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What Did Drake Buy From Pharrell’s Jewelry Collection?

Drake is no stranger when it comes to living in the lap of luxury. So it’s not surprising that in his new video for a track titled “Jumbotron Sh*t Poppin,” he wanted to bring fans into his world of opulence — dazzling diamonds, beautiful women, and fast cars. Throughout the video, the Candian crooner can be seen sporting several different (and costly) pieces of jewelry. But where does one purchase such precious stones?

Drake loves having exclusive items, so it would make sense that he would sport jewelry formerly owned by Pharrell Williams, who is known for his eccentric style and taste. This past October, the NERD producer hosted an online auction in which he sold off his personal jewelry and other items.

In the video, Drake was spotted with three pieces of jewelry, including “a 14K three-tone N.E.R.D pendant chain ($2,184,000), a white gold brain pendant chain ($725,000), and a skateboard pendant chain ($103,750),” HipHopDX estimates. In total, the rapper allegedly spent over $3 million to acquire the jewelry.

Drake’s long-running musical success not only continues to fill his love of expensive things but also allows him to afford them. Her Loss debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart after its release, moving roughly over $400k album-equivalent units in its first week. Since then, the album has surpassed over one million sales in the U.S. and over a billion streams on Spotify.

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George Santos’ Punishment For Lying About, Well, Everything? He’s Getting Seats On Multiple House Committees, Of Course

For the last month, freshman representative George Santos has been more famous than Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert combined. What did he do to earn such an honor? By lying his teeth off. He’s been busted embellishing his résumé, lying about his education and his heritage. The guy even claimed his mom died on 9/11. (She didn’t.) He was sworn in the House anyway and refuses to resign despite widespread calls for his removal. But if you thought he’d be punished by his superiors for bluffing his way into a government job, guess again.

As per The Hill, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy — who was elected after four chaotic days — revealed he won’t be teaching Santos a lesson in why not be dishonest. Quite the contrary. Instead he announced Santos will be seated on committees, where he’ll have sway over the lives of millions of Americans.

Earlier McCarthy claimed Santos wouldn’t be getting any top committees. But he didn’t say anything about seating him on lower committees. Indeed, McCarthy voted to put him on both the Science, Space and Technology Committee and the Small Business Committee, as per NBC News.

The move inspired conflicted feelings in Santos’ colleagues. “I don’t agree with what [Santos] said, did and all. I don’t agree with any of that, OK? It’s wrong,” Small Business Chairman Roger Williams told NBC News. “But at the same time, he’s on the committee, we’re gonna have rules to follow. He does represent about a million people in New York and a lot of main street issues.”

It wasn’t that long ago that then-president Donald Trump was borrowing a phrase from fellow disgraced POTUS Richard Nixon and calling the GOP the party of “law and order.” (Trump later helped foment an attempted insurrection that left multiple people dead.) But if there’s anything Santos can take away from misleading voters, it’s that lying pays off.

(Via The Hill and NBC News)

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Thousands of women share image of Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh with a powerful message

The 2023 Golden Globe Awards was an incredible night for Michelle Yeoh. The 60-year-old actress had waited 40 years to play the lead in a Hollywood film, and winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy for her starring role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” was a dream come true.

Yeoh’s moment in the spotlight made headlines that night as her award speech went viral. But following the ceremony, another moment went viral—the split second Yeoh’s name was called as the winner and the reaction of her co-star, Jamie Lee Curtis.

Curtis herself had been nominated for the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the film but didn’t win. (That award went to Angela Bassett in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”) But whatever disappointment Curtis may have felt about not winning her own award did not diminish her response to Yeoh’s win, which was immediate, intense and immensely joyful.


A screenshot of Curtis’ triumphant celebration of Yeoh’s win was shared on LinkedIn by Erin Gallagher, CEO and founder of gender equity company Ella, along with a powerful message that’s resonating with women everywhere.

Gallagher wrote:

“Ladies, this is your vibe for 2023: unabashed hype woman.

