Category: News

Euphoria is one of the most extreme major shows on television, and it doesn’t sound like it’s exactly easy to make either. Reports from the set of Season 2 weren’t pretty, with actor Jacob Elordi calling the week they filmed a party scene as like “being in hell.” There was also the fate of Barbie Ferreira’s Kat. A major player in Season 1, her role was mysteriously whittled down for Season 2. There were reports that the actress and creator Sam Levinson came to loggerheads, which she later denied. And now, all of a sudden, she’s revealed she’s gone entirely for Season 3.

“After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character Kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye,” Ferreira wrote on her Instagram Stories. “I hope many of you could see yourself in her like I did and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today. I put all my care and love into her and I hope you guys could feel it. Love you Katherine Hernandez.”

The actress did not go into details and HBO has yet to provide a comment. But it’s a sad fate for a character who began the show by worrying about her body image, only to get a plot about terminal illness. At least the show put Ferreira on the map, which she’s already parlayed into roles in the likes of Unpregnant.

(Via Deadline)

AEW’s annual All Out show was set to be the stage for Toni Storm’s second shot against Thunder Rosa and her women’s championship in a showdown between ThunderStorm tag team partners.

But Wednesday night in AEW’s latest injury hit, the champ announced she would not be able to compete on Sunday, September 4, due to injury.

Instead, the top contender in the women’s division, Storm, will face off against Jamie Hayter, Hikaru Shida, and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D in a four-way dance for the AEW interim women’s world championship. Before dropping the belt to Thunder Rosa, Baker and Shida were the two longest-reigning women’s champions in the promotion’s history, at 290 days and 372 days, respectively.

The championship bout has plenty of intrigue now, with Hayter’s relationship as the muscle to Baker, Storm as the hungry challenger and Shida as the wild card.

Thunder Rosa’s exit from the championship match comes following a slew of injuries across the AEW roster, including CM Punk (who dropped the AEW heavyweight title on Wednesday’s Dynamite to Jon Moxley), Bryan Danielson, and Kenny Omega. Punk, Danielson, and Omega have since returned and are expected to be heavily involved in the All Out show in the coming weeks. As of now, it’s not known how long Thunder Rosa will be out injured.

Jon Moxley is now the undisputed AEW world heavyweight champion.

Just minutes into their match, Punk landed a head kick, immediately grabbed at his left foot and the referee called for medical attention. Moxley took advantage, landing heavy elbow strike before putting the champ on his back with his double underhook DDT.

Just five days after winning the AEW world championship over Adam “Hangman” Page at Double or Nothing, Punk was forced to relinquish the belt. After suffering a foot injury in early June, the champ walked away only for Moxley, AEW’s first big surprise acquisition, to step into his place to run the show as the “interim” champion, winning a tournament that culminated at Forbidden Door.

Initially expected to face off at All Out in just a week and a half, Moxley and Punk settled their score on Wednesday night Dynamite, a surprise announcement last week. After the match, Punk was helped to the back by AEW medical staff as Moxley celebrated throughout the crowd. Despite the premier PPV scheduled for a week from Sunday, there’s no current announcement on what to expect for the world championship match following the surprisingly short match that lasted less than three minutes.

Soon after the release of her new album Trauamazine, Megan Thee Stallion’s issues with her label 1501 Certified Entertainment have reared their heads once again. The Houston artist and 1501 CEO, former MLB outfielder Carl Crawford, first went back and forth on social media back in early 2020, when Megan claimed her music was being blocked from release and she wasn’t getting paid. Crawford said she was lying, that she was signed to a generous contract, and that he has been paying upfront for all of her shows with no contribution on her end. However, Crawford isn’t the only opposition Megan is facing in her current lawsuit.

Rap-A-Lot founder J Prince, who allegedly advises Crawford on business dealings according to Megan, shared a lengthy post on Tuesday on Instagram, in which he addressed many of the “Plan B” artist’s claims. “For years we have stood by quietly as MTS and her mgmt at Roc Nation has lied about Carl Crawford and his 1501 label,” he wrote. “The truth is that Carl discovered, developed and fully financed MTS early in her career which led to a life changing distribution agreement for her with 300 Entertainment.”

He also referred to her “generous contract,” where she allegedly earns 40% of the label’s profit, which he deems “substantially more than the customary record royalty that a new artist receives from a record label.” Finally, he countered Megan allegations with some of his own. “In addition MTS has consistently and intentionally breached her 1501 contract with impunity for years in ways that are too numerous to list here.”

