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Scotch whisky — either single malt or blended varieties — doesn’t have to break the bank. While the sweet spot for taste and price does tend to sit closer to $100 per bottle than, say, Kentucky bourbon, you can still get perfectly drinkable Scotch whisky for less than half that.

There are plenty of Scotch whiskies in the $30 to $40 range that work pretty damn well as both mixers — in highballs or cocktails — or as a sipper on some rocks. Our decision-making process on which Scotch whiskies in this price range deserve your attention was pretty simple: Does it taste good? Yes? Then it’s on then this list.

Does it taste the best? Then it ranked higher!

The ten bottles of affordable Scotch whisky below are a mix of single malts and blended whiskies we think you should give a shot, especially if you’re looking for a solid scotch to mix with or a cheap scotch that’s actually good enough to drink on the rocks. Let’s dive in!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of 2021

• The 50 Best Scotch Whiskies Of 2021, Ranked
• A Blind Ranking Of Affordable Blended Scotch Whiskies
• Our Favorite Scotch Whisky At Every Price Point From $30 To $500
• We Blind Tested Blended Scotches In The $40 Range And A Clear Winner Emerged
• The Best Bottles Of Scotch Whisky Between $50-$60

10. J&B Rare Blended Scotch

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $33

The Whisky:

J&B is a back bar mainstay. This old-school blend became hugely popular in the U.S. after Prohibition and still sits on most American bar shelves to this day, though often just collecting dust (almost inexplicably, it remains one of the best-selling whiskies in the world). The juice is a mix of 42 Diageo single grain whiskies and single malt whiskies that lean heavily into Speyside whiskies.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is malty with a flourish of orange zest next to cedar bark and sweet, buttery toffee. That sweetness carries and folds in nuts and a bit of red fruit. The oak and spice kick in late as the sip fades fairly quickly while warming you up.

Bottom Line:

This is a great candidate if you’re looking for a solid highball whisky. It’s not going to blow anyone’s socks off, but it’ll be a satisfying pour all around without challenging anyone’s palate.

9. Tomatin 12

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $35

The Whisky:

This heavily awarded single malt from the Highlands is a classic and accessible example of the region. The single malt juice is aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry for 12 years before those whiskies are vatted and then proofed with that soft Highland spring water.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a real sense of soft cedar on the nose with a bit of wildflower next to marzipan sweetness and nuttiness. The palate is ultra-svelte, with a creamy vanilla pudding next to buttery toffee covered in roasted almonds — all counterpointed by fresh ginger and orange zest spiciness. The sip ends with a hint of malts next to more of that cedar and final notes of pears and apples.

Bottom Line:

$35 for a single malt from Scotland is a steal. While this might not be overly complex, it does have bourbon notes that help bridge those worlds, which is great if you’re a bourbon drinker looking to get into scotch.

8. Grangestone 12 Highland Single Malt

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $35

The Whisky:

Grangestone is an off-shot of William Grant & Sons and is primarily a blender/bottler. That means this whisky comes from an undisclosed Highland distillery within the William Grant & Sons stable. The whisky is aged 12 years. But beyond that, there’s not much more information.

Tasting Notes:

Milled oats mix with a lightly spiced malt (think clove, cinnamon, and orange zest) next to a touch of prunes, dark chocolate powder, and a hint of vanilla extract. The palate builds on the orange and vanilla towards what feels like a banana cream pie with a cup of sweet black tea on the side and a hint of toffee in the background. The finish holds onto the bitterness of the tea and marries to the dark chocolate as a light walnut shell arrives and dries out the short end with a light sweet woodiness.

Bottom Line:

If you’re mixing up highballs, this is works well. There are a lot of sweeter elements at play that benefit from being calmed down by fizzy water and ice. Regardless of all of that, you’re still getting a 12-year-old whisky (that’s also a single malt) for under $40. That’s a win.

7. Johnnie Walker High Rye

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $35

The Whisky:

This whisky leans into the moment rye is having worldwide. The blend is 40 percent single malts from Diageo’s stable of distilleries — particularly Cardhu, Glenkinchie, and Caol Ila — and 60 percent Scottish rye whisky aged in American oak. Those whiskies are vatted, proofed down, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

The nose feels like the best of both worlds as a twinge of rye spiciness mingles with sweet smoky notes cut with orchard fruit and a hint of vanilla. The fruit drives the palate with tart apples spiked with clove and anise as a buttery caramel sweetens the sip. The finish moves on from that sweet note towards a dry sense of woody spices and a touch of dried and smoked apple slices.

