I love Family Feud. You love Family Feud. Waiting rooms in doctor’s offices really love Family Feud. Everyone loves Family Feud, because the survey-based premise is easy to understand and contestants are allowed to display more personality than on other game shows. Even the celebrity edition is fun.
But let’s face it, the real draw is host Steve Harvey‘s stone-faced reactions.
“The show is tailor-made for what I do,” Harvey — one of the original kings of comedy — told Today earlier this year before revealing the “secret” to why he thinks Family Feud is so popular. “I say what I know the people at home are thinking,” he explained. “All these answers, you know they’re not on this board… Your answer was dumb enough to not be on nobody’s board.”
Below, you’ll find some of the dumbest and wildest answers in Family Feud history. Two notes: 1) I’m only including the question in the text, and not the answer, because it’s more fun to watch the clip than read it, and 2) I tried to restrict the number of penis-based answers, because there are a lot of them out there (enough for an entire compilation). Survey says… enjoy!
“If Captain Hook was moonlighting as a handyman, he might replace his hook with what tool?”
“Where does a kid get a tattoo so their strict parents don’t see it?”
“Name something a man might be willing to go to prison to get away from”
“Name a part of your body that’s bigger now than it was when you were 16”
“Tell me another way people say ‘mother’”
“What’s the last thing you stuck your finger in?”
“Name something a burglar would not want to see when he breaks into a house”
(This one is worth watching the entire seven-minute clip. There’s a reason Steve Harvey called it “the greatest television that won’t be seen”)
“Some politicians belong in the White House, others belong in the what house?”
“Name something specific of Leonardo DiCaprio’s that you’d like to hold”
Welcome to another installment of Ask A Music Critic! And thanks to everyone who has sent me questions. Please keep them coming at [email protected].
I have a friend who is completely obsessed with ’80s music. But his obsessions with ’80s music goes beyond just being his favorite decade of music over the 45-plus years of his life. It’s almost as if all music ceased to exist after 1989 and he will forever be content listening only to albums that were made during this period. This leads me to my question: If you were told that you could only listen to music from one decade for the rest of your life, what decade would it be? —Dan from Westchester, NY
Hey Dan, with all due respect to your friend: This sounds like an insane way to live! Many people reach a point in their listening lives where they stop following new music and stick with their comfortable favorites. This is sad and unfortunate, from a music critic’s perspective, but also common and relatively normal. But listening to music from only one decade — when it has never been easier to hear anything from any period you wish — seems severely self-limiting. I like the 1980s as much as the next Gordon Gekko wannabe, but at some point don’t the ears grow tired of gated drums, fake-sounding horns, and all the other sonic signatures of the period? How does one not yearn for a little adventure, and occasionally venture to, say, 1979 or 1990? Is it fair to assume that your friend loves Bleach but has not delved into Nevermind or In Utero? When it comes to television, does he swear off The Sopranos and Mad Men in favor of the first several seasons of The Cosby Show? Does he plan to cast a vote for Michael Dukakis in November? It just doesn’t make any sense to me.
Setting all of that aside: Your question is an interesting one, hypothetically speaking. For most people, the preferred musical decade question is easy — you go with the time period that coincides with your teens and early 20s. This is the music to which people tend to be instinctively loyal as they age. Isn’t it amazing and sort of miraculous that the epoch of musical achievement in the modern age always seems to coincide with the exact years when we are between the ages of 14 and 22? Just an incredible coincidence!
On some level, we all know this isn’t literally true. But the emotional veracity of this belief is widespread and unquestioned. And it’s not just “normal” listeners who feel this way. Each new generation of music critics comes along and is determined to displace the previous generation’s favorites with their own as the new “best” and “definitive” music.
Not this music critic, however. I am the rare rock writer with the unique ability to set aside my own personal biases and assess music with unassailable objectivity. For instance, being that I’m a 47-year-old man, one might assume that my choice for “best” musical decade is the ’90s. I was 12 when the decade started, and I was 23 when it ended. It was, obviously, the most formative decade of my life. But it is not the “best” decade, in my opinion. Now, I love ’90s music. And I love thinking and writing about ’90s music. (I wrote twobooks on two of the biggest rock bands of the decade.) And this era has inevitable nostalgic appeal for me, even the albums that evoke some of the worst years of my life. (I was in junior high from 1990 to ’92, a stretch of time I have often referred to as “Vietnam,” and there are some incredible records from that time.) But my personal affection for the ’90s doesn’t blind me to the weaknesses of the time. The late ’90s, for instance, were pretty awful, and no amount of revisionism from TRL-reared millennials will ever convince me otherwise. As we age, our brains edit out the bad stuff and leave only the good, at least when it comes to music. But as a professional music pundit, I have forced myself to remember The Verve Pipe’s “The Freshmen” and Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch” and countless other crimes against art.
So, what is my objective choice for best musical decade? The 1970s.
To me, it boils down to variety. If you had to stick with one decade, you want to draw from a time with the widest variety of great music. And I don’t think any decade can touch the ’70s. Just look at rock music at that time. You had arena-level superstars operating at their peak: David Bowie, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen, the Rolling Stones, and the list goes on and on. And then you have scores of subgenres that were either coming into their own or being invented on the spot. That includes glam (T. Rex, Mott The Hoople, Sweet), prog (Yes, King Crimson, Genesis), metal (Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden), southern rock (the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd), jazz rock (Steely Dan, Traffic), punk (The Ramones, The Clash), new wave (Talking Heads, Blondie), and goth (Joy Division, The Cure).
