Category: News

Fresh off of her blockbuster performance at Coachella 2025, GloRilla back in the studio. While the “Let Her Cook” rapper’s debut studio album, Glorious, continues to rack up millions of streams online, GloRilla is already working on her full-length follow-up.

Today (April 28) GloRilla hosted a Spaces (live audio chat) on X (formerly Twitter). Although the conversation with fans started as an inspirational message to those dealing with jealous people, it ended with an update on GloRilla’s sophomore album.

“My next album…I’m working on [it],” she gleefully announced. “I can’t tell y’all exactly when its coming, what year its coming, but I’m doing something different.”

She continued: “Y’all know this was my golden year. When I turned 25 it was a golden year. If y’all didn’t notice I have been wearing a lot of gold. I’ve worn a lot of gold jewelry this year. Every award show…all tour I had on gold.”

However, moving forward GloRilla says things will change. “I will be stepping out of that era,” she added. “[I’m] stepping into a new era. I can’t tell y’all when it’s gonna be. But I’m excited for it and I hope y’all like it […] I’m in the studio. I’m always working.”

Fans hope her long rumored collaborative project with Megan Thee Stallion is released first.

Girls just wanna have fun, and on November 8 they will. On that day, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, The White Stripes, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, and Soundgarden will be formally inducted into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

As the list was announced, Lauper and many of the other inductees shared statements of joy. For Lauper, this professional milestone is not only a ‘win’ for her but for women in music broadly.

“I’m humbled to be in the company of so many of my heroes,” she said in a note. “Aretha [Franklin], Tina [Turner], Chaka [Khan], Joni [Mitchell], Wanda [Jackson], to name just a few.”

She continued: “Women have made so many important contributions to music and to rock n roll and a win for one of us is a win for all of us. Thank you to the voting members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for this honor. And thank you to my fans for supporting me throughout my career. I could not do any of this without you.”

Back in 2023, Lauper’s name was initially entered into the that year’s nomination bucket alongside White Stripes, Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, Warren Zevon, George Michael, and Willie Nelson. Ultimately, she did not receive enough votes to make it into the 2023 class.

The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 8. The event will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. But for those you can not physically attend, it will be broadcast live on Disney+ and aired on ABC and Hulu on a later date. Find more information here.

It’s been a great year for chicken sandwich fans. We’re not even halfway through the year, and we’ve already gotten Popeyes’ excellent Pickle Glaze sandwich, as well as Chick-fil-A’s delicious (and slightly healthy) Grilled Spicy Deluxe and the decadent and indulgent Smokehouse BBQ Bacon sandwich, each one delicious enough to be somebody’s favorite. Now, Wendy’s is stepping up to the plate with a potential home run with its new Cajun Crunch Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

Just on name alone, that sandwich is delivering us three of our personal favorite things: crunch, heat, and flavorful spices, so we were pretty hyped on this sandwich before we even tried it. With fast food more expensive than ever, it’s important to spend your money on the food that is truly worth it, and new menu items are always a gamble. So we took the risk for you!

Here are our thoughts on the Cajun Crunch Chicken Sandwich, and whether or not it’s worth your time and money. Let’s eat.

Cajun Crunch Chicken Sandwich

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

The Cajun Crunch Chicken sandwich features Wendy’s spicy filet, pepper jack cheese, Cajun-seasoned fried onions, pickles, a spicy mustard spread and a leaf of romaine lettuce (spine intact), so aside from the sauce and fried onions, there isn’t much new about this sandwich.

But that sauce and onion combo makes a big difference in flavor. This sandwich features multiple layers of spice — first, you’re hit with a black pepper and cayenne pepper combo, before a sharp and tangy heat takes over, joined by notes of floral and smoky paprika that leave the palate with a light sizzle between bites. It’s a nice journey through nuanced spicy tones, rather than the blunt and direct flavor of the typical spicy Wendy’s chicken sandwich.

The mustard has a lot of depth, and really makes this sandwich come across as a lot more savory than we expected, while the onions add a nice audible crunch to every bite. The onions are battered and further seasoned with black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, which add extra layers of savoriness to the already savory fried onion. It’s like an elevated take on onion rings — if Wendy’s wanted to sell these as a side item on their own, we’d gladly add them to every order! It’s hard to think of something on the Wendy’s menu that wouldn’t be improved by these little fried onions. Baked potatoes, burgers, chili — the possibilities are endless! All together, it’s incredibly satisfying to eat.

