Category: News

The much-hyped Candyman reboot is still on the schedule for October. But who knows how long that will last. Halloween Kills made a big splash by relocating an entire year, ensuring that fans will be safe when they see it. But Candyman must be good: Its director, Nia DaCosta, just scored the very plum gig of helming the sequel to Captain Marvel.

This comes from The Hollywood Reporter, who confirmed that DaCosta — who broke through with the 2018 drama Little Woods, starring Tessa Thompson and Lily James as sisters — would be the one replacing directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the indie stalwarts (of Half Nelson, Sugar, and more) who helmed last year’s mega-hit. That film was the first in the MCU to give a female superhero her own solo outing, though the still in limbo Black Widow is the one that lets a female director (namely Cate Shortland) do it all by herself. Still, DaCosta will be the first African-American woman to direct an MCU title.

Much like the 2018 Halloween, DaCosta’s Candyman is a direct sequel to its franchise’s original movie, ignoring all other films in the series. The 1992 original co-starred Tony Todd as the vengeful ghost of a son of a slave who was murdered over an interracial affair. DaCosta’s reboot/sequel stars Watchman’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Teyonah Parris as professionals who move into a gentrified neighborhood, only to run afoul of Todd’s spirit. It was originally scheduled for an early June release before all this happened.

(Via THR)

The 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) saw a record-setting number of entries from over 45 spirit-producing nations. The result was a genuinely diverse list of winners across categories, rather than the same old lobby-controlling stalwarts we often see taking home trophies. That’s good news — a shot in the arm for an industry where upstarts often don’t get the love they deserve.

The USC rolls-out their awards under the Ultimate Beverage Challenge banner — wherein experts in various drinks categories take their time to blindly taste a hell of a lot of liquids (in this case, booze). Unlike other spirits competitions, the USC judges don’t experience all the alcohol over a single wild festival weekend. The tastings are spaced out and hosted in a tasting center in Hawthrone, New York. Each dram is mulled over, savored, and awarded points; again blindly, to remove all bias.

This detailed judging generates a list of the very best bottles and expressions you can buy right now. And not only is flavor rated, but whiskeys are also credited as “Great Value” buys when deserved. Meaning the judges are not only telling you what tastes they favor but which prices, too. You can’t ask for more than that from a spirits contest.

The ten bottles below were rated the top ten bourbons available right now. We decided to use the Ultimate Spirits Challenge judge’s tasting notes where available to add their POV to the sipping experience. (When these weren’t available, we used our own notes.) We’ve also added delivery options if you want to try any of the bottles yourself — though be warned, a few of them get pretty pricey.

Stagg, JR. (98 points)

ABV: 64.2%
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY (Sazerac)
Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

This was the top of the pile when it came to bourbon this year. Stagg, Jr. was also our choice for one of the best whiskey alternatives to ultra-expensive bottles. This bottle won the most awards, from being the top pick to also being a “Great Value” whiskey — a title which will not last long if the expression keeps taking home hardware.

Tasting Notes:

“Poundcake, grapefruit zest, chopped walnuts, red apple skin, and maple cream make for an alluring bouquet. The palate carries weight in terms of body and powerful spice, as well as ample fruit to add balance. Deep woodsy smoke and dark chocolate mark the finish.”

George T. Stagg (97 points)

ABV: 58.45%
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY (Sazerac)
Average Price: $499 ($99 MSRP)

The Whiskey:

Every year, Buffalo Trace releases their Antique Collection which includes five highly sought-after bottles of the good stuff. George T. Stagg leads the way with whiskey that’s been aged at least 15 years and carries with it the mastery of distilling and aging that makes this bottle a collector’s dream.

Tasting Notes:

“Seductive aromas of thick spice, maple, cherries, and roasted tobacco leaf are a pleasure to smell. Robust in the mouth with more cigar box flavors that develop into concentrated dried fruit and vanilla toasted nuts. The velvet texture adds to the overall irresistible charm.”

Hillrock Estate Exceptional Cask Solera Aged Bourbon Whiskey (97 points)

ABV: 58.4%
Distillery: Hillrock Estate, Ancram, NY
Average Price: $140

The Whiskey:

This tiny, grain-to-glass distillery up in New York creates some great drams. This expression is aged slowly using the “Solera” method. They use 20-year-old Olorosso sherry casks to age their bourbon with the classic “pyramid” Solera stacking of barrels in the rickhouse.

