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I’ve blind tasted a lot of whiskeys this year. While there was a good mix of blended scotch, single malts, Irish whiskeys, and ryes in the mix, the majority of those were definitely bourbon. In fact, I did fourteen blind taste tests with bourbon in 2021.

It was … a lot. But it was also a worthwhile pursuit to find the best bourbons out there in a variety of styles and price ranges.

To that end, I decided to go back and pull the winning pick from every bourbon blind tasting of 2021. I ended up with 14 bourbons that fall into a wide swath of categories — from barrel proof to single barrel to cheap to crafty. I ended up with a hell of a list of whiskeys.

Then I re-tasted them all (blind). In the end, I was honestly shocked at the bottle I picked as the best overall. So shocked in the fact, that I’m eager to get right into it.

Our lineup today includes:

• Woodinville Port Cask
• Michter’s Single Barrel Bourbon 10
• Barrell Bourbon Batch 23
• Bulleit Bourbon
• Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121
• William Larue Weller
• Noah’s Mill
• Jefferson’s Very Old
• Evan Williams Black Label
• Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old “The Honey Barrel”
• Pursuit United
• Wild Turkey 101
• Widow Jane Aged 10 Years
• Heaven’s Door Redbreast Master Blender’s Edition

Ready? Let’s go!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of 2021

• The Single Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The Best Bottles Of Bourbon Whiskey For Under $20, Ranked
• Our Favorite Bourbon Whiskey From Every Price Point Between $10-$200
• All 19 Brands From The Buffalo Trace Distillery, Ranked
• Here’s Who Won Our Big Barrel Proof Bourbon Whiskey Blind Taste Test

Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Candied fruit, fat nuts, and mild spice combine on the nose to create a holiday cake vibe with a nice line of worn leather throughout. The palate is very “plum pudding” with browned butter, almost molasses sugars, and very dark and dried fruits with a touch of sweet-yet-salty toffee drizzled everywhere. The end is like a velvet pillow of Christmas cake, soft sugars, and dried berries all wrapped up in some light tobacco leaves.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Light toffee, spicy tobacco, maple candy, and raw leather drive the nose on this one. The taste holds onto that maple as a rich, malted, and silky vanilla pudding comes into play with a lacy, hard-candy sugar while hints of dry cedar bark mingle with dark fruits. The mid-palate veers towards a pecan/maple butter/tobacco vibe that sings across the senses.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

New leather pouches are filled with marzipan with a touch of vanilla and rosewater next to a hint of dry wicker on the nose. The taste is thin-ish with the wicker driving the palate towards berries touched with brown spices and a hint of vanilla oils. The finish spices things up with a tobacco chewiness that leans more into the dry wicker than anything else.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

This opens very “classic bourbon” with notes of caramel, cinnamon, apple, and vanilla with a thin touch of spice. That spice drives the palate with a cinnamon powderiness that leads towards brown sugar and apples. The taste sort of drops off after that, leaving you with spicy tobacco that’s just touched with apple and caramel.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

This is all about the red, tart, and sweet berries in vanilla cream with a clear sense of the berry brambles — think leaves, stems, seeds, thorns, and even a little dirt. That vanilla drives the palate with a hint of light green pepper spice that gives way to a mid-palate that’s a medley of fresh blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry. Those berries take on a dried rose note as a rich berry-laced and slightly spiced tobacco drives home the sip.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Vanilla drives the nose with hints of roasted but sweet almond next to brittle toffee that’s just touched with salt. The palate teeters between smoked plums with a hint of spice and a tower of cream puffs with plenty of butter and vanilla. The mid-palate moves from cherry tobacco towards a dark chocolate powder until eventually an almost menthol note rounds out the finish.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Eggnog spices and creaminess sit next to an old cedar tobacco box on the nose of this one. Cinnamon candy, buttery toffee, and dry wicker dominate the palate with caramel cinnamon apple Corn Pops with a lush background leading back towards that dry wicker on the finish. That old tobacco box fills with cinnamon candy as the finish fades away.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a dollop of honey next to eggnog spices, soft leather, and green reeds that are almost grassy. The taste is all about the apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks with a touch of clove next to an Almond Roca vibe. The mid-palate leans into the toffee as a very light vanilla tobacco drives the subtle finish.

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

Roasted corn husk leads towards a buttery vanilla sauce with a touch of generic oak on the nose. The palate dives into caramel apples with a touch of brown spice and maybe a hint of cherry, almond shells, and thin marzipan. The end has a pear/apple candy sweetness with a hint more of thin wood.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

This opens with rich and buttery toffee next to cherry tobacco, vanilla pods, and soft cedar staves wrapped up in old leather. The taste has lush dark cacao with a spiced toffee pudding silkiness. The spices mellow towards creamy eggnog on the mid-palate as green pepper and dry reeds linger on the senses.

Taste 11

Tasting Notes:

Dark chocolate-covered caramels that are just touched with orange oils draw you in on the nose. The taste has this light sense of cornmeal next to dark chocolate-laced tobacco with a hint of dried red fruit that feels like a red wine stave. The mid-palate has a Christmas cake feel with spice, fruit, and nuts all with a hint of vanilla leading towards an old cedar box that used to hold tobacco.

Taste 12

Tasting Notes:

Vanilla and butterscotch pudding cups mingle with burst sugars, leather, and woody spice on the nose. That butterscotch turns into toffee on the palate as those woody spices narrow down to dried cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, and a touch of ground nutmeg. The mid-palate has a sweet orchard fruit vibe with a touch of vanilla tobacco that leads towards a long, spicy, and chewy finish.