Full on. Full out. Full force.

This photo was taken last night at the Golden Globes when Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress for her role in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’

Look at Jamie Lee Curtis.

Look. At. Her.”

Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, Golden Globes, women

Gallagher continued:

“You can feel her energy, her fire, her power.

Her excitement, joy and passion for Michelle is palpable. The photo moves. It vibrates.

If you saw this photo without context, you may think that it was actually *Jamie* who won.

Ladies, this is your vibe for 2023.

Hype. Other. Women.

When she wins, fight the urge to question…

…who does she think she is?
…why is she getting attention?
…did she really deserve it?
…is she really that good?
…what about me?

Guess what? The world has sold you a lie.

Her success doesn’t detract from yours.
Her wins don’t create your losses.
Her joy can’t steal the joy that’s meant for you.

De-condition and unlearn what you’ve been wired to think: that women are your competition.

It’s a trap. Meant to distract us. And to keep us keeping each other down.

Find your Jamie.
Hype their Jamie.
Be her Jamie.”

The message hit home, and hard. Reposts on Facebook have circulated thousands of times as women share the message with an enthusiastic, “Yes, this!”

The sense of competition between women is often unspoken and not overtly encouraged, yet it exists. Research indicates that women have had complex relationships with one another, marked by both competition and cooperation, throughout human history. Throw in the uphill battle for social and political power in the modern era and it’s perhaps unsurprising that women can sometimes see other women’s success as threatening to their own.

That isn’t really how it works, though. It’s not like there’s a finite amount of female good fortune to go around. Success is not pie. As Gallagher points out, another woman’s success does not detract from our own, and there’s ample awesomeness out there for all of us.

Plenty of forces will try to pull women down and hold them back—do we really want to add to that? Be a force that lifts women up. Hype those you know who are crushing it. Celebrate their successes. Be their Jamie. There’s nothing but winning in it for us all.

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Clever 8-year-old wanted an Xbox so he applied for a job even though he wasn’t old enough

WCNC reports that Nash Johnson, an 8-year-old boy in Lexington, Kentucky, wanted an Xbox, but his $5-a-week allowance wasn’t enough to make it happen. An Xbox costs about $300 so at that rate, it would take him five years to save up enough money to buy one.

Nash figured he’d earn money a lot faster if he got a job. He saw a “help wanted” sign in front of Drake’s restaurant near his grandmother’s house so he went online and applied for a dishwasher position. “I’m very good at washing the dishes,” Nash told WCNC.

The only problem for Nash was that you have to be 16 years old to get a job in Kentucky. The application caught the attention of the management at Drake’s and they reached out to Nash to speak with him.

“At the very bottom of the application, he put that he was 8 years old … and when the kitchen manager saw the application, she just assumed that he forgot to put the 1 in front of the 8. And so she called him in very innocently,” Mark Thornburg, the chief operating officer at Drake’s, told Good Morning America. “The number that he put on [the application] was his grandmother’s house and … she asked for Nash and Nash gets on the phone, and he says, ‘Well, I’m only 8 years old.'”


Nash’s mom, Belinda Johnson, thought it was funny that her son applied for the job but it didn’t surprise her one bit. “That kid is not afraid to fail. He’s a go-getter,” she said.

Financial literacy is a big thing in the Johnson household, which isn’t the case in a lot of American homes. A recent CNBC + Acorns Invest in You survey found that only 15% of parents talk with their children more than once a week about household finances and 31% never do.

Belinda gives her son three jars so he knows what percentage of his money he should spend, save and give. After looking in his jars he realized he needed to put more money in the “save” jar. “He’s like, ‘I can get me more money if I get me a job,’” Belinda said.

Even though Nash didn’t get hired at Drake’s, the restaurant’s management invited him to a new hire orientation to show him what it’s like to start a new job. At the orientation, Nash was given an official Drake’s employee shirt.

