Category: News

Each week our staff of film and TV experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.

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1. Loki (Disney Plus)

Tom Hiddleston has an absolute blast playing the mercurial trickster of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we shall reap the benefits while he helps (and hinders) the Time Variance Authority during the process of cleaning up the timeline. Likewise, Owen Wilson is entertaining as hell (even while saddled with a lot of exposition) as the MCU’s smoothest time cop. This is definitely not the Loki you’re used to (he died in Avengers: Infinity War), but he’s still a delightful scamp, and the show is all about setting up the multiverse. We’re lucky to have this pair to guide us into the future. Watch it on Disney Plus.

2. Rick and Morty (Adult Swim / Hulu)

Rick and Morty are back, once again, with spaceships and evil aliens and a mess of other science fiction to nod toward and/or poke fun at. This is good news because Rick and Morty is good, still, even today, a number of years after it first started getting weird on TV screens all over the country. Watch the new episodes as they drop, sure, but maybe take a spin through the back catalog too if you have some time to kill. You probably forgot a bunch of good stuff in there anyway. Go. Do it. Watch it on Adult Swim and Hulu.

3. Dave (FXX/Hulu)

Dave is a lot of things all at once. It’s childish and sweet, gross and thoughtful, powerfully weird but also extremely human. Mostly, though, it’s just funny. The series follows an aspiring rapper (Dave Burd aka Lil Dicky) as he attempts to make it big. There are cameos from huge stars and urological issues and awkward moments galore. It’s kind of like Curb Your Enthusiasm if that show was about a 20-something white rapper who had a hype man named GaTa. This is a compliment. Watch it on FXX and Hulu.

4. Betty (HBO Max)

In the second two premiere of Betty, a stuffed cat-octopus falls from the sky (or at least from the roof of an apartment building) in front of Kirt, one of TV’s best stoner characters, who stops in her tracks, looks at the adorable hybrid-animal, and says, “Okay, I feel you.” Betty is so good. You will feel 75 percent cooler watching it. Watch it on HBO Max.

5. Central Park (Apple TV+)

The first season of this show from Bob’s Burgers creator Loren Bouchard was fun and had a loaded voice cast. (Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Kathryn Hahn, etc.) Kristen Bell isn’t back for the second go-round of the musical comedy, but everything else is the same, with the battle to save Central Park from evil developers still underway. Watch it on Apple TV+.

6. Bosch (Amazon Prime)

Bosch is a good show, as it should be with such a deep reservoir of The Wire veterans on both sides of the camera. The Amazon staple is back for one last ride in its seventh and final season, this time focusing on an apartment fire and corruption and, presumably, Bosch’s loose cannon shenanigans causing headaches for his superiors but getting results. It all makes for an excellent weekend binge. Watch it on Amazon Prime.

7. Penguin Town (Netflix)

We’ve seen so many things hold our attention and inspire a sense of community at a time when we really needed it over the last 15 months. Remember The Last Dance? Remember how we all fell in love with Ted Lasso and smiled through the continuing adventures of Baby Yoda? Entertainment culture is good! Anyway, we heartily nominate Penguin Town as the next community watch. Because watching penguins navigate life in a South African town while Patton Oswalt smoothly narrates is the definition of feel-good content. Watch it on Netflix.

8. Lupin (Netflix)

Lupin is a French-language heist-y thriller that follows an incredibly smooth thief and master of disguise played by Omar Sy. It’s got diamond robberies and corrupt police and evil businessmen and a conspiracy that goes both back 25 years and all the way to the top. There’s also a cute little dog named J’accuse that barks when anyone says the bad guy’s name. (It’s a good show.) Part I, the first five episode chunk, was a blast and ended on a kidnapping cliffhanger. Part II picks up right there and does not slow down. Watch it on Netflix.

9. Sweet Tooth (Netflix)

This one will charm you and make you feel an unfamiliar sensation — hope? — despite dark and mature themes. Team Downey brings us this awe-inspiring story based upon a D.C. comic-book by creator Jeff Lemire, who whipped up a post-apocalyptic fairytale about a great sickness that ends with a miracle. That would be the appearance of “hybrids,” babies who are born half-human and half-animal. The comic has been described as “Mad Max Meets Bambi,” and Will Forte gets into serious mode, which is worth the price of admission all by itself. Watch it on Netflix.

