During a recent The Hollywood Reporter profile on Zack Snyder, the director admitted to going through an obsessive Fortnite phase before his wife snapped him out of it and forced him to create something that wasn’t a tower to fire sniper rounds at guys in banana suits.
Well, it looks like ol’ Zack wasn’t ready to go cold turkey.
In a new interview with eTalk, the Rebel Moon creator revealed that “of course” he’d love to take a crack at directing a Fortnite movie, which Hollywood has been trying to get off the ground ever since the online game became a billion dollar phenomenon.
“I really wanted to make some Fortnite skins for the movie [Rebel Moon], first of all, just like, as the most obviously basic involvement,” Snyder said. “But yeah, look, Fortnite is an amazing world, and it is an amazing distraction for me. But it’s really cool, and the alchemy that they’ve created there is really unique. When I started playing it, I thought I knew what it was, and then it was something entirely different.”
Of course, the chances currently look slim for Snyder being handed the keys to one of the biggest video game franchises on the planet. The first installment of his Rebel Moon film series has been getting hammered by brutal reviews. However, after his experience with the DC Extended Universe, Snyder has learned to keep moving forward with eternal optimism.
“You definitely don’t know,” Snyder said about directing a Fortnite movie. “You definitely can never say never – that’s my mantra in this business.”
During a recent The Hollywood Reporter profile on Zack Snyder, the director admitted to going through an obsessive Fortnite phase before his wife snapped him out of it and forced him to create something that wasn’t a tower to fire sniper rounds at guys in banana suits.
Well, it looks like ol’ Zack wasn’t ready to go cold turkey.
In a new interview with eTalk, the Rebel Moon creator revealed that “of course” he’d love to take a crack at directing a Fortnite movie, which Hollywood has been trying to get off the ground ever since the online game became a billion dollar phenomenon.
“I really wanted to make some Fortnite skins for the movie [Rebel Moon], first of all, just like, as the most obviously basic involvement,” Snyder said. “But yeah, look, Fortnite is an amazing world, and it is an amazing distraction for me. But it’s really cool, and the alchemy that they’ve created there is really unique. When I started playing it, I thought I knew what it was, and then it was something entirely different.”
Of course, the chances currently look slim for Snyder being handed the keys to one of the biggest video game franchises on the planet. The first installment of his Rebel Moon film series has been getting hammered by brutal reviews. However, after his experience with the DC Extended Universe, Snyder has learned to keep moving forward with eternal optimism.
“You definitely don’t know,” Snyder said about directing a Fortnite movie. “You definitely can never say never – that’s my mantra in this business.”
There are a lot of tequila brands out there. Too many? It’s possible.
We won’t go as far as to say that but one thing is for certain — the best-selling brands out there don’t even scratch the surface of all the great tequila on the market. We blind taste tested and ranked the 10 best-selling bottles of tequila this year, and while there are some good bottles that the masses love, if we had to name the 20 best tequilas of the year we wouldn’t include a single one of those famed expressions.
That’s not to say that those high-selling brands aren’t any good… just that there are several high-quality agave-forward brands out there that boast big flavors that we’d be quick to recommend before the more popular stuff. So we’re going to do just that — shout out and rank our 15 favorite bottles of tequila we drank this year. These bottles are a mix of options that came on top of our various blind taste tests and rankings published this year, as well as bottles we never got around to highlighting.
Now keep in mind that this is a list of our absolute favs that we tasted this year, so every bottle is great but there are going to be some brands that are noticeably missing, like Fortaleza or Don Julio. Those brands are great, but we didn’t taste new batches from them this year. What separates the top five are small but notable enough differences. That means you can land anywhere on this list — hopefully with a sale price attached — and find a bottle worthy of sipping and savoring.
Here are our 15 favorite bottles of tequila we drank in 2023, ranked!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Tequila Posts Of The Last Six Months
Nosotros hails from NOM 1438, Destiladora del Valle de Tequila, which produces over 176 other brands. That’s a lot of different tequila brands, and while normally that would immediately raise red flags for us — Nosotros undeniably tastes great. The tequila is made from a mix of lowland and highland agave cooked in stone brick ovens and roller mill extracted.
It’s then loaded into French oak casks and rested for 11 months, resulting in a mellow and smooth repo.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Warm and grassy with a hint of leather and barrel.
Palate: Way fruitier than the smell would suggest with a black pepper bite hovering over rich roasted flavors.
Finish: Lots of oak character with some dark cherry notes.
The Bottom Line:
For its price, this bottle has lots of character. A great option for mixing into a cocktail.
If you’ve been to see the Meets, the Broncos, the Spurs, the Silver Knights or the New Jersey Devils, you’ve probably become acquainted with Hijole! While my instincts led me to assume sports stadium tequila was going to be bad, I was impressed by this bottle.
Hijole comes from NOM 1614, Tequilera Tap, and has scored Double Gold at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits competition. The blanco is made using agave harvested at six years maturity and cooked for 24 hours before being roller mill extracted and fermented in stainless steel tanks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Roasted agave with gentle hints of vanilla and floral honey. A great aroma on this one.
Palate: You get more of a sense of that vanilla flavor on the palate accented with notes of coconut and tropical fruits.
Finish: An interesting almond and tobacco leaf finish that keeps it from coming across as too sweet.
The Bottom Line:
It has a good sippable flavor but I prefer this one in cocktails. It has a sweet and tropical vibe with just the right amount of earthy bitterness to keep it from coming across too artificial.
La Caza was founded in Austin Texas and is the only brand I can think of that makes a point of fermenting its agave for one hundred hours to the sounds of classical music. Does that make a difference? We doubt it. Hard. But it’s pretty great tequila so we won’t roast the brand too hard for being gimmicky.
