After their first round defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dillon Brooks and the Memphis Grizzlies continue to make headlines. Brooks’ antics were a consistent talking point down the stretch of the season and were only amplified in the playoffs after he made the curious choice to poke LeBron James in the media. Furthermore, Brooks was ejected from Game 3 after hitting James in the groin area during a Grizzlies loss.
This summer, Brooks will enter unrestricted free agency hoping for a big pay day, but the Grizzlies have apparently decided they will not be retaining him under any circumstances. A wing defender of Brooks’ caliber would typically have many suitors in free agency, but Shaquille O’Neal went on “The Big Podcast” to explain why he thinks Brooks’ time in the NBA may be coming to a close.
Despite shooting 13.6 times a game, Brooks only posted a 49.4 true shooting percentage in the postseason, which would be second worst among all players with 10 field goal attempts per game this season. If Brooks could find a way to fit within the structure of an offense, he would be a great fit on a number of teams. But during his exit interview, Brooks stated he wanted to be more than a three-and-D guy. It will be interesting to see if another NBA team sees Brooks the way he sees himself.
The Miami Heat picked up an impressive Game 1 win over the New York Knicks in their Eastern Conference Semifinal series. For Miami, the win came in spite of an injury to star wing Jimmy Butler, who rolled his ankle when things were tight in the fourth quarter but managed to stay in the game and help the Heat take home court advantage away from their rivals.
Unfortunately for Miami, Butler’s injury will end up costing him at least one game in the series. The team announced on Tuesday evening that Butler’s ankle will hold him out of Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, which is slated to tip off at 7:30 p.m. EST.
#MIAvsNYK INJURY UPDATE: Jimmy Butler (ankle) has been ruled out of tonight’s Game 2 vs the Knicks.
Losing Butler is a gigantic blow for a team that is already shorthanded due to Tyler Herro’s absence, as he suffered a fracture in his hand during Miami’s opening round win over the Milwaukee Bucks. While the Heat were able to navigate that, Butler was the driving force behind it, as he played perhaps the best series of his decorated postseason career to help knock off Milwaukee.
Miami’s win in Game 1 came as a number of players were able to reach double-digit scoring, with Gabe Vincent’s 20 points leading the way. Both Kyle Lowry (18 points) and Bam Adebayo (16 points) were able to pitch in big scoring nights as well.
We’re fully into spring now and that means the whiskey releases are dropping hot and fast. That’s especially true when you take a step back from local whiskey releases and take a global view of the whole whiskey industry. There’s just so much Scotch whisky, rye, bourbon, American single malt, and more hitting the market right now. To help you sort through all of the new stuff, I’m going to call out 20 brand-spanking-new bottles of whiskey that you should track down this month.
For this list, I’m looking at whiskey expressions that either just dropped for the first time ever or are the latest 2023 versions of classic whiskeys. The throughline? All 20 of these whiskeys are just hitting shelves right now. That means that you should be able to find most of these, either by clicking the price links for each entry, by perusing your local (good) liquor store, or by sidling up to your nearest whiskey bar. These are the hottest whiskeys right now and certainly worth the effort.
I didn’t rank these whiskeys, which is rare for us. They’re all good, folks. Basically, I could say “if you only get one whiskey this month…” with every single one. But that would be boring so find the tasting notes that speak to you and go from there. Let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This is a much-sought-after blend from Kentucky darling Bardstown Bourbon Company. The blend in this case is a mix of seven-year-old Indiana rye with a mash bill of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley blended with a 17-year-old Tennessee bourbon with a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. Once those barrels are batched, the whiskey is re-barreled in Foursquare rum barrels for an additional 23-month rest.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Woody banana and marzipan pop on the nose with a deep and sharp clove, anise, and cinnamon vibe next to peanut butter clusters dusted with toasted coconut, burnt orange zest, and sea salt with this whisper of sultanas in the background.
Palate: The rye funkiness drives the rum tannins towards a soft sticky toffee pudding with rich toffee, mild vanilla oils, and a sense of spiced mincemeat pie.
Finish: The finish is lush and silken with a sense of fresh and warm vanilla pods over warm grog with a handful of dark and woody winter spices countered by luxurious and buttery salted caramel with a fleeting hint of smoldering marshmallow.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the best rum-barrel-finish whiskeys to date. Seriously. It’s fire on its own in a Glencairn glass. It also makes a killer old fashioned with all that spice already built in.
