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American rye whiskey is the sharper cousin of bourbon whiskey. The use of rye grains (a wheat varietal) as the main ingredient instead of corn leads to a whiskey that has more herbal, funky, and fruity characteristics. They’re two different beasts at the end of the day, but that doesn’t mean that rye whiskey can’t be soft, creamy, or sweet too. American rye whiskeys can be smooth AF and I’m going to underscore that fact today, via a big blind taste test.

Before I dive in — what does “smooth” even mean? Well, “smoothness” is the lack of roughness. It’s creamy, silky, velvety, soft, and polished. But it’s more than that when we’re talking about whiskey. It’s about the mouthfeel or texture. Smoothness really comes down to the way the whiskey feels on your palate and senses more than the flavors it imparts.

Yes, the depth of the flavor profile is still paramount — you want to taste good whiskey after all (not just “smooth like water,” in which case lowest proof would always win). But the feeling that the pour of whiskey imparts is what leads us to use the word “smooth” after we taste it. Let’s be honest, no one is describing a high-ABV whiskey that burns all the way down as “smooth,” are they? Nor would anyone pin a chewy wood bomb as smooth. This is about those aforementioned adjectives: not rough, soft, silky, velvety, polished, and creamy.

For this blind tasting, I grabbed 12 American rye whiskeys that I know are regarded as “smooth” to find the absolute best one. I also added a bottle that people love but I wouldn’t exactly call smooth — Bulleit Rye — to see if it comes close on the smoothness metric or not.

That makes our lineup today the following smooth rye whiskeys:

• Stellum Rye The Lone Cypress
• Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 10 Years Old
• E.H. Taylor, Jr. Straight Kentucky Rye Whiskey Bottled In Bond
• Hemingway Rye, 1st Edition A Blend Of Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished In Rum Seasoned Olorosso Sherry Casks
• Scarlet Shade Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 14 Years
• Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Toasted Cherry Wood and Oak Barrels
• Rare Character Single Barrel Series Selected by ReserveBar Topflight Series Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Jaqueira Casks
• Bulleit 95 Rye Frontier Whiskey Straight American Rye Whiskey
• Jefferson’s Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks
• Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 7 Years
• Russell’s Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Single Barrel
• 291 All Rye 100% Rye Malt Colorado Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves

To round this blind tasting out, I ranked these rye whiskeys according to how smooth they were while also considering the depth and detectability of the flavor profile. Smooth is great and all, but there also has to be something delicious there to add to that smoothness. Savvy? Let’s dive in!

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• Every Whiskey Brand From Jim Beam, Ranked

Part 1 — The Smooth Rye Whiskey Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a light pine resin meets dried chili pepper vibe on the nose with a bushel of dried savory green herbs — think sage, thyme, rosemary, tarragon — next to old leather and dried sour cherries tossed in kosher salt.

Palate: The palate has a note of that pine with a soft orange rind next to a spiced winter cake with dried fruit, walnuts, and wintry spices.

Finish: The end is slightly warm thanks to high ABVs with a sense of those salted cherries that give way to marzipan and vanilla cream with a hint of dried winter spices and chili peppers.

Initial Thoughts:

This started off heavy and woody and ended up very smooth before drying out. It’s good stuff but maybe not the smoothest whiskey in the world.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich and lush toffee combines with soft marzipan on the nose as a dash of freshly cracked black pepper lead to cinnamon-laced apple cider and cherry-soaked cedar bark.

Palate: The palate is part Red Hot and part zesty orange marmalade with creamy vanilla pudding, sweet and spicy dried chili peppers with a hint of smoke and woodiness, and this fleeting whisper of celery salt.

Finish: The end gets very creamy with the almond and creamy vanilla tobacco, soft and sweet cedar, and a dark chocolate orange vibe all balanced to damn near perfection.