10. Kevin Can F Himself (AMC / AMC Plus)

Annie Murphy is entering a new phase in her career with this AMC original that takes the “sitcom wife breaks bad” concept and adds some trippy camera work to make it feel fresh and exciting and just a tad frustrating. Fair warning: you’ll hate most of the male characters on this show, particularly the titular doofus, but Murphy’s mesmerizing enough to distract you from all the blatant sexism and corny laugh tracks that come with them. And once her character, Allison, settles on a murderous plan of action to escape this Kevin James-inspired hellscape, all bets are off. We’re a long way from Schitt’s Creek but we’re kind of loving this journey for her. Watch it on AMC Plus.

Of the dozens of actor-comedians who have starred on Saturday Night Live over the past 40-plus years, there are a handful who you could absolutely picture causing a ruckus on an airplane. Chris Kattan would probably not be at the top of the list. However, as Complex notes, the Corky Romano star was removed from an LAX-bound American Airlines flight on Monday after a kerfuffle over a face mask.

Via Complex:

“Kattan was aboard a flight headed back to Los Angeles out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport when he allegedly exhibited behavior that alarmed his fellow passengers. Witnesses claim Kattan was stumbling around, and appeared to be sick with mucus hanging from his nose. Flight attendants brought him paper towels after being alerted by passengers of his appearance, but also asked that he put on a mask since he wasn’t wearing one at the time.”

While Kattan did comply with the request to put on a face mask—which is still required while traveling onboard a plane—he reportedly had it hanging below his nose, which (as you should all know by now) is not the right way to wear a mask. Several requests were made of Kattan to pull his mask up. When he wouldn’t comply, he was asked to leave the plane. That, too, apparently caused some issues for Kattan, who tried to convince the flight crew to let him keep his seat. But when threatened with police intervention, Kattan picked up his things and left. Much to what we can only imagine was a huge relief for his fellow passengers.

When word spread about the incident, Kattan’s lawyer was quick to dispel any notions that his client is any type of COVID conspiracy theorist. Plane disruptor? Sure. Anti-vaxxer? Hell, no! Speaking to TMZ, attorney Samuel Joshua Smith said that Kattan’s Mango-like behavior was all the result of an allergic reaction:

“We strongly deny that Mr. Kattan would ever refuse to wear a mask. Mr. Kattan is fully vaccinated and unequivocally supports CDC guidelines. This past Monday Mr. Kattan was returning to Los Angeles from a successful tour of comedy shows. Unfortunately, Mr. Kattan suffered a strong allergic reaction to supplements he has been taking to treat lingering neck pain from his injury on SNL. This reaction affected his balance and psychological state. The effects also caused him to have trouble breathing.”

Kattan was able to board the next plane home, apparently without incident. But, according to Smith, the comedian did have some wisdom to share: “Mr. Kattan sends a warning out to all his fans suffering through back and neck injury… apparently, not all supplements are created equally!”

(Via Complex)

Since his breakout 2018, when he starred in BlacKkKlansman, The Old Man & the Gun, and Monsters and Men, John David Washington has become a standout leading man. (We should expect nothing less from the son of Denzel Washington.) He was exemplary in Tenet and Malcolm & Marie, and he’ll soon star in Netflix’s Beckett, where he plays an American tourist who “finds himself at the center of a dangerous political conspiracy – and on the run for his life.” Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander co-stars in the thriller.

You can watch the trailer for the exciting-looking ’90s throwback above.

“A manhunt thriller is a road-trip movie, in a way,” director Ferdinando Cito Filomarino told Entertainment Weekly about Beckett. “It was interesting to embrace the variety of Greece’s topography, like, what can we throw at Beckett next? Mountains, rivers, buses, trains… [It’s] more of a dramatic experience of a man who, for all intents and purposes, is not supposed to be in a thriller.” Washington added, “He doesn’t have all the answers. He doesn’t have an ex-Marine background; he doesn’t have all these abnormal sensibilities and strengths that exceed the normal man.”