The result is an awarding-winning whiskey you’ll likely be hearing more and more about.

Tasting Notes:

“Deep spice, dried fruit, and nut aromas are enticing. Flavors kick off in the mouth with tart dried orchard fruits before turning to intense baking spice, and finally, brown sugar baked nuts. Hints of vanilla and creamy coffee linger on the fruity and endless finish.”

Bib & Tucker Small Batch 6 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey (96 points)

ABV: 46%
Distillery: Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits (Sourced in Tennessee)
Average Price: $50

The Whiskey:

This bourbon continues to wow professionals and consumers alike. The juice utilizes a high-corn mash bill alongside plenty of rye, giving it a classic feel. The nuance and well-rounded feel to this dram come from the six years of aging in low-char barrels.

All of that makes for a unique and very tasty Tennessee bourbon.

Tasting Notes:

“Lifted aromas of peach and vanilla mingle with deeper notes of leather, buttered brioche, and egg nog. The palate offers more fruit and cream alongside earthy rolled oats and banana bread. The finish is punctuated by tinges of maple syrup and cashew, which linger on the tongue.”

Barrell Bourbon Batch 022 5 Years Old (96 points)

ABV: 58.3%
Distillery: Barrell Craft Spirits, Louisville, KY (Sourced)
Average Price: $120

The Whiskey:

Barrell Bourbon’s blending has become the gold standard of the process. This expression is a blend of Kentucky and Indiana bourbon that’s been aged for at least five years. The blending and bottling all happen in Kentucky under the watchful eyes of Barrell’s masters and the result is a cask strength beauty.

Tasting Notes:

“Creamy maple oatmeal and brown sugar roasted corn are sweet and heady aromas with an earthy backbone. Spice-laden in the mouth, baked stone fruits, and vanilla custard are pungent and luscious flavors. A gently leathery finish adds textural contrast to the otherwise smooth body.”

Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength (96 points)

ABV: 58.45%
Distillery: American Freedom Distillery, St. Petersburg, FL (Middlewest Spirits)
Average Price: $80

The Whiskey:

This whiskey was created by war veterans to honor war veterans. The juice is distilled and aged in Ohio at Middlewest Spirits before bottling in Florida. This expression is a wheated bourbon that’s bottled with no fuss, giving you the pure experience of bourbon in every sip.

Tasting Notes:

“Bold and spicy on the nose, with soft notes of toasted hay, salted caramel, espresso, and cream. The palate is explosive and rife with spicy oak, roasted corn, and malted chocolate flavors that coalesce on a warm, peppery finish.”

William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon (96 points)

ABV: 64%
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY (Sazerac)
Average Price: $699 ($99 MSRP)

The Whiskey:

Here we have another bourbon from Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection. This wheated bourbon was distilled back in 2007 and spent its life aging in the main rickhouse of the Buffalo Trace facility. This one is pricey, but it’s also a master-class in what great bourbon distillation and barrelling looks like.

Tasting Notes:

“This whiskey offers a soft yet profound nose that rings true to its wheat-heavy mash bill: think vanilla, pipe tobacco, coffee liqueur, golden raisin, and orange marmalade. The palate is bold and structured with stone fruit and baking spice giving way to touches of cherry and green herbs.”

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon (96 points)

ABV: 45%
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY (Sazerac)
Average Price: $25

The Whiskey:

When Sazerac took over the George T. Stagg Distillery and renamed it Buffalo Trace, they also brought legendary distiller Elmer T. Lee out of retirement to make their signature bottle, Buffalo Trace. This whiskey was also rated “Great Value.” The low-rye/high-corn mashed bourbon is rendered as an entry point the vastness of the lines available via the distillery while also being one damn fine sip of bourbon.

Tasting Notes (Ours):

A combination of bourbon vanilla meets flourishes of fresh mint next to a deep molasses sweetness. That molasses softens, landing on a brown sugar sweetness as hints of toffee mingle with dark berries, anise, and oak. The spice peaks as the fruit, oak, and vanilla slowly fade away.

Four Roses Small Batch Select (96 points)

ABV: 52%
Distillery: Four Roses Distillery, Lawrenceburg, KY (Kirin Brewing)
Average Price: $80

The Whiskey:

Part of the beauty of Four Roses is their program that utilizes ten individual bourbon recipes, using two mash bills and five different yeast strains. This expression combines six of those bourbons under the masterful eye of master distiller Brent Elliott. The expression is mostly comprised of six to seven-year-old barrels with this bottling adding up to 12-year-old bourbons to the mix.

