George R.R. Martin recently admitted that The Winds of Winter might never be completed within the overarching A Song Of Fire And Ice saga. Yet in the case of Dark Winds, GRRM‘s endless distraction mode is more than fine.
The acclaimed AMC series’ arrival on Netflix sent the crime drama/supernatural thriller/Western series up the streaming charts, and the third season is nearly upon us. Series creator Graham Roland and showrunner John Wirth are on tap, and as executive producers, GRRM and Robert Redford have been working alongside Anne Hillerman (who, as Tony Hillerman’s sister, has continued the book series). No dragons are found in Dark Winds, but fearsome entities have been part of the ride, and that vibe will continue, so let’s get down to business on what to expect in the third season.
Trailers
AMC provided a full trailer and a teaser with Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) coming to terms with leaving B.J. Vines (John Diehl) to die after learning the truth about Leaphorn’s son’s death. He refers to his childhood in this teaser, too: “We were taught that the monsters walked the Earth. When you kill a man, he’s bound to you. I’ve accepted it. And I am prepared to go on living with it, every day.” A monstrous silhouette appears, Leaphorn gets spooked in the desert, and there’s a peek at Sgt. Manuelito (Jessica Matten) in her new Border Patrol duties:
This full trailer is an extended look at the “monsters” theme while revealing Jenna Elfman’s FBI agent and the new mystery of two missing children who Leaphorn believes likely ran into something supernatural.
Plot
AMC
Dark Winds will continue to adapt Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee novels that follow 1970s Navaho Nation law enforcement officers. As viewers will recall, Leaphorn was still reeling from his son’s death during the second season, and he took matters into his own hands for some form of closure by leaving Vines for dead, and there will be no rest for the weary in the third season. Not only does the above teaser suggest that Leaphorn is, in some shape or form, haunted by what he’s done, but 27,000 or so square miles of arid wilderness continues to yield horrors for Leaphorn and Chee, and Sgt. Manuelito is off to her new life, 500 miles away near the U.S.-Mexico border.
AMC’s season description suggests that the series will dive right into Hillerman’s The Sinister Pig novel. As such, the season “follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee as they investigate the disappearance of two boys, with only an abandoned bicycle and blood-stained patch of ground left in their wake. Meanwhile, Sergeant. Bernadette Manuelito attempts to settle into her new life … but stumbles across a conspiracy involving human and drug smuggling with far-reaching implications.”
Notably, this season has upped the seasonal episode count from six to eight, and GRRM couldn’t be more pleased. He further urged his readers to investigate this “damn fine show,” in which Leaphorn and Chee are responsible for handling every crime from robberies to homicides that occurs in their neck of the arid wilderness. As the first two seasons have revealed, even a double murder can turn into a very personal investigation on this show.
Cast
AMC
New third season character include Budge (Raoul Max Trujillo), Special Agent Sylvia Washington (Jenna Elfman), Dr. Reynolds (Christopher Heyerdahl), and Tom Spenser (Bruce Greenwood). Additionally Border Patrol agents roles were picked up by Terry Serpico, Alex Meraz, and Tonantzin Carmelo.
The core trio will also be back. That includes Zac McClarnon (as Lt. Joe Leaphorn), Kiowa Gordon (as Jim Chee), and Jessica Matten (as Sgt. Bernadette Manuelito).
Release Date
Dark Winds returns to AMC and AMC+ on March 9. This season will run for eight weekly episodes.
More Footage
This week, AMC released the season’s first five minutes:
Netflix is not only the place where “completed” shows go to be rebooted (looking at you, Suits to Suits: LA) but also where stories that found brief feature-film life go to revive a popular character for multiple aeons. Such is the case for The Lincoln Lawyer, which has long since eclipsed the Matthew McConaughey movie, in which Michael Connelly’s iconoclastic lawyer wheeled and sealed in his Lincoln Town Car’s backseat around the streets of Los Angeles.
The show has been a reliable hit for Netflix, and although the Manuel Garcia-Rulfo-starring series no longer sits on Netflix’s Top 10 seasons of all time list (three seasons of Bridgerton keep taking up a lot of space), the streaming service once again renewed The Lincoln Lawyer almost immediately after the drama’s third season ended with a damning cliffhanger, so let’s review the exhibits on what to expect when up-sh*t-creek Mickey returns for his fourth season.
Cast
Netflix revealed in a press release that the fourth season will obviously bring back Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller. He will have Becki Newton (Lorna), Angus Sampson (Cisco), and Jazz Raycole (Izzy) in tow. And because Neve Campbell has been so consistently well-received as Mickey’s first wife, Maggie McPherson, she will return in every one of the season’s ten episodes (rather than only a few, as with last time) of the fourth season. Further, TV Line reported that Yaya DaCosta’s character, Andrea, will not appear in the fourth season.
Joining the cast is Constance Zimmer as Dana Berg, a The Law of Innocence book character who is a prosector known as “Death Row Dana.” Although she’s a former LA district attorney’s office colleague of Maggie, she’s known as a rule bender, which isn’t great for Mickey as he finds himself on the other side of the justice system this season.
Plot
As viewers are aware, most punchable (yet still lovable) lawyer Mickey Haller had a terrible third season finale when a cop discovered a dead body in his trunk. This put viewers on the hook while wondering if Mickey would truly be on the hook, i.e. successfully framed for murder. That finale episode was titled, “The Gods Of Guilt,” after Connelly’s novel that formed the basis of the entire season. It’s also worth mentioning that The Lincoln Lawyer is one of a seemingly infinite number of current series created by David E. Kelley, who also happens to have recently brought another wrongfully accused attorney to the screen with Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent, based upon a Scott Turow novel. In all fairness, however, Jake Gyllenhaal’s protagonist had a larger case of FAFO than Mickey, whose story will now adapt Connelly’s next (sixth) novel in the series, The Law of Innocence, in which Mickey will be defending himself on a murder charge.
Defending himself? More than likely. If co-showrunners Ted Humphrey and Dailyn Rodriguez decide to strongly adhere to Connelly’s book, then Mickey will have already dealt with being saddled with $5 million bail. That could, as with the book, leave him attempting to build his own case from behind bars, but don’t expect his half-brother Harry Bosch (portrayed by Titus Welliver in Prime Video/Amazon’s Bosch shows) to show up like he did in the book. This Netflix series has eschewed the participation of Bosch, so perhaps we will see the return of Detective Raymond Griggs (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) to help Mickey? There’s no telling, but at least Mickey will have Maggie around to help.
While speaking with netflix, Ted Humphrey didn’t drop any clues other than to confirm that Mickey must be thinking “WTF?” after the cliffhanger. Same.
Release Date
This show knows how to fire out the seasons in rapid succession. With the first season arriving in May 2022, the second in July/August 2023, and the third in October 2024, there’s every indication that Mickey Haller will be back onscreen by late 2025.
Trailer
Without a new trailer on the scene (and since viewers likely are well accustomed to the Mickey and Maggie scenes floating around out there), it’s worth circling back to this interview of Garcia-Rulfo discussing how much he enjoys portraying a confident attorney, rather than a narco, as a Latino. May he portray Mickey Haller for at least 10 more seasons.
It’s often said Kentucky bourbon is the definition of bourbon. But what are the bourbons that define Kentucky?
Or, put another way, what are the best Kentucky bourbons available today? It’s a tricky question because, according to conservative estimates, north of 90% of all bourbon produced today is made in the Bluegrass State. Yes, bourbon can be made anywhere in the U.S.A., and there are definitelysome incredible bourbons made elsewhere.
But let’s be honest… Kentucky is still king.
Today, we’ll do our best to get to the bottom of that question by tasting and ranking the absolute best bottles of Kentucky bourbon!
Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Origin Series, founded in 2023, began with three initial entrants, but this new 6-year-old High Wheat Bourbon marks the lineup’s first official expansion. By combining a low barrel entry proof with a high percentage of wheat (39%) in the grain recipe, the brand sought to extract the maximum amount of wood sugars.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of this Origin Series High Wheat Bourbon begins with a ton of crème brûlée and strawberries before a touch of oak, wheat funk, and caramel comes through. There are also a few dashes of clove and lemon zest to round things out.
Palate: Once on the palate, the strawberries and custard notes play a major factor as the remarkably creamy texture of the liquid coats your palate and finds every corner of the mouth. Mellow oak tones, vanilla frosting, and flaky pastry flavors also enhance the bourbon.
Finish: The finish here is surprisingly lengthy, with the strawberry note going from ripe berries to the dried variety as a touch of nutmeg creeps in and the gentle oak vibes fuse with honey.
Bottom Line:
Bardstown Bourbon Company already had a wheated bourbon in their Origin Series, and it’s a rock-solid option that has its fair share of admirers among those who have tasted the well-received lineup. That said, this High Wheat Bourbon is absolutely stunning, and not only does it one-up its wheated bourbon predecessor, but it also blows the rest of the stellar Origin Series out of the water. For half a hundred, this is a great pick-up that can stand tall against the best wheated bourbons on the market.
New Riff, out of Northern Kentucky, is a highly regarded craft distillery that’s increasingly adding age-stated products to their lineup. This new 8-year expression features a mash bill of 65% Corn, 30% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of apple cider with mint sprigs punctuates the air around this glass and leaves just enough room for well-oiled leather to make an impression, too. It comes across as a lower proof when nosing it blindly, but only because the ethanol presence is light — the flavors it carries are rich.
Palate: Immediately, you’re struck by how well-structured this bourbon is. The mouthfeel is even-keeled, and the flavors in each sip are surprisingly well-behaved. Chocolate-dipped raspberries, notes of flan, and slightly overcooked caramel corn each take their turn to dance across the palate, never disturbing one another.
Finish: The finish is where that caramel corn note and a bit of honeyed oak close the ceremony. The finish is medium in length but high in pleasantness.
Bottom Line:
When New Riff first burst onto the scene with excellent 4-year-old whiskey, the industry rejoiced… and then they seemingly stalled out, with 4-year whiskey becoming their default for a spell. It turns out that they were merely biding their time to release some truly special bourbon with a higher age statement. Now that it’s finally here, we’re happy to sing its praises.
Henry McKenna is Heaven Hill Distillery’s critically acclaimed 10-year-old single-barrel bourbon. Due to that critical acclaim, this expression has become far less readily available (and more high-priced), but it remains a stellar value in the Heaven Hill portfolio.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose begins with nail polish that soon cedes the way for cherry syrup, leather, rich oak, and honey-roasted almond aromas. It’s unbalanced, but it is still enjoyable.
Palate: On the palate, those first three notes from the nose make a solid initial impression as the nail polish/cherry syrup vibe strikes your palate before turning into more of a leather-inflected cherrywood note. It begins texturally robust but gradually thins out as the liquid unfurls over your palate and finds the edges of your tongue with a last gasp of caramel and faint smokiness before transitioning into the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium-length, but it’s here where the black cherry flavor finally plants its flag and welcomes even more dense oak and barrel char notes on the back end, allowing this bourbon to stick the landing.
Bottom Line:
As you know, dear reader, Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond, as a single-barrel expression, can offer a wide array of different flavors depending on which barrel your bottle is from, and this one falls in the middle of the range. Finding barrels that are this good from a brand notoriously known to be inconsistent is a treat, but the prospect of finding even better ones will keep you on the hunt.
Rebel’s 10-year single-barrel bourbon is an expression marked by a winding history that saw it go from production at the famed Stitzel-Weller distillery as a locally distributed bargain brand to becoming a surprise hit thanks to a Billy Idol song, being sold to current owners Luxco, and reimagined as a premium offering.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with the aroma of snickerdoodle cookies, inviting caramel and vanilla tones, and some fudge to round out the sweeter notes. On the earthier side, there’s the scent of clove and turmeric, in addition to the faintest shake of freshly cracked black pepper.
Palate: Once in the mouth, caramel, the burnt citrus flavor of a torched orange wheel, and vanilla introduce the senses to this lush bourbon. The mouthfeel is full-bodied with almonds and white pepper found in spades, though it skews more heavily toward the sweet tones. This lovely, well-balanced whiskey rewards chewing as it unlocks further cinnamon bark and wheat funk notes.
Finish: For its final act, Rebel 10-Year Bourbon features rich oak, honey-roasted peanuts, and vanilla that hangs around with considerable staying power.
Bottom Line:
Rebel 10-Year Bourbon has long been rumored to feature whiskey in the blend that significantly exceeds its age statement, and that speculation certainly passes the taste test. The liquid is a lush showcase of how depth can overcome the brevity of flavors to deliver a balanced and highly enjoyable bourbon.
Green River has been producing critically acclaimed, affordable bourbons since the brand was revived and started hitting shelves in 2022. For this relatively new extension in their lineup, Green River Full Proof, they opted for a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley before bottling the juice at barrel strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Raisins and allspice jump out of the glass to greet the nose, along with a bit of sherried mushroom and coconut flake. This is such an atypical but alluring mix, and it really entices you to take a first sip.
Palate: Raisins, green grapes, cinnamon bark, and clove emerge on the palate, which is delightfully refined and compressed in the sense that the flavors feel densely packed. It also feels like the layers of flavor are distinct and well-developed, making sitting with it and picking it apart fun, as the medium-bodied bourbon offers just enough viscousness to hold your interest.
Finish: The end of each sip sees the addition of some fig newton and cracked black pepper as it sizzles away, leaving a strong impression on the palate through the delicious, lengthy finish.
Bottom Line:
While the mash bill in Green River Full Proof features some relatively high rye content, its sweetness and approachability win out over its spicier elements. While some bourbons are excellent for their brash, punch-you-in-the-face boldness, Green River Full Proof offers a bit more finesse for a sipping experience that puts panache before pugilism.