Bottom Line:

If you’re already an American or Canadian rye fan, then this is going to be right in your wheelhouse. In fact, this is a great bridge between the world of American ryes and Scottish whiskies. You’re kind of getting the best of both worlds while drinking something that feels both unique and truly new. Try it on some rocks first.

6. Naked Grouse

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $31

The Whisky:

This whisky from the very popular Famous Grouse is a dialed-in expression. The juice in the bottle is a blend of sherry-cask-finished whiskies from The Macallan and Highland Park. The whisky is then cut down to a very accessible 80 proof and then bottled in a nicely understated bottle.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a sweet malt buried under a buttery scone dripping with raspberry jam with a touch of light spice lurking in the background. The sherry really kicks in on the palate with big notes of dates soaked in black tea next to creamy caramel, vanilla cake, and a touch of dry raisins. The end doesn’t overstay its welcome and leaves you with a lovely note of chocolate-covered cherries with a sweet/dry vibe.

Bottom Line:

This is just damn nice to drink. It’s not overly complex but it’s very clearly dialed into the depth that it has. It’s also so easy to drink, especially on a few rocks. That said, I do like using this to mix up a cocktail too as it stands up in pretty much anything.

5. Monkey Shoulder

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $32

The Whisky:

This Speyside blend is crafted as a workhorse whisky. The juice is drawn from the William Grant & Sons distilleries, focusing on Kininvie, Glenfiddich, and The Balvenie. The juice is then rested for up to six months after blending to let it mellow even more before proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a nice welcoming note of creamy vanilla that almost becomes cream soda, next to hints of zesty orange marmalade, malts, and dark spices. The taste delivers on those notes by amping the spices up to Christmas cake territory with a slight tart berry edge next to that cream soda sweetness. The end is short and sweet with a nice lightness that really makes this very drinkable.

Bottom Line:

This is another damn fine whisky. Still, it is specifically built as a mixing whisky for cocktails, so treat it as such. Though, no one is stopping you from pouring some over some rocks in a tumbler either.

4. Buchanan’s DeLuxe

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $33

The Whisky:

Buchanan’s is another Diageo blend that’s making a big comeback. Part of that is due to this expression snagged a Double Gold from San Francisco World Spirit Competiton in 2020. The whisky has a long history and is built to be a classic “on the rocks” whisky.

Tasting Notes:

The whiskey opens with a real sense of dark chocolate married to bright orange zest. The palate builds on that adding in hints of vanilla pudding and dark spices next to a cedar woodiness and a little bit of spicy/ chewy tobacco. A whisper of peat arrives late and far in the background as the chocolate orange throughline lasts the longest on the fade.

Bottom Line:

This really leans into the more bourbon-esque flavor notes for blended scotch. All that choco-orange, vanilla, spices, and tobacco will feel familiar but maybe a little dailed back, due to the low proof. Either way, this is one of the original “on the rocks” whiskies and we’ll just leave it at that.

3. The Glenlivet 12

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $39

The Whisky:

This Speyside single malt is a good entry point into the wider world of The Glenlivet. This single malt juice is aged for 12 years in both American and European oak before vatting, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a real sense of both tropical fruits, like pineapple, next to orchard fruits, like apricot. Plus you get a slight hint of citrus. The palate really leans into the pineapple but is more like a sweet and buttery pineapple cake with a vanilla frosting. The oak comes in late and only peeks in as the fade amps up the sweetness of the fruit.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a fruit bomb in a subtle and approachable single malt, this is going to be the whisky for you. This is also a really solid cocktail whisky thanks to all that fruit offering a nice sweetness.

2. Johnnie Walker Black Label

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $35

The Whisky:

Johnnie Walker is the best-selling whisk(e)y in the world. That means that there’s no getting away from this brand. The classic Black Label is a blend of over 40 whiskies from three dozen distilleries in the Diageo stable, including powerhouses like Talisker and Lagavulin.

Tasting Notes:

Citrus meets spicy Christmas cake and a bit of powdery white pepper. Those wintery spices carry on through the taste as creamy maltiness, caramel sweetness, and dry herbs bounce on your tongue. The oak comes in late with a dose of peaty smoke that’s cut by an orange zest flourish on the quick end.

Bottom Line:

Johnnie Red is built to be mixed. Johnnie Black is built to be enjoyed on the rocks. While you do see a lot of bar folks using this to mix cocktails with, it still 100 percent works as an end-of-day sipper with plenty of ice. Pro-tip, express some lemon or orange oils over the whisky and rocks before you drink it. It’s the classic “twist” from back in the day.