Beckett premieres at the Locarno International Film Festival on August 4 before hitting Netflix on August 13.

Back in 2018, Ed Sheeran and Beyonce performed their duet “Perfect” at Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, an event that honored Nelson Mandela a century after his birth. While Sheeran wore a simple outfit consisting of jeans and a casual shirt, Beyonce was wearing a flashy violet gown. As Insider noted at the time, this sparked conversations, with some saying the different outfits sent a message about gender standards while others argued that both artists dressed true to their respective styles.

Whatever the case, last night, Sheeran and James Corden joked about the moment on The Late Late Show.

As part of his week-long residency on the program, Sheeran joined the host for a segment called “Side Effects May Include.” The bit parodies medical ads by listing off fake side effects for non-medical things. One of the topics was “being underdressed next to Beyonce” and Sheeran and Corden took turns reading off the side effects, with Corden going first:

• “Everyone being like, ‘Ed, what were you thinking?’”
• “Being like, ‘I thought I looked nice, and then Beyonce shows up.’”
• “Igniting a public debate about our cultural expectations of men and women”
• “Being like, ‘Ugh, did I really look that bad? I mean, the t-shirt was clean!’”
• “Really ticking off the Beyhive with your casual disrespect”
• “Listen, James, if you’ve never stood next to Beyonce, you just can’t understand what you’re up against.”
• “Getting the entire internet’s opinion of your shoes”
• “Knowing that, in my heart of hearts, no matter what I might’ve worn, I am still me standing next to Beyonce.”

Watch the full segment above. Sheeran also performed “Thinking Out Loud” on the show, so check that out below.

Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

On Wednesday, 17 words I never thought I’d never type happened: Bill Cosby was released from prison after his sexual assault conviction was overturned by Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. While Claire Huxtable (a.k.a. Phylicia Rashad) was busy celebrating the news that a rich, powerful celebrity accused of drugging and sexually assaulting approximately 60 women over several decades was being set free, Stephen Colbert was brainstorming some possible post-prison career moves for the once-beloved comedian. And he came up with an idea that, sadly, would probably work.

Colbert didn’t waste any time getting right down to business at the top of his opening monologue, telling his audience: “Folks, I’m going to shoot you straight: I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. The bad news is, I lied about the good news. And both bads combine to be the worst news: Bill Cosby has been released from prison after his sexual assault conviction was overturned.” The live audience, probably much like the viewers at home, reacted with a series of loud boos, to which the host responded: “Yeah, I agree with you. Or, to put that another way: Me too.”

Colbert went on to say that he has no idea what might be next for Cosby, but had one idea that could actually work: The Cosby Show star and human monster could join fellow monsters Bill O’Reilly and Donald Trump on their “Monsters of Being Monsters tour,” which we could absolutely see selling out to a crowd of MAGA hat-wearers are far as the eye could see. And as it turns out, there is a connection of sorts between the former president and Cosby being set free. As Colbert explained:

“I want to be clear, this is not an exoneration. Cosby is getting off on a technicality. The ruling stems from a ‘2005 agreement Cosby struck with then-prosecutor Bruce Castor, [who] declined to prosecute Cosby in exchange for his testimony during a civil trial.

Now if the name Bruce Castor rings a bell, it’s because he’s the same paragon of legal ethics who went on to represent the former president in his second impeachment trial. His business card just says, ‘Bruce Castor: Actual Devil’s Advocate.’”

You can watch the full clip above.

Bill Cosby was released from prison on Wednesday after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his 2018 conviction for sexual assault. He served less than three years of a 10-year sentence. In response to the news, his The Cosby Show co-star, Phylicia Rashad, tweeted, “FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted — a miscarriage of justice is corrected!” She later clarified the tweet, writing, “I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth. Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing.” But by that point, her original tweet (which is still up) had already been widely condemned, including by another iconic sitcom mom.

And aunt.

