The Girl Scouts’ guide to help parents talk to their daughters about weight and body image is kind of amazing.
The guide, titled “Yes, Your Daughter Just Called Herself Fat,” written by Girl Scouts’ developmental psychologist, Andrea Bastiani Archibald, includes a step-by-step look at responding to your child should they come home one day from school saying, “I’m fat.”
u201cHow to Deal When Your Daughter Calls Herself Fat: https://t.co/tSydjTX5C4u201d
First of all, it breaks down just how prevalent fat-shaming is in our culture:
“According to studies, a whopping 80 percent of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat. Why? Because they’re constantly surrounded by both subtle and direct messages that curvier or heavier girls aren’t as well liked, aren’t as likely to succeed in business, and in general, aren’t going to have as much fun or happiness in their lives.”
Second of all, it explains why the knee-jerk response “You’re not fat. You’re beautiful!” that so many of us have actually isn’t helpful.
Honestly, this part is so good that I’m just going to include the whole thing (which in its own awesome way, features the only reference to “The Dress” that won’t make you want to scream):
“[I]f she really sees her body in a certain way, simply telling her to stop seeing it that way isn’t going to help much. Remember that infamous dress on social media a few years back that some people thought was blue and some thought was gold—and how frustrating it was when those who saw it differently insisted that you were seeing it wrong and tried to get you to see it their way? That’s kind of how your girl is going to feel when you tell her that her body simply isn’t the way she thinks it is. …by essentially telling her that she’s not fat, she’s pretty, you’re reinforcing the idea that fatter, rounder, curvier or heavier bodies aren’t beautiful — which simply isn’t true. There are endless ways to be beautiful, and your daughter will grow up with a much healthier relationship to her body if you teach her that in a genuine way from a young age.”
This is such an important message that we don’t hear often enough. Calling someone fat isn’t bad because being fat is inherently bad, but it is bad to call someone fat as an insult because it implies that there’s something wrong with larger bodies.
Fat is just another type of body, andall types of bodies are OK.
The guide also features some great steps parents can take if their daughters feel negatively about their body fat.
1. Don’t assume you know where she’s coming from.
“A better approach is to pause for a moment and ask your daughter why she thinks she’s fat,” the guide advises. “Is it because her clothes are fitting differently than they used to or that a size she used to wear doesn’t feel comfortable anymore?”
Maybe her discomfort has to do more with the bodies of her classmates or what she’s seeing in the media. Or maybe she is fat, and really just needs you to tell her that’s OK too. Getting to the root of what’s causing body image issues is an important first step.
Again, the guide warns against those knee-jerk reactions: “If she says she thinks her legs are bigger or her tummy is rounder than those of her friends, those may actually be correct observations — and there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that.”
2. Set a good example for her!
Kids pick things up from their parents all the time and internalize those messages even if parents aren’t trying to pass them on. This is just as much about setting a good example as anything else.
“Another reason your girl might call herself fat is because she’s heard you do the same to yourself,” reads the guide. “Your daughter listens to everything you say — and if you’re picking yourself apart in front of the mirror or complaining about your weight, there’s a good chance that she’ll follow in your self-disparaging footsteps.”
u201cModel Positive Self-Esteem and Body Image for Improved Self-Confidence http://t.co/RT48qvSzzMu201d
That means giving yourself a bit of a break too. Just as you don’t want her to have to try to live up to unrealistic beauty standards, remind yourself that you don’t have to either.
“Identify parts of your body that serve you well and make note of the things you really do love about the way you look,” says the guide. “Healthy habits like eating right and exercise are good for everyone and should be a daily part of your routine, but fixating on your body and how it could or should be different isn’t healthy for anyone.”
3. Pay attention to the kind of media she’s consuming and make sure she’s seeing a variety of body types being celebrated.
TV, movies, and advertising are chock-full of messages meant to instill shame around body appearance, especially in girls and women. A bit of emotional counterprograming can go a long way. For example, check out the upcoming children’s book “Glitter Stripes“; and for older girls, Hulu’s “My Mad Fat Diary,” Melissa McCarthy’s performance in “Ghostbusters,” and Chrissie Metz in “This Is Us,” and Lynn Champlin on “My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” are great body-positive/fat-positive representations in the media.
Video of plus-size blogger posted on Girl Scouts Twitter page below:
The guide advises parents to “go the extra mile to compensate for some of the less-healthy messages your daughter may be getting from other sources” by exposing them to accomplished women of all shapes and sizes.
“She needs to know you don’t have to be a certain size or shape to make it big in life.”
Other topics include how to raise your children to be leaders, how to stand up to bullying, and how to be the best they can be in school. They’re all great in their own ways, but the body image article stands out especially.
Thanks to the Girl Scouts, parents can now feel equipped to handle this potentially difficult conversation.
Sometimes, life takes us on unexpected detours. One day you follow an impulse and suddenly you have a brand new purpose.
Such was the case for Isimeme Udu (who also goes by Naomi), who not only managed to become an overnight musical success on TikTok, she did it while pursuing a Master of Science degree from Dartmouth College.
Her musical persona, Hemlocke Springs, came from a random-name generator site—a strategy made famous by Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino)—and is reminiscent of pop stars with eccentric vocal stylings and bold fashion choices like Kate Bush and Marina. She jokes that people have ascribed her sound to countless genres and similar artists. If you ask her, it’s all “regular shemgular pop.”
Right now, Udu has more than 235,000 loyal followers on TikTok, something she didn’t exactly anticipate as a full-time medical student. But immediately after releasing the bridge of her then upcoming single “girlfriend,” the video amassed a million views, was used in more than 60,000 subsequent TikToks and even got the attention of Khalid, who can be seen bopping along to the catchy tune. And since the song’s release on Nov 2, it has racked up more than 9 million streams on Spotify.
The song has on more than one occasion been called an “awkward Black girl anthem” by listeners, and Udu herself has become a role model for Black women who want to let their weirdness shine.