Check out J. Prince’s Instagram post above.

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

It’s not often that a major studio junks an almost completed film that was highly anticipated. In fact, it may have only happened twice, and by the same studio, and at the same time. Earlier this month, it was reported that Warner Bros. Discovery had decided they simply wouldn’t release either Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, as part of some convoluted (and, as per many, ghoulish) attempt at a tax write-off. Perhaps one day the suddenly plagued corporation will have a change of heart. But at least some people have been watching the former.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, a number of sources have claimed to have attended secret “funeral screenings” of Batgirl, which stars In the Heights’ Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham’s Commissioner Gordon, who reinvents herself as the city’s other caped crusader. The screenings took place on the Warner Bros. lot and they included those who worked on the movie, both cast and crew, who wanted to see the fruit of their labors before the footage was hauled off to a vault or, as may happen, it was destroyed.

Indeed, there’s a possibility that Warner Bros. Discovery may do the latter if they seek to convince the IRS that they have no intention of ever profiting off of the shelved movie. Or they may simply hold onto it, release it later, and pay back the tax liability. Whatever the case, not even Batgirl’s directors, Bad Boys for Life’s Adil El Aribi and Bilall Fallah, could get their mitts on the footage when they tried to access it. It’s not great news for the newly merged corporation either, who have no doubt unnerved not only top shelf talent but also their paying customers. Anyway, here’s to more people being able to see Batgirl – and for that matter, the second Scoob! film.

(Via THR)

Shortly after the tragic helicopter crash that killed Kobe and Gianna Bryant, along with seven others, graphic photos of the crash began to circulate among L.A. County sheriffs and firefighters from the scene.

Those photos became the focus of a lawsuit brought by Vanessa Bryant and Chris Chester, who lost his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Payton, in the crash, alleging emotional distress caused by the photos. On Wednesday night, a jury issued its verdict in the lawsuit, awarding Bryant $16 million and Chester $15 million for invasion of privacy and emotional distress, bringing an end to the two-year long case.

“We’re not here because of an accident,” Bryant’s attorney Craig Lavoie told jurors during his closing arguments Tuesday, on what would have been Kobe Bryant’s 44th birthday, via the LA Times. “We’re here because of intentional conduct. Intentional conduct by those who were charged with protecting the dignity of Sarah and Payton, and Kobe and Gianna.”

Bryant’s testimony noted that her lasting fear is the photos getting out in public as the LA County investigation into the pictures was inconclusive regarding whether they still exist, as most of the officers and firefighters on the scene have gotten new phones and no longer have them on their devices, but they couldn’t be certain they weren’t still out there somewhere.

“I live in fear every day of being on social media and these popping up,” she testified, via the AP. “I live in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up.”

The verdict comes down a day after what would have been Kobe Bryant’s 44th birthday, and hopefully brings at least a bit of closure for both Bryant and Chester as they can move forward from the legal battle stemming from that tragic day.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet and where to buy them! Game of Thrones is back baby, which means as the seasons change you’re going to be reading a lot of random articles starting with “Winter is coming.” We promise we’ll never do that. But also… fall is coming and while it doesn’t quite feel like it yet, the big brands are getting ahead of the season by ditching rich and bold colors for more understated toned-down colorways. Expect to see a lot of beige and browns on all your favorite sneaker silhouettes for the next few weeks.

Despite the drab colorways, this is a big week for sneakers. Not only are we getting four new Jordans but this week also brings Bad Bunny’s latest Adidas collaboration as well as new Dunks, Yeezys, and an A Ma Maniére collaboration. The drops are so good you could pick any one of these from a blind line-up and still feel like you’ve scored a big W. Unless, of course, you get the Yeezys.

Let’s dive into this week’s nine best sneaker drops! Complete your fit by hitting our apparel roundup series, Style Watch.

Nike Air Max 97 Atlantic Blue and Voltage Yellow

This year, Nike has been celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Air Max 97 with a steady stream of dope colorways, and this week Nike is going big by dropping its latest in a full Men and Women’s size run. The design combines two beloved 97 colorways — Atlantic Blue and Voltage Yellow which dropped back in 2017 — and fuses them into a single shoe. Rounding out the design are reflective accents and a shimmering black mudguard.