Booker’s “Charlie’s Batch” 2023-01 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This first Booker’s Small Batch of 2023 has arrived! This release is an hommage to Charlie Hutchens — the woodworker who makes Booker’s boxes the whiskey comes in and a long-time family friend to the Noe family who makes Beam whiskeys. The whiskey is a blend of mid to high-floor barrels from five warehouses. Those whiskeys were batched and bottled 100% as-is at cask strength after just north of seven years of aging.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Toasted almonds and walnuts lead the way on the nose with a deep and rich vanilla cake lightly dusted with cacao, dry cherry, and cinnamon with a touch of old oak cellars and black-mold-encrusted old deck furniture.
Palate: The soft caramel and vanilla open the palate before a rush of woody and sharp spices — clove, anise, allspice, red chili pepper — arrive with a sense of old wood chips on a workshop floor leads to salted toffee dipped in roasted almonds and dark salted chocolate with a whisper of cherry cordial backing it all up.
Finish: That soft sweetness counters the hot spices for a while on the slow finish as the spices take on an orange/cherry/vanilla Christmas cake vibe with plenty of nuts and ABV heat.
Bottom Line:
This is a warm whiskey — the quintessential Kentucky hug bourbon if you will. That said, there’s just so much going on in the flavor profile that the heat is secondary to the beautifully layered smells and tastes. My advice is to pour this over a single large rock and slowly let it wash over you one sip at a time.
Jefferson’s Marian McLain Blend Of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys
This whiskey pays tribute to Jefferson’s founder Trey Zoeller’s grandmother — Marian McLain — who was an 8th-generation moonshiner and bootlegger back in the day (she’s one of the earliest documented women in American whiskey to boot). The whiskey Zoeller made to honor McLain is a blend of five whiskeys. 40% of the blend is an 11-year-old Kentucky bourbon, 21% is a 14-year-old Tennessee bourbon, 17% is a rum-cask finished bourbon, 14% is a wheated double-barreled bourbon, and 8% is an eight-year-old Kentucky bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a mix of old whiskey barrels wrapped in worn saddle leather with a sweet and creamy sense of honey, vanilla, and old cinnamon sticks dipped in hot apple cider.
Palate: The palate is fruity with a sense of mango chutney and rum raisin next to dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, salted toffee, and banana bread inside of a cedar box with a twinge of smoldering wild sage.
Finish: The end is lush and full of dark holiday cakes brimming with soft spices, roasted nuts, and dark dried fruits next to more of that creamy honey and silken vanilla.
Bottom Line:
This is damn fine whiskey. It might be one of my favorite Jefferson’s releases to date. It’s really that tasty. Overall, the lower ABVs also mean that you can pour this one neat and enjoy it as a slow sipper or mix it into an amazing whiskey-forward cocktail.
Maker’s Mark 2023 Limited Release BEP Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Finished With 10 Virgin Oak Staves
This is the final chapter of Maker’s Mark “Wood Finish Series.” The whiskey in the bottle is made from classic Maker’s that’s batched at Barrel Entry Proof (BEP), which is 110-proof (the average bourbon goes into the barrel at 125-proof) and then finished with ten bespoke wooden staves inside the barrel, all made from new (or “virgin”) oak.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Roasted vanilla beans and pan-toasted winter spices (nutmeg, clove, allspice, and cinnamon) mingle with lush and butter caramel sauce, brown-sugar rock candy, and a whisper of old wicker furniture with a hint of pipe tobacco.
Palate: That brown-sugar sweetness drives the palate toward woody and warm winter spices with a creamy eggnog edge next to vanilla sheet cake sprinkled with toffee chards and dried orchard fruits.
Finish: The end dries out a tad as the spices ramp up toward a holiday cake made with plenty of vanilla, brown sugar, buttercream, and toasted woody spices before being kissed with fresh pipe tobacco that was left in a cedar box for a spell.
Bottom Line:
This is excellent whiskey. It’s on the woodier side, yes, but it all makes sense to the senses as you slowly sip it. This is the bottle you get when you want a slow and delightful sipping experience with a well-made bourbon.
This new release from Chicken Cock (yes, yes, get your laughs out) is a new mix. The blend in the bottle is a mix of eight-year-old Kentucky whiskeys that have been double-barreled, meaning that they were aged in new American oak for a spell and then were re-barreled in new new American oak barrels. This adds an extra layer of fresh and vibrant wood sugars to the mix, really amping up the flavor profile with the wood.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dark caramel opens the nose before diving into creamy espresso, dark chocolate-dipped cherry and raspberry, and a mild sense of really fancy Almond Joy.
Palate: Whiskey-soaked red berries and vanilla beans drive the palate before ice cream waffle cones, cherry ice cream, and holiday cakes full of winter spice, roasted nuts, and toasted coconut thrive on the taste.
Finish: The creaminess really amps up the finish with a sense of toffee pudding and cinnamon ice cream with a sense of berry compote spiked with allspice and clove over a mild sense of pipe tobacco and cedar bark.