It has also been lovingly embraced by people on the autism spectrum, who find ecstatic release in the ultra funky beat.
Udu didn’t expect anyone to even listen to “girlfriend,” much less for it to achieve such overwhelming success. She shared in an interview with People that she would previously post a song onto her SoundCloud, then ”remove it literally one minute later.” Making secret music became a habit for seven years.
When she finally decided to keep her songs up, she released a song called “gimme all ur luv,” which also caught celebrity attention from the likes of Bella Hadid and Grimes. No easy task, given the huge amount of content from aspiring artists on the platform.
Though it wasn’t part of the plan, Udu is embracing her seemingly destined career as an artist. She shared with People that she has since finished out a “hellish” final semester at Dartmouth, but fully switched gears for the time being. She has signed with a record label, is working on an album and hopes to perform live one day. “I’ve been practicing in my room with a hairbrush,” she quipped.
Hemlocke Springs, of course, isn’t the only artist to find unexpected fame on TikTok. Though the platform making music more accessible has some potential drawbacks—especially when the need for constant output and hacking the algorithm supersedes quality—it has undeniably helped people express themselves in ways that might defer from the traditional or mainstream. I mean, would this music or “goblin metal” or musical mashups of cat noises have been as widely embraced only a few years ago? I think not. And it’s a good thing that we are celebrating uniqueness. Clearly, it means a lot to a lot of people.
Also, if you’ve been looking for a sign that you should actually pursue your own weird passions—be it music or art or some kind of avant-garde gardening—this is it.
Television shows rarely know when they will end. Historically, the only television shows that are in control of when they will end are the popular, award-winning ones like Seinfeld or Game of Thrones (and in some cases, these shows must go on longer than desired). It’s even rarer for a television show to end itself after only two seasons by choice because shows that end at season two are usually canceled. The exception is Andor, the best television show of the year. The first season of Andor, the Disney+ Star Wars show that is so much better than all of the others that it is embarrassing (all respect to Grogu) is the first of only two seasons. The show’s success is partly (okay, mostly) because it knows the end is happening sooner rather than later, and every frame has a purpose.
Andor’s limited run (two seasons with twelve episodes) was designed in a finite, condensed way so that everyone involved from writers to designers to actors would not have to devote half a decade or more of their lives to it. Diego Luna would not have to play a character he played in 2016 but years younger despite being years older longer than he wanted to or needed to, and Tony Gilroy, a busy guy who is behind some of the best films of the 21st century like Michael Clayton, wouldn’t be stuck in a Star Wars funk, unable to put his energy into other projects. Andor’s two-season run also makes it possible for extraordinary actors such as Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’Reilly, Andy Serkis, and an impressive roster of Britain’s most talented theater actors to participate without making major sacrifices to their careers.
Time is always running out on Andor, but the show still takes its time to focus and uses its Mad Men-like short stories within a whole structure to do so. First, it focused on Cassian’s backstory. Then it focused on the team of rebels Cassian works with on an Empire heist. Then it focuses on the Imperial prison Cassian is trapped in. Along the way, it indulges in the culture of different planets in the Star Wars universe and establishes characters we may never see again, all while moving the story forward in a tight, cohesive way. The season, and its near-perfect season finale that brings all the necessary storylines together, would not be as successful if the end weren’t in sight. Andor’s end is so close that every single frame has to matter and build to something.
In the peak TV era, it is more common for a series to go on and on and on, even when it had no intention of doing so (Big Little Lies, The Flight Attendant to unsuccessful degrees, The White Lotus to a successful degree). As much as I – and the other twelve people who watch Andor – would like to see Tony Gilroy’s Star Wars indefinitely, its finality and focus make it so unique. Even if Andor wanted to include a Skywalker or two, or a little gratuitous scene with Emperor Palpatine or Darth Vader (it would never, by the way), there isn’t time. More shows should confidently be just two seasons to save everyone – especially the consumers of television – some time.
What isn’t quite as hard to define are under-the-radar bourbons that I think deserve more hype. I get to sample a seemingly endless amount of whisk(e)ys throughout the year — seriously, I’m into the mid-1,000s for 2022 so far. That means I see a lot of bourbons that fly under the radar of the mainstream whiskey media machine.
Below are the 20 bourbons that I think deserve more hype. These are the bottles that are straight delicious and under the radar when compared to the overly hyped bottles that get too much enough attention. And sure, you might have already heard of some of these, and if so, congratulations, but that’s not the point.
I’ve selected bourbons that aren’t from huge mega-brands. So sorry, overhyped bottles like Wild Turkey Rare Breed, everything from Heaven Hill and Sazerac, Jack Daniel’s limited releases, Beam’s whole line, all of Willett, and other big names are absent from the below list. That doesn’t mean that some of these bourbons aren’t sourced or contract distilled by big-name distilleries. This is about the little blending house or craft distillery that makes an amazing bourbon for us to enjoy that you may not have heard of or tried yet. Phew. Anyway, let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This whiskey is a sourced masterpiece of Kentucky bourbon that’s bottled down in Texas. The mash bill is corn heavy with 78.5% corn next to 13% rye and 8.5% malted barley. That hot juice is left in barrels in Kentucky for 15 long years before they’re shipped to Texas, blended, and bottled as-is at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
This is classic bourbon with a deep sense of buttery toffee next to dark cherries with a sour edge, slightly tannic oak, a hint of worn boot leather, and a spicy tobacco leaf. The palate hits on a soft ginger snap with sharp cinnamon and freshly ground nutmeg leading to a handful of allspice berries before wet brown sugar and maple candy kick in and mellows the mid-palate toward dark cherry tobacco wrapped up with old wicker canes and pine needles. The end subtly drops toward old oak staves, cellar floor, and caramel/cinnamon syrup with a dash more of that tobacco.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
This is one of those bottles that whiskey super geeks will know about but that’s about it, especially if you’re in Kentucky. Outside of there, this is pretty niche stuff. Overall, we’re talking about an excellent bourbon blend that really hits some high marks for such a high age statement.
