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For decades, the Indiana Pacers were the NBA’s model franchise in terms of projecting a steady and constant level of competence. In 1989, the team drafted George McLeod with the seventh overall pick. That was the last time, prior to the team’s selection of Bennedict Mathurin in 2022, that Indiana’s first-round draft slot was in the single digits. They’d win a lot of regular season games, make the playoffs a lot, and occasionally go on some sort of run.

All of this is to say that it’s a little odd that the Pacers haven’t made the postseason since 2020. If you’re going back to when they took McLeod, this is the second-longest playoff drought the team has experienced — they missed out four years in a row, from 2006-09. But the good news for the Pacers is that they have legitimate, and reasonable, playoff aspirations this year. Whether or not they reach those lofty goals in the ultra-competitive Eastern Confernece, though, remains to be seen.

Biggest Question: Can They Get Enough Stops?

The Pacers are going to be fun. Any team with Tyrese Haliburton is going to be a joy to watch on offense, as he’s high on the list of the most instinctive and creative playmakers in the world. He missed 26 games last season and had the fourth-most assists in all of basketball. He led the NBA, by some margin, in potential assists per game in 2022-23. Only Nikola Jokic made more passes per game than him. And on top of all that, Haliburton averaged a team and career-best 20.7 points per game. If you give the keys to him and let him go, Haliburton is going to give you a potent offense.

Add in that he is surrounded by plenty of talent on that end of the floor and the Pacers are going to be a nightmare to guard. Myles Turner had his best season as a pro alongside him, and while Buddy Hield requested a trade, Haliburton knows how to get him good looks from deep. Bennedict Mathurin has plenty of room to grow, but his eagerness to attack is, quite frankly, a little jarring. Obi Toppin and Bruce Brown are a pair of interesting offseason acquisitions who fit well — Toppin’s energy and relentlessness are a great fit, as is Brown’s basketball IQ and willingness to be a connecting piece.

The questions are going to come on the defensive end of the floor. Turner’s a good rim protector and Brown’s malleability are both major assets, Haliburton is great at reading passing lanes, and you can see Mathurin’s length and athleticism leading to him being a good defender as he becomes a more seasoned pro. Guys like Aaron Nesmith and Jordan Nwora are younger, athletic wings, while heady veterans like Daniel Theis and the extremely annoying (this is a compliment) T.J. McConnell are here.

They’re not going to be a good defensive team in all likelihood, but with how good Indiana’s offense is going to be, just getting to a point where they’re ok is enough.

X-Factor: Obi Toppin

Toppin was such a weird player in New York because he always seemed to provide a major spark, and despite that, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau just never fully trusted him. He’s not exactly the most defensively stout player in the league — see the Biggest Question section! — but Toppin is an impactful offensive player whose athleticism and willingness to hustle should make him a wonderful fit on this Indiana team.

Carlisle threw a ton of bodies at the 4 spot last year. Nesmith generally started alongside Turner in the frontcourt, Oshae Brissett was a frequent option in that spot off the bench, and Carlisle just pieced things together from there. Toppin, one would assume, is here to take the starting gig and inject a little more size into that group, while Nesmith can come off the bench as a 3-and-D wing option or small-ball 4. Plus having someone with NBA experience in that role who simultaneously fits on the team’s timeline lets them be patient with rookie forward Jarace Walker, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Ultimately, the big question with Toppin is whether he’s able to scale up the good stuff he did in New York (hustle, athleticism, shooting) in a role where he’s asked to play significant minutes. If he can, it stands to reason that Indiana is going to give him a nice payday next summer, and the team’s already exciting offense will be able to climb yet another level.

It’s that time of year, folks, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is here. The 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) is still one of the most anticipated and sought-after sets of whiskeys around. The five-bottle set includes three bourbons and two rye whiskeys that the whiskey world of collectors and drinkers clamor for so hard they’re often willing to pay significantly above MSRP just to get a taste.

That clamor also makes these whiskeys pretty hard to come by, especially for a novice whiskey drinker without some relationships in the industry. You kind of have to be in the know and have deep connections with your local whiskey bars and whiskey liquor stores to get your hands on these bottles. It’s not impossible to come by, don’t get me wrong, you’re just going to have to get lucky in a local lottery or pay a high price.

So is what’s in these bottles worth all that hubbub? Let’s answer that by actually diving into the uniqueness and taste of these whiskeys. After all, these are very unique-tasting whiskeys that, frankly, aren’t for everyone — that’s the whole point of elite whiskey. It’s designed to make an impact and not all drinkers will love that. Each one has its own vibe and flavor profile — making this about finding what speaks to you more than anything else.