“Phylicia what are you thinking!!! I don’t know you but to say this was terribly wrong,” Janet Hubert, who played the original Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, tweeted. “EVERYONE knew what he was doing back then. How could you NOT! Get your umbrella sista here comes the shit shower. I am outraged that he has been released. Yes he is an old ass guilty man!” She continued, “I would have said he’s old he’s out and I’m happy for him, but he still …guilty. I know 5 women who have not come forward. Enough Ya’ll we know better. Powerful men do wrong things, black or white…”

“Yes he is an old-ass guilty man” is why I will always prefer Aunt Viv #1.

(Via the Daily Beast)

The View‘s conservative voice Meghan McCain, who makes her own mom “cringe a little bit” with her rants, will reportedly announce her departure from the daytime talk show during Thursday’s episode.

According to the Daily Mail, McCain is leaving “after four seasons and with two years remaining on her contract.” A source told the tabloid that her co-hosts, including Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, are “are not yet aware that Meghan has resigned. We have tried to keep her, but she is adamant that now is the right time for her to leave.”

Senator John McCain’s daughter (in case you hadn’t heard) has in recent weeks ripped into Olympic athlete Gwen Berry for protesting during the National Anthem; got into a shouting match — one of many — with Goldberg; got schooled by LeVar Burton about cancel culture; apologized for “aiding” Donald Trump’s anti-Asian rhetoric after a Last Week Tonight segment; accused Dr. Fauci of wanting to be a Kardashian; and complained about not having gas in her car. She was also ignored by the White House.

It’s a selfish decision from McCain, who’s final episode will be at the end of July. She’s about to put so many hairstylists out of work.

(Via the Daily Mail)

There were rumors last night that rapper Biz Markie had died at 57. Now, though, his manager has confirmed that those rumors are false and that the rapper is currently alive.

In a statement to Pitchfork, the rapper’s manager, Jenni Izumi, said, “The news of Biz Markie’s passing is not true. Biz is still under medical care, surrounded by professionals who are working hard to provide the best health care possible. Biz’s wife and family are touched by the outpouring of love and admiration from his friends, peers, and fans alike. At this time, we ask for your continued thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

The rapper has faced health struggles in recent years. Last year, he was hospitalized due to complications with diabetes, with which he was originally diagnosed in 2010.

Three years following his diagnosis, Markie told ABC News, “I wanted to live. Since I have to be a diabetic, if I didn’t make the changes, it was going to make the diabetes worse. I’m trying to get off [the Diabetes meds]. The way you gotta do it is lose the weight. I’m off half my meds, I just got to get off the rest.”

The rapper found his biggest mainstream success with his 1989 single “Just A Friend,” which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was his sole song to appear on the chart. His most recent album, Weekend Warrior, was released in 2003.

The old fashioned is a classic cocktail. I mean, it’s right there in the name. Around 1800, a cocktail was a mix of a base spirit (cognac, whiskey, gin, whatever) with bitters, sugar, and water. By the mid-1800s, bartenders were (already) over-complicating cocktails and folks just wanted an “old fashioned drink” without all the fuss. That’s when the old fashioned as we know it was born.

That simple recipe of base spirit, bitters, sugar, and water ended up standing the test of time. And that’s all an old fashioned is to this day — with bourbon and rye whiskey being the typical base spirit these days. But before we get into which bourbons to use in your old fashioned, here’s a quick recipe from our own bartender in residence, Zach Johnston:

Classic Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 3-oz. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon (see the editor’s pick)
• 1 barspoon demerara sugar
• 1 barspoon tap water
• 4 dashes Angostura Bitters
• Luxardo cherry
• Orange peel
• Ice

Method:

• Add the sugar, water, and bitters to the glass and stir until the sugar starts to dissolve, creating a base (five to ten seconds).
• Add the bourbon and stir until the sugar is dissolved (30 to 60 seconds).
• Fill the glass with ice and stir until the glass is ice cold to touch (about 60 seconds).
• Top up the glass with ice.
• Spritz the orange oils from the peel onto the cocktail and rub them around the rim of the glass. Drop the peel in the cocktail.
• Spear one cherry and drop it in the glass.
• Serve.

