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The Sacred Valley of Peru is a major junction for travelers heading to Machu Picchu. But it’s much more than just a waypoint. The artistic villages, sacred sites, winding Urubamba River, and majestic mountains make the Sacred Valley beloved globally. It’s a destination you visit not just to see, but to feel.

In search of the most remarkable way to immerse myself in the Sacred Valley — a place that stands as a testament to ancient civilizations like the Incan Empire — I decided to get really, really high.

Although I was fresh off a healing retreat nearby, I’m talking high in altitude. Natura Vive’s newest “hanging hotel”, the Starlodge Adventure Suites, is built right into the face of the Andes, perched over 9k feet above sea level. When it comes to innovative, eco-centric concepts in Peru, these guys are stealing the show! Between stargazing from my sky high bedroom to watching eagles soar from the wood-fired high hot tub – the Starlodge Adventure Suites pretty much blew my mind. Keep reading for my full review.

WHY IT’S AWESOME

The Starlodge Adventure Suites is not a normal hotel. I repeat: the Starlodge Adventure Suites is NOT a normal hotel! It’s an immersive experience that gets you in direct contact with nature, inviting you out of your comfort zone and into the elements. The basecamp, hanging spa, and six pods (rooms) are exclusive to their own level – so you literally climb around the property using a via ferrata set with a helmet and gloves.

To get to my room, I hooked into a lifeline with carabiners and ascended up a rugged path, climbing steep metal stairs and crossing a swaying Tibetan bridge on the way up. I’m not one to shy away from heights, but I definitely blurted out “This is fucking crazy” more than a few times.

The hanging pods are architecturally marvelous; constructed with aerospace aluminum and transparent glass. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to sleep on a hanging portaledge bed like a rock climber, this hotel gets you pretty close! This was a key goal for the owners: two enthusiastic Peruvian mountain climbers. Let me tell you, waking up and peeling back the curtains to reveal the valley morning is something you will never forget. Even from the toilet, I couldn’t escape views of the Sacred Valley’s lush landscape!

Beyond the features and specs, the service is truly curated to the guest experience. My host David, a professional mountaineer, was my right-hand man. He was attentive and ensured I knew how to get around on my own before doing that disappearing act the best hosts do. David scooped me up in the hotel shuttle from my retreat two hours away, saving me the hassle of finding a taxi to the Sacred Valley. The on-site dining made my stay more immersive, and again, removed the hassle. Perhaps best of all, the Starlodge (and it’s older sister property, Skylodge) is Peruvian-owned.

IN-HOUSE FOOD & DRINK

Dinner on arrival day and breakfast on departure day are included in your stay. Meals are served at basecamp in a glamping-style pop-up dining room with pine dining sets. The vibe inside is super cozy: warm lighting, a traditional Peruvian wall hang, and vases of freshly picked flowers on each table.

To be honest, I felt unsure of what kind of food to anticipate. I mean, the Starlodge is on a mountain. Also, David – who just helped hoist me up the mountain – was my chef. By the end of the night I was totally impressed and regretted ever doubting David’s abilities.

Dinner was four courses, beginning with a traditional Andean soup and a crisp salad with all locally grown veggies, plus seeds and Peruvian olive oil (yes, that’s a thing!). It’s hard to get anything but the freshest produce available when you’re in the agricultural heartland of the Inca Empire. The main dish was a tender stuffed chicken breast with crispy Andean potatoes, which satiated me along with the small bottle of Peruvian Malbec I’d been sipping. But I always have room for dessert, and honestly, it may have been my favorite part; a crispy quinoa bar topped with juicy mango slices and a tahini drizzle… Chef’s kiss.

I harnessed up and climbed down for breakfast the next morning at 9 am to find a spread far larger than I needed. On deck was rich Peruvian coffee, hand-squeezed orange juice, crunchy toasted granola, natural local yogurt, a selection of meats and cheeses, and whole-grain bread slices… The whole nine. It was like having a sumptuous hotel breakfast buffet all to myself.

AMENITIES

The most outstanding amenity at the Starlodge is the hanging spa: the four Onsen-esque wooden soaking tubs, heated via firewood and perched on the cliffside. Each tub has its own private bathroom adjacent, with hot shower, robe, towels, and glass pitcher of filtered water. Oh and a walkie-talkie, of course.

Amenities inside the pods were surprisingly thoughtful. Cold filtered water, a thermos of hot water, and a collection of tea sachets are available for guest use. I was relieved to find a toilet inside my pod, something I was worried about not having in the days leading up to my stay. You’ll also find a walkie-talkie in the pod to communicate with your guide about when you’re coming down for meals or a hot tub soak.

Below is a full list of amenities:

• Safety equipment (harness, helmet, via-ferrata lanyard, and gloves)
• Dinner and wine
• Breakfast
• Shampoo, hair conditioner, soap, and towels
• Two hot tub soaks (evening and early morning)

ROOM TYPES

The hanging hotel rooms are equipped to hold up to four people with a queen bed and two twins, but I was happy to have pod 3 all to myself. Each pod has a bird’s eye view of the Sacred Valley, just from slightly different altitudes.

Southern Cross — Pod No. 1 (9521 ft.)
Baby Llama — Pod No. 2 (9580 ft.)
The Shepherd — Pod No. 3 (9613 ft.)
The Fox — Pod No. 4 (9646 ft.)
The Condor — Pod No. 5 (9685 ft)
Orion — Pod No. 6 (9718 ft.)

