Donald Trump’s paranoia is really getting the best of him this week.
According to a new report from Rolling Stone, the twice-impeached former president is starting to suspect his closest allies at Fox News are turning on him and favoring his Republican opponent, Florida Governor Ron. DeSantis, in the next primary race. Though no official announcement has been made, plenty within the party expect both men to run during the Republican Primary and getting that nomination relies largely on how favored a candidate is by conservative America’s favorite network. According to insiders, Trump has started placing his former friends at Fox News in specific camps. Those who give him more airtime and positive press are in the “for Trump” group while those who don’t are labeled as being “against Trump.”
“In private discussions, Trump has cataloged which major on-air personalities, hosts, and shows he views as steadfastly all-in ‘for Trump,’ which ones he sees as possibly defecting, and which he deems ‘against Trump,’” the article reads. “For instance, Trump views Sean Hannity as firmly in his column and has expressed some doubt about which camp Laura Ingraham might end up in come 2024.”
Ingraham has been vocal about her doubts when it comes to a Trump 2024 run and whether she’d support the former president should he try for the White House again. But, she’s not the only Fox News personality Trump is worried about. Earlier this week, Trump took to his failing social media platform Truth Social to rant about Fox & Friends hosts Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade, and Ainsley Earhardt after they pushed back on some of his more positive polling numbers by suggesting that DeSantis was still beating him in the race leading up to the Republican Primary.
Trump got angry on Truth Social over this clip from today’s Fox & Friends of hosts discussing a poll finding Ron DeSantis ahead of him (1/2) pic.twitter.com/iTizdQOF3D
And here’s Trump’s angry post calling Fox & Friends “terrible.” Here’s clearly triggered by any suggestion that DeSantis could beat him. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/2JnVrO6Hq3
This all comes as the Jan. 6th Committee continues to uncover more damning evidence against Trump and his administration regarding how the former president handled the insurrection he helped instigate. Still, knowing Trump, having Fox News turn on him probably hurts worse than hearing Ivanka’s deposition confirming she knew her father was a loser this whole time.
Sometimes, it’s easier to be our authentic selves when wearing a costume. That certainly seems to be the case for Freckled Zelda, who went from baffling judges to enchanting them on “America’s Got Talent.”
When the 19-year-old singer arrived on stage in full fairy attire (a look inspired by a popular Nintendo character), she initially earned some quizzical looks from the panel. Introducing her instrument, the ocarina, didn’t seem to improve anyone’s first impression leading up to the act. Cowell could only offer the word “interesting,” which, let’s face it, seemed like polite rejection, at best.
But then, she sang. And all bets were off.
Freckled Zelda delivered a soulful rendition of Disney’s “Colors of The Wind” that blew every single listener away. Including Cowell, who admitted, “When you walked out, I thought, ‘wow, this really is going to be terrible,’ and actually you’ve got a really great voice.” She went on to receive a “yes” from all four judges that evening, moving her onto the next round of the competition.
Freckled Zelda’s song choice, with its themes of not judging others who look and think differently, feels entirely appropriate for the moment. Over on TikTok, where it’s often cool to be weird, the self-proclaimed “music fairy” already has millions of fans who adore her ethereal persona. And yet, in the real world (and on a mainstream live television show, no less), being different isn’t always entirely welcomed.
Freckled Zelda and her unique act received a flood of praise not only from the “AGT” panel, but from the YouTube comments as well. One person wrote, “I love how different she is. She wasn’t swayed when they acted as if she was weird and when she said she can’t change at all; that she would always be a fairy. I love how confident she was! People will support you only if you know what you stand up for.“
At the end of the segment, Heidi Klum noted, “‘America’s Got Talent’ is a variety show and we don’t all have to be the same.” The show has lately had some really diverse triumphs, from a Lebanese belly dance troupe to a Black country singing trio. That list can now include music fairies as well, and we’re here for it.
Five days ago, fans got a sneak preview of what to expect in a promotional clip posted to the Official Nocta Instagram page. The video displayed Nike Elite Youth Basketball players showing off their skill on the court while sporting Nocta on-court gear. There was also a banner that read “Nocta Expands The Culture Of Basketball For A New Generation” true to Drake’s affinity for the sport.