The agave here is crafted in Jalisco at NOM 1414 where the agave is cooked in stone brick ovens, roller mill extracted and fermented in open-air stainless steel thanks with champagne yeast.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Roasted agave, dusty citrus characteristics and a hint of crushed black pepper.
Palate: Stron gon the black pepper with a spicy kick to it, a green vegetal body, and a delicate hint of jasmine.
Finish: Buttery smooth with minimal burn.
The Bottom Line:
Bright and peppery. An interesting tequila to sip and a great candidate for cocktails.
On my initial tasting of this bottle, I was a bit harsh on it. That’s because my first exposure to the brand was its excellent XA blend but the more I’ve sat with this bottle over the year, the more I’ve grown to love it for its focused flavor. Even more than the XA.
Volcan’s Reposado is produced at NOM 1523, Agrotequilera de Jalisco, and is made with agave harvested from the volcanic soil of Tequila Valley, cooked in stone and brick ovens, tahona extracted, and fermented in wood tanks with champagne yeast before being roasted for 135 days in oak and cognac casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Warm and rich notes of honey with a hint of roasted agave.
Palate: Juicy apricot and plum notes create an interesting fruity character here with a twist of citrus and a strong oakiness.
Finish: A mix of dark berries and vanilla, with a smooth oak finish that is a joy to savor.
The Bottom Line:
A wonderful bouquet of fruity and dessert flavors.
Hands down one of the best tequilas for under $50, Tepozán is a small batch tequila produced at NOM 1584, Tequila El Tepozan, made from estate-grown agave harvested at peak maturity. The tequila is made with filtered volcanic well water, additive-free, and fermented with natural yeast.
The bottle is finished with a thick wax seal and features a pretty minimalist design.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A strong earthy dustiness dominates with hints of roasted agave.
Palate: You’ll get a nice spicy kick here at first taste offset with cooked agave, minerality, and some black pepper.
Finish: Bright and vegetal. A bit astringent, almost bourbon-like, but not nearly as sweet or oaky.
G4 is one of the best additive-free tequila brands out there right now and while I was going to highlight the brand’s blanco for this list, I opted instead for the rarer 108-proof version, which offers a slap in the face of bright agave forward flavor.
It’s a bit harder to find, but if you can manage, it’s worth it!
The tequila is produced at NOM 1579, Destileria El Pandillo, with agave that is cooked for 22 hours in stone brick ovens. It is then crushed with a metal tahona, finished with natural spring and rainwater, and twice distilled in copper ports.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A lot of agave and minerality on the nose. There is a spikey quality to the aroma that makes the eyes water with big whiffs.
Palate: An intense agave-forward flavor with a rush of juicy citrus flavors and some rind zest.
Finish: Nutty and dry. It burns the chest but in the best way.
The Bottom Line:
A strong and intense agave-forward tequila. It’s bright, dusty, spikey, additive-free tequila at its finest.
Made from agave harvested from the highlands of Jalisco and toasted in stone brick ovens, El Bandido Yankee is rested in American oak whiskey barrels in small batches. It is another additive-free brand and is produced at NOM 1107, Tequila el Viejito.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: You get a strong sense of the oakiness at the nose with roasted agave, rich cherry and a bit of vanilla.
Palate: A mix of dark fruit and caramel tones with a strong citrus zest and a hint of almond.
Finish: A strong roasted character with some oak char and vanilla.
The Bottom Line:
A nice mix of dark fruit and dessert flavors. Truly a joy to sip.
TCapri is a new brand to me, until this month I haven’t had any experience with this tequila and every time I pour a glass from this bottle, it continues to impress me. Produced at NOM 1584, Tequila El Tepozan, TCapri is certified additive-free by Tequilla Matchmaker. The agave is cooked in stone brick ovens, roller mill extracted, and distilled in stainless steel pots.
The blanco is remarkably clean with a fresh grassy vibe.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There is a black licorice vibe here lurking underneath layers of roasted agave.
Palate: I’m getting some coconut character, a hint of black pepper, and juicy lemon. That licorice vibe from the nose is slightly present, but it’s leans a bit more minty rather than spicy.
Finish: Warm cinnamon and herbal notes dominate the finish, with a dry mineral quality.
The Bottom Line:
An interesting blanco tequila with natural-tasting herbal and mint qualities.
As soon as I pitched this article I knew Mijenta was going to make the list, the hard part was deciding on which expression would earn the spot. I’m going with Mijenta, which is my favorite of the three.
Produced at NOM 1412, Destiladora de Los Altos, this small batch tequila is aged for six months in American white oak, French oak, and French acacia casks, resulting in a smooth and flavorful tequila that still retains a nice mix of grassy characteristics underneath the mellow flavor.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Vanilla and honey with a floral quality to it that reminds me of fresh flowers.
Palate: More honey on the palate with roasted agave and a hint of banana, followed by bright citrus, green grass, and bell pepper.
Finish: A nice smooth finish with a spicky kick at the back end.
The Bottom Line:
From the way it looks in the glass to the way the flavors bounce off the palate, this tequila is a true joy to sip.
I might be underrating this tequila slightly because I didn’t have access to my own bottle of this stuff, so I’ve only had the pleasure of tasting it a few times, but those handful of pours were enough for me to know this was one of the best tequilas of the year.
The agave used here is harvested from the volcanic soil of the highlands of Jalisco and aged for five years in Scotch, sherry, and brandy barrels. The liquid has a thick whiskey-like vibe to it.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Lots of chocolate and dessert flavors with some dark berry characteristics and some herbal notes.
Palate: There is a lot of sweetness here in this wonderful mix of vanilla and winter spice flavors. Underneath that is a warm roasted agave base with a twist of citrus.
Finish: Savory and deep, you get a lot of the barrel here with a smooth finish that is a joy to sip.
The Bottom Line:
Heavy on the dessert flavors, this is an añejo you’re going to want to savor and sip slowly.
