One of the great things about the NBA is how some players are really, really big, while others are, uh, not that. The gap between the shortest and the tallest players in NBA history is two feet and four inches, and we’ve seen a ton of players in that range of heights dominate over the 78 years that the NBA has been a thing.
After discussing this a bit among ourselves, we decided to do what any good content person would do and turn our conversation into a post. To do that, we looked at every height in NBA history — from Muggsy Bogues all the way up to Manute Bol — to determine the best player at each height that we’ve seen. Some of these were simple, others were extremely difficult, but with one exception, the league has had at least one player at every height between 5’3 and 7’7. Let’s dive in.
5’3: Muggsy Bogues
It’s pretty wild that Muggsy Bogues’ NBA career happened. His ability to control games at his height — he’s the shortest player in NBA history — was pretty remarkable, and it’s probably safe to say we’re never getting another guy like him again.
5’4: No one
Welp! Let’s move on.
5’5: Earl Boykins
His best years came as a reliable bench option for the Denver Nuggets, but Boykins had a respectable, 13-year career with 10 different teams. He was also an incredible scorer in college, as he could flat out get buckets for Eastern Michigan.
5’6: Spud Webb
A high-flyer, yes, but also, a pretty good point guard in his own right who could fill it up and set up his teammates. And yet, he’s known for winning the Dunk Contest in 1986 by being able to dunk at 5’6, which still does not seem possible.
5’7: Keith Jennings
Shockingly, there were not a ton of 5’7 guys in league history. Jennings spent three years with the Warriors, averaging 6.6 points and 3.7 assists per game before taking his career abroad.
5’8: Charlie Criss
An EBA standout who spent time with the Washington Generals, Criss spent eight years in the NBA, most of which came as a member of the Atlanta Hawks.
5’9: Calvin Murphy
Almost inarguably the best player under six feet tall in NBA history. Murphy is a Hall of Fame inductee — the shortest player to ever receive that honor — and could absolutely fill it up, as he averaged 17.9 points per game for his career and 25.6 a night back in 1977-78. The list of guys with more points than him in Rockets history: 1. Hakeem Olajuwon, 2. James Harden. Not bad!
5’10: Damon Stoudamire
Stoudamire burst onto the scene in Toronto, winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award in 1995-96, before becoming the starting point guard on some incredible Blazers teams, including the one that lost a controversial Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000.
5’11: Terrell Brandon
Brandon could flat-out play, as the two-time All-Star selection’s peak (which included stops in Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Minnesota) saw him consistently put up some pretty big numbers. For his career, he averaged 13.8 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.
6’0: Chris Paul
It has to be the Point God, one of the all-time greats at getting his environment to bend to his will. Paul has consistently made teams better throughout his career, and few guys have ever understood how to make things tick as well as he has. Hopefully before his career ends, he’s able to get the ring that has long eluded him.
6’1: John Stockton
You can go with Thomas or John Stockton here, and despite Thomas having a 2-0 edge in rings, we went with the longevity and consistency of Stockton, the NBA’s all-time assists leader. He’s on a very short list of guys who have a real claim for being the best floor general in league history.
6’2: Stephen Curry
Plenty of guys have revolutionized basketball, and no one is more important in the league’s embrace of the three-point line as a high-volume weapon than Curry. The greatest shooter to ever live, Curry has captivated basketball fans since his college days with his shooting, scoring, and handles, all of which have been crucial in the Warriors winning four rings during his time in the Bay.
6’3: Jerry West
The Logo had to be on this list. West had arguably the greatest career in the NBA when you count a guy’s playing career and post-playing days, as he was an unbelievable player and executive. But this is about what he did as a player, as West averaged 27 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds for his entire career, and made the All-Star Game in each of his 14 seasons.
6’4: Dwyane Wade
A dynamic scorer and dogged defender who won three rings. His first was a statement that the Miami Heat were his franchise, while his second and third were pretty remarkable, as he sacrificed that so LeBron James could lead the Heat to back-to-back titles.
6’5: Oscar Robertson
As great of a stat sheet stuffer as we’ve ever seen, Robertson was incredible at doing everything that his team needed to win games — and that’s despite the fact that steals were not an official stat until his final season. He was the first guy in league history to average a triple-double, as he went for 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists during the 1961-62 campaign.
6’6: Michael Jordan
There are two guys who have an argument for being the greatest of all time. One is 6’6, the other is 6’8. Unsurprisingly, the 6’6 guy goes in here. Unless you’re one of those people who really loved Kobe Bryant, Jordan is as easy of an addition to this list as Muggsy Bogues, with the obvious caveat that the NBA has seen a lot more 6’6 guys.
6’7: Julius Erving
While his best years came in the ABA, come on, Dr. J is one of the coolest athletes to ever live and someone who kind of defined what it means to be a superstar. He was an All-Star every year of his 16-year career and split four MVPs between the ABA and NBA.
6’8: LeBron James
The other guy who has a case for being the greatest player of all time, another simple addition to this list. James came into the league with expectations of being a once-in-a-lifetime talent and has somehow managed to exceed them. That he is still playing at a crazy high level into his 40s is nothing short of a miracle.
6’9: Magic Johnson
Funny enough, the other guy who deserves a shout here is Larry Bird, because these two are going to be connected at the hip forever. But we’ll give the slight nod to Magic, one of the most magnetic personalities to ever come into the league who backed it up by being nothing short of brilliant on the floor. He won five rings, three MVPs, and is in the Hall of Fame.
6’10: Bill Russell
A 5-time NBA MVP and an 11-time champion, Russell is the greatest winner in the history of the league. He’s the most impactful defensive player to ever step on the court, and is the only player whose number is retired league-wide. It’s unfortunate that the NBA did not start counting blocks as an official statistic until after his career, because that would have made an already remarkable career even more jaw-dropping.
6’11: Tim Duncan
The poster child of consistency. The Spurs built their reputation of being the most well-run franchise in the NBA around having Duncan, who always answered the bell when San Antonio needed him to over his 19 years with the franchise. You could set your watch to him giving San Antonio 20 and 10 with a few blocks every night, while few (if any) players in league history did a better job leading by example.