Louisville’s oldest distillery often tweaks the age and proof point of its annual Birthday Bourbon release. For this year, the 24th expression in the series matured for 12 years, the same as 2023’s release, but it’s bottled at its highest proof ever, 107 proof. Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Master Taster Melissa Rift personally selected the 209 barrels that comprised this blend with aid from Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo. The barrels themselves were matured in Warehouses G and L.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of juicy orange rind, fresh leather, apricots, apples, and red peppers leap out of the glass at first. There’s some barrel char, milk chocolate, and tobacco leaf notes swirling in the mix, as well as some buttercream frosting and black pepper.
Palate: Pound cake, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes greet the palate at first as the rich liquid sizzles past the tip of your tongue. At midpalate, things pick up momentum with caramel, tamarind, and grilled mango skin. It’s an intriguing melange that works well, and before the transition to the finish begins, you pick up some of the ripe fruits from the nose with apricots and apples accented by a touch of star anise.
Finish: There’s a nice, substantial flourish of flavor on the lingering finish, with vanilla and black pepper blending with sugar cookies for a balanced and sweet send-off.
Bottom Line:
What do I get for my Birthday (Bourbon)? Plenty of juicy fruit notes accompany restrained baking spices and some well-placed leather, which indicates this is a bourbon with substantial maturity. For its 24th Birthday Bourbon, Old Forester delivered an expression that proves the brand has fully come of age by upping the proof and unleashing a more comprehensive range of flavors than we’ve seen in previous years.
In short, this bourbon will make Old Forester fans’ wishes come true as it easily outpaces the ho-hum releases of the past few years.
44. 2XO Gem of Kentucky
2XO
ABV: 54% Average Price: $230
The Whiskey:
2XO is the brand founded by rockstar blender Dixon Dedman just two short years ago, but he waited until 2023 to release the brand’s best work to date: The Gem Of Kentucky. Billed as “the only double-barreled single barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey on the market,” the brand released roughly 70 of those unique single barrels to market.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This bottle begins expressly fruity with red berries and orange zest leading the way to polished leather, an abundance of vanilla, and some surprising sandalwood.
Palate: Once on the palate, this pour opens with more fruit as the flavor of cherries and clementines burrow deep into your tongue while mature oak and leather notes find the edges of the tongue and the cheek. There’s a gently pulsing influence of baking spice throughout, with black pepper, allspice, and sage becoming most expressive as this pour transitions to the finish.
Finish: The finish welcomes more allspice and sage, and it’s surprisingly lengthy, allowing the fruit-forward notes to reemerge as well as the satisfying taste of vanilla ice cream.
Bottom Line:
Dixon Dedman is no stranger to mingling delicious barrels of sourced whiskey, and the experience he’s accrued from blending previous projects has him in peak form here. 2XO’s more affordable options are well worth your attention as an entry point into the nascent brand. Still, once you try their premium offering, you’ll fully appreciate just how stellar this new category of double-barreled single barrels can be.
All of Blackwood Distilling’s criminally underrated whiskeys undergo a proprietary toasting process that helps to set them apart and make them shine, and that includes these standout single-barrel expressions. Finished in Kelvin Cooperage barrels, it should be noted that while these offerings are not age-stated, previous releases have featured bourbon that is nearly 8 years old, which would likely put this edition in the same range. The mash bill is made up of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with honeyed black tea, a touch of sage, and big jammy raspberries. There’s a whisp of spearmint and a bevy of dense oak that help to prop up all of those aromas, while your prototypical toasted vanillas and caramels are also evident.
Palate: Once on the palate, what’s most immediately remarkable about this bourbon is the texture, which is heavy, and it utilizes that heft to burrow its array of flavors deep into your taste buds. Those flavors are largely composed of the same notes from the nose, with jammy raspberries, oak, sage, and black tea taking center stage as cacao, sandalwood, and cinnamon provide some depth to that robust base.
Finish: The lengthy finish welcomes some rising spice as clove and black pepper cover the classic toffee, chocolate, and oak tones.
Bottom Line:
As we mentioned at the outset, Blackwood Distilling is among the most underrated brands in the entire bourbon world, and with great releases like this, that’s destined to change in 2025. You should be eagerly hoarding these bottles before the general population gets wise because if the single barrels are this great, that bodes incredibly well for the future of their blends and the brand as a whole.
42. Augusta Distillery 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon
Augusta Distillery is becoming well known for its high-quality sourced bourbon single-barrels at 8, 13, 15, and 17 years old, but honestly, despite how good those are, the ten-year is the sweet spot. The single-barrel bourbon offerings they release at this age exemplify that.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is robust with black cherry, stewed dates, peppercorn, and oak leading the way and hanging in the air for quite a while, giving it a full-bodied first impression that will beckon you in for an initial sip.
Palate: Once on the palate, those impressions hold true as the flavors match the nosing notes with a bit of cinnamon and vanilla added to the mix. The mouthfeel strikes that fantastic balance between oily viscousness and sprightly vivaciousness, which is what makes Buckner’s bourbon such a winner at ten years old. You truly get the best of both worlds.
Finish: The finish sinks its hooks in and has a lengthy extension with a faint touch of mocha and dark chocolate joining the oak and black cherry from the tasting notes.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a justification for the price of these Buckner’s single-barrels, the best thing they have going for them is quality. While they’ve previously released award-winning whiskey at various age statements (13, 15, and 17), these 10-year single barrels are the ones you’re most likely to encounter in the double-digit range, and they deliver every single time.
Created in honor of Jimmy Russell’s historic 70th year working for Wild Turkey, this brand-new, 8-year-old version of the brand’s iconic 101-proof bourbon is truly a dual testament to time. Both Jimmy’s seven decades of dedication to excellence and the impact of eight long years on Wild Turkey’s phenomenal whiskey.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, this one has all the hallmarks of classic Wild Turkey 101 bourbon, which you’re probably familiar with already, but it brings a level of richness and a slightly darker bouquet of aromas into the fold. Vanilla, torched orange wheel, honey, and cinnamon all have their say, but there’s a simmering brown sugar note that combines with the underlying oak, which will keep you exploring the edges of your glass at length.
Palate: Once on the palate, the liquid delivers on the promise of its nose with all of those classic Wild Turkey notes standing tall and coming across as distinct from one another despite combining to create a sum better than its parts. Buttercream, savory dates, and honey-sweetened black tea add further richness and nuance to this beautiful blend that you’ll want to pick apart at length.
Finish: The finish on Wild Turkey 8-Year 101 70th Anniversary Bourbon continues the overarching theme of everyday decadence with a rich, sweet ending that comes complete with gentle nutmeg and black pepper spice, which runs a ring around your tongue, corralling the sweeter notes in the middle for extended enjoyment.
Bottom Line:
For 70 years, Jimmy Russell has been a staid force for good in the bourbon world, and despite a few surprises along the way, what can best be said about the legend’s career is that he delivered consistent, predictably high-quality bourbon whenever he was tasked with doing so. Does it really come as any surprise that the best anniversary gift he could give us is more of the same?
Peerless has been producing fantastic bourbon since filling its first barrel in the modern era back in 2015, and its finishing program has been spreading its wings in recent years. For this brand-new expression, they’ve taken their base sweet mash bourbon, which is always non-chill filtered, and finished it in premium cognac barrels for an undisclosed period of time.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The cognac is well integrated on the nose, with dates and mocha modifying the bourbon slightly and elevating the toffee pudding and stewed apple notes. There are also aromas of raisins and sweet tobacco contributing to the overall pleasantness.
Palate: The flavors of port wine, chocolate, and sweet tobacco stand out on the palate, which further underlines the influence of the cognac cask. It has a velvety mouthfeel that goes a step beyond the very clean and lean texture of Peerless’ typical bourbon, which makes this one well-worth consideration.
Finish: On the finish, the whiskey has moderate length, and the toffee and red raisins persist along with dense oak tones, adding to the savoriness of each sip.
Bottom Line:
Peerless bourbon just keeps getting better, even without the benefit of a finishing cask. That said, the way they’re able to artfully combine their baseline bourbon with these assertive Cognac casks without allowing either participant to overpower the other deserves a ton of credit.
Knob Creek 18-Year-Old Bourbon is bottled at the highest age the lineup has ever seen. Are you not entertained? While the majority of the production process remains the same for this hyper-limited release compared to more readily available versions, this one was distilled at a slightly different temperature and strategically aged in specific points of Beam’s many rickhouses.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Unlike the nose on Knob Creek’s 15-Year expression, this 18-Year variant feels surprisingly vibrant. Manuka honey, crème brulée, well-aged oak, cigar wrapper, and hazelnut all have a home with this decadent bouquet of aromas unfurling above the glass and greeting the senses.
Palate: The palate welcomes wood sugars, crème brulée, hazelnut, and well-worn oak tones almost immediately as the sweetness envelopes your tongue with one sip. As the liquid coats your palate and begins to thin out, you’ll pick up notes of black pepper spice, black tea, cherry bark, and clove.
Finish: The finish continues the party that the palate started by closing out with some smoked cherry bark, cinnamon, orange blossom, and nougat notes.
Bottom Line:
If you want to taste Knob Creek bourbon pushed to its absolute limits, then this 18-year-old expression is what you should be seeking out. While the 15-year version of Knob Creek seems a bit thin, as though the whiskey’s maturation were on a downward swing, it comes roaring back to life with a surprisingly viscous texture and remarkably well-developed flavors that make this bottle 100% worth the price associated.
Larceny Barrel Proof has become one of the most anticipated batched releases of the bourbon calendar each year since its inception in January 2020 (remember those times?). This year’s second batch of the wheated bourbon is aged, as always, for 6-8 years. The mashbill is 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Candied orange, dipped in chocolate, comes through on the nose in rich waves. Oak soon takes the wheel, but it’s joined by more cocoa notes riding comfortably in the passenger seat.
Palate: Once on the palate, that initial impression of orange marmalade coats the tongue on the heels of some high heat. Once acclimated to that heat, one discovers a nice note of cinnamon bark and even some surprising bits of pistachio.
Finish: The finish is lengthy with a spiced orange wheel and the slightly nutty quality of the palate — now reminiscent of toasted almonds — making for the perfect marriage.
Bottom Line:
Larceny Barrel Proof is somehow still underrated among bourbon enthusiasts, but the consistently strong expression had a banner year in 2023, and the 2024 releases were just as solid. Things are continuing to trend upward for Heaven Hill’s premier wheated bourbon, which may someday soon compete with the most hallowed names for wheated bourbon supremacy.
Elijah Craig’s 18-year single-barrel expression is a dinosaur in more ways than one. First, it’s a long-standing hyper-aged bourbon expression in a whiskey world that’s only now reintegrating an influx of similarly aged bourbons. Second, it’s the last surviving member of the Elijah Craig lineup’s hyper-aged expressions, which used to include 20 -, 21 -, and 23-year-old offerings.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is rich with dense, well-aged oak and caramel candies at first, but those notes merely open the curtain to reveal layers of plum, dark chocolate, and leather resting below the surface.
Palate: On the palate, Elijah Craig 18 swiftly finds every corner of your taste buds and floods them with vanilla buttercream, leather, and caramel candy flavors. The understated fruit tones from the nosing experience are buried beneath lush waves of caramel and vanilla. Still, they ultimately emerge and take shape at midpalate as bananas and shaved coconuts.
Finish: The finish is curt but marked by the richness of the coconut and caramel flavors, which satisfyingly coat the palate before ceding your taste buds to white pepper and vanilla before undulating gently out of existence.
Bottom Line:
The common criticisms following Elijah Craig 18 come from a two-pronged attack that says it is either under-proofed or overoaked. Both lines of fault-finding miss the mark.
Appreciated on its face, as well as for its rarity, Elijah Craig 18 is a mellow, multifaceted whiskey that plumbs a depth of flavor that can’t be found in more moderately aged expressions. With a price point that typically follows the “$10 per year” rubric and an anecdotally increasing supply, Elijah Craig 18 is beyond reproach for bourbon fans more attuned to the subtleties it has in vast supply.
Woodford Reserve’s Double Double Oaked isn’t named by mistake. Launched initially as a member of the Distillery Series in 2015, the longtime distillery-exclusive fan-favorite features Woodford bourbon that rested for 5-7 years before being finished in a second, heavily toasted, lightly charred, new oak barrel.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this bourbon opens with cedar, rich brown sugar, cinnamon, and nougat. It’s an alluring medley that draws you deeper into the glass and reveals subtler hints of dark chocolate chunks, black pepper, and sticky toffee.
Palate: Once on the palate, this bourbon detonates with a richness the nose only hinted at. The flavors of milk chocolate, cedar, sage, cinnamon, vanilla pods, and brown sugar cascade over the tongue and cling to the palate convincingly. This is a bourbon that spites its proof by being relentless from start to finish, and that’s worthy of extended appreciation.
Finish: The finish ties a tight bow on those many layers of flavor with a sage smudge ribbon accented by cinnamon flecks, sunflower butter, and semi-sweet dark chocolate.
Bottom Line:
While the price point and relatively low proof might give you pause, make no mistake — this is delicious whiskey. Woodford Reserve is famed for its 90.4 proof point, and this is the best bourbon they’ve ever released that fits those specs.
35. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled In Bond Bourbon
Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled In Bond Bourbon is a distillery exclusive that showcases unfinished Angel’s Envy whiskey for the first time ever. Even more remarkable is the fact that through careful aging and blending, this bourbon meets all of the Bottled In Bond requirements without requiring water for proof, making it a barrel-proof Bottled In Bond bourbon, one of if not the first on the market.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Cherries, leather, and molasses rise out of the glass at first in a tightly fused ball that bounces from nostril to nostril with brown sugar and wheat bread joining as well. There’s also a distinct oak undertone to go with some milk chocolate, cardboard, and stewed rhubarb, making for an extremely expressive and impressive nose.
Palate: Brown sugar, allspice, raspberry jam, and leather are the most immediately recognizable flavors on the palate, but what’s most impressive is that even as you’re teasing those notes apart, you get a glimpse of a much larger whole. This is an extremely multi-layered pour, packed with flavors you’ll need extended consideration to get halfway through appreciating.