This Nocta capsule includes arm sleeves, one-legged compression tights, a reversible Dri-FIT headband, finger sleeves, fleece sweatpants, socks, a basketball, and much more. If that isn’t enough to draw in new buyers, the slogan certainly will as it sounds like a Drake lyric: “Sometimes you. Sometimes me. Always us.”
The third Nocta capsule collection is now available for purchase here and here. Check out the promotional video above and close-ups of the pieces below.
Sean Hannity has done his best to make Donald Trump look good after the Jan. 6 riot — even after it was revealed he knew it was bad while it was going down. One of his most repeated claims has been that the former president had called thousands of National Guard troops to secure Capitol Hill before the failed insurrection. According to Media Matters for America, the Fox News host has repeated this 43 times. Anyway, turns out it was all bull.
To remove any doubt: Not only did Donald Trump fail to contact his Secretary of Defense on January 6th (as shown in our hearing), Trump also failed to give any order prior to January 6 to deploy the military to protect the Capitol.
— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) July 26, 2022
On Tuesday, the Jan. 6 committee released audio from testimony provided by former Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller. “I was never given any direction or order or knew of any plans of that nature,” the ex-Trump staffer testified, “There was no direct—there was no order from the President.” He added, “We obviously had plans for activating more folks, but that was not anything more than contingency planning. There was no official message traffic or anything of that nature.”
Miller himself has been instrumental in keeping this line alive. On June 6, he went on Hannity’s show — along with former Pentagon chief of staff and Trump loyalist Kash Patel — where both claimed they told the exact opposite to the Jan. 6 committee. But of course, when they talked to Hannity, they weren’t under oath.
It’s a sign that our society isn’t nearly advanced enough that Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal aren’t contractually obligated to co-star together at least 5 times a year. Thus, we must celebrate the opportunities as they come. Today, we rejoice.
A little over 20 years after Y Tu Mama Tambien, the collaborative pair will come together again for a Searchlight-produced Hulu original Spanish-language series called La Máquina. The series features Bernal as the over-the-hill boxer whose manager (Luna) scores him a final chance at winning the title. The bad news? They have to deal with some shadowy underworld entities to make it happen. Bernal and Luna will also produce, with Marco Ramirez (Daredevil, The Defenders) showrunning.
Searchlight Presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum summed up how we all feel about the legendary partnership, saying, “It is a real honor to unite Gael and Diego onscreen again for La Máquina, their friendship and chemistry is a joy to experience. And we’re delighted to be working with Marco, whose unique voice and vision allows us to explore this world in a wholly original way.”
You really can’t beat their chemistry. Now let’s work on getting them together more often, huh?
Stephen Curry has had a busy summer, winning his fourth championship with the Golden State Warriors in June and then hosting the ESPYs last month.
On Wednesday afternoon in Oakland, Curry found himself trading basketball for baseball, as he and Ayesha were on hand to promote their Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation. First, Steph took some batting practice prior to the game, and found out the hard way that wood bats aren’t the most forgiving.
— NBC Sports Bay Area & CA (@NBCSAuthentic) July 27, 2022
Then he and Ayesha took the mound together to throw out the first pitch(es) of the game, with Steph sending his catcher diving to the right (and making a helluva play) after he fired one into the dirt and way outside.
— NBC Sports Bay Area & CA (@NBCSAuthentic) July 27, 2022
Curry joined the A’s broadcast team in the booth and explained what happened, saying he got in his head about his friends saying he’d throw a terrible first pitch and wanted to “throw some heat” to prove them wrong, only to fulfill the prophecy by dirting one — he also put some of the blame on Ayesha for being too close to him on the mound.
— NBC Sports Bay Area & CA (@NBCSAuthentic) July 27, 2022
Throwing a first pitch from the side of the mound certainly isn’t easy, but the lesson as always is to never try to do too much on a first pitch. You’re not about to pick up a deal to become a pitcher, so no need to bring the gas, just get it over the plate.
As the great Ella Fitzgerald once sang, “Summertime and the living is easy.” There’s something special about summertime regardless of whether we’re working the same hours as the rest of the year or have the summers completely off. The weather is hot, it’s sunny, and you feel cosmically drawn to beaches, lakes, ponds, back patios… anywhere you can drop a folding chair, gravity chair, or bean bag chair and pull up a cooler of frosty, tasty beer.