7’0: Hakeem Olajuwon
One of the greatest players ever at doing a little bit of everything to help his team win. His footwork was so good that NBA players made it a point to work with him and learn from him after he retired. The Dream is an MVP, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, a two-time champion, and the guy Michael Jordan picked as the center for his all-time best team.
7’1: Wilt Chamberlain
If you have not gone onto Wilt’s basketball-reference page in a while, I’d like it if you took a minute or two to do that. I will even link to it for you, right here.
[twiddles thumbs]
Anyway, yeah, he’s on this list for good reason. It comes at the expense of guys like Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson, but no one is ever putting up numbers like Wilt again.
7’2: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
As easy of a choice as there is on this list. Abdul-Jabbar had as remarkable of a life in basketball as you’ll see, as he’s one of the greatest players in high school, college, and NBA history. He was one of the first names we jotted down on this list, and it’ll take a miracle for anyone to ever be a better 7’2 basketball player than him.
7’3: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
A legitimately fun one, because Victor Wembanyama is going to take this crown, while Arvydas Sabonis would’ve had it if he was able to come to the NBA much earlier in his career. As such, we’ll go with the man affectionately known as Big Z, who overcame foot problems early in his career to become a reliable and effective center for a long time in Cleveland.
7’4: Ralph Sampson
Few players entered the NBA with as much hype as Sampson. While injuries took their toll on him in his Hall of Fame career, he entered the league and immediately made it to four All-Star games, along with an All-NBA Second Team nod in 1984-85.
7’5: Chuck Nevitt
While he didn’t exactly fill it up — he appeared in 155 games over nine years — Nevitt does have the distinction of being the tallest champion in NBA history, as he won a ring with the 1984-85 Lakers.
7’6: Yao Ming
It had to be Yao, a cultural phenomenon and a truly dominant player who also felt like he came into the league a little too soon — he had a gorgeous jumper, and while he only went 2-for-10 from three in his career, we think he could’ve been a threat from deep if he entered the NBA a decade later. Still, the dude could play when health did not get in the way, as he averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds over an 8-year career.
7’7: Manute Bol
This comes down to Bol or Gheorghe Muresan, but ultimately, we went with Bol due to his longevity — he spent a decade in the NBA and is one of the most feared shot blockers in league history. His five blocks per game in 1985-86 is the second-highest single-season mark in league history.
Nipsey Hussle was prolific during his lifetime: He released just one album, 2018’s Victory Lap, but it was preceded by a good handful of mixtapes. Hussle tragically died in 2019, but now, there’s apparently a new posthumous project on the way.
This is according to Hussle’s brother Blacc Sam, who appeared on Power 106’s Brown Bag Morning Show yesterday (February 26). There, he explained that a posthumous project with Bino Rideaux was mostly completed before Hussle’s death, and now it’s getting released:
“If Hussle didn’t actually do the verse or work with the person or put together the blueprint for the project, we not doing it. He did something with Bino and there’s a new project that we’re about to release, and this was a project that he had with Bino that was pretty much like 80-percent finished, so the team kind of came in, got some unreleased verses and music that he had done with Bino and just tightened it up. It sounds amazing. It should be coming out around this summer. The team is real excited. We just finished going over all the stuff for the last three weeks with everybody.”
Watch the full interview above and revisit our 2018 mini-documentary on Hussle here.
The “Espresso” singer announced additional dates for her super-fun tour, including a Halloween show in New York City.
“You asked and we listened!!!” Carpenter wrote on Instagram. “So excited to announce an additional leg of the Short N’ Sweet Tour — coming back to a few select cities this fall! New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Toronto and Pittsburgh.” The openers for the shows will be Amber Mark, Ravyn Lenae and Olivia Dean on select dates.
There’s a few ways to get tickets for the new Short N’ Sweet Tour dates: the Cash App pre-sale begins on March 4 at 10 a.m. local time, followed by the Team Sabrina presale at 12 p.m. local time. The general on-sale is on March 7 at 10 a.m. local time. You can find more information here.
You can check out the full dates below.
Sabrina Carpenter’s 2025 Tour Dates: Short N’ Sweet Tour
10/23 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
10/24 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
10/29 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
10/31 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
11/1 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
11/4 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
11/5 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
11/10 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
11/11 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
11/20 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
11/22 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
11/23 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
Portland, Maine has long been a favorite summer tourism destination, and now there’s another reason to visit the New England city this year: The inaugural edition of the new Back Cove Music & Arts Festival will run from August 2 to 3, at Portland’s waterfront Payson Park.
The 2025 lineup is led by headliners Jack White and Lord Huron, as well as André 3000, Turnpike Troubadors, Lucy Dacus, Thee Sacred Souls, Margo Price, Chance Peńa, Madi Diaz, Cimafunk, Sarah Kinsley, Crowe Boys, The Greeting Committee, Eliza McLamb, The Weakened Friends, Oshima Brothers, Pihcintu Multinational Chorus, and Maine Academy Of Modern Music.
There’s a local pre-sale active now until March 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Then, the general on-sale for two-day and single-day GA and VIP tickets starts March 6 at noon ET, via the festival website.
The festival is presented by GoodWorks and Shore Sound Entertainment. In a statement, Shore Sound’s Jordan Wolowitz and GoodWorks’ Tyler Grill say, “Producing a music and arts festival with the city of Portland is a great privilege for us. Portland is made up of an incredible community of creatives, home to a world class food and beverage scene, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s in one of the most beautiful areas in the country. We are thrilled to introduce the Back Cove Music & Arts Festival to the city, and through it, put a focus on the musicians, restaurants, food-trucks, breweries, and artists that make Portland and the great state of Maine such a special place.”
Bob Dylan is on the internet and people have been loving the icon’s unexpected posts. Now, he may have just shared his most out-of-left-field post yet.