Currently, LALO makes a single expression — tequila blanco, and the brand is damn good at it. It is my favorite blanco tequila on the market, and I’ve been turning friends and family on to the brand since I first tried it this year.
The agave in this bottle is sourced from the Jalisco highlands and cooked in stone steam ovens for 20 to 32 hours before being rested for an additional 18 hours. LALO is a certified additive-free brand and has a bright and agave-forward flavor.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Incredibly bright with notes of warm citrus zest. It almost tickles the nose.
Palate: Roasted agave and warm caramel tones dominate the flavor here before making way for a vegetal body with notes of grass and green bell pepper.
Finish: A bright fruity finish with notes of orange peel ends your flavor journey.
The Bottom Line:
A wonderful complex and agave-forward blanco tequila. Our favorite blanco of the year.
This stuff is no joke! Suerte’s Still Strength Blanco packs a big punch and strong flavors. The tequila is produced at NOM 1520, Tequilero Simbolo, where it is the only brand in production.
The agave is cooked in stone and brick ovens for 52 hours, tahona extracted, fermented in open-air fermentation stainless steel tanks, and twice distilled through a stainless pot with a copper coil. There is no additional water added after distillation, giving this a strong 104 proof.
It’s our favorite way to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit!
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Despite its high proof, there is a lot of gentleness here. The nose is dominated by lush notes of roasted agave with a strong citrus character and a sense of fresh-cut grass.
Palate: Lots of black pepper with a strong vegetal vibe that morphs slowly into a cherry juiciness.
Finish: Wet soil, grass, and tobacco leaves dominate the finish. There is a strong and distinct burn here, but it’s the type that brings you back for more.
The Bottom Line:
For fans of high-proof tequila with big and bold flavors, Suerte is one of this year’s best.
Cierto is probably the most hyped brand in the tequila space right now and while hype is only occasionally justified, Cierto earns every bit of it. Since its release, this tequila has acquired over 800 awards from the likes of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, LA Invitation, and more.
A certified additive-free tequila, this is one of the best extra añejos you’ll find in the tequila space right now. So if you love slow sipping and savoring, you’re going to find a lot to love here.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: An intoxicating mix of chocolate tones, agave, leather, and oak.
Palate: More chocolate on the palate. It’s rich and deep with a hint of caramel and a nice fruity complexity.
Finish: Spicy and dry with a black pepper vibe.
The Bottom Line:
It’s f*cking pricey, but it’s worth every penny. A truly luxurious tequila with a deep, complex, fantastic flavor.
Valor is another brand I was introduced to fairly recently, I’ve tried both the blanco and reposado expressions, both are great but if I had to suggest one I’m going with the blanco for its bright flavor and character.
Produced at NOM 1599, Familia Landeros, Valor’s blanco tequila is additive-free and made from agave cooked in a low-pressure autoclave that is roller mill extracted, fermented in open-air fermentation tanks and twice distilled in a stainless steel pot.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A medley of cooked agave, rosemary sage, and citrus, with a tiny hint of rainwater.
Palate: Agave at the forefront with some orange citrus and salt and an earthy dustiness, like fresh crushed black peppercorns.
Finish: Lots of citrus on the backend, with some green pepper, herbs, and a strong minerality.
The Bottom Line:
Lots of natural-tasting character here. You get a real sense of the earth drinking this stuff.
1. El Tesoro — Mundial Knob Creek 2023 Edition Añejo
I hate to list a hard-to-find and pricey bottle at the top of our list, but it is what it is, this is hands down the best tequila I had the pleasure of drinking this year. This tequila was overseen by master distiller Carle Camarena and is aged for 12 months in charred oak whiskey barrels from Knob Creek.
Those barrels provide a palpable whiskey character that is a true pleasure to savor. If you love slow sipping a great pour, this is the tequila for you. Craft at its finest.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich cinnamon and dew hover over a roasted agave body.
Palate: Very delicate with a buttery quality, black pepper, citrus zest, more of the cinnamon from the nose, and a floral sweetness.
Finish: Smooth with high minerality, soft oak qualities, and an all-spice aftertaste.
The Bottom Line:
Every sip is slightly different and always pleasing. A tequila truly worth savoring and one that never gets boring for your tastebuds to explore.
There are a lot of tequila brands out there. Too many? It’s possible.
We won’t go as far as to say that but one thing is for certain — the best-selling brands out there don’t even scratch the surface of all the great tequila on the market. We blind taste tested and ranked the 10 best-selling bottles of tequila this year, and while there are some good bottles that the masses love, if we had to name the 20 best tequilas of the year we wouldn’t include a single one of those famed expressions.
That’s not to say that those high-selling brands aren’t any good… just that there are several high-quality agave-forward brands out there that boast big flavors that we’d be quick to recommend before the more popular stuff. So we’re going to do just that — shout out and rank our 15 favorite bottles of tequila we drank this year. These bottles are a mix of options that came on top of our various blind taste tests and rankings published this year, as well as bottles we never got around to highlighting.
Now keep in mind that this is a list of our absolute favs that we tasted this year, so every bottle is great but there are going to be some brands that are noticeably missing, like Fortaleza or Don Julio. Those brands are great, but we didn’t taste new batches from them this year. What separates the top five are small but notable enough differences. That means you can land anywhere on this list — hopefully with a sale price attached — and find a bottle worthy of sipping and savoring.
Here are our 15 favorite bottles of tequila we drank in 2023, ranked!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Tequila Posts Of The Last Six Months
Nosotros hails from NOM 1438, Destiladora del Valle de Tequila, which produces over 176 other brands. That’s a lot of different tequila brands, and while normally that would immediately raise red flags for us — Nosotros undeniably tastes great. The tequila is made from a mix of lowland and highland agave cooked in stone brick ovens and roller mill extracted.