And that’s just scratching the surface. Think of all the incredible R&B and funk of the ’70s. The following artists were in their primes: Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, George Clinton, the Isley Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, and Michael Jackson. The ’70s were a great decade for country music — give me all those wonderful records by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Linda Ronstadt, and Townes Van Zandt. And the ’70s were awesome for jazz, particularly if you like fusion and Miles Davis’ most coked-out work. And let’s not forget about the pioneering electronic records from Kraftwerk, Brian Eno, and Tangerine Dream. Or krautrock. Or disco.
If I had to stick with one decade, I think I could listen exclusively to records that came out in the 1970s and run the lowest risk of ever feeling bored. The choices seem limitless, even though there is a clearly delineated limit. However, I am glad that I don’t have to do this. The world is big. It’s nice to experience as much of the bigness that you can.
This week Pitchfork published their list of the best albums of the 2020s so far, and it made me think about the column you wrote earlier this year where you speculated on what critics would pick for their mid-decade lists. I feel like your predictions were fairly (though not completely) accurate. What are your thoughts on this? — Clare from Springfield, Missouri
Hey Clare, thanks for remembering that column! For those that don’t remember, here are the 10 albums I expected to be in contention, given their praise at the time of release, listed in alphabetical order:
Alvvays, Blue Rev (2022)
Fiona Apple, Fetch The Bolt Cutters (2020)
Beyoncé, Renaissance (2022)
Boygenius, The Record (2023)
Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher (2020)
Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee (2021)
Olivia Rodrigo, Sour (2021)
Rosalìa, Motomami (2022)
Taylor Swift, Folklore (2020)
Tyler The Creator, Call Me If You Get Lost (2021)
SZA, SOS (2022)
Now, I didn’t include any albums from 2024, as this column dropped in January. (Or pre-Brat summer.) But I still think I did well. Four of these records ended up in Pitchfork’s top 10: Fiona Apple (their No. 1 pick), Beyoncé, Rosalìa, and SZA. That means I’m batting .400. I’m practically Ted Williams! As for the other predictions: Alvvays landed at No. 15, Phoebe Bridgers came in at No. 44, Taylor Swift was at No. 67, and Tyler The Creator squeaked in at No. 92. As for Boygenius, Japanese Breakfast, and Olivia Rodrigo — sorry, there was no mid-year list love for you here.
What are my thoughts? My first thought is that this is one website, and I suspect that some of these artists will do better on other lists. Particularly Bridgers and the Boygenius crew. (Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker didn’t make Pitchfork‘s list at all, which was mildly shocking.) I wasn’t a fan of the last BG record, but I recall feeling pretty lonely about that in the critical community. The Record was easily the most universally adored indie-adjacent record of the decade thus far. Pitchfork was among the outlets treating it like an event, lavishing Boygenius with a “Best New Music” rave and a follow-up concert review and podcast interview.
And now … nothing. Really? Even putting Punisher — certainly one of the most influential and emblematic records of the 2020s, whether you love it or not — far outside the top 20 feels pointed, like the BG-mania of last year (yes, it really was just last year) already seems like a distant (and slightly cringe-y?) memory.
That’s the thing with these lists: They mark a moment in time. This is how critics feel, right now. But time always marches forward. New lists loom on the horizon. And what they mark will almost certainly be very different from the current normal.
Domantas Sabonis is entering his ninth year in the NBA and third with the Sacramento Kings, as the three-time All-Star big man has become a foundational piece of what the Kings hope is a contending core. After snapping the league’s longest playoff drought in his first year in Sacramento, Sabonis and the Kings fell short of making the postseason in back-to-back years after finishing ninth in the West and being unable to make it through the Play-In.
To provide some support for the upcoming season, the Kings added DeMar DeRozan as their big free agent signing, hoping he can be the wing scorer the Kings have needed between Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox. Adding another high-level scorer to the roster is something Sabonis is extremely excited about, and prior to training camp opening in Sacramento, the big man was down in L.A. working out with DeRozan to get some early reps so they can hit the ground running. While in L.A., Sabonis also went to the premiere for Netflix’s new NBA series, “Starting 5”, as he is featured alongside LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, and Jimmy Butler, all of whom were followed by cameras throughout the 2023-24 season.
Ahead of the Oct. 9 release, we got to sit down with Sabonis and talk about seeing his personal life on screen, his thoughts on last season with the Kings, lessons they have to learn to get back in the playoffs this year, his workouts with DeRozan, and more.
To start, you got to go to the premiere. You’re used to seeing your professional life play out on TV playing in the NBA. But what was it like seeing your personal life on screen, and having that kind of show up at your house with your family and seeing that part of your life now?
Yeah, I don’t know. Watching it live with everyone in theater, I was like, melting into my seat at first. You know, that’s something I haven’t shown to people. So it was — it’s definitely different, but definitely an honor to be part of that show, Netflix and the “Starting 5” group. So it’s really cool. I’m very excited for it, and the two episodes are really good. I really enjoyed it.
When they approached you about doing this, was it an immediate “Yes”? Were there longer conversations you had to have with your wife and everything about are we going to let these cameras in and do this thing?
Yeah, well, with my wife, it was almost like an immediate yes, because it was such a cool experience. Netflix, they did “Quarterback,” they did the tennis, the golf. So we’re like, wow, this is really cool. This is sick. But at the same time, it was like some feeling inside, like, are we sure? But once we decided quickly on the “yes,” everything moved so quickly. Next day, cameras in the house, and then it was every day for the season.
What do you hope fans can kind of learn about you off the court? Obviously, like you said, this isn’t something you’ve really let people in on in the past.
People that know me personally, they obviously know I’m a whole different person than on the court. But if you just know me from the court, I’m aggressive, I’m loud, running around, getting into it with the refs, players. So they might think, you know, I’m not the nicest guy, but with this show, hopefully that changed it around. I’m a dad, I’m a husband, all I do is care about my kids and my wife, and just put all my effort into basketball and my family. And I think you’re going to see that contrast of me on the court being me — talking, being vocal — and then off the court, being a completely different guy.