BEST THINGS TO DO WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALK

The Sacred Valley is one of Peru’s rock-climbing meccas, so if there was a time and place to keep the adrenaline pumping, it’s here. Zip-lining and additional via ferrata climbing opportunities are offered by the Starlodge Adventure Suites. Simply add them to your package when booking.

The area around the hotel is quite rural, so within a 15-minute walk you can simply enjoy the surrounding nature. If you want to get out on the Urubamba River (Vilcanota River), check out this white water rafting trip!

BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A $20 TAXI RIDE

You can find craft markets, ice cream shops, cafes, and plenty of opportunities to admire the beautiful Andean clothing of locals all around this part of the Sacred Valley. If you’re a meat eater, you must try BBQ Cuy at a roadside stand while you’re putting around!

• Check out the shopping in Plaza de Armas, the Chocomuseo, nearby Cervecería del Valle Sagrado, and the archeological site in Ollantaytambo
• Urubamba is home to the Salt Mines of Maras (UNESCO), the Palace of Huayna Capac, another great local beer spot Cervecería Willkamayu, Museo Inkariy, and the local market.

BED GAME

The bed was damn comfortable. I can’t tell you it’s some special designer mattress, but I can tell you that I slept like a rock. The pillows were the perfect equilibrium of soft and firm, providing enough elevation to support my head but enough softness to let it sink fully in. And I had more than enough blankets in addition to the extra fluffy down comforter to keep me toasty. I was even able to slip off my PJs so I could sleep in my preferred commando fashion.

I didn’t test out the two additional twin beds in my pod, but I would imagine they are just as cozy. As for sheet thread count – 300. Not too shabby.

RATING: 9/10

SEXINESS RATING

This hotel is for thrill seekers. People who get turned on by nature. It may not check all the boxes of your traditional “sexy” hotel – there’s no mirrored ceiling or sleek rooftop bar – but I found myself getting seriously intimate with the elements. A truly sexy experience, if you ask me.

RATING: 8/10

VIEWS & PIC SPOTS

Even while harnessed and climbing – I had a hard time not whipping out my phone to snap photos. Views from the Starlodge are downright spectacular because the valley was intentionally designed to be the star of the show. From the edge of the hot tub to the million-dollar view from bed, pic spots are unlimited and unbeatable.

RATING: 10/10

BEST SEASON TO VISIT

Despite it being a historically rainy month, I visited in January and found the weather perfect (no rain). But the high season for tourism in the area is actually April through October, so if you really want to avoid rain, I’d suggest you visit during that time. Keep in mind that the valley is at a lower elevation than Cusco, so temperatures rarely drop to or below freezing year-round.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING

I do think offering some bodywork and massage services at the spa would be fabulous. And I’m pleased to report to you that those plans are in the works over at Natura Vive. So the lack of actual spa treatments would be my only complaint, but that is soon to be history.

BOOK HERE

Rates at the Starlodge Adventure Suites are per-person, not per pod. A single occupancy is $436.17, $484 with zipline or via ferrata climb, and $509.31 for a one night stay with both activities.

BOOK YOUR STAY HERE

Sydney Sweeney once joked about how her “booty” deserves as much attention as her “best t*ts in Hollywood.” She just proved why on Instagram. “i think they call this a thirst trap,” the actress wrote, along with a series of photos from a recent trip on the water, most of which feature her backside.

You can see the photos for yourself here.

Last year, Sweeney talked about how she almost got breast reduction surgery in high school. “Flaunt what you got. Own it. Love them,” she said. “When I was in high school, I used to feel uncomfortable about how big my boobs were and I used to say that when I turned 18, I was going to get a boob job to make them smaller. And my mom told me, ‘Don’t do it. You’ll regret it in college.’ And I’m so glad I didn’t. I like them. They’re my best friends. Everybody’s body is beautiful. When you are confident and you’re happy within is when it really shows to other people.” Now, she’s happy with her breasts. And her butt.

Sweeney’s upcoming projects include a biopic about boxer Christy Martin (which she’s getting jacked for), a Barbarella remake, and Euphoria season 3.

The Love Island villa isn’t really a place, but more of a state of mind. Right now, that state of mind is in New York, filming the Love Island USA season 6 reunion. This is the first USA season of the hit reality show to get its own reunion, so there’s a lot of speculation happening now about how it will all go down. Are Kaylor and Aaron together, against Kaylor’s mom’s wishes?? Will Leah and Miguel make it official? Is Rob still working as an up-and-coming live snake wrangler? There’s so much to know.

Thanks to the power of social media, we know that many of the cast members from this season have been out and about in New York while the reunion filmed on Wednesday. Some of the girls even stopped by to see host Ariana Madix in Chicago on Broadway in order to make it an authentic New York trip, while the boys were spotted in Times Square, seemingly in order to cause as much chaos as possible.