Red Line Cask Strength Single Barrel Straight Bourbon
This whiskey from Red Line is sourced from hand-selected barrels from MGP of Indiana. The team at Red Line picked six-year-old barrels of MGP’s iconic high-rye bourbon mash of 75% corn, 21% rye, and only 4% malted barley. Those barrels were vatted and then bottled as-is at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a lovely sweetness that arrives on the nose with a hint of burnt sugars and brown butter just starting to coalesce into caramel with a flake of salt and a sense of rum-raisin and an echo of charred oak. The palate leans into a light apple compote with a hint of plum and plenty of wintry spices next to vanilla and wicker before the warmth of the ABVs peak on the mid-palate. The end is soft and supple with a sense of spiced prune jam, old porch wicker, and allspice berries.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
This is a testament to both MGP’s beautiful bourbon and Red Line’s prowess as a truly great blender/bottler. This tiny shingle is starting to get a little exposure thanks to big awards but it’s still under the radar if you’re not deep in the bourbon world.
Old Carter Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Very Small Batch 2-KY
Old Carter is a hidden-away bottler right off Whiskey Row in Louisville. It’s still very insider. Their process is all about finding great barrels of whiskey, blending them, and bottling them for whiskey lovers in the know. In this case, that was a three-barrel small batch blend that yielded only 688 bottles.
Tasting Notes:
A thickness comes through on the nose with creamy vanilla and maple syrup vibe with a buttery underbelly accented by old corn husks, woody cinnamon, allspice, and lush nutmeg with a hint of hazelnut. Thick salted caramel sauce vibes with a black-tea-soaked date feel as cinnamon syrup and smoldering orchard wood leads to a big mid-palate Kentucky hug. That warmth fades quickly as hints of dried cranberry tobacco and cedar braids filled with wicker and sweetgrass end the sip on a dry note with a touch of floral honey lurking underneath it all.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Old Carter is one of the best blenders/bottlers working in Kentucky today. Their ability to source incredible barrels of whiskey and then create bespoke and straight fire blends is second to none right now.
This sourced whiskey celebrates both Kentucky’s bourbon heritage and U.S. Senators from the Bluegrass state. The sourced juice is made with a mash of 78.5% corn, 13% rye, and 8.5% malted barley. The whiskey is left alone for 15 years before the team at Kentucky Senator Spirits blends and bottles this one without filtering or proofing.
Tasting Notes:
This whiskey opens with a medley of dry cedar, black cherries, burnt toffee, buttered sourdough pancake, old leather, cinnamon bark, and spiced chewy tobacco. The palate leans into the woody spices with cloves and anise taking center stage as soft maple syrup and pecan-cinnamon-butter create a spiced/sweet/creamy vibe on the palate. In the end, more woodsy spices mingle with rich cherry tobacco as old oak, salted caramel, and vanilla cream pie round everything out.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
This is another whiskey that’s just beautiful from top to bottom. This super-niche and rare brand is pretty off-the-radar if you’re not in Kentucky. Still, this is a highly coveted bottle of bourbon that you actually might bump into at a very high-end liquor store. So keep an eye out.
Middle West Straight Wheated Whiskey Michelone Reserve
This Ohio whiskey is all about grain-to-glass. The juice is made from a mash of sweet yellow corn, soft red winter wheat, dark pumpernickel rye, and Two-Row malted barley. The whiskey spends about four years in oak before it’s bottled as is at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
A hint of sourdough doughnuts dusted with cinnamon and sugar leads to maple syrup, coconut cream pie, marzipan, and a hint of toffee. The palate dries out toward an almond nutshell before hitting a rum-raisin/Cherry Coke vibe next to woody winter spices on the mid-palate. That spicy warmth fades toward cedar bark, Almond Joy, and spiced cherry tobacco on the finish with a hint more of that warm doughnut from the nose.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Middle West makes the best bourbon in Ohio. Outside of that state, you might not have ever heard of it — or even realize that you’re already drinking it (it’s the original source for brands like Horse Soldier, for instance). This bottle, at cask strength, is one of the better craft bourbons you can buy right now and worth the extra effort to source if you’re not in the Ohio Valley.
This Alabama whiskey is all about that grain-to-glass experience. What really stands out, though, is that this whiskey aged for only four years yet has a deep profile. The whiskey takes on a dark hew thanks to it being stored at the top of the rickhouse in hot and balmy Alabama. The results are bottled from a single one of those barrels without any cutting or fussing.
Tasting Notes:
The nose on this one starts with cornbread that’s been baked in lard in a cast-iron skillet with an almost burnt crust, plenty of salted butter, and a dollop of honey that’s been cut with orange oils. The palate takes that cornbread, crumbles it up, and mixes in fresh cracked Tellicherry black peppercorns, dried roses, a touch of cedar, and a mild echo of orange-laced tobacco leaves. Finally, the sip layers in a wintry spice combo that leans toward cinnamon sticks soaked in mulled wine and apple cider that leads towards a soft finish with a dried mint that’s… almost menthol tobacco.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
This was getting some serious hype in 2021 and then kind of fell off the radar in 2022. That’s a shame as this is excellent whiskey.
This expression is made from last year’s instant-classic Stellum Bourbon barrels. The ripple here is that the blend of this bourbon was created from specific rare barrels used for Stelllum that were blended until the exact moment of the vernal equinox. That whiskey was then bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Fresh chili peppers greet you with a sense of soft malted grains, old leather gloves, dried sweetgrass, and a flourish of creamy toffee underneath it all. The palate leans into leathery stone fruit with fresh and floral honey, sharp woody cinnamon, burnt orange rinds, and bright clove berries. The end created an orange creamed pudding with a hint of green tea, black dirt, chocolate-covered espresso beans, and old oak staves from a cellar.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Stellum — part of Barrell Craft Spirits in Kentucky — is one of the better bourbon blends on the market today. This stuff is pretty rare, which gives it a patina of “niche.” That said, it’s super accessible on the palate with a wonderful flavor profile that runs deep. Really any Stellum Bourbon or Rye will be a great find, but this expression truly rises above the rest.