Initial Thoughts:

This is a smooth motherf*cker right here.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This nose is vibrant with hints of freshly plucked pears next to black peppercorns, soft cedar, winter spice barks and berries, and a hint of fresh mint chopped up with fresh dill that leads to a minor key of spearmint and maybe some fresh chili pepper on the vine.

Palate: The palate holds onto the fresh green chili pepper as the pear gets stewed with those winter spices and drizzled with a salted toffee syrup cut with sharp burnt orange and bitter chinotto leaves.

Finish: That sweet and citrus bitter vibe leads back to dark and woody clove and anise with a dash of sasparilla and salted black licorice before some fresh mint and dill return to calm everything down.

Initial Thoughts:

This is delicious and very smooth while delivering incredible deep flavor notes.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich and old oak mingles with salted caramel, dark maple syrup, and sheets of dark fruit leather next to a soft sense of caraway rye toast with a soft creamed vanilla butter and a light touch of cherry compote.

Palate: That cherry takes on a slightly tart and salted aura on the taste as the salted caramel leads to huge sticks of cinnamon bark, clove-studded oranges, and a smudging bundle full of wild sage, sweetgrass, and cedar bark.

Finish: Those smoldering botanicals linger on the finish as a soft cinnamon cake with salted toffee drizzle and a whisper of dark chocolate-covered espresso beans counter the rye dank.

Initial Thoughts:

This has a nice smoothness over all but it’s more smooth in the way jam can be rather than the way cream is. I guess that’s me saying this is more jammy than smooth.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is a vanilla bomb with a sense of buttercream and salted caramel ice cream next to fresh dark berries, a hint of zucchini bread with walnuts and clove, and a mild sense of cedar cigar humidors.

Palate: The bark-heavy winter spices amp up on the palate as plums, peaches, and pears get stewed and lead to a sharp marmalade with a hint of salted dark chocolate-covered espresso beans next to coffee-laced tobacco with a whisper of black cherry.

Finish: The end leans into the spice and tobacco as the orchard fruit really amps up with a deep vanilla cake base cut with real vanilla pods and a light sense of old oak staves in a dusty cellar with a dirt floor.

Initial Thoughts:

This has some serious smoothness that’s countered by some serious aged depth (earthiness). It’s a great balance and just works.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is classic with fresh cherry layered with nasturtiums, cinnamon sticks, and soft cedar planks just kissed with clove, nutmeg, and anise before light red peppercorns and brandy-soaked cherries dipped in salted dark chocolate kick in.

Palate: The palate follows the nose’s lead with a lush mouthfeel that’s full of spicy stewed fruits and ciders mixing with creamy vanilla and nutty bases over subtle chili pepper spiciness far in the rear of the taste.

Finish: The end pushed the woody spices toward an apple cider/choco-cherry tobacco mix with a cedar box and old leather vibe tying the whole taste together.

Initial Thoughts:

This is a very nice and very classic rye. I don’t know if I’d call it smooth though. There’s no creaminess but it is very softly hewn.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is deeply nutty with a dark and worn leatheriness next to a soft sense of mild mushrooms, green banana, macadamia, and anise with a soft Kentucky cherry/vanilla/winter spice undertone.

Palate: The palate is lush and silky with a sense of vanilla oils, star fruit, clove, cinnamon bark, and nutmeg next to creamy nuttiness with a dash of toffee and alder planks.

Finish: The finish just lingers and lingers while slowly fading through vanilla buttercream, sour cherries tossed in maple sea salt, and moist marzipan cut with orange and pomelo oils.

Initial Thoughts:

This is like cream from top to bottom — even the nose is smooth and creamy. It’s also just pure silk with an incredible depth.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This nose opens up with a mix of resinous cedar, sharp rye spiciness, creamy vanilla, and a hint of fresh mint.

Palate: The taste delivers on those notes while folding in hints of dark cacao, savory fruits (think melon), and a crumbly buttermilk biscuit with a hint of maple syrup.

Finish: The end is pretty short and thin but does circles back around to that cedar and maple syrup with a tobacco edge and a touch of winter spice.