While Peacock has not confirmed the final list of attendees, the following islanders were spotted at the reunion and on the red carpet beforehand, so we can assume they make an appearance on the reunion:

The Villa Islanders:
Leah Kateb
Miguel Harichi
Kaylor Martin
Aaron Evans
Serena Page
Kordell Beckham
JaNa Craig
Kenny Rodriguez
Nicole Jacky
Kendall Washington
Olivia Walker
Rob Rausch
Andrea Carmona
Nigel Okafor
Harrison Luna
Kassy Castillo
Connor Newsum
Hannah Elizabeth
Cassidy Laudano
Coye Simmons

Plus the Casa girls:
Daniela N. Ortiz Rivera
Catherine Marshall Sierra Sade Mills
Daia McGhee

Islander Caine Bacon confirmed that he would not be at the reunion, even though he travelled to New York for filming. Bacon claimed he was “cancelled” from it, though TikTok fans believe his controversial social media posts after he left the island caused him to get axed.

The Love Island USA season 6 reunion, hosted by Ariana Madix, will stream on Peacock on Monday, Aug. 19 at 9pm.

Semi-seriously, did Nicole Kidman clone herself? She who has inspired AMC commercial memes has been tearing up the premium cable and streaming worlds in recent years. From David E. Kelley’s Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, and The Undoing to Taylor Sheridan’s Lioness, along with Netflix’s The Perfect Couple and A Family Affair and Prime Video’s Expats, she seems to specialize in transforming limited series to continuing series. Somehow, she’ll star as Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta for Amazon, too.

Wait, her dance card (or cards) isn’t full yet. Nicole is also gearing up for A24’s Babygirl, an erotic thriller co-starring younger A24 vet Harris Dickinson (The Iron Fist). The film will soon take a bow on the festival circuit before heading into theaters, and above, the pair can be seen filming what appears to be a tense scene last December. This project is growing closer to go-time, so let’s get busy discussing… how these two apparently get busy.

Plot

Directed by Halina Reijn (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Babygirl stars Nicole Kidman as a high-powered CEO (and wife) who begins an affair with a much younger intern, portrayed by Triangle Of Sadness actor Harris Dickinson. This isn’t his first A24 rodeo after portraying a Von Erich brother in The Iron Fist, but he will get to strut his stuff in erotic thriller fashion next to Kidman’s seasoned work in similarly themed films like To Die For, The Paperboy, and Eyes Wide Shut. However, Babygirl will likely — as with most A24 films — have plenty up its sleeve to turn appearances on their heads.

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POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW

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The TIFF website stresses that this film is, yes, an erotic thriller, yet it digs into “emotional truths” and might be compared to Secretary (2022) starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. Such analogies will not draw a full picture, according to TIFF programmer Anita Lee:

When Romy, the high-powered executive played by Nicole Kidman in the thrilling, sensual Babygirl, starts cheating on her urbane theatre director husband (Antonio Banderas), it’s not because their sex life has dried up. As the opening scene explicitly demonstrates, there’s still significant heat between them. But when he goes to sleep, Romy sneaks out of the room to finish, alone, what she clearly couldn’t achieve with him. Covering her mouth to stifle any noise, it’s made excessively clear that this is someone who struggles to articulate her desire.

Lee cautions “moralists” against what they might find as well:

When Romy meets Samuel (Harris Dickinson), an impertinent intern at her company who can intuit more about her than she intends to share – and who’s happy to take control – it’s only a matter of time before they find themselves in a seedy hotel together. They wrestle, literally and figuratively, over a twisty power dynamic. Romy’s age and position give her an advantage, but as Samuel reminds her, he could ruin her life with one phone call.

Meanwhile, Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera told Variety that Babygirl is “about a sadomasochistic relationship within an American corporation with the novelty that, compared to other similar films, the ending actually testifies to the differences between now and the past.” He further suggested that decades-ago-style ending expectations will be shattered.

Cast

Nicole Kidman is the CEO in a compromising position, and Harris Dickinson is her charismatic intern-turned-lover. Antonio Banderas portrays Kidman’s husband (oh boy), Jane Reno is a Kidman business rival, and Sophie Wilde steps up as an assistant who knows more than she cares to know.

Release Date

Babygirl will debut in festival fashion at this year’s Venice and TIFF extravaganzas. The film arrives in theaters on December 20, possibly as both awards fare and holiday counter programming.

Trailer

Apologies, but no trailer has surfaced yet. However, here is Kidman getting down (again) with the younger Zac Efron in Netflix’s A Family Affair (2024).

When it comes to bourbon-based cocktails, the Old Fashioned tends to get top-billing among the classics, but if you want a refreshing summertime drink, it’s almost impossible to top the Bourbon Smash. The elegant combination of 2 oz. Bourbon, 3/4 oz. of simple syrup, and muddled lemon wheels with fresh mint make for a delicious cocktail year-round, but the refreshment it provides means that summer is the ideal time to break one of these bad boys out. Given its simplicity, the only difficult part of whipping up a Bourbon Smash is determining which bourbon will make it a smash.

Fear not; UPROXX is here to assist! We recently blind-tasted ten of the most delicious, readily available bourbons in a Bourbon Smash cocktail to determine which works best. To up the ante a bit, we set them all up in a head-to-head tasting to add to the theatrics and properly crown a champion. Full disclosure: these are ALL really good, which should come as no surprise. A great cocktail is great because the result is more delicious than the sum of its parts. Still, we discovered that certain bourbons will 100% elevate your experience, delivering peak flavor and maximum enjoyment.