It’s then loaded into French oak casks and rested for 11 months, resulting in a mellow and smooth repo.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Warm and grassy with a hint of leather and barrel.
Palate: Way fruitier than the smell would suggest with a black pepper bite hovering over rich roasted flavors.
Finish: Lots of oak character with some dark cherry notes.
The Bottom Line:
For its price, this bottle has lots of character. A great option for mixing into a cocktail.
If you’ve been to see the Meets, the Broncos, the Spurs, the Silver Knights or the New Jersey Devils, you’ve probably become acquainted with Hijole! While my instincts led me to assume sports stadium tequila was going to be bad, I was impressed by this bottle.
Hijole comes from NOM 1614, Tequilera Tap, and has scored Double Gold at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits competition. The blanco is made using agave harvested at six years maturity and cooked for 24 hours before being roller mill extracted and fermented in stainless steel tanks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Roasted agave with gentle hints of vanilla and floral honey. A great aroma on this one.
Palate: You get more of a sense of that vanilla flavor on the palate accented with notes of coconut and tropical fruits.
Finish: An interesting almond and tobacco leaf finish that keeps it from coming across as too sweet.
The Bottom Line:
It has a good sippable flavor but I prefer this one in cocktails. It has a sweet and tropical vibe with just the right amount of earthy bitterness to keep it from coming across too artificial.
La Caza was founded in Austin Texas and is the only brand I can think of that makes a point of fermenting its agave for one hundred hours to the sounds of classical music. Does that make a difference? We doubt it. Hard. But it’s pretty great tequila so we won’t roast the brand too hard for being gimmicky.
The agave here is crafted in Jalisco at NOM 1414 where the agave is cooked in stone brick ovens, roller mill extracted and fermented in open-air stainless steel thanks with champagne yeast.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Roasted agave, dusty citrus characteristics and a hint of crushed black pepper.
Palate: Stron gon the black pepper with a spicy kick to it, a green vegetal body, and a delicate hint of jasmine.
Finish: Buttery smooth with minimal burn.
The Bottom Line:
Bright and peppery. An interesting tequila to sip and a great candidate for cocktails.
On my initial tasting of this bottle, I was a bit harsh on it. That’s because my first exposure to the brand was its excellent XA blend but the more I’ve sat with this bottle over the year, the more I’ve grown to love it for its focused flavor. Even more than the XA.
Volcan’s Reposado is produced at NOM 1523, Agrotequilera de Jalisco, and is made with agave harvested from the volcanic soil of Tequila Valley, cooked in stone and brick ovens, tahona extracted, and fermented in wood tanks with champagne yeast before being roasted for 135 days in oak and cognac casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Warm and rich notes of honey with a hint of roasted agave.
Palate: Juicy apricot and plum notes create an interesting fruity character here with a twist of citrus and a strong oakiness.
Finish: A mix of dark berries and vanilla, with a smooth oak finish that is a joy to savor.
The Bottom Line:
A wonderful bouquet of fruity and dessert flavors.
Hands down one of the best tequilas for under $50, Tepozán is a small batch tequila produced at NOM 1584, Tequila El Tepozan, made from estate-grown agave harvested at peak maturity. The tequila is made with filtered volcanic well water, additive-free, and fermented with natural yeast.
The bottle is finished with a thick wax seal and features a pretty minimalist design.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A strong earthy dustiness dominates with hints of roasted agave.
Palate: You’ll get a nice spicy kick here at first taste offset with cooked agave, minerality, and some black pepper.
Finish: Bright and vegetal. A bit astringent, almost bourbon-like, but not nearly as sweet or oaky.
G4 is one of the best additive-free tequila brands out there right now and while I was going to highlight the brand’s blanco for this list, I opted instead for the rarer 108-proof version, which offers a slap in the face of bright agave forward flavor.
It’s a bit harder to find, but if you can manage, it’s worth it!
The tequila is produced at NOM 1579, Destileria El Pandillo, with agave that is cooked for 22 hours in stone brick ovens. It is then crushed with a metal tahona, finished with natural spring and rainwater, and twice distilled in copper ports.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A lot of agave and minerality on the nose. There is a spikey quality to the aroma that makes the eyes water with big whiffs.
Palate: An intense agave-forward flavor with a rush of juicy citrus flavors and some rind zest.
Finish: Nutty and dry. It burns the chest but in the best way.
The Bottom Line:
A strong and intense agave-forward tequila. It’s bright, dusty, spikey, additive-free tequila at its finest.
Made from agave harvested from the highlands of Jalisco and toasted in stone brick ovens, El Bandido Yankee is rested in American oak whiskey barrels in small batches. It is another additive-free brand and is produced at NOM 1107, Tequila el Viejito.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: You get a strong sense of the oakiness at the nose with roasted agave, rich cherry and a bit of vanilla.
Palate: A mix of dark fruit and caramel tones with a strong citrus zest and a hint of almond.
Finish: A strong roasted character with some oak char and vanilla.
The Bottom Line:
A nice mix of dark fruit and dessert flavors. Truly a joy to sip.
TCapri is a new brand to me, until this month I haven’t had any experience with this tequila and every time I pour a glass from this bottle, it continues to impress me. Produced at NOM 1584, Tequila El Tepozan, TCapri is certified additive-free by Tequilla Matchmaker. The agave is cooked in stone brick ovens, roller mill extracted, and distilled in stainless steel pots.
The blanco is remarkably clean with a fresh grassy vibe.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There is a black licorice vibe here lurking underneath layers of roasted agave.
Palate: I’m getting some coconut character, a hint of black pepper, and juicy lemon. That licorice vibe from the nose is slightly present, but it’s leans a bit more minty rather than spicy.
Finish: Warm cinnamon and herbal notes dominate the finish, with a dry mineral quality.