Taste 13

Tasting Notes:

Soft leather, spicy yet sweet mulled wine cut with oranges, and … I swear … Irish Spring soap mingle on the nose. Brandied cherries mix with marzipan covered in dark chocolate as a woody maple syrup drives the mid-palate. The finish takes on a cherry tobacco sweetness and spice on a slow, gentle fade.

Taste 14

Tasting Notes:

Leathery dates, soft marzipan, and apple cores lead the way on the nose with cedar and cherry in the background. The palate has this rich and moist vanilla pound cake vibe with poppy seeds mixed in and a touch of orange oil to help it pop. The end comes with a mild sense of spice and instead leans fruity with dark and mildly dried stone fruits and a mild tobacco buzz.

Part 2: The Ranking

14. Bulleit Bourbon — Taste 4

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $32

The Whiskey:

This Diageo bourbon has a high-rye mash bill, with 28 percent of the recipe consisting of the spicy grain. While most of the older juice is still sourced, Diageo has built a distillery that’s making the juice for Bulleit now.

Bottom Line:

This was fine, classic even. But it was also really thin compared to a lot of bourbons on this list, which made it the most forgettable today.

13. Evan Williams Black Label — Taste 9

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $18 (1-liter bottle)

The Whiskey:

This is the entry point for Evan Williams. The juice is a mix of four to seven-year-old barrels of the standard Heaven Hill bourbon. The difference in this bottle is that it’s proofed at a slightly higher 43 proof.

Bottom Line:

This had a bit more depth to it but was still pretty thin. You really can’t get away from the “cheap” vibe of these whiskeys when tasting them right next to better-built juice.

12. Barrell Bourbon Batch 23 — Taste 3

ABV: 53.89%

Average Price: $90

The Whiskey:

Barrell Craft Spirits might be one of the best whiskey blenders working today (especially in the U.S.). This expression blends ten, 12, and 15-year-old barrels from Kentucky, Tennesee, and Indiana into a final product. On paper, this shouldn’t be this refined. Tthis is all about expert barrel selection and blending as the final product is bottled at cask strength with no proofing or filtration to hide behind.

Bottom Line:

This was a really nice sip. But it just sort of got lost in the crowd on this go-around.

11. Noah’s Mill — Taste 7

ABV: 57.15%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

This is Willett’s high-proof bourbon that’s barely cut down to a very high 114.3 proof. This is kind of like the big and bolder sibling of Willett’s Rowan’s Creek bourbon, which is cut down to 100.1 proof.

Bottom Line:

This is another bourbon that kind of got lost in the mix a bit. It was really distinct and tasty but there wasn’t any “wow” factor against these bourbons.

10. Jefferson’s Very Old — Taste 8

ABV: 45.1%

Average Price: $58

The Whiskey:

Jefferson’s Reserve is a masterclass in the power of blending. This expression is a marriage of only eight to 12 barrels from three different bourbons which are, for the most part, very old. How old you ask? There are 20-year-old barrels in the mix — sorta crazy, considering the price.

Bottom Line:

This was pretty tasty all things considered. Still, it didn’t pop for me. It felt more like something I’d mix with if I wanted to make some killer cocktails.

9. Wild Turkey 101 — Taste 12

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $26

The Whiskey:

A lot of Wild Turkey’s character comes from the hard and deep char they use on their oak barrels. 101 is a high-rye and high-ABV bourbon that leans into the wood and aging, having spent six years in the cask. A little of that soft Kentucky limestone water is added to cool it down a bit before bottling.

Bottom Line:

This did not feel like a cheap bourbon in the same way some of the bottles in the lower slots did. It was deeply hewn and very tasty without being overdone, but it was still a little light at the end.

8. Pursuit United — Taste 11

ABV: 54%

Average Price: $68

The Whiskey:

This is a vatted from 40 total barrels from three different states. While the team at Pursuit United doesn’t release the Tennessee distillery name, we know the juices from Kentucky and New York are from Bardstown Bourbon Company and Finger Lakes Distilling, respectively.

Bottom Line:

This was a solid bourbon. There wasn’t an “x-factor” that helped it rise above but I totally can see using this to make a Manhattan tonight, or just sipping it on the rocks.

7. Widow Jane Aged 10 Years — Taste 13

ABV: 45.5%

Average Price: $76

The Whiskey:

This is sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee bourbons. The hand-selected barrels are sent to New York where they’re blended in small batches (no more than five barrels), proofed with New York limestone mine water, and bottled. What you’re paying for here is the exactness of a whiskey blender finding great barrels and knowing how to marry them to make something bigger and better.

Bottom Line:

This really did shine but lacked a little something I can’t quite put my finger on. It was deeply flavored and really tasty but it didn’t really stick with me today.

6. Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old “The Honey Barrel” — Taste 10

ABV: 63.41%

Average Price: $230

The Whiskey:

Jim Rutledge’s new project, after leaving Four Roses, is one of the most sought-after new bourbons on the market. The juice in the bottle is hand-selected by Rutledge and barreled as a single barrel at cask strength. That also makes each bottle unique … and fleeting.

Bottom Line:

This was in a good stretch of drams. It fell a little lower for being almost … small when compared to the other big bourbons on the list. But it still tasted great.

5. Heaven’s Door Redbreast Master Blender’s Edition — Taste 14

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $116

The Whiskey:

The juice in the bottle is Heaven Door’s low-rye ten-year-old Tennessee bourbon. They take that whiskey and fill it into Redbreast whiskey casks that had previously aged Irish whiskey for 12 years. After 15 months of final maturation, those barrels are vatted and slightly proofed down with soft Tennessee spring water.

Bottom Line:

I was also surprised that this ranked so low. That could be because my palate was fatigued by the time I got to dram 14. Or it just didn’t quite stand up to the others it had to go up against. Either way, it was still damn fine.