Finish: The finish sees hazelnuts, raspberry jam, and allspice taking turns at the wheel as it gently pulses over your tongue, hanging on for dear life before leaving your palate after a lengthy period.
Bottom Line:
We’ve been beating the drum about how good this bottle is since it was initially released, so we were pleased to see that it cracked the top 50 bourbons of the year in 2024. This Kentucky bourbon is worth trying because it checks several atypical boxes you can’t get elsewhere. The first Angel’s Envy expression that isn’t finished? Check. The first cask-strength bottled-in-bond bourbon ever? Check again. But Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled In Bond Bourbon isn’t only an awesome oddity; it’s straight-up awesome.
New for 2024, Old Grand-Dad’s first age-stated expression is a hefty 16-year-old bourbon proofed down to 50% ABV. This expression joins Old Grand-Dad, Old Grand-Dad Bonded, and Old Grand-Dad 114 in the lineup.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Cornbread and caramel fill the air at first, with notes of brown sugar, peanuts, and wheat toast closely following behind for a classic Jim Beam-esque profile with added depth and nuance.
Palate: Well-aged oak, cinnamon, brown sugar, tobacco leaf, and Chex Mix make for the most striking flavors on the palate, which is even-keeled and even a bit restrained, which is typical of bourbon in this age range. The texture is admittedly quotidian, given this whiskey’s moderate proof point. Still, there’s no denying the depth of flavor, as the mature oak tones provide plenty of runway for the rest of the tasting notes to develop to their fullest potential.
Finish: Old Grand-Dad 16 concludes with a medium finish that’s slightly drying with heavy spice and peanut shell vibes punctuating the end of every sip.
Bottom Line:
The newest Old Grand-Dad in Jim Beam’s portfolio, this stellar 16-year-old bourbon pushes the OGD flavor wheel to new heights with increased richness and beautiful depth of flavor previously out of reach for the lineup. We’ll be the first to admit this one isn’t without its flaws, but even as we ponder what it could’ve been (16-year OGD 114, anyone?), there’s no denying that this is a well-constructed and balanced bourbon.
33. Michter’s Bomberger’s Declaration PFG (Precision Fine Grain)
Michter’s brand-new expression of Bomberger’s Declaration, which they call PFG, or Precision Fine Grain, is a fun one. For this release, they take their aged bourbon and dump it in a second new French fine grain oak barrel with proprietary toasting and a uniquely specified char level. That secondary barrel is also made using a blend of oak from various places, including the Tronçais, Allier, Nevers, and Vosges forests, and staves that naturally air-dried outdoors for a minimum of 40 months.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes are full of allure, with cedar, Brazil nuts, French vanilla, black cherry, red peppers, star anise, blood orange, and black pepper making up its tightly-wound core. It’s a multi-layered experience that will have you discovering new nuggets each time you bring your nose to the glass.
Palate: The palate comprises gooey caramel and black cherry notes, which coat the tongue with accents of cedar, clove, and sage which fan out from that base of flavors. It’s remarkably smooth and viscous. Dark chocolate, toasted coconut, and allspice emerge at the back end.
Finish: The influence of caramel, star anise, dark chocolate, and candied walnuts marks the medium length finish along with some cinnamon bark and cedar.
Bottom Line:
I don’t know what’s more remarkable, this bourbon, or the hot streak that Michter’s has been on for the last two years. Despite the heights they’ve soared to in recent years, this new Bomberger’s release (and 2024’s bourbon of the year) proves they still have plenty in the tank.
I’m impressed with standard Bomberger’s Declaration annually, but this diffusion brand might be their best yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select uses six of the brand’s ten recipes (OBSV, OBSK, OBSF, OESV, OESK, and OESF) for a unique blend concocted by Master Distiller Brent Elliott and ages the liquid for six to seven years before batching, lightly proofing, and bottling it all up.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, Four Roses Small Batch Select offers cola nut, bright red cherries, black pepper, nutmeg, and clove with some oak and caramel tones following behind those initial top notes. It’s robust and inviting, with a lovely baking spice presence that displays a ton of balance.
Palate: Four Roses Small Batch Select hits the palate with a full-bodied richness that coats your tongue and sends you mining your taste buds to discover the flavor of jammy cherries, nutmeg, black pepper, and honeyed black tea. The texture would count as its defining quality if it weren’t for the impressive balance of the flavors ever-so-slightly outperforming the viscous mouthfeel.
Finish: The lingering finish is where you’ll find vanilla extract, raspberries, brown sugar, and a light mint note — which reminds you that this is a robust Four Roses bourbon.
Bottom Line:
Four Roses Small Batch Select is such a great option to buy under $100. Because it tends to get overlooked when folks are shopping for bottles under $50 and passed over for pricier bottles when they’re feeling spendier you might not have this one on your radar, but that needs to change today.
Binder’s Stash is a premium non-distilling producer bottling top-shelf whiskey from Indiana and Kentucky. The brand’s fervent digital presence has been documented here before, with this particular single-barrel, “Make It Make Sense,” being one of the budding brand’s newer releases.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Black cherry, grapefruit, and allspice aromas are the opening act. Next up, palo santo, chocolate wafer cookies, and maple candy hang in the air in the background.
Palate: This bourbon begins chocolatey as hell and heavy on the palate, making it taste like whiskey more than twice its age with cherries and rich oak with leather and vanilla pods. It’s drying at the edge of the tongue with a sort of grainy texture that’s intriguing and, again, gives it the impression of much older whiskey.
Finish: The finish has bubblegum and cinnamon, and it’s medium to long with some more vanilla coming in, giving it a sweet send-off that makes you want more immediately.
Bottom Line:
This is a remarkable and remarkably well-named whiskey. Credit to Binder’s Stash for pulling it at five years old and resisting the urge to entice consumers with a higher age statement. This offering proves there’s no telling when a bourbon is ready, but it will tell you itself, and it can knock you sideways when it hits that sweet spot.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed was initially introduced as Wild Turkey’s (really Jimmy Russell’s) response to the launch of Jim Beam’s Booker’s. Launched at a time when high-proof bourbon was less en vogue, it reflects Jimmy’s prescience in predicting the market’s future.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Honeysuckle, bright red cherries, and cinnamon rolls delight the senses once Rare Breed tumbles into your glass. Given some time to sit, you’ll find well-aged oak, clove, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and toasted almonds all elevate the aroma profile of this bourbon.
Palate: The flavors in this bourbon are rich and well-developed, with each of the nosing notes coming through on the palate. Those flavors are bolstered by a bit of cooked apple and pie shell for a robust yet clearly defined cavalcade of notes with a spry texture that deceptively coats your palate after several sips.
Finish: Lengthy and lingering, the finish on Rare Breed is balanced and delicious as it deftly combines sweetness and spice — leaving you wondering which one will last the longest. The answer is typically the spice.
Bottom Line:
Rare Breed is frequently cited as a limited edition whiskey hiding in plain sight, and that reputation is well earned. With a flavor profile that brings an abundance of red berries, vanilla, and baking spice, Wild Turkey Rare Breed has an enchanting combination of mature flavor, delicate balance, and stern force that makes it a world beater.
Baker’s brand-new High Rye expression is said to have twice as much rye in its mash bill as its classic cousin, Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon. Furthermore, what separates it from other high-rye bourbons in the Beam portfolio like Basil Hayden and Old Grand-Dad is the fact that this liquid was distilled to a lower proof, matured in specific warehouses, and features an age statement, unlike the majority of Basil Hayden and Old Grand-Dad expressions.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Baking spice and mint notes rush out of the glass along with caramel and cedar for a sequence of nosing notes that immediately reveal this bourbon’s “high rye” nature. A bit of hazelnut and dilute maple syrup can also be found after a few waves of the hand.
Palate: The palate on Baker’s High Rye Bourbon holds true to the nosing notes, with black pepper and honeyed mint tea leading the charge while pie crust and creme brulee notes follow closely behind, giving this whiskey a significant amount of rye spice that is gently tempered by the more neutral pastry flavor and delightful sweet tones.
Finish: The finish is impressively lengthy, with all of that rye spice goodness coming to the fore over a bed of candied mint leaf and honeyed herbal tea.
Bottom Line:
In what will be remembered as a banner year for Jim Beam, the distillery’s new Baker’s High Rye Bourbon stands among the best of a voluminous bunch. Given the ubiquity we’re already seeing with this one on liquor store shelves (YMMV in your local market), this might be the biggest winner of all their 2024 releases because it’s both readily available and exceedingly full-flavored.
River City Whiskey is the newest brand on this list. This expression, from founders Da’Mon Brown and Ricky Rice, is a natural outgrowth of what began as a barrel pick group that the two started. Now, entering the arena of creating a brand, they’ve brought this inaugural expression “Beaver Bridge Barrel” to market using the single-barrel format they’ve perfected to present a cask-strength bourbon, aged for nine years, and made with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma notes open with bruised pears, apple skin, singed orange peel, vanilla custard, black pepper, sage, and barrel char. The aromas are impressively well-developed and delicate but distinct, leading to extended appreciation before you venture in for the first sip.
Palate: The lighter, sweet notes come through on the palate, with peach rings, dried apricot, and scraped vanilla pod seizing your attention at first. The whiskey then turns a bit floral at midpalate before ceding ground to the flavors of restrained oak and honeyed black tea as it fans out over the tongue and begins transitioning to the finish.
Finish: The finish is robust but brief, expanding rapidly with full flavors before gently concluding with vanilla wafers, orange blossom, and white pepper lingering at the end of the party.
Bottom Line:
This is simply great whiskey that shines on the front end with distinct, well-developed flavors that come together harmoniously before blossoming at mid-palate and succinctly shedding its petals on the finish. The price of admission is perfect, and as this bourbon flows with far more peaks than valleys from beginning to end, it shows that River City Whiskey is ready to open the floodgates of their hand-selected high-quality single-barrel Kentucky-sourced bourbons.
Frank August is a brand that’s so new that they’re only on their second round of single-barrel bourbon releases. Be forewarned: this time around, they’re blowing their inaugural offerings out of the water. 2024’s award-winning range of single barrels were bottled at cask strength, between 114.6 – 125.4 proof, and are all at least six years old.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this bourbon features ripe stone fruits dusted with clove, cumin, and cayenne pepper. After a few waves of the hand, deeper accents of Tahitian vanilla and cacao nibs become apparent, along with turmeric and dark chocolate.
Palate: The baking spices rise to the top of this whiskey once it enters the mouth, as cinnamon and turmeric are folded into the ebullient stone fruit notes that make up the backbone of every sip. Some gentle rye spice helps those fruit notes express themselves, as does a touch of citrus. The mouthfeel is perfectly middle of the road, with a slightly viscous texture on the back end, which aids the entire affair when it transitions to the finish.
Finish: The finish is tempered, with spice and fruit notes presenting themselves in a balanced fashion as it lingers with medium length.
Bottom Line:
What Frank August succeeds, or rather excels at, with this release is in capturing a bevy of fruit-forward notes and offsetting them with a measured deployment of spice, making for an incredibly balanced bourbon that most blenders dream of. To capture such lighting in a bottle of single-barrel Kentucky bourbon is an exceptional treat.
Heaven Hill’s Grain To Glass series emphasizes the import of grain varietals in whiskey and the brand’s commitment to family and quality. With this inaugural fleet of releases, they partnered with two family-owned companies and sought the ideal non-GMO corn varietals for bourbon production.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of cinnamon and blackberry jam is so inviting on the nose that it feels almost foolhardy to move beyond them — it smells so immediately enticing. Pushing past that initial rush of aromas, one finds sweet oak, mocha, some slight salinity, and a faint petrichor note, making for an intriguing mix of scents.
Palate: This bourbon is immediately dense, which pairs well with the jammy flavor profile as the blackberries from the nose morph into sugar-sweetened raspberries, a bit of airy custard, and freshly ground cinnamon. At midpalate is where you’ll find an explosion of oak and black pepper, which give this whiskey the impression of being aged for about nine years before the flavor of hazelnuts and chocolate truffle dust marks the transition to the finish.
Finish: On the finish, there’s a touch of vanilla ice cream with mint sprigs that pairs well with the persistent raspberry jam notes. It’s medium-to-long in length, and that extended journey helps elevate one’s appreciation of the density of the liquid and the depth of each flavor note.
Bottom Line:
When I first had the pleasure of trying this bourbon alongside Heaven Hill’s bigwigs while being serenaded by a live band in one of the distillery’s Cox’s Creek rickhouses, I was of two minds: one, surely this is excellent bourbon, and two, surely the setting elevated the experience. Now, with an opportunity to revisit the liquid in a sterile environment, I’m positive the former is true, but I have doubts about the latter. This bottle slaps in any setting, and getting it for $100 flat feels like stealing.
Old Forester 1924 is the first expansion of the brand’s “Whiskey Row” series in several years, and it’s the first iteration to feature an age statement. Using the same mashbill as Brown-Forman’s budget bourbon, Early Times, this more mature whiskey was first released earlier this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The rich nose, resplendent with ripe plums, honey, and buttery pie crust aroma makes you immediately take notice. After a few swirls in the glass, you’ll find black cherry, leather, and polished oak emerging from this whiskey as well. It’s definitely a delightful melange.
Palate: On the palate, it’s those notes of black cherry that really take the reins, along with a touch of oiled leather. It’s hard to deny how perfectly proofed this whiskey is, as the viscousness coats your palate, and the flavors you get from 10+ years in a barrel are on full display without ever becoming overoaked.
Finish: On the finish, there are slight signs of hyper-aging as it becomes a bit drg, and the length is disappointingly short, considering how rich the flavors are.
Bottom Line:
The primary knock against Old Forester 1924 (aside from the price) is the fact that it gets progressively weaker as you go from the aroma to the flavor and, finally, the finish. That said, it starts off strong and still finishes well above average, as repeat sips will allow you to unlock deeper layers of flavor.