The Bottom Line:

Wendy’s Cajun Crunch Chicken Sandwich isn’t so delicious that it’s essential. It doesn’t warrant an immediate trip to Wendy’s, but it’s a delicious elevation of the brand’s regular spicy chicken sandwich, and is worth straying from your go-to order to experience.

Naturally, the success of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone is inspiring other streamers to pounce upon the neo-Western craze, and Netflix stepped up with a few candidates. One of those shows, The Abandons, has hit some [cough] bumps in the road but should arrive… someday. Whereas Ransom Canyon arrived this month with the streaming service now reporting that at least 56 million hours were streamed during the first week of release.

The series stars Josh Duhamel as rancher Staten Kirkland with Minka Kelly as dance hall proprietor Quinn O’Grady, and in a press release from Netflix, showrunner April Blair previously hinted at themes that appeal to Yellowstone viewers. “At its core, Ransom Canyon isn’t just a town, it’s an idea,” Blair divulged. “It’s the painful longing for your first love. It’s the burning desire to protect your family. It’s cowboys and lovers, grifters and thieves. Lust, deceit, heartache, home. Ransom has it all.” And this formula worked, but of course, now viewers wonder if there will be followup after Quinn departed town for a new job, and Staten was working through revelations about his son’s death.

Will There Be A Ransom Canyon Season 2?

Netflix has not officially renewed the series yet, although Blair did tell TV Insider that writing is already in process, should the show continue, and viewers will likely experience a six-month time jump because “Quinn needs to go away and save her ranch, and we need to see what the implications are for that punch that Davis goads Staten into doing and what that plot between Davis and Staten’s father, the senator, is like.”

Meanwhile, Garrett Wareing (who portrays Lucas Russell) revealed to TV Line that not only does he want to return, but “I’d love to skinny dip again.” Hmm.

Question: can you name the last original movie (i.e. not based on pre-existing material) before Ryan Coogler’s Sinners to make over $45 million during its opening weekend at the box office?

I’ll give you a moment while I think about the “surreal montage” again.

Answer: it was in pre-pandemic times, with director Jordan Peele’s second feature Us. Sinners actually surpassed another Peele movie, 2022’s Nope, to set the “biggest opening for an original film post-COVID” record.

Coogler is currently on a well-deserved victory lap, one that could end him with holding an Oscar, but what about Peele? It’s been three years since Nope taught everyone that monkeys and live studio audiences don’t mix — is he working on a new film?

When Is Jordan Peele’s Next Movie Coming Out?

Peele has his fourth film lined up, but there’s no plot details or even a title; it’s listed as “Untiled Fourth Film Directed By Jordan Peele” on Universal Studios’ website. There is, however, a release date: October 23, 2026.

“I do feel like my next project is clear to me,” Peele told host Conan O’Brien on a 2024 episode of the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast. “I’m psyched that I have another film that could be my favorite movie if I make it right.”

Until then, Peele is producing HIM, a mysterious sports horror film from director Justin Tipping (the trailer played before Sinners), and he’s also working with Death Stranding auteur Hideo Kojima on the new video game OD. It looks really weird — and potentially really good.

Nilüfer Yanya had one of 2024’s best albums with My Method Actor (according to the Uproxx Music Critics Poll) and now she’s already back with new material: Today (April 28), she unveiled the lush “Cold Heart.”

A press release notes Yanya wrote the track while she and creative partner Wilma Archer “re-approached” a collection of songs after touring in support of My Method Actor. Yanya also says of the song, “This one turned out pretty different to how I imagined it. The initial melody felt very spacious, like there’s room for anything to happen. It felt like a kind of experiment.”

Listen to “Cold Heart” above. Yanya also has some overseas tour dates coming up, so find those below.