What has it been like becoming a father and playing in the league? What has changed for you in terms of routine and what you’ve learned about striking that balance between being the dad you want to be and being the player you want to be?
Definitely changed a lot, 360 for me. I was always more of a sleep in to the last second, big naps as much as I can, just on my own schedule. And now with kids, everything changes. Our naps got to sync, so I can rest at the same time. Spending a lot of time with the kids, I was always like, taking care of my body, not trying to get out as much. And I found the balance where doing stuff is actually better for me, instead of just sitting on the couch and like, watching shows or doing whatever it may be. So I found the balance that, like, going out to the park with the kids, walks, playing with them, and also learning how to now manage my time better. Making sure, okay, once the kids go to bed, then I have more time to focus, go back in the weight room, or whatever it may be, and really plan out my days, which has really helped me throughout my on court stuff.
Yeah, I was gonna ask, does that help you? Do you feel like you’ve become more focused in the work because you have kind of a finite amount of time that you can put it in?
I feel like I was always focused. It’s just I was maybe too excessive before I had kids. I was too much and thought more was better, whereas now I found that balance that works really well. Cause if you do too much, you kind of get burned out mentally early in the season. And with my kids, it’s like, I come home and no basketball. I just, I forget completely. And then when they go to bed, I’m like, Okay, now I can think a bit about basketball. And it’s refreshing. It’s helped me a lot.
Has there been anybody you’ve been able to lean on — other dads in the league, teammates you’ve had that have gone through it — that you’ve kind of been able to lean on with becoming a father?
My last year before I got traded in Indy, we had a bunch of — I mean, the whole starting five was having kids or were one year in, and my wife was pregnant. So they were telling me everything that they went through, and I was honestly there to experience it while my wife was pregnant, and we’re hanging out with thier kids, so I was kind of getting some tips.
On the court, what was last year like for you? And where have you felt, since getting to Sacramento, you’ve been able to kind of grow as a player?
Last year was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun. I feel like we had a great season, it just didn’t end the way we wanted. You compare the two seasons from my first year, there’s only a couple of wins difference and you’re a third seed or a ninth seed. It was just a lot of ups and downs. We would beat the best teams in the league, and then next day lose against the lower seeds. And that kind of ended up putting us in a situation where we had to play the Play-In and that cost us the playoffs.
But I thought we were definitely better than our first year. Just, you know, things didn’t go right, the West was more competitive. And as me coming here, I just feel like more of a leader. They traded for me to basically change the franchise, be the leader, be me. And you feel that confidence as a player when you get it from the owner, the GMs, everyone in the front office, and then leading all the way down to the coaching staff. So that definitely changes your perspective. You have more — a bigger purpose — which, as a competitor, you love a challenge, and you just, you want that.
You mentioned how thin the margins are. What are the lessons that that as a team, you can take away from last year? Because, like you said, statistically, it was pretty close. You got better on defense. Offense took a minor step back, but it wasn’t a huge step back or anything. What are the lessons you learned as a team coming into this year to get back in that playoff picture?
The biggest thing we learned was just everyone has to be focused. Focus all year round. Like I said, we can’t have those loops where we lost — we probably lost like 10 games against, like, the worst teams in the league last year, and just winning two of those would have changed our record. Having DeMar, veteran presence, Hall of Fame career, is going to help us. He’s here for the right reasons. He’s here to win, and I feel like having that veteran presence is going to get us locked in. And us doing what we did last year, I feel like everyone has realized this summer that we can’t just mess around and play when we want to play. We got to go in and treat every game like it’s important, because we experienced it last year what happens at the end.
DeMar is new on the team, but he was there with you at the red carpet and he seems to already be trying to get himself in with the team. What has that been like, having him come in and already making sure that he’s a presence?
It’s been felt, you know, especially by me. I was in L.A., he came and we basically got together for a couple weeks, worked out at USC, tried starting to learn our games, made sure he made an effort to come and see me at the premiere. So you definitely feel that bond already close. We felt it first on the court, and then with these little things showing up, we start feeling it off the court. So, yeah, he’s big. Everyone’s excited for him, you know, and the facility is a good vibe right now.
What has been your biggest focal point this summer in the work that you’re putting in and the things that you’re trying to do to accomplish those goals next year?
Basically the usual. I kind of try and work on and improve everything. I love to be consistent and be there for my team and just work on the things that I’m basically put in those situations. And now with DeMar, it could be completely different, because the attention has to go away from me and Fox because you got to stop that guy. So, you know, that’s why it was important for me to get with him and learn his game. Because a lot of times it might just be me and him playing pick and roll, or handoffs, or with Fox, you know, in situations where we kind of play off each other and basically make the best reads. And with his IQ is just going to make everyone get easier shots.
What is the process in adding somebody who has that much talent and has kind of his own unique offensive game? In a way, he kind of operates sometimes in similar spots that you do — what was that feeling out process and what did you learn from him in those workouts that has you particularly excited or you didn’t necessarily know about him?
It was good, you know, I thought I was gonna step on his toes or something, be in the way. But as we played, he explained everything to me in how he sees the game. And he’s like, you just be you. You be you, I got you. I’m trying to get you guys open. I’m trying to manipulate the game. If I need a bucket, I’ll get a bucket. But it just worked out very seamlessly, I don’t know how to say it. It was a great couple weeks, just working out, and it worked good.