The Nike Women’s Air Max 97 Atlantic Blue and Voltage Yellow is out now for a retail price of $185. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike Dunk Low Vast Grey

It’s been a minute since we’ve gotten a notable Dunk colorway, but this week Nike is dropping this clean Vast Grey version and it more than makes up for the drought. The Vast Grey features an all-over suede upper with a mix of Vast Grey, Summit and Pearl White, and Light Bone, offering an understated look for the Dunk that matches with the toned-down autumnal colors of the coming season.

The Nike Dunk Low Vast Grey is out now for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike Air Jordan I Heritage

There is nothing exciting about this week’s Jordan Heritage, but it is an undeniably great-looking shoe, so we’ll take it. The Heritage features a white leather upper with tumbled leather accents over a white midsole and red outsole. University Red adorns the toe box and swoosh with black at the collar and laces. Like we said, it’s not exciting, but it sure is pretty.

The Nike Air Jordan 1 Heritage is set out now for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Air Jordan 3 Dark Iris

I do not envy hardcore Jordan fans this week, there are simply too many great drops, how the hell are you supposed to choose? This Dark Iris Jordan 3 features a pristine white leather upper with black and cement grey panels and purple accents at the midsole and collar, with matching branding and an embroidered Jumpman at the tongue. In any other week, this would be in the running for the best drop of the week but on this particular week? It’s not even the best Jordan on this list.

The Air Jordan 3 Dark Iris Is out now for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Air Max 97 Muslin and Pink Foam

If you weren’t feeling the cool aquatic tones of the Atlantic Blue and Voltage Yellow, Nike has something much more in line with the coming fall season with this earthy Muslin and Pink Foam iteration. Featuring a mixed upper of suede, nubuck leather, and hemp canvas, the Muslin and Pink Foam sports a cork-infused gum outsole with a colorway that combines powder pink, tan, and off-white. It has a much more vintage and worn look than the steely Atlantic Blue, and we dig it. It’s more fitting for this silhouette, which always looks best after it’s taken a bit of a beating.

The Air Max 97 Muslin and Pink Foam are set to drop on August 25th for a retail price of $185 at 7:00 AM PST. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Air Jordan 12 Stealth

Look, I get what Nike is going for with this shoe, it’s supposed to look sleek and luxurious but they’ve called it “Stealth” and… well, there is nothing stealthy about this colorway. In fact, it almost draws the eye toward it thanks to the metallic eyelets over that slightly shimmering silver leather upper and bright white midsole. You don’t just look at a pair of shoes like this, you straight-up stare!

Bad name aside, this is a dope design and yet somehow, it’s still not the best Jordan of the week.

The Air Jordan 12 Stealth is set to drop on August 27th at 7:00 AM for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

A Ma Maniere x Jordan Air Ship

This is the one, this is the best Jordan to drop this week! Made in collaboration with Atlanta-based brand A Ma Maniére, the Jordan Air Ship pays homage to the pair of sneakers Jordan wore before the creation of the Jordan 1. The original Air Ship was designed by Bruce Kilgore and is a simple iteration on another Kilgore classic, the Air Force 1, and A Ma Maniére have revived the style with a premium leather bass, and Royal accents on the Swoosh, collar, and outsole.

It’s not technically even a Jordan at all, but it’s a shoe that has since become synonymous with the brand and you can see how it eventually evolved into the Air Jordan 1. A Ma Maniére, a brand that consistently makes some of the most thoughtful Jordan collaborations in the brand’s history, is the perfect brand to highlight this often forgotten classic.

The A Ma Maniére x Jordan Air Ship is set to drop on August 26th at 8 AM PST for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair exclusively at A Ma Maniére.

Adidas Yeezy Foam RNR Sand

Summer is coming to a close so this is maybe the last week where it’ll be socially acceptable to buy a pair of Yeezy Foam RNRs. We can get down with the Foam RNR in the summer, it’s light, comfy, and keeps your feet cool, but roll up to Thanksgiving wearing this shit and you will be made fun of, and for good reason.

The Foam RNR Sand features a slightly off-white color over that now-classic Foam RNR shape. It’s bound to be someone’s favorite Foam RNR!

The Adidas Yeezy Foam RNR Sand is set to drop on August 26th at 7:00 AM PST. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app or at Yeezy Supply.