Cool? Let’s dive in!

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys From Kentucky, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The ‘Smoothest’ Bourbons Under $100, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• The ‘Smoothest’ Bourbons On The Market, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• The 100 Best Bourbons Under $100 Right Now, Ranked

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Proof

ABV: 67.5%

MSRP: $124

The Whiskey:

This year’s batch of George T. Stagg was distilled in the spring of 2008 and left to rest in warehouses C, I, K, L, and M around the Frankfort Buffalo Trace campus. After 15 long years of rest, the barrels were batched and bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a classic sense of Cherry Coke, old leather tobacco pouches, and rich buttercream made with real vanilla next to fall leaves in an orchard and then this sense of Neoplotian ice cream creeps in that leans toward the strawberry and chocolate ice cream part.

Palate: The palate opens with a deep sense of an apple orchard on a cold fall day with leaves underfoot next to deeply-seeded dark cherry, cinnamon bark, clove buds, and allspice berries with a sense of the Neopolitan ice cream popping up again late.

Finish: The creamy vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry drive the finish back toward the old orchards, fall leaves, rickhouse floors, and soft cherry-spiced tobacco leaves rolled with cedar and smudging sage with a nice warming Kentucky hug on the very end.

Bottom Line:

This is the boldest whiskey on the list by far, and it’s meant to be. George T. Stagg fans love a bold slap in the face of a whiskey and this delivers that in spades. The key to this whiskey though is that it’s balanced. Yes, it’s a hot Kentucky hug on a hot summer day, but there’s enough pullback from that heat to reveal real nuance and depth with classic Buffalo Trace bourbon notes and more (that strawberry ice cream note is amazingly fun).

Still, this over a single large rock will be the way to go when sipping.

Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 18 Years Old

ABV: 45%

MSRP: $124

The Whiskey:

This year’s Sazerac is a “collection of rye whiskey barrels” that were filled in both the fall of 2004 and the spring of 2005, making this an 18-year-old rye with a touch of 19-year-old juice. Those barrels spent all of those years on the Buffalo Trace campus in warehouses K, L, and M before batching, proofing, and bottling otherwise as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Leathery spice barks draw you in on the nose with a deep sense of rye bread crusted with aniseed, clove-studded oranges, and a hint of sweet pear.

Palate: Classic notes of dark winter spice mingle with black pepper, cumin, and chili pepper powder on the palate as candied BBQ pork and new leather lead to a vanilla-laden mid-palate with a soft oakiness.

Finish: That soft oakiness leads to a light and fresh honey sweetness with a light sense of pine and cinnamon bark dipped in hot apple cider with a hint of barrelhouse lurking behind it all.

Bottom Line:

This is good rye whiskey. It’s light on the palate, which makes it very approachable while still delivering deep flavor notes. Those profile notes all speak to a classic Kentucky rye whiskey with a sense of sweetness just sneaking in to balance out all the aniseed, rye bread, and warming spices.

While this may sound like blasphemy to some, this would make an amazing Manhattan.

William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Proof

ABV: 66.8%

MSRP: $124

The Whiskey:

This is Buffalo Trace’s classic wheated bourbon. This year’s Weller BTAC was distilled back in the spring of 2011 and left to rest in warehouses C, L, M, and N for 12 long years. Those barrels were batched and this whiskey was bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Deep and dark candied black cherry mingles with dry cedar bark, molasses, real vanilla beans, nutty brown butter, and old leather rolled in pipe tobacco and just kissed with smoldering sage and dry chili pepper flakes.

Palate: The palate opens with a full blast of ABVs, making the front of your tongue tingle, as floral honey, cherry cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream, and brown butter streusel cut with nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove lead to a hint of dry orange tobacco.

Finish: Cinnamon sticks and clove buds floating in maple syrup arrive on the finish with a sense of old leather boots, the oak in an old rickhouse, orchard barks, and soft notes of vanilla and cherry cake.

Bottom Line:

This is quintessential Kentucky bourbon. It starts very warm but then fades through a beautiful array of classic bourbon notes towards a soft and lush finish that embraces you with soft cherry vanilla vibes. It’s a delight.

This is great neat but will really explode over a big ol’ rock.

Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof

ABV: 62.45%

MSRP: $124

The Whiskey:

This year’s Handy is straight rye (oddly “Kentucky” is missing from the label) comprised of barrels aged for over six years. Once those barrels were batched, this whiskey went into the bottles 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Leathery orange rinds and hints of lemon poppyseed cake pop on the nose along with sappy pine bark, salted caramel, and cumin- and chili-laced leathery tobacco.

Palate: Dark rye bread appears on the front of the palate with a hint of molasses sweetness before the ABVs create a buzzing on the tongue with deep and dark orange marmalade, piney honey, soft vanilla oils, and a hint of potpourri leatheriness on the mid-palate.

Finish: That potpourri vibe mellowing fades on the finish as vanilla and star fruit arrive with a sense of dried chili and star anise hint at black licorice and sarsaparilla bark on the dry end.

Bottom Line:

This is interesting and tasty. The floral notes are dialed way back on the mid-palate as this leans more into pine, orange, and vanilla. It’s soft and supple but does pack a bit of a punch.

Overall, I can see this working nicely over the rocks as a slow sipper.

Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 17 Years Old

ABV: 50.5%

MSRP: $124

The Whiskey:

This year’s Eagle Rare ended up being 19 years and three months old (the “17 Years” on the label denotes the youngest barrels used for the brand overall). This year’s release was distilled and barreled back in the spring of 2004 and then left to rest all those years around the Buffalo Trace campuses in warehouses C, I, K, M, and Q. Once the barrels were batched, the whiskey was proofed and bottled as-is otherwise.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is like eating a moist and perfectly balanced Black Forest cake while walking through an old barrel house and out into a fallow fruit orchard with fall leaves crunchy underfoot and rain barely misty the air with hints of cinnamon cake, smudging sage, and sweetgrass rounding things out.

Palate: Orange cake and salted caramel lead on the palate with a sense of dark chocolate tobacco moving the mid-palate toward dry roasting herbs and a touch of nuttiness.

Finish: Cinnamon sticks and nutmeg pop up on the finish with a hint of vanilla buttercream and eggnog before the spices dry out with a sense of mince meat pie and old leather tobacco pouches.

Bottom Line:

This is damn good bourbon. It’s not reinventing the wheel but it is nailing the concept. It’s so easy to drink while still offering a seriously deep and nuanced experience from top to bottom.

I’d drink this neat any day of the week. A little water or a single rock will help it bloom in the glass, adding to the nuttiness and creaminess of the pour.

Final Thoughts on the 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

This was an interesting set of whiskeys. Of course, if you can score these at MSRP, you’ll be in for a treat. But again, that’ll only be likely via lottery. Otherwise, expect to pay thousands for some of these.

Prices aside, these are good whiskeys and deserve the hype they get. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d have to go with the Weller or maybe the Stagg this year. I did like the Handy and Sazerac though — both are stellar examples of how varied American rye whiskey is. And the Eagle Rare is just a straight-up classic — the old faithful of the group.

Julia Fox has one of several celebrity memoirs that are freshly in circulation. She isn’t oversharing nearly as much as a certain someone else, but it’s the nature of a memoir to, you know, reveal. As such, Julia has shared subjects like dominatrix tips for latex wearers, and of course, she had to discuss her situationship with Kanye West.

Thus far, she has revealed why there’s no sex stuff in the memoir — because there was no sex stuff between Julia and Kanye: “It wasn’t really about that.” And as she told Drew Barrymore this week, Kanye still wanted her attention 24/7, and as a new mom, that’s a nope. So she cut things short, via Decider:

“I had my son, and then he want to talk on the phone a lot, and I’d have to change diapers … I bought a pair of AirPods so I could keep it in while I was doing mom stuff. It was so overwhelming and so unsustainable …. Ultimately, I cannot put anybody else first. My son has to be first. It just became too much. I didn’t sign up to have two babies. I couldn’t do it. It felt like two babies.”

This sounds like zero fun. Fox also revealed that she imagined their relationship would stay secret, but that someone (“it wasn’t me”) leaked the scoop, and the rest was coordinated wardrobe-hell history. Fox has also declared that Kanye wanted her to get a “boob job” and that she only agreed to date him so that he’d leave Kim Kardashian alone.

And they say that romance is dead.

(Via Decider)

Last month, the Rolling Stones announced their first new album in 18 years. Hackney Diamonds will be the long-running band’s 26th(!!) studio album, marks their 61st year as a group, and will feature new songs with the likes of Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder.

With the new album dropping this Friday, October 20, you might be wondering…

Will The Rolling Stones Go On Tour For Hackney Diamonds?

