Jungkook is up to something. Today, the BTS star was featured in a teaser on Calvin Klein’s social media accounts, causing fans to freak out. The caption reads: “same time tomorrow?” The clip captures different angles of the singer in the brand’s clothing. But it’s only six seconds, leaving everyone wanting more.
It was recently confirmed a 2025 return of BTS is not guaranteed. Bang Si-Hyuk, the CEO of the group’s agency HYBE, explained, “We said we ‘hope’ the members can resume in 2025, not ‘will,’” adding, “BTS and the firm will both work for it, but it doesn’t mean we can target [the date of 2025].”
He continued: “We’ll discuss [contract renewal with the members] within the time, and I believe it will be right for us to speak about it after the discussion ends,” he said. “The enlistment schedules are private information, so I cannot speak about it here. But we will disclose the dates in order transparently once their schedules are confirmed.”
Meanwhile, RM said that he didn’t know who he was after the band went on hiatus. “After 10 years as a member of BTS, I didn’t know who I was, and I wanted to know,” he said. “I started out as a teenage rapper, then BTS came along, and it was all very intense. Now that the group is inactive, I’ve gone back to thinking about the beginnings and the real reasons why I joined BTS.”
Over the years, Meek Mill and Robert Kraft’s relationship has been quite interesting to watch. The “Expensive Pain” rapper and New England Patriot’s Chief Executive Officer bond was strengthened when Kraft served as a key financial contributor toward the #FreeMeek movement via his Reform Alliance to backed in 2017 to fight for the rapper’s release from prison. Although the pair since collaborated in many ways, Meek’s latest post on Twitter revealed another large initiative on the horizon.
As confirmed by Kraft’s recent interview with People, Meek Mill and former New England Patriot star quarterback Tom Brady will be joining the businessmen’s $25 million antisemitism initiative. The multi-level campaign organized by Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism aims to educate Americans on how to fight antisemitism.
“What’s happening in America today, it is a big part of my life. There’s been work done that shows that 50% of Americans do not realize that antisemitism is any problem, and the Jewish population is roughly 2.4% of the population in the US but yet receives over 55% of the hate crimes,” said Kraft.
As part of the campaign’s social media campaign, supporters are encouraged to use the designed blue emoji to show their support and as a visual “symbol of solidarity.” Brady is on board and will be using it across his posts once the campaign begins. When discussing the former New England Patriot, Kraft said, “He and I are still very tight, and he will be using this blue emoji when we kick off again.”
Education on the matter is important to Kraft. He revealed that he encouraged Meek to join him on a visit to Poland citing he wanted the musician “see what went on” in Holocaust death camps.
Meek Mill is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Usher Raymond IV, known simply as Usher, has a career spanning over two decades. Although he’s changed quite a bit since his debut in the early 1990s, his longstanding status as R&B’s heartthrob hasn’t wavered once. Recently, the crooner raved about how the K-pop group Blackpink has inspired him, even potentially converting him into a stan of the genre. But it is highly unlikely that one particularly steamy segment incorporated into his live show was taken from the group.
In a viral video, one concertgoer captured the “Hey Daddy” singer serenading a fan while seductively feeding them strawberries. While it isn’t explicitly clear where this steamy session went down, it is safe to assume that this consensually kinky interaction went down at his Usher: My Way Las Vegas residency.
The lucky lady is lost in her trance as the Grammy Award-winning vocalist walks directly up to her as the volunteer for the segment.
But not everyone in the room was as excited as she was. After the video began to gain steam online, users began to screenshot a few jealous gentlemen in the crowd.
I need to know why does Usher hate us in the uk so much like Sir Sir I beg please stop punishing us! Whatever the Brit’s did too you ain’t my fault concert is needed!
This isn’t the first time the singer took a break between songs to bestow some love onto a woman in the audience. A few weeks ago, rapper and mogul Queen Latifah attended to show to celebrate her birthday, and Usher stopped his set to gift her with a dozen red roses.
News of Sutter’s upcoming collaboration with Netflix was first reported back in October, with the streaming network describing the series as an 1850s-set Western that follows a group of families in search of Manifest Destiny:
“These abandoned souls, the kind of lost souls living on the fringe of society, unite their tribes to form a family and fight back. In this bloody process, ‘justice’ is stretched beyond the boundaries of the law. The Abandons will explore that fine line between survival and law, the consequences of violence, and the corrosive power of secrets, as this family fights to keep their land.”