And when those beers are summery, fresh IPAs? Well, that’s a great day in the making.
While there’s definitely a hierarchy of summery beer styles and there’s no doubt the pilsner has its place high on the list, IPAs still seem to own this season. Whether it’s a classic, piney, slightly bitter West Coast-style, juicy, hazy New England-style, or anything in between, these brews just hit different in June, July, and August.
The best thing about IPAs? There are so many on the market (it seems like every brewery makes a few) that there are bound to be underappreciated gems that just don’t get the respect they deserve. That’s why we went to a few well-known craft beer experts and brewers, who were kind enough to list their favorite underrated IPAs to drink this summer. Keep scrolling to see their picks.
Pure Project Pure West
Pure Project
Kevin McGee, President and CEO of Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Boonville, California
Pure Project Pure West, West Coast IPA. This is a great example of a Southern California West Coast IPA with plenty of grapefruit and pineapple flavors along with a classic West Coast IPA backbone. Everything about it pairs exceptionally well with Summer.
The team down at Pure Project has been doing exceptional things for some time now and their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility in going about it makes it easy to support them.
Eagle Park Set List
Eagle Park
Garth E. Beyer, certified Cicerone® and owner and founder of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin
Set List by Eagle Park is liquid proof that impactful flavor and aroma can also be easy to drink. It’s an oxymoron, but they do. Somehow, they get a robust hop profile of citrus, tropical fruit, and hints of pine, but also, they work their magic to make it easy to drink two or three or four in a row.
Cigar City Jai Alai
Cigar City Jai Alai
Jeremy Marshall, brewmaster at Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma, California
In my opinion, this popular beer is still underrated. I’ve always been impressed by Cigar City’s Jai Alai. Since it’s kind of always summer in Florida, it was hot and muggy when I had it. Like any IPA, it’s just downright sad if it’s not fresh. If you’re a proper beer nerd, you can smell a beer and recite the packaging date within a week.
I got a freshie and recall how blown away I was that it could manage that hoppiness and strength (7.5%) while also being refreshing.
To begin, my favorite IPAs are good for summer anyway. I mourn the wane of Brut IPAs as it was my favorite IPA trend. I like a bright, dry, bitter, fruity/floral IPA with a decent amount of alcohol. For that reason, my go-to summer IPA is Yakimaniac from Free State Brewing. I believe there is an adjunct in it that keeps it dry and boosts the booze, along with the hops selected making it the one IPA I’ll buy a six-pack of for many occasions.
Don’t sleep on the classics. Elysian’s Space Dust is a classic Northwest-style IPA that is refreshing, flavorful, and readily available, yet underrated in the modern craft beer marketplace. It’s truly a great warm weather IPA and not too heavy like many of the double milkshake IPAs we see floating around.
Hazy IPAs have taken the spotlight recently but don’t forget about the humble West Coast IPA, which seems to be making a comeback. Flavor profiles are complex, from stone fruit to citrus to tropical to piney – so much to experience. Bear Republic’s Racer 5 has always been a go-to.
And is surprisingly underrated for how great it is.
Ska Modus Hoperandi
Ska
Gary Glass, head brewer at Left Hand Brewing in Longmont, Colorado
Ska Modus Hoporandi. In my mind, it’s probably underappreciated. This beer reminds me of the beers I was drinking in my more youthful days in California in the mid-90s. It has more than just hop flavor and bitterness. It has a solid malt backbone, with notes of caramel. It’s a little darker in color than most IPAs.
The piney, resiny, citrusy hop flavor and solid hop bitterness are just what I crave in a more old-school IPA.
I’ve always enjoyed Lagunitas’ Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ in the summer. And I feel like no one talks about it these days. It’s close to an IPA with more of a light, wheat beer body, and constrained bitterness. Love it.
Underrated because more people should know about it. I always like Illuminated Brew Works’ Astronaut series. It’s really fruity and delicious. I specifically enjoy Astronaut Juice. This 8% hazy, juicy imperial IPA is loaded with tropical fruit and citrus flavors that pair well with warm, summery weather.