The whiskey is a sourced bourbon. The juice is made in Kentucky, where it’s also aged. The team at Frank August then takes roughly 10 to 15 barrels per batch and builds this bourbon painstakingly to fit their desired flavor profile. The whiskey is then lightly proofed down to 100 proof before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is pure classic bourbon with hints of salted caramel with a twinge of soft grains next to spicy cherry syrup, a whisper of sour apple, and a touch of aged oak staves soaked in mulled wine. The palate moves on from the soft grains towards rum-soaked raisins with a warm winter spice matrix — cinnamon, ginger, clove, allspice — before a brown sugar/rock candy sweetness takes over on the mid-palate. The finish is long and sweet with a nice dose of sharp cinnamon and soft nutmeg that leads to a supple vanilla cream with a thin line of dry cedar and tobacco spice just touched with dark cherry on the very end.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
This new bourbon from blender/bottler Frank August has had a pretty small initial release this year. Hopefully, that’ll expand going into 2023 as this is the really good stuff through and through.
The latest batch of Redwood Empire’s Grizzly Beast is a four-grain bourbon. The California whiskey was made with 69% corn, 22% rye, 5% malted barley, and a mere 4% wheat. After five years of maturation, 26 barrels were picked for this batch. Those barrels were vatted and the whiskey was just kissed with pure water from a local Russian River Valley aquifer.
Tasting Notes:
Cherry pie with plenty of winter spice leads off on the nose with buttery brown sugar, tart red berries, and walnut shells. The palate opens with burnt orange, salted caramel, and more of those tart berries swimming in rich vanilla cream before a hint of spicy warmth arrives. The end leans into brown sugar and winter spice-laced butter with walnut tobacco leaves wrapped in vanilla husks and cedar bark.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Redwood Empire is one of those small distillers/blenders that has a fiercely loyal fan base that’s still pretty small — the distillery doesn’t even have a consumer side yet. That’s all going to change as the Sonoma, California distillery grows and becomes a true titan of West Coast whiskey over the next few years.
This Colorado crafty whiskey gets a lot of attention from bourbon drinkers in the know. The mash is made from 64% corn, 21% malted barley, and 15% Abruzzi Heritage Rye, which Master Distiller Todd Leopold malted at his malting house at the distillery in Denver. That mash ran through a classic pot still before it was barreled and left to rest for five years.
Tasting Notes:
The floral and spicy nature of that Abruzzi rye really comes out on the nose with a touch of candied apples, Quik chocolate milk powder, and the faintest hint of sourdough rye with a light smear of salted butter. The taste leans into stewed pears with nutmeg and clove spices leading the way as Almond Roca and green peppercorns jostle for space on your palate. The end mellows out as that spice fades towards an eggnog vibe with a creamy vanilla underbelly and a final touch of that floral rye and hint of pear.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Todd Leopold is one of the most important people working in whiskey today whom most whiskey drinkers have never heard of. Leopold is making some truly stellar craft whiskeys by going hard in the paint on the science and magic of distilling, aging, and blending (he had a one-of-a-kind still made just for rye whiskey). While Leopold Bros. is starting to get some serious recognition, they’re still a small craft brand from Denver that deserves some serious hype as they expand.
This expression from Illinois’ FEW Spirits marks the 125th anniversary of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. The juice is made from 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley. That whiskey spends four years resting before it’s proofed down to 100 proof and bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
The nose opens with a sense of vanilla cream pie with an extra thick vanilla pudding next to dry cedar bark with a touch of white moss, a touch of black licorice, and a hint of barrel smoke. The palate leans into cherry bark with a light cherry tobacco spiciness that melds with the vanilla pudding, a pan of fresh sticky buns with plenty of cinnamon and walnuts, and a hint of black pepper and more of that dry cedar bark. The finish has a bit of an oatmeal cookie vibe that leads back to the spicy cherry tobacco and white moss.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
FEW has been around for a while now, so they don’t necessarily need more hype as an overall brand. But this bottle definitely does. As a smaller craft distillery just outside of Chicago, FEW has created a seriously excellent bottled in bond expression that puts the cherry on top of all the work they’ve been doing over the last decade.
New Riff Maltster T50 Crystal Malt Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond Aged 6 Years
New Riffs brand new malted bourbon just hit shelves. The juice is made from yeast and malts that usually make pale ales and bitters in the beer world. The mash bill is 65% corn, 20% malted rye, and 15% T50 Crystal Malt, which is the aforementioned pale ale malt. The whiskey is left to rest for six years before the barrels and batched and the bourbon is just kissed with local water for proofing.
Tasting Notes:
There was a beautiful sense of dried chili pepper next to old leather, red tart berries, a hint of sourdough rye bread, and creamy vanilla beans next to a touch of dried and waxy cacao nibs. The palate leans into that dryness with sharp woody spices, dry dark chocolate powder, ground clove, cumin, and dried cranberry next to a mild warmth that leads to chili pepper. The end has a dark chocolate-covered cherry vibe next to a light sense of dry firewood and old leather chairs from a smoky library.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
New Riff is one of those Kentucky brands that is rarely seen outside of the state. Unless you’re at a truly great whiskey bar or someone’s dope whiskey vault. Still, these one-off expressions from New Riff are worth seeking out and trying. For one, they’re f*cking delicious. Two, they’re rare examples of true craft excellence in bourbon-making right now.
This whiskey starts as Woodinville’s award-winning five-year-old bourbon. That whiskey is then re-barreled into Moscatel wine casks for a finish maturation period. After nearly a year, the whiskey goes into the bottle having just been touched by water but otherwise as-is.