Lastly, each cocktail was judged and scored in three categories: balance, flavor, and drinkability. Balance was awarded based on how well each ingredient worked together, the flavor was judged based on overall deliciousness, and drinkability was scored based on whether or not one could enjoy multiple glasses. The aggregate score then determined each cocktail ranked overall.

Here’s a full breakdown of each contender and why they were chosen.

Basil Hayden Bourbon

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $43

The Whiskey:

Basil Hayden Bourbon, produced by Jim Beam, is one of the most popular bourbons for beginners. Created by Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Famer Booker Noe, this expression was made to honor Basil Hayden, who is also the “old Grand-Dad” featured on Old Grand Dad bourbon bottles.

Why We Chose It: Basil Hayden is almost ubiquitously available and wildly popular due to its approachable flavor profile and ornate packaging. We’re guessing you either have some Basil Hayden in your liquor cabinet or you can easily procure some from your local liquor store, so we had to give it a spin in this cocktail showdown.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

Buffalo Trace Bourbon is the flagship expression from one of America’s most popular bourbon brands. Named after a historic trail where buffalo were known to roam, the whiskey is made using Buffalo Trace’s mash bill #1 recipe, which also goes into Eagle Rare and George T. Stagg.

Why We Chose It: Due to the popularity of seemingly ALL Buffalo Trace products, this expression is suffering a bit from waning availability, but because of that popularity, we knew it would be a natural choice to feature in this face-off. We simply had to see how Buffalo Trace’s well-rounded flavor profile would fare in this classic cocktail.

Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $43

The Whiskey:/h3> Eagle Rare, from Buffalo Trace mash bill #1, is a 10-year-old single-barrel expression. Like all single-barrel bourbons, this one will showcase a variety of unexpected flavors, as no two single-barrel bourbons are exactly alike.

Why We Chose It: Who doesn’t love a wildcard!? Many people extol the virtues of single-barrel bourbon, likening them to snowflakes due to their unique nature. We simply couldn’t resist the temptation to see how this bottle’s singular flavor profile would hold up in a Bourbon Smash.

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $29

The Whiskey:

Four Roses Small Batch is aged for 6-7 years and features a unique blend of four out of Four Roses’ 10 recipes. Fun fact: the brand will soon add two additional mash bills to their lineup.

Why We Chose It: While many people opt for the more affordable Four Roses Bourbon when mixing cocktails, we felt that the extra punch and more substantive body of Four Roses Small Batch tends to make it a better option in mixed drinks. What better way to test that theory than against some of the stiff competition on this list?

Jim Beam Black Label Bourbon Aged 7 Years

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $47

The Whiskey:

Jim Beam Black Label got a full redesign in 2024, which sees it sporting a spruce new label and a 7-year age statement. Made with the same recipe as the wildly popular Jim Beam White Label, this Black Label alternative is aged longer for a more refined flavor.

Why We Chose It: Jim Beam Black Label’s redesign has already been a hit here at UPROXX, so we had no choice but to put its versatility to the test. Sipping it neat, this one is a winner, but testing it in a cocktail will determine just how frequently you’ll need to replenish it on your bar cart.

Larceny Small Batch Bourbon

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $25

The Whiskey:

Larceny Small Batch Bourbon gets its name from the legend of Treasury Agent John E. Fitzgerald, who was said to clandestinely raid whiskey warehouses to steal sips out of his favorite barrels. This wheated bourbon is the Heaven Hill Distillery’s best-selling expression in the category.

Why We Chose It: While Maker’s Mark might be the most iconic readily available wheated bourbon on the market today, Larceny is certainly giving it a run for its money! Wheated bourbons are known to typically showcase a more mellow flavor profile, and that gentleness allows it to work well in many cocktails, so we needed more than just one to test in this tournament.

Old Forester 100-Proof Bourbon

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $26

The Whiskey:

Old Forester 100-Proof is perhaps the bourbon above all others that exemplifies the Old Forester brand’s strengths. It honors the brand’s historical ties to 100-proof bourbon, which dates back to 1897 when they chose to switch from 45% ABV to the bottled-in-bond standard introduced that year.

Why We Chose It: Old Forester 100-Proof Rye is commonly regarded as a bartender’s best friend due to its versatility in cocktail recipes and ubiquity as a “well” whiskey behind many bars. We wanted to find out how its counterpart, Old Forester 100-Proof Bourbon, holds up as a cocktail base.

Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $46

The Whiskey:

Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Small Batch was formerly the eldest age-stated expression in the Russell’s Reserve lineup. While the 13, and 15-year versions of Russell’s Reserve have since supplanted it atop the age-stated heap, Russell’s Reserve 10 remains the most widely available bourbon in the lineup.

Why We Chose It: Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon is a criminally underrated expression for sipping neat, but it’s far less battle-tested behind the bar. Wild Turkey famously makes some classic bourbons that work well in mixed drinks, so to suss out which of their offerings would be the best, we absolutely had to include their two prime contenders.

Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

ABV: 50.5%
Average Price: $24

The Whiskey:

Wild Turkey 101 is the most iconic expression under the historic distillery’s banner. Its proof-point, chosen to be “a cut above” the rest, is almost as iconic as the man who put the whiskey on the map — Master Distiller Jimmy Russell.