Nilüfer Yanya’s 2025 Tour Dates

05/31 — Neustrelitz, DE @ Immergut Festival
06/01 — Mannheim, DE @ Maifeld Derby Festival
06/03 — Barcelona, ES @ Primavera a la Ciutat
06/06 — Turku, FI @ Kesärauha
06/13 — Hilvarenbeek, NL @ Best Kept Secret
06/28 — Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Festival
07/17 — Dour, BE @ Dour Festival
07/19 — Cluj-Napoca, RO @ Electric Castle
08/01 — Katowice, PO @Off Festival
08/03 — Waterford, IE @ All Together Now
08/05 — Vilnius, LT @ Lukiskes Prison 2.0
08/07 — Gothenburg, SE @ Way Out West
08/08 — Oslo, NO @ Øya Festival
08/13 — Coura, PT @ Paredes De Coura
08/15 — Trondheim, NO @ Pstereo Festival
08/17 — Crickhowell, UK @ Green Man Festival
08/23 — Bristol, UK @ Forwards Festival
08/24 — London, UK @ All Points East Festival

Stagecoach began as a country music festival and for all intents and purposes, that’s still what it is. At the top of the lineup, it’s hard to imagine a complete pivot from this identity, especially if country keeps producing genuine headliners to cap each night and drive tickets. Last year, they got one of the biggest stars in music period in Morgan Wallen. This year was a trifecta of highly relevant twangy superstars: newly minted stadium sensation Zach Bryan, multi-quadrant entertainer Jelly Roll, and Luke Combs coming off a crossover megahit with his Tracy Chapman cover, “Fast Car.”

And up and down the lineup, there was plenty more country from all types of backgrounds. Outlaw country had its hero in Sturgill Simpson. Koe Wetzel represented the rock and country intersection with a booming, chaotic set. The Brothers Osbourne gave the fans something more traditional and country-radio adjacent. There were even new, emerging stars like Shaboozey, Dasha, and Waylon Wyatt. And while you can’t generalize tens of thousands of people — many of whom haul out their lawn chairs and picnic blankets to bake in the sun and pound Twisted Teas as a yearly tradition — one thing was especially clear this year: people just really wanted to hear a song they knew.

Is that much different than any other concert? Yes and no. Sure, Coachella or Lollapalooza also buoy their events on familiarity. An act like Green Day can play wall-to-wall hits for nearly two hours, but that’s less what makes someone like Charli XCX or Fred Again.. or Chappell Roan festival sensations. They’ve got some songs people know, for sure, but they also have spectacle, big emotions, and underscored charisma in their corner as well. Traditionally, there is a diversity in kinds of experiences that are possible, with festivals serving as a sort of choose-your-own-adventure.

But this year’s Stagecoach continues a trend that’s been developing for years, by supplementing the country artists with lowest-common-denominator music that places ubiquity over taste. Diplo’s Honkeytonk offered everyone from Steve Aoki to Paris Hilton. Creed, Sammy Hagar, Nelly, Goo Goo Dolls, and Backstreet Boys all received plush slots, and a couple of the weekend’s most talked about moments, Lana Del Rey and Mumford & Sons, stretched the definition of country-adjacent so you’d have to squint to make it make sense. (You’d also have to squint to actually see them, as the choice to book them in the tent severely limited the amount of people who could actually enjoy these sets.)

This stuff all goes over incredibly well, and that’s something you can’t fault Stagecoach for. They know their audience and they aim to please, but there is also the feeling that it is coming at the expense of becoming a place for country music to thrive. The festival now plays by Karaoke Bar rules, where the center of the Venn Diagram occupies the meeting point of competence and barrier of entry. The Brothers Osbourne had a parade of country hits to employ, but nothing got the VIP section as riled up as their cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.” Walking around during Ashley McBride’s set revealed mild engagement turning into an arms-around-each other singalong as she busted out a faithful version of “Boys Of Summer.” I heard “Country Roads” multiple times. I heard a country version of “Crazy Train.” The more omnipresent the song, the more the beer-swigging audience responded.

No one embodied that idea more than Jelly Roll. A music success story that’s hard not to root for, Jelly Roll’s ascension to headliner slot on Saturday night was not taken lightly by the perfomer. When he wasn’t showing off his dance moves or waving to audience members like a Christmas pageant child to his parents, he was parading out a non-stop stream of guest performers showing off collabs and their own hits. MGK was there. So was BigXthaPlug. Plus Jessie Murph, Shaboozey, Lana Del Rey, Alex Warren, and Wiz Khalifa. It created a perfect storm of karaoke celebration vibes: Jelly Roll, errr, rolling out his hits while peppering in pervasive staples like “Black And Yellow,” “My Ex’s Best Friend,” and one of the songs of the moment,”Ordinary.” If ever a set was designed for the right vibe for the right crowd, this was it.