1. Compass Box Artist Blend Scotch Whisky

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $35

The Whiskey:

The lion’s share of this blend — 45 percent — comes from a single grain whisky aged in ex-bourbon from Cameronbridge Distillery. 22 percent is a single malt aged in ex-bourbon that comes from Linkwood Distillery. The rest is a mix of French oak and ex-bourbon single malts and blended malts from the Highlands, Clyneilish, Linkwood, and Balmenach. Those whiskies are vatted and then proofed down before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a very clear and concise note of apple candy with a hint of salted caramel ice cream cut with a touch of eggnog spices. There’s a nice maltiness that leans into a creamy vanilla, soft holiday spice mix, butter toffee, and a hint of milk chocolate near the end. The finish is warming with a whisper of tobacco next to a woody apple, spice candies (maybe ginger), and a final hint of cocoa and caramel.

Bottom Line:

This is the one whisky on the list that has no business being as inexpensive as it is. This really punches far above its price point. It’s freaking delicious and works wonders in a cocktail, highball, on the rocks, or even neat in a Glencairn. That’s versatility at a great price point.

While tacking the now viral moment when President Joe Biden called Fox News reporter Peter Doocy a “stupid son of a b*tch” during a Monday afternoon press brief, The View panel was divided on the seriousness of the incident. Guest host Lisa Ling was the most vocal critic of Biden’s “gaffe” and called it “yet more examples of men behaving badly.” Despite being a huge supporter of the administration, Sunny Hostin also agreed that “beneath the dignity of the presidency.”

However, Hostin praised Biden for personally calling Doocy to apologize, but things got heated when Ling argued that wasn’t enough. The guest host said that Biden needs to take things further and apologize to the whole country, which is when Whoopi Goldberg stepped in to shut the line of thinking down.

Via The Wrap:

“No! I’m sorry. He should acknowledge he’s human, because that happens sometimes, when people ask you endless stupid questions, from one particular place,” Whoopi said. “And sometimes, you just lose it for a second. The difference is, he said ‘OK, let me call him and apologize, because that happens.’ And I think that, for me, is the representation of what a human being, as president, should be.”

Joy Behar agreed with Whoopi’s take that Biden did enough by calling Doocy to apologize, and in the grand scheme of things, that Donald Trump did way worse during his time in office. When Hostin argued that Biden still needs to be held accountable for his actions, Behar fired back, “He’s not Charles Manson.”

(Via The Wrap)

Over the weekend, some rumblings began to emerge about Saints head coach Sean Payton, who was apparently mulling his future despite having three seasons remaining on his contract in New Orleans.

The longtime head coach is reportedly being pursued by Fox Sports as a replacement for Troy Aikman, should the Hall of Famer bolt for Amazon’s new Thursday Night Football broadcast booth (with Al Michaels expected to be the play-by-play man) next year. That came as a rather big surprise to NFL fans, and that smoke was apparently real as word broke on Tuesday afternoon that Payton had returned from vacation and informed the Saints that he was, in fact, retiring.

The Saints will join the Texans, Bears, Vikings, Jaguars, Raiders, Broncos, Giants, and Dolphins in the coaching carousel, as nine of the 32 teams in the NFL currently have vacancies. For a New Orleans team already trying to find its way in the post-Drew Brees era, losing Payton now shifts the organization into even more uncertainty about on-field leadership.

While the Saints figure out who they’ll be hiring — with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen expected to be a top candidate — Payton will have plenty of offers to join the broadcasting ranks, apparently starting with Fox Sports who would love to have him join Joe Buck in their A-booth. Whether this is the end of his coaching career or, somewhat like Bruce Arians, just a brief departure from the sidelines before returning later, remains to be seen, as there are already plenty of people making connections between Payton and the Dallas Cowboys.

At the moment, Britney Spears is enjoying an escape in Maui, Hawaii, but one thing she hasn’t been able to get away from on her trip is the paparazzi. Her two latest posts from the trip have accomplished at least two things: showing off some skin and giving the paparazzi a piece of her mind.

Spears’ posts compile photos and videos from the trip, many of which feature Spears donning a skin-bearing string bikini as she soaks up the sun. In one post, she calls her purple hair “absolutely horrible” and notes that she hasn’t been feeling well recently before continuing, “I’ve done so well trying to fight feeling sick by doing THE RIGHT thing and it just sucks !!! Paps still show pics of me on the balcony with fat rolls !!!! The media has always been hateful to me !!! I know my body is not perfect by any means but I also know I definitely don’t look like that.”

In another post shared shortly after, Spears describes her health further and continues, “I wake up and my body is so little yet the war dog media hiding outside my room put me on defense just like they always have … so if you’re outside my room trying to get another cheap shot of me … please go f*ck yourself and leave me alone !!!! I should be able to run around naked if I choose to … Have a good day folks !!! I will say I am grateful for the food in Maui and this cool hotel … I just wish the sneaky paps would f*ck off. Pss … Aloha although the paps are horrible, Maui is absolutely pure magic … Thank you dear Jesus for this magical place.”