It went down on Instagram last night, when he shared an eight-minute video of Machine Gun Kelly. As Pitchfork notes, the video is of MGK performing at Orlando, Florida record store Park Ave CDs in 2016.
As for why Dylan decided to post that particular video, that’s not clear, especially since Dylan didn’t include any sort of caption with the post.
Naturally, the situation has left people confused. Comments left on the post include, “Bob respectfully what the f*ck is this,” “Bob probably thought this was Timothée Chalamet so he reposted it,” “Bob dropping hints about his next album,” “Anyone who is mad at Bob for posting this, would have also been mad at Bob when he went electric…,” “Times they are a changing yo,” “Bob told y’all—he contains multitudes,” “Mom Bob Dylan has the iPad again,” and, “what the hell, sure.”
Speaking of Chalamet, Dylan recently took time to praise the A Complete Unknown star, tweeting, “There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). Timothee Chalamet is starring in the lead role. Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me. The film’s taken from Elijah Wald’s Dylan Goes Electric – a book that came out in 2015. It’s a fantastic retelling of events from the early ’60s that led up to the fiasco at Newport. After you’ve seen the movie read the book.”
Severance is officially a raging success for Apple TV+, a feat made no less impressive by delivering consistently satisfying goods after making viewers wait three years for a followup. Last week’s episode further explored the conundrum of Innie vs. Outie sex, something that was not on everybody’s bingo card for this season, but also, nobody seems to be complaining.
The full season will add up to ten episodes, so we are officially past the halfway point, and let’s talk about when more will happen.
When Will Severance Season 2, Episode 7 Be Available?
February 28.
This week’s episode, “Chikhai Bardo,” arrives with this description: “The origins of an old romance intersect with a deadly present threat.”
While following up on last week’s tryst between Innie Helly and Innie Mark, Britt Lower recently spoke with Variety to clarify that Helly made “reclamation” of her own body and pulled off “a brave act to be vulnerable enough to say, ‘I want this’ to Mark.” She added, “Helly is very rarely rattled by anything, but her heart opening to connection is the scariest thing – not just to Mark, but to her chosen family of Dylan and Irving.”
Lower further explained why the group feels so protective of each other (in the context of protecting Dylan from Milchick), and she reasoned, “I think Season 2, for all of the innies, is a journey now that they’ve cracked open the question of, ‘Who am I in relationship to my work?’ Now it’s, “Who am I in relationship to the people I love? How do I show up for those people? How does that define me when we have contrasting desires?”
Of course, hints regarding Mark’s reintegration procedure threaten to change everything, but this show certainly isn’t giving away everything at once.
If you thought Doechii’s momentum would slow down in 2025, you’d be grossly mistaken. The Swamp Princess became just the third woman to win a Best Rap Album Grammy, wowed attendees and viewers with her performance, and followed up with a hit collaboration with Blackpink’s Jennie called “ExtraL.” As it turns out, that was just her warm-up.
Videos from her show-opening performance at DSquared2’s Fashion Week show in Milan, Italy have hit social media like a tidal wave, earning nearly universal approval from fans for its unexpected energy. From her entrance, stepping out of an armored personnel carrier (the door opened for her by none other than veteran model Tyson Beckford) and literally sprinting to the stage in five-inch heels, to closing out the show with a performance of her and JT’s collaboration “Alter Ego,” Doechii’s latest performance is joining all of her previous ones in being a runaway success — or should that be “runway” success?
According to users on Twitter, Doechii’s exuberant entrance was a homage to a similar DSquared appearance from Naomi Campbell in 2003, so it’s fitting that Campbell herself also appeared here to close out the show along with Doechii, JT, and the rest of the fall/winter 2026 collection. You can check out videos from the show here, here, and here.
I’ve been documenting hip-hop for over three decades, and I can safely say there’s no one like Gorilla Nems. The fiercely proud Coney Island, Brooklyn native lights up any room he walks in with his larger-than-life personality and imposing frame. Far from an overnight celebrity, Travis Doyle has been releasing music since 2010. His classic underground New York-inspired sound seamlessly blends the harsh realities of street life with humor. Filled with potent punchlines and sincere personal declarations, Nems makes the most motivational yet equally disrespectful rap music you’ll ever hear.
Nems’ personal no-holds-barred journey is one of resilience and authenticity, rising from homelessness and addiction to becoming a force in the music industry, all while staying true to his principles. His signature catchphrases — “Bing Bong,” “F*ck Your Life,” and “Don’t You Ever Disrespect Me” — have transcended hip-hop and become viral cultural moments, proving his undeniable influence beyond the music.
Riding backseat in an SUV on his way to his beloved hometown, Nems candidly opens up about the inspiration behind his latest project, America’s Sweetheart, which, like Drake and PartyNextDoor’s latest, was released on Valentine’s Day. Hey, ladies!
Nems reflects on his unrelenting drive, the evolution of his career, and the key role that legendary manager Paul Rosenberg has played in his recent endeavors. He also breaks down his creative process, from viral moments to carefully crafted records, offering an in-depth insight into what fuels his artistry.
So, you got to tell me: where were you when you came up with the incredible title “America’s Sweetheart”?
All my albums have had a gorilla theme, Planet of the Apes, Congo, Rise of the Silverback, Gorilla Monsoon. I felt like I had done all I could with the gorilla names. Then one day, I posted something, and someone commented, “Yo, it’s crazy how the ‘F*ck Your Life’ guy has now become America’s Sweetheart.”
That’s wild. Did you immediately know that had to be your next album title?
Instantly. It was too perfect. I’ve always been the underdog, and for years, people told me I’d never make it, saying “F*ck Your Life.” And now? Look at me. I got kids, grandparents, people of all backgrounds rocking with me. It’s crazy. So flipping that expectation with “America’s Sweetheart” felt right.
Your music stands out because it’s both raw and motivational. How do you strike that balance?
Man, I’ve been through it all: homelessness, addiction, jail. But I’ve also made it out and built something for myself. I talk my sh*t, but at the same time, I want people to know they can overcome whatever they’re going through. You can’t have highs without lows, and my music reflects that.