Adidas x Bad Bunny Forum Blue Tint

Hot on the heels of his latest and — you know what I’m just going to say it — greatest album, Un Verano Sin Ti, Benito is back with another dope Adidas collaboration. As with every Three Stripes collar so far, the new Bad Bunny signature utilizes the Forum silhouette with the signature Bad Bunny embellishments, like the double tongue and heel padding, with a few new additions, like a premium hardware buckle, three different lace sets, and this beautiful Blue Tint/ Light Blue/ Clear Blue colorway.

The sneaker features a leather upper with suede overlays and was inspired by Benito’s vision of Puerto Rico’s beaches, blue skies, and general vibe. It’s Bad Bunny’s best so far, easily.

The Adidas x Bad Bunny Forum Blue is set to drop on August 27th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app or aftermarket sites like GOAT.

On Wednesday, Joe Biden made Republicans mad: He announced something that will make millions of Americans’ lives significantly better. The 46th president announced that he was offering (modest) student loan forgiveness, erasing up to $10,000 in federal loans (and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients) and cutting monthly payments in half. Those in Income Based Repayment plays also saw the overall payment period, which used to be 20 to 25 years, dramatically shortened.

The move isn’t as extreme as it could/should have been, but it will dramatically help an entire generation who’ve been victims of never-higher tuition and ever-escalating interest rates that made paying back loans all but impossible. So you know what that means: It was time for Republicans to be horrible hypocrites.

The Twitter account for the GOP House judiciary was among the critics, writing, simply, “If you take out a loan, you pay it back. Period.” Fair enough! Or it would be if so many Republicans didn’t also receive some form of loan forgiveness, in many cases not that long ago.

Indeed, many in the GOP, including lawmakers and pundits, participated in Donald Trump’s Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, receiving sizeable business loans at the height of the pandemic. In many cases, those loans went to larger businesses, as well as Trump pals. And in many cases, those loans were [drumroll] forgiven, and without anyone throwing a hissy fit. What’s more, those PPP loans, and their erasures, are in the public record.

One of them was Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Georgia representative and recent “swatee” went on Newsmax, where she called the loan forgiveness “completely unfair.” She didn’t say so when her construction company’s $182,300 PPP loan generously went up in smoke.

Or take Steven Crowder. The braying podcaster and premarital sex-hater was up in arms about before Biden made his announcement. But he had no problem when the over $70,000 loan for his company went poof.

Ben Shapiro, of course, was on the list of PPP loan forgiveness recipients, as were others in right wing media.

Even Jared Kushner got a PPP loan, and he was once the son-in-law of a sitting president.

And let’s not forget about Donald Trump. The self-professed smart businessman and rich guy — who keeps having to ask his cash-strapped supporters for cash — has declared bankruptcy six times.

Of course, none of this was mentioned by the many conservatives hooting and hollering over the idea that the government could make a loan magically disappear. Or as cartoonist Tom Tomorrow put it, “Lot of grifters who took out PPP loans that were forgiven are very upset about this modest student debt relief.”

Anyway, let’s go Dark Brandon.

Redemption! We all love a comeback story! Well, that’s what this blind tasting is all about. Below, I’ve pulled every last place rye whiskey from all six rye whiskey blind taste tests that I’ve done this year to give them each one more shot.

Look, blind tasting whiskey (or any spirit) tends to bring out the biggest notes in that whiskey to help your brain find some level of differentiation. That’s not always ideal — some of the subtler nuances can get lost. I do go back and forth and re-nose and re-taste but even then, big and bold whiskeys tend to win the day because they have the most going on. Meanwhile, bottles that are perhaps perfectly good but maybe a little subtler fall behind.

It’s a shame and those bottles definitely deserve another look, even in a blind where boldness rules. That makes our lineup today:

• Hudson Whiskey NY Back Room Deal Rye
• Elvis “The King” Rye
• Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond Rye Rye
• Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye BTAC 2021
• Old Potrero 6 Years Old
• High West Rendezvous A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys

For this blind tasting, I’m going solely on taste to rank these. This is all about what works. Hopefully, we can find some serious redemption in this lineup and find you a great rye whiskey to stock on your bar cart.