That’s not to say that some of the other marquee acts did anything wrong, it’s just more about whether they fit at Stagecoach in 2025. I’ve written about Zach Bryan more than I’ve written about any other musician in the last several years, as I genuinely believe he’s one of the most exciting songwriters to emerge in that time. And seeing him reach the spot of Friday night headliner was wonderful, and his gracious vibe and ripping band were on full display. Up close, you could see Bryan getting the most joy from seeing his best friends — his band — embrace the moment, strutting on the catwalk and interacting with fans. But if this was someone’s first time seeing Bryan, I’d encourage checking him out on his own turf, where fans scream back his words to him as he performs in the round. Bryan is at his best when he brings intimacy to massive spaces, and fans can only catch glimpses of that in the Stagecoach setting.

Speaking of ripping bands, Sturgill Simpson wins the award for the most musically impressive thing I witnessed over the weekend. My colleague Steven Hyden has written extensively about Simpson’s musicianship, the kind of no frills set that fits as easily in the rock and jam worlds as it does at Stagecoach. And while there were plenty of tipsy dudes entranced by the guitar solos and extended guitar solos, there were also plenty of people unwilling to meet Simpson in the moment. Fittingly, Sturgill began his set by dedicating it to Marty McFly. I couldn’t help thinking of McFly’s school dance performance in Back To The Future, the audience staring back at him blankly, and his iconic line: “I guess you guys aren’t ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it.”

Stagecoach manages to let Nelly and newly minted Grammy darling Sierra Ferrell exist as two sides of the same coin, though only one of those artists performed in a fantasy mushroom garden. It gives plenty of activities, from branded integrations like Amex’s interactive experience that included exclusive merch for cardholders and customized BÉIS bags to horse riding displays from local legends the Compton Cowboys. Guy Fieri does live interviews about barbecuing. Yellowstone takes over the same tent that 2Hollis performed in just a week before.

Early in his set, Jelly Roll talked about the set that was to come, saying that “all kinds of music is therapeutic.” If you’ve ever spent time in karaoke bars, you’ll find that to be true. It’s a place for people to blow off steam, be the center of attention for a moment, get the rush of putting themselves out there and then singing along and supporting the other performers. Broadway showtunes can exist side-by-side with classic rock. Radio country next to ’90s alt-rock. The only sin is playing something dull. Enthusiasm is sometimes better received than genuine talent.

And Stagecoach isn’t alone in figuring out this skeleton key. Festival culture in general seems to be moving to this same conclusion, where broad familiarity is more important than brand identity. Whether it is Bonnaroo or Coachella or Lollapalooza, most events are moving more to the center, less interested in their own perspective and more interested in pleasing the most people in the most general way. In a crowded market with economic uncertainty, who can blame them? Providing a space for people to hear the songs they know at the loudest volume possible still has value. But it might come at the expense of what truly distinguished Stagecoach in the first place.

Check out some exclusive photos of Stagecoach 2025 below.

Zach Bryan

Sierra Ferrell

Jelly Roll

Sturgill Simpson

Koe Wetzel

Shaboozey

The Brothers Osborne

Carly Pearce

Dylan Scott

Amex

Ashley McBryde

This year’s Stagecoach Festival is in the books and music fans flocked to Indio, California for three days of music, BBQ, and their best cowboy-inspired outfits. The growing sense is that dressing up in your Western fit is as much a part of the fun as all the music and food and activities that the festival has programmed. Just as dance music fans loved their revealing, colorful ensembles a decade past, now country music is getting in on the fun. This is country music prom, and everyone’s invited.

Cowboy hats were everywhere, with trucker hats not far behind. Boots were the footwear of choice, while buckles and denim gave outfits timeless personality custom to the wearer. And, of course, with the heat more temperate than years past, that didn’t stop people from showing skin before bundling up at night. For an event that features Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, and many more, lifestyle vibes carried the day, with the sheer amount of fun that the attendees were having with their friends being the most lasting impression.

Check out the photos of the best dressed cowboys and cowgirls that we saw at Stagecoach 2025, and check out the rest of our coverage from the event here.

Tell the bourbon snobs to cover their ears — ‘smooth bourbon’ is a thing, and truthfully it can be delicious.