For us, the best bourbon for this drink hits on a combination of great value, high proof, and delicious, well-rounded flavor. To help you on your quest to create the best old fashioned, we decided to list eight of our favorite bourbons for this classic cocktail below. Make sure to click on the prices to try these bourbons in your own old fashioned at home.

Old Grand-Dad 114

ABV: 57%

Average Price: $30

The Whiskey:

The “Old Grand-Dad” on this bottle is Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr. The connections go beyond iconography, since both this bourbon and Basil Hayden’s share the same high-rye Beam mash bill. They’re both made 63 percent corn, 27 percent rye, and ten percent malted barley. Where Basil Hayden’s is proofed to 80 proof, Old Grand-Dad is a much bolder 114 proof, making it a great mixer.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’re treated to strong, bold aromas of cinnamon, charred wood, and a whole lot of caramelized sugar. On the palate, you’ll notice bold vanilla beans, more sweet cinnamon candy, brown sugar, and a nice kick of pepper. The finish is long, brimming with heat, and ends with a nice final kick of spicy cinnamon.

Why It’s Perfect For An Old Fashioned:

This is truly a turbo-charged whisky. It can be used as a sipper, but its bold, peppery flavor and high proof make it an ideal base for an old fashioned.

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

ABV: 54% to 57%

Average Price: $38

The Whiskey:

Maker’s Mark is reasonably priced, well-rounded, and always there. If you’re looking to turn its flavor up to eleven, grab a bottle of Maker’s Mark Cask Strength. This uncut, non-chill filtered bourbon is pure, bold, and rich. The best part? No expression is the same, since the proof varies (from 108 to 114 proof) depending on the barrels chosen.

Tasting Notes:

Aromas of vanilla beans, dried fruits, subtle spices, and just a wisp of charred wood smoke greet you on the nose. On the sip, you’ll find brown butter, cinnamon, creamy caramel, vanilla, and raisins. It all ends with a seamless combination of spice and sugary sweetness.

Why It’s Perfect For An Old Fashioned:

This cask-strength bourbon is surprisingly mellow for its high proof. Its high alcohol content and rich, candy-like caramel flavors work well in a straightforward cocktail like this one.

Four Roses Small Batch

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

When you buy a bottle of Four Roses, you can be pretty sure you’re getting a high-quality whiskey. Its small batch is made up of a blend of four different bourbon recipes. Each whiskey included was aged for six to seven years in new, charred American oak barrels and hand-selected by its master distiller in an effort to craft the most mellow, easy-to-drink bourbon possible.

Tasting Notes:

Scents of dried cherries, vanilla beans, caramel, and oak swirl around your nostrils. Sipping this whiskey reveals hints of raisins, sweet treacle, toffee candy, and subtle spice. The finish is mellow, warming, and ends with a nice kick of cinnamon sugar.

Why It’s Perfect For An Old Fashioned:

This whiskey has a lower ABV, but that doesn’t mean its flavors are muted when mixed into an old fashioned. Bold dried fruit and vanilla flavors shine through very nicely when mixed.

Basil Hayden’s

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $38

The Whiskey:

There’s a reason Basil Hayden’s is one of the most popular expressions from Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. As mentioned above, this and Old Grand-Dad are cut from the same cloth or mash high-rye mash bill in this case. This makes for a spicier whiskey that still carries the sweet caramel and vanilla notes bourbon drinkers expect. It’s also a very high-quality bourbon that’s still very affordable.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll notice memorable aromas of toasted vanilla beans, caramel corn, dried cherries, and wood char. On the palate, there are flavors of raisins, vanilla cream, caramelized sugar, and a nice hint of pepper. The ending is long, filled with pleasing heat, and finished with a nice combination of dried cherries and pepper.

Why It’s Perfect For An Old Fashioned:

While many of the bottles on this list were selected for their higher proof, Basil Hayden’s is a great option simply due to its price and soft, mellow flavors. Usually available for under $40, this high-quality, high-flavor bourbon deserves a permanent spot in your cocktail rotation.

Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Bourbon

ABV: 45.7%

Average Price: $50

The Whiskey:

Michter’s takes the idea of “small batch” seriously. Its Small Batch bourbon is matured in fire-charred, new American oak barrels for an undisclosed time before being batched in a holding tank that contains no more than twenty casks. The result is a rich, fruity, subtly smoky whiskey perfect for sipping or mixing.