Reason No Fail Mode
Reason
Josh Radigan, director of food and beverage at Viceroy in Washington DC
Reason Brewery’s No Fail Mode IPA. You’ll find that the New England style IPA has intense aromas of citrus and hops. There’s a ton of grapefruit, tangerine, and other juicy, bright citrus flavors. It’s a fresh, hazy, juicy beer perfect for summer and definitely deserves more acclaim.
Fans of hazy, juicy, unfiltered IPAs should look no further than Societe Bulbous Flowers this summer. This year-round offering is perfect for warm weather drinking with its tangerine, peach, guava, and mango-centric flavor profile. It’s the kind of beer you’ll crave on a hot, humid day.
It’s fairly new, but not as well known as the brewery’s other IPAs.
Brewed with 2-row, Caramalt, and Carafoam malts as well as Ekuanot, Citra, and Simcoe Cryo hops, this high alcohol IPA is known for its mango, tangerine, pineapple, guava flavors, all with a nice caramel malt backbone. It’s a great beer for a chilly summer night around a campfire and one that more drinkers should know about.
Democratic voters are understandably frustrated with the party’s leaders, who’ve been accused of lacking the urgency to fight the other side, of favoring “decorum” over getting results. But one Senate candidate seems to have the right idea. For months, John Fetterman, sitting lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, has been waging a brutal and brutally funny campaign against his Republican opponent Mehmet Oz. One thing he’s done is keep hammering home that Oz is a longtime New Jersey resident who only moved to the Keystone State to run for office. He’s done things like hire Snooki over Cameo to lure Oz back home. Now he’s enlisted another state legend to do the same.
NJ’s own @StevieVanZandt has a VERY special message for Dr. Oz!!
On Wednesday, Steven Van Zandt — a Jersey double threat, being both a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and a main cast member of The Sopranos — released a video in which he hammered Oz for ignoring the state he called home for so long.
“Yo, Dr. Oz! Stevie VZ here! What are you doing in Pennsylvania? Everybody knows you live in New Jersey and you’re just using your in-laws’ address over there,” said the longtime guitarist in the video. “And you do not want to mess around with John Fetterman ― trust me. You’re a little out of your league. Nobody wants to see you get embarrassed. So come on back to Jersey where you belong and we’ll have some fun, eh? We’ll go to the beach. We’ll go surfing. You know? C’mon.”
Oz’s own attempts to either own Fetterman or return fire have backfired spectacularly. All the while, Fetterman’s keeps landing blows. This jab comes only two days after Fetterman dared the millionaire former TV star to live on the criminally low federal minimum wage, which he’s said he has no interest in raising, all while claiming to be a man for the people.
Finding the best whiskey to buy these days is no easy task. There are about a bazillion bourbons on the shelf next to nearly as many ryes, American single malts, and plain old “whiskeys.” I’m focusing on the latter today, by blind taste testing ten American whiskeys that don’t fall into the major “rye,” “bourbon,” or even “American single malt” categories but are still worth your attention.
For this blind tasting, I picked ten whiskeys that are labeled as “blended whiskey,” “American whiskey,” or simply “whiskey” — sometimes, they’re categorized as “other whiskey” too. There is a throughline here though, in that these whiskeys are often a blend of barrels that disallow them from falling into the bourbon, rye, and even American single malt brackets. Both bourbon and rye need to be aged in new American oak (amongst other regulations) and American single malt needs to be made with 100 percent barley. These whiskeys are a mish-mash of bourbons, ryes, single malts, and some just plain whiskeys aged in used barrels instead of new ones.
Does that mean these are somehow inferior? Hell no. We don’t need a blind taste test to know that. However, we do need a blind taste test to figure out which ones you should actually add to your bar cart. I also added one blended bourbon ringer to the mix to see if it really was a “stand out” or somehow better than standard American whiskeys.