This follows a similar incident from this past summer, when Spears was bothered by paparazzi in Maui and told them via Instagram, “kindly F*CK YOU AND F*CK OFF.”

Check out Spears’ posts below.

It has been nearly three years since Big KRIT’s last full-length release, KRIT Iz Here, building on the growing independent catalog he began cultivating in 2017 with 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time. Since he can release music on his own schedule now, it’s no surprise that the run up to his follow-up was as unhurried as it has been, but the wait is almost over.

The first hint that KRIT was preparing to break his hiatus with a new release came on New Music Friday last week when he dropped the video for his groovy comeback single, “So Cool.” Today, he revealed the new album’s title and release date. It’s called Digital Roses Don’t Die — a fittingly multilayered meditation on legacy, a constant theme throughout his music (his name stands for King Remembered In Time, after all) — and it’s due on February 18 through KRIT’s own operation, Multi Til I Die.

KRIT also shared the album cover, which breaks tradition by featuring the back of his head as he faces away from the camera, showing off an intricate braid pattern of a rose in his hair, surrounded by an elegant-looking portrait frame. We’ll presumably find out more in the coming weeks, but for now, check out the cover below.

Eric Clapton hasn’t backed down from his anti-vax beliefs in recent months. Along with releasing several songs protesting lockdowns in collaboration with Van Morrison, Clapton refused to play shows which require proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Now, in order to explain why people were made at him for his music, the former Cream guitarist began spewing off a debunked theory about “mass hypnosis” and “subliminal” YouTube advertisements.

The musician recently sat down for an interview with The Real Music Observer, which was ironically uploaded to YouTube. Clapton says he was “mystified” that he “seemed to be the only person” who thought protesting lockdown measures was “exciting, or even appropriate.” But instead of understand why he was in the minority on the issue, it made Clapton want to protest even more. “I’m cut from the cloth where if you tell me I can’t do something, I really wanna know why I can’t do it,” he said.

Clapton then began launching into a theory about “mass hypnosis formation,” which was apparently the only explanation why people didn’t like his anti-lockdown music. After learning about the theory, he “started seeing it everywhere,” including on YouTube (it seems Clapton’s “mass hypnosis formation” doesn’t include anything about confirmation bias, huh?). “I remembered seeing little things on YouTube which were like subliminal advertising; it had been going on for a long time — that thing about ‘you will own nothing and you will be happy,” he said. Clapton continued:

“I thought, ‘What’s that mean?’ And bit by bit, I put a rough kind of jigsaw puzzle together, and that made me even more resolute. And so I went from that to looking at the news stuff that was coming out in England and the UK. We have BBC, and it used to be an impartial commentary on world affairs and state affairs. And suddenly it was completely one-way traffic about following orders and obedience.”

The musician’s “mass hypnosis formation” theory, which is actually called the “mass formation psychosis” theory, is a term that has been seen spreading across the anti-vax corners of the internet as a way of explaining why so many people are willing to follow “strange” behavior, like health and safety guidelines about COVID-19 or waiting in line to get tested. It comes as no surprise that the theory was originally popularized thanks to The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Rogan invited the theory’s inventor, Dr. Robert Malone, on the show, where he claimed that “mass formation psychosis” is spreading across the globe. After the episode with Malone was released, over 250 scientists and medical, professionals, professors, and science communicators wrote an open letter to Spotify, asking the streaming giant to de-platform Rogan for spreading misinformation.

There’s an obvious connection between bourbon whiskey and Kentucky. In fact, many believe that bourbon as we know it was invented in Georgetown, Kentucky in 1789 when a Baptist minister named Elijah Craig decided to open a distillery. Fast forward nearly 250 years and some estimates say that 95 percent of all bourbon is still made in the Bluegrass State. But while bourbon must be made up of 51 percent corn, aged in new American oak, and adhere to a few other strict rules, it doesn’t actually need to be produced in KY.

There are high-quality, award-winning, noteworthy bourbons produced all over the country, from St. Augustine to Seattle. Recently, my Uproxx colleague Zach Johnston ranked twenty of his favorite non-Kentucky bottles. This week, I decided to up the ante and blindly taste and rank fifteen of his top selections.

It should be noted that this is 100% based on my own personal tastes. I simply use my sense of smell to nose the bourbons and my sense of taste to sip them. So my picks might not align with yours (or even Zach’s). That said, I try to explain the flavors of each expression to help you find the flavor profile that suits you.