… and look: There’s no such thing as a dumb question, but the answer to this one should be fairly obvious for anyone with any knowledge of the Rolling Stones.

Of course, they are.

While it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that the endlessly touring band would support their first album in almost two decades with another road trip, Keith Richards confirmed as much in a new interview with the BBC. They’ll be hitting the road next year, he says, provided “everybody is still standing.”

That seems likely, as Richards enthused, “We’re all in good fettle. We’re not looking at each other and saying, ‘time’s up’.” Aside from the fine reminder that Richards turns 80 this year (who says “fettle” anymore, Keith?), it’s a good sign that the group’s going to keep going ’til one — or all — of them drop. “Of course, it’s going to end sometime,” he said, “but there’s no particular rush.”

Okay, look…

I know the headline and packaging of this post might come off a little corny and manipulative. It’s got hyperbole and a ranking and all the classic little tricks to get people to click. I know that. I did it on purpose. For, what I think, is a noble reason: I watched Bottoms this past weekend and it made me very happy and I would like to cast the widest possible net of people who might click on this and watch it too and experience that same kind of happiness. The game is the game. I’m just trying to juice the odds a bit. I feel okay about it.

So, yes, there will be a ranking here. I would like you to read it. But if “yo, Bottoms is weird and crazy and outrageously funny and like 90 minutes long and you deserve a little treat on a Friday or Saturday night” is enough to sell you, that’s fine, too. I just want people to watch this chaotic-ass little comedy where a couple of teenagers try to hook up with cheerleaders and end up blowing up cars and fighting entire football teams.

We’ll get to that. Some of it, at least. I refuse to spoil the weirdest parts of this for you. You deserve to see it all with fresh eyes, too.

5. The premise is pretty much a perfect little paragraph

Here’s how the movie studio that made Bottoms describes it on their own website:

In this refreshingly unique comedy, two girls, PJ and Josie, start a fight club as a way to lose their virginities to cheerleaders. And their bizarre plan works! The fight club gains traction, and soon the most popular girls in school are beating each other up in the name of self-defense. But PJ and Josie find themselves in over their heads and in need of a way out before their plan is exposed.

What we have here:

• A high school comedy about two teenage girls who kind of accidentally start a fight club in an attempt to woo popular cheerleaders and lose their virginity before heading off to college
• A secret they are both trying to keep hidden that could unravel the whole thing

This is somehow both an accurate description of what is happening here and just a massive underselling of how weird things get. But it’s a good foundation to build upon. And even if that’s all Bottoms was, it would still be fun. But it is so much more. Like, consider this…

4. Marshawn Lynch plays their teacher and faculty advisor

Yes, he does. Former NFL All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch, whose most famous on-field moment featured him back-flopping into the end zone while grabbing his crotch, plays one of the only adult characters in the movie. And he is so good. Like… so, so good. His delivery of just about every line he’s asked to deliver is just beautiful. Which is saying something, because a lot of the lines he’s asked to deliver could twist-up a veteran comedic actor. I really cannot stress this in strong enough terms: Marshawn Lynch whips an incredible amount of ass in Bottoms.

But this is where you’re probably thinking “Hold on, Brian. You said he plays their teacher but he is very clearly swearing and holding a pornographic magazine called Divorced & Happy in the screencap. So, like, what the hell?”

Excellent question. And it brings me to the number three reason Bottoms might be the funniest movie of 2023…

3. It is just massively deranged in the best ways

This is the hardest part to explain. The closest I’ve come to getting there is “it somehow is both an earnest movie about high school and also a satire of a movie about high school.” It’s weird. In a good way. So, like, yes, it is a little bit “every high school movie you’ve ever seen about horny teens trying to hook up” but also, like, the high school football hero gets served steak at lunch while everyone else eats slop. The teachers and students just casually swear at each other. There are, like, murders and property damage and it’s all just fine. You kind of have to accept the universe the movie exists inside and then proceed from there.

I need you to keep an open mind on this part. The movie is both very smart and just outrageously stupid. This is often how many of my favorite things work.

2. Ayo Edebiri is a goddamn star

So the movie was co-written by the team of Rachel Sennott and Emma Seligman, the former of whom is one of the leads and the latter of whom directs, and I want to be sure to stop here and credit them with creating one of the most original things I’ve seen in years, but Ayo Edebiri is in this movie and she’s just a damn star.