Also Read: The Top Five Rye Whiskey from the Last Six Months on UPROXX

• All 19 Brands From The Buffalo Trace Distillery, Ranked
• The Single Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The 50 Best Rye Whiskeys Of 2021, Ranked
• We Tasted Rye Whiskeys Blind To See If Any Of Them Could Beat Willett
• The 100 Best Whiskeys Our Head Drinks Writer Tasted In 2021

Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Hints of orchard fruits — pear, peach, maybe some tangerine — lead the way on the nose with a dash of an almond shell. The palate takes on a lightly smoked peach vibe as mint and vanilla kick around with a hint of winter spice and a thin line of tobacco. The end has an apple peel and core feels with a small note of tannic wood.

This is one of those whiskeys you really have to dig in to find the flavors. They’re all there, it’s just a little thin at first.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

This is very grassy and green on the nose with a hint of apple and wet and cold oatmeal. The taste is part green grass with a woody edge and part vanilla cream soda with a thin layer of caramel and tannic oak. The end sweetens nicely toward the vanilla and oatmeal but ends fairly watery.

This is very basic — and that’s okay. But that also means this feels like a $10 to $15 bottle of whiskey.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this one is bold with layers of cherry, vanilla, winter spices, and old oak staves. The palate is classic rye with a sprinkling of black pepper next to cinnamon sticks and cloves with a lush underbelly of vanilla cream that’s nearly eggnog. There’s a hint of orange that leads back to the cherry with a touch of old wicker and woody spice rounding things out.

This gets a little woody at the end but is otherwise very much classic rye with a Kentucky bourbon vibe thanks to that cherry and vanilla.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

This is complex on the nose with a foundation of varnished pine that builds toward salted black licorice, old leather boots, cloves, and dry tobacco leaves just touched with ancho chili, sour cherry, and maybe an echo of celery salt. The palate is very warm and coats the inside of your mouth with buzzing dried red chilis next to orange dark chocolate, a hint of marzipan, and dried roses by way of old potpourri. The end pops with sour cherry and a hint of menthol tobacco next to bold spicy warmth.

This is clearly the Handy and is so goddamn complex compared to the last three pours. This is the bottle to beat even though I’m not the biggest fan of the dried flowers on the palate. Also, it’s very hot.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Molasses heavy bran muffins mingle with dry cinnamon sticks and Red Hots next to rum-raisin and a twinge of an old oak stave. The palate leans into ginger snaps with plenty of cinnamon and nutmeg next to vanilla pudding right out of the cup and a dry sense of cedar kindling. The end holds onto the dry woodiness with a layer of salted caramel and vanilla candy on the very end.

This is nice and crafty (that bran muffin graininess is a dead giveaway). This is one of the nicer pours for sure.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nice winter spices — clove, anise, cinnamon, nutmeg — draw you in on the nose as hints of old pears, burnt orange peels, and new leather mingle. The palate has a hint of fig and red chili pepper with a whisper of Cream of Wheat on the mid-palate. The finish fades through apricot jam and walnut bread with a hint of brown sugar icing and plenty of dry apple cores.

This is, again, pretty damn nice.

Part 2: The Ranking

6. Elvis “The King” Rye — Taste 2

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $50

The Whiskey:

This drop from fall 2021 is all about Elvis in the branding. The actual juice in the bottle is a 95 percent rye (with five percent malted barley) from an “undisclosed” distillery. Those barrels are sent down to Grain & Barrel Spirits in Tennessee where they’re blended, proofed, and bottled.

What I Said Last Time:

“This had a lot of promise on the nose but then just petered out. It felt like a $15… maybe. I’ll put it this way, there was no hesitation in putting this last.”

Bottom Line:

Well, there it is. I had no hesitation putting this last today either. This really feels like a bottle you’d find on the bottom shelf. It’s not bad or undrinkable, it’s just very base and really feels like something you mix with Coke.

5. Hudson Whiskey NY Back Room Deal Rye — Taste 1

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $62

The Whiskey:

This whiskey dropped late last year and has been getting a lot of attention this year on the award circuit. The juice in the bottle is Hudson’s three-year rye. That whiskey is then finished in their former bourbon barrels that Hudson sent to Scotland to age peated malt in. Those barrels were later sent back to New York so that this whiskey could finish aging in them.

What I Said Last Time:

“That hint of barrel char was interesting. But this was just a little too thin compared to the other ryes on this list. Still, this is a really interesting sip of whiskey. Alas… sometimes interesting isn’t enough to break through.”