“I tell a lot of people he would have been just as happy with his uniform shirt because his eyes got about as big as a softball. I mean, he was so excited when I gave him his uniform shirt,” Thornburg told Good Morning America. They also taught Nash how to use the dishwasher, should he’d be ready to work for the restaurant when he’s older.

But, by far the best part for Nash at the orientation was when Thornburg gave him a new Xbox for having such a great work ethic. Thornburg says the gift “changed the little guy’s life for sure.”

“We got to do something for this young man. He’s obviously very special,” Thornburg said, adding that the third grader is “definitely is the youngest applicant” he’s ever had.

Few things will carry a person further in this world than having the willingness to go out and work for the things they want in life. Kudos to Belinda for instilling financial literacy in her son and to the management at Drake’s for encouraging his work ethic.

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Brendan Fraser’s emotional awards speech about hope left audience in tears

Like the rest of the world, we at Upworthy have found Brendan Fraser’s glorious return to the Hollywood spotlight to be inspiring. After a multiyear hiatus, his role in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” has been a career milestone—both catapulting him back onto the big screen and gaining widespread accolades for his incredible performance. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it yet, do. And bring tissues … it’s beautifully heartbreaking.

At long last, it seems this beloved actor and genuinely decent guy is getting the comeback he deserves. Since “The Whale” released to theaters, Fraser has been a frontrunner for the coveted Best Actor title, and scored his first win (of probably many) at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards.


As you can probably imagine, this full-circle moment meant a lot to Fraser. The video below captures his initial reaction to hearing his name being announced and taking his triumphant march to the stage.

And as he delivered a moving acceptance speech, there wasn’t a dry eye left in the house.

Because Brendan Fraser wouldn’t be Brendan Fraser without a charming sense of humor, he began by making the audience laugh. “Where were you for ‘Furry Vengeance’?” he quipped, harkening back to his comedy heyday.

He continued by praising his cast and crew members—including Aronofsky, who essentially plucked the actor out of obscurity. “I was in the wilderness and I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs, but you found me. And like all the best directors, you merely just showed me where to go to get to where I needed to be,” he told the director.

Then, with his voice trembling with emotion, Fraser declared, “If you, like a guy like Charlie, who I played in this movie, in any way struggle with obesity or you just feel like you’re in a dark sea, I want you to know that if you too can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen.”

In “The Whale,” Fraser plays a 600-pound man who uses his final days to reconcile with his estranged daughter (played by Sadie Sink). Whether or not obesity is a mental illness has been a subject of debate, however it has been closely linked with mood disorders like depression—which, let’s face it, can make anyone feel hopeless and inert, overweight or not. Above all, the big theme of the film is about having the strength to hold onto hope, regardless of circumstances. Or as Fraser put it, “finding the light in a dark place.”

Fraser’s words touched many who have found themselves in similar situations:

Time will tell if this moment foreshadows an Oscar win, but in our hearts, Fraser is already a winner. Thank you for giving us all a masterclass in emotional resilience and compassion.

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John Wall Said Playing Justin Patton Was Proof The Rockets Were Tanking, Which Justin Patton Didn’t Appreciate

Prior to joining the Los Angeles Clippers, John Wall spent two years on the roster of the Houston Rockets. Wall made his way to Houston in the trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards, but only played 40 games in Houston due to a mix of injuries and, for the entirety of the 2021-22 NBA season, an agreement that Wall would stay home while the Rockets focused on developing their young guards.

As it turns out, Wall had some gripes about his tenure in Texas. The veteran guard appeared on the “Run Your Race” podcast, where he talked about how he “worked my ass off” on a team that was trying to “lose on purpose.”

Wall specifically pointed out the fact that they were starting Justin Patton, a former first-round pick for the Minnesota Timberwolves who is currently playing in France, as proof they were tanking.

“This how our starting lineup was, it was like me, David Nwaba, Jae’Sean Tate, Justin Patton, somebody else,” Wall said. “Who the f*ck, can I win a game with this sh*t.”