4. Michter’s Single Barrel Bourbon 10 — Taste 2

ABV: 47.2%

Average Price: $200

The Whiskey:

Michter’s is currently distilling and aging their own whiskey, but this is still sourced. The actual barrels sourced for these single barrel expressions tend to be at least ten years old with some rumored to be closer to 15 years old. Either way, the juice goes through Michter’s bespoke filtration process before a touch of Kentucky’s iconic soft limestone water is added, bringing the bourbon down to a very crushable 94.4 proof.

Bottom Line:

I would have put money on me picking this as number one. Still, the top five isn’t a bad place to be for this much-adored brand.

3. Woodinville Port Cask — Taste 1

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $52

The Whiskey:

Woodinville Whiskey has been cleaning up awards recently. Their Port Cask takes their five-year-old bourbon and ages it for a final six months in Ruby Port barrels to add a whole new dimension to the whiskey.

Bottom Line:

I’d argue this still holds up, given that it took a top-three spot. Plus, it’s just so damn delicious that it’s hard not to still love after a year of tasting so many different whiskeys.

2. William Larue Weller — Taste 6

ABV: 67.25%

Average Price: $832

The Whiskey:

This wheated whiskey from 2008 eschews the more common rye and adds in North Dakota wheat. The juice is then barreled and stored in two warehouses where 73 percent of the whiskey is lost to the air in those Buffalo Trace warehouses. The juice is then bottled untouched and unfiltered.

Bottom Line:

I would have also put serious money on me picking this as my number one — I tend to love this juice. But here we are. I’m sure the good people at Buffalo Trace will survive this second-place ranking, somehow.

1. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 — Taste 5

ABV: 61.8%

Average Price: $80

The Whiskey:

This expression is all about finding the best barrels in the Heaven Hill warehouses and letting that whiskey shine on its own. These are released three times a year and have been winning award after award. The whiskey in the bottle is generally at least 12 years old and bottled with no cutting down to proof or filtration whatsoever, thereby letting the barrel shine on its own.

Bottom Line:

I’m truly shocked I picked this blind as my favorite of the day. I’ve spent the last year really only using this for mixing cocktails but it was a delight neat in a Glencairn. This is why we do blind taste tests. You really never know what’ll stand out.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

I 100 percent thought that Michter’s 10, Heaven’s Door, or Weller would have won the day. That Elijah Craig won still has me scratching my head a bit. But here we are, and I learned that even my own preconceived notions from tastings ebb and flow throughout the year.

Excited to see what 2022 brings!

Issa Rae’s trademark television show Insecure has grown to be one the country’s most-watched shows through its four and a half seasons. In recent years, Insecure took home the award for Outstanding Comedy Series at 2021’s NAACP Image Awards. The show also earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series last year. In addition to its storyline and its characters, the soundtrack for Insecure is also another aspect viewers love about the show. Now in its fifth and final season, Issa Rae unveils the tracklist for this season’s soundtrack and it looks like a good one.

The soundtrack for the fifth season of Insecure features familiar names like Saweetie, They., Jesse Boykins III, Ambre, Duckwrth, Thundercat, Mereba, and Teamarr. Elsewhere, ESTA, Mack Keane, Akeem Ali, 27Delly, Jorge Amadeus, B.K. Habermehl, Nnena, Josh Levi, Mikhala Jené, Amindi, 27Delly, Kiah Victoria, and Ace Henderson can also be found on the soundtrack. The full project arrives this Friday, December 3.

“Music has always been an essential part of every project I do and working with emerging talent is a personal passion,” Rae said about the upcoming tracklist to Variety. “Raedio allows me to continue that work within the music industry and audio entertainment space. The Atlantic Records team are innovators in terms of shifting and shaping culture. I’m excited to join forces with them to discover new artists.”

You can view the full tracklist for Insecure: Music From The HBO Original Series, Season 5 below.

1. Saweetie — “Get It Girl”
2. They. — “Snoring”
3. Jesse Boykins III, Duckwrth, Ambré, ESTA, and Mack Keane — “Seein Ya”
4. Akeem Ali, 27Delly, and Jorge Amadeus — “50 Lem Hunnits”
5. B.K. Habermehl — “Time Off”
6. Nnena — “Fun”
7. Josh Levi — “What’s the Use”
8. Thundercat — “Satellite” Feat. Louis Cole & Genevieve Artadi
9. Mikhala Jené — “Mad Bitches” – Feat. Ro James
10. Mereba — “Glock Peaceful”
11. TeaMarrr — “Pipe Dreams”
12. Amindi, 27Delly, Kiah Victoria, and Ace Henderson — “Fantasy”

Insecure: Music From The HBO Original Series, Season 5 is out 12/3 via Raedio/Atlantic.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

IHOP has a lot of pancakes. I know that kind of goes without saying, I mean this is the International House of Pancakes we’re talking about so you’ve got to assume if anyone has an abundance of different pancakes, it’s them, but have you ever stopped to think about just how many ‘a lot‘ is? A month ago, off the top of my head, I could name at best five possible flavors: buttermilk, chocolate chip, blueberry, banana, and strawberry.

Imagine my surprise when I actually learned that IHOP currently has thirteen, including their limited-time holiday options (available until January 2nd). THIRTEEN, and that’s after streamlining the menu during the pandemic. How are there that many? Like, okay, I get it, you’ve got wheat, and there is probably a pumpkin thrown in there for the season, but thirteen? Who designed this menu, the same maniac behind the Cheesecake Factory?

That got us thinking: okay, thirteen, that’s a lot, but how many of those are actually good? So we ordered them all, reviewed them, and ranked them and we had such a good time binging on pancakes in a single marathon sitting that we decided to also throw in IHOP’s crepes and waffle options too. Ask me if I’m sick of pancakes. The answer is no.