You’ve played in different situations, for different coaches, and been asked to do different things in your career. Do you think that helps you when a situation like this arises when you get to when something like this happens and you’re going to have some adjustments, you can fall back on things knowing you’ve done this before and been able to find success doing different things?
Definitely, that’s why I’m not scared, I’m excited. I mean, if it wasn’t for Mike Brown, I probably had a different coach my last four years, different systems. And I try to stay consistent in my game and figure it out. So going into year three with the same coach, same system, makes it easier for me. Now we got a new player, his IQ is off the charge, so I feel like it’s just gonna fit in just right.
You’ve been one of the most reliable guys in the last couple years in terms of being on the court. How much do you pride yourself in that availability, even when, I know you had the wrist thing a year ago and still finding ways to be effective and be impactful for your team and be on the court? And how much pride do you take in the work that it takes to getting to that point?
Yeah, like you said all summer, I also make sure my body’s right. Working out, maybe not, not the cutest things in the weight room, but the things that are going to keep my knees, my ankles, my body healthy throughout the season, especially how I play. I love the game. Like this part coming forward, training camp, I don’t want to do that. I want to go straight to the games. So just being on the sideline watching your teammates play, not being able to help them, that kind of burns a fire in me. So the more I can be healthy and ready to perform. Also have a high a big responsibility for the franchise. They trusted me to come over and be who I am and change it. So I can’t be out there missing games and stuff, I got to be there for my teammates.
The 2024 CMA Awards will go on without Beyoncé on November 20, and Luke Bryan will co-host alongside Lainey Wilson and Peyton Manning. Bryan commented on Beyoncé’s shutout while appearing on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live.
“It’s a tricky question because, obviously, Beyoncé made a country album, and Beyoncé has a lot of fans out there that have her back,” Bryan told Cohen. “If she doesn’t get something they want, man, they come at you — as fans should do.”
The American Idol judge continued, “It’s a tough thing to say — I don’t know how many albums did she sell? I know she had one song. So, I mean, listen, I’m all for everybody coming in and making country albums and all that. But just because she made one — just ’cause I make one, I don’t get any nominations. A lot of great music is overlooked. Sometimes, you don’t get nominated.”
Bryan saved the most controversial sentiment for last: “Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a country album. Nobody’s mad about it, but where things get a little tricky — you know, if you’re gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit. Like, Beyoncé can do exactly what she wants to. She’s probably the biggest star in music. But come to an awards show and high-five us and have fun and get in the family, too. And I’m not saying she didn’t do that. I didn’t know. I had never seen [her]. But country music is a lot about family.”
“This album has been over five years in the making,” Beyoncé wrote, in part, in her caption of the Cowboy Carter album cover artwork. “It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
Appropriately, people on X (formerly Twitter) have reacted to Bryan’s take by pointing out that Beyoncé is inherently country, given that she is from Texas and the genre was build on Black musicians’ backs.
As a relevant aside, The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reported Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter “will compete for Best Country Album” at the 2025 Grammys.
“If Beyoncé — the most decorated artist in Grammy history — earns a best country album nod, it would be her first in the genre and she would become the rare artist who has scored nominations across multiple genres at the Grammys,” THR relayed.
Each week our staff of film and television experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.
You might know Brian Jordan Alvarez from his videos on TikTok and Instagram as TJ Mack, the singer of earworm “Sitting.” He’s also the star and creator of English Teacher, about a teacher who “often finds himself at the intersection of the personal, professional, and political aspects of working at a high school. Evan wants to be a principled person but often runs into trouble because of it.” His first lesson to his students: sitting is the opposite of standing.
There’s a few things you should know about Slow Horses:
1. As we previously wrote: “Each season is six episodes long and focuses on a distinct mystery or conspiracy and is full of little twists and turns and double-crosses. Sometimes there are stolen diamonds. Sometimes the slow horses will reveal themselves to be drug addicts or gambling addicts and it’ll muck everything up for a little. Sometimes you’ll be watching someone do something and assume they’re taking a brave and bold stance for righteousness and then realize they’ve been manipulated into accidentally doing the bidding of someone smarter and more conniving than they are.”
2. There is so much farting. Like, even more than you think.
If you have an unhealthy relationship with television shows (if you’re reading this, you probably do), have I got a movie for you! Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow follows two outcasts played by Jaden Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine who bond over a shared affection for The Pink Opaque, a Buffy the Vampire Slayer-like series with a deep, very ’90s lore. It’s a wonderful film not only about nostalgia, but also gender dysphoria. There’s a killer soundtrack, too.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: more movies should star Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen. So thank god for His Three Daughters, which is about three estranged sisters (bet you can guess who they’re played by!) as they reunite to care for their ailing father. The single-setting drama is one of the best movies of the year, which, again, is what happens when you put Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, and Elizabeth Olsen in the same cast.
Colin Farrell’s scene-stealing performance in The Batman resulted in him being turned into a meme and, probably more impressively, getting a spin-off on Max. The Penguin explores Oswald Cobblepot’s (or as he’s called in the show, Oz Cobb’s) rise in the seedy Gotham underworld. The series, which also stars Cristin Milioti, Clancy Brown, and Theo Rossi, is getting comparisons to another crime drama in the HBO / Max family: The Sopranos. Not too shabby.
There’s a good chance you’ve already seen Inside Out 2. It is the highest-grossing movie of 2024 after all. But now you can watch it again and again (especially if you have kids) on Disney Plus. The Pixar film brings back Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger from the original, and adds new emotions, including Maya Hawke as Anxiety and Ayo Edebiri as Envy. For more on the making of Inside Out 2, read our interview with director Kelsey Mann.