Initial Thoughts:

This is nice but tastes cheap (thin).

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Soft old leather and meaty raisins with a good dose of creamy cinnamon cake cut with floral and fresh honey with a deep vanilla creaminess.

Palate: The palate is plummy and full of lush vanilla with a plum pudding vibe next to a hint of orange studded with cloves while soft nutmeg smoothes everything out.

Finish: The end brings the fresh honey back and laces it with rich and almost burnt orange oils next to a mix of old cedar bark and dry cinnamon wrapped in dry tobacco.

Initial Thoughts:

This is nice and silky but not quite as deep as some of the other lush ryes on the panel. It’s still very good though.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Salted caramel sweetness with a vanilla underbelly drives the nose toward rye bread crusts, a hint of dried savory herbs, apple blossoms, and a whisper of soft leather gardening gloves.

Palate: The spiciness arrives after vanilla cream and salted caramel with a dose of freshly cracked red peppercorns, dried red chili, and sharp winter brown spices next to a spiced oak.

Finish: The sweetness and spiciness coalesce on the finish with a deep sense of fruit orchards full of fall leaves and apple bark.

Initial Thoughts:

This is — again — very good. It has a smoothness to it but it’s overpowered by the earthiness and spice.

Taste 11

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is full of dark orchard fruits, soft vanilla pods, old oak staves with a hint of old barrel house funk, and a mix of spicy orange rind next to freshly cracked black pepper and sharp cinnamon powder.

Palate: The palate leans into the cinnamon and layers it into chewy and buzzy tobacco with hints of vanilla sweetness, cherry bark woodiness, and sharp fancy root beer vibes.

Finish: The end pings on that old musty rickhouse one more time as a humidor full of vanilla, cherry, and cinnamon-spiced tobacco fades towards a rich and buttery toffee with a hint of rye fennel on the very backend.

Initial Thoughts:

This is a good whiskey that balances woody depth and lush creaminess pretty well. It didn’t quite jump out but it got the job done.

Taste 12

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with dark fruit leather, dark black tea leaves, cinnamon bark, and a fistful of dry dill and marjoram with a whisper of salted caramel sweetness.

Palate: The palate has a grainy cinnamon toast vibe next to more of that dark black tea with a hint of clove-spiced plum jam, freshly cracked black pepper, and more of that salted caramel.

Finish: The plumminess drives the finish with a hint of cracked almond shell and dark dill next to fresh flat-leaf parsley and a touch of sweet-sour cherry packed in sawdust.

Initial Thoughts:

This was warm, grainy, and spicy. It’s straight-up delicious. I wouldn’t call it smooth though. This is much more in the “puts hair on your chest” category.

Part 2 — The Smooth Rye Whiskey Ranking

12. Bulleit 95 Rye Frontier Whiskey Straight American Rye Whiskey — Taste 8

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $34

The Whiskey:

Bulleit’s rye has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley solely from MGP of Indiana. The rye is aged for four to seven years before blending, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was perfectly good whiskey. It just felt like the thinnest whiskey on this panel because it is. This really feels like a whiskey you build a cocktail with. Newbies conflate smoothness and thinness but our readers are past that level.

11. 291 All Rye 100% Rye Malt Colorado Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves — Taste 12

ABV: 66.3%

Average Price: $115

The Whiskey:

This Colorado whiskey is made with a 100% rye mash bill — 50% Colorado malted rye (from Root Shoot Malting) and 50% German rye malt — on a bespoke still. The hot juice is then aged in new oak with signature toasted aspen wood staves added to help refine the aging process. Finally, the barrels were batched and bottled 100% as-is, yielding only 1,000 bottles.

Bottom Line:

This was way too strong and hot to be called smooth. That said, this is a very tasty whiskey with a ton of depth. So if you’re looking for a bold AF whiskey with a kick, this is the play.

10. Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 7 Years — Taste 10

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $36

The Whiskey:

This new whiskey from Beam marks the age-statement return of their iconic Knob Creek Rye. The whiskey in this case was aged seven years before batching, slight proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This is another one that goes very deep but in a way that feels nostalgic and comforting. That said, it’s not smooth unless you add some ice or water to let the creaminess bloom in the glass (and this is a neat tasting panel — so that didn’t happen here).

That said, I would 100% use this to make a Manhattan tonight. It’ll be dope.

9. Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Toasted Cherry Wood and Oak Barrels — Taste 6

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $69

The Whiskey:

This whiskey — from Bardstown Bourbon Company’s own Origin Series — is their classic 95/5 rye that’s aged for almost five years. Then the whiskey is finished with alternating toasted American oak and toasted cherry wood staves in the barrel. Once the whiskey is just right, it’s batched, proofed, and bottled.

Bottom Line:

This has great depth and feels like a classic rye that delivers. Again though, I’d use this for cocktails more than as a sipper.

8. Stellum Rye The Lone Cypress — Taste 1

ABV: 57.67%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

Named for one of the world’s most famous trees, this whiskey is all about finding the funky forest in the flavor profile of a brand-new rye whiskey. The awesome team at Barrell Craft Spirits created the blend to accentuate woodier notes before it was bottled at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

While this did have a nice woody vibe (plenty of that spice was in there), there was a nice counterpoint of silky smoothness. It wasn’t a “grab you by the collar” whiskey but they don’t all have to blow your socks off. This is just good. I’d use it as a sipper over a lot of ice (to calm down that woodiness) or in a great whiskey-forward cocktail.

7. Hemingway Rye, 1st Edition A Blend Of Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished In Rum Seasoned Olorosso Sherry Casks — Taste 4

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $109

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a unique one. The blend is made up of two whiskeys — 94% is a nine-year-old 95/5 (rye/malted barley) Indiana rye and 6% is a four-year-old 95/5 Kentucky rye. Those whiskeys were batched and then re-filled into a rum-seasoned Oloroso sherry cask for a final rest before batching, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This is where we get into the smooth whiskeys that deliver serious depth. I’d still contend that leans a little more toward the wood finishing (which is fine) than smooth overall though. Plus, it’s a touch warm at the end, which may turn some off from the lushness. But just add a rock and this will shine.

6. Russell’s Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Single Barrel — Taste 11

ABV: 52%

Average Price: $69

The Whiskey:

This hand-selected single-barrel expression hits on some pretty big classic rye notes with Kentucky bourbon vibes underneath it all. The whiskey is selected from the center cuts of the third through fifth floors of the Wild Turkey rickhouses. There’s no chill filtering and the expression is only slightly touched by water before bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was smooth, silky, and deep. It felt accessible. I can see this being a good end-of-the-day sipper as easily as making a killer Sazerac.

5. Jefferson’s Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks — Taste 9

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $73

The Whiskey:

This release from Jefferson’s leans on masterfully selected barrel picks. The sourced whiskey is picked from single barrels of cognac-finished rye whiskey and bottled with a touch of proofing water.

Bottom Line:

This was not only smooth but it was complex. There was just more to the flavor profile and it all made sense. I wanted more of this. It also felt like it’d be a good pairing whiskey for a light and fresh meal.

4. Scarlet Shade Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 14 Years — Taste 5

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $199

The Whisky:

The new Orphan Barrel from Diageo is a very rare release. The whiskey in the bottle is a 14-year-old rye that was distilled in Indiana and then left to age at the famed Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Those barrels were batched and proofed before bottling.

Bottom Line:

This is smooth with a hint of earthiness to balance things out. It’s also so easy-going as a neat sipper.

3. E.H. Taylor, Jr. Straight Kentucky Rye Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 3

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $349

The Whiskey:

This rye from Buffalo Trace is a beloved bottle. As with all Buffalo Trace whiskeys, the mash bill and exact aging are not known. It’s likely this is made from a mash of very high rye mixed with just malted barley, maybe. We do know that it is not the same mash bill as Buffalo Trace’s other rye, Sazerac.