Wall said he was being a professional and wanted to team the young players — “Don’t get used to this sh*t, it’s not how the NBA is, it’s just a bad organization right now,” he said. But still, calling out Patton this explicitly didn’t sit well with the former Creighton big man, who saw Wall’s quote going around and called him out on Twitter.

Patton, the No. 16 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, suited up for the Timberwolves, Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Oklahoma City Thunder before heading abroad in 2021.

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‘Bel-Air’ Season 2: Everything To Know Including The Release Date, Plot, Cast, And More

Nostalgia reboots can be tricky, to say the very least. For every Cobra Kai, there are a sea of efforts that fail to harness the same energy as the originals while also bringing updated reasons to root for the same characters. That ’90s Show will soon take the plunge into charted waters on Netflix, and over on Peacock, an already successful rewarming of a classic series will return.

We’re talking about Bel-Air, the Will Smith-produced Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot that stars Jabari Banks (as Will). And back when this series first came together at Peacock, few would have imagined that a gritty update could work (especially with this tagline: “You know the Banks family, but not like this”) when the original show was so comedic in tone. Yet the show brought muscle without the cursed Carlton dance, and Peacock saw fit for a renewal. Here’s what to know before Season 2.

Release Date

The one-hour drama will return to Peacock on February 23 (with three fresh episodes) and continue to roll out on a weekly basis. For those who have already watched the series, expect to see familiar faces return.

Cast

Those roughed-up Philly streets haven’t left Will’s psyche as easy as with his 1990s counterpart. He landed in California, where Uncle Phil wants him to turn his life around, and the show got dark during the first season by diving deeper than a 30-minute sitcom could do even if it really tried. Banks is back as will with Olly Sholotan as Carlton, Adrian Holmes as Uncle Phil, and Cassandra Freeman as the updated Aunt Viv (who will hopefully not be controversially replaced like one of her predecessors was). Also expect to see Coco Jones as Hilary, Akira Akbar as Ashley, and Jordan L. Jones as Jazz.

Variety also recently reported that rapper Saweetie will enter in cameo form at some point this season with three actors on tap for recurring roles: Brooklyn McLinn, Jazlyn Martin, and Riele Downs. There’s been no word on whether Marlon Wayans and April Parker Jones will step back into view as Will’s parents, and only time will tell.

Plot

Here’s the second season’s official synopsis:

Season two of Bel-Air picks up with Will at a crossroads as a new figure comes into his life who challenges what he’s learned in Bel-Air and competes for control of his influence. He juggles this while navigating his home life with the Banks family and trying to rebuild the trust that was broken at the end of last season. We’ll see Will and Carlton’s brotherhood start to evolve as they grow closer, but still challenge each other about their differences. We’ll also see Hilary evolve as she becomes more of a boss in her influencer world and how that spills over into her relationship with Jazz, and also highlight the relatable struggles around Viv and Phil balancing marriage and family while trying to forge their own career paths and reconnect to the things that are important to them.

Trailer

You can view the official teaser for Bel-Air Season 2 below:

Bel-Air streams again on February 23.

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Chance The Rapper Addressed The Backlash Against Dave Chappelle’s Inclusion In His Black Star Line Festival

Chance The Rapper is no stranger to controversy, and it looks like he has to field even more in the wake of his Black Star Line festival in Ghana this past weekend. Although the festival was organized with the best of intentions, it has drawn some criticism for centering Ghana, which has a fraught political climate right now, as well as booking acts like Dave Chappelle, who has been embroiled in some controversy of his own involving perceived anti-trans rhetoric in his stand-up.

As one Ghanaian writer put it, “Accra [the site of the festival] is uninhabitable for regular Ghanaians. The only people thriving are the diaspora and the wealthy.”

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Chance tried to address the backlash to the festival, highlighting its successes and doing his best to reframe Chappelle’s comments as a needed, ongoing dialogue. “I think it’s something that Dave was actually shining a light on,” he said of the comic’s set, which addressed Ghana’s anti-gay laws. “That’s where that conversation came from. Dave was making a comment about the comedy scene in Ghana when he said, ‘I bet gay jokes go over so well here.’”