Despite the short finish, this is a delicious, balanced whiskey. You might need several sips to appreciate it fully, and we aren’t complaining about that.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon is the fully amplified, small-batch version of one of the best-selling whiskeys in the world. Released in small batches throughout the year, with their identifying codes found on the front label, this expression showcases Maker’s Mark in its purest form.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, this whiskey begins with plenty of honeysuckle and toffee before the sweeter notes break rank and allow oak, red berries (think bright cherries and ripe raspberries), and a combination of oak and leather to rise out of the glass.
Palate: The first sip of Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is a revelation, resplendent with more pronounced red berry and caramel flavors than the nose at first indicated. Those flavors are far-reaching, with a refinement that rewards chewing the whiskey and allowing the viscous liquid to seep deep and then deeper still into your palate.
Finish: For the lengthy finish, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength offers a fresh cavalcade of accenting notes, ranging from vanilla and mellow oak to clove, orange blossom, and truffle honey. It’s a complex and captivating way to close this robust, elegant bourbon.
Bottom Line:
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is the unsung king of affordable bourbon; frankly, not enough people know it. While standard Maker’s Mark enjoys ubiquity at bars and liquor stores, this slightly harder-to-find offering tends to fly under the radar despite its incredible quality. Let that be the case no more. With the price of high-quality bourbon rising across the board, this is a bourbon that ain’t going anywhere. You can still readily find it in the $50 price range.
Aged on the lower floor of an undisclosed Buffalo Trace warehouse, this year’s William Larue Weller offering was matured for 12 years before being bottled at full cask strength. While the barrel entry proof on this liquid was a modest 114 proof, through the process of aging, 2024’s edition of the vaunted William Larue Weller crept all the way up to 125.8 proof.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes on this one open with dense caramel, rich cherries, and an alluring splash of milk chocolate. The aromas of sweet oak, clove cigarettes, and honey-drizzled mint sprigs also come wafting out of the glass after a few waves of the hand.
Palate: The impressiveness of this bourbon begins with the dense texture, which efficiently coats your palate with brown sugar, black pepper, apple leather, and candied walnuts. Each of those notes is really rich and well-developed, leading to you sucking your teeth and mining your tastebuds to see just how deep those flavors will seep into your palate.
Finish: Cinnamon, red pepper flakes, and honeyed black tea mark the lengthy finish. As the oak begins to encroach on each of those sweet notes, some brown sugar also curtails the drying and leaves you drooling for more.
Bottom Line:
We get that you may think this one is too low on the list, but here’s the case: the 2024 William Larue Weller is a triumph that carries the mantle well and continues the brand’s reputation as being one of the finest bourbons on the market today. That said, it’s definitely seen brighter days and better releases. All told, this is a delicious pour that is a treasure worth seeking out, as even in an off year, it’s one of Kentucky’s best bourbons.
Old Rip Van Winkle is the opening entry in the Van Winkle family’s insanely popular range of wheated bourbons. Aged for 10 years, this whiskey is bottled at 107 proof and pulled from the same lot of barrels that make up most, if not all, of the Weller range of bourbons.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is somewhat simple but incredibly satisfying, as the aroma of cherry hand pies fills the air, complete with a bit of caramelized sugar, cinnamon, and honeyed pastry tones.
Palate: In the mouth, those nosing notes ring true, but unlike hand pies, which are led by the boldness of their fruit tones, the cherry note found on the palate of Old Rip Van Winkle is more restrained and less tart, fuller, and sweeter. It comes across as a more subdued maraschino cherry note, nestled in the aforementioned bakery notes of honeyed pastry and caramelized sugar, along with some freshly cracked black pepper, vanilla extract, and gentle oak.
Finish: The moderately lengthy finish on this viscous bourbon is where the oak notes are most forceful, though they’re curtailed by a faint touch of hazelnut, honey sweetness, and white pepper along with the ever-persistent rich cherry tones.
Bottom Line:
Look, I think this is the most underrated whiskey in the entire Pappy Van Winkle lineup. Even at only ten years old, this is a sublime bourbon with great balance and a rich bevy of flavors that simultaneously make it decadent and crushable. However, it isn’t nearly worth the prohibitive prices that far too many stores list it for, which dings its reputation even if it does not affect its quality.
This brand-new re-release of Baker’s 13-Year Bourbon is new for 2024 and follows in the footsteps of the brand’s previous release. That is to say, this is standard Baker’s bourbon but with anywhere between 5-6 extra years of age, bottled at the brand’s classic 107-proof point.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Honey roasted peanuts, cayenne pepper, and orange rind with some nougat underneath make up the nosing notes, which are impressively rich and harmoniously blended for a sum greater than its parts.
Palate: It starts off a bit hot, but it quickly cools, allowing the flavors of nougat, golden raisins, allspice, and almonds to shine. Brown sugar and orange rind come rushing in soon after to pick up the slack. The balance of flavors is a delight, and the sweet notes’ restraint allows them all to blend well.
Finish: The finish has a lot of cayenne, black pepper, and clove. It’s where both the spice and the ethanol are most evident, which is a departure from the mellow sweetness found earlier in each sip.
Bottom Line:
This is a bourbon that shocked me, not just because it was damned good, but because I couldn’t believe there were twenty Kentucky bourbons capable of outpacing it. For their second edition of Baker’s 13-Year Bourbon, Jim Beam succeeded in delivering a totally well-rounded expression that represents their distillery’s stellar baseline output while elevating the Baker’s brand to new heights. If you can find it, this one is an immediate must-buy.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is often heralded as the single best value in all of bourbon. Why? Because it’s a consistent product, released three times a year, that clocks in at full barrel strength and aged for at least 11 years. This year’s “B” Batch, B524, was aged for 11 years and two months.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: My initial nosing notes say, “This is just dope.” I hope that begins to explain what’s going on here. The aroma of buttery croissants and cinnamon reaches the nose, along with some hazelnut spread, sticky toffee, and honey brioche buns.
Palate: The palate finds earthy toasted almond notes with decadent dark chocolate and more buttery, flaky, croissant flavors. Excuse my French, but pain au chocolat ain’t got shit on this. The texture is well-fused and oily, which causes it to stick to your teeth despite the high-octane proof point, which makes this one dangerous pour.
Finish: The finish is lengthy and introduces a bit of walnut meat, hazelnut, and a few shakes of clove and nutmeg to the palate. All in all, it’s a really satisfying send-off.
Bottom Line:
Simply put, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is one of the best barrel-proof bourbons on the market, cost be damned. After a solid but polarizing “A” batch to kick off 2024, Elijah Craig came back on its “A” game with last year’s second release, making it one of the premier barrel-proof bourbons to hunt down right now. No matter the year or batch, this is a must-have bottle in your collection.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon is one of the quintessential bourbons on the market today. The brand was first launched in 2013 on the heels of Wild Turkey’s success with Russell’s Reserve Small Batch. Non-chill filtered and always proofed to 55% ABV, this release features both a general release and private barrel selections.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This whiskey opens with a rich interplay of thick cherry syrup and vanilla ice cream with honey, white pepper, clove, and oak aromas, and it noses as one of the best damn desserts Lawrenceburg, KY, can offer.
Palate: Cola nut, Luxardo cherries, and French vanilla hit the palate first before this rich bourbon invites white pepper and some faint barrel char notes to join them. As the liquid travels to the back of your palate, it begins bringing peanut brittle, black pepper, oak, and a faint green apple flavor to the fore.
Finish: The medium-length finish has cooked red apple and cinnamon, with restrained barrel char having the final say.
Bottom Line:
What happens when you bottle up some of Wild Turkey’s finest, hand-selected barrels, proof them to 110 without chill filtration, and pour it in a glass? Absolute magic. You can visit your local liquor store and inquire about the standard version of this offering, or you can go the extra mile and seek out single-barrel selections from folks whose palate you trust. Either way, you’re sure to hit on a winner.
The very first expression from Old Commonwealth Distillery is this Old Commonwealth 10-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Cask Strength Bourbon. History lesson: Old Commonwealth is an iconic brand created in the 1970s by Julian Van Winkle II, the son of “Pappy” Van Winkle, and in those days, it utilized liquid from the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Fast-forward to 1997-2002, Julian Van Winkle III was selling a version of Old Commonwealth that was proofed to 107 and utilized a wheated mash bill just like his father did decades before. This contemporary recreation has been five years in the making, and though it uses a mash bill sans any wheat, its founders felt that this whiskey was exceptional enough to carry the banner and continue the legacy.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: When you first pour Old Commonwealth into your glass, it opens with the aroma of blueberries and rosewater before deferring to some sweet tobacco, earthy oak, and a fat scoop of vanilla ice cream. It picks up some cherry cordial and leather as it sits in the glass. This is well-layered, lovely stuff.
Palate: Cherry and caramel notes come barreling down the middle of the palate with some faint coconut flakes and well-defined oak undergirding the entire affair. A second sip welcomes clove, hazelnut, and honeyed green tea as the dense liquid begins coating your palate, making you salivate for more.
Finish: The finish is lengthy with white pepper, sweet tobacco, dark chocolate chunks, and sticky toffee all making an impression.
Bottom Line:
This is delicious stuff that belies the 5-year journey Old Commonwealth underwent from ideation to creation. In speaking with the founders, they indicated just how thorough the process was to land on the ideal liquid for this project. The results are as follows: their efforts have been rewarded with this robust, rich whiskey that deserves high praise on its own merits, as well as for the beautiful green-tinted bottle that houses it — a nod to its legacy from decades ago.
Maker’s Mark’s sole age-stated product, Cellar Aged, is now in its second year of production. This year’s release features 15% 12-year-old bourbon and 85% 13-year-old bourbon, making it their oldest release to date.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dark chocolate truffle dusting, orange blossom, and floral aromas kick off this aromatically impressive bourbon. Further notes of brown sugar, lavender honey, faint umami, wet soil, and coconut soon follow.
Palate: Citrus and red berries with vanilla and black pepper hit the palate at first, with heavy dark chocolate notes following thereafter. The texture is very creamy up front, with a tasty pop of cinnamon on the back end. Luscious caramel and toasted coconut notes develop at midpalate.
Finish: The finish is silky and lengthy, with dried strawberries, black pepper, gentle oak, and vanilla making the final impression.
Bottom Line:
The question you may have is whether or not 2024’s Cellar Aged is better than 2023’s edition. The answer: it depends. While last year’s version is full of caramel tones that are very true to Maker’s Mark’s standard product, this year has much more chocolate and an atypical coconut note that will bring newcomers into the fold. Last year’s Cellar Aged is definitely the best yet in our opinion, and not only that, it’s the most unique Maker’s Mark bourbon ever.
Fortuna Barrel Proof Bourbon is the pinnacle of the revived Fortuna brand from Rare Character. Always aged for at least seven years, the bourbon is sourced from an undisclosed distillery in Kentucky and blended in three-to-five barrel lots.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with boozy cocktail cherries, cinnamon bark, rich oak tones, and even a hint of mocha. After a wave of the hand, as the liquid tumbles around your glass, aerating it will reveal further aromas of butterscotch, black pepper, cacao nibs, and strawberry jam.
Palate: The nosing notes offer a solid roadmap for what follows on the palate as blackberry jam replaces the strawberries found on the nose while cinnamon, almond extract, dense oak, and sticky toffee run rampant on the tongue. The texture is robust and offers a fullness that allows each flavor to present itself distinctly, revealing its impressive richness.
Finish: The finish is long-lasting and introduces clove, freshly grated ginger, and black pepper for one final baking spice sizzle before the syrupy black cherry notes leave a sweet final impression.
Bottom Line:
Fortuna Barrel Proof entered the market with a splash, immediately challenging the supremacy of several cask-strength stalwarts on this list. Now, with some distance from its debut, it’s become clear that it isn’t just beginner’s luck that warrants its place in the conversation. Fortuna Barrel Proof Bourbon recently landed in the top two on our best bourbons to buy under $100 for 2025 and with its placement on this list, it should be clear to you that it’s one of the best bourbons at any price point.
Booker’s The Reserves is a new, annual limited-release series from Jim Beam by Freddie Noe to commemorate his grandfather and Beam’s 6th Generation Master Distiller, Booker Noe. This elevated take on classic Booker’s bourbon features a more limited blend of 8 to 14-year-old barrels drawn from the same center cut of the warehouse that Booker himself always favored.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this whiskey really socks it to you at first with a surprising initial richness. It leaps out of the glass with enchanting floral notes, French vanilla, stewed plums, and ripe grapes. After a few waves of the hand, it turns a tad more savory with cloves and dates.
Palate: Dense oak tones crash against the sumptuous flavors of dark chocolate, French vanilla, and dates when you first sip this bourbon. Some black cherries appear at midpalate, along with polished leather and a slightly dusty quality that adds depth. As for the mouthfeel, it’s full-bodied and anxiously coats your palate for the duration of each sip, remaining slow to recede through the finish.
Finish: The finish on this bourbon is medium to long, and that affords it plenty of runway space to allow the French vanilla and date flavors to stick around while a slight uptick in black pepper can be found before it fully dissipates.
Bottom Line:
Booker’s The Reserves is just one of a plethora of new releases from Jim Beam in the past year, many of which have made this list. I’m pleased to report that it’s the best of the bunch. With plenty of heat to please the proof hounds and a full-bodied mouthfeel to satiate those looking for the incredible depth of flavor cask strength bourbon is known for, this release checks all the boxes and succeeds in elevating standard Booker’s while remaining true to its creator’s vision.
Julian Van Winkle III himself has cited Pappy Van Winkle 15 as his favorite among his family’s range of vaunted bourbons. Aged for 15 years, this wheated bourbon is cherry-picked from among the best barrels in Buffalo Trace’s inventory and given the final okay by the Van Winkle family.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Pappy Van Winkle 15 is marked by honeysuckle, vanilla ice cream, and Rainier cherries — not an uncommon bouquet of aromas for a Buffalo Trace wheated bourbon. However, the richness and definition of those notes are simply remarkable, with each of them penetrating the senses and seemingly sitting on your palate before you’ve even taken your first sip.