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a mix of dark chocolate powder, smoked apricot, and burnt orange with a good dose of wet wicker and five spice. The palate leans into toffee and almonds (Almond Roca!) with peach pits, plums, and a touch of vanilla yellow cake. The end leans into the plums with a brown sugar vibe next to light Christmas spices, dry wicker, choco-spiced tobacco, and Almond Roca.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Woodinville has been winning award after award for years now. But during that whole ascent, they’ve only really been available in Washington State (or at whiskey bars in the know). That all changed with this release, which is available nationwide. That’s a fantastic achievement for a small-time operator working just north of Seattle. It’s also a fantastic whiskey that’s a great introduction to the brand for all of you who’ve been waiting to finally try it.
Pronounced “be-voo-ak,” this whiskey celebrates the take-it-easy and travel-light ideal of many travelers in Northern California and the wider Pacific Northwest. The actual whiskey is sourced from Bardstown, Kentucky, and blended from two bourbons. 95% of the blend is a pretty standard 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley whiskey. The other 5% of the blend is a high-malt bourbon that’s aged for eight years.
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a sense of sweet vanilla next to apricot jam cut with nutmeg and allspice, a hint of apple pie, and some dry straw baled up with thick twine. The palate opens with sweet creamed honey inside dark chocolate bonbons with a dash of salt and sweet cinnamon next to a scone covered in that apricoty jam with a dollop of brandy butter. The end warms slightly with the cinnamon and allspice toward peach tobacco rolled with old cedar bark and loaded into an old leather pouch for safekeeping.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
The Hirsch is one of those brands that you see all over San Francisco’s high-end cocktail bars and whiskey shops but rarely elsewhere. That’s a shame as this whiskey tends to be pretty goddamn good. This whiskey has a little wider footprint and is also very well-priced for some quality whiskey.
Filibuster Distillery Bottled-in-Bond Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 5 Years
This Virginia whiskey is a grain-to-glass experience. The juice is made from locally-grown grains — 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley — and local spring water in the Shenandoah Valley. After five years of mellowing in Appalachia, a small bundle of barrels are batched and proofed to 100 proof before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
The nose opens with a waft of old porch wicker next to floral honey, burnt orange, black tea leaves, and a classic sense of woody cherry and vanilla. The palate creams the honey while adding in soft oak and cherry pie filling with a hint of vanilla malt next to mulled wine spices — heavy with star anise, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon with a pinch of mace or cardamom. The end has a dark chocolate-covered espresso bean vibe that leads to a mild dried cranberry note next to a strawberry-rhubarb-walnut crumble with a scoop of vanilla malted ice cream that finished back at the old porch wicker braided with dark cherry tobacco and dry cedar bark.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
This is one of those bottles that seemingly came out of nowhere this year. It’s delicious, and it’s starting to rack up some serious awards because of that.
This whiskey from Kentucky Peerless is around five to six years old and comes from one barrel that lets the grains shine through before it goes into another barrel that lets the oak shine through. That final barrel is bottled at cask strength, as-is, allowing all that beautiful bourbon and oak aging to shine brightly.
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a nose full of salted butter next to hints of very soft leather, light notes of vanilla bean, a touch of toffee sweetness, and freshly cracked walnuts with a dry edge. The taste leans into that oak barrel with dashes of woody spices (think allspice berries, star anise, and cinnamon sticks), dry cherry tobacco leaves, salted caramel, and more of that super soft leather. That leads towards a mid-palate of dark red fruits stewed in mulled wine spices and cut with a dollop of fresh honey before the (long) finish dries out towards an old wicker chair, a very distinct hint of a cellar funk, and a touch of dried mint.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Kentucky Peerless is another one of those brands that live in the gray world between awards and whiskey nerds darling and still not quite having broken through to the wider world yet. It’s probably the best craft distillery in Kentucky, if not the county right now. The crew is young (the master distiller just turned 30) and the whiskey is phenomenal. That makes this one brand and bottle worth seeking out right now.
Nashtucky Special Release Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 8 Years
This whiskey is part of the new line from the famed Nashville Barrel Company. In this case, barrels were filled in Kentucky and then sent down to Nashville to age for eight years, colliding the worlds of Kentucky bourbon with the Tennessee climate. The results are bottled as-is one barrel at a time.
Tasting Notes:
Old lawn furniture with a hint of dry grass mixes on the nose with salted caramels, figs, dates, and prunes, a mix of wintry spices, a dash of white pepper, and some light stone fruit (think fresh apricot and plum). The palate leans into spiced fig jam with a sense of spiced Christmas cake, burnt sugar, and candied citrus countered by dry sweetgrass braided with cedar bark next to singed wild sage and a hint of strawberry tobacco. The end has a mild sense of warmth next to pear fruit leather and apricot jam with a hint of dark chocolate and dried strawberry tobacco in an old leather pouch.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Nashville Barrel Company (NBC) is on the tip of a lot of whiskey lovers’ and influencers’ tongues right now. If you know, you know. If you don’t know, NBC is doing some of the best work in both single-barrel picks and small-batch blends in Tennessee right now. They can’t seem to miss, ever. While getting some isn’t the easiest if you’re not local, the brand is starting to sneak into other markets slowly. This is your chance to get on board before the hype explodes for this brand.
Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled In Bond Vintage Series Fall 2018 Straight Bourbon Whiskey
The latest seasonal drop from Tennessee’s Chattanooga Whiskey is another great. The juice is a blend of four of their mash bills. 30% comes from mash bill SB091, which is a mix of yellow corn, malted rye, caramel malted barley, and honey malted barley. Another 30% comes from mash bill B002, which has yellow corn, hardwood smoked malted barley (smoked with beech, mesquite, apple, or cherry), caramel malted barley, caramel malted, and honey malted barley. The next 20% is mash bill B005, which is yellow corn, malted wheat, oak smoked malted wheat, and caramel malted wheat. And the last 20% is from mash bill R18098, which is yellow corn, pale malted barley, naked malted oats, double roasted caramel malted barley, peated malted barley, cherrywood smoked malted barley, chocolate malt, and de-husked chocolate malt.