Tasting Notes:

Breathe in the scents of charred oak, sweet corn, cinnamon, and vanilla before taking a sip. Then, you’ll be treated to flavors of clover honey, caramel candy, toasted vanilla beans, and subtle, spicy cinnamon. The finish is light, dry, and filled with peppery rye and dried fruits.

Why It’s Perfect For An Old Fashioned:

If you only buy one bottle for mixing into an old fashioned, make it this one. It’s well-priced for the quality and the deep wood and caramel notes meld perfectly with bitters and sugar.

Buffalo Trace

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $32

The Whiskey:

The flagship bourbon from famed Buffalo Trace Distillery is a bargain bourbon made with an undisclosed corn, rye, and malted barley mash bill. It’s aged around ten years in new, charred American oak barrels. The result is a complex, well-rounded whiskey perfectly suited for sipping or mixing.

Tasting Notes:

You’ll find notes of sweet malts, dried fruits, caramel, and subtle cinnamon on the nose. The palate is swirling with sticky toffee pudding, caramel apples, vanilla beans, and brown sugar. It all ends with a nice mix of sweet and spicy.

Why It’s Perfect For An Old Fashioned:

Buffalo Trace deserves a spot in your whiskey rotation. It’s not only an exceptional sipper for the price, but the rich, classic flavors stand up well in an old fashioned.

I.W. Harper

ABV: 41%

Average Price: $35

The Whiskey:

I.W. Harper is an old-school bourbon (made by bourbon pioneer Isaac Bernheim) that’s gone in and out of favor on the U.S. market quite a bit over the years. Now made by Diageo, the mash is a standard mash of 73 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and nine percent malted barley but doesn’t carry an age statement. That doesn’t keep it from being nuanced, rich, and memorable.

Tasting Notes:

Before your first sip, take a moment to breathe in the scents of charred oak, dried cherries, maple syrup, and vanilla beans. The palate opens you up to a world of buttery vanilla, caramelized sugar, cooking spices, and raisins. The finish is mellow, light, and ends with honey and dried fruits.

Why It’s Perfect For An Old Fashioned:

Not remotely as potent in the alcohol content department as many of the other offerings on this list, I.W. Harper’s flagship expression carries distinct char and dried fruit flavors that pair well with the other ingredients in an old fashioned and contrast that luxardo cherry nicely.

Old Forester 100

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $27

The Whiskey:

Old Forester 100 is made to pay tribute to the high-proof bourbons distilled, matured, and bottled pre-prohibition. Its mash bill consists of 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and ten percent malted barley. The bottle doesn’t carry an age statement. It’s bottled at 50 percent ABV, giving it a bold, full-flavored, and well-suited body for mixing into your favorite cocktail.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, aromas of wood char, brown sugar, licorice, and dried fruits are prevalent. Take a sip and you’ll find hints of caramel apples, charred oak, sticky toffee pudding, vanilla beans, and slight cinnamon sugar. The ending is mellow, long in length, warming, and finishes with a great combination of caramel corn and spices.

Why It’s Perfect For An Old Fashioned:

When it comes to high proof, high quality, and low price, there’s no better choice for your bourbon mixing use than Old Forester 100. Its wood char, caramel, and vanilla flavors as well as its high proof stand up beautifully in an old fashioned.

Editor’s Pick: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

ABV: Varies

Average Price: $75

The Whiskey:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 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 (we’re offering tasting notes on the January 2021 release below) and the various expressions 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.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a real throughline of sunny berry brambles (blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry) next to orange oils and a touch of oakiness on the nose. That fruit and oak will carry through on the palate as hints of buttery toffee, rich vanilla, and peppery spice mingle on the tongue and set your lips abuzz. The end tends to be slow and velvety with the spice, fruit, oak, and vanilla all comingling nicely until the very last.

Why It’s Perfect For An Old Fashioned:

It’d be easy to just drink this whiskey on the rocks and that’s that. But this barrel-proof delight from Heaven Hill makes one hell of an old fashioned. That mix of citrus, red fruit, peppery spice really shines in the cocktail. The creamy vanilla and dried wood hold their own against the sugars and bitters with the ABVs holding up even as the drink waters down.