Palate: A gentle backbone of oak tannins offers structure to the sweet honeysuckle, stewed apples, Rainier cherries, and mellow allspice that hits your palate after the first sip of Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year. What you may immediately perceive as complexity is instead depth, as you’ll discover nuance in each of those entrancing flavor notes. With regards to the texture, it’s impressively viscous, rolling over the tongue with the ease of rainwater over an oil slick.
Finish: The finish finds a touch of allspice and oily vanilla pod as the oak tones get ratcheted up a bit, and the honey provides a gentle landing spot for those baking spices. It’s medium to long in the finish, and that’s the perfect amount of time for the depth of those flavors to fully unfurl.
Bottom Line:
There are a spoiled few who lament that Pappy 15 ain’t what it used to be. Then there are the rest of us who only hope for the opportunity to try this beautiful, mythical whiskey at least once per year. For the latter camp, rest assured, Pappy 15’s unicorn status is well earned as it takes everything there is to love about Buffalo Trace’s wheated bourbon and showcases that flavorful bounty of riches at a mature age.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Barrel Proof bourbon is the pinnacle of the E.H. Taylor range, bottled at cask strength and released in annual batches.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, there’s a distinct vinegar-based barbeque note that comes through, along with cornbread, cinnamon, and cocktail cherries. It’s a complex assortment of aromas that begin a bit muddled, but because they bleed together, it makes it more intriguing to tease them out.
Palate: The palate very much holds true to the nose’s indications that this would be a densely packed pour with secrets to uncover. In the mouth, the flavors of Manuka honey and cocktail cherries become evident but elusive, weaving in and out of perception behind layers of mature oak, vanilla cone, allspice, and tobacco leaf.
Finish: The finish is long and heavily dominated by baking spices like allspice and cinnamon, while the sweet cocktail cherry flavors from earlier in the sip power through to the end, offering balance.
Bottom Line:
E.H. Taylor Jr. Barrel Proof Bourbon is one of the most underrated whiskeys in Buffalo Trace’s entire portfolio. While, yes, like most of their range of products, this bourbon is highly sought-after and only infrequently available, it truly deserves a wider reputation for delivering a flavor experience that is on par with the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
Premier Drams is a new brand that was launched early this summer by the same man behind Washington D.C.’s legendary whiskey bar, Jack Rose, Bill Thomas. 8 years ago, Thomas began procuring contract-distilled whiskey from an elusive producer in Bardstown, Kentucky, and aging it at the site of the historic Old Taylor Distillery, which today is the home of Castle & Key. Due to Castle & Key’s uniquely cool maturation facilities, many of the barrels that went into these Premier Drams single barrels saw a significant drop in ABV, with the majority hovering right around the 100-proof mark at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Strawberry saltwater taffy escapes the grasp of the glass to greet the nose at first before evolving into a cherry Luden’s note and partnering up with truffle honey, white pepper, and peanut brittle for a mellow and intriguing medley.
Palate: On the palate, it’s a delight to discover that the Luden’s cherry note has evolved into a full-blown Rainier cherry, carrying white pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and honey in tow. The flavors here are markedly rich, defying its moderate proof and delivering a depth and richness that will have you sucking your molars, frantically trying to prevent even a single drop from slipping through the cracks.
Finish: Vanilla pods, salted butter, fatty Brazil nuts, and white pepper prevail on the finish with a dollop of honey and Rainier cherries, adding a sweet closing kiss as it succinctly slides off your palate.
Bottom Line:
Premier Drams is quietly revolutionizing the modern bourbon landscape by delivering cask-strength bourbon at a moderate proof point. Take note of that. In the fashion of any groundbreaking innovator, I’m not entirely sure the public is ready for it yet, but that’s what makes discovering excellent single-barrel offerings like this so awesome. I suspect that, in due time, these stellar new releases will be even more coveted than they already are.
Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon is one of the more rigorously refined bourbons on the market. That’s not just lip service. Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation, Andrea Wilson, painstakingly comb through Michter’s voluminous well-aged barrel inventory for this release annually and subject it to their own proprietary custom filtration process to dial in the flavor. Sure, there’s a big fat 10-year age statement on it, but as the two of them are fond of saying, “We don’t just age it for 10 years and a day.”
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Incredibly refined and dense oak notes combine with mature leather on the nose. It’s rewarding that this immediately comes across as a hyper-aged bourbon. My notes say, “satisfyingly sexy oak” and while I’m not entirely sure what that means, I hope you know what I meant.
Palate: Buttery viscosity leads the charge as this pour sets out to conquer four of your five senses (it looks dark and inviting in the glass, as well). There’s a decadent vanilla cream note that sits atop the mature leather and dense oak tones that are impossible to turn away from. The taste of black cherry enters before the transition to the finish and pools at the middle of the tongue before branching out along the roof of the mouth.
Finish: Tasted blind, I was impressed at how lengthy the finish on this whiskey was, but upon learning it’s only 94.4 proof, I became doubly so. There are gentle baking spices on the back end to go along with those oak tones, but the earthy, mature bourbon notes really carry it through.
Bottom Line:
Yes, Michter’s 10-year bourbon is typically excellent, but it deserves extra credit for being such a lush, flavorful bourbon, all at a modest 94.4 proof, which is atypically low for contemporary bourbon releases of this caliber. Nevertheless, quality always wins out, and this expression proved it repeatedly in recent years in UPROXX blind tastings.
10. Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Bourbon “Trinidad Sour” Barrel #5222
Willett Family Estate Bourbon is well-known as some of the most exclusive, exorbitantly priced, and, yes, excellent bourbon on the market. Drawing barrels from various sources (including their self-distilled whiskey, which is now approaching its teenage years) and maturing them at the distillery’s property in Bardstown, Kentucky, is part of the magic, making every single barrel akin to a snowflake: unique and never to be seen again. This particular barrel produced just 124 bottles and was selected by Bill Thomas for the Jack Rose Dining Saloon in D.C., who was famously among the first three people to select a single barrel from Willett.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma is immediately evocative of this single barrel’s nickname, as the scents of dunder, maple candy, cinnamon sugar, lime rind, and mocha waft upward to greet the nose.
Palate: The palate welcomes more of the same, with some mocha, brown sugar, toasted coconut, torched orange wheels, and crème brûlée flavors washing over the tongue and pooling at midpalate with some serious staying power. Cinnamon, clove, and pops of barrel char give this whiskey an earthy grounding that allows those earlier sweet notes a base from which to tease the edges of the tongue.
Finish: The finish on this whiskey is prominently lengthy, with the torched orange wheel flavor extending a trunk that allows brown sugar, toasted coconut, vanilla extract, and cinnamon to branch off.
Bottom Line:
Willett Family Estate Bourbon enjoys a venerated space near the top of bourbon’s ever-changing Mount Olympus — and for good reason. This has been both one of the hardest to find and the most high-quality bourbon lineups on the market for the past ten years, and I don’t expect that to change any time soon.
Unbeknownst to many, Old Forester President’s Choice was America’s first single-barrel bourbon. The expression, which can be traced back to 1962, originally got its name because Old Forester’s President hand-selected the barrels that went into it. Today, Old Forester President’s Choice single barrels are always bottled at full cask strength, although when it was introduced, there was also a 90.3-proof small batch version.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this whiskey is chock-full of layers with maple candy, deep caramel, and milk chocolate brownies representing the sweeter contingent as a fruity black cherry aroma pairs with sandalwood, clove, and vanilla on the other end of the spectrum.
Palate: Brownie and black cherry are most evident initially, enveloping your palate in a dark, rich sweetness. Initially, it has some heat on it, but it’s just enough to prod you and let you know it’s there. The liquid is full-bodied and silky, hanging out on the back palate with a touch of leather and mesquite barbeque sauce flavor.
Finish: The finish contains a bit of smoked black cherry to go along with the familiar taste of corner brownies and lovely oak tones.
Bottom Line:
Old Forester President’s Choice recently claimed the top spot in our “best of Old Forester” ranking, and given how iconic the brand is, it should come as no surprise to see its best offering listed in this year’s top ten. This single-barrel expression is reliably delicious, and difficult though it may be to find, those who seek them out will be met with quite the bounty.
8. Rare Character Pride of Anderson County Bourbon
The bourbon in these legendary bottles was famously sourced from Wild Turkey, making it one of the rare bourbon releases that actually states its distillery of origin — and a world-class one at that. Last year’s twin Pride of Anderson County Bourbon expressions sold out in a flash, and this year’s dual releases met the same fate. This 14+ year bottle hails from Wild Turkey’s Camp Nelson Rickhouse E, having been distilled in the spring of 2010 and limited to fewer than 600 bottles.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this whiskey features that familiar candy apple and oak profile that one has a tendency to expect from certain Russell’s Reserve single barrels but with a deep, thrumming, clove note that permeates throughout and pastry notes reminiscent of a vanilla custard-filled pretzel cronut. It’s damn difficult to turn your nose away from this glass, but our first sip beckons.
Palate: On the palate, I’m immediately struck by a vanilla buttercream note that gently recedes, revealing some of the ripe red apple flavors that the nose promised, alongside some mature oak, cocoa, and gooey caramel. Further investigation reveals some cinnamon, candied ginger, and honeyed black tea notes. Lastly, the mouthfeel here is incredible, as it warmly coats your palate, with the viscous liquid which rewards “chewing” and sucking your teeth to unearth new layers of flavor.
Finish: The finish is remarkably long, with red apples, a twist of lime, oak, and cinnamon seizing the lead while black pepper and clove come along for the ride.
Bottom Line:
One glass of this elusive liquid was enough for me to know that it would approach the top of my personal list for 2024’s best bourbon releases. The selectivity that Rare Character’s founder, Pablo Moix, exhibits in curating the casks that wind up in the brand’s premium lineups is second to none, and these Pride of Anderson County limited editions exemplify that. Many brands funnel their best bourbon into annual releases to be a part of the conversation. Rare Character saves its best bourbon for this annual release to make a statement.
George T. Stagg Bourbon, first launched in 2002, has since taken the whiskey world by storm, introducing consumers to a brand of full-throated, high-intensity bourbon that has slowly become the most coveted expression of the category by enthusiasts. The 2024 George T. Stagg was matured for 15 years and 2 months.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of cinnamon rolls, with their beautifully sweet blend of baking spice, vanilla frosting, and baked pastry dough, comes tumbling out of the glass at first. Soon to follow are some impressive Rainier cherry notes, which is an unexpected zag given the proof and Stagg’s prototypical dark cherry vibes. Finally, there are some blood orange and nutmeg notes, which add nuance, along with some dark chocolate, tobacco leaf, and mature oak tones.
Palate: This bourbon entrances your palate with a sensuous, multi-layered experience right off the bat. We’re talking about cooked apples and Rainier cherries, joined by cinnamon rolls and allspice, honey, and peanut brittle, with freshly cracked black pepper and barrel spice showing up late to the party. The mouthfeel is dense, bordering on decadent, and the liquid subsumes your senses, forcing you to contend with each layer of full-bodied flavor.
Finish: The lingering finish continues the complexity found at midpalate as red apples, oak, cinnamon bark, and black pepper all have equal footing as this bourbon takes its time leaving your palate.
Bottom Line:
Simply put, George T. Stagg is the reigning king of Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection lineup. Not only does it have the most lengthy finish and a formidable nose, but it delivers an incredible amount of densely packed flavor on the palate, checking every box for sublime bourbon you could ask for. In a loaded list of worthy contenders, George T. Stagg is the power hitter that regularly makes Buffalo Trace such a laudable distillery.
6. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon 2024
Four Roses’ highly anticipated Limited Edition Small Batch for 2024 has finally been announced, and we were able to get a first taste of it. For this year’s release, Master Distiller Brent Elliott opted to blend three of Four Roses’ ten bourbon recipes with a 12-year-old OBSV, 15-year-old OESK, 16-year-old OESF, and more OBSV, this time at 20 years old, to create the final product.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is initially floral with ripe apples, butterscotch, and butter pecan ice cream. Faint bits of dark chocolate, star anise, and tobacco leaf help to round out the beautiful bouquet of aromas.
Palate: The butterscotch and apple note really pops on the palate off the bat. The whiskey is well-rounded with a mellow black pepper baking spice tone to go with a more pronounced helping of cinnamon bark, pecans, and brown sugar. The range of flavors reminds me a lot of fried apple pie with a splash of citrus zest. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and enhances the depth of the flavors without becoming an attraction unto itself.
Finish: The finish has a mature oak backbone with the additional flavor of caramel chews and Fuji apple skin. It’s medium-length, but that brevity really works, urging your focus on the next sip rather than your last.
Bottom Line:
Look, 2024 was one of the best years for bourbon releases in recent memory, and the fact that this expression landed just outside our top 5 for Kentucky alone is proof of that. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch is annually considered one of the stars of American whiskey’s autumn release schedule and its consistently high quality is indicative of why.
Russell’s Reserve 15 is Wild Turkey’s latest age-stated release, and boy, has it been met with enthusiasm. The brand’s digital launch caused its website to crash both days; it made the expression available online, and the legend of the liquid in the bottle has only grown legs since then. This bourbon is non-chill filtered, and given Wild Turkey’s track record, one can safely assume there’s whiskey aged for even longer than 15 years in this blend.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Syrupy fig, mature oak tones, and rich leather fill the room once you pour this whiskey, and medicinal cherry notes and milk chocolate join them chocolate. There’s no mistaking the fact that this is a bourbon of a certain age. With further investigation, your nose will bump up against cloves and cinnamon as the aroma of vanilla pod takes root. Finally, a faintly floral note reminiscent of rosewater can be found.
Palate: Black cherries covered in chocolate truffle dust hit the palate at first; this is distinctly different than, say, cherry cordials as there’s a ripeness to the fruit and an almost chalky textural component to the chocolate. On the second sip, observe nougat, caramel, vanilla, and rich oak. While the nose gave the impression that this would be over-oaked, the palate greatly alleviates those concerns as each of the hallmarks of hyper-aging has its say without muddling any of the others.