Bottom Line:
This has a great balance of woody spice and creamy lusciousness that just works. It’s not subtle but it never overpowers your palate. In the end, I’d use this to make one hell of a Manhattan or Sazerac or as a slow sipper on a slow afternoon with a single rock to help amp up the creaminess to 11.
Ardbeg Heavy Vapours Limited Edition Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
This Ardbeg committee release is one of the more esoteric in a while. The whisky was distilled without the purifier in the still. Without getting too lost in the weeds, the purifier softens some of the harsher edges of the distillate. Since that didn’t happen, this whisky was built to be a deeper and darker version of the classically already deep and dark whisky.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich and dark is a good way to describe a nose full of fresh asphalt, burnt rope dipped in seawater, muddy barnyard after a fresh rain, I want to say jet fuel, and this deep counterpoint of dark dried red fruit and the darkest of dark cacao nibs tossed with salt.
Palate: The taste starts off subtly with mild cinnamon bark and cardamom pods next to really dark salted chocolate, spicy and fresh peppermint, and crushed oily espresso beans with a bitter sense of a mouthful of really expensive Japanese charcoal (binchōtan).
Finish: The finish is oddly numbing — it’s not hot at all — while coal and espresso bitterness wane as the chocolate, peppermint, and spice settle on your senses for a patient fade out.
Bottom Line:
This is … a challenge. I love crazy shit like this as a single pour outlier to have something, anything different in the rotation. I can also see people being turned off from whiskey for their whole lives if they drink this first. Tread carefully with this one. It’s specifically not for everyone.
The spring edition of Larceny is here. The whiskey is a barrel-strength version of Larceny wheated bourbon (68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley) created for a small batch of six to eight-year-old barrels. Those barrels come together and go into the bottle 100% as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose runs deep with dark chili pepper spice next to salted caramel, cherry cake, and rich vanilla with a hint of nuttiness.
Palate: The taste is lush with a deep sense of creamy winter spices mixed into mincemeat pies and eggnog next to malted buckwheat pancakes drizzled in toffee syrup and sprinkled with roasted walnuts, pecans, and almonds with a whisper of wild sage.
Finish: Sharp cinnamon bark and cherry vanilla tobacco round out the finish with a nice balance of creaminess and sharp woody spice leading to a warm and long Kentucky hug (ABV warmth).
Bottom Line:
This is a killer Larceny release — it’s one of my favs in a while. It’s a bit warm but still delivers a deep and satisfying bourbon vibe. Overall, try it over a single ice cube first then start playing around with it in cocktails.
Lost Lantern Single Distillery Series Gentle Giant Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt
This rare blend from Balcones via Lost Lantern is a batch of five-and-a-half super rare casks. The batch is made from single malts aged in a four-year-old double cask apple brandy cask, a three-year-old large European cask that dried outside for three years, another one of those casks but just a little older, a four-year-old ex-bourbon cask, and a half-full European oak cask that was exactly three years and 56 days old when it was dumped. All of that whisky was vatted and bottled as-is. Only 1,100 bottles came from those barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This opens with Granny Smith apple skins over winter spice barks dipped in floral honey and dried next to orange wheels and Graham Crackers.
Palate: The orchard-iness drives the palate with a sense of soft salted toffee cut with vanilla oils and dipped in dark chocolate orange sauce.
Finish: Orchard woods and soft malts round out the finish with a hint of honeyed toffee and spiced apple fritter.
Bottom Line:
This is just nice. It’s not life-changing but it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes just being really, really good is enough.
Stranahan’s Diamond Peak Colorado Single Malt Whiskey Extra Anejo Tequila Cask 2023
The second Diamond Peak release of 2023 is a 100% Colorado malt whisky. The whiskey barrels were five to eight years old (all-new American oak) that was batched and re-barrelled into Jose Cuervo’s Reserva de la Familia Extra Añejo Tequila for two more years of resting. Finally, those barrels were batched, proofed, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This pops with a deep pink peppercorn next to floral honey (think wildflowers and mountain sage) next to soft salted toffee rolled in roasted almond and dipped in lush vanilla caramel.
Palate: That wild sage and lush toffee drive the palate toward a sense of old cedar planks, deep and dark berry leather, and a lush sense of vanilla over salted caramel and marzipan.
Finish: That creamy and lush vibe drives the end with more salted caramel, marzipan, and vanilla cream with a hint of honey-soaked dates and salted cinnamon candies with a whisper of rose-hued tobacco.
Bottom Line:
This is a delicate yet deep AF whiskey. You really cannot go wrong if you’re looking for an easy sipper that takes you on a long malted journey.