Your catchphrases — Bing Bong, F*ck Your Life, Don’t You Ever Disrespect Me — have all taken off. How did they start?
“F*ck Your Life” started back in ’98. My crew in Coney Island would say it all the time. We weren’t even rapping yet, but when I started, it stuck. Over time, people came and went, but I kept running with it. I knew, even if someone doesn’t like Nems, they’d still buy a “F*ck Your Life” T-shirt.
“Bing Bong” started when I was showing off merch in my living room. I’d say “Bong!” when holding up a new drop. One day, I just kept saying, “Bing Bong!” People laughed, it stuck, and then Sidetalk picked it up. The rest is history.
“Don’t You Ever Disrespect Me” came as a promo for my album Congo in 2019. I had no budget, so I started roasting people on video. “Don’t you ever disrespect my album, coming out in seven days.” People loved it so much they didn’t want the album to drop! Then I made it into a song with Ghostface. Everything turns into a track eventually.
There’s no one like you in hip-hop. You are a true original. How does that make you feel? Do you consider yourself an underdog or an outlier?
Well, first let me say that’s a great compliment coming from you, because I know you are of the culture and, if there was anybody that would know if I sounded like somebody, it would be you. So I take that as a badge of honor. Yeah, I’m an underdog. I’m like a real rapper slash comedian. Like a Sean Price, but different. It’s an acquired taste, but I’m trying to expand without losing out on who I really am.
There’s always a discourse around the state of New York hip-hop. How do you view the current landscape, and what do you feel your position is in it?
I’m the face of New York City! Not even just hip-hop. It’s like when people are out of town, and they look online, they can see me. I’m the face, I’m New York City, rolled up into one person. I just did a Funk Flex freestyle the other day, where I said that.
I represent New York and as far as us in the state of hip-hop, we are all over the place with this young generation with the drill sound, the older guys like me that’s still keeping it authentic to what the sound was, but adding a little new flavor.
But right now, the West Coast got it, hands-down — and that’s okay. It all comes full circle. You can never be mad at letting the next man shine. As long as you are confident in your abilities. The East Coast had it. We had a nice run, New York, then it went to the South, they had their run. So we are on the West Coast now. We’ll get it back in due time.
On the album, you proclaim that Coney Island is the only part of Brooklyn that hasn’t been gentrified. Why do you think that is?
Because that sh*t is at the bottom of Brooklyn. People from Brooklyn don’t even want to go to Coney Island. They go in the summer time, but from September to March, it’s a dead zone. Ain’t nobody trying to move over there that has to go to the city (Manhattan) because it’s a f*ckin’ mission. Even driving, it’s a mission.
Paul Rosenberg has been a big part of your recent success. How did that connection happen?
Paul followed me on Instagram a couple of years ago. As soon as I saw it, I hit him up like, “Yo, I need management.” He was like, “Bro, I’m not managing anybody new.” But I kept working. When we played my Scram Jones album (2023’s Rise Of The Silverback) for him, he loved it. I told him, “Yo, my next album is even better.” He said, “Give me six months, I’ll create a situation for us.” And he did. Now we talk regularly. He told me, “I’d rather see you become a huge success than make another million dollars.” That’s real.
Let’s talk about your creative process. How do you approach making an album?
I don’t force anything. I let the music come naturally. For America’s Sweetheart, I recorded about 40 songs and then narrowed it down to the best 13. Every track had to mean something. I don’t do filler tracks — I want every song to hit.
How do you decide what makes the final cut?
If I can’t imagine performing it live and getting a crazy reaction, it doesn’t make the cut. I need that energy. I also play songs for people I trust, my close circle. If they’re not feeling it, I take that into account.
Do you prefer working alone or collaborating with other artists?
I love collaborating, but I’m picky about who I work with. The chemistry has to be real. That’s why working with Ghostface was dope — it was organic. I don’t like forcing features just to chase clout.
What does success look like for you now?
Small goals. I remember wanting a Rolex. I put away $400 a week until I could buy it. Next year, I got another one. Now, my goal is to drop these albums with Goliath and then, TV projects. But the ultimate goal? To live a happy, fulfilled life. I want to be 80 years old and look back, saying, “I did that sh*t.” It’s not about material things. It’s about memories and good times with good people.
You’ve spoken about making gratitude lists. Is that still part of your daily routine?
Absolutely. Every morning, I do a mental gratitude list. Even something as simple as waking up without a sore throat -— I appreciate that. When you focus on gratitude, everything else falls into place.
America’s Sweetheart is out now via Goliath Records. You can find more info here.
For the past decade, the “Florida Man” meme has been dedicated to collecting — and mildly ridiculing — odd news stories that come out of the Southeastern state, usually including outrageous activities perpetrated by the titular “Florida Man.”
But in Luh Tyler‘s swaggering “Florida Boy” video, there is absolutely no shame in the 19-year-old rapper’s game as he proudly waves the flag for his home state, showcasing staples of The Sunshine State’s vibrant hip-hop culture. Everybody in the video has grills, locs, and chains; Tyler gets his hair done outside an apartment building; and the fellas alternate between hollering at ladies as they pass by and dismissing them in favor of continuing to hang out on the block.
The song’s been going strong on TikTok since its release a few weeks ago, and is keeping the buzz from his 2024 debut album, Mr. Skii alive, despite not appearing on the album. It’s his first single of 2025, picking up where he left off with December’s “Bandz Up” and its predecessor “Money Virus.”
Considering Tyler’s prodigious work ethic, don’t be surprised to see him follow up Mr. Skii sooner rather than later as he continues to build on the buzz he’s built since graduating from high school just two years ago.
More and more American whiskey producers have embraced the category, so we consumers have more options than ever before. Coming off 2024, which was a banner year for rye whiskey, you may be looking to expand your personal whiskey collection with some bottles of rye, but where should you start? I firmly believe that you don’t need to break the bank to get your hands on some world-class whiskey, and rye whiskey provides excellent value for thrifty buyers.