Bottom Line:

This is where we blast off into outer space. This is freaking delicious, deep, and oh so silky.

2. Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 10 Years Old — Taste 2

ABV: 46.4%

Average Price: $260

The Whiskey:

2023’s Michter’s 10-Year release is another instant classic. The whiskey is made from a corn-rich rye whiskey mash bill with a good dose of barley in there. The absolute best barrels are chosen — with some up to 15 years old — for this release. Then each of those barrels is individually bottled as-is with a hint of proofing water.

Bottom Line:

This was pure velvet in a glass with a beautifully deep flavor profile that just kind of keeps going without sacrificing the creaminess at all. This is fantastic whiskey, period.

1. Rare Character Single Barrel Series Selected by ReserveBar Topflight Series Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Jaqueira Casks — Taste 7

ABV: 56.65%

Average Price: $88

The Whiskey:

Japqueira is a Brazilian wood that most notably grows jack fruit and is used to age cachaça. The whiskey in the bottle is 95/5 rye from Indiana that’s then refilled into a Jacqueira barrel that previously held cachaça and let it rest in Kentucky for a spell. After four years and six months, ReserveBar bottled a single barrel 100% as-is.

Bottom Line:

This was creamy, silky, and lush from the nose to the finish. It was like drinking polished silk while also carrying an insanely deep flavor profile. This is world-class whiskey (not just rye). If I was asked, “What’s the smoothest rye is right now?” I’d name this without hesitation. An incredible value.

Part 3 — Final Thoughts on the Smooth Rye Whiskeys

There weren’t any bad whiskeys in this blind tasting. There were whiskeys that weren’t all that smooth though. If you are looking for smooth, you can skip the bottom three all together. If you’re looking for a touch of smoothness with more sharp rye character, grab numbers 9 through 4.

If you’re looking for amazing whiskey that’s as smooth as it’s deep and f*cking delicious, then any of the top three are going to scratch that itch. They’re all phenomenal whiskeys.

While Elon Musk has been roundly mocked for his seemingly spur-of-the-moment decision to rebrand Twitter as X, at least one person thinks it’s “cool.” Unfortunately, that person is Piers Morgan, who is categorically the worst.

Taking an unusual break from his endless Meghan Markle obsession, Morgan stopped by Fox & Friends on Monday morning where his ham-shaped head couldn’t stop gushing about Musk’s latest move.

“I actually like it, I never liked that damn bird anyway, did you?” Morgan told Ashley Einhardt before singing the praises of X. Via Mediaite:

“I mean, it was a very annoying-looking bird, and now we’ve got a very cool-looking X. I also like the fact it is annoying the right people. You know the type — it’s the type who every time Elon Musk does anything on this platform, they immediately go nuts and then announce, ‘I am leaving the platform with immediate effect.’ And then you check about two days later and they’ve come back, or they never left at all. So, I think on every level, I like this.”

Thanks to Musk’s increased flirtation with the far-right, Einhardt was also on board with the X change and joined Morgan in touting the platform’s more “macho” persona that will reportedly abandon “tweeting.”

“Are we really reduced to a bunch of little birds running around trees tweeting?” Morgan said before swooning over Musk’s edgy new rebrand. “So, I quite like getting a cool new description.”

(Via Mediaite)

When we think about gifted conversationalists, we’re more likely to think of great talkers—those who wow us with their insights, wit, and charm. However, communication experts believe that if you want to make a great impression on someone, knowing how to listen goes a long way.

Those of us who love being verbose may think the world loves us because of how well we can talk. But the person sitting in front of you has a lot to say, and nothing makes them feel better during a conversation than your undivided attention.

As the old saying goes, we never quite remember everything someone has said to us, but we’ll never forget how they made us feel. When you actively listen to your conversation partner, they feel that you value them and are receptive to their needs. It also eases any feelings of conflict or resentment.