Tasting Notes:

“Very pretty aromas combine flowers, fruit, and sweet pastry shop treats to create an overall enticing profile. Buttery soft in the mouth, the flavors are deeply spice laden with peach skin, dried apricots, and a subtle maple aroma that runs throughout each sip.”

1792 Aged 12 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon (96 points)

ABV: 48.3%
Distillery: Barton 1792 Distillery, Bardstown, KY (Sazerac)
Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

1792 has been tearing up the awards scene in the last couple of years. The accolades come with good reason — their bourbons are well-crafted and hit on classic notes. In this case, this expression is a high-rye mashed bourbon that spends 12 long years aging before bottling. This bourbon was also rated as a “Great Value.”

Tasting Notes (Ours):

Oily vanilla pods marry light spice and a note of raw chocolate upfront. Maple syrup, sharp spice, and dried fruits mingle on the palate. The sip fades slowly away, as a distant billow of smoke adds a final flourish to the end of the dram.

Facebook recently began really cracking down on the amount of misinformation being spread on their service, at least when it came to posts about the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve even punished the most powerful person in the world. On Wednesday, the social media site completely removed a post made by noted non-MLB guest pitcher Donald J. Trump which claimed that children are “almost immune” from the virus — a claim that has been debunked as untrue.

The post actually contained a video of him, in an interview with Fox News, in which he made the claim in response to pushback against his repeated pleas to reopen schools in the fall, despite the fact that the pandemic is still at peak powers in the U.S. On top of spreading the false claim that children are “almost immune,” the president added that they ” have much stronger immunes system than [adults].” (He posted this on Twitter as well, though that appears to have been taken down as well.)

Despite Trump’s claims, a growing body of research seems to suggest that children can transmit COVID-19 just like everyone else, but are by and large (though not entirely) asymptomatic.

According to Business Insider, this is the first time a Trump post has been entirely taken down. In late July, Facebook and Twitter merely censored a post he made that included a video of doctors claiming that hydroxychloroquine could be used by everyone to combat COVID-19. But they merely deleted the video, not the entire post.

In the past Facebook has applied fact-checking labels to some of Trump’s other misleading posts, including one about mail-in voting, and took down a campaign ad that contained Nazi symbols. Still, CEO Mark Zuckerberg refused to take down some of his other controversial posts, including one that suggested violence should be used against Black Lives Matter demonstrators.

(Via Business Insider)

Therapy animals have become a controversial issue of recent, even though they’ve helped over 500,000 people overcome psychological and physical issues that have made it difficult to perform everyday tasks.

It’s because countless people have tried to pass off their pets as service animals, making it hard for legitimate, trained animals to gain acceptance in public.

So when people hear about emotional support llamas, they’re met with understandable cynicism. However, studies show they are great at helping children with autism spectrum disorder, and they are routinely used to cheer up people residents in retirement homes.

Llamas are calm, have plush fur perfect for petting, and large, empathetic eyes. Llama owners will tell you their pets have a sixth sense about people who are needy, ill or frail.

One emotional support llama has been helping cool down some of the most heated streets in America.

Caesar the “No Drama Llama” and his caretaker, Larry McCool, have been marching in Portland Black Lives Matter protests and he’s been a calming influence on both demonstrators and the police.

Who in the world wouldn’t be comforted by 350 pounds of pure fluffy bliss?

“Everyone seemed really happy to have him there, even those who were confused by his presence,” Caitlin Reasor, who spotted Caesar at the peaceful protest, told The Sun, “he was definitely a good morale booster.”

Demonstrator Nakaycha Dent added: “Everyone was immediately all smiles as soon as they saw him galloping past. Everyone was shocked there was a llama, but you could definitely feel the positive vibe he brought to the crowd.

McCool agrees that Caesar can be an oasis of chill in situations that can easily become heated.

“They’ll be clapping, chanting, stomping, and all of a sudden I’ll get up with Caesar and the next thing I know, everyone will just band around Caesar,” McCool told The Washington Post.

The 6-year-old Argentine grand champion show llama has been a comforting presence to police as well.

“I don’t care how big, how staunch, how intense that somebody is — it could be a big marcher in total riot gear, and he will come up and give Caesar a big hug,” said McCool. “It’s all I can do to just keep him from snuggling.”