Why We Chose It: Look, you can’t talk about under-$50 bourbon without acknowledging Wild Turkey 101, which has been a stalwart of the category for generations. As the highest proof expression in this tournament, it has a perceived advantage of packing more flavor but also faces a unique challenge — will it come across as over-proofed? There’s only one way to find out.

10.Basil Hayden Bourbon Smash

The Bourbon Smash: This Basil Hayden Bourbon Smash is pretty good, but it’s slightly too sweet with the prototypical peanut note found in Basil Hayden Bourbon punching through in a way that is a hit with Basil Hayden fans. However, it costs this Bourbon Smash some points in the balance department.

Balance: 7/10
Flavor: 8/10
Drinkability: 7.5/10
Overall: 7.5

9. Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Smash

The Bourbon Smash: As our lead-off hitter, Four Roses Small Batch was free from expectation, yet it delivered in a major way. It’s even-keeled, with a little bit of apple and caramel punching through the citrus and mint. It is well-rounded, and even more pleasantly, it scored high marks as something you can drink all day.

Balance: 8/10
Flavor: 7/10
Drinkability: 8/10
Overall: 7.6

8. Eagle Rare 10-Year Bourbon

The Bourbon Smash: This Eagle Rare Bourbon Smash doesn’t stand up to the citrus enough, instead getting overpowered as the underlying whiskey is washed out. If you want the citrus to be far more forward than the booze in a Bourbon Smash, then this is the one for you.

Balance: 7/10
Flavor: 8/10
Drinkability: 8/10
Overall: 7.6

7. Russell’s Reserve 10-Year Small Batch Bourbon

The Bourbon Smash: The Russell’s Reserve 10-Year Bourbon Smash begins with some good oak tones, and you can readily detect that underlying bourbon profile, but it has a little punch and balance than you would ideally want. Overall this is a solid but imperfect Bourbon Smash.

Balance: 8/10
Flavor: 7.5/10
Drinkability: 8/10
Overall: 7.8

6. Larceny Small Batch Bourbon

The Bourbon Smash: This is actually one of the more delicious Bourbon Smashes of the day, and it would win against a lot of others thanks to its slight nuttiness and well-rounded profile that accentuates the lemon. If the flavors were turned up a bit (Maker’s Cask Strength, perhaps), then I could see this being even better.

Balance: 8/10
Flavor: 9/10
Drinkability: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5

5. Old Forester 100-Proof Bourbon

The Bourbon Smash: The lovely Old Forester 100-Proof berry notes actually come through in this cocktail, which has a full-bodied texture and notes of cocktail cherries and juicy orange pairing well with the muddled lemon. On glass number two, the Old Forester 100-Proof Bourbon Smash continues to show that it’s all about leaning into the fruit-forward flavors of its base whiskey. While that works really well, admittedly, it isn’t the most balanced Bourbon Smash of the bunch.

Balance: 8/10
Flavor: 9/10
Drinkability: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5

4. Jim Beam Black Label 7-Year Bourbon

The Bourbon Smash: Wow, right off the bat, you’ll notice that the lemon flavor plays off the nuttiness harmoniously. It’s not overly sweet, and it maintains a full body, making this one a pleasure to drink and then drink some more. On glass #2, Jim Beam’s 7-Year Black Label Bourbon Smash is simply a wrecking ball in this matchup, ready to tear apart almost any opposition. The base whiskey just works so well with the citrus notes, and the earthy Jim Beam backbone pairs perfectly with the sweetness provided by the mint and simple syrup.

Balance: 8.5/10
Flavor: 9/10
Drinkability: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.6

3. Maker’s Mark Bourbon Smash

The Bourbon Smash: The Maker’s Mark bourbon in this cocktail works incredibly well by accentuating the mint more than its competitor, and it has a slightly fuller mouthfeel. The mellow nature of the wheated bourbon at the base of this cocktail also wins when it comes to the refreshment it brings to the table. On a second glass, the Maker’s Mark Bourbon Smash deserves some serious praise; this thing is incredibly crushable! Maker’s Mark, on its own, is well-regarded for its mellow, refined flavors, and this Bourbon Smash only furthers that reputation.

Balance: 9/10
Flavor: 8.5/10
Drinkability: 9/10
Overall: 8.8

2. Buffalo Trace Bourbon

The Bourbon Smash: The Buffalo Trace Bourbon Smash is another contender for the finals! This cocktail tickles the sweet tooth with brown sugar and caramel, but the mint isn’t lost in the mix, and the citrus cuts through it all beautifully. On a second glass, the Buffalo Trace Bourbon Smash continues to impress as its baseline of brown sugar and caramel sauce comes with a subtle enough oak influence to elevate the cocktail without hiding the lemon and mint.

Balance: 9/10
Flavor: 9/10
Drinkability: 9/10
Overall: 9

1. Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

The Bourbon Smash: Immediately on the first sip, I knew this had the potential to be the overall winner. There’s a beautiful citrus note underlying this cocktail which provides a backbone for red berries to come bursting through. The base spirit stands up tall without making the drink overly boozy and it’s well rounded. The Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Smash lets the citrus shine while bringing some baking spice and berries of its own to liven up the party. Perhaps it’s the advantage of those extra proof points, but even with that taken into account, this Bourbon Smash maintains an impressive balance and isn’t boozy enough to dock it a single point in drinkability.