Our lineup today is:
Jacob’s Pardon Small Batch American Whiskey Batch #2
Nelson Bros. Whiskey Classic Bourbon
F.E.W. Motor Oil Whiskey Finished in Rum and Vermouth Casks
Mullholland American Whiskey
Keeper’s Heart Whiskey Irish + Bourbon
Bardstown Discovery Series #9 Blended Whiskey
Whiskey War Barrel Proof
Barrell Private Release Kentucky Whiskey Finished in an Apricot Barrel
ZZTOP Tres Hombres Texas Whisky
BLACKENED A Blend of Whiskeys Finished in Black Brandy Casks
Let’s dive in and find you a quality American whiskey to drink this summer!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This whiskey opens with a nose full of honey, chili pepper, and light chocolate with a hint of cumin in the background. The palate is classic with layers of vanilla, caramel, stewed apple, and a touch of soft and sweet grains. The finish is subtle and hits on that chili powder spice while a hint of honey and salty meat lurk in the background.
This is just plain interesting. I’m not sure where it’ll land though. That salty meat vibe was … interesting.
Taste 2
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is very bourbon-forward with clear notes of sour cherry, vanilla oils, soft leather, dry chili spices, warm apple pies, and a hint of bran. The palate takes that bran and turns it into a zucchini bread with walnuts as the vanilla smooths everything out. The sour cherry and woody chili spices return on the warm end to round things out as minty tobacco pops on the very end.
This must be the bourbon. If not, it’s a blend with a hell of a lot of bourbon in it.
Taste 3
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a clear sense of chocolate malts next to dry reeds and rich spice with a slightly floral edge. Think sassafras by way of whole cinnamon and very subtle hibiscus. The palate starts off with a dry chocolate cookie before layering in vanilla husks, brown sugar, and a faint whisper of fat from a brisket smoker. The end lets the brown sugar and dry spices mingle with a thin line of that fatty smoke rounding things out.
This was pretty goddamn nice. It’s unique and one hell of a sipper.
Taste 4
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Corn on the cob and vanilla dominate the nose with a hint of fresh bay leaf leading to a faint hint of umami and savory melon. The taste veers into soft vanilla as a line of woody maple syrup leads to a little ethanol and maybe some sourdough bread crusts with a hint of fennel. The end is short and kind of blank with the vanilla and spice giving way to that herbal note.
This tasting is a bit of a roller coaster so far. Down, way up, way back down.
Taste 5
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a rich and moist bran muffin made with molasses next to warm leather, winter spices, and dark dried fruits with a hint of pecan. The palate is malty for a moment before vanilla and mulled wine spices kick in, leading to a mix of roasted nuts and a vanilla-chocolate swirl soft serve cone. The end has a moment of woody spice before fading back towards chocolate malts.
And we’re back up! This is a pretty solid sip but feels a little all over the place on first look.
Taste 6
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
The nose on this is dense yet inviting with hints of sour apple next to waxy cacao nibs, old boot leather, bruised plums, wet cedar bark braids, soft winter spice, and a hint of wet forest mushroom underneath it all. The palate is ultra lush with creamy vanilla leading things off as layers of cinnamon cake, dry reeds, and a twinge of spicy orange tobacco leaf mingle. The end is pure silk thanks to that vanilla with an accent of chanterelles and stewed plums in a ginger/cinnamon/clove brown sugar syrup base.
Well, this is going to be hard to beat. It’s amazing.
Taste 7
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a light touch of leather next to mild and sweet grains with an orange-cinnamon note buried under some ethanol. The palate is very lemon pepper with light touches of vanilla and dry grass supporting everything. The end is short and slightly muted but leans into lemon oils and vanilla husks with a peppery background.
That roller coaster just took a dive from a very big high. This was a little too “Lemon Pledge” right after a masterpiece.
Taste 8
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Apricot jam and creamy peanut butter mingle with mint candy, anise, clove, and sweet black licorice ropes with a secondary layer of spicy, woody tobacco and vanilla cream underneath it all. The palate opens with a sweet bran muffin next to dry porch wicker as dried chili pepper spice warms things up and dried and leather fruit — think dates, dried apricot, and maybe even dried pineapple — balance the taste. The finish is soft yet full of dark fruits, woody spices, and a hint of vanilla cream pipe tobacco.
And we’re back on top! This is another killer whiskey.
Taste 9
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a Digestive Biscuit with a hint of brown butter, brown sugar, and pecan leading to a moment of dried juniper next to floral citrus. The palate is bright with a grapefruit soda vibe — more Fresca than Jarritos — as a moment of cumin dances with some suede, grape must, and a salty cracker. The end leans into the floral side of the citrus while adding in a hint of fresh ginger spice and apple cider cinnamon candies.