According to Deadline, Headey is set to play Fiona, a fiery matriarch of the community who, because she is unable to have her own children, has taken in four orphans. The series marks Sutter’s return to television after being fired from Sons of Anarchy spin-off Mayans M.C. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, Sutter explained that he was dismissed for being an “abrasive dick.” Cersei Lannister would approve.
For a little over three decades, David Hollowell’s professional life had been dedicated to art. In addition to working as an art professor, his highly acclaimed 3D illusion paintings were shown in prestigious exhibits. In 2018, the 71-year-old began taking his talents to a larger scale, turning his family barn into an immersive mural.
Then, in May of 2021, Hollowell fell off the roof of his home, resulting in a traumatic brain injury leading to aphasia, a disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate through speech or written language.
Though Hollowell couldn’t access words the way he used to, his ability to paint detailed, mesmerizing images remained remarkably intact. And his daughter-slash-self-appointed-TikTok manager, Adrienne, is determined to share his work and his journey with as many people as possible.
“I really wanted people to know who my dad was,” Adrienne shared in an interview with CNN. Hence why she created the account under the joke premise of “make my dad famous.”
So far, that goal has been reached—over 196,000 people follow Hollowell’s account, often comparing his work to that of M.C. Escher and Michelangelo.
And honestly, the comparison is well earned. Take a look below at some of Hollowell’s work, and keep reminding yourself that it’s actually 2D.
Paintings aren’t the only thing shared on the TikTok channel. Adrienne has also documented her father’s progress through videos of speech exercises and one-on-one interviews where Hollowell might relearn a word or two.
In an effort to raise awareness of aphasia, Adrienne also encourages her father to share his experience (to the best of his ability) and has reached out to viewers asking if they could share any new treatments.
What becomes clear from seeing their interactions is that where Hollowell might express himself differently, so much of his core identity, like his love for his art and family, still show through.
“You can’t talk but your love is enough for us,” Adrienne expressed in a heartfelt video. “Your art and your family mean everything to you.”
Losing the ability to carry on a conversation, express ourselves, and generally navigate a speech-reliant world is a scary thought. And for those who have to witness a family member go through it…there are probably no words that fully encapsulate that kind of pain. But as this story highlights, even when those functions dwindle, love has a way of persevering.
Thank you, Adrienne, for sharing your father’s work with the world. Hopefully, we can help “make him famous.”
There’s been a growing trend amongst American Gen Zers and millennials to stop saying, “You’re welcome,” after being thanked. Older generations may think the change is part of a more significant trend of younger people having more lax manners, but in actuality, younger people believe that giving a simple “OK” or “Mm-hmm” after being thanked is more polite than saying, “You’re welcome.”
Recently, Australian TikTok user Tilly Hokianga vented her frustrations with Americans in a viral post entitled, “Things That Send Me as an Australian Living in the US.” A lot of the points she made were pretty typical for someone visiting the United States, such as there’s too much sugar in the bread and too many options for cereal.
However, she also noted that Americans have difficulty saying, “You’re welcome.”
“I don’t understand. Talking to an American, you say, ‘Thank you,’ and they’re always just like, ‘Mm-hmm,” Hokianga said in the post. “I just said, ‘Thank you.’ You should say, ‘You’re welcome,’ or ‘It’s all good,’ or ‘No worries,’ not f**king ‘Mm-hmm.'”
The post resonated with many people, racking up 3.8 million views and leading to a series of videos where she talks about other things that “send her” in America.
The post caught the attention of Millie (@rosegoldmillie), an American who has spent time in Australia who thinks she isn’t being rude when she doesn’t say, “You’re welcome.” Instead, she believes that on a deeper level, people should always look out for one another, so thank yous aren’t necessary.
She has a good point. You thank someone for going out of their way. If you believe that humans should always be helpful to one another, why acknowledge the act? Not everything has to be transactional.
“Someone would say, ‘Thank you,’ and I would say, ‘Yep! Oh, uh, I mean, ‘You’re welcome!'” Millie said in her post. “Because to me, it’s kind of rude. Like, it’s not rude, but saying, ‘Yep’ and ‘Sure’ is the equivalent to saying, ‘No problem,’ and that is more polite in America than saying, ‘You’re welcome.'”