You’ve seen Ayo around. She’s in The Bear and she does the voice of Missy on Big Mouth. She’s written for a zillion shows. The New Yorker did a whole damn mini-profile of her earlier this year.

In explaining her choices as an actor, Edebiri quoted something she remembered Moss-Bachrach once saying to her: “It’s boring to play characters who are happy.” Earlier this year, she appeared on “Abbott Elementary,” Quinta Brunson’s mockumentary sitcom about teachers at a public school in Philadelphia, as Ayesha, sister to Brunson’s Janine. She was borderline gleeful as she described why the role appealed to her: “I’m going on a show I love, and I’m playing a person who has an estranged relationship with her sister, and she hates that the cameras are there?” She laughed delightedly. Beyond “Abbott,” most of Edebiri’s characters are women with complex motivations that occasionally lead them to make messy choices, as when Sydney quits mid-service after an argument with Carmy. In such moments, Edebiri is able to communicate Sydney’s vulnerability, anger, and fear, all at the same time.

But it’s still worth stating: Ayo Edebiri rules so hard in Bottoms, somehow genuine and awkward and silly and everything a movie this ridiculous needs to survive. This all becomes Not Another Teen Movie in lesser hands. I am genuinely excited to see where her career goes next. I’m glad it stopped here first, though.

Oh, also worth noting: That screencap up there, the one about playing the long game with her crush? Please know that this sets off a 90-second monologue that covers the next 20 years and opens with this as the first step…

To recap where we are so far:

• Bottoms is good
• Ayo is a star
• Marshawn Lynch should be in more movies

Which brings us to my number one reason…

1. Holy crap, it is so funny

Hmm. I know it’s probably cheating to make my number one reason I think Bottoms is the funniest movie of 2023 “because it is funny,” but whatever. Fight me. Actually, no. Please do not fight me. There is enough violence in Bottoms already. But do listen to me.

Let me put it like this, which is kind of the thing that made me realize how much I liked Bottoms. It’s easy to become a little jaded when you have a job like I have where you watch a massive amount of movies and shows. You can feel like you’ve seen everything. Even worse, your sense of comedy can get warped in the way where you see something funny happen on the screen and respond by saying “that’s funny” instead of actually, like, laughing. I hate that. It stinks.

Well, Bottoms had me laughing out loud and smiling like a goof for a whole Saturday night. It comes with my highest possible recommendation. I’m sorry again if I manipulated you into clicking on this but it really is important.

Last month, Puck reported that a reboot of The Office is in the works. Makes sense. It’s one of the most-viewed acquired titles of the streaming era along with Suits, and based on the number of dating profiles with “I’m just a Jim looking for my Pam” (or the superior “I’m just a Bob Vance looking for my Phyllis”) in them, it’s popular across multiple generations.

But hold the phone with a “Rockin’ Robin” ringtone.

The Office co-creator Greg Daniels responded to the report in an interview with Collider. “I think that it’s very speculative. The fact that it kind of blew up based on one line in a Puck piece was kind of cool, I guess, in the sense that the fans still care a lot,” he said. “But the thing I would say is, when there’s something to announce, I will definitely announce it.” It won’t be like when Keith Urban accidentally debuted Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham’s relationship in a TikTok — you’ll hear about an Office reboot from Daniels first.

Bob Greenblatt, the former NBC Entertainment chairman, previously said that Daniels “wants to do [a reboot] and actually has an idea for it.” We have some ideas of what that might look like.

(Via Collider)

Did you ever think you’d see Anne Hathaway as a blonde? Probably not, but you probably didn’t expect that she would chop her hair off on-camera for Les Miserables so maybe we should stop assuming we know anything about her haircare routine at all! Hathaway makes her blonde debut in the upcoming psychological thriller Eileen, and it turns out Anne as a Blonde is a bit of a wildcard.

In the film, directed by William Oldroyd, Hathaway stars as Rebecca, a new and mysterious prison psychologist in the 1960s. She stars alongside Thomasin McKenzie, who is best known for going a little crazy over in SoHo, who portrays the titular Eileen.

Eileen works as a secretary at the same prison and sparks a strange new friendship with Rebecca, who seems to have a sinister past that begins to bring Eileen down with her. Suddenly, things seem to get pretty dangerous between the two, but she’s blonde so it’s probably fine, she’s just having fun! Shea Whigham, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, and Owen Teague also star. Here is the official synopsis:

Set during a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path.

Eileen, based on the novel of the same name, first debuted at Sundance in January and will hit theaters on December 8th. Check out the chilling trailer above.