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After a good conversation, the person you spoke with should think, “Wow, that person really gets me,” instead of, “It was like I didn’t even exist.”

A study from 2016 on sales calls did an excellent job of quantifying the amount we should speak versus listen during a conversation. A marketing director at Gong.io analyzed 25,537 sales calls using artificial intelligence and found that the interactions where the salesperson talked 43% of the time and listened 57% of the time had the highest sales yield.

This finding has come to be known as the 43:57 rule.

Even though the study was conducted on business calls, the reason that it works should apply to social conversations as well. Paying more attention helps a salesperson identify the client’s needs and makes them feel comfortable spending money because they know it’s with someone who understands their interests.

It’s the same as a social situation where the person you speak to wants to know they are valued and you respect what they say.

This is excellent advice, but sometimes it’s hard to listen when you’re in a fun conversation and have a lot to say. Kate Murphy, author of “You’re Not Listening,” says it’s all about staying calm.

“Deep breaths are always good. They’re always good. Because it…calms down that fear response. It helps you get more centered,” Murphy told WBUR. “But also to develop your curiosity. Like I said, make it more important to be curious than to be right. And to go into every conversation with that mindset of how could I be wrong? Instead of, let me prove how I’m right.”

“That’s how you develop creative ideas. It’s how you cooperate. It’s how you find middle ground, or at least a peaceable existence,” Murphy added.

The idea that to be a great conversationalist one should master the art of listening is a bit counterintuitive. But, if you feel that you have a lot to say in conversations and can be interesting to listen to, imagine how great that’ll make others feel when you show that you enjoy listening to them as well. It’s a virtuous cycle where everyone wins.

This article originally appeared on 3.7.23

Jason Aldean has been dealing with the controversy surrounding “Try That In A Small Town” for a little while now, and he said about it in part at a recent concert, “One thing I saw this week was a bunch of country music fans that can see through a lot of the bullsh*t, alright? I saw country music fans rally like I’ve never seen before, and it was pretty badass to watch, I gotta say, thank you guys so much.”

Regardless of how you feel about Aldean or his song, it’s hard to argue with the singer’s point about his fans rallying: On the new Billboard Hot 100 chart dated July 29, “Try That In A Small Town” ranks at No. 2. The only song ahead is Jung Kook and Latto’s “Seven,” which is the first No. 1 song for Latto. It’s also the first chart-topper for Jung Kook as a solo artist, but he’s already experienced multiple No. 1’s as part of BTS.

This is actually the debut week on the chart for “Try That In A Small Town,” despite its initial release coming back in May. The song had the biggest digital sales week for a country song in over a decade, since Florida Georgia Line and Nelly’s “Cruise” in 2013. It also debuted at No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart, Aldean’s first leader on those ranks.

It’s Aldean’s second top-10 song on the Hot 100, after “Dirt Road Anthem” (which had a Ludacris-featuring remix) peaked at No. 7 in 2011. Also worth noting is that three of the top four songs are country songs, with Aldean at No. 2, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” at No. 3, and Luke Combs’ “Fast Car” at No. 4.

This past weekend was an eventful one for the stars of the Philadelphia 76ers, as Joel Embiid got married on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed himself, FaceTiming Meek Mill to rap “Dreams and Nightmares” to him from the ceremony while also dancing up a storm.

While that was happening and a handful of Embiid’s teammates were in attendance for his nuptials, James Harden and PJ Tucker were down in Miami enjoying themselves at Rolling Loud, where a video went viral of Harden grabbing four (4) hamburgers from legendary Houston rapper Bun B.

Listen, who among us has not been enjoying themselves at a concert, maybe had a few beverages, and not wanted to eat four hamburgers. I would do the same thing as Harden if presented with a tray of free burgers, so I am not going to be one to throw stones here.