I’m not a huge fan of the floral note but it’s so subtle that I can get over it here. This is pretty damn good overall.
Taste 10
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
The nose is mildly sweet with a hint of honey next to light chili pepper spice, old leather, and burnt sugars with a twinge of butteriness. The palate is fairly classic with a mix of rich vanilla, soft caramel, winter spices, another touch of dried chili pepper, and maple syrup candies. The end dries out with a note of dried straw next to creamy vanilla and a final note of chili tobacco spiciness.
This was pretty nice. It’s not a standout but it’s very solid.
This whiskey from cinematographer Matthew Alper and actor Walton Goggins is a real outlier. The juice is an Indiana whiskey with a mash bill of 94 percent corn, four percent rye, and two percent malted barley. That whiskey is aged in Kentucky before it’s sent to California for blending, proofing, and bottling.
Bottom Line:
This is where things get interesting. Had I blind tasted this against other high-corn and corn whiskeys, would it have dropped so low? I doubt it. But tasted against this crew of pours, it just didn’t stand up. It was fine but a little ethanol-forward. I think it would make for a great cocktail whiskey though as there’s plenty of build off in this pour.
This whiskey is a blend of high-rye whiskey barrels from Tennessee and Indiana. Those barrels are sent to Columbus, Ohio, where they’re masterfully blended at barrel strength and bottled as-is.
Bottom Line:
This was fine but a little too lemon-forward for me today. That said, this would really rule in a whiskey sour thanks to exactly that. Still, this ranks this low because of that one note aspect.
8. Jacob’s Pardon Small Batch American Whiskey Batch #2– Taste 1
This whiskey leans more into the story behind the label than the story of the juice in the bottle. The whiskey is a 100 percent Tennessee whiskey that’s aged at least eight years. Those barrels are then sent to BC Spirits in Kentucky for bottling in small batches.
Bottom Line:
This is where things get good to great in this ranking. Overall, this was fine, very drinkable, but not enthralling. It’s the lower side of the good stuff in that I’d use this for cocktails but I doubt I’d reach for it neat or on the rocks.
This whiskey from Tennessess’ Nelson’s Green Brier is a blend of high-rye bourbons. The whiskeys are brought together by the Nelson brothers to meet a “classic” bourbon flavor profile.
Bottom Line:
This was nice and, yes, classic. And that’s about it. I can see using this in every cocktail from now to the end of the year though. It’s versatile and well-rounded enough to enliven any whiskey cocktail.
The whiskey from former Irish Distillers Master Distiller Brian Nation marries American whiskey with Irish whiskey on the American prairie of Minnesota. The juice in the bottle is a combination of American bourbon with Irish grain whiskey and Irish pot still whiskey — all over four years old. The idea is to create the ultimate Irish-American whiskey drinking experience.
Bottom Line:
Does an “Irish-American Whiskey” still count as an “American Whiskey”? Yes. This is a very American whiskey with an Irish backbone. It’s also pretty damn tasty. Overall, I’d drink this on the rocks or in a cocktail.
5. BLACKENED A Blend of Whiskeys Finished in Black Brandy Casks — Taste 10
This whiskey from Metallica uses a special “Black Noise” method while finishing the aging process of the booze. The whiskey barrels are exposed to sonic waves which jostle the wood and allow the spirit to interact with the sugars a bit more than usual. The whiskey in those barrels is a blend of bourbon and rye whiskeys that are vatted and then finished in black brandy casks before a blast of music, proofing, and bottling.
Bottom Line:
This is the first really good whiskey of this ranking (ironically, it was also the last taste). These top five are all winners. This is the bottom of that particular pile only in that it was the least interesting of the good stuff. It was classic and delicious but that was about it. There was no “Woah, dude!” But there was a lot of “wow, that’s really nice.”
ZZ Top worked directly with Master Distiller Jared Himstedt (over Zoom) to blend three Balcones whiskies together. The blend is one part Balcone’s signature Blue Corn Whisky, one part Texas Single Malt, and one part Texas Rye. The idea behind the blends was to build the sip from a bold and oily base towards a fruity mid-palate that ends up nice and spicy.