Caesar and McCool have attended 10 Black Lives Matter protests in Portland this year and, over the years, have been to over 50 protests in support of a variety of civil and environmental causes.

They also regularly visit retirement homes to cheer up elderly residents.

McCool has owned the Mystic Llama Farm for over 20 years and cared for dozens of Llamas. But when he met Caesar in 2015, he knew there was something different about him.

“He’s a magical creature,” McCool said. “I wish I could take some credit for him, but he’s developed all on his own. I’ve been his tutor and his guide, but sometimes I’m the one following him.”

When a global pandemic is raging and your country is doing a particularly abysmal job of managing it, you have to find ways to keep your spirits up. That’s where the ever-popular parody comes in.

We’ve seen a lot of coronavirus-themed parodies in the past several months, from Hamilton’s “The Zoom Where it Happens” to Bare Naked Ladies’ “One Week” to Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey.” And now, an Alabama high school principal, Dr. Quentin J. Lee, has taken MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” and reworked it into a back-to-school coronavirus theme song.

Enjoy:

Dr. Lee presents Can’t Touch This Covid Parody

youtu.be

“Stop! SANITIZE.” Ha! The parody video has garnered nearly 4.3 million views on YouTube as Dr. Lee’s moves and lyrics tickled the funny bone of multiple generations.

Commenters on YouTube shared their delight:

“Where the hell was THIS principal during my high school years?? What a fun, crazy, & safe way to bring awareness to such a SERIOUS issue called COVID-19!!”

“Omg! I’m from the generation of Hammer. This is so funny & on point!”

“We need a lot more Dr. Lee’s. It’s hard to smile lately, this did just that.”

The ‘Oh Snap’ written on the chalkboard, I’m done. This was the best parody, from keeping with the classic Hammer moves to informing with CDC guidelines. Highly entertaining!

“My favorite part is him mimicking MC Hammer dancing while he’s got the tape measure. ‘SIX FEET!'”

“I hope the students at this school realize how lucky they are. I’d have loved to have had a principal like this when I was in school. Loved the video!”

Thank you, Dr. Lee for bringing some much-needed levity to the very serious situation we find ourselves in as states and school districts struggle to figure out how to educate kids safely during the pandemic.

The 2020 presidential election is less than 100 days away and the COVID-19 pandemic is showing no signs of slowing. So more Americans are saying that they’re going to vote by mail this election to avoid the lines.

(It’s also a great way to avoid voter suppression.)

A recent poll found that 35% of voters say they will be voting by mail in he upcoming election, a significant increase from the 24% who voted by mail in 2016.

Democrats are at least 30% more likely to say they will be voting by mail than Republicans, a trend that has led to President Trump to cast doubt over the legitimacy of mail-in-ballots by claiming, “Mail ballots, they cheat.”

While Trump tries to suppress the vote, Barack Obama is reminding people throughout the country to “Request your ballot early, send it back early,” on Twitter. His tweet also came with a graphic displaying the deadlines for requesting a mail-in ballot by state.

He also shared a link where people can request one by entering their address.

Actress, singer, and women’s rights advocate Lynda Carter turned 69 years old on Friday, July 24, and celebrated it by praising New York Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Cater has become a feminist icon for her portrayal of Wonder Woman on television in the mid- to late-’70s.

Carter tweeted a photo of AOC sitting next to a Wonder Woman poster in her Capitol Hill office. The actress and AOC both share a Latino background, Carter’s mother was Mexican and Ocasio-Cortez’ family is Puerto Rican.

“Never stop being fierce and brave,” the actress said, adding that seeing Ocasio-Cortez’s poster tribute “made my birthday that much sweeter.”

The tweet received a like form Ocasio-Cortez who thanked Carter for “being a shining example of a woman’s strength.”

The interaction comes on the heels of Ocasio-Cortez’s historic speech on the House floor after she was accosted by Republican Representative

who allegedly called her a “fucking bitch.”

“I do not care what your views are,” she said. “It does not matter how much I disagree or how much it incenses me or how much I feel that people are dehumanizing others.

“I will not do that myself. I will not allow people to change and create hatred in our hearts.”

“And so, what I believe is that having a daughter does not make a man decent. Having a wife does not make a decent man. Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man.”

“And when a decent man messes up, as we all are bound to do, he tries his best and does apologize. Not to save face, not to win a vote. He apologizes genuinely to repair and acknowledge the harm done so that we can all move on,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) Responds to Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL)

www.youtube.com

Carter’s respect for Ocasio-Cortez shouldn’t surprise anyone who has followed her career. Since the late ’80s she has been an advocate for women’s rights, including the Pro-Choice moment.