Cragganmore 2023 Distillers Edition Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Cragganmore is an iconic Scottish distillery. This yearly whisky release is matured in sherry casks for 12 years. It’s then transferred into port-seasoned American oak casks for a final maturation phase before proofing and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Fennel leads to dried fruits — sultanas, prunes, dried fig — and fresh apples on the nose with a hint of tartness and skin next to savory (almost oily) herb branches and leaves.
Palate: The taste, on the other hand, leans into sweet oak, pear candies, fresh figs, and a softness that’s almost hard to believe while this medley of caraway, fresh fennel, and sweet cardamom dance together on your palate.
Finish: The end is full of sweet fruits — think ripe pears, green tomatoes, and star fruit — and has just the right touches of soft oak, oily vanilla, and savory green herbs as it fades towards a final note of wet wicker right after a rain storm.
Bottom Line:
There’s something about the funky green herbal and orchard notes of this whiskey that keeps calling me back for more. It’s unique but nostalgic. It’s like silk but still full of surprises. It also truly blooms with some water added, leading you through herb gardens, fruit orchards, and creameries on a sunny day.
Chattanooga Whiskey Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tennessee High Malt 111 Proof
This Tennessee whiskey is hewn from a mash bill (recipe) of classic yellow corn, malted rye, caramel malted barley, and honey malted barley. The ripple here is that the fermentation of those grains with water and yeast lasted for seven whole days (basically three times as long as most fermentation runs). The distilled juice was filled into toasted and charred oak and left alone for over two years. The final batch was pulled from no more than 12 barrels for this release.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Chocolate malts cut with spiced cherry syrup drive the nose with a hint of cinnamon bark and eggnog nutmeg next to soft orchard vibes.
Palate: That chocolate maltiness leans into honey-dipped graham crackers with a hint of allspice and clove over gingerbread and dark-chocolate-covered dried cherries.
Finish: A hint of cinnamon bark dark cherry tobacco mingles with malty spiced vanilla cookies and a hint more of that honeyed sweetness with deep chocolate lurking beneath it all.
Bottom Line:
These new and exciting malt experiments from Chattanooga are some of the best whiskeys hitting shelves right now. The best part? It’s just really f*cking tasty. That makes this a great choice to add to your bar cart right now.
Balcones Cask Strength Fr.Oak Aged Texas Single Malt Whisky Single Barrel (S1B61)
This is one of only a few barrels of Balcones’ famed Fr.Oak barrels left. This particular barrel was chosen by ReserveBar at five years and nine months old. That barrel was bottled as-is at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This runs deep on the nose with dates, prunes, and leathery figs next to cinnamon bark, clove buds, and burnt sugar over burnt orange with a hint of dark chocolate espresso — kind of like an affogato with a scoop of rich dark chocolate gelato instead of vanilla.
Palate: The fig and chocolate combine on the palate to create a lush balance of rummy mincemeat pie, clove-stuffed blood orange, and a touch of old cedar humidor with a hint of sticky toffee pudding tobacco still lingering.
Finish: That sweet and chewy tobacco drives the finish toward soft cedar bark weaved with old wild sage, figs, and vanilla bean husks.
Bottom Line:
This is so deep and dark and funky and fun — freaking delicious. And since these are going to be extinct soon, so now is the time to add one or two to your collection.
Lagavulin 2023 Distillers Edition Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
2023’s Distillers Edition is a prime example of the heights Lagavulin can reach. The whisky was aged for 15 years in the core Lagavulin barrels (ex-bourbon and ex-sherry) and then finished for around six months in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks that were specifically made and held specific sherry before the whisky was loaded into the barrels. The result is a 15-year-old Lagavulin that’ll help you fall in love with the brand and style.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This feels like all the subtle notes across the Lagavulin range have come together in the best way. You’re drawn in with hints of honeyed smoke, salted caramel apples, mild hints of vanilla, and smoldering coffee grounds.
Palate: The taste ties the honey to a soft oakiness next to vanilla chocolate coffee, seaside salted taffy, and a touch of fish oil.
Finish: The end is very long and pure velvet on the tongue as the sweet oak fades towards a sweet smokiness, with a hint of salty roasted almonds and burnt vanilla husks.
Bottom Line:
This is the best gettable bottle of Lagavulin on the shelf. It pours beautifully as a neat sipper but also makes a divine whisky-forward cocktail.