Finish: Lengthy, balanced, and delicious, the finish is marked by black cherries, clove, and cacao nibs as it grips your palate for dear life, refusing to dissipate until minutes after the last sip.
Bottom Line:
Russell’s 15-Year Bourbon is truly a world beater. When it was initially released, expectations for this bottle were sky-high, and our impression of it has remained there throughout the year. Sure, Russell’s Reserve 15-Year is one of the best bourbons available today, but taking the superlatives a step higher, this might go down in the pantheon as one of the best bourbons in the Wild Turkey brand’s entire history.
King of Kentucky is the Brown-Forman brand’s most regal annual release. For 2024, it features a fleet of single-barrel bourbons, all aged for at least 16 years. With 5,100 bottles produced from just 63 barrels distilled between July 19, 2007, and November 15, 2007, this expression’s popularity and relative rarity make it difficult to find.
Bottom Line:
King of Kentucky’s bulletproof quality makes it a perennial contender for bourbon of the year, and after a ho-hum 2023 release, the brand is back with a vengeance. Hell, King of Kentucky hasn’t been this good in almost six years, and so that makes last year’s 2024 version that much more impressive, showcasing the beauty of Brown Forman’s formidable whiskey stock and the prowess of the folks tasked with stewarding it.
Oakley Spirits is a brand-new producer with some absolutely jaw-dropping whiskey in its portfolio. Case in point: its inaugural release, a 20-year Kentucky Bourbon forged from single barrels and aged to its optimal peak.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with stunning force as fresh Brazil nuts, gooey caramel, and mature oak aromas set the tone. From there, crisp red apples, marzipan, and palo santo notes emerge alongside honeycomb, cinnamon, peanut butter, and white pepper. It’s the sort of nose that makes the hair on the back of your arm stand up as you anticipate the first sip.
Palate: Caramel sweetness seizes the palate, allowing the flavors of Rainier cherries, vanilla bean ice cream, stunning oak, milk chocolate, and faint whisps of polished leather to take turns delighting the center of the tongue. At the tongue’s edges, you’ll pick up more forceful oak and baking spice tones like cinnamon and clove, which help to balance the sweetness and elevate its richness.
Finish: The long and lingering finish welcomes the reincorporation of Rainier cherries and an uptick in the vanilla bean flavors, while dark chocolate chunks and well-developed oak notes offer earthier layers of nuance that enhance each sip.
Bottom Line:
From a quality standpoint, there’s no good reason why Oakley Spirits’ inaugural bourbon offering should be flying under the radar. The combination of an unknown name in the space and a prohibitive price point is surely to blame, but tasting is believing, and we’ve been head-over-heels in love with this bourbon from the first sip, so much so that we have it earmarked as an early bourbon of the year contender.
While the first two barrels from this lineup took a few hours before being hunted into extinction, the brand’s third release of these 20-year-old bourbon barrels met its fate earlier this week in mere seconds. These incredible Collector’s Edition offerings are the real deal.
Brook Hill is the ultra-premium release from Rare Character that has everyone in American whiskey buzzing. The brand comprises carefully curated bourbon and rye from various sources selected by Rare Character’s founder, Pablo Moix. This as-yet-unreleased 15-year version, soft-launched at the Black Bourbon Run event late last year, features the oldest whiskey the brand has ever bottled, presented at cask strength and free from chill filtration.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a faintly dusty aspect, to be expected with well-aged Kentucky bourbon, before bubbling over with the aroma of dried black cherries, sticky toffee, worn leather, clove, and cinnamon. This is a balanced, demure bouquet of aromas you’ll want to explore at length.
Palate: As the liquid first trickles over your tongue, it’s that beautiful balance from the nose that serves to impress. Figs and black cherries lead the fruit-forward flavors, while cloves and cinnamon take care of the spice as reserved, mature oak tones and reserved leather provide an impressive depth to the entire affair.
Finish: The finish is remarkably round and supple, leaving your tongue coated with each of the flavors and slowly dissipating from the palate even as more flavor attempts to burrow along your jawline, eager to stay for extended savoring.
Bottom Line:
Rare Character is growing up before our eyes. While other brands have enjoyed prodigious beginnings that quickly lost steam, Brook Hill is no longer just the latest whiskey wunderkind. It can now be considered the definitive single-barrel series in the bourbon world with the variety, age statements, and superlative quality to back it up.
Heralded as one of the most exceptional bourbons of the modern era, Michter’s 20-year bourbon is a rare treat that hasn’t been released since 2022. For the production of this expression, Michter’s — which was recently named the World’s Most Admired Distillery — utilizes bourbon of the highest quality, which has rested for a minimum of 20 long years in new American white oak barrels before it’s approved for bottling by the distillery’s tasting panel which includes Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this bourbon immediately announces itself as a mature expression with hot cocoa and seasoned oak emanating from the glass, riding a cinnamon bark raft with a leather sail over waves of brown sugar, coffee beans, vanilla ice cream, and savory dates — the sort you would cook in a Moroccan tajine alongside a succulent chicken dish. I’m already salivating.
Palate: The tasting experience with Michter’s 20-year bourbon seals the deal in a single sip. This is decadent whiskey. The velvety texture brushes your palate with thick layers of flavor, coating your tongue with a primary base of chocolate truffle dust, brown sugar, and roasted coffee beans. From there, an intermediate layer is laid, resplendent with cooked dates, ripe plums, and juicy black cherries. At last, the topcoat of vanilla bean ice cream, wildflower honey, and a caramelized orange wheel begins to set, seeping into your tongue and sneaking between your teeth, allowing you to enjoy each distinct flavor at length.
Finish: The lengthy, lingering finish is the perfect reward for such an enveloping blanket of flavor, as the palate’s greatest hits float to the surface as you savor the end of each sip. Expect vanilla bean, dark chocolate chunks, mature oak, Maduro cigar leaf, blood orange juice, and ripe black cherries to be among those indulgent closing notes with polished leather bounding them all together.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s 20 is Kentucky’s best bourbon, and we’ll keep telling it to anyone who will listen. Others succeed with finely threaded balance, some with an extraordinary depth of flavor, and still others earn high marks with a lengthy, lip-smacking finish. What are we to make from a whiskey that capably achieves all three?
This is a bourbon whose age reflects its maturity, resplendent with complexity, forged under the hammer of two decades evolving in oak. Zora Neale Hurston famously said, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” For nearly every year, that asks, “What is Kentucky’s best bourbon?” Michter’s 20-Year Bourbon is the answer.
Smoking weed enhances your enjoyment of music, art, and food, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it also makes sex a whole lot better too (it also makes falling asleep incredibly easy). The reason why cannabis is such a potent sexual enhancer is two-fold. THC is a vasodilator, meaning it dilates the blood vessels, and we hope we don’t have to dive into human biology to explain why that’s a good thing, but in case the world “vasodilation” leaves you scratching your head, just know that smoking some herb gets your body primed for quicker and stronger blood flow to the areas that need it most.
In addition to the vasodilation, moderate weed usage also gets you out of your head, drops inhibitions, and makes it easier to get more in touch with physical sensations. But don’t take our word for it, if you’re nerdy you’ll be pleased to know that there are several studies documenting how and why cannabis is a powerful sex enhancer, in fact, weed smokers aren’t just having better sex, they’re having more of it (you can check those out here, here, and here).
So to help level up your bedroom game, we’re here to shout out 12 strains that get your body and body ready for a euphoric sex session. Before we get into that, allow us this little preamble: there isn’t a single strain of weed out there that is guaranteed to “put you in the mood.” That’s just not how it works, and if anyone tells you otherwise, they’re probably selling you snake oil. As such, you probably have some basic questions. We’re going to address the most common three below, and then we’ll (finally) get to the strains.
Is Sativa Or Indica Better For Sex?
The myths behind what sativa or indica strains offer are pervasive! The truth is, strain choice does matter, but it’s a little bit more complicated than the binary of sativa and indica plants. A lot of what works for you has to do more with terpenes (read our breakdown here), than whether a strain is indica, sativa, or hybrid. So we suggest leaning towards the types of strains and highs that you like. That is going to be better for your body 100% of the time.
Cannabis can offer all sorts of different effects, from making you feel relaxed, to euphoric, to even relieving pain. All of those attributes can lead to great sex, but it’s important to ask yourself what you and your partner are looking for in a strain, and then make your decision based on that. Sometimes that could even mean partaking in two entirely different strains. You’re going to have to know and listen to your body here.
Does Weed Make You Last Longer In Bed?
It certainly can if your bedroom issues have to do with staying in the moment or having high stress and a busy mind. You should be looking at cannabis to enhance your experience and have you focusing in on the physical sensations. Smoking a strain isn’t going to magically turn you into a sex god/goddess/alien overlord (if that’s your thing). Think of cannabis more as an enhancer than a fix.
Does Weed Lower Sex Drive?
It hasn’t been proven to and studies largely suggest the opposite but a word of advice — don’t get too high. Remember, sex is the activity here, not getting baked. If you overdo it, you can become sedated, lazy, or worse, paranoid. Getting paranoid and having an anxiety attack before you do the deed isn’t sexy. So don’t hit that bowl too hard. Keep it to a hit or two each, even if you’re a hardcore everyday stoner with a high tolerance.
Amnesia Haze delivers an instant euphoric high. The strain is packed with the terpenes myrcene, which promotes relaxation, and limonene, which is a mood booster that makes you giggly. When hitting this stuff you can practically feel the sides of your mouth forming a smile.
All it takes is a few hits to get into a euphoric mind state, and best of all, this strain won’t sap your energy, allowing you to better focus in on the physical sensations between you and your partner.
Visit Weedmaps to find Amnesia Haze at a dispensary near you.
Blue Dream is all about chilling out and getting you into a relaxed state of mind. It also has the added benefit of tasting great, there is no gas-like funk here, just soothing herbal notes with a blueberry-tinged after taste. This makes it an ideal strain for shotgunning with your partner, as the inviting flavor and smell won’t be a turn off once things get hot and heavy.
This is a great strain for those going into things a little bit nervous and self-conscious.
Visit Weedmaps to find Blue Dream at a dispensary near you.
Be careful with this one, because Do-Si-Dos tends to be high in THC and packs a powerful punch. If you aren’t a regular smoker, we strong suggest just a single hit before getting busy.
Flavorwise, this strain is another pleasant one with notes of floral peppermint. After the initial hit you’ll start to feel your body melt into a buzz of sense-enhancing euphoria.
Pass the bowl between you and your partner (or partners), take a few hits, reach for the blindfold, and prepare to enter an almost psychedelic world of ecstasy.
Visit Weedmaps to find Do-Si-Dos at a dispensary near you.
GSC is a powerful pain reliever and body relaxer; we hope your imagination is strong enough to help you realize why this is such a great pre and post-strain to smoke for your bedroom escapades.
In addition to the pain-relieving and relaxing properties, GSC is also a stress-reliever and has a potent calming effect which will melt away your stress and anxiety.
Visit Weedmaps to find GSC at a dispensary near you.
Suggested Use: Beginners to the world of cannabis as a sex enhancer.
Granddaddy Purp is the ideal strain for beginners who are dipping their toes into the world of cannabis-enhanced sex. It’s fairly low in THC percentage, so even if you take a handful of hits, you’re not going to get so blazed you get couch-locked.
Pinene is the dominant terpene in this strain, which has relaxing and pain-reducing properties. It just might be the thing that emboldens you to go beyond the vanilla.
Visit Weedmaps to find Granddaddy Purp at a dispensary near you.
Granted, Green Crack is probably the least sexy name to ever grace a strain, but don’t let the name push you away from this wonderful sativa strain.
Green Crack has a mind-sharpening and creativity-boosting power that’ll leave your body buzzing and your mind full of feelings of euphoria.
Because of its high euphoric properties and its mostly mental high, it’s the ideal strain for long sessions in the sheets. It’s also a great vacation companion, so if you’re taking a drink, definitely bring Green Crack in tow.
It’s great for long sessions in the sheets and won’t weigh you down if you have other activities in the day planned. It’s a great vacation companion.
Visit Weedmaps to find Green Crack at a dispensary near you.
Harlequin is for people who want the absolutely most mild high possible. If you want to enter the bedroom totally baked with a high level of euphoria, Harlequin isn’t going to do much for you with its around 5% THC content. Where this strain excels is its high level CBD.
CBD is ideal for pain relief, mildly relaxing and great for anxiety. So if those are particular hurdles in your bedroom game, this strain has your back.
Visit Weedmaps to find Harlequin at a dispensary near you.
Northern Lights is the ideal strain for focusing in on a single task. It has a time-slowing high that makes you focus on technique and execution. So if you want to be deep in the moment and respond to even the most nuanced physical touch, this is the strain for you. It’s straight-up for making love, so if that’s your vibe, consider it.
If any strain will sell you on the idea of cannabis as a sexual enhancer, it’s this one.
Northern Lights has a spicy herbal flavor with a flowery aroma that will enhance your senses and send you into an instant body buzz. This is a great strain for those who love extended foreplay sessions and sensory exploration.
Visit Weedmaps to find Northern Lights at a dispensary near you.
We can’t think of a strain that is more on the nose than Pink Panties. This strain was designed to be sexy. It’s a powerful stress buster with a flowery slightly fruity flavor that’ll put you in a good mood the second you spark it up.
But be warned, this strain tends to be high in THC, so take it easy and reserve it for end-of-the-night fun, as Pink Panties is quick to knock people out.
Visit Weedmaps to find Pink Panties at a dispensary near you.
If anxious thoughts tend to wreck your bedroom game, consider Sour Diesel. This strain is a powerful anxiety buster with mild pain-relieving properties.
But a word of caution — the name Sour Diesel is a pretty apt descriptor. This stuff tastes pungent, and chemical-forward, and it stinks. If you or your partner are sensitive to smells, this one is going to be a turn-off. Our advice? Smoke it outside. After a few hits, you’ll be hit with cerebral enhancement which will have you running to the bedroom (or hey, keep things outdoors you animal).