With our efforts, we’re hoping to provide you with the definitive guide to hitting the International House of Pancakes (just ask us to hit the omelets next, we dare you). You’re going to thank us when you’re stoned out of your mind and jonesing for a pancake and are suddenly hit with the desire to have whatever the hell a Tres Leches pancake is.

17. Cupcake

Cupcake icing on top, rainbow sprinkles in the batter, if you’re able to read the description of this pancake… or any of the menu for that matter, then you’re not the target audience of this pancake. It’s sweet, obviously, and the frosting on top makes the whole thing taste like a cupcake, but overall it comes off as a better dessert than something you’d want to eat at breakfast.

Best Syrup Pairing I don’t know… Butter Pecan? It’s sweet enough, you maniac.

The Bottom Line: This is a pancake for children. If you’re stoned and this seems like a good idea, it’s not, order the chocolate chip.

16. Pumpkin Spice

The Pumpkin Spice pancake is part of IHOP’s seasonal winter menu. To begin with, I’m not the biggest pumpkin spice fan. When the leaves start turning brown and suddenly the smell of pumpkin infuses everything, it does nothing for me. So these pancakes are just never going to be a winner in my book. To my taste buds, this isn’t anything remarkable, it tastes like pumpkin spice. You’ve got notes of clove and ginger mixed in with the normal flavor of a pancake.

Topping this pancake is a dollop of creamy whipped cream. It doesn’t do much to win me over and is a far cry from the experience of a pumpkin pie if that’s what IHOP was going for.

Best Syrup Pairing Old Fashioned

The Bottom Line:

Butter doesn’t taste right on this pancake, the flavors clash, but it’s not quite sweet enough to hit that dessert quality of some of the other pancakes on this list. It lives in this weird in-between world. This one needs more thought on IHOP’s end.

15. Waffles

It’s made with IHOP’s buttermilk batter so it must be good right? Not really. It’s not bad, it’s a waffle, but it isn’t worth your curiosity. Ultimately it’s a better idea than the end result. The waffle is crispy and well toasted with a soft and fluffy inside. It’s just not as good as most of the pancakes.

Best Syrup Pairing Old Fashioned or Butter Pecan.

The Bottom Line:

It’s IHOP not IHOW and there is a reason for that.

14. Swedish Crepe

IHOP’s crepes are a bit thicker than your average crepe, but they still have a great flavor and consistency. The Swedish crepe is topped with sweet and tart lingonberries. It’s good, just a little unimaginative. I wish IHOP would give savory crepes a try.

Best Syrup Pairing No syrup necessary.

The Bottom Line:

It’s good, but not IHOP’s best crepe.

13. Mexican Tres Leches

“Tres Leches, yeah right IHOP,” is what I thought when I looked at the menu and discovered this pancake. I’ve had a lot of Tres Leches in my life, I grew up in a Latino family, in a Latino neighborhood, I’ve had so much damn tres leches that I’m sick of it. I find the idea of making a pancake taste anything like this ridiculously moist cake, and yet, somehow IHOP has kind of nailed it.

Don’t get me wrong, this is nowhere near as deliciously decadent as actual tres leches, but IHOP has somehow managed to mimic the wet spongey and soft texture of tres leches, and this pancake is punishingly sweet, just like the cake it tries to mimic. That earns IHOP a solid A for effort.

But we’re grading on flavor not effort, and this is a bit too sickly sweet for me. A bite or two is fine, but even a short stack might be enough to make you feel sick from sugar overload.

Best Syrup Pairing Blueberry

The Bottom Line: Blueberry on a pancake I said was already too sweet? Hey, when in Rome — or in this case, when in the International House of Pancakes.

12. Original Gluten-Friendly

IHOP’s Gluten-Friendly pancakes, we should note, shouldn’t be confused with gluten-free pancakes. Technically, IHOP’s gluten-friendly pancakes share a flat grill with their Original pancakes, so they can’t guarantee that your pancakes will be completely free of gluten, as measured by the FDA. That’s a distinction that might be important to people.

Unfortunately, these pancakes aren’t really for me, I’m not trying to avoid gluten but it feels harsh to rank these low because it’s not like they taste bad. Let’s get this straight, they don’t taste nearly as good as IHOP’s Original Buttermilk, they have a more natural and grainy texture to them and don’t have that soft fluffy texture that results from the buttermilk, but they’re not gross. I just like a lot of other pancakes more, so take my opinion here with a grain of salt.

Best Syrup Pairing Old Fashioned

The Bottom Line:

It’s not technically gluten-free.

11. Strawberries Creme Crepe

It’s IHOP’s Swedish Crepe but with glazed strawberries and vanilla cream drizzle instead of tart lingonberries. Overall I think that makes for a better experience. This is a nice little dessert to order for the table if the idea of strawberry pancakes sounds too heavy.

Best Syrup Pairing More Whipped Cream.

The Bottom Line:

IHOP’s best crepe option.

10. Crispy Potato Pancakes

This shouldn’t count, but hey, it has pancake in the name so technically this is an IHOP pancake. It fills weird to rank this above our bottom choice but… it’s kind of hard for me to not like this. It’s fried potato, and it tastes like the flat grill, you know, the same one IHOP cooks bacon and grills onions on. That’s what this tastes like.

How does this differ from a hash brown? It’s all crisp, with hardly any fluffy potato left.

Best Syrup Pairing Salt, ketchup and pepper.

The Bottom Line:

It’s technically a pancake, I guess. It’s definitely not a hash brown. Better than our bottom pick.