Hemingway Rye, 1st Edition A Blend Of Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished In Rum Seasoned Olorosso Sherry Casks
This whiskey is a unique one. The blend is made up of two whiskeys — 94% is a nine-year-old 95/5 (rye/malted barley) Indiana rye and 6% is a four-year-old 95/5 Kentucky rye. Those whiskeys were batched and then re-filled into a rum-season Oloroso sherry cask for a final rest before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich and old oak mingles with salted caramel, dark maple syrup, and sheets of dark fruit leather next to a soft sense of caraway rye toast with a soft creamed vanilla butter and a light touch of cherry compote.
Palate: That cherry takes on a slightly tart and salted aura on the taste as the salted caramel leads to huge sticks of cinnamon bark, clove-studded oranges, and a smudging bundle full of wild sage, sweetgrass, and cedar bark.
Finish: Those smoldering botanicals linger on the finish as a soft cinnamon cake with salted toffee drizzle and a whisper of dark chocolate-covered espresso beans counter the rye dank.
Bottom Line:
Delicious. Great value. Get it.
Talisker 2023 Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The 2023 Distillers Edition is a classic Talisker that’s aged by the sea and finished for six months in Amoroso sherry casks. The whisky was distilled in 2012 and bottled at 10 years old. It was then finished in another Amoroso sherry cask, making it “double cask” matured.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose runs deep on this whisky with mild hints of beachside campfire smoke whispering in the background as hints of red fruit, wet driftwood, and green peppercorns draw you in.
Palate: The palate embraces the red berries with a slight tartness next to the sweetness as the peat remains dry and distant and tied to the brine of the sea with an almost oyster liquor softness.
Finish: The finish lingers for just the right amount of time as sweet berries and dry peat lead towards soft dark cacao powder with a tiny note of vanilla and one last spray from the sea.
Bottom Line:
This is as close to a perfect whisky as you can get from Scotland. It’s sophisticated, dynamic, and delectable. This is the sort of whisky pour that helps you fall head over heels in love with whisky.
New Riff Silver Grove Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Proof Aged 4 Years
This new and very limited release from New Riff (it’s a distillery-only release for now) is an hommage to Cincinnati’s Carthage neighborhood and the Edward Brinkmann Distillery’s 1933 bottling of “Silver Grove.” The actual whiskey in the bottle is made from a mash of 65% corn, 30% malted rye, and 5% malted barley. That whiskey was left alone for four years before batching and bottling as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Sweet salted caramel and dusty old cinnamon sticks lead to oily vanilla pods, red chili spiced cherry syrup, and a sense of cedar planks soaked in red fruit and maple syrup.
Palate: Dried blueberries and woody huckleberries combine with rich salted caramel and ground almond with a sense of classic cherry vanilla bourbon notes adhering to a light sense of chewy tobacco.
Finish: That tobacco really leans into the caramel/cherry/vanilla on the finish as the bourbon-iness of everything peaks with a soft Kentucky hug and subtly sweet end.
Bottom Line:
This is damn fine bourbon from one of the best “craft” distilleries working today. If you’re anywhere near Northern Kentucky, or Cincinnati, Ohio, get yourself over to the distillery for a bottle ASAP.
This ReserveBar barrel pick is from a single barrel of Indiana rye (95/5) that spent seven years resting before it was bottled. The whiskey when into the bottle completely as-is from the barrel.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a sense of pain au chocolate next to cardamom pods, earthy spice barks, dark burnt orange, and a fleeting sense of cherry by way of tart black currants, cloves, and salted black licorice.
Palate: The dark chocolate from the pastry drives the taste toward a salted toffee dipped in roasted walnuts with a light sense of orange marzipan, lemony hops, and soft mossiness with a whisper of mustard seed, and maybe some coriander seed.
Finish: There’s an umami vibe that’s almost toasted cinnamon bark with dried forest moss next to sweet and spicy cherry syrup over chocolate-lemon balls with a flake of salt and a sprinkle of dried lavender next to fresh nasturtiums, old cedary tobacco, and freshly baked baguette with a pad of salted creamed butter.
Bottom Line:
This is next-level stellar whiskey. This whiskey truly takes you on a journey that you want to never stop. It’s so good that $100 doesn’t even feel that expensive for what it is. It’s just great.
Macbeth Act One Lady Macduff Linkwood Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 31 Years
This whisky is from a super whisky nerd distillery, Linkwood. If you know, you know. The whisky in the bottle was chosen by Elixir for its Macbeth lineup this year. The whisky is hewn from four ex-bourbon barrels that held the malt for at least 31 years (it’s a small miracle that any survived). Those barrels were vatted and bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a beautiful sense of ripe apricot (fresh from vine clarity) with creamy lemon curd, fresh spearmint, lavender lemonade, soft saddle soap, buttery brioche, and … I swear … freshly washed sheets hanging out on a line on a sunny day.