When it comes to American whiskey, the sub-$100 category is really the sweet spot, as you can find whiskeys, young and old, that deliver some serious bang for your buck. So, for this list, we decided to taste and rank all of the best bottles of rye whiskey at under $100.
Redwood Empire out of California has been quietly producing some phenomenal whiskeys that the rest of the country has been all too slow to pick up on. Here at UPROXX, we’re happy to sound the alarm because Batch 001 of this fantastic rye, made from a mash bill of 67% rye, 31% malted barley, and 2% wheat, is sure to convert some new fans for the brand. This small lot expression is blended from 45 barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Pine, Manuka honey, and mint tea form a delicious trifecta on the nose, which then leads the way to cedar, tobacco leaf, and black pepper aromas.
Palate: Honey and black pepper hit the palate at first, with the cedar and faint mint following closely behind as black tea curtails the sweetness at mid-palate. The texture is impressive and allows a second wave of sweetness in the form of confectioner’s sugar to kick in before the ample finish.
Finish: The finish is medium length, with honeysuckle and nougat taking shape, along with a little bit of orange blossom and oak.
Bottom Line:
Redwood Empire Van Duzen Rye has a funny name, but its instantly familiar medley of well-developed flavors is indicative of the fact that the folks behind this brand are dead serious about crafting high-quality whiskey. That small percentage of wheat in its mash bill likely contributes to its creamy mouthfeel, while that atypical but entirely welcome high-barley content keeps things interesting.
Southern Distilling Co., out of Statesville, North Carolina, is putting out some incredibly underrated whiskey. Their wheated bourbon is getting a lot of attention, but their rye is secretly the show’s star. This blend of straight ryes is finished in ex-bourbon barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A bunch of honeycombs and fresh mint aromas leap out at you when you first whiff of this whiskey, along with some green tea, vanilla ice cream, and sugary cucumber.
Palate: Honeyed mint tea with matcha makes the first impression of this whiskey a stellar one. Add a bit of dried strawberry and juicy orange. Southern Star’s rye has a delicious and weighty palate that rolls over your tongue and impressively coats the roof of your mouth along with your tongue.
Finish: The finish has an iron grip as the honey makes you suck your teeth to reveal more dried fruit and a floral note of rosewater. Black pepper and cucumber can be found on this lengthy finish as well.
Bottom Line:
Here’s another stunning new rye ready to compete with the big boys. As aforementioned, Southern Distilling Co. is starting to turn heads with its superlative whiskey, and if you’re a fan of excellent rye, then you need to add this to your shopping list immediately.
This blend of 95/5 straight rye whiskeys, double casked in Madeira and rum barrels from Blackened, has surprisingly flown under the radar for a few years now, rewarding Metallica fans and perceptive enthusiasts while the rest of the world is left scratching its head as to whether this is another hollow celebrity whiskey or not. Its placement on this list should assuage any doubts; this non-chill-filtered whiskey is a solid sipper.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Mint and sorghum lead the aroma notes with dusty books, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and freshly cracked black pepper coming on strong and some faint lemon zest and butterscotch notes providing additional nuance.
Palate: Cinnamon cookies with lemon frosting hit the tip of the tongue as the more prominent flavors of mint and sorghum slip to the middle of the palate, carrying vanilla, leather, and lemonade in their tow. There’s also an underlying sweet and savory tone with stewed peaches, mocha, and chili pepper tendrils branching up the roof of the mouth while brown sugar and black pepper expand on the tongue.
Finish: The finish is appropriately medium-length, with an impressively intact balance of sweet and savory flavors. A bit of barrel char and butterscotch blend well with tobacco leaf, cayenne, and cinnamon cookies to close things out.
Bottom Line:
Initially released back in 2018 under the stewardship of the late legend Dave Pickerell, the team at Blackened (now led by Rob Dietrich) has continued to expand his vision for this expression, making subtle tweaks that have benefitted the end product. This is one of those expressions that forces you to forget that the bulk of celebrity alcohol actually sucks because all it holds are the hallmarks of refined craftsmanship.
Bulleit 12-Year Rye is back again after being originally released in 2019. The 2024 edition actually contains whiskey from the first release, which, if you do the math, means there’s much older whiskey in this blend.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Green caramel apple aromas fill the glass and waft over the rim with a touch of honeyed mint tea, allspice, buttercream, and sweet oak. There’s also a distinctive floral aspect that draws you in.
Palate: Oak and allspice take the lead, but those notes are soon supplanted by a dollop of caramel, a mint milk chocolate shake, and the crisp green apple found on the nose.
Finish: Sweet oak and white pepper are abundant on the finish, which has a medium length that gently recedes, leaving you craving the next sip.
Bottom Line:
Look, Bulleit’s 95% rye and 5% malted barley grain recipe is famous for a reason — it’s a crowd-pleaser that helped redefine the category. With some added age, the whiskey takes on a richer depth of flavor and delivers an incredible value that’s well worth taking advantage of while supplies last.
After the success of Old Forester Rye, the brand followed that up in June 2021 with the release of their very first single-barrel, barrel-proof rye. This expression takes the same 65% Rye, 20% Malted Barley, and 15% Corn mash bill as its 100-proof alternative and bottles it undiluted at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with honeyed green tea before plunging you into deep caramel, nutmeg, dense oak tones, and even some chalky dark chocolate. Mint and rye spice run a ring around these aromas, eventually growing in prominence with a few swirls in the glass.
Palate: On the palate, the chalky dark chocolate and deep caramel notes lead the charge as mint sprigs, allspice, and mocha flavors shoot up the roof of the mouth. Black pepper and dense oak begin the transition to the finish on this full-bodied pour before the alcohol intensity begins to catch up to the flavor, which is a bit distracting.
Finish: The finish is lengthy and undulating, displaying mint and rye spice on the peaks with barrel char and nutmeg accenting the valleys. It’s a bit more interesting than enjoyable, making one wish it were a bit shorter.