That said, plenty of folks online began making connections between Harden’s statement (or maybe threat) earlier in the week to make things “uncomfortable” on his Instagram story amid the reports he’d be more than willing to report to camp and be a distraction should the Sixers not meet his trade request by October. Harden knows better than most how to turn up the heat on a team and make clear he doesn’t want to be there, as he put on some pounds in Houston when he wanted to leave the Rockets and made the Nets locker room miserable before being dealt to Philly. Maybe this is part of the program, maybe he’s taking burgers to some friends, or maybe he was just a very hungry fella. Either way, it is a pretty funny video of him just stacking burgers in his arms and disappearing into the night.

Netflix just unveiled a new feature for mobile app users that will personalize the way users interact with the streaming platform.

Starting Monday, the Downloads tab will be replaced on the iOS version of the Netflix. (Android users will see the change in early August.) In its place, users will see the new “My Netflix” tab where they can download their favorites shows like The Witcher or Stranger Things and also receive recommendations for a more a streamlined experience.

Via Netflix:

In this new dedicated space on iOS and Android globally, you can see your downloads (e.g. Quarterback episodes for that long flight), TV series and movies you gave a thumbs up to, shows and films you’ve saved to My List (e.g. Heart of Stone, anyone?), trailers you’ve watched, reminders you’ve set, whatever you’re in the middle of watching, what you’ve recently watched, and more.

According to Product Manager Elaine Chao, using My Netflix will also better tailor your experience the more you use it.

“Keep in mind that the more you interact with and tell Netflix what you like, such as saving more action-thrillers like Extraction 2 to My List or giving a thumbs up to every season of Bridgerton, the more you’ll see on the My Netflix tab,” Chao said.

While My Netflix hopes to provide a better experience for users, the streaming platform notes that you “still visit your Home tab and other sections of the app to discover our full catalog of series and films.”

(Via Netflix)

The Brooklyn Nets have had a wild past few years, having signed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, traded for James Harden, traded away James Harden, traded away Kyrie Irving, and finally traded away Kevin Durant.

As they get set for the 2023-24 season, they are finally moving past their efforts at creating a superteam and going back to a more traditional team-building model, with the talent they got in return for those stars as the focal point moving forward. Mikal Bridges is the most notable of those, along with Cam Johnson who got handsomely paid this offseason to return to Brooklyn, as they were the main prizes from the Durant trade to Phoenix. Those two along with Nic Claxton make up the presumptive Nets core at the moment, but that leaves out their highest paid player, Ben Simmons.

Simmons has only played in 42 games over the past two years after holding out from Philadelphia while waiting to be traded, then suffering a back injury that kept him out the entire year once traded to Brooklyn for Harden. This past season he appeared in 42 games, averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game before again being shut down in February. As has become a seemingly annual occurrence, Ben Simmons workout footage has popped up this summer as he gets back on the court, but most NBA observers are in a “believe it when I see it” mode with Simmons ever getting back close to the level he once reached as a three-time All-Star.

However, the only people that matter for Simmons are those in Brooklyn right now, and he can at least fall back on the support of his teammates, led by Bridges. Mikal joined Paul George on the latest Podcast P and explained why he’s a big believer in Simmons having a bounce back year, while also noting Simmons has a great relationship with his current teammates.

This is some very good leadership from Bridges to go out and publicly support Simmons, because that’s the kind of environment he needs. As Bridges notes, he wants Simmons to know they’re going to have his back and like him no matter what ups and downs he goes through on the court, clearly understanding that the battle Simmons faces in returning to form is as much mental as physical. The rest of the basketball world can be skeptical, but as long as the Nets provide that support for Simmons and show him their belief in him, he just might be able to find his rhythm and comfort on the floor again.

Caution: reading any further will likely induce FOMO.

Fuji Rock Festival 2023 is hitting the slopes of the Naeba Ski Resort within Japan’s Niigata Prefecture from Friday, July 28, to Sunday, July 30, with the likes of Alanis Morissette, Daniel Caesar, Denzel Curry, Foo Fighters, Lizzo, The Strokes, Weezer, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and several more in tow.