Palate: Fresh pears and sweet apples counter the apricot on the palate as buttery scones just touched with rose water smeared with vanilla brandy butter with a light toward of floral honey and very dry champagne.
Finish: The pear layers into the champagne while the floral honey creates a luxurious mouthfeel next to soft moments of winter spice barks, marmalade, apricot leather, and creamy salted buttercream just kissed with vanilla and summer flowers.
Bottom Line:
There are only 650 bottles of this. If you can, buy two. It’s not only that good, but it’s damn near “a once-in-a-lifetime whisky” good.
Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 10 Years Old
2023’s Michter’s 10-Year Rye release is here! The whiskey is made from a corn-rich rye whiskey mash bill with a good dose of barley in there. The absolute best barrels are chosen — with some up to 15 years old — for this release. Then each of those barrels is individually bottled as-is with a hint of proofing water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich and lush toffee combines with soft marzipan on the nose as a dash of freshly cracked black pepper lead to cinnamon-laced apple cider and cherry-soaked cedar bark.
Palate: The palate is part Red Hot and part zesty orange marmalade with creamy vanilla pudding, sweet and spicy dried chili peppers with a hint of smoke and woodiness, and this fleeting whisper of celery salt.
Finish: The end dries out the almond with a vanilla cream tobacco, soft and sweet cedar, and dark chocolate orange vibe all balanced to damn near perfection.
Bottom Line:
This is the ultimate Kentucky rye expression that showcases how fruity and dark Kentucky sweetness can balance with sharp spice, deep woodiness, and soft nuttiness. This is the closest to “perfect” you can get of any of the American whiskeys on this list. Plus, it makes the best Manhattan you’ll ever sip.
Glenglassaugh Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46 Years Old
Glenglassaugh is a reborn distillery in Scotland — having operated from the 1800s to the 1980s before getting mothballed for over two decades before its resurgence in 2008. This is important to know in that the whiskey in this bottle was made in 1975 during the last years of the distillery’s 20th-century heyday. Living legend Master Blender Rachel Barrie found this barrel (a bourbon cask) in the stocks, and by some sort of whisky miracle, there was juice in the barrel.
That whisky was bottled as-is at barrel strength and sent exclusively to the U.S.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This is almost … fresh on the nose with a sense of tart and woody black currants, fresh plum, mango juice, and red grapes that then veers into the abyss with a sense of old boot leather, maple wood dipped in varnish, and waxy sense of ambergris (I swear) — think boot cream, fresh tobacco, and sandalwood with a hint of salt.
Palate: The taste takes the fruit and tosses it into a fruit salad that’s cut with seawater and nori that’s then countered by menthol tobacco and sharp citrus oils with a whisper of cherry-flavored cream soda.
Finish: A twinge of grapefruit oil drives the finish toward this fleeting sense of cellar dirt, more ambergris, and mint chocolate chip ice cream that’s laced with pipe tobacco and black currants.
Bottom Line:
This is a wild and delicious ride. The fresh fruitiness was completely unexpected and really helped this whisky stand out when I sampled it. It’s almost bafflingly delicious. And look, we’ll never see this whisky again so now is your only chance.
In 2020, 50 Cent’sPower Universe was expanded to have three spin-offs while the original Power series would come to an end. Fast forward to today and two of those spin-offs, Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book III: Raising Kanan have completed their second seasons while the remaining spin-off, Power Book IV: Force, has yet to begin its own. After a successful inaugural season, Power Book IV: Force was renewed for season two and that leaves us with one question:
Is There A Power Book IV: Force Season 2 Release Date?
At the moment, the answer to that is: no. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s coming soon. With Power Book II: Ghost wrapping up in the next couple of weeks, it would be no surprise to us if Power Book IV: Force returned for season two the same week as the Power Book II: Ghost. If you recall, earlier this year the second season of BMF concluded the same night as the season three premiere Power Book II: Ghost. If this isn’t the case for Power Book IV: Force, then we could probably expect the Power Universe to take a break for the summer and return for the fall.
One thing to note about the upcoming season of Power Book IV: Force is that there will be a new showrunner in town. Robert Munic, who initially had the role, exited prior to season one due to creative differences. Power Universe creator Courtney A. Kemp assumed the role for season one and it was later announced that Gary Lennon would be the show’s new showrunner for season two. Lennon was previously an executive producer on the original Power series.
‘Power Book IV: Force’ season one is available to watch on STARZ.