Bottom Line:
What separates Old Forester 100 Proof Rye, the bartender’s best friend, and this expression (besides the leap in proof) is that it leans more heavily into variation as a single barrel. It also brings a much bolder flavor profile to the fore at barrel-proof. The results are often stunning, as Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye delivers a depth of flavor unmatched in Old Forester’s limited rye lineup. T
Ol’ New Riff is a bit of an oxymoron and doubly so because this “Ol’” expression is the newest release in New Riff’s lineup. With a grain bill of 65% balboa rye, 30% heirloom corn, and 15% two-row malted barley, this expression has only been on the market since mid-May 2024.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Admire the air out of this glass as the aroma of candied walnuts and paprika combine with leather, Red Vines, and figs. Then, go in for a second whiff as vanilla and clove appear out of nowhere.
Palate: More ripe figs can be found on the palate, along with an abundance of delicious nutmeg and root beer notes. Plumbing the substantive mouthfeel reveals further flavors like coffee bean and hazelnut spread.
Finish: The finish is where the hazelnut shines, along with a bit of barrel char and cinnamon. It’s also surprisingly long-lasting, and I hate to say that when tasted blind, it did have something of a “dusty” quality, making it seem “Old.”
Bottom Line:
The name of this whiskey is a bit too tongue-in-cheek for my liking, but your tongue-in-cheek will absolutely adore the liquid itself. New Riff has mastered Bottled in Bond whiskey and the sweet mash process, especially with their rye expressions. This is the finest example of their mastery yet.
Hard Truth has been winning high praise across the American whiskey industry, and their prodigious, popular rye is the number one reason why. Utilizing an increasingly popular “sweet mash” process, which has a tendency to produce leaner, more clearly defined flavors, this whiskey is made with a mash bill of 94% rye and 6% malted barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is surprisingly lively, with brown sugar, maple syrup, rye spice, and lemon zest standing tall. Prolonged interaction with oxygen awakens the aroma of chocolate bonbons, youthful oak, and caraway.
Palate: On the palate, what really pops here is the flavor of orchard fruits like ripe green apples in concert with apricots, sage, honey, and rye spice. There’s a bit of lemon zest that crops up at midpalate and opens the door for milk chocolate and young oak to steer the transition to the finish.
Finish: The finish is where this whiskey’s restrained texture holds it back a bit, as it tapers off in a flash but leaves dried apricot, honeyed black tea, faint mint, and peppercorn notes in its wake.
Bottom Line:
While so-called “95-5” ryes are all the rage, Hard Truth is blazing its own trail with a recipe that only slightly tweaks tradition but is causing a massive uproar among those in the know. This is a great brand to watch moving forward, and their outstanding sweet mash rye deserves the lion’s share of the credit for that.
Knob Creek has been putting out stellar rye for a long time, but their brand new 10-year-old expression was released in early June and is now the oldest age-stated rye in the Knob Creek lineup.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Knob Creek 10-Year Rye is oaky with an intriguing note of petrichor to go along with dark chocolate and a Brazil nut meatiness.
Palate: Pecans and nutmeg are the standout flavors on the palate of this pour, with a bit of wheat toast and honey bolstering this fine-tuned and expertly balanced whiskey. The robust mouthfeel defies its modest proof and serves as a fat red cherry on top.
Finish: More honey and wheat toast define the back end of this pour, while a touch of barrel char contributes to the outstanding finish as well.
Bottom Line:
Knob Creek’s regular 7-year rye is not exactly my jam, but that’s not because it’s flawed. It’s just okay. It’s ironic then that adding some oakiness is just what it needed to turn the dial from ehh to eleven. This is sure to be a new standard for a lot of rye enthusiasts, and it should be.
The modern Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. has been on the scene since 2015, and like many other brands, it opted to forgo releasing an unaged spirit at its start. Rye whiskey was their first release, and their now 3-year-old flagship rye continues to be their bread and butter.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Buttered wheat toast and herbal tea perfume the air with a nice proofy punch — that’ll wake you up. With the aroma of vanilla cone and peppercorns providing some support in the background, this is an earthy, subtly sweet nose.
Palate: Once this pour reaches your palate, it continues to translate with earthy tones of clove, gentle oak tannins, and black tea with hazelnut cream. The mouthfeel is light and spry, with a slightly citric flavor that gives some zip to the midpalate.
Finish: The finish has whipped cream and black pepper in spades that run down your chest, but it grips the palate with some oaky astringency before it goes.
Bottom Line:
Peerless Rye is made using the sweet mash process, wherein the fermenters are completely emptied and cleaned for each batch of whiskey they make. That meticulous process is most evidenced by the liquid’s ‘clean’ mouthfeel and distinctly layered rich flavors. Peerless Rye is a standout because it delivers an extra kick of flavor with these deceptively zippy barrel-proof small-batch offerings.
This award-winning whiskey might just be Still Austin’s best everyday offering. Nancy Fraley hand-picks the distillery’s most exceptional barrels for blending in this release and bottles the results at their undiluted barrel proof best.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this whiskey is bursting with lemon zest, cherry cobbler, candied ginger, and graham cracker pie crust while accents of black pepper spice, polished leather, and an undercurrent of mocha provide a base for those sweeter notes to grow.
Palate: The fruity notes from the nose continue to evolve on the palate, where grilled peaches, ripe apples, dried apricots, and lemon zest align well with more ginger, black pepper spice, and flashes of singed mint. The texture is fairly lean, which inhibits the depth of the flavors just a bit, but overall, this whiskey is a total pleasure to sip.
Finish: The finish is medium-to-long and highlighted by notes of black tea, brown butter, muddled cherries, and mint leaves.
Bottom Line:
Still Austin’s Cask Strength Rye is an enchanting blend of richness and ripeness, with a lively texture that belies its young age but a depth of flavor that gives the impression of a much older whiskey. All told it’s a winning combination that’s likely to keep improving over time.