9. Strawberry Banana French Toast

It covers up some of the shortcomings of IHOP’s French toast thanks to the generous inclusion of strawberry, banana, and strawberry glaze. It’s sweet and incredibly filling. I know I attempted this entire tasting in a single day but I’m still pretty comfortable saying this is way more than most people can eat in a single sitting. It’s definitely a dish worth sharing though!

Best Syrup Pairing Old-Fashioned.

The Bottom Line:

Order it for the table, it’s the best way to experience IHOP’s French toast.

8. New York Cheesecake

The IHOP pancake menu attempts to mimic two other delicious sweet treats: Mexican Tres Leches, and New York Cheesecake, in one of those attempts they fail and that failure is the New York Cheesecake. It’s just nothing really like cheesecake, it has a slight tang to it thanks to the cheesecake bites they throw on the top, but with the topping of glazed strawberries, it just feels overall a bit redundant.

It feels like a flavor combination that IHOP is doubling down on. Enough with the strawberries already, bring back Rudy Tootie Fresh and Fruity in place of this, please!

Best Syrup Pairing Strawberry. Double up baby!

The Bottom Line:

If you want cheesecake, you’re not in the right place my friend.

7. Winter Wonderland

Another pancake that is part of IHOP’s limited-run winter menu, this pancake is easily IHOP’s most frightening. I know what you’re thinking, you see this pancake and you’ve lost all respect for me. How is this not ranked at the bottom of the list? Because… it kind of slaps. Hear me out, it has that same delicious and fluffy buttermilk base that you’re expecting out of a good pancake, but is gently dusted with powdered sugar, marshmallows that are totally optional (let’s face it, you’re going to eat them), and a delicious vanilla icing on top that pulls sweet sugary flavors together.

It’s like eating a giant fluffy cookie. It’s delicious. Are you going to tell me you don’t like cookies?

Best Syrup Pairing No syrup necessary, but might as well go Butter Pecan if you’re feeling wild.

The Bottom Line:

Yes, it looks insane, but it actually pulls off whatever the hell it’s trying to pull off. This is a great dessert pancake.

6. Strawberry Banana

IHOP’s Strawberry Banana pancakes are the menu’s best decadent pancake choice. This is the sort of pancake you order when you really want to go HAM on that sweet tooth. The pancakes here are filled with fresh banana slices and topped with more bananas (chill IHOP) drowning in a healthy dose of strawberry glaze. And by “healthy dose” I mean more than you should probably have in a single sitting. But f*ck it right? We’re at IHOP!

Best Syrup Pairing Old Fashioned

The Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for IHOP’s most extra but best-tasting sweet pancake, Strawberry Banana is it!

5. Cranberry Vanilla

I never thought I’d describe anything on the IHOP menu as “fancy,” but this Cranberry Vanilla pancake is f*cking faaancy. Vanilla bean mousse topped with cranberry topping, powdered sugar, and whipped cream? Is this what the royal family eats? For IHOP, this pancake has an impressive level of craft, I’d love to see it blind taste-tested alongside some high-end pancake houses (are those a thing?)

This is IHOP’s best holiday menu item, it’s sweet and complex with a sharp tang that snaps the palate to attention.

Best Syrup Pairing It’s a toss-up between the Old-Fashioned and the Blueberry.

The Bottom Line:

A short stack of this for the table is a must-order, considering it’s a limited-time pancake.

4. Harvest Grain ’N Nut

I walked out of IHOP thinking these were the best pancakes I’ve ever eaten, so I knew that was the incredible amount of sugar I consumed and had to check myself. After a few days of ruminating on it, I need to put these in their proper place, and that’s the number three spot. I love these, the texture of the pancake is enhanced by bits of oats, almonds and walnuts, embedded into deliciously chewy and fluffy bread. I guess this is supposed to be IHOP’s healthy option, but you wouldn’t know it.

A splash of Butter Pecan syrup and extra butter will intensify the earthy flavors of this delicious pancake.

Best Syrup Pairing: Butter Pecan

The Bottom Line:

If you’re interested in pancakes outside of IHOP’s Originals, this is a great choice. It’s so good you’ll return to see how the other flavors stack up.

3. Chocolate Chocolate Chip

It’s hard not to fall in love with a chocolate chip pancake so IHOP could’ve easily tossed a handful of chocolate chips into their Original Buttermilk and called it a day, but they went a little deeper, and we appreciate them for that. Not only is this pancake filled with, honestly, way more chocolate chips than was necessary, they also drizzle chocolate sauce into the batter while the pancake is cooking.

Not pouring the chocolate drizzle on top of an already cooked pancake makes all the difference because the chocolate drizzle carmelizes in the pancake, giving this pancake a really delicious explosion of chocolatey sweetness with every bite.

Best Syrup Pairing Honestly no syrup necessary, but if you must I’d go with Old Fashioned.

The Bottom Line:

A thoughtful chocolate chip pancake that delivers on the most important part — the chocolate.

2. Blueberry

Like the blueberry muffin, the blueberry pancake is essential. If you’re a restaurant that insists on having a variation on a buttermilk pancake, blueberry is the obvious play. There is something so complementary about these flavors, the earthy salty sugary taste of a good pancake is instantly elevated with the sweet and tart bite of blueberry. Add the sugary overload of blueberry compote to the top and you’ve got the perfect dessert pancake.

It’s not what you want all the time, but if you’re looking for a blueberry pancake that hits that particular craving, IHOP delivers beautifully.

Best Syrup Pairing Old Fashioned. That maple flavor also combines beautifully with the tartness of blueberries.

The Bottom Line:

The perfect dessert pancake.

1. Original Buttermilk

Simply the best. Really, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see Original Buttermilk at the number one spot. You can throw whatever fruit you want into a pancake, go nuts and throw some nuts in there, by all means, add chocolate, no matter how you f*ck with a pancake, it’ll always pale in comparison to a well-made buttermilk and in the world national restaurant chains, few make a better one than IHOP.