Balance: 9/10
Flavor: 9/10
Drinkability: 10/10
Overall: 9.3

Bottom Line: These are truly two championship-level cocktails, with each of them proving that the right base whiskey can take a bourbon cocktail from the doldrums of “good” to the delight of “greatness.” Standing atop the mountain as our overall winner is the Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Smash, which seemingly has aspects of every great Bourbon Smash all rolled into one. Resplendent with berries and baking spices while still allowing the citrus and mint notes to shine, this Wild Turkey 101 cocktail is undoubtedly the best Bourbon Smash you can make with <$50 bourbon.

Winner: The Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Smash

Houston rapper-producer BeatKing was reported dead at the age of 39 yesterday, and now, his cause of death has been revealed. According to TMZ, BeatKing died in a Houston hospital on Thursday (August 15) after suffering a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that blocks and stops blood flow to an artery in the lung. According to the Mayo Clinic, this blood clot usually starts in a deep vein in the leg and travels to the lung, although in rare cases, it can also start in a different part of the body.

BeatKing, who was described as a Texas rap staple, rose to national prominence in 2020 with the breakout success of his single “Then Leave” featuring Queendom Come. He continued to see success outside the Texas local scene with collaborations alongside the likes of 2 Chainz and Griselda rapper Armani Caesar, while maintaining his grip on his home state’s music scene alongside Erica Banks and DJ Chose.

BeatKing’s death was first announced by his manager, Tasha Felder, who wrote, “Today, August 15, 2024 we have lost Beatking. BeatKing has been the best part of the club for over a decade. He has produced and worked with so many artists, that his sound will forever live. He loved his daughters, his music, and his fans. We will love him forever.”

On June 1, adidas presented Aliyah Boston with her first-ever adidas PE, the “Virgin Island Pride VI Strong” Exhibit Select 2.0. Boston designed the sneaker in honor of St. Thomas, her hometown, and the bright colors also incidentally reflect Boston’s vibrant personality.

To start this season, the 2023 Indiana Fever No. 1 overall pick put her foot down to protect her effortless self-expression — temporarily deleting social media. Boston had been inundated by disgusting harassment and negativity — oftentimes by people who couldn’t even bother to spell her first name correctly — sparked by unrealistic expectations projected unto the then-struggling Fever after drafting Caitlin Clark No. 1 overall in April. Boston, who cemented a record-setting collegiate career at South Carolina before unanimously winning the 2023 WNBA Rookie Of The Year, felt self-doubt creeping in.

Boston and the Fever fought through a groggy start to win eight of 13 entering 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend. Freed from outside noise, Boston’s joy returned, as she developed chemistry with Clark and logged eight double-doubles in June and July. Indiana, 11-15, is slotted in the seventh playoff spot, and Boston knows the best is yet to come.

DIME caught up with Boston in Phoenix during All-Star Weekend, where Boston opened up about navigating social media, recognizing the Fever’s potential, and calling Dawn Staley for advice.

You designed your first adidas PE, the “Virgin Island Pride VI Strong,” to honor your hometown. But how did the designing process specifically feel like an extension of you?

When you’re able to talk about every single detail that you want in that shoe, how you want it to be shown, I feel like that in itself is an extended representation of me, especially when I was thinking about how I wanted my first PE. I knew I wanted to make it back to St. Thomas, in a sense, and that’s exactly what I did. I remember having several meetings talking about the color, how I wanted the flag on it, where I would want the sole, and they were just so open. I just feel like it’s such a special role for me.

You’ve always seemed like such an exuberant, extroverted person. So, while it’s always significant when someone feels the need to delete social media, it especially struck me because expressing yourself publicly always seemed to come so naturally to you. What was the final straw that let you know you needed to log off?

For me, it was really just the constant noise. I love to be on TikTok or even just open up social media and scroll. But I feel like every time I opened up it up, there was something about me or something about our team. I don’t internalize a lot of stuff, but when you continue to see stuff over and over again, I mean, it makes it hard not to second-guess yourself. And I feel like, yeah, I needed to take that step back so I can make sure that I know what I’m doing. I know that I’m confident in myself, my game. And so, it really helped because I didn’t have to worry about what other people were saying about me. I knew that what I was doing was enough.

During a postgame presser in LA in late May, you spoke about how you were starting to feel better because you trusted God’s timing. You said you believed the harassment you faced on socials was part of a season, and you couldn’t wait to “come out on the other side.” Has two-ish months been enough time to understand the reason for that season?

Absolutely. I mean, I feel like you never really know why you go through certain stuff, but I feel like, for me, it was to continue to build my leadership skills, continue to build my confidence up, and continue to have faith. Sometimes, we go through trials and tribulations, and it’s because God wants to see our faith continue to build. I feel like that’s exactly what I did. I got off social media, and I continued to focus on making sure I’m getting extra reps in the gym, making sure I can continue to be that consistent person for my team. At the end of the day, that’s what I have to do. I have to make sure that I’m doing everything I can to make sure I’m that consistent person for my team.

So far, what has been the most surprising or unanticipated aspect of your sophomore season?

I don’t know if it’d be surprising because I feel like going into game, I really want to win. But I also feel like we had really big wins this year with our young group — beating New York, beating Minnesota. Those are great wins for us. We’re at 11 wins right now, which, last year, we had 13. And so, with 14 games left, that’s a lot of room to win a lot more games than we had last year. That’s really exciting.