Back in August, new evidence came to light that disputed Alec Baldwin‘s assertion that he did not pull the trigger in the deadly Rust shooting that that took the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. New Mexico prosecutors had previously dropped the involuntary manslaughter charges, but with the right to refile those charges as forensic experts continued their investigation. That process just took a significant step forward.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a grand jury is being convened to decide whether to recharge Baldwin:

In a statement, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said that “additional facts have come to light that we believe show Mr. Baldwin has criminal culpability in the death of Halyna Hutchins and the shooting of Joel Souza.” They added, “We believe the appropriate course of action is to permit a panel of New Mexico citizens to determine from here whether Mr. Baldwin should be held over for criminal trial.”

In a statement to NBC News, Baldwin’s lawyers said they are prepared to contest the involuntary manslaughter charge if it’s refiled.

“It is unfortunate that a terrible tragedy has been turned into this misguided prosecution,” Baldwin’s attorneys said in a statement. “We will answer any charges in court.”

The crux of the issue is that prosecutors could not determine if the gun that Baldwin used was modified, which could have resulted in the weapon firing improperly. However, forensic experts are now confident the gun was not modified and “found new evidence that they believe connects Baldwin to recklessness around safety standards on the set.”

NBC News also reports that recent discussions of a plea deal have also taken place.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter, NBC News)

It’s always BBQ sauce season. And right now is a great chance to try new BBQ sauces, as families gather around tailgates across the nation for fall cookouts. While where you live used to dictate the BBQ sauce, today you can mix and match BBQ sauces from all over — thanks to the internet providing us with every BBQ sauce recipe imaginable.

But you don’t need every BBQ sauce at your family’s fall cookout. You only need a few dialed and delicious sauces that are sure to get your crew hyped. To that end, we’ve decided to call out and cook six iconic BBQ sauces found online. This is really good timing too, as I’ve just come back from judging the famed Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue competition where I indeed judged BBQ sauces. I’m primed!

Below, I’m making sauces that span everything from classic Dr. Pepper-infused Texas barbecue to cheffed-up Korean sauce to Alabama white and South Carolina yellow. I’m even throwing in my own spicy apple bourbon BBQ sauce recipe. The key thing that you should take away from all of this is that while ketchup (or tomato) based sauces are popular, they’re not the be-all and end-all of BBQ sauce. There are a ton of unique sauces out there and they all offer something great for your next grill with the fam.

Let’s dive in!

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Meat Church Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce

Meat Church’s Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce is a Texas-inspired tangy sweet sauce. It’s dark and ketchup-heavy, sure. But it’s also classically smooth, sweet, tangy, and just spicy enough to grab your attention.

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. Dr. Pepper
• 2 cups ketchup
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp. Meat Church Holy Cow Seasoning (or any chili and garlic salt BBQ spice rub)
• 1 tbsp. coarse black pepper
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper

A quick note on ingredients. If you can find the real-deal Texas Dr. Pepper made with pure cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, use that. It’ll make for a slightly deeper flavor. That said, not using it won’t make or break this recipe.

What You’ll Need:

• Small pot
• Whisk
• Jar (for storage)

Method:

• Add all ingredients to a small pot and bring to a slow simmer while whisking together.
• Allow to simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the sauce is thick and sticky but still thin enough to spread with a brush.
• Cool and store in a jar.

Bottom Line on the Meat Chruch Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce:

This is classic BBQ sauce from top to bottom. It’s wonderfully balanced between sweet, tangy, umami, and spicy. It’s thick and lush. It tastes exactly how you want a quintessential tomato-based BBQ sauce to taste with real depth.

Best Uses:

• Chicken (whole, quarters, wings)
• Pork (ribs, chops, pulled)
• Beef ribs
• Bison ribs

South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

This is an iconic South Carolina Mustard BBQ sauce from the famed Lillie’s of Charleston via Southern Living. While this BBQ sauce has its fans and detractors, one thing you cannot deny is that it’s bold, unique, and tangy AF.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups yellow mustard
• 0.5 cups light brown sugar
• 0.5 cups honey
• 0.5 cups apple cider vinegar
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Black pepper (to taste)

The best part of this ingredient list is that it’s super easy to source and cheap. Yellow mustard is only a couple of bucks, and you’ll be left with a lot of great sauce.

What You’ll Need:

• Small pot
• Whisk
• Jar (for storage)

Method:

• Whisk ingredients together in a small pot over medium heat.
• Bring to a very low simmer and let just simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Remove from heat, cool, and store in a jar.