It’s gummy, fluffy, the perfect sponge for soaking up both butter and syrup. A forkful from a short stack is the kind of flavor experience that makes you close your eyes, say your favorite curse word and savor life’s beauty. It’s the sort of thing that makes waking up early in the morning worth it. Yes, I realize I’m talking about a pancake.

Best Syrup Pairing: Old Fashioned

The Bottom Line:

All those other flavors are fun novelties, but nothing beats an original buttermilk pancake.

Find your nearest IHOP here.

After a dreadful, 1-16 start to the 2021-22 NBA season, the Houston Rockets have won three games in a row. The third victory came against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, and Kevin Porter Jr. drew headlines for his first career triple-double. The 21-year-old guard exited Toyota Center in Houston with a stat line of 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, but Porter Jr.’s triple-double attracted the attention of the league office.

In short, Porter Jr.’s 10th and final rebound occurred with approximately one minute to play in the game, and he had some help.

As you can see, Alperen Sengun attempted to deflect the ball toward Porter Jr. and both Josh Christopher and Jae’Sean Tate seemingly conspired to make sure Porter Jr. snagged the rebound for milestone purposes. By Tuesday evening, though, ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported that the NBA took the 10th rebound away, instead crediting it to Sengun as a “controlled tip.”

Ultimately, this may be the right call by the league, and it was openly discussed on Monday that the league might weigh in with this kind of ruling. That is unfortunate on some level for Porter Jr., who has 32 assists in the last three games, but he is talented enough as a player to potentially generate a triple-double without shenanigans in the future. In the meantime, the Rockets will have to take solace in the three consecutive wins, and Porter Jr. may be remembered alongside Ricky Davis in triple-double fame.

Perhaps the most highly-anticipated regular season game to this point of the NBA’s regular season took place on Tuesday evening in Phoenix, but it didn’t take long for a damper to be thrown on the occasion. During the second quarter in the Phoenix Suns‘ showdown with the Golden State Warriors, the team announced that standout guard Devin Booker would have to leave due to a hamstring injury.

Booker left the game at the 5:59 mark of the second quarter and was ruled out shortly after. At the time he exited the game, Booker had 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting with two rebounds in 15 minutes of work, and the Suns trailed by five. They would go on to take a two-point lead into halftime.

The game pits the two best teams in the league against one another. While the Warriors possess the best record in the NBA, sitting 18-2 and winners of their last seven games, the Suns have been scorching since starting the season 1-3. Phoenix are winners of their last 16 games in a row, with Booker unsurprisingly performing at a high level. One of the lynchpins of the team’s run to the NBA Finals, Booker is averaging 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 33.1 minutes per game.

Earlier this year, Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) after seven years of marriage. The split was a fairly peaceful one from both sides, but in recent weeks, Ye has made a push at reconciliation. In the midst of this, Kim has been seen on serval occasions with comedian Pete Davidson, which has sparked several dating rumors. In the meantime, Ye and Kim were reunited in public for the first time since Ye’s attempts to mend their relationship.

The pair were photographed together at the final Louis Vuitton show for Virgil Abloh, the famed designer and DJ who tragically passed away on Sunday following a two-year battle with cancer, which he chose to keep private. Ye and Kim also attended the show with their eldest daughter North West.

This comes after he dedicated his most recent Sunday Service to Abloh. A message that appeared at the end of the service read, “In loving memory of Virgil Abloh, the creative director of Donda.” Ye and Abloh worked together on several occasions, with the latter helping craft the cover art for Ye’s albums My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Yeezus, as well as Watch The Throne, his 2011 joint album with Jay-Z.

Remember when Jeopardy! was overrun by a ridiculous scandal involving someone named “Mike Richards”? Luckily it didn’t destroy the nations’ brainiest prime time game show. Instead it quickly bounced back with some record-busting winners. First there was Matt Amodio, whose streak coincided with the Richards affair. Then there was Jonathan Fisher. Now there’s Amy Schneider.

As of the last day of November, the Oakland native had plowed through 10 shows without a defeat. With over $300,000 in winnings so far, she already qualifies for the show’s annual “Tournament of Champions.” On top of that, she’s the first transgender contestant to do so. As Schenider’s streak continues, she spoke with Clue Crew’s Jimmy McGuire about her game-changing run.

“I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t think I could do good, but this has just been so much better than I thought I could do,” Schenider said, adding, “it’s really hard to say what it means yet.”

After only 10 days, Schneider is already within striking distance of some of the show’s all-time greats. When asked who she’d most like to beat, she went big. “I mean, I’d like to beat James Holzhauer, I think,” he said, laughing. “He seems very confident, I guess I’ll say. I would sort of feel good, in a way.”

Schneider also spoke about someone who inspired her after she moved out to San Francisco and got involved in the comedy scene. She was moved by local comedian, Natasha Muse, who’s also trans. “Growing up in the Midwest in a conservative family, I got kind of a distorted idea of what it meant to be trans,” Schenider said. “So seeing her, being smart and funny and cool and just a normal person with a normal life and kids and all that, just showed me that it was something that I could possibly be.”

You can watch Schneider speak in the video above.

There’s no “bad” season for tequila, even in December as the holidays approach. We have no trouble enjoying a well-made, warming blanco (un-aged) tequila during the colder months — it’s such a versatile mixer. But winter is an even more ideal season for a bottle of reposado (aged up to a year), an añejo (aged up to three years), or even the deep, oaky extra añejo (aged three years or more).