Visit Weedmaps to find Sour Diesel at a dispensary near you.
Don’t let the name scare you, Trainwreck is one of the weakest strains on this list. It’ll provide a simple head change and a calming effect.
This is a feel good strain, designed you make you sensitive to touch. If you’re not careful, it might even send you into a laughing fit. It’s herbal and flowery flavor is tasty, and the high doesn’t last too long, making this an ideal strain if you’re looking for a quick burst of sensory enhancement.
Visit Weedmaps to find Trackwreck at a dispensary near you.
Suggested Use: A luxurious and premium strain that will provide a strong head change and deep body sensations.
Of all the strains on this list, Wedding Cake is by far my favorite. This is the sort of strain that only regular smokers should reach for as its high THC level and premium genetics provide a powerful full-body high. Even at one hit!
Wedding Cake has a pleasing earthy and herbal flavor with hints of sweet vanilla. A single hit will fill you with a rush of euphoria and a sense-enhancing head change.
Do not smoke Wedding Cake if you aren’t a regular smoker. This strain is often incredibly high in THC. This is premium flower meant for hardcore stoners. It has an earthy and herbal flavor with appetizing hints of sweet vanilla and is strong enough to fill you with a rush of euphoria and a sense-enhancing head change after a single hit.
Simply put, Wedding Cake will get you super high and feeling euphoric, which are always two ingredients for great sex… no marriage required.
Visit Weedmaps to find Wedding Cake at a dispensary near you.
There’s nothing quite like the moss-covered, rain-soaked Pacific Northwest, and Seattle captures the region’s unique spirit perfectly. Nestled between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, the city offers a perfect blend of outdoor adventure, urban energy, and a thriving food scene. Once defined by timber, shipping, and fishing, Seattle has evolved into a global tech hub, home to industry giants like Amazon and Microsoft. Each neighborhood reflects the city’s diversity—whether it’s the bustling stalls of Pike Place Market, the vibrant nightlife of Capitol Hill, or the charming waterfront views in Ballard.
MIKALA LUGEN
Just 25 miles north, Everett brings its own distinct charm. Known for its deep roots in timber and commercial fishing, Everett has long been a vital cultural hub. Since the pandemic, the city has embraced major renovations to honor its history while paving the way for future growth. Its waterfront—the largest public marina on the West Coast—is undergoing a multi-year revitalization by the Port of Everett to unite the community and enhance livability.
In the coming years, Everett will see a new two-acre green space park with an amphitheater, 200,000 square feet of retail, 2,000 square feet of office space, over 600 new housing units, and dozens of new restaurants. Whether visiting Seattle or Everett, there’s something special to experience year-round as these cities continue to grow and celebrate their heritage within the greater Pacific Northwest.
PART I – Where To Eat & Drink
Fisherman Jack’s
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Nestled on the largest public marina on the West Coast, Fisherman Jack’s is a must-visit and worth the drive if you’re staying in Seattle. Featuring “tide to table” seafood Asian-fusion options, NGMA-owned Fisherman Jack’s is one of Port of Everett’s newest food offerings in the city’s journey of redesign and innovation.
Founder and renowned chef Jack Ng immigrated from a small village in China to America over 30 years ago, and together with his wife and chef Jin Ma, are bringing authentic Chinese dishes to Everett.
The restaurant just celebrated its one-year anniversary in August, and it’s clear that one year in they’ve nailed down how to incorporate its locally-sourced ingredients and seafood straight from the sea to your plate. If you’re able to go when the sun is out, try to snag a table outside to dine on the waterfront and watch the sunset. Heat lamps are available! Some menu highlights include:
Dungeness Crab Rangoon: King crab meat in a buttery and fried wonton. Not sure how anything could be better than this.
Seabass Roll: The presentation of these made these even more delicious. Wrapped up in crispy cones, this was a perfect appetizer to share.
Mongolian Beef: My favorite of the evening! The beef was perfectly tender and complemented the plate of white glass noodles, drizzled in a savory sweet and spicy sauce.
The Muse Whiskey & Coffee
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Originally built in 1923, The Muse is a coffeehouse by day and Speakeasy-inspired Whiskey bar by night. What’s cool about this place is that it was the original Weyerhäuser timber office building, headed by “The Lumber King,” Frederick Weyerhäuser. His office placement in Everett influenced the nation’s timber industry – becoming the largest timber company in the world – and greatly impacted Everett’s history, helping it achieve its status of being the largest public marina on the West Coast and the second largest port in Washington state by export value.
While the building has been moved officially three times, NGMA – with the Port Of Everett’s blessing – renovated it to keep its original woodwork to become a community gathering space and showpiece of the town’s history. Upon entry, you’ll be welcomed by 100-year-old “wavy glass” window panes, gothic-styled wooden structures, and Great Gatsby-esque furnishings.
Whether you decide to come here to start your day or end it, the overall vibe here is unmatched. I’m definitely not trying to sway when you come here, but it’s important to note that The Muse has the largest collection of whiskey in the state of Washington, perfect for an evening of sipping on the water. With a formal tour, you can enter its vault, which holds coveted, limited bottles of whiskey and scotch from around the world, including an unsealed, one of 50 LOUIS XIII: The Jeroboam 1997, 30-year vintage; a 1950s Macallan; a 1988 Macallan, 30-year vintage; a 1755 Black Tot rum; among dozens of others.
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Almost all ingredients are made in-house for its hand-crafted coffee and cocktails, while the coffee itself is sourced from a locally-owned company from Whidbey Island. Its menu is curated for each season and is set up to be “family-style” of plate sharing that complement its drinks selection.
Some notable highlights:
Charcuterie Board: Not all charcuterie boards are made equal! This one came with salty pickled dates and little slices of garlic bread that truly sent it over the edge of great to must-order.
Bone Marrow: Spreading buttery bone marrow as you sip custom whiskey flights and cocktails on the water is a match made in heaven.
The Dark Walnut: Espresso martinis have been getting a hefty rotation in popularity, but some are hit and miss. Made with darkened espresso beans and nutty flavors, I absolutely loved this and only needed one to feel the buzz.
Part II – Where To Sleep
In Everett:
HOTEL INDIGO SEATTLE EVERETT WATERFRONT
While in Everett, you absolutely need to stay on the water; it’s basically the whole point! Tucked on the banks of the Port Gardner Bay within the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place neighborhood, Hotel Indigo Seattle Everett Waterfront was the perfect “home away from home” to explore this beautiful small town with scenic views of the Olympic Mountains.
The hotel features 142 guest rooms – 119 boasting water views – with modern furnishings and art from local artists and creators. Many hotels offer a pool to enjoy year-round, but not many can say they have an indoor, heated saltwater pool like Hotel Indigo. There’s also a fitness center, business rooms and meeting spaces, and free parking and Wi-Fi.
The best part about Hotel Indigo? It’s just steps away from Fisherman Jack’s, The Muse, and all of the waterfront activities and happenings. In the evening, I loved walking out of the hotel and walking up the Grand Avenue Park Bridge for incredible views of the harbor and sunset.
Part III – Where To Play
Seattle might be one of the most fun cities to explore with no true plan. Like any city, Seattle has some classic tourist attractions that are often at the top of the list for itineraries. We didn’t really do any of those with the exception of Pike Place Market because well, that one is truly a “must-see” experience.
Arrive Hungry & Curious To Pike Place Market
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Probably one of Seattle’s most iconic places aside from The Space Needle, Pike Place Market is a scene you really won’t experience anywhere else. Picture an indoor-outdoor marketplace spanning nine historic acres in the center of downtown where a blend of Seattle’s true rustic fishermen and the city’s vibrant artisan locals come together to host a true curiosity market. Walking through the “soul of Seattle,” you’ll see fishmongers tossing fish filets through the air, cobblestone coordinators filled with handmade crafts, local produce, and vibrant cafes and quirky shops serving up any food that you could ever want.
The best way to explore this place is to park and let yourself wander about. Come hungry and grab little samples or small servings from individual eateries, like Piroshky Bakery. It’s easy to find because you’ll see a long line adjacent to their front doors as people line up to see the original Starbucks. Feel free to snap a quick photo in front of the sign and carry on your day, as there isn’t anything special about the menu to justify ever waiting in a 45-minute line to grab your basic coffee. Pickles on sticks, ostrich eggs, copper rings, leather purses, hot clam chowder, and “the world’s best” mac n’ cheese are just some of the things you can find.
On a clear day, the Market overlooks Elliott Bay, offering scenic views over the ferris wheel and ocean below.
Hike To Bruun Idun
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Why not go on a little scavenger hunt while in Seattle? Bruun Idun is a whimsical troll sculpture located in West Seattle in Lincoln Park as part of the “Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King” public art project. Created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, Bruun Idun is the only female troll of the six-part series and exemplifies Dambo’s signature approach of crafting large-scale sculptures from recycled and reclaimed materials. She carries an environmental message, emphasizing sustainability and the connection between Nordic and Coast Salish cultures.
Getting to her is a beautiful “long” walk or “short” hike along the scenic trails of Lincoln Park. She’s a little hard to spot at first since she blends in with the trees around her, but once you’re there it’s totally worth it to see her while overlooking the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. You can make it a whole scavenger hunt adventure and see the rest of the troll sculptures by using the information and map here.
Party At Climate Pledge Arena
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A trip to Seattle isn’t complete without seeing a show at Climate Pledge Arena. Originally built in 1962 for the Seattle World Fair and renovated in 2021, this 18,000-person state-of-the-art venue sits at the base of the Space Needle and hosts some of the biggest names in music. Its name comes from a partnership with Amazon to highlight climate action, aiming to be one of the world’s first net-zero carbon-certified venues. As part of its sustainability pledge, Climate Pledge Arena operates with renewable energy, including on-site solar panels, and offsets all carbon emissions. It uses rainwater for its ice rink and offers a plastic-free experience, encouraging the use of compostable materials and reducing waste.
Seeing a show here does wonders for the mind, body, and soul. I got to experience Fred Again.. on his sold-out The Places We’ve Never Been tour which really put a cherry on top of checking Seattle off my list. While it is a corporate-owned venue with corporate-owned rules – like needing a clear bag or purse – Fred Again..’s raw and emotional house and UK garage tracks truly lit up within the walls of this venue for a grand party. It doesn’t matter what day of the week it is – you can surely find a show to attend when you’re visiting Seattle or Everett.
Visiting “the Jetty” is like stepping back in time; there are no cars, electricity, or running water. Whether or not you raised your eyebrows to this, you should try to make it here if you make it Everett during the summer season. This two-mile long, human-made island is known to be one of Washington’s best beaches, but really acts as a breakwater for the Port of Everett Marina.
From the beginning of July to Labor Day weekend, you can take a $3-5 ferry to and from Jetty Island and pack a bag to have a peaceful and “amenities-free” beach day.
Walk Through Grand Avenue Park & Everett’s Pedestrian Bridge
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I found this to be very relaxing to end my day after eating fresh seafood dishes at Fisherman Jack’s. A short walk from Hotel Indigo, the pedestrian bridge is the city’s latest innovation to bridge the gap between the waterfront and downtown Everett. The pedestrian bridge is beautifully lit up at night and can either be scaled by walking up the stairs or taking the elevator. Once out, you can walk through Grand Avenue Park overlooking the Port of Everett and find some solitude witnessing what is arguably one of the most colorfully decorated sunsets in the country.
The Diplomat frustrated the heck out of viewers with a relatively short season, but the irresistibly frazzled Kate Wyler will keep attempting (and failing) to push everybody away with her questionable hygiene habits and refusal to dress for her role. Meanwhile, this show has been gleefully making nail-biting endings a custom that is also forgivable due to pace-perfect writing.
This Netflix series scored a third-season renewal before the last season even debuted, and that’s down to the show’s optimal blend of intrigue, chemistry, and Keri Russell’s pit-sniffing physical comedy that blasts yesteryear’s bad hair into the stratosphere. Meanwhile, Hal Wyler is the architect of doom, which is clearly a part that Rufus Sewell relishes. Let’s talk about what Hal might ruin next season, and where things sit with The Diplomat after it one-upped its own cliffhanger season finale.
Plot
Netflix
Ahead of the second season premiere in November, the third series began with scenes filming in both London and New York. At that time, showrunner Deborah Cohn revealed to Netflix that the show was shooting “some stuff already in Season 3 that involves big groups and lots of people,” and the third season will not only “flip the chessboard” but also reveal how “Kate lives the particular nightmare that is getting what you want.”
That’s cryptic, but it’s safe to say that Kate does not want anything related to mandatory hairstyling or skirt-wearing. She will, however, need to feel out whether VP Grace Penn, who is now President Grace Penn, plans to keep her “enemy closer,” so to speak, by making Kate VP. That, of course, isn’t really what Kate wanted until very late in the second season, a prospect that sexually turned on Hal, who was of course the guy that inadvertently caused the president’s fatal collapse in the second season’s final moments. Will Hal feel guilty about what he wrought? Rufus Sewell thinks not, as he told Netflix:
“Guilt-schmilt. [Hal] made the right call for him and it turned out wrong. This is the truth with high-risk strategies. Sometimes things go wrong, but you look back on it and think, ‘Well, with the information that I had, did I make the right decision?’ It was a fair guess. I respect the decision he made. This is why Hal is suited to these situations. They’re all life and death. It’s just, who’s it life for and who’s it death for?”
On the topic of Hal, executive producers Alex Graves and Janice Williams did tell Screenrant that Kate and Hal’s exasperating marriage will soon receive plenty of attention. As Williams put things, “I think you saw in season 2 they broke apart and they came together. That is the state of their union. That has always been the state of their union—to be madly in love with someone and [have rage] toward them all at the same time.”