After former SNL head writer Harper Steele came out as a trans woman, she and Will Ferrell went on a two-week road trip across America. Will & Harper follows their journey. “What if we went on a road trip together, giving her a chance to go into a cowboy bar or whatever places she misses, and I can be by her side and lend support as a friend?” Ferrell said about the origin of the documentary. “At the same time, it would give us a chance to reconnect and figure out what this transition means to our relationship.” If only all SNL cast members from the ‘90s were so open minded…
It’s crazy that we live in a time where a new movie starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt is somehow flying under the radar. But don’t miss Wolfs, which reunites the Ocean’s Eleven hunks for an action comedy in which they play professional fixers who are begrudgingly forced to work together. The film is directed by Jon Watts, who made the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy. Coincidentally, Clooney is one of the few MCU mega-star holdouts (unlike Pitt in Deadpool 2, which kind of counts?).
The acclaimed anime Dan Da Dan is about Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate / occult fanatic Okarun, who begin talking after she saves him from getting bullied. However, an argument ensues between them: Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts. It’s a real Mulder and Scully dynamic, if they were both Mulder. Dan Da Dan, which is getting a weekly release, comes from animation studio Science Saru, who also made last year’s shockingly good Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.
One of the most talked-about shows at the moment is Nobody Wants This. It turns out, everybody wants to see Kristen Bell and Adam Brody in a romantic comedy, which is something I could have told Netflix without having to be paid an executive’s exorbitant salary. Nobody Wants This follows the unlikely relationship between a sex podcaster (Bell) and a hot rabbit (Brody). It’s very cute, and hopefully a sign that we’ll get more good rom-coms soon.
One of the year’s best coming-of-age movies is Didi. Written and directed by Sean Wang, the Sundance Film Festival winner is set in 2008 and centers on the titular 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy, played by Izaac Wang, as he navigates the horrors of being a teenager. If you were an adolescent during the AOL Instant Messenger days, this one will hit close to home.
Quarantine hit The Platform is an allegorical horror film about class struggle, where inmates in a “Vertical Self-Management Center” are fed using a platform that’s initially filled with food but as it descends, there’s fewer and fewer options for the lower levels. Those at the bottom are lucky to get anything at all. Following a prisoner rebellion (and some delicious looking panna cotta) in the original, The Platform 2 has a new leader imposing their rule in the Platform, while “a new resident becomes embroiled in the battle against this controversial method to fight the brutal feeding system,” according to the logline from Netflix. “But when eating from the wrong plate becomes a death sentence, how far would you be willing to go to save your life?”
Hold Your Breath stars Sarah Paulson… don’t worry, this isn’t another Ryan Murphy project. Let’s start again: Hold Your Breath stars Sarah Paulson as a mother of two in the Dust Bowl-era 1930s who is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family. Paulson is predictably excellent, and the rest of the cast, including recent Emmy winner Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Annaleigh Ashford, isn’t too shabby, either. The film’s original title was Dust, but hopefully that’s being saved for a biopic about the Dust Brothers.
The Franchise is a long-overdue satire of superhero movies from creator Jon Brown and producers Armando Iannucci and Sam Mendes. It’s like The Boys, but less violent — although both shows do star Aya Cash. She’s joined by Himesh Patel, Jessica Hynes, Billy Magnussen, Lolly Adefope, Darren Goldstein, Isaac Powell, Daniel Brühl, and Richard E. Grant. The series makes fun of the chaotic world of superhero moviemaking and asks an important question: “How exactly does the cinematic sausage get made?” (With lots of greenscreen, that’s how.)
Earlier this year, Stephen King had this to say about Salem’s Lot: “Between you and me, Twitter, I’ve seen the new SALEM’S LOT and it’s quite good. Old-school horror filmmaking: slow build, big payoff.” King doesn’t always have the best taste in adaptations of his work, but he makes a strong case here. 2024’s Salem’s Lot (the first feature-film adaptation of the author’s personal favorite novel, following two miniseries) stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, Pilou Asbæk, Alfre Woodard, and William Sadler, and was written and directed by Annabelle and It writer Gary Dauberman.
The last time we got a new album from 50 Cent was in 2014 with Animal Ambition. He’ll come out with a new song now and then, like 2022’s “Power Powder Respect” with Jeremih and Lil Durk. Mostly, though, 50 is inactive these days when it comes to new music.
Why Doesn’t 50 Cent Make New Music Anymore?
During a panel with Earn Your Leisure at Invest Fest last month, 50 explained his mindset:
“My ideas are getting so big that it’s changing even how I can deliver things. I have to be conscious of what I’m saying or what I’m doing because the idea — it’s going to disrupt my idea. A lot of the music, if you listen to the music that’s out right now, I have to tap into my stupid. I have to tap into the stupid side of me to write the right thing when it comes time to write the music.
This is why I haven’t created as much content as I was creating in the past, and I started going toward the film production and development of these projects. Because I think I can impact things in a bigger way through that.”
So, to summarize, 50 isn’t interested in being part of the current musical landscape, and he’s currently more invested in working in TV and movies.
Earlier this year, Sydney Sweeney bought a home in Florida (a likely thing for a Disney World fan to do). Even though she was outside of the Hollywood celebrity bubble, it did not take long before the paparazzi invaded her space — and started yelling at her family. “They said, ‘If you tell her to just come outside in a bikini, I’ll take pictures and then I’ll leave you alone,’” the actress revealed to Glamour, who named her 2024’s Woman of the Year.
Sweeney also responded to the flimsy speculation that she called the picture-snappers herself. “Why would I call the paparazzi to take pictures of me at my own house when my baby cousins and family are there and I’m in my backyard? Why would I ever want that?” she said. “I have pictures of these guys in kayaks hiding in bushes in the ocean. They got there at 8 a.m. and wouldn’t leave until 4 p.m. I should be able to be in my home and feel comfortable and safe.”