There was a ton of excitement in the whiskey world when Wild Turkey fans found out that the brand would be reigniting its single-barrel rye program. These private selections, bottled at Wild Turkey’s world-famous 101 proof point, landed at the perfect time, right in the middle of an American rye whiskey renaissance.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this single barrel is classic Wild Turkey rye all the way with a hefty pop of rye spice playing well with brown sugar, orange zest, peanut oil, and a faint bit of star anise.
Palate: Once this liquid reaches the palate, you’ll find that all of the aroma notes are holding strong, forming a delightful melange that is well-developed despite its restrained proof. The effect makes it a pleasure to pick each layer of flavor apart to appreciate them all individually, and the whiskey’s lean texture makes cycling through each note a bit easier as it washes over every part of your mouth with spritely vigor.
Finish: The finish is short-to-medium but full of more rich flavors with peanut oil, orange zest, brown sugar, and sweet mint leading the way as a bit of barrel char closes things out.
Bottom Line:
While the sticklers out there would love to see Wild Turkey add Russell’s Reserve back to its single-barrel program, these 101-proof selections will fan the flames even as they quench our thirst. The fact that Wild Turkey’s rye whiskey can soar to such heights at such a modest proof point is indicative of the quality of their output.
Wilderness Trail is one of the pioneers of sweet mash American whiskey, and while their standard rye has helped to cause a major shift in the market, their latest 7-year release, which debuted in 2023, is looking to change the game again. Age-stated ryes have become all the rage, and Wilderness Trail is well-positioned to ride the wave.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is full of maple candy sweetness, gentle rye spice, and mellow oak tannins. There’s black pepper and a bit of butterscotch, along with some umami notes that permeate the nosing notes.
Palate: The texture of this whiskey is surprisingly spry, as bubblegum and buttered popcorn come across the palate at first. After chewing the whiskey, a maple candy note comes forth. That maple candy note soon fuses with milk chocolate, nougat, and caramel as the texture becomes leaner and a few more baking spices come into play. Imagine nutmeg and black pepper sprinkled over a Milky Way bar and you’re not too far off.
Finish: The finish is where a fair amount of mint and rye spice is hiding out, a pleasant reminder that you’re sipping a rye whiskey. The finish is also silky and long-lasting, a credit to the whiskey.
Bottom Line:
Wilderness Trail is well-regarded for making high-quality whiskey, and its rye casts the brightest spotlight on its capability. For this new 7-year release, the flavor profile leaves behind the more minty tones in its 4-year product to introduce darker sweet notes that translate well at a higher age.
For this showstopping expression, the boys at Pursuit United take three different ryes sourced from Kentucky and Maryland and finish the blend with 36-month air-dried French oak staves that previously held Sherry.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Tropical fruits, herbal tea, and coconut make up the base of the aroma notes, while red berries, sweet mint, and honey accents add to the affair. After sitting in the glass a few beats, the red berry aroma grows in prominence, as does the rise of rye spices and the aforementioned mint.
Palate: The palate on this whiskey is marked by a supple texture that gently cascades over your tongue, giving it a creamy mouthfeel that rewards the sweet flavors of butterscotch, brown sugar, and Rainier cherries while curbing the harshness of black pepper spice, barrel char, and raw mint that offer balance to each sip.
Finish: The finish lingers for a moderate amount of time, leaving behind cinnamon, subtle splashes of milk chocolate, and black-pepper-specked vanilla ice cream before dissipating fully.
Bottom Line:
Pursuit United has never been shy about its commitment to uncovering some of the best-kept secrets in the American whiskey-making landscape and artfully blending them to create something greater than the sum of its parts. For proof of this, behold their Sherry Revere Rye. This balanced and flavorful spin on the rye category offers a bit more sweetness, which is as likely to create new fans as it is to earn the respect of experienced rye-slugging enthusiasts.
Willett Family Estate bottlings are legendary in both the bourbon and rye whiskey world, with high-end expressions in both categories that fetch tens of thousands of dollars on the secondary market. They take choice barrels of rye and bottle them at cask strength for their standard four-year-old expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of fresh red grapes and candied green apple is really rich on the nose, with butterscotch, pine needles, and a faint bit of fudge and polished leather adding to the affair.
Palate: Dark chocolate, savory dates, butterscotch, and some clove come through in a major way on the incredibly dense palate. The whiskey itself just feels heavy, rolling over your tongue while subtly coating it.
Finish: A medium-long finish where leather and milk chocolate leaves a welcome impression along with black pepper and, surprisingly… bay leaves? That’s not what you might expect, but it’s there, and it delivers.
Bottom Line:
Willett Family Estate Rye is so polarizing because of the variety that exists under the brand’s banner, but when you find exceptional barrels, you’ll understand the hype. This particular single barrel is full of magic and goes to show why folks say that rye can be truly special, even at only four years of age.
6. Starlight Old Rickhouse Rye Single Barrel Selection by Justins’ House of Bourbon
Starlight is a craft distillery that has been putting out some of our favorite single-barrel ryes, with each bottling hitting our palates better than the last. This remarkable selection from Justins’ House of Bourbon in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, aged for 5 years before bottling, represents some of their best output yet.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is impressively expressive from the outset, with notes of honey and lavender joined by some light black pepper, caramel, sugar cookies, and bubblegum.
Palate: Bubblegum and sugar cookies are heavily featured on the palate at first, with layers of caramel cascading over the tongue, and then a note of edible flower/lavender comes in at the back end. Each sip is very sweet and delightfully viscous.
Finish: This one has a brief finish, but it’s juicy and causes your mouth to water in anticipation of further sips. That’s my kind of rye.
Bottom Line:
While I’m already partial to Starlight’s rye whiskey, the single barrels that they roll out represent some of the best whiskey the precocious craft distillery is producing right now. When you combine the experienced private selection team at Justins’ House of Bourbon with the prodigious liquid coming out of Borden, Indiana, you’re getting magic in every sip — as this offering shows.