To find the best bottles of tequila on the market — regardless of the time of year you’re doing the sipping — we once again turned to the pros who spend their time mixing and pouring drinks behind the bar. We asked a handful of well-known bartenders to tell us the one tequila they’d drink forever if they had to pick one and stick with it for the rest of their days.

Keep scrolling to check out all of their selections.

Fortaleza Reposado

John Dal Canton, assistant general manager and beverage director at La Stella Cucina Verace in Dallas

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $60

Why This Tequila?

Fortaleza distills and ages their tequilas according to tradition. Each year different terroirs are expressed and distilled, making each batch distinct from the last. If I could only drink one tequila for the rest of my life, choosing this one would mean I could still enjoy a different tequila every year.

Calle 23 Reposado

Lauren Parton, general manager of Viceroy in Chicago

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $30

Why This Tequila?

Calle 23 Reposado is made and owned by a woman who came to distilling tequila via cognac. The reposado has roasted vegetable qualities alongside a sweetness reminiscent of figs, most likely from the aging in ex-bourbon barrels.

It’s an interesting tequila that’s easy to drink and would be an easy one to drink for the rest of my life.

Cimarron Blanco

Nicholas Karel, director of bars, lounges, and beverages at Windsor Court in New Orleans

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $20

Why This Tequila?

Cimarron Blanco is the most delicious 100 percent agave tequila for its price point I’ve found. Clean and flavorful, it has notes of green agave, pepper, and a slight fruitiness. It goes down well in a shot or a sip and is perfect for cocktails.

Avion Reserva 44

Christopher Rodriguez, lead bartender at Lucy Restaurant & Bar in Yountville, California

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $130

Why This Tequila?

I have to choose Avión Reserva 44 because it was the first tequila I enjoyed sipping. Because of this, it would be the one tequila I would choose to drink for the rest of my life. To me, the oaky añejo has whiskey-like notes but the agave shines through and finishes with vanilla notes.

ArteNOM Seleccion de 1146 Añejo

Slava Borisov, mixologist at Adorn Bar & Restaurant in the Four Seasons in Chicago

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $100

Why This Tequila?

Only one?! When it comes to tequila it is hard to go wrong and with so many high-quality producers, it can be very hard to narrow it down. If I had to choose one tequila right now, I would pick ArteNOM Seleccion de 1146 Anejo. The aging regimen is what sets this tequila apart from the rest. The total aging is almost three years split between used Cabernet Franc, French oak barrels, and Canadian and Tennessee whiskey barrels.

All of this leads to an extremely complex tequila that you can enjoy sipping for the rest of your life.

Clase Azul Reposado

Stephen Lasaten, food and beverage manager at The Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $160

Why This Tequila?

I have to go with Clase Azul Reposado. The luxurious-looking vessel is truly backed by its richness on the palate with vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch notes coming through. I can enjoy this by sipping it neat or on the rocks. It can also be mixed with club soda and served on the rocks with a squeeze of lime and the flavors will still come through.

Also, the silver bell top on the bottle can be rung every time you pour yourself a glass, making every occasion with it absolutely special.

Cincoro Reposado

Anthony Aviles, director of operations at The Ritz-Carlton Members Beach Club in Sarasota, Florida

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $90

Why This Tequila?

My “desert island” tequila would have to be Cincoro Reposado. It’s a bit pricier at around $90 per bottle, but it has all of the weight and complexities of more expensive tequilas. The bottle is a beautiful and tall statement piece on the back bar with the spirit itself showing off a rich, golden, reposado color that stands out. It is velvety on the palate with a slight smokiness that is complemented by its sweet, tropical fruit and quietly vegetal core.

I wouldn’t even bother mixing it with anything — just strand me on an island with an endless supply and life will work itself out nicely on its own.

Cascahuin Extra Añejo

Steven Minor, corporate beverage director at 1 Hotels in Los Angeles

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $115

Why This Tequila?

Cascahuin Extra Anejo is a masterpiece by Salvador Rosales. Cascahuin doesn’t cut any corners from Tahona extraction to brick oven cooking (vs autoclave and diffusers, you know who you are), fourth-generation family distillers, etc. I had the pleasure of being introduced to this while taking a course in Tequila Sensory Evaluation in Guadalajara. I was part of a group of high-level distillers, scientists, and tequila industry folk from Guadalajara that really knew their stuff. I decided to ask them all what their favorite tequila was to drink. The universal response: Tequila Cascahuin.

Naturally, the first thing I did that night was to try some and I wasn’t disappointed. I do tend to have a sweet tooth and err towards juice that has been adulterated (once again, you know who you are). But this is a balanced harmony of cooked agave, orange peel, dried fruits, caramel, vanilla, cherry, and butter. I like to sip my aged tequila over a large-format ice cube. Give it a shot (no pun intended).

Casamigos Blanco

Emily Lawson, bartender and founder of Pink House Alchemy in Fayetteville, Arkansas

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $50

Why This Tequila?

Casamigos Blanco is the perfect addition to any tequila-based cocktail or drink, and that’s what makes it my pick. It’s smooth and light with the perfect smoky finish, in addition to the pronounced taste of agave, banana, and vanilla. As a shot, it’s smooth with minimal brashness or burn. In a margarita, it provides the perfect amount of sweetness. It’s our favorite addition to our signature pineapple rosemary shrub margarita.

El Tequileno Reposado Rare

Pascal Pinalt, director of restaurants and bars at The Confidante in Miami

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $229

Why This Tequila?

My pick would be El Tequileno Reposado Rare, which is the world’s first reposado rare. Aged for six years in an American oak barrel, it is made with 100 percent Blue Agave from Jalisco. The smell reminds me of a pie baked in the oven. I get vanilla, sweet agave, and some spice. There’s a very nice balance of agave, sweet citrus, a little oak, and a slowly increasing and fading heat through the finish. This is a nice sipper.