“I feel bad that the person in the audience felt singled out or that the violence against the trans community or LGBTQ community in Ghana wasn’t being respected,” he continued. “… so if having Dave there made people feel like they weren’t, that they didn’t have space or that they weren’t welcome, that was not my intention… I can’t really all the way speak for Dave. I don’t want to say what he thinks or what he feels, but what I think I know about him is that he loves everybody, especially his people, meaning Black people, meaning Black people that are trans, Black people that are gay, Black people that are gender non-conforming, people period.”

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SZA Said She’s ‘Rooting’ For Megan The Stallion In An Encouraging Post On Instagram

SZA took to social media to offer Megan The Stallion some moral support. The Texas hitmaker hasn’t said much following the outcome of Tory Lanez‘s trial. Lanez was recently found guilty on felony charges for the 2020 incident in which Megan ended up being shot in the foot. The Candian singer was charged with assault with a semi-automatic firearm, possession of a concealed, unregistered firearm, and negligent discharge of a firearm.

While Megan hasn’t publicly commented about the situation since the trial, she did open up on the stand about how the ordeal has affected her mental health over the past two years.

“I can’t even be happy. I can’t hold conversations with people for a long time. I don’t feel like I want to be on this earth. I wish he would have just shot and killed me if I knew I would have to go through this torture,” she said in her emotional testimony.

SZA, who collaborated with Megan in 2020 on a track called “Freaky Girls” from the Houston rapper’s debut album Good News, took to social media to show the rapper some love.

“Just wanted to give some love to Meg,” SZA wrote on her Instagram Story. “Your beautiful, and we’re all rooting for you [white heart emoji].”

megan sza
Instagram

SZA and Megan also posed together alongside Normani on the cover of Rolling Stone for its March 2020 issue.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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The Absolute Best Scotch Whiskies Between $40-$50, Ranked

The beauty of Scotch whisky is that it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to enjoy. There are plenty of modestly priced (in the grand scheme of things) bottles that absolutely rock. In fact, some great Scotch whiskies are priced under $50. The best part? You can usually find these lower-cost gems on the shelf around the country without too much effort.

These are all wins, folks.

For this list, I’ve pulled 10 of the best Scotch whiskies available right now and ranked them. This is very straightforward. Is the whisky good? Does it cost between $40 and $50? Yes to both? Good, it’s on the list!

When it comes to ranking these bottles, I’m going off taste alone. There’s a good mix of blended whiskies (a mix of single malt and grain whiskies) and single malts below. They all offer something a little different (some are peated and smoky, some are unpeated and sweet) so find the tasting notes that speak to you and then click that price link to get a bottle of your own.

Let’s dive in!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months

10. Ballantine’s 12

Ballentine's 12
Ballentines

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $44

The Whisky:

Ballentine’s is a classic grocer-turned-whisky-maker, a tried and true Scottish tradition. In this case, the whisky in the bottle is built from 50 different grain and single malt whiskies that are at least 12 years old. Once those barrels are vatted, the whisky is proofed down to a very accessible 80 proof.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a nice mix of fresh honey and lush vanilla on the nose next to hints of sweet oak and soft malts.

Palate: The palate leans into the honey with a creamy edge as short hints of wildflowers balance against vanilla creaminess, a touch of holiday spice tied to the malts, and a nice dose of that sweet oak with a lightly charred sense.

Finish: The finish is short and sweet and balances that vanilla and honey cream against florals and lightly spiced malts.

Bottom Line:

This is quintessential blended scotch. The flavor profile is broad but offers real depth. That all said, this is all about mixing up a good cocktail more than sipping — though it’s fine on the rocks.

9. Speyburn Arranta Casks

Speyburn Arranta
Inver House Distillers

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $45

The Whisky:

Arranta translates to “bold” and this whisky leans into that. The hot juice is aged for an undisclosed amount of time in first-fill ex-bourbon casks (that means this whisky was the first thing to go into those casks after they were emptied of bourbon). Those barrels were then vatted, proofed, and bottled without filtration.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Pear candy and honey lead the way on the nose toward woody spices, light leather, and a hint of sour apple skins and stems.