So-called bourbon enthusiasts might occasionally take exception with the term ‘smooth’, but it’s actually a really effective descriptor and one that people of all experience levels speak about and seek out. Why is that? Despite its reputation for harshness, bourbon is loaded with sweet and approachable flavors and can have a soft, well-rounded mouthfeel, which lends itself to being called smooth.

Not everyone is looking for that punch-you-in-the-chest alcohol burn often associated with the spirit, and even those who are might at times turn to the lighter side of the spectrum, reaching for a pour with more finesse than pugilism. Look, as head whiskey critic here at Uproxx and a spirits judge at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, I’m here to tell you that’s a good thing.

Versatility is one of bourbon’s best qualities as a category. The spirit lends itself to contemplative neat-sipping as well as complex cocktails, and it has the heft to hold up over a big ice cube on a hot summer day. Bourbon’s ability to satisfy the proof hounds (folks who like high-proof alcohol) as well as those looking for some easy-sipping is part of what makes it so great.

So, with that out of the way, let’s get to tasting!

I rounded up some of my favorite, flavorful, smooth-sipping bourbons for a blind taste test to identify the smoothest of them all. Shall we begin?

• • We Tasted And Power Ranked Every Single Jim Beam Bourbon
  • We Put Buffalo Trace’s Best Bourbons To A Six Flight Blind Taste Test Against Its Biggest Competitors
  • These Are The Best Bourbons From Each Of The Past 25 Years
  • The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2024, Ranked
  • The 20 Best New Whiskeys You Need To Chase Down This April, Ranked

Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

This one gives off rosewater and white peach notes immediately, with some dilute honey joining them on the nose and palate. There’s some white pepper along with vanilla and black tea with cream here as well.

It’s a fairly dull experience, honestly, but each of the flavor notes plays well with each other, so this is a whiskey I could drink all day long.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, this one is impressively dark and sweet with mature oak and brown sugar leading the way. On the palate, this whiskey is buttery and quickly coats your tongue in flavor while hanging around at the edges of the jaw and offering a lithe, slowly receding finish with a touch of black pepper spice and dark cherries.

Not only is this one really smooth, but it’s also surprisingly multi-layered. We’re only on taste two, but I can tell this one will go really far in today’s test.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

This whiskey opens with convincing Rainier cherry and brioche bun notes, and on the first sip, those notes become slightly sweeter and more buttery while joined by some faint honey, youthful oak, and allspice.

This is smooth, yes, but also surprisingly rich. I can detect a slightly higher proof, but it doesn’t at all detract from the easy-sipping experience, which is a huge bonus.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

The nosing notes on this one open with some cocoa powder, dried plums, and clove, while the palate introduces some toffee and a splash of citrus atop a bed of mellow oak and vanilla.

This is a tad bit restrained and straightforward but damn is it delicious, and it’s probably the smoothest bourbon of the flight so far. These flavors just work so damn well together, it’s hard to find a single flaw here.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Coming off of the last glass, this one comes across as decidedly faint with dilute honey, youthful oak, and apricots. The palate livens things up a bit with some white pepper spice playing nicely with pie crust, Golden Delicious apples, and a hint of clove.

The richness of this one waxes and wanes, but its overall smoothness, courtesy of those well-integrated flavors, is undeniable.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

The nose is full of rich aromas from brandied raisins to brown sugar, cocoa powder, and toasted almonds. I’m ready for a sip. After giving this whiskey a swig, that richness follows through on the palate and brings further notes of clove, faint black pepper, and young oak with a lovely, mouth-coating texture.

This is definitely the most balanced bourbon of the flight thus far, and it ticks every box for a smooth-sipping experience.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this one is full of earthiness, think potting soil, with some honey and grain-forward notes like corn pudding. Once in the mouth, the whiskey follows a similar track with some faint baking spices like cinnamon bark and allspice, giving it a little kick.

So far, this one is the least-smooth of the bunch, with each flavor note seeming a bit at odds, though the overall result is pleasant enough.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Right off the bat, this one carries some delicious aromas of cornbread, caramel, and roasted hazelnuts, and then in the mouth it adds a faint bit of milk chocolate and clove.

You can tell that the heat is a little higher on this one, and that comes with added flavor, but it does sacrifice a bit of the smoothness we’re looking for.

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

This one is immediately evocative of kettle corn with some sugary grain-led notes, combining well with black pepper, Chelan cherries, and apple sauce. The palate is buttery, and feels like it’s hovering around 100-proof, but don’t let that scare you off.