Bottom Line:

I liked this overall, but it didn’t quite land the finish for me. It’s very drinkable but I think I’d be more prone to use it to build cocktails to add that hint of smoked fruit into the mix.

4. High West Rendezvous A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys — Taste 6

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $69

The Whiskey:

High West Rendezvous Rye just got a make-over on the label. The juice in the bottle is still a blend of High West’s own 80 percent rye and 20 percent malted rye mixed with MGP’s classic 95 percent rye and five percent malted barley rye. Once blended, the whiskey is proofed down and bottled.

What I Said Last Time:

“It blew my mind that this ended up last. This is only last in the sense that I blind tasted eight great whiskeys and I had to rank something eighth. This had the lightest end but was otherwise a really solid rye pour.”

Bottom Line:

Okay, this is where things get really good. This is a solid pour all around. That said, I’d lean more toward using this to make my Manhattans and Sazeracs more than a sipper. Though this on a few rocks is an easy win.

3. Old Potrero 6 Years Old — Taste 5

ABV: 48.5%

Average Price: $72

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a bit of a throwback with a West Coast vibe. The juice is 100 percent rye whiskey made at Anchor Brewing in Portero Hill, one of San Francisco’s most iconic spots for booze. As of this year, the spirit is being distilled on the waterfront in San Francisco but still carries that Anchor Brewing heritage. With that move, the bottle also got a brand new design that leans into San Francisco’s sea-faring history.

What I Said Last Time:

“I damn near didn’t rank this one. The nose was so off-putting that it was almost impossible to get past.”

Bottom Line:

I got a new bottle of this and broke the seal for this tasting. Based on a brand new bottle, this whiskey soared much higher than it did last round. I think there might have been a problem with the stopper on the last bottle and little oxygenation happened.

Anyway, this is a very solid rye that works wonders in a cocktail.

2. Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond Rye Rye — Taste 3

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $29

The Whiskey:

This rye is very much a bourbon drinker’s rye. The mash bill is only 51 percent rye with 37 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley. The juice then matures under the federal regulations allowing it to be “bottled-in-bond” and is barely proofed down to 100 proof with that soft Kentucky limestone water before bottling.

What I Said Last Time:

“This was so thin and plasticky. I guess I’d put it in a rye and Coke, but that’s about it.”

Bottom Line:

I didn’t get “plasticky” at all this time around. It does feel like a cocktail rye more than a sipper, but it’s still very bold and complex for what it is. It’s also very bourbon-forward, making it a great candidate for anyone looking to crossover from bourbon to rye.

1. Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye BTAC 2021 — Taste 4

ABV: 64.75%

MSRP: $1,026 ($99 MSRP)

The Whiskey:

This is the youngest bottle in 2021’s BTAC. The whiskey was distilled in the spring of 2015 and bottled in the fall of 2021. The mash is mainly Minnesota rye with Kentucky corn and North Dakota barley. The juice matured in warehouses I, K, L, and O on the fifth through seventh floors. Over that time, 31 percent of the juice was lost to the angels.

What I Said Last Time:

“This was so obviously last for me today. I didn’t hesitate to write ’10’ next to my tasting notes for this. I just can’t dig that old perfume note in the middle. It throws the whole thing off for me. This begs the question if this was actually its MSRP on the shelf, would it be as revered?”

Bottom Line:

This is a tough rye but very rewarding once you get past all that heat on the palate. The mid-palate is very hot and very potpourri heavy. Those notes can be off-putting. Still, there’s so much more going on and so much depth to this pour that it easily slipped into the first spot.

But … pour this over an ice cube to calm it down. The heat will temper and a nice and creamy jammy buttered biscuit note will arrive next to dry chili spices and deep vanilla cream.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

This wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. The better-bordering-on-great ryes rose to the top and were clearly more detailed and rewarding. The last two were fine but fine isn’t enough to rise to the top, especially when you have to beat out serious pours.

Overall, that Handy rye is going to be hard to get (forget it at MSRP). So, I’d say give the Old Potrero a shot if you’re looking for something a little different. Otherwise, go to any liquor store in the land and grab a Rittenhouse Rye. Then go home and mix up a killer Manhattan or old fashioned. No losers in that scenario, for sure.