The Bottom Line:
An interesting blanco tequila with natural-tasting herbal and mint qualities.
As soon as I pitched this article I knew Mijenta was going to make the list, the hard part was deciding on which expression would earn the spot. I’m going with Mijenta, which is my favorite of the three.
Produced at NOM 1412, Destiladora de Los Altos, this small batch tequila is aged for six months in American white oak, French oak, and French acacia casks, resulting in a smooth and flavorful tequila that still retains a nice mix of grassy characteristics underneath the mellow flavor.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Vanilla and honey with a floral quality to it that reminds me of fresh flowers.
Palate: More honey on the palate with roasted agave and a hint of banana, followed by bright citrus, green grass, and bell pepper.
Finish: A nice smooth finish with a spicky kick at the back end.
The Bottom Line:
From the way it looks in the glass to the way the flavors bounce off the palate, this tequila is a true joy to sip.
I might be underrating this tequila slightly because I didn’t have access to my own bottle of this stuff, so I’ve only had the pleasure of tasting it a few times, but those handful of pours were enough for me to know this was one of the best tequilas of the year.
The agave used here is harvested from the volcanic soil of the highlands of Jalisco and aged for five years in Scotch, sherry, and brandy barrels. The liquid has a thick whiskey-like vibe to it.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Lots of chocolate and dessert flavors with some dark berry characteristics and some herbal notes.
Palate: There is a lot of sweetness here in this wonderful mix of vanilla and winter spice flavors. Underneath that is a warm roasted agave base with a twist of citrus.
Finish: Savory and deep, you get a lot of the barrel here with a smooth finish that is a joy to sip.
The Bottom Line:
Heavy on the dessert flavors, this is an añejo you’re going to want to savor and sip slowly.
Currently, LALO makes a single expression — tequila blanco, and the brand is damn good at it. It is my favorite blanco tequila on the market, and I’ve been turning friends and family on to the brand since I first tried it this year.
The agave in this bottle is sourced from the Jalisco highlands and cooked in stone steam ovens for 20 to 32 hours before being rested for an additional 18 hours. LALO is a certified additive-free brand and has a bright and agave-forward flavor.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Incredibly bright with notes of warm citrus zest. It almost tickles the nose.
Palate: Roasted agave and warm caramel tones dominate the flavor here before making way for a vegetal body with notes of grass and green bell pepper.
Finish: A bright fruity finish with notes of orange peel ends your flavor journey.
The Bottom Line:
A wonderful complex and agave-forward blanco tequila. Our favorite blanco of the year.
This stuff is no joke! Suerte’s Still Strength Blanco packs a big punch and strong flavors. The tequila is produced at NOM 1520, Tequilero Simbolo, where it is the only brand in production.
The agave is cooked in stone and brick ovens for 52 hours, tahona extracted, fermented in open-air fermentation stainless steel tanks, and twice distilled through a stainless pot with a copper coil. There is no additional water added after distillation, giving this a strong 104 proof.
It’s our favorite way to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit!
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Despite its high proof, there is a lot of gentleness here. The nose is dominated by lush notes of roasted agave with a strong citrus character and a sense of fresh-cut grass.
Palate: Lots of black pepper with a strong vegetal vibe that morphs slowly into a cherry juiciness.
Finish: Wet soil, grass, and tobacco leaves dominate the finish. There is a strong and distinct burn here, but it’s the type that brings you back for more.
The Bottom Line:
For fans of high-proof tequila with big and bold flavors, Suerte is one of this year’s best.
Cierto is probably the most hyped brand in the tequila space right now and while hype is only occasionally justified, Cierto earns every bit of it. Since its release, this tequila has acquired over 800 awards from the likes of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, LA Invitation, and more.
A certified additive-free tequila, this is one of the best extra añejos you’ll find in the tequila space right now. So if you love slow sipping and savoring, you’re going to find a lot to love here.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: An intoxicating mix of chocolate tones, agave, leather, and oak.
Palate: More chocolate on the palate. It’s rich and deep with a hint of caramel and a nice fruity complexity.
Finish: Spicy and dry with a black pepper vibe.
The Bottom Line:
It’s f*cking pricey, but it’s worth every penny. A truly luxurious tequila with a deep, complex, fantastic flavor.
Valor is another brand I was introduced to fairly recently, I’ve tried both the blanco and reposado expressions, both are great but if I had to suggest one I’m going with the blanco for its bright flavor and character.
Produced at NOM 1599, Familia Landeros, Valor’s blanco tequila is additive-free and made from agave cooked in a low-pressure autoclave that is roller mill extracted, fermented in open-air fermentation tanks and twice distilled in a stainless steel pot.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A medley of cooked agave, rosemary sage, and citrus, with a tiny hint of rainwater.
Palate: Agave at the forefront with some orange citrus and salt and an earthy dustiness, like fresh crushed black peppercorns.
Finish: Lots of citrus on the backend, with some green pepper, herbs, and a strong minerality.
The Bottom Line:
Lots of natural-tasting character here. You get a real sense of the earth drinking this stuff.
1. El Tesoro — Mundial Knob Creek 2023 Edition Añejo
I hate to list a hard-to-find and pricey bottle at the top of our list, but it is what it is, this is hands down the best tequila I had the pleasure of drinking this year. This tequila was overseen by master distiller Carle Camarena and is aged for 12 months in charred oak whiskey barrels from Knob Creek.
Those barrels provide a palpable whiskey character that is a true pleasure to savor. If you love slow sipping a great pour, this is the tequila for you. Craft at its finest.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich cinnamon and dew hover over a roasted agave body.
Palate: Very delicate with a buttery quality, black pepper, citrus zest, more of the cinnamon from the nose, and a floral sweetness.
Finish: Smooth with high minerality, soft oak qualities, and an all-spice aftertaste.