Bottom Line:
A blend of single malt, corn whiskey, and rye is the epitome of American whiskey. The taste on this one also feels really distinctive and exemplary. Overall, this was a “wow” that didn’t “WOW!” like the next three but is still a great choice as a sipper or cocktail base.
3. F.E.W. Motor Oil Whiskey Finished in Rum and Vermouth Casks — Taste 3
This whiskey is a collab between Illinois’ F.E.W. Spirits and rock band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The juice in the bottle is a blend of F.E.W. Bourbon finished in rum barrels, F.E.W. Bourbon finished in vermouth barrels, and a mesquite-smoked wheat whiskey. Those barrels are vatted and proofed down to 101 proof before bottling.
Bottom Line:
The chocolate notes on this were great. It was just the right balance of bitter and sweet with a nice dry edge. Overall, this would make for a great on-the-rocks pour of the base of a chocolate-y old fashioned.
2. Barrell Private Release Kentucky Whiskey Finished in an Apricot Barrel — Taste 8
These releases from Barrell Craft Spirits tend to be the best of the best barrels they have stocked. This expression is made from Kentucky whiskeys that are up to 18 years old. Those whiskeys are then finished in apricot brandy barrels before bottling as-is.
Bottom Line:
This is just f*cking delicious. But it wasn’t “number one” delicious. It was more a “wow, that’s got so much going on and I love it.” And there’s the rub, there’s a lot going on with this whiskey and that could either be off-putting or get entirely lost on a novice.
1. Bardstown Discovery Series #9 Blended Whiskey — Taste 6
The Bardstown Discovery Series has become one of the most beloved and sought-after blended whiskeys in the game. Their latest edition is a mix of 35 percent eight-year-old Georgia bourbon, 31 percent 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon, 19 percent 17-year-old Tennessee whiskey, and 15 percent 12-year-old corn whiskey from Ontario. Those barrels are shipped to Bardstown where they’re masterfully vatted and bottled as-is.
Bottom Line:
That blend tips the scales to the ol’ U.S. of A. when it comes to what kind of whiskey this is. That aside, this was the clear winner. This is a truly wonderful sip of whiskey that works perfectly neat. It’s “WOW!” good and I couldn’t wait to go back for more.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
Zach Johnston
Overall, I’m not overly surprised by these results. Bardstown Bourbon Company is on fire right now and their newest release (dropping early next month) is par for the course from them.
Still, the top five were all killer whiskeys. I recommend them all. The bottom five were all perfectly fine but not my cup of tea or something I’d spend too much time chasing down. If the tasting notes speak to you, try a dram at a bar first and then go from there.
In the end, these whiskeys were all high-quality and very drinkable. The one bourbon didn’t stand out or rise to the top — it was just as nice and drinkable as the rest with no more a “wow” factor than anything else. The takeaway is simple: don’t sleep on labels that just say “whiskey” or “American whiskey” on them!
If you weren’t lucky enough to be in London or New York City for the immersive David Bowie 75th birthday pop-up experiences, you’ll be able to relive some of the peak moments from the Starman’s career in the upcoming Moonage Daydream documentary. Directed by Brett Morgen (who did the Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck documentary), Moonage Daydream is a comprehensive look at Bowie’s lifetime as an eclectic entertainer through never-before-seen concert footage, pop art, photo shoots, interviews, and of course, costumes galore.
The new trailer opens with Bowie narrating: “You’re aware of a deeper existence. Maybe a temporary reassurance that indeed, there is no beginning. No end. And you find yourself to comprehend a deep mystery.” The lights flash and Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust comes on the screen as “Space Odyssey” begins to play, before a retrospective of what the Cannes Film Festival-featured film will contain. A caption on the clip describes Moonage Daydream as, “…An immersive cinematic experience; an audio-visual space odyssey that not only illuminates the enigmatic legacy of David Bowie but also serves as a guide to living a fulfilling and meaningful life in the 21st Century.”
Produced with full support from Bowie’s estate, Moonage Daydream is set to arrive in IMAX on 09/16 and theaters everywhere 09/23.
Watch the trailer for Moonage Daydream above.
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has a VERY special message for Dr. Oz!! 