Tasting Notes:
Cinnamon, brown butter sugar, walnut, and raisins meld on the nose with some vanilla to create a moist oatmeal cookie next to buckwheat pancakes griddled in brown butter and topped with apple butter, and maybe some apricot jam with a dash of nutmeg, dark chocolate shavings, and creamy vanilla whipped cream. The palate leans into cherry hand pies and vanilla wafers with a counter of dried wild sage, orchard tree bark, and meaty dates. The end has a sharp turn into dried red chili pepper cut with pipe tobacco, dark chocolate bars, cedar bark, burnt orange, and lime leaves with this whisper of cinnamon cookies at the very end.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Sticking with Tennessee, this brand and bottle are stellar and unique. Seriously, look at what goes into this bourbon compared to the rest of them on this list. While Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel, and Uncle Nearest drive the Tennessee whiskey conversation, Chattanooga has quietly been toiling in the background and making killer whiskey under the radar right next door to some of the world’s biggest brands.
This whiskey heralds back to Michter’s historical roots in the 19th century before the brand was even called “Michter’s.” The whiskey in the bottle is rendered from a very small batch of bourbons that were aged in Chinquapin oak which was air-dried for three years before charring and filling. The Kentucky bourbon was then bottled in an extremely small batch that only yielded 2005 bottles this year.
Tasting Notes:
Sweet mashed grains — thinks a bowl of Cream of Wheat — mix with sticky toffee pudding, old leather, old cellar beams, and sweet cinnamon with a hint of burnt orange and dark chocolate next to eggnog with a flake of salt. The palate is super creamy with a crème brûlée feel that leads to soft winter spices, dry cedar, and orange chocolates with a hint of marzipan in the background. The end has a creamed honey vibe next to figs and prunes with fresh chewing tobacco and salted dark chocolate.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
This is called “secret Michter’s” in whiskey nerd circles. This is the rare and very under-the-radar release from Michter’s that deserves all the hype. This is a classic and excellent-tasting whiskey that truly transcends the average to reach great heights.
Starlight Distillery Carl T. Huber’s Bottled-In-Bond Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey
This new release from Huber Farm’s Starlight Distillery (the distillery to know if you’re in the know) is made from their high-corn mash with a sweet mash method (each batch is fresh) in their old copper pot still. The whiskey is barreled in Canton barrels and left to age on the farm for four years before it’s batched (only 20 barrels) and proofed down to 100 proof for bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Stewed cherries, figgy pudding, apple butter, cinnamon waffles, woody maple syrup, and dark chocolate with a pinch of salt all dance on the nose. The palate leans into Cherry Coke with a spice vibe, burnt orange peels, cloves, creamy eggnog, sour mulled wine, and a hint of apple fritter dusted with cinnamon sugar. The end has a singed cherry bark sensation that leads to dry winter spices — star anise, allspice, clove, cinnamon, and pine — next to dates and prunes layered into pipe tobacco with a twinge of dark chocolate and cedar.
Why It Deserves More Hype:
Starlight Distillery — part of the Huber Farm family in Southern Indiana — is the craft distillery that’s poised to truly explode nationwide in the next year or two. Their product is exemplary and their vibe is chill while bringing some true excellence (and generations of experience) to the whiskey game. If this list was ranked, this would be number one by a country mile.
It’s been nearly 15 years since Indiana Jones has been on his last adventure, and though he would probably be fine spending the rest of his days teaching and marveling at his fun trinkets and alien artifacts, he seems like he is always willing and able to jump back into Indy mode and go on another scavenger hunt. The same goes for Harrison Ford, apparently, as he agreed to do a fifth (and final) Indiana Jones movie!
The trailer for Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny debuted today, featuring Indy reminiscing about his complex history involving bad guys and their coveted riches. Plus, now he is assisted by his “Goddaughter,” played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and they have even used some good old-fashioned de-aging technology. Also, he rides a horse through a subway station, so that’s another win. As per the official description:
Harrison Ford returns as the legendary hero archaeologist in the highly anticipated fifth installment of the iconic “Indiana Jones” franchise, which is directed by James Mangold. Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Oliver Richters, Ethann Isidore, and Mads Mikkelsen.
James Mangold directs, and executive producers include Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Kathleen Kennedy. John Williams returns for another Indy score.
The movie will debut in theaters on June 30th, 2023. Check out the official trailer above.
Mike White is so annoying (not really): he is an extremely good writer and seems like a good person. In the latest episode of season two of The White Lotus, Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge, tells her assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) that she’s already talked to her lawyer about ending her marriage. “You know, I talked to Billy Offer last night about getting the marriage annulled,” she says.
The name Bill Offer is not familiar to most people, but it’s meaningful to The White Lotus creator, writer, and director Mike White. In real life, Billy Offer is the son of White’s entertainment lawyer, Robert Offer, according to The Wrap. Billy Offer (in real life) works in the Indie Film Group at United Talent Agency (UTA).
In an email sent to The Wrap, White confirmed the personal easter egg.
“Robert Offer has been my lawyer for over 25 years and I have known Billy since he was a toddler. A perk of writing a TV series is giving shout outs to people I love and respect!”
“[Mike is a] good friend and a long, long-time client, and we’re huge fans of the show,” White’s entertainment lawyer Robert Offer told The Wrap in a statement. “We all had a nice smile in our house watching the show, which we do religiously every weekend … It was fun to hear our son’s name mentioned in the episode because we love the show and we love Mike.”
Season two has been filled with references and cameos both cinematic, personal, and related to White’s experience as a contestant on Survivor. What reference will he make next?