The Barbarella actress added, “When those photos go out, then my actual safety is at risk. Everyone knows where I am. Now there’s boats that go by, and I literally hear them say, ‘This is Sydney Sweeney’s house.’ It becomes a star tour in my front yard.”
The next time the paparazzi converges around her house, Sweeney should send her dog Tank after them. No jury would find her guilty.
Lana Del Rey just had a significant life change: Last week, she got married to Jeremy Dufrene, who works as an alligator tour guide in Louisiana. Now, Del Rey has publicly addressed the nuptials while calling out some paparazzi for harassing her.
In the comments of a fan account post on Instagram, Del Rey wrote (as TMZ notes):
“Unfortunately, a local couple from Houma won’t stop flying drones into our windows every morning and following us with a tracker.
all that being said Jeremy is the one and only. And amazing. And we’re very happy.
But if Sara Michelle Champagne and Kruesch (a famous New Orleans paparazzi) could stop switching vehicles following the family- and stop following us around remote parts of the country and photo shopping my wedding ring into a pearl- I know we would feel a lot safer.”
Meanwhile, Del Rey and Dufrene seem to be otherwise enjoying married life so far. As TMZ reports, the two were spotted snuggling outside of a Louisiana restaurant, where they appeared to take some selfies together as Del Rey sported her wedding ring. The two apparently also took time to take photos with restaurant staff and talk with them after their meal had concluded.
For years, Diddy was a cultural icon, but his reputation has soured significantly lately due to the sex trafficking and assault allegations he’s facing. So, many people with any sort of even tangential association to him are doing what they can to distance themselves from him, and now that includes Jonas Brothers member Joe Jonas.
On September 28, Jonas Brothers performed at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France. During the set, the brothers performed “Cake By The Ocean,” a favorite by Joe’s other band, DNCE. Video of the performance is just now starting to pick up some attention, as NME notes, due to a lyric change.
Usually, Joe sings, “Walk for me, baby / I’ll be Diddy, you’ll be Naomi,” but in France, he sang, “Walk for me, baby / I’ll be watching you be Naomi.”
This follows Kesha making a similar alteration earlier this year: Performing “Tik Tok” alongside Reneé Rapp at Coachella, she changed the Diddy lyric from “Wake up in the morning, feeling like P. Diddy” to “Wake up in the morning like, ‘F*ck P. Diddy!’”
It was reported earlier this week that Diddy could face an addition 120 lawsuits from alleged sexual assault victims, including some who were underage at the times of the alleged incidents.
With Bourbon Heritage Month in the rearview, we totally get it if you’re hankering for some rye whiskey.
While we’re firm believers that great spirits should be enjoyed all year long, there’s simply something about the fall that makes rye whiskey much more attractive. The spices, the prototypical notes of mint and pine, and the fact that its elevated ABV can warm you up in a single sip make rye whiskey a great drink to pour as the leaves change colors.
So what ryes do you need to try right now? We know you’re wondering, and we’ve got a list of fifteen brand-new ryes that hit shelves recently that you need to try as soon as you can.
Let’s dive right in and explore the ten rye whiskeys you need to try now!
Bulleit made a splash with their recent 12-Year Rye, but now they’re making waves again with this new, ongoing 10-Year version. Age ain’t nothing but a number, and so we knew we needed to taste this younger alternative at the festival to see if it deserves the same high praise.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, Bulleit’s new rye begins with citrus and oak notes before candied maple and strong mint vibes start to supplant them and take over the aroma profile. It’s a well-developed bouquet that speaks to a promising tasting experience. Let’s dive in.
Palate: Well-rounded is the first thing that comes to mind after a sip of this one. It checks a lot of boxes (what Bulleit expression doesn’t?), and it escapes any accusations of being quotidian with a silky mouthfeel that belies its age and will surely be used to elevate cocktails.
Finish: The finish continues this whiskey’s balanced and solid trend without rocking the boat. It has a fairly succinct finish that ends with a sweet melange of mint, caramel, and orange zest.
Bottom Line:
While we’ll be sad to see Bulleit’s 12-Year Rye go (buy it while you still can), knowing that they’ve got this reliable, delicious 10-year version stocking shelves as an evergreen SKU definitely softens the blow. This isn’t just leftover juice; it’s a wholly new product that scratches a similar itch at an even lower price.
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.
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.
Elijah Craig’s latest line extension, building on the success of their well-received Toasted Bourbon, is a Toasted Rye bottled at the brand’s classic 94-proof point. They claim this one is “twice barreled for flavor,” so let’s see how it shakes out…
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Browned marshmallow, cream soda, and cinnamon make quite an impression on the nose before milk chocolate, thyme, and a touch of menthol rise in prominence. It’s a delightful medley that makes you anxious to explore your first sip.
Palate: Vanilla and cinnamon are the first prominent notes on the palate, with mint and black pepper baking spice infusing each sip with a touch of prickliness. The mouthfeel isn’t particularly remarkable, but it’s broad enough to allow the flavors to blossom over every stretch of your palate.
Finish: Honeyed mint and white pepper help extend each sip’s medium length, along with a touch of vanilla custard.
Bottom Line:
This toasted rye forgoes complexity and delivers a lip-smacking, straightforward whiskey worth subbing out dessert for. The marshmallow tones are vibrant, the mint is vivacious, and all told, this bottle is just a straight-up victory for the Elijah Craig brand. Given the choice between this one and the lineup’s standard rye, this is the one you should reach for.