Bottom Line on the South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce:

I’m a big defender of South Carolina Mustard BBQ sauce. It’s a nice change from the overly sweet and tomato ketchup sauces that are on, like, everything else constantly (after judging a BBQ competition, I can assure you that cooks fall back on classic ketchup-based sauces too much).

The best part of this sauce is that it’s boldly mustard-forward while still offering that tange and sweetness from a classic BBQ sauce. There’s complexity here that sings on the palate while waking it up. It’s exciting.

Best Uses:

• Chicken (all)
• Pork (all)
• Duck (all)
• Whitefish (halibut, cod, sea bass)
• Shrimp/Prawns/Crawfish
• Eggs (smoke hard, deviled)

Big Bob Gibson’s Alabama White BBQ Sauce

Big Bob Gibson’s Alabama White BBQ Sauce is legendary. Alabama White BBQ Sauce is also a huge outlier in the BBQ sauce world. It’s way more tartar sauce-adjacent than anything else on the list. Moreover, the use of mayo means that when basting with this sauce, you’re adding a lot of wonderful fats to the meat — a big advantage this sauce has over tomato-based ones.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups mayonnaise
• 0.5 cups white vinegar
• 0.25 cups apple juice
• 2 tsp. horseradish
• 2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 0.5 tsp. cayenne

If you’re making this with mayonnaise, you kind of have to use Duke’s. It’s the best mayo, for one, but it’s also just the right flavor for any Alabama White.

What You’ll Need:

• Mixing bowl
• Whisk

Method:

• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until fully integrated.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour before using the BBQ sauce.

Bottom Line on the Big Bob Gibson’s Alabama White BBQ Sauce:

This is probably my favorite sauce on the list. It’s very tangy, fatty, and full of goodness. It’s super lush and very tartar reminiscent, which hits my nostalgia receptors as a person who grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has very strong opinions about good tartar sauce.

Best Uses:

• Chicken (all)
• Turkey (all)
• Pork (loin, tenderloin, chops, cheeks, ham)
• Salmon
• Cod
• Corn
• Slaw

TikTok Kansas City BBQ Sauce

There are a gazillion ways to go BBQ sauce-wise on TikTok. So I decided to dial it into a single category: Kansas City. Kansas City BBQ sauce is made for ribs and is likely the sauce you’ll know best. It’s ketchup/tomato-based and has a zingy sweet vibe.

Ingredients:

• 1 14-oz. can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 0.5 cup molasses
• 0.5 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp. paprika
• 2 tsp. black pepper course grind
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. mustard powder
• 1 tsp. Kosher salt

What You’ll Need:

• Small pot
• Whisk
• Jar (for storage)

Method:

• Add all ingredients to a small pot and whisk while on medium heat.
• Once the ingredients are completely integrated, allow the sauce to simmer over very low for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Once dark and thick, the sauce is done. Cool, pour into a jar, and store in the fridge.

Bottom Line on the TikTok Kansas City BBQ Sauce:

Yeah, this is Kansas City BBQ sauce. It’s very sweet, tangy, and has a slight chili spice. Is it worth making on your own though? Sure. You can adjust the spiciness and sweetness to your palate at home whereas a lot of store-bought versions will be sickly sweet.

Best Uses:

• Pork (ribs, pulled, loin, chops)
• Beef (ribs, pulled, burger patties)
• Bison (ribs, pulled, burger patties)
• Chicken (quarters, wings)
• Turkey (legs, wings, necks)
• Lamb (chopped)

Korean BBQ Sauce

This is an amalgam of Roy Choi’s Kogi BBQ Sauce (that you can buy on store shelves nationwide) and classic Korean BBQ Sauce recipes that you find all over the internet.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 0.5 cup water
• 0.5 cup apple juice
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 inch grated ginger
• 0.5 cup pureed apple
• 0.25 cups gochujang
• 0.25 cups distilled white vinegar
• 0.25 cups maple syrup
• 0.25 cups molasses
• 1 tbsp. sesame oil
• 1 tsp. orange juice
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 1 tsp. fish sauce

What You’ll Need:

• Small pot
• Whisk
• Jar (for storage)

Method:

• Add the ginger, garlic, and apple puree to the small pot and hit with high heat. Once fragrant (no more than a minute), add the rest of the ingredients and lower the heat to medium.
• Simmer the sauce for at least 15 minutes — stirring occasionally — until it starts to thicken.
• Cool and store in a jar in the fridge.