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

The first thing to come to my mind (and palate) for a prime summer sipper isn’t Scotch whisky. However, I’m never opposed to toasting a premium beverage at home or while traveling, and the country tip-toeing toward normalcy offers plenty to be happy about. Need another cause to celebrate? The GlenDronach Cask Bottling collection became available stateside for the first time ever in March.

Out of 55,000 casks, only 18 casks, dating from 1990 to 2009, made the Cask Bottling cut and were personally selected by the distillery’s Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie. Whether they’ve previously held sweet and rich Pedro Ximénez, nutty Oloroso, or fruit-forward Port, each cask highlights a distinct character while remaining authentically The GlenDronach. The U.S. releases include cask bottlings from 1990, 1994, 2005, and 2008, bottled from Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez, and Port Pipe casks.

Global Brand Ambassador Stewart Buchanan described these exclusive casks to me as a “deconstruction of part of the core collection.” I think of them as the remix to a classic song – sometimes they’re better, sometimes not — it really depends on the person’s taste.

Ready to add to your special whisky vault? I break down the four cask bottlings released in the U.S., below.

2008 Cask 3017

ABV: 59.8%
Average Price: $120

The Whisky:

This expression was matured for 12 years in Oloroso casks with only 628 bottles produced.

Tasting Notes:

Oloroso translates as “aromatic,” and this expression fits the bill. Honey meets a touch of nuttiness on the nose for a delightful first impression. Upon rolling the whisky across the tongue, a rich blend of candied fruit, blackberry, and spice-drizzled oak enlivens the tasting even more, before its crescendo of leather and honey on the finish.

Bottom Line:

This has a robust palate with high proof, but it doesn’t punch you in the face (thankfully). Instead, it has a warm and creamy mouthfeel that makes for an enjoyable, memorable sipping experience.

2005 Cask 1928

ABV: 58%
Average Price: $150
The Whisky:

With only 612 bottles produced, this rare expression is 14 years old and matured in Pedro Ximénex casks.

Tasting Notes:

Harvest honey-gold hue is elegant and grabs you with an aroma of dark chocolate and delicate dehydrated orange. The soft and creamy palate reminds me of Black Forest cake drenched with dark cherry, blackberries, and more of the dark chocolate you experience at first whiff, but without being overly sweet. A chocolatey, spicy finish is an unexpected, but welcoming surprise.

Bottom Line:

Great, now I want a Black Forest cake to complement my dram! This makes for a lovely after-dinner treat (or if you’re me, an anytime treat).

1994 Cask 5287

ABV: 51.3%
Average Price: $415
The Whisky:

This 26-year-old whisky was aged in Port pipe casks, with only 638 bottles produced.

Tasting Notes:

The earthy and dense leather nose dances with sweet toffee and oak notes that I *almost* want to wear as a perfume. The palate has a velvety mouthfeel riddled with cacao and blackberries. There’s dryness and a slightly bitter kick at the back of the palate with nuttiness and deep richness of barley. The lingering warm finish is the perfect conclusion to one exceptional pour.

Bottom Line:

This one’s a rollercoaster ride of vivid, flavorful nuances. Only share if you must and, if you do, make sure it’s with the people you love.

1993 Cask 7102

ABV: 51.4%

Average Price: $600

The Whisky:

This amazing expression was matured in Oloroso casks for 27 years, with only 633 bottles produced.

Tasting Notes:

The color looks like a stained-glass window – absolutely beautiful deep amber. The seductive leathery notes on the nose lure you in for an equally alluring sip. Toasted cinnamon, deep and rich, more tannic on the tongue – a great sign of age and oak – with a hint of blackberry. The finish clings to dark cherry and a dash of spice.

Bottom Line:

The price is steep, so this is a bottle you’ll want to take time to savor. But I don’t believe in saving for special occasions because life comes at you fast. That said, I could enjoy a single glass of this for an entire evening – just nosing and sipping it while reflecting on blessings.