11. Sentinel Of The Desert Straight Rye Whiskey Finished In Del Bac Mesquited Casks (Batch 3)
Aged for no less than two years, this lively expression from Whiskey Del Bac leans directly into the beauty of youthful rye whiskey flavor. Distilled and aged in Indiana, what makes this one unique is the fact it’s finished in Del Bac “Mesquited” casks, matured for an additional summer in the Sonoran desert heat, and then filtered across mesquite charcoal from the brand’s “mesquited” malted process — a southwest twist on the Lincoln County Process.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aromas of honey, cornbread, and mint all accent the air above the glass once this whiskey is poured, along with a slight dill note and confectioner sugar.
Palate: Some faint mesquite notes with cayenne and honey hit the tip of the tongue before the flavor of corn pudding comes crashing in. The mouthfeel is held together well, maintaining a spry feel across the palate without ever giving the impression of thinness. This rye has some surprisingly persistent staying power, given the proof, and a solid mouthfeel with well-balanced flavors that favor the sweet while giving plenty of space for the barbecue baking spices.
Finish: The finish features white pepper and sugar with slight grassiness and clove flavors that pop up before the liquid gently recedes off the tongue.
Bottom Line:
Scotch snobs have taught the world that big age statements are indicative of quality, but American whiskey aficionados are leading the charge on unlearning that specious sentiment. Rye whiskey can take on a ton of spritely, stupendous flavors at just two years of age and Sentinel Straight Rye is an excellent example of that fact.
10. World Whiskey Society 12-Year Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Awamori Cask
World Whiskey Society has no shortage of incredibly unique bottle shapes and package designs across its portfolio of equally atypical whiskey offerings. One look at this gargoyled bottle on the shelf and you’d be forgiven for taking it as a sign that they spent more on packaging than the product inside, but two factors can allay those concerns: it’s aged for 12 years, thus significantly mature, and finished in exotic Japanese Awamori casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Peaches, pie crust, and cinnamon bark make the initial impression on the nose of this whiskey, with some green apple, custard, and clove joining the party soon after.
Palate: Peach rings, mint leaves, and honey-drizzled baklava begin to coat your palate with rich flavor while some nice nutmeg, oak, and almond notes begin draping themselves around the edge of the tongue. Add to that grouping some faint cinnamon and golden raisins, all contained in a taught, medium-bodied texture.
Finish: The finish is medium-length, with the flavor of peaches, oak, and nutmeg standing out most prominently, while a touch of grilled green tomatoes intrigues you into extended consideration.
Bottom Line:
Given its unusual packaging and seldom utilized finishing casks, this expression will surely pique your curiosity, and for those who dare to be different, your interest will be rewarded. This off-the-beaten-path rye leads directly to flavor town; in fact, as a nod to its hefty topper, I’d even say it’s frighteningly tasty.
Raconteur Rye’s second batch, nicknamed “Brazen,” represents a subtle evolution of this ascendant brand. At a slightly higher proof with “dialed up” flavors, this 7-year-old rye was finished in Mizunara casks that previously held 17-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dates and Fig Newton aromas mesh at first with some cracked black pepper and pie crust combined with cream soda and strawberry saltwater taffy at the center of it all. This whiskey has a really fun nose that’s lively and inviting.
Palate: It’s a lot more viscous than I expected from the nose, with great oiliness and a surprising bit of chocolate milk to go with the flavor of dates and red grapes. Fresh mint, mellow black pepper, and oregano kick in at midpalate and undulate across the palate, climbing up the roof of the mouth.
Finish: The finish has a touch of leather, more grape, and some gentle oak for balance. It has a medium length aided by the viscous texture, which grants it a supple staying power while the black pepper spice slowly recedes.
Bottom Line:
The bevy of flavors in this bottle might initially give you pause, as it takes a second for all of those tightly wound layers to unfurl, but with some time spent in the glass, this rye only gets better and better. Your only trouble will be maintaining the will to let it sit and improve because even the first sip of Raconteur Rye is sure to draw you in quickly.
We’re probably all familiar with the famous 95% rye and 5% malted barley grain recipe that a score of whiskey brands are using these days, but Blackwood Distilling Co. kicks things up a notch by taking that insanely popular mash bill and finishing it with their signature toasting process, utilized for both their rye and bourbon whiskey.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Mint chocolate and marshmallow come through big time on the aroma notes, giving this whiskey the scent of a mint s’more with a slight mineral note and barrel char plus vanilla rounding things out.
Palate: Heavy mouthfeel with lavender candy and caramel joining the marshmallow and rye spice as chalky, dark chocolate and mocha flavors ring around the edges of the tongue, slowly diffusing and leaving cayenne and black pepper in their wake.
Finish: The finish on Blackwood Toasted rye is remarkably lengthy and resplendent with caramel, rye, and nutmeg, giving it a slightly spicy send-off that you’ll definitely want to savor.
Bottom Line:
By delivering bold flavor in spades, Blackwood Toasted Rye offers an incredibly smooth and well-rounded barrel-strength blend that will appeal to drinkers of all types. This whiskey is a fantastic example of the heights rye can reach when toasted casks are utilized to elevate, rather than obfuscate, the flavor of the underlying liquid.
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 recipe of 65% balboa rye, 30% heirloom corn, and 15% two-row malted barley, this intriguing 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 tongue-in-cheek, but your tongue and cheeks will absolutely adore the liquid itself after one sip. 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.
6. New England Barrel Company Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Selected For Liquor Junction
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. This exclusive single-barrel expression, hand-selected for Liquor Junction and yielding only 132 bottles, sold like hotcakes and comprises the brand’s oldest sourced rye casks.
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. This single-barrel selected for Liquor Junction is the last of the bunch, offering a dense, decadent whiskey that truly plumbs depths of flavor that you can only get from well-aged rye. This is exactly the sort of pour that makes you appreciate the return of autumn because it’s loaded with fall spices and will warm you up fast when the weather turns.