Casa Noble Reposado

Elvyra Cucovic, beverage manager at Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel’s The Social Club in Miami

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $45

Why This Tequila?

Casa Noble Reposado is the one tequila I could drink for the rest of my life. It’s a wonderful slow sipper. It’s mellow at first but has a great finish. You get notes of citrus, vanilla, and spices that linger for quite a while.

Don Julio 1942

Christopher Devern, lead bartender of Red Owl Tavern in Philadelphia

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $180

Why This Tequila?

Don Julio 1942 is more than just the bottle. When I first joined the bar scene, there weren’t many premium spirits I had gotten around to trying. I was a novice, and when invited to a Don Julio tasting it changed my perception of tequila. We tasted the blanco, reposado, anejo, 70 anejo, and 1942. From that point to now, there have been so many premium tequilas hitting the market. Brands like Cincoro, Clase Azul, Teremana, and of course Casamigos. I find many qualities I like in all of these tequilas, and they all have a place and time. But, 1942 is a celebration bottle that I pour during special times with close friends and family.

If I’m going to drink one tequila for the rest of my life, it better taste celebration-worthy, and this tequila absolutely does.

Avion Silver

Dan Tholen, lead bartender at Mas Amor Cantina in Hickory, North Carolina

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $40

Why This Tequila?

Hands down, I would pick Avion Silver Tequila. It’s sharp and smooth at the same time, and its peppery notes compliment the flavors of blue agave that I love. It’s versatile and perfect to use in margaritas of any flavor.

Tequila Ocho Plata

Nick Baitzel, beverage director of restaurant group Sojourn Philly in Philadelphia

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $50

Why This Tequila?

For me, it’s Tequila Ocho. I love the fact that they produce their tequila in vintages. As someone whose background is mostly in the wine industry, this speaks to me. I enjoy both the plata and reposado but having to choose one I would pick the reposado. The smoky, slightly oaky notes really pair well with the herbal flavors in the tequila, making it a perfect sipping tequila.

In the days after this month’s Astroworld Festival tragedy, Travis Scott put out a statement in which he offered to pay for the funeral expenses for the ten people who died during the event. This came before lawsuits began to mount against Scott and Astroworld organizers, with one of the latest ones amounting to $750 million from over 125 Astroworld attendees. On Monday, it was reported that the family of nine-year-old Ezra Blount, the youngest victim in the tragedy, declined Scott’s offer to pay for funeral expenses. Turns out Blount’s family was not the only one to do so.

According to Rolling Stone, three additional families also denied Scott’s offer through their lawyers. Philip Corboy, who represents the families of 21-year-old friends Jacob Jurinek and Franco Patino; Tony Buzbee, the lawyer for the family of 21-year-old Axel Acosta; and Richard Mithoff, who represents the family of 14-year-old John Hilgert, each expressed distaste for Scott’s offer in separate statements.

Corboy said he held discussions with the Jurinek and Patino families about Scott’s offer and they “realized quickly that all he was trying to do was trying to lessen the public outcry on his case.” He added, “It took them each about three seconds to say ‘No, no no.’” Corboy continued, “If he’s trying to impress upon the families that he’s sincere and has concern for them and realize that funerals can be expensive, what Scott’s team did is not the way to do it.” He concluded, “You don’t get a piece of paper in the mail from a lawyer in Beverly Hills who says he represents Travis Scott. These families are raw right now; that lacks any personal touch.”

Mithoff also spoke on behalf of the Hilgerts. “It was not an offer they were going to seriously consider,” he said. “Of all the things this case is about, that’s the least of any concern. This family is set on making change and ensuring this never happens at a concert again. I find offering to pay for funerals frankly demeaning and really inappropriate to the magnitude of the tragedy that unfolded.”

Buzbee says he received a call from a local attorney but went against returning the call. “It’s bullsh*t,” he said. “If you gave a sh*t about these families, you wouldn’t have to put out a press release for everyone to see saying he’s willing to pay for a funeral.” He continued, “Let the families grieve and shut up, that’s it. When something like this happens, there’s not a whole lot someone like Travis Scott could do to assuage their pain. He says he feels sorry for them but he’s quick to say it wasn’t his fault. He’s no different than any defendant pointing fingers to someone else. They don’t want funeral expenses from him. Whatever we get from him we’re going to get through the court system.”

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been shy about communicating during visits with The Pat McAfee Show during the 2021 NFL season. Between those appearances, his COVID misleading, and his well-publicized beef with the front office of the Green Bay Packers during the offseason, it’s been a wild ride in 2021, though the Packers are enjoying success on the field. On Tuesday, Rodgers was at it again. He seemed to suggest, at approximately the 2:10 mark of the video below, that members of Green Bay’s coaching staff could be leaking his medical information.

McAfee teed Rodgers up by asking about a report that Rodgers may need surgery on his toe and then another report that he might not need to go under the knife. From there, Rodgers leaned in to the bit, also addressing former Packers linebacker AJ Hawk, who was present.

“With these reports, I don’t know where they’re coming from,” Rodgers said. “I don’t know who’s talking. It seems like there are certain coaches that may have friends in the media that they don’t realize are actually just trying to report things.”

Shortly after, Rodgers said “there were guys for a while who had their people who they would leak stuff to.” That insinuation seemed to reflect that that active leaking was taking place, though there wasn’t much more detail within this particular exchange.

All of the back and forth about Rodgers’ toe is secondary to the suggestion, on a broadcast such as this, that things would be leaked about him from the inside. Some of this could be played up for whatever reason but, at the very least, it doesn’t seem like Rodgers is thrilled with the higher-ups in Green Bay, and that would be nothing new.