Palate: The palate is sweet and malty with a drive from pear flesh to pit, skin, and tree with floral honey and wet coconut leading to a hint of creamy vanilla sauce dusted with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Finish: The end leans into pears soaked in honey and nutmeg with a hint of old porch wicker and worn leather gloves on the finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice, fruity whisky that leans ever-so-slightly toward mild bourbon notes, making this a good bridge between the two styles. Still, you’re going to want to focus this on cocktails.

8. The Famous Grouse Smoky Black

The Famous Grouse Smoky Black
The Erdington Group

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $42

The Whisky:

This version of Famous Grouse is built on a foundation of rare Highland whisky. Glenturret peated single malt is at the core of this blend. That’s special in that Glenturret doesn’t really make peated malts — save for the whiskey that’s in this blend.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Like all Highland peaties, this whisky has a balance of smoke and sweetness from the first nose. Imagine damp campfires, falling leaves, and honey cut with woody winter spices.

Palate: There’s a hint of cedar that feels like it was soaked in dark rum and then set on fire. As that fire dies down, you’re left with dried fruits, dates, and a spice cake that leans into cloves and licorice root.

Finish: The end is fairly long and revels in the soot of that burnt cedar box as an old rum note sneaks back in with more raisins and spice.

Bottom Line:

This is pretty easy-going all things considered. It’s not overly peaty or smoky but there are notes there. Overall, this makes a good base for a smoky cocktail.

7. Johnnie Walker Double Black

Diageo

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $41

The Whisky:

This is basically Johnnie Walker Black — a slightly peaty blend of over 40 whiskies from around Scotland — that’s been casked again in deeply charred oak barrels for a final maturation. The idea is to maximize that peat and amp up the Islay and Island whiskies’ smokiness.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Clove-forward spice and billows of softwood smoke — think cherry and apple — greet you on the nose.

Palate: The palate has a vanilla creaminess that’s punctuated by bright apples, dried fruit, and more peat that leans more towards an old beach campfire than a chimney stack.

Finish: The spice kicks back in late, warming things up as the smoke carries through the end with a nice dose of oakiness, fruitiness, and sweet vanilla creaminess.

Bottom Line:

This a nice yet easy peated whisky over a lot of ice. The peat is dialed back a bit but does have a distinct ashiness to it. Overall, this is excellent in highballs with a dry and maybe floral-herbal accent or in a cocktail with some citrus.

6. Compass Box Glasgow Blend Scotch Whisky

Compass Box

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $40

The Whisky:

This expression is a marrying of whiskies from all over Scotland. 65% of the blend comes from single malts from a “distillery near the town of Aberlour,” Laphroaig, and Clynelish. The rest is part Highland malt blend (from the Glen Moray, Tomatin, and Balmenach distilleries) and a grain whisky from Cameronbridge distillery. Those whiskies were barreled in sherry and bourbon casks with a French oak barrel thrown in too.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose draws you in with this subtle peaty malt that feels more kissed by a hint of smoke than drowned in it in a malting room with a hint of stewed stone fruit.

Palate: The first sip is “malty scotch!” That then leads to dry straw, very mild plum, the memory of opening up a bag of charcoal, and almond shells.

Finish: You’re left with a slightly sweet straw and a buzzing maltiness that is more reminiscent of a cleaned-out fireplace than “smoke.”

Bottom Line:

This is just good. It works as a solid mixer or on the rocks pour.

5. Ardbeg Wee Beastie

Ardbeg
Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy

ABV: 47.4%

Average Price: $45

The Whisky:

This expression from Ardbeg was first released back in 2020 and instantly became a mainstay of the line (especially for bartenders). The hot juice is aged for only five years in both ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks before marrying for the final product. The idea is to give a sense of the quality of the peaty whisky from Port Ellen’s malting house without too much wood influence.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is a little abrasive on the nose with alcohol soaking through dried berries and raisins next to a hint of pear candy, woody vanilla, and dried dirt.