Our lineup today includes:

• 291 Small Batch Colorado Bourbon Whiskey (Colorado)
• Old Elk Wheated Bourbon (Colorado)
• Smooth Ambler Contradiction (West Virginia/Indiana)
• Woodinville PX Sherry Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Washington)
• Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon (Texas)
• Garrison Brothers Balmorhea (Texas)
• Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey (Wyoming)
• Leopold Bros. Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon (Colorado)
• FEW Bourbon Whiskey (Illinois)
• Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon (Indiana)
• Bib & Tucker 10-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon (Tennessee)
• Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Nevada)
• Hudson Whiskey Bright Lights, Big Bourbon (New York)
• Cedar Ridge Reserve Iowa Bourbon Whiskey (Iowa)
• Remus Repeal Reserve Series V Straight Bourbon (Indiana)

It’s a monster tasting with some serious heavy hitters. Let’s start the sampling!

Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

This whiskey has a very unique nose and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. First, I noticed a nutty sweetness that moved into clover honey, slight pipe tobacco, vanilla, and just a hint of peppery rye. The palate begins with a soft citrus zest that pairs with oaky wood, sweet corn, and butterscotch.

From my notebook: “It’s the kind of whiskey that needs multiple tasting to find everything.”

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

The nose of yellow cake, almond cookies, butterscotch, raisins, pipe tobacco, and slight, peppery spices let you know what you’re in for. On the palate, I found caramel corn, spicy cinnamon, oaky wood, more tobacco, and toasted vanilla beans. It ends with pecans, caramel, and more of those spices.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, I found a mix of sticky toffee pudding, toasted vanilla beans, oak, and a gentle, floral backbone. Tasting it revealed flavors like creamy caramel, cinnamon sugar, vanilla beans, and a dusting of holiday spices. The last few sips were warming and featured a great combination of cinnamon and butterscotch.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

This whiskey smells like a classic bourbon with notes of fresh tobacco, maple syrup, sweet corn, and just a hint of cracked black pepper to tie everything together. Taking a sip revealed candied orange peels, toasted marshmallow, rich oak, and a slight herbal backbone. It ended with a nice mix of spice and cornbread.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

You’re met with a hint of candied orange peels, cinnamon, and other wintry spices on first nosing. This is followed by a palate of apple pie crust, pipe tobacco, dried cherries, dark chocolate, oaky wood, and dried orange peel. The finish is medium in length, filled with warming heat, and delivers a nice mix of sweet cherries and chocolate.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

If you enjoy vanilla, this is the bourbon for you. It’s very prevalent on the nose. I also found hints of caramel corn, dried fruit, and slight oaky wood. The palate is littered with flavors like dark chocolate, pipe tobacco, toasted vanilla beans, and a slight hint of cinnamon spice. The ending is sweet, lingering, and very warming.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Fruit is a notable presence on this whiskey’s nose. The first sniff revealed dried cherries and raisins and moved into caramel, pipe tobacco, and cinnamon sugar. A sip brought notes of caramel corn, Christmas spices, butterscotch, peppery rye. and wood char. The finish is a warming mix of dried fruit, brown sugar, and more oak.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Caramel and wintry spices dominate this whiskey’s nose. There are also hints of dried fruits and toasted vanilla beans. The palate is heavy on toasted vanilla beans pods, sticky toffee pudding, oaky wood, and a nice, pleasing kick of cinnamon at the finish.

From my notes: “Overall, a sweet, spicy, memorable sipper.”

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

The nose is classic bourbon with a good deal of oak that pairs well with butterscotch, raisins, and dried cherries. The flavor is sweet, soft, and filled with more dried fruits, slight cinnamon spice, fresh leather, and just a hint of peppery rye. It ends with a nice mix of sweetness and spice.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

It starts with a bang due to notes of caramel corn, dried cherries, ripe berries, raisins, and toasted vanilla beans. Sipping it only adds to the experience with notes of clover honey, sweet treacle, maple candy, spicy cinnamon sugar, and butterscotch frosting. The ending is warming and a good combination of corn sweetness and cinnamon spice.

Taste 11

Tasting Notes:

This whiskey had a surprisingly fruity nose with hints of ripe berries and dried cherries paired with salted caramel, sweet corn, and rich, dark oak. On the palate, I found flavors of wintry spices, butterscotch, more woody oak, raisins, and just a touch of spice. It all ends with a dry, warming, slightly nutty finish.

Taste 12

Tasting Notes:

When I nosed this whiskey, I found aromas of dried cherries, fresh leather, rich oak, cinnamon sugar, and candied pecans. The flavor is a little spicier than expected with hints of cinnamon and baking spices as well as a nutty sweetness, maple candy, dark chocolate, pipe tobacco, and light herbal quality. It finished with a lingering, warming, salted caramel flavor.