Rumors in rap circles have been swirling about 21 Savage and Latto perhaps being the next rap power couple. But 21 Savage seemed to deny those rumors this week in a Clubhouse chat.
21 Savage was going off about the latest flurry of news regarding his beef (fake?) with Nas. 21 Savage’s shot heard ’round the world on Nas was highlighted by him saying, “I don’t feel like he’s relevant, he just has a loyal ass fanbase and he still makes good-ass music.” Eventually, though, the pair ended up dropping a collab track two weeks later in “One Mic, One Gun.”
In his latest Clubhouse appearance, 21 Savage tried to defend his character after being accused of using the Nas incident for publicity and apparently set the record straight on him and Latto in the process. “I don’t do all the antics and sh*t,” he said. “I don’t got a celebrity girlfriend. I’m not fittna be out everywhere. I’m not dropping music every other week. I’m not going on [Instagram] Live talking about n****s every other week.”
Latto would certainly qualify as a “celebrity girlfriend.” The former Uproxx cover star was just nominated for her first Grammy Awards this year, including a Best New Artist nom. So you can be the judge of whether you think 21 Savage and Latto are dating or not based on those comments. But if his words seem as thinly-veiled means to another end as they did with “One Mic, One Gun,” he might just be trying to keep a potential relationship on the low.
Leah Remini isn’t holding back her thoughts after Danny Masterson‘s rape was declared a mistrial. The former King of Queens star and outspoken Scientology critic vowed to never stop exposing the church’s alleged crimes. Remini, who was a lifelong member of the church, raised awareness of the sexual assault allegations against Masterson. After years of reports on the subject, That ’70s Show star being charged with multiple counts of rape in Los Angeles.
However, Masterson’s trial resulted in a deadlocked jury this week, and a new trial has been tentatively scheduled for March. In a statement posted within hours of the mistrial announcement, Remini issued a statement to Scientology leader David Miscaviage, and she accused the church of covering up Masterson’s alleged assaults.
My statement on the mistrial in the Danny Masterson rape case.
David Miscavige, I know you read my tweets.
There is nothing you can do to intimidate me into silence and I will not stop fighting you and the evil, criminal enterprise you control. pic.twitter.com/GU9Jpar3FH
“I want to remind everyone that when you’re a Scientologist, you are strictly forbidden from reporting crimes to civil authorities that other Scientologists commit against you,” Remini wrote. “You are ordered only to report things to internal Scientology authorities… These women did what they were told to do. They reported their rapes to internal Scientology authorities. And after they did that, they were not only blamed and abused; they were told that they weren’t raped and ordered them never to use the word ‘rape’ again.”
Remini took things even further by alleging that Masterson is just one of many examples of Scientology covering up crimes committed by its members. “They have done this many other times in cases of rape and other sexual misconduct.”
Remini also made it a point to tout the bravery of Masterson’s accusers. “My heart breaks for the women who have courageously and tirelessly fought for justice for over five years,” she wrote. “For years, they have been targeted and harassed by Scientology and its agents. They have also been targeted and harassed by their family members and friends who remained in Scientology.”
When we think about holiday gift giving, we’re over wrapping up socks and sweaters for our friends and family members. Instead, we opt for a gift they’ll actually want: a bottle of booze, specifically some nice Scotch whisky. In our opinion, there are few gifts that say “happy holidays” quite like a bottle of single malt or blended Scotch whisky. As a bonus, it’s a great way to get a loved one excited about a distillery or expression that you enjoy.
Before you just randomly go out and purchase the first pricy bottle you run across at your local liquor store, you should at least think a little bit about what the person receiving the gift might enjoy. Do you think they’ll enjoy smoky, peaty whiskies? Well, look for bottles from Islay. How about softer whiskies with notes of honey and heather? Grab a bottle of whisky from the Highlands. Do you think they have a bit of a sherried sweet tooth? Speyside whiskies should fit that bill.
Still need a little help? Don’t worry. The experts are here to help. We asked a few distillers and spirits professionals to tell us the Scotch whiskies they’ll be gifting this holiday season. Please keep reading to see all of their answers. Maybe you’ll get some inspiration for your brother or sister-in-law who seems to have everything.
Glenmorangie The Nectar d’Or
Glenmorangie
Daniel Nguyen, founder of Sông Cái Distillery in Đông Dư, Gia Lâm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Glenmorangie The Nectar d’Or makes a terrific gift. I love Sauternes so a Sauternes cask-finished scotch immediately appealed to me. The expressive, creamy honey notes layered on the malt base are so indicative of Glenmorangie and did not disappoint. It’s great in cocktails or served neat and has a particularly abundant feel that fits quite well into the holiday season.
Tasting Notes:
A lot is going on with this whisky’s palate. Honey, dried fruits, brown sugar, vanilla beans, candied orange peel, and light spices are highlights.
Longrow Peated
Longrow
Dylan Carney, head distiller at Savage and Cooke in Vallejo, California
Longrow Peated from Springbank has been a favorite since the year and a half I spent living in Scotland. I find it has the intensity of peat smoke I like without bullying out the other flavors in the whisky. Every couple of months, my partner and I will go to Tomales Bay, buy a dozen oysters each, and have a picnic on the water. The contents of the picnic basket shift seasonally, but Longrow is always a must.
Tasting Notes:
The balanced peat smoke and rich body make a fantastic pair with oysters. Or if you aren’t enjoying oysters, it makes for a great, smoky, complex giftable single malt.
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie
Bruichladdich
Caley Shoemaker, co-founder and master distiller at Altar Spirits in Santa Fe, Mexico
Bruichladdich creates some really fantastic expressions focused on the flavors of the barley used to make it. I love sharing these, especially with beer enthusiasts or other distillers, because they showcase the grain in such an elegant way. One of its best and most giftable is Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie.
Tasting Notes:
Flavors include candy apples, cinnamon sugar, vanilla beans, honey, and gentle baking spices. The finish is sweet, spicy, and highly memorable.
