helped revolutionize America’s first action sport.
The Nike Sb Dunk Low Pro Tourmaline is set to drop on May 9th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $135. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
New Balance has linked up with South Korean streetwear brand thisisneverthat for a Made in UK version of the 991v2. This premium offering features a pig suede and mesh upper over a FuelCell midsole with ENCAP cushioning, embroidered tongue branding, and reflective details throughout.
The sneaker sports a monochromatic moon rock colorway, relying on the reflective details to provide bursts of color. Is there another brand out there that can make the color gray look this good? We don’t think so.
The thisisneverthat x New Balance Made in UK U991V2 is set to drop on May 9th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $269.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.
You may think you’ve seen this sneaker before, but this UNC Reimagined has a few small details that set it apart from the 1985 original. The Reimagined features a distressed leather upper with an aged midsole, two sets of laces, and a color block design that combines the classic UNC Carolina blue with Sail contrast points. It looks great, easily one of the best Jordan 1 drops of the year.
The Air Jordan 1 High OG UNC Reimagined is set to drop on May 10th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
The Harden Volume 9 tends to have an aggressive look to it, the colorways are often bold, loud, and brash, but this Glow Blue strikes us as a bit ethereal, and that’s a word we never thought we’d use to describe this silhouette. The Glow Blue features the same synthetic and textile upper with a BOOST midsole and Lightstrike cushioning that we’ve come to expect from the 9, but here it is dressed in metallic and sky blue tones, with a white bootie.
It’s clean, futuristic, and glimmers in certain light. It is simply one of the finest Harden signatures dropped all year.
The Adidas Harden Volume 9 Glow Blue is set to drop on May 10th at 12:00 AM PST for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair at Adidas.
Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.
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