“When you say, ‘You’re welcome,’ there’s an implication in our brains that says, ‘I did you a favor, and I deserve a thank you.’ But when we say, ‘Mm-hmm,’ or like, ‘Sure,’ it’s this implication of ‘Of course, I would do that for you,'” she continued. “I don’t deserve a thank you, like, it was the least I could do.”
The response video received over 2.2 million views, and many people agreed with her.
“I remember switching from ‘you’re welcome’ to ‘sure’ to ‘yeah’ for this reason,” Kelli Crockett wrote in the comments. “‘You’re welcome’ is usually used sarcastically here. I think that’s also part of why it feels rude like you’re welcome is what you say when you’re [mad emoji],” BeevesofTime added.
“OK, this is the opposite of what I think and was taught, but explains why I hear it,” FlyGal responded.
Recently, Tennessee banned drag performances from taking place on any public property in the state. This legislation has been met with protest, especially from indie-rockers Yo La Tengo, who performed in drag on their Nashville tour stop. Now, Madonna is fighting back as well.
The “Material Girl” singer is set to hit the road on her Celebration Tour with Caldwell Tidicue, who performs as Bob the Drag Queen. Today (March 27), she added an additional stop in Nashville on December 22. In a press release, she shared that proceeds from the concert will go to trans rights organizations.
“The oppression of the LGBTQ+ is not only unacceptable and inhumane; it’s creating an unsafe environment; it makes America a dangerous place for our most vulnerable citizens, especially trans women of color,” she said in a statement. “Also, these so-called laws to protect our children are unfounded and pathetic. Anyone with half a brain knows not to f*ck with a drag queen. Bob and I will see you from the stage in Nashville where we will celebrate the beauty that is the queer community.”
Eat, sleep, travel, repeat. This is the life motto practiced by thousands of vagabonds and wanderers from around the world on a daily basis. These are those wise souls who know that traveling and soaking up new experiences is what really makes someone rich. Even when it isn’t easy (or doesn’t make perfect financial sense). In other words…
After the world was forced to stay at home for most of 2020 and 2021, last year saw a monster resurgence in travel. With over two years of lost travel opportunities, people were keen on getting their boots back on the ground in new states and countries, making up for lost time in a major way. That shows in the data too, with global tourism rising 41% in 2022. From micro trips, car camping, spontaneous adventures, local solo travel, and more, last year was one for the books.
With travel in the forefront of our minds and budgeting plans as spring starts kicking, we turned to travel writers and influencers to share their favorite travel experiences of the past year. From road-tripping across the southern coast of Iceland to chasing down the super bloom just a few days ago, let these recaps inspire you to start mapping out your next travel adventure for the year ahead.
EDITOR’S PICK: STEVE BRAMUCCI (@steve_bramucci) — CHASING THE SUPERBLOOM IN A VAN
Steve Bramucci
A few weeks ago, I drove up to LA, grabbed a Cabana Camper Van from a nondescript parking lot, unlocked it with my phone, and hit the road with my lady. It was incredibly easy and totally intuitive. Absolutely un-stressful. From there, we headed to the less trafficked and most-underrated of California’s many hotly debated superbloom spots, Anza Borrego.
The trip was, in short, a marvel. Not necessarily because of the bloom, though seeing a desert floor carpeted with flowers is really lovely. It was more… a reminder.
Anza Borrego is a desert hemmed in by mountains. After the wild winter that Southern California has had, the rivers were surging up over their banks. It was unseasonably warm but not oppresively hot. And then there were those flowers, sprouting out of the cracked earth, showing off their beauty in bright bursts of color before the sun could shrivel them.
As you might expect, the trip itself was defined by the mode of transport/ shelter — the van. Since we started Uproxx Life, I’ve been a huge proponent of the #VanLife. But vans have grown exceedingly stylized and with that has come expense. A fully kitted out Sprinter van is going to run you at least $100. Then there’s the fuel, the upkeep, the worries over theft, the storage, etc. It’s a lot. Whereas renting a Cabana Van was defined by how easy is was.
I still got to way up surrounded by nature, I still got to take roadside naps with the sun filtering through the curtains, but I also got to drop the thing off at the end and let someone else empy the waste tanks. It’s a superb road tripping alternative for anyone who doesn’t have the money, time, or energy to go full #vanlife.