Dalwhinnie 15-Year
Dalwhinnie
Jason Barrett, founder and master Distiller of Black Button Distilling in Rochester, New York
Dalwhinnie 15-Year is a great Scotch whisky to give a friend or loved one as a gift. It’s just easy and approachable. Part of Diageo’s Classic Malts range, it’s known for its mellow, soft, and highly complex flavor profile.
Tasting Notes:
The palate is a complex mix of honey-roasted nuts, toasted vanilla beans, candied orange peels, caramel, and gentle, rich smoke.
Ardbeg Wee Beastie
Ardbeg
Meghan Ireland, head blender at WhistlePig in Shoreham, Vermont
Ardbeg’s Wee Beastie is a great single malt whisky for gifting this and every year. For those who love big and bold whiskies, this is a great choice. This five-year-old whisky is peat-smoked and aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks.
Tasting Notes:
This highly complex whisky mixes sweetness, richness, and smokiness very well. Aromas and flavors include herbaceous, smoked meat, anise, and a soft creamy finish.
Aberfeldy 12-Year
Aberfeldy
Matt Chavez, a brand representative for Beefeater Gin and beverage director of Ci Siamo in New York City
I think the key to gifting scotch is to not gift something completely polarizing. I like heavily peated smoky whisky, though your friends may be on the entry-level side of tasting scotch. I go with something I love that is also approachable. Aberfeldy 12 fits that bill well.
Tasting Notes:
Aberfeldy 12 is a wonderful Scotch whisky with beautiful warm notes of honey, cocoa, Graham cracker, and the lightest touch of smoke. It’s perfect for holiday sipping.
Old Pulteney 15-Year
Old Pulteney
Max Hames, distillery operations manager at Sagamore Spirit in Baltimore
The briny coastal lineup of Old Pulteney, out of the northern town of Wick, will always be my standard as it brings me right back to my previous career as a commercial salmon gillnetter. Giving away a bottle of their 15-year-old scotch is like giving away a part of my past.
Tasting Notes:
Salted caramel, candy apples, vanilla beans, and gentle wintry spices round out this classic expression’s flavor profile.
Glenfarclas 105
Glenfarclas
Katy O’Donnell, national brand ambassador at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Kentucky
This is a mic drop of a bottle. The whisky landed in the Guinness Book of World Records in the 1970s as “the world’s strongest Scotch whisky.” The iconic spirit paved the way for Scotch expressions to be high-octane. This is the perfect gift as it is wrapped in history and garnished with impeccable flavor. This is an impressive scotch that will not break the bank but will impress a crowd. Best gift ever.
Tasting Notes:
The high proof allows an explosion of flavor from this whisky yet it stays true to the DNA of the brand with heavy flavors of sherry, stone fruit, and bitter orange.
Aberlour 12-Year Double Cask Matured is a great single malt whisky to give as a gift. It has a great balance with a very slight hint of sherry. Between the flavor profile and the price, it’s been my personal go-to at home for the last seven to eight years.
Tasting Notes:
Flavors of dried cherries, sweet sherry, vanilla, candied orange peels, and vanilla swirl throughout this whisky.
The Dalmore Cigar Malt
The Dalmore
Julian Flores Torres, bar manager at PALENQUE Kitchen in Costa Mesa, California
The Dalmore Cigar Malt would be the gift of choice here. I have quite a few friends who smoke cigars and the flavors found in this single malt scotch are made to go fantastically well with a cigar.
Tasting Notes:
The sherry notes both in the nose and palate bring out even more from your cigar as you sip along.
This popular single malt whiskey was first matured in traditional oak barrels for fourteen years before being finished in casks that previously held Caribbean rum. It’s a great gift for the whisky fan in your life.
Tasting Notes:
It’s balanced with a bit of sweet funk to win over inexperienced scotch drinkers the way it won me over when I was first learning about the category.
Mortlach 12-Year
Mortlach
Andrew Hueston, bartender at El Vez in Philadelphia
If you want a textbook, no messing around scotch that is valuable, and a great shelf trophy, I always go with Mortlach 12-Year “Wee Witchie”. For around $50 it’s probably the most approachable and interesting Scotch out there.
Tasting Notes:
A tiny bit sweet with some banana, butter, and raisin notes, Mortlach makes the perfect gift even if only for yourself.
Cardhu 12-Year
Cardhu
Liz Rhoades, head of whiskey development at Whistlepig in Shoreham, Vermont
Cardhu 12-Year is one of my go-to scotches, so naturally would share the joy with others this holiday season. This popular Speyside single malt is not only a great beginner Scotch whisky but the kind of bottle you’ll buy (or gift) again and again.
Tasting Notes:
This is a great gift because it’s an easy-going Scotch with notes of malt, honey, leather, and pear drop.
When David Harbour was asked to play Santa Claus in Violent Night, he had about the same reaction as everyone else did when they found out he was going to play Santa Claus, which was: wtf?
“My initial thoughts were like, ‘What the hell is this? I don’t know what you guys are talking about,’” Harbour told Variety at the premiere of Violent Night this week. “It was pitched to me as an action-comedy Christmas movie with Santa Claus at the center — who had a very different past and 10,000 years ago was a very different man — and that he has acquired a certain set of skills that he must use to fight bad guys in the future. I thought, ‘Wow, this is… I don’t know about this.’”
But once Harbour met with the film’s director Tommy Wirkola, his mind was changed, and he gladly accepted the role as Santa, but Liam Neeson in Taken. “There was something so special about the attempt that I thought, ‘Wow, if we can hit the right sweet spot with this, it’d be quite a leap — it’d be quite an achievement,’” Harbour said.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.
Along with Harbour, Violent Nightstars John Leguizamo, Cam Gigandet, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, Leah Brady, André Eriksen and Beverly D’Angelo. It comes to theaters Friday, December 2.
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