Premier Drams was sprung from several great American whiskey minds, with Jack Rose’s proprietor Bill Thomas among them. These outstanding ryes come from several sources, all aged at the historic Castle & Key Distillery, formerly the home of Old Taylor. This particular single-barrel was selected for Allview Liquors in Maryland and bottled at 102 proof, which is atypically low for a cask strength expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this whiskey is remarkably rich with honeysuckle, green apple, and mint. Each aroma note is distinct and well-developed, making this rye whiskey a pleasure to raise to your nose repeatedly, as the aromas’ limited extent is an afterthought given the heights they reach.
Palate: Once on the palate, the same rings true for this whiskey’s flavor wheel, which is limited mainly to honey, mint tea, green apples, black pepper, and oak. It’s a classic combination done well that makes this whiskey so impressive, as none of the notes bleed over into each other, taking turns finding different regions of your tongue to detonate with flavor. The mouthfeel is supple and spry, coating your tongue with ease while encouraging chewing so you can plumb greater depths of richness.
Finish: The finish is short-to-medium, but thanks to its viscous texture, it doesn’t feel like the party is cut short because it’s so packed with flavor before the finish even occurs.
Bottom Line:
The beauty of Premier Drams isn’t that they deliver well-aged American whiskeys at cask strength, what brand doesn’t do that these days? The beauty lies in the brand’s twin virtues of careful cask curation and atypical maturation, which results in much lower proofs, delivering an incredible amount of flavor at exceptionally approachable ABVs. This style of American whiskey was once all the rage, and if the quality offered by Premier Drams is any indication, it’s sure to become en-vogue again very soon.
Heaven Hill’s brand-new Grain To Glass lineup features three whiskeys intended to highlight the carefully grown grains (Beck’s 6158 corn) they sourced from hand-selected local farming partners. For the lineup’s lone rye offering, they bottled a whiskey that utilizes a different grain source and mash bill from their other standout expressions like Parker’s Heritage 10-Year Rye and Pikesville Rye.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Tobacco leaf, almond, mint sprigs, and oak all take turns rising and falling on the nose for a dense, impressive melange that makes you want to sit with your glass for extended consideration.
Palate: The heavy mouthfeel brings milk chocolate, tobacco leaf, oak, and smoked mint across the palate on the first sip. The layers of flavor go deeper on the second sip, with cayenne, caramel, and cinnamon dancing on the center of the palate, while the influence of ethanol causes the periphery of the tongue to pulsate with delight.
Finish: The finish is long-lasting, drying the palate out a bit while black tea, oak, freshly cracked black pepper, and mint linger at the back of the tongue.
Bottom Line:
Heaven Hill’s Grain To Glass series hit the mark across the entire lineup, but the rye is easily the star of the show. They’ve delivered a bottle of rye that can go toe-to-toe with the best of them by switching up their grain source and tinkering with the mash bill to optimize it.
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.
2. Frank August Case Study: 03 Winter Cover Rye Whiskey
For their newest Case Study release, Frank August created nine unique batches, each consisting of three selected barrels of straight rye whiskey, and blended them optimally. Notably, this is the first straight rye whiskey in the Case Study series, which has previously highlighted the impressive rising brand’s bourbon blending prowess.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Incredible apple orchard aromas that immediately transport you to a farm in the fall leap out of the glass. There’s some faint cinnamon bark and sage, along with some more distinct honey and muted orange blossom notes that make this whiskey an absolute delight to swirl in your glass and enjoy.
Palate: On the palate, there’s a ton of vanilla ice cream and clove flavor before the apple and cinnamon notes begin to trickle in. It’s incredibly creamy with crème brûlée enticing the taste buds while gentle oak streaks up the middle of the tongue and floats to the edge of the palate.
Finish: Black pepper, oak, and burnt sugar find the finish along with some salted caramel sablés
Bottom Line:
This incredibly creamy and well-rounded rye will shock people more accustomed to grassy, peppery takes on the category, but rather than being an imitation bourbon, this one really carves its own lane and leans into the lush apple orchard flavors that will make it a hit all autumn long. With Case Study: 03 representing the brand’s most ambitious foray into the rye category, they’ve earned a ton of respect for their craft and boldly made it known that they’re not just here to stay but that they’ve got next.
Brook Hill is the Rare Character brand’s ne plus ultra expression, which, as you should already know, means this is some absolutely epic whiskey. With a history that dates back to the turn of the 19th century, the modern-day revival of Brook Hill is releasing exclusive bourbons and rye, with a highly limited number of single barrels of the rye hitting the market so far this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Milk chocolate, like the milk in a bowl after you finish your Cocoa Puffs, and sweet mint are most immediately alluring on the nose. Stick around a while, and you’ll also find chunks of toffee, polished leather, and paprika contributing to this dark and brooding nose.
Palate: Candied walnuts hit the palate along with a big spoonful of brown sugar before that Cocoa Puff milk note begins to pool at midpalate, whetting the edges of your tongue. Paprika and barrel char are relegated to the shotgun seat as some nutmeg, Smarties candy, and dried cranberries steer the ship before this transitions into the finish.
Finish: Almost chalky as the texture grips the back of your tongue before tapping out. There’s some oak and nuttiness on the finish, along with drops of honey, but despite the impressive length of those flavors, you’ll probably be on your second glass before you truly appreciate them.
Bottom Line:
Brook Hill came out of the gate strong, but then, that’s what Rare Character has become known for. They don’t half-step when it comes to new releases, and ever since introducing Brook Hill to the market in 2023, they’ve been batting 1.000. Step right up and see what the hype is all about.
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