The Bottom Line:
Every sip is slightly different and always pleasing. A tequila truly worth savoring and one that never gets boring for your tastebuds to explore.
Have you missed Kellyanne Conway, a.k.a. the inventor of the Bowling Green Massacre? If your answer is “no,” then you are definitely not alone, and Kellyanne is no longer delivering daily missives from the White House lawn, but she’s still getting out there. At the moment, she appears to be miffed that plenty of Americans will not let go of how a certain ex-president attempted a MAGA coup on January 6, 2021.
Actually, Kellyanne would really like for Democrats to let go of the whole insurrection thing. That’s over and done, she believes, but she’s now convinced that the Left not only refuses to forget but also pulls a Groundhog Day with that historical mess. Then, she imagines, an entire political party hops out of bed and into their EVs to terminate fetuses. This obviously isn’t true, but that’s what Kellyanne claimed on Fox News:
Kellyanne: I think Democrats wake up every morning and they look at the calendar on the iPhone and it says January 6th. The date never changes. And then they get into an electric vehicle and go get an abortion. pic.twitter.com/fffuat7BVR
“I think Democrats wake up every morning and they look at the calendar on the iPhone and it says January 6th. The date never changes,” the 2016 Trump campaign manager declared. “And then they get into an electric vehicle and go get an abortion.”
She forgot about slipping on Birkenstocks and hugging a few trees on the way to the EV each morning. C’mon, man. As Jack Reacher says, details matter.
Have you missed Kellyanne Conway, a.k.a. the inventor of the Bowling Green Massacre? If your answer is “no,” then you are definitely not alone, and Kellyanne is no longer delivering daily missives from the White House lawn, but she’s still getting out there. At the moment, she appears to be miffed that plenty of Americans will not let go of how a certain ex-president attempted a MAGA coup on January 6, 2021.
Actually, Kellyanne would really like for Democrats to let go of the whole insurrection thing. That’s over and done, she believes, but she’s now convinced that the Left not only refuses to forget but also pulls a Groundhog Day with that historical mess. Then, she imagines, an entire political party hops out of bed and into their EVs to terminate fetuses. This obviously isn’t true, but that’s what Kellyanne claimed on Fox News:
Kellyanne: I think Democrats wake up every morning and they look at the calendar on the iPhone and it says January 6th. The date never changes. And then they get into an electric vehicle and go get an abortion. pic.twitter.com/fffuat7BVR
“I think Democrats wake up every morning and they look at the calendar on the iPhone and it says January 6th. The date never changes,” the 2016 Trump campaign manager declared. “And then they get into an electric vehicle and go get an abortion.”
She forgot about slipping on Birkenstocks and hugging a few trees on the way to the EV each morning. C’mon, man. As Jack Reacher says, details matter.
If you haven’t yet planned where you’ll be or who you’ll be locking lips — or eyes… or more — with at midnight on NYE, don’t fret. It’s never too late to send New Year’s Eve last minute. In fact, last-minute sends only serve to thicken the plot. Let chaos reign as the ball drops!
But first…
You should know that this list of cheap holiday flights does not include NYC. Believe it or not, the U.S. is full of epic NYE celebrations that don’t include wearing diapers in Time Square. (Yes, people legitimately wear Depends so they don’t have to leave their friends and lose their spot for the big ball drop… weird… not v. sexy…)
Anyways, whether you’re boo’d up, rolling with a squad, or hoping to meet the love of your life in a cozy economy seat on Frontier; a fresh NYE celebration is on the horizon for you. All you have to do is book your cheap, last-minute NYE flight and kiss 2023 goodbye (for better or worse). We’ve rounded up some of the best NYE cities and spots that aren’t Time Square, and made sure all flights are non-stop!
The party never stops in Miami. Ringing in 2024 on a mega-yacht sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it?
You can watch Miami’s festive fireworks show on the water or from South Beach or Bayfront Park, club hop from Brickell to Club Space, bop around hotel parties, or have a boujee wine and dine night. In Miami, it’s best to just see where the night takes you… It certainly won’t be boring.
Get a mile high in the Mile High City, or whatever…
Denver is fun, and full of bomb food and music venues. There’s Decadence, Denver’s annual NYE massive, classy soirees, cabarets, dinner parties, and plenty of trendy cocktail bars around Union Station. You don’t need to plan much to have a good time in Denver on New Year’s Eve. Or any day, for that matter.
Fuck a ball, we’re dropping a fleur-de-lis. And we’re doing it with a powdery beignet in one hand and a Sazerac cocktail in the other. But really, NYE in New Orleans has something for everyone: the wild party on Bourbon Street, the swanky jazz clubs and restaurants, DJs playing just about everywhere, and the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen putting along the river giving you a view of it all.
Niagara Falls is one of the most unique NYE destinations in the country. The waters glow in a spectacle of lights and fireworks launch off from both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the falls, free for all.
Full transparency: Niagara Falls is best appreciated on the Canadian side of the border. You can cross into Niagara Falls, Ontario via Rainbow Bridge from downtown Niagara Falls, New York with the pedestrian bridge. You can spend just a few hours or your whole NYE getaway in Ontario… Just don’t forget your passport!
I mean… Between Sin City’s resident DJs like Kaskade and Chris Lake, a top selection of world-renowned chefs and mixologists, and 24/7 temptation for shenanigans… Las Vegas is an NYE stronghold.
In fact, partiers shut down the entire Las Vegas strip every New Year’s Eve, transforming it into one giant sea of “what happens in Vegas…”.
Drop into Music City’s elevated downtown dining scene, watch the “Music Note Drop” from a stylish rooftop bar on Broadway, or boogie in the crowd at one of Nashville’s multiple large-scale watch parties and concerts! All the makings for a supreme last-minute NYE celebration, no doubt.
Not to mention the guest DJ at this year’s Nashville’s BIG Bash is the new mayor, who’s lined up to play a mini set for this true city of music.