Bottom Line on the Korean BBQ Sauce:

This is the saltiest sauce on the list by a mile. It’s balanced with great spicy notes from the ginger and gochujang with a hint of funk and sesame. It’s very complex and has just the right amount of sweetness. Though, I might add a bit more molasses to my next batch (maybe double it).

Best Uses:

• Pork (all)
• Beef (ribs, chuck, brisket)
• Bison (ribs, brisket)
• Chicken (all)
• Turkey (all)
• Duck (all)
• Goose (all)
• Salmon
• Goat (ribs)

Zach’s Spicy Apple Bourbon BBQ Sauce

This is a non-tomato-based BBQ sauce. It’s a classic dark brown sauce that’s apple and onion-based (the caramelized onion helps it pop) that’s accented with bourbon, plenty of sweetness, and a fresh chili spiciness. It takes a little longer to cook than some of the others but is 100% worth the little bit of extra effort.

Ingredients:

• 1 apple (peeled and grated)
• Half of yellow onion (peeled and grated)
• 1 jalapeno (de-seeded and finely diced) — use a habanero if you want hotter heat
• 1 cup apple cider (freshly pressed)
• 1 cup bourbon
• 0.5 cups molasses
• 0.5 cups apple cider vinegar
• 0.5 cups brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. beef stock concentrate
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of cayenne
• 1 tsp. neutral oil

What You’ll Need:

• Medium pot
• Small pot
• Box grater
• Peeler
• Whisk
• Fine mesh strainer
• Jar (for storage)

Method:

• Peel and grate the apple and onion. Warm the oil in a medium pot and add the apple and onion. Cook until the onion starts to brown, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the bourbon, apple cider, vinegar, and molasses to the pot and stir until fully integrated.
• Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a slow simmer. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
• Strain the sauce through a sine mesh strainer into another small pot. Use a wooden spoon to make sure to push all the liquid through.
• Return the small pot to the heat and allow to simmer another 15 minutes or so until the sauce is reduced by half and nicely thickened.
• Cool, pour into a jar, and store in the fridge.

Bottom Line on the Zach’s Spicy Apple Bourbon BBQ Sauce:

This is a sticky, sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce that sticks with you. It’ll force you to get licking those fingers! The onion creates a meaty/umami base to the sweet apple and spicy bourbon with a good sense of classic BBQ sauce notes. It’s everything you want in a non-tomato-based BBQ sauce.

Best Uses:

Pork (all)
Chicken (all)
Turkey (all)
Duck (all)
Goose (all)
Lamb (ribs, leg)
Salmon
Scallops

Final Thoughts on the BBQ Sauces:

As you can tell, I didn’t rank these BBQ sauces. They’re just so different and each provides something too unique to rank them against each other.

I can tell you that I liked them all. But my favorites are the Alabama White (you can’t take the Pacific Northwest out of the boy and all that jazz), the Dr. Pepper Texas BBQ Sauce (it’s just quintessential), and my own (try it over a slow-smoked pork loin, trust me). I’m also a really big fan of the South Carolina mustard sauce but also recognize that it’s the more controversial of the list given its undeniable boldness. The Kansas City and Korean BBQ sauce are the two I can take or leave but both serve a purpose when needed. And they’re still good, don’t get me wrong.

My advice is to find the right BBQ sauce for the right moment (and right dish!) this fall and then wow your family at your next backyard cookout or tailgate party.

Now that Blink-182 is just days away from the release of their comeback album One More Time…, fans are no doubt wondering whether its release will be accompanied by a new tour supporting it. They’ve still got plenty of dates left on their ongoing reunion tour, though, with its Latin American leg pushed back due to Travis Barker’s finger injury. So, it remains to be seen whether they’ll extend that tour after being on the road for nearly a year by then.

However, when the band reformed, they announced both the new music and the tour at the same time, meaning that they knew plenty of the fans showing up for them might be expecting to hear music from the new album — especially after it’s out this Friday. That makes it likely they’ll also want to perform those new songs for fans who’ve waited almost 20 years for a new Blink-182 album. If there is a tour for One More Time…, it would make sense to keep the tour rolling with new dates. On the other hand, they might need a break after touring for almost a year straight by then, necessitating a break that would probably mean any new dates wouldn’t take place until 2025. We’ll see which of the two options they decide on (or if they defy expectations and go in a completely different direction) soon enough.