Pikesville Rye used to be a pillar of America’s twin whiskey capitals, Maryland and Pennsylvania, calling the former home. Now, this whiskey is made in Kentucky by Heaven Hill but still honors its past with its throwback label.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Pikesville Rye is incredibly expressive with dense molasses, pine, rye spice, raw mint, potting soil, and dark chocolate. It’s a tightly wound and delightful nosing experience that rewards your patience as those notes slowly uncoil.
Palate: The tip of the tongue is briefly greeted with the citrus splash of tangerines before dark chocolate, allspice, and raw mint sink their hooks into your palate. The toffee aroma from the nose then makes its way to the palate along with a splash of sorghum, red pepper flakes, and, finally, a turn towards milk chocolate that sweetens it up a bit.
Finish: The lengthy finish is full of hazelnut spread, rye spice, mint, and overtures of freshly cracked black pepper. It continues the bold streak that this whiskey kicked off from the moment I opened the bottle.
Bottom Line:
Pikesville Rye is one of the more full-bodied and robust rye whiskeys on this list, making it perfect for punchy, whiskey-forward cocktails. Bourbon drinkers will admire its breadth of barrel-driven flavors, and while it is certainly a rye— complete with pine and dark chocolate notes — it’s that depth of richness that will bring you over to the dark side.
E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Rye has long been teased, hitting the TTB website a few years back, but it’s finally ready for market in 2024. Aged at Buffalo Trace Distillery, this brand-new release marks the second rye expression in the E.H. Taylor lineup, joining E.H. Taylor Jr. Straight Rye, which is Bottled in Bond.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of thick honeycomb, sweet peas, restrained mint, and chocolate truffle dust accent the air around the glass after pouring this dense whiskey. The proof seems tame and allows you to dip your nose into the glass and truly explore each layer of flavor, with some gooey caramel, peanut brittle, and charred red pepper also making an appearance.
Palate: The texture is immediately dense on the palate. This robust rye whiskey brings plenty of Manuka honey, rich chocolate truffle dust, and freshly picked mint rolling over the tongue in a viscous wave. On the second sip, the proof becomes more evident as the flavor of charred red pepper and vanilla ice cream’s sweetness fuse with a touch of cayenne and white pepper.
Finish: The finish is remarkably lengthy and mouth-warming as the liquid penetrates every corner of your palate and gives your upper chest a gentle hug full of clove, mint, and peanut brittle.
Bottom Line:
Expectations were high for E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Rye as a brand-new cask-strength bottling from one of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s most well-regarded whiskey lineups. Those expectations have been exceeded.
Despite its significant proof, this rye whiskey couples an impressive approachability with a remarkable depth of flavor that will leave you sucking your tongue and parsing additional layers long after your last sip. It’s stunning to think that this is just the first release in what will surely be a highly sought-after line extension from America’s oldest continuously operating distillery.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye directly reflects Wild Turkey’s burgeoning commitment to making some of the best rye whiskey on the planet. Officially launched in 2020, Rare Breed Rye is a barrel-proof, non-chill filtered blend of Kentucky straight ryes.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rye spice, sorghum, chocolate truffle dust, and orange buttercream fill the air once this whiskey leaves the bottle and enters the glass. There’s lots of ginger and nutmeg, adding depth to the overall aroma profile, along with touches of crème brûlée and floral notes.
Palate: Waves of orange buttercream spill over the palate, carried by the whiskey’s oily texture. Some well-developed milk chocolate notes introduce a darker sweetness at midpalate to contrast with the citrus quality at the tip of the tongue, along with some freshly cracked black pepper and clove.
Finish: Rising spice is very prominent on the finish, which has a medium length before being curtailed by chocolate truffle dust and fresh mint.
Bottom Line:
It is a crime not to include this world-beater of a rye whiskey as one of the best rye whiskeys under $100. Rare Breed Rye is frequently overshadowed by its equally stellar bourbon counterpart, but this killer rye definitely deserves its own shine.
2. New England Barrel Company Small Batch Select Cask Strength Rye
New England Barrel Company is one of the biggest brands in the region, and their superb, sourced stock of whiskey has been turning a lot of heads this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dense caramel and chocolate wafer aromas come tumbling over the glass’s edge, with honeyed mint tea and graham crackers competing with cinnamon bark and flan for your full attention.
Palate: The flavor of chocolate wafers, cinnamon bark, and some fresh sprinkles of nutmeg wash over the palate at first. There’s some mocha and oak at midpalate with potting soil and mint sprouting towards the back of the mouth. The liquid has a nice, viscous, mouth-coating texture, and it drinks well below the proof
Finish: Menthol and barrel char flavors combine with lady fingers and black pepper on the lengthy finish, which lingers courtesy of the proof, which is felt primarily at the midpalate and roof of the mouth.
Bottom Line:
The world of rye whiskey covers so much ground, from light and bright whiskeys to floral, grassy ones and even lush, dark pours. NEBCo’s delicious small-batch, cask-strength rye ticks the latter box, delivering a high-quality sipping experience for a screaming good deal at less than $60.
Kings County operates out of the Brooklyn Naval Yard and is highly regarded as New York’s oldest distillery. It’s also one of the inaugural Committed Members that got legislation passed to officially recognize “Empire Rye” as a designation. That means 75% of the mash bill must be New York State-grown rye and aged for a minimum of two years, among other specifications. This particular single barrel is over three years old.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: French vanilla and dates are immediately evident on the nose, along with some sassafras, toffee, and plenty of barrel char.
Palate: On the palate, you’ll find those rich dark notes take the lead, with toffee and barrel char being the main players. On the periphery, there’s a bit of smokiness, some piquant lemon zest, a touch of mintiness, and some of the French vanilla from the nose.
Finish: The finish is long and buttery, with a drizzle of honey serving to lighten up the overall flavor profile.
Bottom Line:
Kings County’s Empire Rye is a revelation in that it’s a far departure from their bourbon’s much darker, more brooding profile. The light notes of lemon zest and honey cling to the palate, making this one rye you’ll want to savor over hours, not minutes.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