She is happy to be known as a feminist icon, although, she was just doing what came naturally. “At the time, you’re really not aware of it. But when you look back, there is an inspiration there that you are part of. It’s really nice,” she told the Sun-Sentinel.

She has also advocated for LGBT rights and was named the Grand Marshal for the 2011 New York City Gay Pride Parade.

As someone with a Latino background, she has also been an outspoken supporter of DACA.

“Even if you see the illegal immigrants as criminals, as many do, you cannot put that criminal action on top of children. They did not do anything criminal. They did not have choices. They came over with their families. It’s not like they say anyone can come over,” she said.

“These are people who haven’t committed any crimes,” she added. “They are going through the process of going to school and registering and there are promises that our government made to them and now those promises are broken,” she said.

It must be wonderful for Carter to see that her work on screen and behind the scenes has inspired a younger generation of women such as Ocasio-Cortez, to channel their own inner Wonder Woman. And there’s no doubt that Ocasio-Cortez’s strength has already inspired another generation of younger women to do the same.

Earlier this week, Travis Scott celebrated the two-year anniversary of his widely-celebrated album Astroworld, which he celebrated by sharing a handwritten letter to fans on Twitter. The letter ended with him writing, “To every one that bumps and rages to that soundtrack, I love you. Let’s keep the ride going. See you in Utopia.” After that, rumors began to swirl that he used the letter to reveal that his fourth album had a name: “Utopia.” But just days, Chase B, who serves as Scott’s DJ, clarified his comments in a recent interview.

Sitting down with Hip Hop N More, Chase B revealed that Travis was not hinting at anything related to the

did not aim to hint at the upcoming album with the handwritten-letter, saying, “Oh nah, it’s not,” when asked about the project. “I think that’s just him being Trav. Just feeling good, in the moment,” he added. While Travis’ next album may not be titled “Utopia,” Chase B confirmed that Travis is indeed working on his fourth album, though he denied that he and Travis have a collaboration in the works. “We just have a lot of music we’re working on together. As far as a project, we don’t have any type of plans regarding that in the near future. Travis is working on his album, I’m working on mine.”

You can read Chase B’s complete interview with Hip Hop N More here.

FBI agents searched the home of YouTube celebrity Jake Paul, seizing multiple firearms scattered around his Calabasas, California property. The raid was said to be in response to Paul’s alleged involvement in a riot at an Arizona shopping mall back in late May, which he later denied.

As per ABC7, the raid happened early Wednesday, with federal agents serving him a search warrant and ultimately confiscating weapons, including a “long gun propped up against a hot tub in the backyard.”

The inciting incident occurred during the infancy of the Black Lives Matter protests that continue to this day, when Paul and his videographer Andrew Blue posted footage of looters at a mall in Scottsdale, Arizona. Paul denied that he and Blue were partaking in the looting themselves, claiming they were simply documenting it. In early June, Paul was charged with criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly. Those charges were later dismissed.

The FBI raid comes two weeks after Paul was blasted for hosting a raucous party at his mansion, videos of which revealed revelers without masks and not social distancing. The event went viral, and it enraged residents as well as Calabasas mayor Alice Weintraub, who took umbrage with the celebrity for doing so as COVID-19 cases were spiking in the state.

(Via ABC7)

Trippie Redd has spent much of 2020 working on his upcoming third album, Pegasus, which will serve as a follow-up to last year’s Billboard chart topper, A Love Letter To You 4. (A deluxe version was released at the beginning of the year.) Back in June he released one of its singles, “Dreamer,” which dropped on his 21st birthday. And now we have a video to go along with it.

Channeling his inner rockstar, Trippie begins the video laying in the bathtub, relaxing with a smoke. We then see him taking the stage, guitar in hand, ready to rock out. Backed by an all-female dance crew, Trippie Redd then picks up a mic and sings his way through the rest of the video, only to wind up back in the comfort and solitude of his bathtub.

The video arrives after Redd ventured out to sea with PartyNextDoor for their collaboration “Excitement.” The video begins with Redd lost a sea aboard a ship with PartyNextDoor. Eventually he decides to jump ship with a woman as they paddle away in a much smaller boat, hoping to find his way home.”

You can watch the “Dreamer” video above.

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