The last thing that anyone wants to do when traveling long distances to a beautiful destination is spending hours on hours stuck in a dark hotel gym. Sure, hotels are getting wise to the concept of health and wellness on the road but most of those amenities are easily available back home. Why waste your precious vacation time doing something that you can do anywhere? That’s why when the property you’re staying at has plenty of perfectly good training areas outside in the form of sandy beaches and lush grass, it’s time to take the workouts outdoors.

Performance coach Don Saladino has trained the most well-known personalities in the world. We’re talking Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Sebastian Stan, and Anne Hathaway, just to name a few. Those sessions have resulted in some of the most recognized physiques in film and TV — Reynolds in Deadpool, Lively in The Shallows, and Stan in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Much of that training was done in state-of-the-art facilities, one of those being Saladino’s own gym Drive495, which he ran for years in the Soho district of New York City. But the trainer to the stars says that you can score a killer workout using just your body weight while on the road.

“I don’t care if you are looking to put on muscle or lean out, there is a lot that can be accomplished in the fresh air without any kind of equipment,” says Saladino.

The coach has taken that practice on the road, hosting fitness retreats with clients at Amanyara in the Caribbean and his own DonCon in Costa Rica.

“People are creatures of habit,” he notes. “We get used to working out the same way day after day. But diversifying your training is one of the best things you can do and moving the body athletically in different planes. Getting a nice dose of vitamin D all the while outside is a great added bonus.”

For those wondering if it’s possible to do intense training sessions and still recharge as they hoped on vacation, it definitely is, according to Saladino. In fact, it just might make your resting periods and sleep that night all the better.

“Don’t get me wrong, fatigue is a real thing and it’s important to rest when you hit that point,” he says. “But just as often I see people get stuck in a rut because they don’t know what to do and they spiral into a pit of laziness. Once you get in a situation like that the only way out is to get on your feet and get the blood pumping. There’s nothing like that after-training high, and then it’s time to hit the pool for a beverage.”

We asked the trainer-to-the-stars for a workout to share and he definitely didn’t disappoint. Check out Saladino’s “Feet in the Sand” regimen below!

PART I — THE BASICS

Find a mostly-flat surface on the sand (or grass) and make sure you have a few body lengths to work with both ways. The workout is done in two parts, the first five movements being done in a row four times (that’s four sets) before it’s time to cool down. For each of these exercises, you will do them for 30 seconds before moving to the next — giving yourself a five-second break in-between.

The routine is meant to build up a sweat, so don’t worry if you feel a little rushed at first. Lean into it and feel the burn.

Plank Position:

You will see many of these movements begin in plank position, also known as the start of a push-up. For those unsure how to get into it, start by lying face-down on the ground. Place the palms of your hands directly under your shoulders, brace yourself by digging your toes in the ground, and extend at the elbows until your arms are in a straight line below you with your palms down.

PART II — THE EXERCISES

1) Push Up:

Get into a plank position with your arms straight and hands a bit wider than shoulder width. Lower your torso until your elbows form a 90-degree angle and push back up. Keep your back and neck straight throughout.

2) Handcuff To Reach:

Lie face down. Place your hands palms down on the back of your head, elbows pointed out to the sides. That is the starting position. Extend your arms forward in the shape of a “Y.” Reach as wide as you can and circle them down the sides of your body with palms down. As soon as you can no longer keep your palms down, flip your hands over to palms up and bring your hands to the center of your lower back like you’re being handcuffed.

Circle your arms back in the reverse direction to return to starting position.

3) Squat:

Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Keeping your back straight, push back with your hips like you are sitting in a chair. Try to go to approximately 90 degrees at your knees before returning.

4) Plank With Shoulder Touches:

Get into plank position to start and lift your right palm off the floor. Engaged your core, legs, and left hand to steady your body’s weight. Keeping a constant pace, bend at your right elbow and bring your hand up to touch the front of your left shoulder. Return your right palm to the ground and then repeat with your left arm.

5) One-Legged Glute Bridge:

Lie face-up on the ground with your arms at your side and palms facing down. Keep your knees bent and chin tucked into the top of your chest. Engage your core and extend your left leg straight out. The right leg should stay bent, with your foot flat on the ground, hips on the ground, and knees next to each other. This is the starting position. Begin the movement by squeezing your glute and pushing your right food into the ground. Keep going, lifting your hips off the ground until your body is a straight line between your chest and your left food.

Return back to the starting position and repeat with the right leg being extended.