If there’s one thing Kimberly Kardashian does it’s come prepared. The media mogul who’s getting ready to launch another season of her family’s popular reality TV series on Hulu this month, graced the Colgate-colored carpet of the 2023 Met Gala to preview her next big TV project. Earlier this year, Ryan Murphy announced he had cast Kardashian in the upcoming season of his American Horror Story anthology series. While storyline details have been kept close t the chest, Murphy expressed plenty of excitement over Kim’s role teasing that the writers had crafted a “fun, stylish, and ultimately terrifying” character for North West’s mom to play. Murphy may have been thrilled, but some of his past collaborators like Patti Lupone and Sharon Stone were pretty put off by the whole thing claiming Kardashian was taking jobs from actors who “studied” and “suffered” for their work.
And like, not to negate their feelings, but if you think Kris Jenner’s daughter isn’t going to work herself to death in order to be deserving of a bit part on a camp TV show, well, then, you clearly haven’t seen that Variety interview. This woman passed the bar and launched a line of shapewear before Ozempic0diet culture was cool. She’s going to work, Mrs. Lupone. And she said as much when asked about her role in Murphy’s series on the Met Gala carpet.
“It’s a challenge. I like to challenge myself,” Kardashian told Variety about the project, confirming that she is “of course” taking acting lessons before shooting begins. “We start shooting my stuff at the end of this month. But production has already started, and I’m so excited. It’s really fun to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new and grow. I’m so excited for the experience.”
All of this “can’t act” nonsense is ridiculous anyway because anyone who can be married to Kanye West for that long and pretend they aren’t going absolutely insane obviously has the chops.
Coca-Cola® and Warner Music Group’s WMX recently unveiled the Coca-Cola® Transformation Team, a talent search inspired by Coca-Cola® Move that ultimately chose three rising artists who embody the program’s goals of celebrating “the transformational power of music” while also exhibiting a clear flair for experimentation and pushing musical boundaries. These performers got some pretty sweet opportunities, including a one-day boot camp with a seasoned industry professional to learn about things like songwriting, stage style, and mixing. On top of that, all three got behind the mic on The Eye, a stripped-down performance series that captures live music raw, in one take with one camera.
First is Kallitechnis, a Canadian up-and-comer whose song “Gifted” is fresh off of receiving a Contemporary R&B/Soul Recording Of The Year nomination at the 2022 Juno Awards.
She went in a different direction for The Eye, choosing to perform “Wound Up.” Kallitechnis says of the original track, “It’s basically about not being able to tame something that is intangible. So in my case, it’s my spirit and my creativity.” She also noted of her approach to this specific performance, “Today, what I’m really focusing on is just being present and not thinking too much about the performance, but knowing that it’s one-take, just giving it my all.”
On set, Kallitechnis got some feedback from fellow Transformation Team artists San Cha and Eduardo Marìa, who had a lot of (earned) compliments to offer. The video also shows some behind-the-scenes of what goes into a performance on The Eye, so check it out above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
For the first time in 15 years, the Writers Guild of America is on strike. The decision came late Monday after talks to renew a contract — one that would, the WGA hoped, better reflect the changes streaming has wrought upon film and television — stalled. The effect on movies, which can take years to make, won’t be felt for a while. TV, however, is a different ball game. While many sitcoms already have a bunch of episodes in the can, much of late night television, taped and aired on the same day, quickly announced they were going dark.
There was a show that was a bit slow to go on hiatus, one that wasn’t scheduled to air for a few days. But, as per Deadline, that program — SNL — announced mid-afternoon that they, too, were at least temporarily shuttering their next episode. And it would have been a doozy: It was to be the return of one of its most popular and news-grabbing modern cast members, Pete Davidson.
Granted, Davidson hasn’t been away from the show that long. His final episode was about a year ago, during the Season 47 finale. Still, that would have made him perhaps the fastest SNL alum to return as host. He could still do that homecoming at another date, but it might have to wait till next season. SNL seasons tend to wrap in May, and given the long list of quarrels between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major studios and streamers, this strike might not be resolved any time soon.
Indeed, the last WGA strike lasted a whopping 100 days. While that means SNL viewers got almost an entire season worth of new episodes, it may be a while till they watch the likes of Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers yukking it up on late night weekdays.
It happened in the background of the scene where Roman Roy is riding a golf cart on the way to his very productive (note: it was not productive) meeting with executive Joy Palmer. If you look closely in the background, you’ll see the exterior of the elementary school from the ABC sitcom, which films on the Warner Bros. Studios lot.
I didn’t notice because I was too distracted by the way that Roman is sitting, but the set sighting was confirmed by Abbott Elementary writer Joya McCrory. “Spotted: Abbott Elementary in the background of tonight’s Succession,” she tweeted, along with the bugged-out eyes emoji.
Episode six hit another series high with 2.7 million people tuning in on Sunday across linear telecasts and HBO Max. This marks the fourth time that Succession has attracted a record same-day audience this season. Total viewing for episode six was up 7 percent over last week’s viewership, which had held even with episode four’s previous series high of 2.6 million viewers. It’s also 18 percent above the season four premiere episode’s 2.3 million.