Palate: The palate has a hint of smoked plums that leads directly into pear candy with a touch of smoked pork belly buried in BBQ ash.

Finish: The finish is a mix of hot asphalt and soft pear tobacco with a thin layer of salt water calming everything down.

Bottom Line:

This is a great peated whisky to mix cocktails with. As a sipper, it’s a little rough around the edges.

4. The Singleton of Glendullan 12

Diageo

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $45

The Whisky:

This single malt from Diageo is a great gateway to good single malt. The juice is aged for 12 years — mostly in ex-bourbon barrels and a few ex-sherry cask-matured whiskies — before it’s cut with that iconic Speyside water and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is a delicate sip of whisky that leans into notes of dried florals and sweet fruits counterpointed by spicy oak and worn leather.

Palate: The palate lets the spice amp up a bit while the fruit touches on both orange oils and orange blossoms with whispers of bourbon vanilla, dried fruits, and fresh honey.

Finish: The end really holds onto that lightness while fading fairly quickly, leaving you with a cedary leather, more of that sweet fruit, and almost creamy vanilla.

Bottom Line:

This is soft and graceful with a bright and fruity disposition. Overall, this works best in cocktails like a Penicillin, but it’s perfectly fine on some ice too.

3. Highland Park 12

Erdington Group

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $49

The Whisky:

This is a pretty unique whisky. The distillery is located in Scotland’s far north Orkney Islands. The whisky in the bottle is a classic peaty single malt that spends 12 years maturing in European and American oak, both of which were seasoned with sherry. The whiskies are then married and proofed down to a very accessible 40%.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a real sense of rich and almost rummy holiday cake full of dark spices, dried fruits, candied citrus, and nuts with a hint of smoke.

Palate: A touch of fragrant honey arrives to smooth out the texture while adding sweetness.

Finish: That smoke pops back in on the finish but it’s more like a chimney smoke from a house a few doors down on a snowy day than a funky peaty smoke from a bog.

Bottom Line:

This is a lovely blend of deeper fruit/citrus flavors with dark peatiness. There’s a sweetness that ties it all together and makes this a great whisky to have on hand for cocktails or sipping over some rocks.

2. Chivas Regal Mizunara

Pernod Ricard

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $43

The Whisky:

Chivas is renowned for its iconic blended whisky. This expression — originally created for the Japanese market and released in the U.S. in 2019 — adds a unique dimension to the classic blend. A portion of the whisky is finished in Japanese Mizunara casks, adding a layer of nuanced flavors to the standard Chivas.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Caramel and dark dried fruits mingle with tasty pears, soft orange zest, a touch of leather, fresh and floral honey, and maybe some old oak staves on the nose.

Palate: The palate has a dash or two of winter spice next to walnuts and honey-soaked raisins with a hint of sunburnt heather and wildflowers.

Finish: The finish lets the spiciness warm the palate as pear and leather fade through the end.

Bottom Line:

This is probably the best “on the rocks” whisky on the list.

1. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year

Glenmorangie 14
Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $46

The Whisky:

Glenmorangie’s 14-Year expression spends 10 years resting in used American oak casks. Those barrels are vatted and the whisky is re-barreled into Quinta Ruban port wine casks from Portugal for another four years of mellowing before batching, proofing, and bottling as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose draws you in with a sense of burnt orange layered into dark chocolate and then melted over a singed marshmallow with a hint of malted vanilla cookie tying it all together.

Palate: That dark chocolate drives the palate with a hint of waxiness and woody winter spice next to whole black peppercorns, fresh tangerine, and a whisper of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Finish: The dark chocolate, woody spice, bright orange, and sharp spearmint all collide on the finish with a sense of soft malted sweetness and faint old oak staves.

Bottom Line:

Delicious. It’s perfect neat, on the rocks, or mixed into your favorite whisky cocktail.