If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is in need of help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (273-8255) or text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line: 741741.
There’s an old Hebrew saying that if you “save one life, you save the world entire.” Who knows if Brooke Lacey, 22, had that lofty goal when she began a campaign in 2020 to help uplift people’s spirits during the first COVID-19 wave.
But her kind efforts may have done just that.
Lacey has struggled with mental health issues throughout her life and she knew that people like her were going to have a really hard time during COVID-19 lockdowns. A study from May 2021 found that the New Zealand population had “higher depression and anxiety compared with population norms.” The study also found that “younger people” and “those most at risk of COVID-19 reported poorer mental health.”
To help those who may be struggling, Lacey printed 600 stickers with an uplifting message and posted them around places where people may take their lives, including trains, bridges and large bodies of water in Wellington, New Zealand. She also made a bumper sticker with the same message for her car.
The stickers spoke directly to those who may be contemplating taking their own life. “Please don’t take your life today,” the stickers read. “The world is so much better with you in it. More than you realize, stay.”
Earlier this month, Lacey parked her car in her university’s lot and when she returned to her vehicle to leave, she noticed a note was affixed to the windshield. Thinking it was someone complaining about how she parked or a ticket, she prepared for the worst but wound up being blindsided by the positive message.
A driveru2019s bumper sticker has saved a strangeru2019s life.nnAfter her own battle with depression 22-year-old university student Brooke Lacey was inspired to create a batch of 600 signs to inspire those battling mental illness.nn#StarFMNews919 @Star919FMpic.twitter.com/0SSHhUvyvK
A 22 year New Zealand student called Brooke Lacey, who’d suffered with depression created some bumper stickers to help others who might be going through a similar experience. Recently she found a heartfelt note under her windscreen wiper to thank herpic.twitter.com/kFfu9wtXnN
“I left my house with a plan and asked for a sign, any sign, I was doing the right thing when I saw your car in the parking lot. Thank you,” the note read. At first, Lacey wasn’t sure what the person was referring to, then she remembered her homemade bumper sticker.
“I had these made so long ago, put one on my car and forgot about them, until now,” she tweeted on her since deactivated account. “I am so glad whoever you are chose to stay today. You never know who needs this reminder.”
Now, it’s unclear exactly what the person’s “plan” was, but there’s no doubt that Lacey’s bumper sticker inspired them to choose life. Let’s hope that the sticker also inspired them to seek professional help for whatever difficulties they are going through.
Whether it was intentional or not, Lacey’s sticker was effective because it followed one of the most important strategies that people use at suicide hotlines. According to Science.org, it’s of utmost importance that people contemplating suicide are handled with “respect and empathy.”
Lacey’s story is a beautiful reminder of the power that one simple, thoughtful gesture can have on another person’s life. Every day, there are people all around us who are looking for a sign to give them a reason keep going. Whether it’s a hug, a smile or the right message in the right place at the right time, we should all be like Lacey and make sure everyone knows that the world is better with them in it. In fact, much more than they ever realize.
If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is in need of help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (273-8255) or text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line: 741741.
There’s an old Hebrew saying that if you “save one life, you save the world entire.” Who knows if Brooke Lacey, 22, had that lofty goal when she began a campaign in 2020 to help uplift people’s spirits during the first COVID-19 wave.
But her kind efforts may have done just that.
Lacey has struggled with mental health issues throughout her life and she knew that people like her were going to have a really hard time during COVID-19 lockdowns. A study from May 2021 found that the New Zealand population had “higher depression and anxiety compared with population norms.” The study also found that “younger people” and “those most at risk of COVID-19 reported poorer mental health.”
To help those who may be struggling, Lacey printed 600 stickers with an uplifting message and posted them around places where people may take their lives, including trains, bridges and large bodies of water in Wellington, New Zealand. She also made a bumper sticker with the same message for her car.
The stickers spoke directly to those who may be contemplating taking their own life. “Please don’t take your life today,” the stickers read. “The world is so much better with you in it. More than you realize, stay.”
Earlier this month, Lacey parked her car in her university’s lot and when she returned to her vehicle to leave, she noticed a note was affixed to the windshield. Thinking it was someone complaining about how she parked or a ticket, she prepared for the worst but wound up being blindsided by the positive message.
A driveru2019s bumper sticker has saved a strangeru2019s life.nnAfter her own battle with depression 22-year-old university student Brooke Lacey was inspired to create a batch of 600 signs to inspire those battling mental illness.nn#StarFMNews919 @Star919FMpic.twitter.com/0SSHhUvyvK
A 22 year New Zealand student called Brooke Lacey, who’d suffered with depression created some bumper stickers to help others who might be going through a similar experience. Recently she found a heartfelt note under her windscreen wiper to thank herpic.twitter.com/kFfu9wtXnN
“I left my house with a plan and asked for a sign, any sign, I was doing the right thing when I saw your car in the parking lot. Thank you,” the note read. At first, Lacey wasn’t sure what the person was referring to, then she remembered her homemade bumper sticker.
“I had these made so long ago, put one on my car and forgot about them, until now,” she tweeted on her since deactivated account. “I am so glad whoever you are chose to stay today. You never know who needs this reminder.”
Now, it’s unclear exactly what the person’s “plan” was, but there’s no doubt that Lacey’s bumper sticker inspired them to choose life. Let’s hope that the sticker also inspired them to seek professional help for whatever difficulties they are going through.
Whether it was intentional or not, Lacey’s sticker was effective because it followed one of the most important strategies that people use at suicide hotlines. According to Science.org, it’s of utmost importance that people contemplating suicide are handled with “respect and empathy.”