You know what needs to happen next? Let Ava run ATN.
Matt Gaetz has announced that he will be pressing charges against a Florida woman who threw a drink at him over the weekend. Gaetz believes there could be an “escalation” if people aren’t charged for their crimes, and he wants to nip these things in the bud lest the offender will be emboldened, the congressman (who may have his own legal troubles) argued with no sense of irony whatsoever.
“We were enjoying catching up with new friends and old, and folks recognized me. And so we were taking pictures and having polite conversations. And as I was chatting with one gentleman, a lady threw a drink on the both of us and she was promptly arrested,” Gaetz revealed in a video posted to his Twitter account. After detailing the alleged incident, Gaetz justified pressing charges by delineating the difference between protected speech like shouting and throwing objects.
Gaetz said that he would never want anyone to be in harm’s way.
“But if we start allowing stuff to be thrown or hurled, if we allow people to be harmed, there is a severe risk of escalation and accident. And we don’t want to see anyone in harm’s way, whether it’s family members, supporters, or even our detractors,” Gaetz said.
The Waltons County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 41-year-old Selena Chambers was charged with “battery on an elected official” over the weekend, and Gaetz made it a point to note her “left wing” politics during his Twitter video.
“Her stuff is not exactly my type, it seems after the 2016 election, based on some of her writing, she became very obsessed with Donald Trump,” Gaetz said. “She’s also a donor to the Joe Biden presidential campaign. As she talked about her emotional turmoil following the 2016 election and just going through some of the stuff she’s written. It is really bizarre. She writes about feminist surrealism.”
Destroy Lonely has his heart set on being rap music’s next household name. After crushing his Rolling Loud Los Angeles performance, the Playboi Carti signee is well on his way. The musician’s upcoming album, If Looks Could Kill, is slated to be his breakout moment.
When asked about what fans should expect from the album, the musician told Complex, “I was out in New York working on my album, If Looks Could Kill. That sh*t’s hard. I got really in my mode on that. On a bunch of the songs, I’m talking about how ‘I’m The Look Killer’ and a whole bunch of sh*t.”
Here’s everything we know about If Looks Could Kill so far.
Release Date
If Looks Could Kill is out 5/5 via Opium/Interscope. Find more information here.
Tracklist
1. “How U Feel?”
2. “If Looks Could Kill”
3. “Fly Sht”
4. “Which One”
5. “Raver”
6. “Came in Wit”
7. “By The Pound”
8. “All the Time”
9. “Biggest Problem”
10. “Chris Paul”
11. “Superstar”
12. “New New”
13. “Right Now”
14. “Which Way”
15. “Wagwan”
16. “Moment of Silence”
17. “Brazy Girls”
18. “Goin Up”
19. “Passenger”
20. “Promo”
21. “Worth It”
22. “Redlight”
23. “Make Sum Work”
24. “Safety (interlude)”
25. “Your Eyes”
26. “Money & Sex” (bonus) with Ken Carson
Features
In the album’s credits, there is only one listed guest feature, Ken Carson, who’s worked with Destroy Lonely in the past.
So far, “If Looks Could Kill,” co-produced by Clayco and Ssor.t is the only single to be released from the project. “Ain’t Free” was previously released as a snippet, but it did not make the album. Different editions of the album will include additional songs. “Too Damn Rich” and “Spillin” will not make the bonus CD release. As for the vinyl edition, songs “Check the Fleet” and “Back Sippin” will be added.
Tour
Although he hasn’t made a formal tour announcement to support the project, on his official website, there are several upcoming festival appearances and one-off shows listed. See the dates below.
05/19 — Montréal, QC @ Metro Metro Festival 2023
06/15 — Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2023
06/16 — Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2023
06/17 — Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2023
06/18 — Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2023
06/29 — Gräfenhainichen, Germany @ Ferropolis
06/30 — Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Ahoy Rotterdam
07/01 — Rotterdam, Netherlands @Ahoy Rotterdam
07/06 — Frauenfeld, Switzerland @ Openair Frauenfeld 2023
07/07 — Frauenfeld, Switzerland @ Openair Frauenfeld 2023
07/07 — London, United Kingdom @ Wireless Festival
07/08 — Frauenfeld, Switzerland @ Openair Frauenfeld 2023
07/21 — Miami Gardens, FL @ Rolling Loud 2023
07/22 — Miami Gardens, FL @ Rolling Loud 2023
07/23 — Miami Gardens, FL @ Rolling Loud 2023
08/03 — Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/04 — Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/05 — Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/06 — Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
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