The expansive event will unfold across eight stages, plus The Palace Of Wonder, and everything will kick off on Friday at 8:30 a.m. local time. Plenty of acts will warm up the crowd for Caesar (7 p.m.), Curry (8 p.m.), Yeah Yeah Yeahs (8:10 p.m.), The Strokes (9:10 p.m.), and NxWorries (10 p.m.).

On Saturday, July 29, Benee will take the Green Stage at 1 p.m., followed by Morissette (5 p.m.), Ellegarden (7 p.m.), and Foo Fighters (9:10 p.m.). The White Stage will host the likes of Dermot Kennedy (2:20 p.m.), Caroline Polachek (6 p.m.), and Louis Cole (10 p.m.). Attendees can also catch D4vd (2 p.m.) or Weyes Blood (4 p.m.) on the Red Marque stage.

The final day, July 30, will still pack plenty of punch. The Green Stage will finish out with Gryffin (3 p.m.), Yuki (5 p.m.), Bad Hop (7 p.m.), and Lizzo (9:10 p.m.). Weezer will close out the White Stage beginning at 10 p.m., and several acts are scheduled to play into the early hours of Monday morning, July 31.

See the full Fuji Rock schedule and festival map below, and find more information here.

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

This past weekend, The Walking Dead: Dead City wrapped up the throwback spinoff’s debut season, for which (via a press release) the audience has been “growing with each successive week to date.” Those viewers tuned into watch Maggie pull a fast one on Negan, too. The mad mama recovered her son, Hershel, and she also unloaded Negan into the (figurative) arms of The Croat. He, in turn, passed Negan to the mysterious Dama, who appeared to be a fan of Negan’s morbidly bombastic ways. Jeffrey Dean Morgan has gone on record with Entertainment Weekly to declare, “I think he thinks he’s f—ed.”

Will we see how “f*cked” Negan really ends up being? Oh yes. AMC had a slew of announcements at San Diego Comic-Con, and that includes word that not only will Dead City receive a second season, but so will The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which won’t even debut until September 10. Still, the footage that AMC has released thus far looks promising (and Daryl will have a crossbow again, thank god). He will wash ashore and feel puzzled about how he has arrived in France, and although he might not ride a motorcycle, he will encounter sadistic nuns. At Comic-Con, AMC revealed this atmospheric trailer:

Additionally, the Rick Grimes and Michonne spinoff received a red-toned teaser as well as an official title — The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live — that will bring back plenty of final-season memories for TWD fans. Finally, we’re seeing some vibes beyond lovey-dovey ones, which I appreciate. No offense to Rick Grimes and his dumb decisions, but there is nothing else as iconic in this franchise like Michonne and her sword. Enjoy:

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon will be on his way to Crossbow City on September 10.

Tom Brady has retired from football, but he seems to be enjoying free agency. The seven-time Super Bowl champion was recently linked to Kim Kardashian following his split from Gisele Bündchen, but they’re “just friends.” Instead, he’s supposedly seeing model Irina Shayk, after they were spotted spending the weekend together.

TMZ reports that Brady and Shayk were seen “apparently cozying up in L.A. over the course of two days — which all started on Friday, when we’re told he first picked her up at Hotel Bel-Air in the afternoon… only to drive her over to his crib. Our sources tell us Tom and Irina walked into his pad — all smiles — and that she didn’t leave his place until the following morning at about 9:30.”

The “sleepover” has since been confirmed to be officially dating.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Tom Brady and Irina Shayk are indeed dating. We’re told they met in June at the wedding of billionaire art heir Joe Nahmad and model Madison Headrick in Sardinia. Our sources say “A number of models were hitting on Tom, and Irina was one of them,” although her rep denies it.

Shayk previously appeared in the music video for “Power” by… Kim Kardashian’s ex, Kanye West. Somehow, all celebrity gossip circles back to Kanye and/or Kim.

(Via TMZ)