Lacey’s story is a beautiful reminder of the power that one simple, thoughtful gesture can have on another person’s life. Every day, there are people all around us who are looking for a sign to give them a reason keep going. Whether it’s a hug, a smile or the right message in the right place at the right time, we should all be like Lacey and make sure everyone knows that the world is better with them in it. In fact, much more than they ever realize.
A few generations ago, parents had pretty clearly defined roles, with the dad generally being the breadwinner and the mom being the homemaker/stay-at-home mother. Then women’s rights movement came along, empowering women in the workplace, ushering in the era of two working parents and producing an entire generation of “latchkey kids.”
Now those Gen X latchkey kids are parenting Gen Z, with the pendulum of working motherhood having swung somewhat to the middle. We were raised to believe we could be anything we dreamed of being and that we didn’t have to choose between being a mom and having a career. Gen X also became mothers during the heyday of parenting self-help books that impressed upon us the importance of attachment and hands-on childrearing, as well as the era of super-scheduled kids, whose activities alone require a full-time manager.
As a result, those of us in our 40s have raised our kids straddling two worlds—the one where women can have all of the career success we desire and the one where we can choose to be stay-at-home moms who do all the things. At first, we were told we could have it all, but when the impossibility of that became clear, we were told, “Well, you can have it all, just not at the same time.”
But as many moms are finding as their kids start leaving the nest, even that isn’t the full truth.
A Facebook post by Karen Johnson, aka The 21st Century SAHM (short for “stay-at-home mom”) nails the reality many stay-at-home moms in their 40s are facing as they find themselves floundering with the glaring gap in their resumes.
“This is for all the moms in their 40s who put their careers on hold to do the SAHM thing because you knew you couldn’t do both—career you loved and motherhood—and do both WELL, so you picked, saying to yourself ‘this is just for now and we’ll see,'” Johnson wrote. “But now it’s 15 years later and so much has changed in your career field that you know you can’t go back. So really, when you ‘took a break’ all those years ago, you gave it up.”
Johnson explained that yes, moms know they should be grateful for the time they’ve had with their kids. Most are. That’s not the issue. Whether a woman chose to be a stay-at-home mom because she really wanted to or because childcare costs didn’t work in the financial equation of the family, the transition out of it feels like completely uncharted waters.
“Okay, so you’re looking for a ‘career’ with part-time hours and a 100% flexible schedule because you’re still Mom-on-duty but you do have *just* enough hours during the day to reflect on the fact that you *do* have a college degree (maybe even 2) and although being a mom is the greatest and most important job in the world, you *might* actually want something more to your life than folding laundry and running hangry children to 900 events and remembering that they’re all due for dental cleanings,” she wrote.
Yup. The “default parent” role is real and weighted heavily toward moms as it is. For stay-at-home moms, it’s 100% expected, and that doesn’t suddenly end when it’s time to start thinking about joining the workforce again.
And, of course, moms barely have time to try to figure all of this out. So, as Johnson says, “But for now, you cram yourself into the only pair of jeans you have right now that fit and find a t-shirt on the floor that isn’t clean but isn’t dirty and will pass for the 4 hours of mom-taxiing you’re about to do and you tell yourself, ‘I’ll figure it out another day. Right now, I gotta get the kids to practice.'” Oof.
Johnson’s entire post is worth a read, as it resonates with so many women at this stage of life. But just as telling are the comments from women who not only see themselves in Johnson’s description but who feel like they were sold a bill of goods early in their motherhood. So many of us were led to believe that the skills and experiences of managing a family would be valued in the workplace simply because they should be and that the gap in their resume wouldn’t matter.
“This hits hard. I am right there too. And all those volunteer hours & leadership positions people said would look good on my resume when I once again applied for jobs? Those people all lied. It means squat,” wrote one person.
“Thank you! You spoke my heart. 42 this year, resigned from teaching almost 12 years ago, and never been more confused about my personal future, or exhausted in my present,” shared another.
“I’ve never related to a post more in my life! THANK YOU. Your words perfectly summarize the loneliest, most important job in the world and how that perspective shifts in your 40s. It is confusingly beautiful,” wrote another.
There is hope in the comments, too. Some moms have chosen to see their post-stay-at-home era as a fresh start to learn something new, which might lend some inspiration to others.
“I went back for my master’s degree at 47 years old. I’m now 50 in a new career I love and my husband is doing just fine pulling his weight with after school/carpool/dinner. Happy for the years I stayed home, happy with this new season too,” shared one person.
“Yuuuup. I decided to go back to grad school at 45. It’s insane but every term I complete I’m like – omg I’m doing it! So don’t let sweaty out of shape bodies and carpool fatigue stop you. I take naps and write grad school papers and have meltdowns where I cry from the frustration of it all – but dammit I’m doing it!” wrote another.
One mom who is past this stage also offered some words of encouragement:
“So incredibly well written. I feel all these things and did throughout my 40s. Now I’m in my early ’50s and I’m so glad I was able to stay home with my kids, but the guilt! The guilt of not using my education, the judgment of people who don’t understand why someone would stay home with their kids, the social engineering… We just eat each other alive sometimes don’t we? I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but it is a very lonely road and one you always question. I can tell you that all three of my kids were so grateful to have a full-time parent. I might not have always been the best, but they were glad to always have someone to talk to if they needed it. It’s hard to fill other people’s buckets when your bucket isn’t full, but the rewards do come back when the kids tell you thank you for everything that you’ve done. ”
Being a mom is hard, period. Working moms have it hard, stay-at-home moms have it hard, moms who have managed to keep one foot in the career door and one foot in the home have it hard. There’s a lot that society could do to support moms more no matter what path they choose (or find themselves on—it’s not always a conscious choice), from providing paid maternity leave to greater flexibility with work schedules to retirement plans that account for time away from the workplace. Perhaps that would at least make the many choices moms have today feel more like freedom and less like choosing between a rock and a hard place.
This article originally appeared on 9.27.23
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