After winning Rookie Of The Year, what were your goals for your sophomore season?

Once again, to be consistent. I also had a goal of being an All-Star, so I’m really blessed to be here. To make a playoff run. That’s another one of my goals. But it was really just to continue to be me. Coming off of my rookie season, everyone really knows what you bring, and I feel like I have to continue to expand my game, whether that shooting the three or attacking off the dribble from the mid-post. I feel like I’ve been able to do that.

From an outsider’s perspective, I’ve noticed your joyful demeanor return. What has helped you feel more like yourself again?

Honestly, it’s just finding the love of the game. Sometimes, you go through so much hard stuff, and you kind of get mad at the game because you feel like you put in so much work, so much effort, and you’re not really getting what you want to see out of it. I think a big part of that was to be able to get some big wins because when you’re winning, everything’s always good. It’s using those wins to continue to keep my spark because I know that what we’re capable of, so, play happy and play free.

You and your Fever teammates started finding footing together over the past month or so. Have you found any relief in getting results — validation that you’re doing the right things — or does it just add more pressure to the unrealistic outside expectation to be perfect or become world champions overnight?

It adds some relief because you know that, listen, one, we’re halfway through the season. We’ve made so much progress. I think, sometimes, we get caught up in the wins and losses, but we really have grown as a team from the beginning of the season to now. I feel like we have to look at that. We have to look at it as, listen, we know at the end of this season, it’s going to be hard. We’re going to have to come back and train before we start playing again. But we know we’re capable of. We beat some great teams. We beat teams that we should beat, which is always great because there’s always those teams that we never want to just lose to.

What do you wish all of the strangers who spew bigotry, judgment, hatred, and whatever else online could understand about the real-life impact it has on athletes as human beings?

People forget that we’re human, and the moment that you put the human perspective into it, it should change what you say. At the end of the day, if this was your daughter, your niece, your cousin getting hate spewed toward them, you would want to make it stop. I just feel like people should really just think about what they post. I know people do a lot of stuff for clickbait, but there are also some people that really just have that type of mindset and hatred in their heart. As players, it’s about continuing to focus on us and our mental health. If we look at everything people say, we’ll have a really hard time getting past some stuff. I wish people would think before they type because if they were in this position, they wouldn’t want that.

Has a mantra or phrase naturally emerged between you and your teammates?

Not exactly, but it’s just been about continuing to uplift each other — no matter what. It doesn’t matter what we’re going through, we have to uplift each other because it’s us.

During difficult times, do you ever wonder, What would Dawn do?

Sometimes, because I call her, and I ask her questions. There have been many moments when I call, and I’m just like, “Coach, I don’t know. I feel like I don’t know what to do.” And she’s like, “Aliyah, at the end of the day, you’re growing; you’re learning.” She tells me that she sees my improvement. Sometimes, she’ll tell me what she thinks I need to do. And sometimes I’m like, “Coach, you don’t have to come at me that hard!” She’s like, “Whatever. You know it is love.” And that’s just what it is. That’s why I’m thankful for our relationship because, no matter what, she’s there.

Is there something specific she’s told you that generated reaction of, Ah, you didn’t have to say that?

One time, she was like, “Go rebound more.” I’m like, “Coach, first of all, I’m sharing my rebounds. Caitlin gets like, seven. NaLyssa [Smith] gets, like, 12.” That was one of the funniest things she’s said recently about my play.

What did the first half of this season teach you about yourself?

Just how resilient I am. The first half of the season, I had to battle some stuff on and off the court. It’s just understanding you get hit, but you get back up. Nothing can limit you. Nothing can stop you because God’s plan is always going to be greater. No matter what you go through, you know that it’s for a reason.

Ipswich Town are one of the three teams that got promoted to the Premier League ahead of this season. The Tractor Boys have not been in the English top flight since 2001-02, and earned their spot last year by getting promoted in back-to-back years, which made them the fifth team to achieve that honor.

Few people are more excited about this than Ed Sheeran, who is a lifelong supporter of the club and is a fixture at their games. He helped announce their return to the Premier League in one of the most wholesome videos I have ever seen, one where he drives around a big tractor while singing “The Boys Are Back In Town.” You can, and should, watch it right here. And on Thursday, the club announced that Sheeran purchased a 1.4 percent stake in it.

“It’s such a joy to be a fan of Ipswich Town,” Sheeran said in a statement. “There are ups and downs but football is all about taking the highs and the lows. I’m not a voting shareholder or a board member, this is just me putting some money into the club I love and them returning the gesture, so please don’t get onto me with signing suggestions or tactics to play!”

If I know one thing about the Premier League, it is that nothing will stop people from suggesting signings or tactics. Anyway, Sheeran will get to watch Ipswich Town kick off its season on Saturday against Premier League giants Liverpool.

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin are reportedly no longer in paradise. The Fifty Shades of Grey actress and Coldplay singer have called off their engagement after seven years of dating, according to The Daily Mail.

“Chris and Dakota have tried desperately hard over the past few months to make their relationship work,” a source told the publication. “They’ll always have love for each other but they’ve both come to the conclusion the relationship cannot be sustained long-term. They’re both busy people, Chris has been in Europe with Coldplay and they both have personal priorities, passions and work commitments which don’t naturally intertwine with each other.”