This one is impressively well-integrated, and its smooth sweetness easily tempered the impression of heat.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this whiskey begins with some nicely developed floral and citrus notes before the palate introduces more of those classic Tahitian vanilla, dark fruit, and toasted cedar notes. There’s some dilute caramel and peppercorn as well, with a pretty smooth mouthfeel.

This is a bit more disjointed than some of the other pours, but it delivers a lot of flavor while retaining a good degree of ‘smoothness’.

Part 2: The Ranking

10. O.K.I. Bottled In Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 7

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

O.K.I.’s Bottled in Bond Bourbon, sourced from MGP, gives the brand a new entry-level whiskey offering. This inaugural bottled-in-bond bourbon was bred from a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley.

Bottom Line:

This unique take on bottled-in-bond MGP whiskey doesn’t entirely hit the mark, but thanks to its distinct earthiness, it certainly has something interesting to say. If unconventional, earthy bottled-in-bond bourbon is your jam, then you’ll want a bottle of this one ASAP.

9. Bulleit Bottled in Bond — Taste 8

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $57

The Whiskey:

Bulleit’s brand-new bottled-in-bond bourbon really hits the sweet spot for fans of the brand who love their classic flavor profile but would love a little extra flavor even more. What makes this one so special is the fact that it’s comprised 100% of Bulleit’s own distillate — a first for the brand.

Bottom Line:

Bulleit has made a resounding splash in each of the last two years, first with the return of its celebrated 12-year rye and now with a bottled-in-bond line expansion comprised entirely of its own distillate. This new expression deserves praise as it strikes a nice balance of flavors and indicates a ton of promise for future tasty offerings.

8. Still Austin “The Musician” Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 10

ABV: 49.2%
Average Price: $43

The Whiskey:

Still Austin, out of Austin, Texas, is putting out some killer whiskey, and for evidence, look no further than their entry-level bourbon. This one was made with a mash bill of 70% white corn, 25% rye, and 5% malted barley — all grown right in Texas.

Bottom Line:

Still Austin’s flagship bourbon delivers some tasty spice notes to counter its smooth base of dilute caramel and floral vanilla notes. Simply put, this bourbon completely redefines the Texas whiskey category in the best way possible.

7. Four Roses Bourbon — Taste 1

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $19

The Whiskey:

Four Roses Bourbon, the oft-overlooked entry-level offering from Four Roses, features a blend of all ten recipes that the distillery is famous for. Little-known fact: Four Roses regularly utilizes slightly older bourbon in these blends, which is part of the reason they eschew an age statement. It’s also part of the reason that this remarkably consistent expression is so damn good.

Four Roses Bourbon is one of the best easy-going bourbons that money can buy, and it’s one I regularly keep on hand for the hotter summer months. While it’s a fairly straightforward whiskey when enjoyed neat, follow this tip for summer sipping: pop it in the freezer and pour heartily when you need a refreshing drink that’s a tad bit stronger than water. It’s as smooth as silk.

6. Frank August Small Batch Bourbon — Taste 3

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $75

The Whiskey:

Frank August is a newcomer on the American whiskey scene, and they’re daring to ask the question: What is America’s spirit? Yes, bourbon is America’s Native Spirit, but they’re looking to highlight non-traditional stories to get at the heart of what this industry truly represents. For its flagship bourbon expression, sourced from another distillery in Kentucky, Frank August is blending small batches of 10-15 barrels and bottling them at the classic 100-proof mark.

Bottom Line:

Frank August is a brand with bangers seemingly everywhere in its portfolio. Their Small Batch expression, however, might be the purest example of the brand’s steady hand and clear vision of producing great bourbon free from any frills but packed with plenty of thrills.

It’s well-rounded, smooth-sipping goodness.

5. Fanged Pursuit 17-Year — Taste 2

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $200

The Whiskey:

The latest Orphan Barrel offering, dubbed Fanged Pursuit, features 17-year non-chill filtered Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. KSBW at that age is hard to come by. Notably, it’s brought to Orphan Barrel’s preferred proof — a relatively low 46% ABV.

Bottom Line:

I’ve been consistently impressed with Orphan Barrel’s offerings, enjoying the flavorful, low-ABV expressions in a vacuum. Their price, however, has more often been the sticking point. At 17 years old, this is one of the few expressions in the lineup that warrants the cost, offering a rich, darkly sweet flavor profile with an exceedingly approachable smooth factor to boot.