Taste 13

Tasting Notes:

From my notes: “This whiskey smells very corny on the nose.”

There’s a slight hint of oak and maybe a wisp of vanilla as well. There really isn’t much else going on. The palate has slightly more going on with some dark chocolate, vanilla beans, and more caramel corn. It doesn’t taste like it’s been aged very long.

Taste 14

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on with this bourbon’s nose. First off is a wallop of caramel candy. It’s followed close behind with notes of buttercream frosting, candied almonds, and mint-like herbal aromas hiding in the background. The flavor continues to the trend set by the nose with a slew of flavors including vanilla beans, sticky toffee pudding, treacle, almond cookies, and slight wintry spices.

Taste 15

Tasting Notes:

The nose is closer to a single malt Scotch whisky than a bourbon. I smell notable hints of vanilla, oaky wood, and sweet grains. The palate is filled with slight cracked black pepper, buttery caramel, vanilla beans, and treacle. It all ends with a mix of sweetness and spice.

From my note: “It felt like it was missing something.”

Part 2: The Ranking

Now comes the really fun part. If you’re reading this, that means you’ve already made your way through my tasting notes. You’re going to finally get what you came here for — the ranking. Again, my palate is different than Zach’s, that’s how palates work. The best thing for you to do is check our notes and see what resonates with you.

Keep scrolling to see how these fifteen non-Kentucky bourbons stacked up (for me!).

15. Hudson Whiskey Bright Lights, Big Bourbon (New York) — Taste 13

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $45

The Whiskey:

Not too long ago, Hudson Bourbon was rebranded and renamed. Formerly called Baby Bourbon, this 95 percent corn and five percent malted barley whiskey isn’t as infantile as its predecessor, as it’s aged a minimum of three years.

Bottom Line:

There’s nothing harsh or abrasive with this whiskey’s flavor. It just doesn’t taste as refined as I would hope — that corn note really dominated.

14. Leopold Bros. Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon (Colorado) — Taste 15

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $70

The Whiskey:

First released in 2020, this bottled in bond expression from Leopold Bros. has a mash bill of 64 percent corn, 21 percent malted barley, and 15 percent Abruzzi Heritage rye. It’s pot-distilled, unfiltered, and aged for five years in new, charred oak casks.

Bottom Line:

This isn’t a bad bourbon by any means. It’s just lacking in the sweet corn and butterscotch flavor notes I’d expect from a refined bourbon whiskey.

13. Bib & Tucker 10-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon (Tennessee) — Taste 6

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $85

The Whiskey:

If you’re a whiskey fan, the odds are you don’t think of bourbon when you envision Tennessee whiskey. Bib & Tucker — with its ten-year-old small-batch bourbon — is trying to change that. This award-winning, non-chill filtered bourbon is a blend of ten-year-old sourced whiskeys that are aged in low-char casks to create a complex, well-balanced expression.

Bottom Line:

This bourbon is a true vanilla bomb. If that’s what you’re into, this is a perfect whiskey for you. Otherwise, try something different.

12. Cedar Ridge Reserve Iowa Bourbon Whiskey (Iowa) — Taste 1

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

Iowa is well-known for being home to a lot of cornfields. This is why it’s so surprising that there aren’t more bourbons coming out of the state. Iowa’s first distillery, Cedar Ridge, is trying to change that. This award-winning expression was aged a minimum of five years before bottling.

Bottom Line:

This is a surprising whiskey. It has a ton of flavors I don’t usually associate with bourbon — namely that honey and citrus. But that doesn’t mean it’s bad. I actually liked it a lot, it’s jut that there were some expressions I truly LOVED in this round.

11. Smooth Ambler Contradiction (West Virginia/Indiana) — Taste 9

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

Smooth Ambler Contradiction is a unique whiskey. Instead of simply sourcing bourbon or distilling their own, Smooth Ambler blended their own wheat bourbon with sourced high-rye bourbon from MGP. The result is a complex, non-chill filtered blended bourbon.

Bottom Line:

This is a very complex, multi-layered whiskey. It starts sweet and moves into spicy before finishing with a nice, classic caramel corn and vanilla finish.

10. Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey (Wyoming) — Taste 3

ABV: 44%

Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

Carrying on the tradition that bourbon can come from unexpected places, Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch is made at a grain-to-glass distillery in Kirby, Wyoming. Made from locally sourced grains, this wheated, small-batch bourbon is matured for a minimum of four years.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a whiskey with a nice combination of spicy cinnamon and sweet caramel, this is the bourbon for you. It has a nice bite to temper the sweetness.

9. Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Nevada) — Taste 7

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

There’s a lot more to Nevada than Las Vegas. We’re talking about Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon. This is a true farm-to-bottle whiskey. All of the grains (corn, wheat, rye, and barley) are grown on-site and the whiskey is fermented, distilled, matured, and bottled at Frey Ranch.

Bottom Line:

This complex whiskey is so filled with flavors, I might need to try it neat again, on the rocks, and mixed into a cocktail before I find them all.

8. FEW Bourbon Whiskey (Illinois) — Taste 8

ABV: 46.5%

Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

Evansville, Illinois’ FEW has made a name for itself in the spirits world in the last decade. One of its best offerings is its award-winning FEW Bourbon. It’s a high-rye, small-batch bourbon that’s matured for slightly less than four years in American oak casks.

Bottom Line:

This is a classic bourbon that would stand up against many of your Kentucky favorites. It ticks all of the bourbon boxes with its sweetness, slight spice, and warming finish.

7. Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon (Texas) — Taste 4

ABV: 64.5%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

In the past few years, Texas has become a popular destination for bourbon fans. Brands like Garrison Brothers and Balcones are leading the way and the latter’s Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon is one of the best. Made from a mash bill of 100 percent Texas blue corn, this cask strength bourbon is as big and bold as the state it’s produced in.

Bottom Line:

Tobacco, corn, butterscotch, and spices, this whiskey has it all. Sweet corn whiskey fans should definitely grab a bottle of this delicious expression — it’s a bottle Zach and I BOTH adore.

6. Garrison Brothers Balmorhea (Texas) — Taste 12

ABV: 57.5%

Average Price: $190

The Whiskey:

Balcones might be more well-known, but Hye, Texas’ Garrison Brothers was actually the first. Also, while you can’t go wrong with the brand’s iconic Cowboy Bourbon, its limited-edition expressions aren’t to be missed. This includes Garrison Brothers Balmorhea. This 115-proof whiskey is matured in Ozark white oak for four years before finishing in Minnesota oak for one more year.

Bottom Line:

This is complex, with a whole cornucopia of flavors, but somehow still mellow and easy to sip. It’s an all-around great sipping whiskey.

5. Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon (Indiana) — Taste 2

ABV: 54.15%

Average Price: $75

The Whiskey:

You might be confused that Belle Meade is listed as an Indian brand when it’s made in Tennessee. This is because this is a sourced and blended whiskey from Indiana’s MGP. It also should be noted that doesn’t make it a bad whiskey. This blend of high-rye whiskeys ranging in age from seven to eleven-years old is bold, flavorful, and highly memorable.

Bottom Line:

It will be hard to beat this whiskey. It has everything a bourbon fan could want. It’s so multi-dimensional and complex that it begs to be sipped slowly and savored.

4. Old Elk Wheated Bourbon (Colorado) — Taste 14

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $66

The Whiskey:

We all know that to be considered a bourbon, the mash bill must consist of at least 51 percent corn. This wheated bourbon from Colorado’s Old Elk really pushes the limits with a mash bill of 51 percent corn and 45 percent wheat. The result is a sublimely soft, easy-to-drink sipper.

Bottom Line:

This soft, sipping whiskey is carried by a nice nutty sweetness and sweet caramel and vanilla flavors that make it a borderline dessert dram.

3. Remus Repeal Reserve Series V Straight Bourbon (Indiana) — Taste 11

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $175

The Whiskey:

If you haven’t yet tried one of the Remus Repeal Reserve expressions, you’re doing yourself a disservice. MGP’s signature bourbon is as complicated in flavor as it was in its creation. Made up of five different bourbons, all with a high-rye content, it’s known for its complex, slightly spicy, fruity flavor.

Bottom Line:

This subtly spicy, fruity, nutty whiskey deserves to be sipped slowly neat or on the rocks while you sit under a warm blanket, slowly watching the snow fall outside of your window.

2. 291 Small Batch Colorado Bourbon Whiskey (Colorado) — Taste 10

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $79

The Whiskey:

You might be surprised to learn that this isn’t a straight whiskey because it was only aged for one year. How did the folks at 291 get away with that and still make a flavorful whiskey? They made it taste older with the addition of Aspen wood staves in the barrel while it aged.

Bottom Line:

This might not be the most complex whiskey on this list and that’s not such a bad thing. Sometimes less is more and this whiskey proves it. Clearly it really resonated with me — sneaking into a very competitive #2 spot!

1. Woodinville PX Sherry Cask Bourbon Whiskey (Washington) — Taste 5

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $50

The Whiskey:

If you haven’t joined the Woodinville bandwagon yet, what are you waiting for? This Washington State distillery pretty much makes nothing but bangers at this point. Woodinville PX Sherry Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey is no different. To make this sublime expression, they start with their flagship five-year-old straight bourbon and finish it in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.