They added that the pair have “now accepted the relationship is over — and it’s best to move on.”

It’s not known to the public when the notoriously private Johnson and Martin got engaged, but she’s been wearing some serious jewelry on her left ring finger since 2020, although not recently.

Martin — who once dedicated “My Universe” at a concert to Johnson — is currently on the road for Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour. The globe-spanning trek, which started in 2022 and wraps up this November, is the third highest-grossing tour of all-time, and number one among bands.

One of the first things you see when you get off the plane at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is an array of slot machines. You continue to see them (so many of them!) as you walk through the terminal to your shuttle or rideshare that takes you to the heart of Vegas, where there are more slot machines… and blackjack tables… and roulette… and televisions blaring sports games that you can place a bet on.

Gambling, in one form or another, is inescapable in Las Vegas. It’s what the city’s economy runs on. Last year, casinos in Nevada “collected $15.5 billion in gaming revenue in 2023, a 4.6 percent increase over 2022,” according to The Nevada Independent, while “strip casinos reported a record $8.9 billion in revenue — a 7.4 percent increase over 2022 that accounted for more than 57 percent of the statewide total.”

But what if you want to visit Vegas and have no interest in gambling? Whether it’s for moral reasons or because you’re afraid of losing money (yes, hello). Yyou’re in luck: there’s still plenty to do.

Here’s our guide on how to experience and enjoy Las Vegas without spending a single cent on gambling. For the purposes of this post, I’m sticking to spots on or near the iconic Las Vegas Strip. Otherwise, I would suggest heading to the Hoover Dam and reenacting the plot of Vegas Vacation. Have fun!

Enjoy Some Of The Finest Food In The Country

Las Vegas is an underrated food destination. That might sound silly, considering some of the world’s most famous chefs have restaurants in the city, but Vegas is rarely in the same conversation as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, but like Houston and Miami. Maybe it should be!

Alain Ducasse sure thinks so. The French chef with over 20 Michelin stars to his name told Food Republic, “International is really a word that describes Las Vegas very well, with lots of nationalities and crossing worlds all the time, and movers and shakers. It’s the right combination of talents, of chefs.”

Some of my favorite dishes during a recent trip were the rich escargot and filling lobster risotto at The Cosmopolitan’s LPM Restaurant & Bar; juicy lemon roasted chicken and crunchy macaroni at Mandalay Bay’s Orla (which was within earshot of the commotion of the casino, but still felt relaxed and private); and after a night of drinking, a hangover-cure bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich from Park MGM’s The Chef Truck, inspired by the 2014 movie Chef.

And Don’t Forget The Drinks

There are somewhere between 10 and 10,000 bars in Las Vegas. I don’t have an exact count, because then I would have to decide whether my hotel room fridge containing a mini-bottle of Jameson counts as a bar. There are better uses of my time, like drinking an opulent old fashioned from high-end cocktail bar The Vault inside the Bellagio or going to the Bruno Mars-owned Pinky Ring retro lounge and enjoying a cocktail while feeling you’ve stepped (and danced) back into the 1970s. Those were two of my favorite drinking spots during my latest trip, but truly, the options in Vegas are endless (you can do better than a sticky frozen daiquiri that’s more sugar than alcohol).

For more drinking options in Vegas, we’ve got you covered.

Do Something Educational

Whenever I travel, there are three things I always look out for: where to eat Asian cuisine, where to run, and — this is easier in some cities more than others — where to find local Taylor Swift connections. Please do not judge me (maybe judge me a little). Museums aren’t usually near the top of my traveling destination list (Okay, now you can feel free to definitely judge me), but the museums in Las Vegas, of all places, are stellar.

The Mob Museum is a fun and educational way to learn about organized crime for a few hours, while The Neon Museum tells the story of the city through “collecting, preserving, studying, and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts, and cultural enrichment.” A trip there will make you want a neon sign for your backyard. Unfortunately for you but thankfully for your neighbors, the Hard Rock guitar isn’t for sale.

Try Something Other Than A Show

When in Vegas, right? Magic shows and concerts (one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to was Celine Dion at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace — I cried during “My Heart Will Go On”) are Las Vegas tourist favorites for a reason. They’re nearly as synonymous with the city as gambling.

But give a shot to something out of the ordinary, too.

Why not ride a New York-themed rollercoaster? Or go on a self-guided filming locations walking tour? Or as I did, hit up the Play Playground inside the Luxor Hotel, where you compete against others in games of skill and agility? It’s like Double Dare or any of the old-school Nickelodeon game shows, but with alcohol. You think finding a flag in a snotty nose is difficult? Try launching yourself from a trampoline onto a bullseye after having two Spicy Hurricanes.

Stay Somewhere Luxurious

You’re going to be doing a lot of walking in Las Vegas. More than you might think. According to 2023 Las Vegas tourism statistics, the average visitor walks five miles every day in Vegas. Probably more if you have no sense of direction and constantly get turned around in the casinos (couldn’t be me).

After all that walking (and eating and drinking), you’re going to want a nice place to unwind. The all-suites Vdara Hotel & Spa is not only comfortable, convenient, and a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of the city below, but it also provided my favorite moment of the trip. I got back late one night (every night), and when I opened the blinds inside the spacious room, I saw that the Sphere had been turned into a giant Minion. It was beautiful.

I love Las Vegas.