This mess also suggests that Kate and Hal will probably have to overlook how Grace was behind the warship attack that began The Diplomat. As Cohn puts it, “We always talked about, what do you do when you find out your boss is a war criminal? And 99.9% of the time you just go to work.” What that work will be hasn’t come into view yet. Keri Russell told Harper’s Bazaar that she asked Cohn “early in the first season” this question: “‘I’m not going to have to be vice president, am I? … Debora took a long time, and she said, ‘The show’s called The Diplomat, not The Vice President.’ And I was like, ‘Good, okay.’”
Netflix
Clear as mud. Russell did promise, however, “Debora has told me a little bit about what could come, and it just gets even better. You won’t believe what she has in store. It is better than I could ever imagine.” And will Allison Janney’s rise to being President Grace Penn receive any tweaks from current U.S. events? Those of us who turn on the TV for escapism would hope not, but Cohn admitted to Deadline that reality has “absolutely” made her reflect on possible changes to the show. She continued:
“The next four years are going to be very different from the last four, but much more similar to the world that was in my head when I was first developing the series, which is, how do we interact in the world with other countries when the basic agreements that we’ve had with most of our allies are in question? So I’m worried for the world but believe we have plenty to talk about.”
Cast
Netflix
Allison Janney will return as Grace Penn. For more The West Wing flavor, Bradley Whitford ^^^ signed on to portray the First Gentleman.
Keri Russell is the only Kate Wyler while Rufus Sewell continues to botch history as Hal Wyler, possibly second gentleman of the United States.
Heads will likely roll if these characters don’t return: David Gyasi as Foreign Secretary Austin Denison, Ato Essandoh as Stuart, Ali Ahn as Eidra Graham, and Rory Kinnear as Prime Minister Trowbridge. However, Michael McKean has reportedly taken his final turn as President Rayburn.
Release Date
The third season should arrive quicker than the last one without Hollywood strikes on the table. Early 2026 sounds doable.
Trailer
We should be so lucky. However, this compilation of Kate Wyler being a total “dumpster fire” is excellent.
Are you ready for the real bone-crunching action of Disney+’s MCU TV shows to begin? The lead up to Daredevil: Born Again has given every indication that Netflix‘s former The Defenders saga series will not be watered down after their move from Netflix. Surely, this is part of the plan to reinvigorate excitement for Marvel Studios projects after last year’s Daredevil & Wolverine brought R-rated charisma to Kevin Feige’s realm, and now, Matt Murdock is bringing the TV-MA flavor to the series side of the equation.
Not that Daredevil: Born Again is guaranteed to be a slam dunk. Feige previously conceded that the MCU oversaturated its audience with a pace that fatigued viewers. More casual superhero watchers were certainly turned off by “homework,” but if anybody can jump-start the MCU’s TV side, it’s Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock, whose fight-scene cameo was the most memorable moment of last year’s Echo miniseries. Now the spotlight is back on Daredevil and his frenemies, so let’s punch through the clutter on what to expect.
Plot
As viewers know, Netflix’s Daredevil ran for three seasons (ending in 2018) and was part of the overall The Defenders saga that included Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist with The Punisher doing his own thing, still inside of the streaming service’s MCU box.
Disney+ has been streaming these shows for a few years as of 2022 with the expectation that some would relaunch. Daredevil turned into top priority of the group and surfaced in that Echo cameo, but production did take longer than expected due to the aforementioned MCU hiccups, which led to rewrites and reshoots (a report revealed that the scrapped version didn’t even include Charlie Cox “in costume until the fourth episode”) to make Hornhead’s return as the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen worth it, and recently (via Bleeding Cool) at FAN EXPO San Francisco, Cox revealed how thrilled he was to finally be back in costume after “so so many years since we released any Daredevil content.” He even added, “By the time we release [“Born Again”] on March 4th, we’ll already be shooting season 2.” Hmm.
For the first season, it’s important to note that Marvel Studios declared that Netflix’s Daredevil series is officially canon, and oh look, Frank Castle/The Punisher has been teased plenty and was photographed on the NYC set.
Getty Image / Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
More recently, Disney+ released a trailer that stressed Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk/Kingpin transitioning from crime-lording to political leadership. This trailer emphasized the push-pull between Murdock and Fisk along with acknowledging how much time has passed and questioning why Murdock left the vigilante life. It’s vaguey-vague-vague stuff, but Marvel Studios streaming chief Brad Winderbaum previously promised Entertainment Weekly that this series will contain “some of the most brutal action we’ve ever brought to the screen is coming in Daredevil: Born Again.”
Showrunner Dario Scardapane (a writer for Netflix’s The Punisher) agrees and told Empire, “The level of violence is way up there for a Marvel/Disney show.” He added, “I don’t think there’s anything else even in the ballpark. There’s a moment in this that is just absolutely batshit, and way past anything Netflix ever did.” D’Onofrio went further, declaring that while “[t]here’s a world in which you might think that if that show kept running, we’d be in this place eventually, or something like it,” this show goes even further than for those who expected something extreme: “But we’ve gone further in the darkness, the action, the nastiness.”
The trio isn’t messing around, as the below trailer reveals, and the emphasis here is on the action with the “why” remaining mysterious.
Can we expect more characters from Netflix’s MCU shows to relaunch in other standalone series? Winderbaum has expressed interest in bringing Jessica Jones back, and Krysten Ritter is entirely down: “C’mon Brad. Let’s get it going. Let’s do it. I’ll be ready.” Bring those scarfs back, too.
Cast
Charlie Cox is finally back as Matt Murdock/Daredevil again, and Jon Bernthal’s appearance as Frank Castle/The Punisher was a highlight of early reveals on this series. As the show has grown closer, though, Vincent D’Onofrio’s return as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin has loomed large, and the first season will also feature Wilson Bethel as as Benjamin Poindexter/Bullseye with more comebacks including Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page and Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson.
Additionally, Margarita Levieva, Nikki M. James, Sandrine Holt, Arty Froushan, and Michael Gandolfini will appear.
Release Date
The reunion begins on March 4. Disney+ has kindly ceased the old ways of dropping episodes in the dead of night, so you can look forward to Daredevil: Born Again at a reasonable hour, 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET.
Trailer
Since we already included the official trailer, here’s a replay of Echo‘s Daredevil fight:
The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke will soon abandon plot armor after suggesting that any (or even most?) characters could die during that show’s fifth and final season. This, of course, leaves room to speculate whether Homelander will (or even should) survive whatever armageddon is coming for The Seven, but also, it provides fuel to wonder whether Antony Starr could possibly make another show-stopping cameo in the second season of Gen V before Homie explodes (or any equally suitable death he might receive). Please explode him, Kripke.
On that note, let’s get back to business on what to expect from the second season of Prime Video/Amazon’s Vought-laden spin off series.
Plot
Brooke Palmer/Amazon Prime Video
A useful note on structure: Eric Kripke has held steadfast to the idea that, although viewers do not have to watch both The Boys and Gen V to enjoy either show, each enhances the experience of the other. To that end, he told Variety that these shows are linearly arranged and “more like cars on a train than it is a plate of spaghetti.” So as with The Boys‘ resuming shortly after Gen V‘s other season, the second season picks up a few days after the events of the most recent The Boys season finale. “We try to keep the timeline super simple because all that folding-in-on-itself timeline stuff that I think other comic book universes find themselves having to do is just bewildering for me as a viewer,” Kripke added. “So it’s all very modular.”
With that blessedly simple structure in place, Gen V will also not shy away from the tragic death of Chance Perdomo on the eve of second season filming. Kripke and his fellow writers made the call to write Andre Anderson’s death into the series, and his father, Polarity (Sean Patrick Thomas), will appear with Thomas clarifying, “Season 2 is really going to be, in a lot of ways, a tribute to Chance Perdomo. Hopefully, we do him justice.”
Otherwise, major plot points are top secret, although Amazon did preview some footage at the most recent San Diego Comic-Con, and Total Film reported that multiple cameos surfaced, including Chace Crawford’s Deep “in a hooded gown.” Additionally, new Dean Cipher will be accompanied by Cate and Sam to welcome returning students, including Emma and the other Supes who were detained following the campus bloodbath.
Screenrant further added that this footage “goes on to show Cate having remorse for her actions, while Sam continues to be a villain, and Marie fighting unspecified foes.” Cate showing remorse? That sounds unusual.
As for how Gen V and The Boys will lead into future spin off Vought Rising, no clues on Soldier Boy and Stormfront’s early days have surfaced yet.
Cast
Amazon
As discussed above, Chance Perdomo’s memory will be honored with the help of Polarity (Sean Patrick Thomas). Additionally, Patrick Schwarzenegger will not be back, not even for flashbacks as the late Luke/Golden Boy after his fiery death. Arnold’s son spoke with Screenrant about his willingness to return, but for now, it’s not happening: “No, I wish, but I was, we were actually filming White Lotus at the same time that they were filming Gen V. So it didn’t work out. But maybe season three or some other time.” Will Patrick go on to die in The White Lotus? We shall see.
Returning Supes include Jaz Sinclair (Marie), Lizze Broadway (Emma/Cricket), and London Thor and Derek Luh (both as Jordan). After appearing in The Boys and helping Homie round up Kimiko and Frenchie, Maddie Phillips (Cate) and Asa Germann (Sam) will be back as the Guardians of Godolkin. And speaking of campus, the new dean, Cipher, will be portrayed by Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass).
Deadline has reported several new recurring cast members in mystery roles. Those actors include Julia Knope, Keeya King, Tait Fletcher, Stephen Kalyn, Wyatt Dorion, Stacey McGunnigle, and Georgie Murphy.
Release Date
Gen V will arrive sometime in 2025 with a specific window TBA.
Trailer
Without a trailer or released footage to reference, the most useful to prepare for this show’s return is to rewatch Antony Starr intimidating hell out of campus as Homelander.
TikTok star Thom Yorke doesn’t stop. Radiohead hasn’t been active lately, but his other band, The Smile, has, and he did the Confidenza soundtrack last year. Now, he’s added yet another thing to his list: He and electronic musician Mark Pritchard have linked up for “Back In The Game,” a new song.
This is the second collaboration between the two, as Yorke previously worked on “Beautiful People” from Pritchard’s 2016 album Under The Sun.
The track arrives alongside a video directed by Jonathan Zawada, and it features a series of surreal (and pretty creepy) figures just marching along.
Zawada says in a press release:
“On first hearing the original demo of ‘Back In The Game’ I was immediately struck by the deranged bassline that made me think of the final scene of Staying Alive where John Travolta is cockily strutting through the New York streets but I saw it with a more sinister overlay. Slowly a version of that visual arose around a character wearing a kind of giant parade head with a fixed expression of mania stuck on their face, such that you couldn’t tell if their endless march was one of aggression or celebration. The more I paid attention to the lyrics the more details began to fill themselves out and the overall concept began to form of parade of many characters marching past a building from within which everything was being thrown out of a window and into a giant bonfire.
Ultimately the film for ‘Back In The Game’ ended up depicting a sort of blind celebration taking place as civilization slowly deteriorates around it, a kind of progression through regression. Overlaid onto this is an exploration of how and where we choose to place value in our collective cultural expression and how we collectively confront major cultural shifts in the 21st century.”
Apple TV+ prioritizes quality over quantity. The streamer doesn’t have as many shows as Netflix or Hulu, but the shows it does have are often very good, including Silo, For All Mankind, Mythic Quest, Shrinking, Foundation, Slow Horses, Bad Monkey, Pachinko, and Severance. That’s a strong lineup!
But only one Apple TV+ program has won either Outstanding Comedy Series or Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys: Ted Lasso. The show hasn’t aired a new episode since May 2023, but there’s been murmurs of it coming back for a fourth season. Is there any truth to the rumors? Let’s find out.
Here’s everything to know about the possible return of Ted Lasso for season 4.
Plot
As a refresher: Ted Lasso was created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, and follows the titular American college football coach (played by Sudeikis) who is hired to lead an English soccer team. Cultural differences about football vs. soccer — and panic attacks — ensue. The show seemingly wrapped up with a lengthy episode in which Ted moves back to the United States, among other developments, but then came word that studio Warner Bros. Television took a step “toward a season 4 greenlight” by picking up the options for multiple cast members (more on that soon).
The fate of Ted Lasso has always hinged on Sudeikis, who’d originated the character in NBC Sports videos. While being open that they would love to extend Ted Lasso, one of the most acclaimed comedies of the past decade, Apple and Warner Bros. executives have made it clear that it would be up to Sudeikis whether the show would continue.
The season 3 finale may have hinted at a possible direction for the show to go in: what about an AFC Richmond women’s team?
There have recently been reports that “the fourth season of Ted Lasso will focus on the formation of AFC Richmond’s women’s team rather than the men’s team featured in previous seasons.” That poses a lot of questions — namely: how would Ted Lasso be involved? — but it’s an intriguing angle. Especially since women’s soccer keeps getting more and more popular.
Cast
So far, the options have been picked up for the contracts of three original cast members: Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Walton), Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins), Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent). And what would the Muppets-loving actor be most excited to do in a potential fourth season? “Hang out with Phoebe,” he told Collider, referring to Roy’s niece. Aw.
Beyond that trio, Deadlinereported in August 2024 that Warner Bros. Television was “expected to start reaching out to Ted Lasso cast members with SAG-AFTRA contracts whose options had expired,” including Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso), Brendan Hunt (Coach Beard), and Juno Temple (Keeley Jones).
“I’ve heard the kind of stunt version of, yeah, potentially, it sounds like there might be a season 4,” Temple recently toldEntertainment Weekly. “I don’t know when. I don’t know exactly who, what, why, where, but I think it sounds like those cogs are turning.”
Sadly, as of last year, Jamie Tart actor Phil Dunster’s contract has “not been picked up” due to scheduling issues (he stars in Apple TV+’s Surface). But Nick Mohammed, who plays Nate Shelley, is ready to “BELIEVE.”
Release Date
There are rumors that season 4 will begin filming in “May/June,” which, if true, means the show could return as soon as next year. But nothing is official yet.
Trailer
In lieu of any new footage, check out the show’s first-ever trailer.
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