Bottom Line:

This is a warming, sweet, and memorable whiskey. It’s also a perfect spicy, sweet warmer for the colder winter months.

After slowly emerging from the And Just Like That... incident, which saw one of its exercise bike kill Chris Noth’s Mr. Big (followed by some even worse problems), things were starting to look up for Peloton despite its stock taking a hit. And then the season premiere of Billions happened. While no one died this time around, yet again, another character on a major prestige drama suffered a heart attack while using a Peloton.

Naturally, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert decided to have a little fun with this new trend of Peloton widow-makers, but man, did they take it to a dark place. In a parody episode of Peppa Pig titled “Daddy Pig Gets a Peloton,” the porky head of the household gets an exercise bike, which should immediately cause a feeling of dread to anyone watching. But, don’t worry, Daddy Pig does die, but only because Mommy Pig poisoned his coffee for having an affair and not from using the Peloton. Talk about a marketing win!

Just to set the record straight, there isn’t an intentional trend of having Pelotons kill TV characters. The Billions heart attack happening on the heels of the And Just Like That… incident was truly a coincidence as Billions filmed in the Spring, months before Mr. Big bit the big one. More importantly, Peloton didn’t authorize Showtime to use their brand, and needless to say, they weren’t pleased about the situation.

As Peloton notes in the tweet, “cardio-vascular exercise helps people lead long, happy lives” is an accurate statement. Daily exercise is more likely to prevent a heart attack than cause a heart attack, despite premium cable’s latest choice for a bogeyman.

For the first time since 2019, the Chicago institution that is Wilco is bringing back their Solid Sound Festival to… Massachusetts. OK, it’s not as random as that, because the festival — loaded with indie talent and more from top to bottom — doesn’t just go down anywhere in Massachusetts: It’s at North Adams’ 250,000 square foot Massachusetts Museum Of Contemporary Art (MoCA), the largest center for contemporary arts in the country, where previous iterations of the event have taken place. It’s quite the setting for a music festival and it’s scheduled to occur on Memorial Day Weekend, from May 27th to 29th, 2022.

The inventive and loaded lineup sees Sylvan Esso, Japanese Breakfast, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy riding the top of the lineup card alongside a performance by Wilco, of course. There are other prominent performances on the bill that you likely won’t see at any other festivals, like the free jazz mastery of Sun Ra Arkestra conducted by Marshall Allen, and Josh Hodgman’s Comedy Cabaret co-hosted with hip-hop renaissance woman Jean Grae and featuring comedians Nick Offerman, River Butcher, and Negin Farsad. There’s also a Jeff Tweedy & Friends performance, which could easily make this a Wilco superfest on its own. But there’s more…

The rest of the lineup is an eclectic mishmash of indie’s best. It includes Terry Allen and The Panhandle Mystery Band, Mike Watt + The Missingmen, Hand Habits, Wiki, Angel Bat Dawid, Iceage, Sam Evian, Nnämdi, Cut Worms, Le Ren, Nels Cline: Consentrik Quartet, Autumn Defense, On Fillmore with Jonna Tervomaa, Eleventh Dream Day, Mess Esque, Mikael Jorgensen, Liam Kazar, Tuomo & Markus, and Story Pirates.

Tickets are on now sale here and also include access to the Mass MoCA museum.

The best part of any Star Wars movie or television show isn’t the lightsaber fights or space travel or overly complicated plans — it’s the aliens. The droids are fun, too, but in terms of weirdness and trying to figure out what everyone’s deal is, no robot or human can compete with this guy. Or this one. Or get a load of this weirdo.

Every Star Wars alien is its own particular kind of goofy, but there was one that was deemed too ridiculous looking. “Lightman,” as the creature is known, was supposed to be in Return of the Jedi as “some kind of guide to Threepio somewhere deep inside the darkness of Jabba’s Palace, as well as being seen in some other creature establishing shots in and out of the Throne Room,” according to Star Wars Aficionado. Lightman was out there doing his best, living paycheck to paycheck just like the rest of us, but because he was literally a man covered in lights, no one could take him seriously.

“The mysterious ‘Lightman’ was filmed forty years ago today for Return of the Jedi and pretty much immediately abandoned,” film historian Jamie Benning tweeted, along with a brief clip of the alien. He also asked Phil Tippett, the visual effects whiz behind the original Star Wars trilogy, Jurassic Park, and RoboCop, for any memories of Lightman.

Tippett replied, “Looked just like that. Everyone laughed. Never got shot.”

Poor Lightman. I still love you. Then again, my favorite Star Wars character is Watto, so maybe that’s not as much of a compliment as it sounds.