4. Elmer T. Lee Bourbon — Taste 5

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $230

The Whiskey:

Elmer T. Lee is the second single-barrel bourbon from Buffalo Trace. After Elmer T. Lee, the man, helped to create the brand’s first single-barrel bourbon in Blanton’s, the distillery honored him by naming this 90-proof single-barrel expression after him.

Bottom Line:

Elmer T. Lee is highly sought after for reasons beyond the bottle’s taste. It was formerly a slightly higher-quality product before demand skyrocketed, and it became less affordable and available. This present-day version isn’t going to knock your socks off and isn’t worth any extra effort in hunting down, but it still manages to offer a pleasant, crowd-pleasing experience.

3. Penelope Wheated Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 9

ABV: 47.5%
Average Price: $35

The Whiskey:

Penelope’s brand new affordable offering is a crowd-pleaser: Wheated Bourbon. While savvy enthusiasts will note that Penelope already offers a Four Grain bourbon with wheat in the mash bill, this one has a slightly higher percentage of wheat in the mash bill and is bottled at a higher proof. Finally, this expression is non-chill filtered to preserve maximum flavor.

Bottom Line:

This bottle is a revelation. While I’ve typically been more drawn to the brand’s burlier high-ABV options, its recent low-proof products have been eye-opening displays of full-flavored, approachable bourbons you need right now. This is a whiskey I cannot recommend highly enough.

2. Woodford Reserve Bourbon — Taste 4

ABV: 43.2%
Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

Woodford Reserve Bourbon is frequently cited as one of the best bourbons for beginners for two main reasons: it’s bottled at a relatively low proof and has an assortment of rich, balanced, and crowd-pleasing flavors. Woodford Reserve is owned by Brown-Forman, which also includes Jack Daniel’s and Old Forester in its portfolio.

Bottom Line:

Woodford Reserve deserves all the praise it receives for being a fantastic beginner bourbon. Sure, its proof point might make bourbon snobs turn up their noses. However, there’s absolutely no denying that this whiskey still manages to pack a ton of flavor, free from any harsh elements, making it one of the best, easy-sipping, readily available whiskeys of any category on the market.

1. Michter’s US*1 Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 6

ABV: 45.7%
Average Price: $35

The Whiskey:

Michter’s was recently voted the World’s Most Admired Whiskey Distillery, and its flagship bourbon is the most readily available example of why. For this expression and the rest of its whiskey lineup, Michter’s uses a proprietary filtration process to optimize the flavor coming from its barrels.

Bottom Line:

Michter’s US*1 Bourbon perfectly threads the needle of being delicious and easy-going. Free from any harsher elements, your palate will take to this whiskey like a fish in the water as those sublime, mellow notes wash over your tongue and coat your mouth with a remarkable range of flavors that just naturally go together.

Michter’s US*1 Bourbon should definitely be your first purchase if you’re looking for smooth bourbon to enjoy neat.

With his album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going making waves in the country scene, Shaboozey’s next move is a tour. The Great American Roadshow Tour is set to kick off in the fall, hitting some favorite venues throughout the American Heartland as he brings his fusion of country, hip-hop, and pop to the people.

Shaboozey was one of a slew of performers who joined Jelly Roll onstage during the rapper-turned-country-star’s headlining set at Stagecoach following the release of their single, “Amen,” highlighting just how far and how fast his star has risen. This could very well be the last short tour he does for a while; as he’s almost undoubtedly going to be stepping up to even bigger venues in the future.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 2 at 10 AM local time, while pre-sales include Artist pre-sale tickets on sale on Tuesday, April 29, local pre-sale on Wednesday, April 30, and Spotify pre-sale on Thursday, May 1. You can find more info here.

The Great American Roadshow Tour Dates

9/22/2025 – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
9/23/2025 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
9/25/2025 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
9/27/2025 – Virginia Beach, VA @ The Dome
9/29/2025 – Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle*
10/1/2025 – Birmingham, AL @ Avondale Brewing Company
10/2/2025 – New Orleans, LA @ The Fillmore New Orleans
10/5/2025 – Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
10/9/2025 – Fort Worth, TX @ Billy Bob’s Texas*
10/12/2025 – St Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
10/14/2025 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ War Memorial Auditorium
10/16/2025 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues Orlando