Steve Bramnucci
MARISSA STRANG (@marissa.daily) — ROAD TRIPPING ACROSS ICELAND
Last September, I spent a week solo road-tripping across the southern coast and western peninsula of Iceland, which is called Snæfellsnes. The natural landscapes are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I love the outdoors and I felt like I was in outer space, the diversity of the landscapes is really mind-blowing. You could be driving and see towering snow-capped mountains and then see tall green, grassy hills, and even miles of flat, mossy rocks. While I was there, I got to visit the Blue Lagoon, bathe in the silica-rich mud, and walk behind the 200-foot tall Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
In this photo, I’m standing on Diamond Beach which is a long strip of black sand that glisten like diamonds. It was really cool to feel so small among these huge iceberg fragments. Also in that same day, I took a glacier tour of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which is at the foot of Europe’s biggest icecap. It was really cool to take this boat and get up close to these free-flowing icebergs that gradually break off and become smaller chunks.
Aside from those things, I definitely can’t forget to mention seeing the elusive northern lights for the first time. That was something on my bucket list and it was just so incredible to see it in person. If somebody was on the other side of the sky with a paintbrush and they were painting it, and just watching the paint strokes, that’s the way I would describe it. Watching the lights dance was just so magical.
I really couldn’t have asked for a better experience being there.
My favorite travel experience of the year was visiting Honolulu, Hawaii. In addition to the classic tourist attractions like hiking Diamond Head and surfing at Waikiki Beach, I stayed in three different hotels around Honolulu. I know that may seem weird, but I love hotel hopping when I travel because different properties often offer a range of experiences, perks, and locations. And in a tourist-centric, resort destination like Honolulu, the hotel you choose can make or break your experience.
I first stayed at White Sands Hotel, a budget-friendly option that also happens to be home to one of the newest bars in town, Heyday. Rumor has it that White Sands is also opening a speakeasy! It’s the ideal spot for young travelers looking to party without spending their life savings. Next, I stayed at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa — because sometimes living that basic resort life really is worth it. It was walking distance to everything, offered free classes like lei-making and yoga, housed several restaurants, and had two pools to choose from, not to mention the incredible views (you won’t regret splurging on an oceanfront room). Lastly, I spent a few nights at Kaimana Beach Hotel, a luxury boutique property that’s tucked away from the craziness of Waikiki but still close enough to walk to the heart of the action. With surf lessons, yoga classes, its own private beach area, and a trendy, up-and-coming restaurant called Hau Tree, this is a hotel I would come back to again and again.
Skipping around to all of these hotels in between my daily adventures is what made this trip to Honolulu so memorable. If you’re visiting a destination for a week or longer, I definitely recommend checking out a few different hotel properties during your stay.
MIKALA LUGEN (@miklugen) — BACKPACKING & ROCK CLIMBING IN THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS
While last year saw me enjoying mny most robust travel plans and trips to date, backpacking in the San Juan mountains was my favorite experience. In the sweltering heat of August, my friend Liz and I ventured off into the cooler San Juan Mountains in Colorado for a three-day backpacking and rock-climbing adventure. They say the mountains you climb represent your mind, so I find it ironic that we chose to take on one of Colorado’s hardest 14,000-foot mountains, Mt. Sneffels.
The first bit of the hike was fairly easy, bringing us four miles into the mountains where we camped at the base of these breathtaking alpine Blue Lakes. The turquoise waters were something out of a movie, and watching the sunset while cooking our dinners and going to bed to the sweet silence of the mountains is something I’ll never forget. That second day was one of the hardest physical challenges of my life, as Liz and I had the last three miles to go with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain. After several hours, we found ourselves looking over the world at over 14,000 feet high, exhausted but holding so much pride and accomplishment.
If you’ve never gone hiking before on am actual mountain, the way down can be just as much – if not more – hard on your body as going up. After six or more hours of down-hiking, we finally arrived at our cars. Dirty, sweaty, and sore, we drove down into the town of Telluride and pulled up to a restaurant, and completely devoured some delicious greasy cheeseburgers and fries. We were able to sleep really well that night, as a friend of mine gave us his guest room to sleep in.
Without waiting, we hit the ground running the next day and conquered yet another massive feat, the Telluride Via Ferrata. The term “via ferrata” is Italian for “iron way.” A via ferrata is a route on a mountain face equipped with steel cables, ladders, and other fixed anchors that allows people to traverse or travel across rock faces without their own climbing rigs. With our gear ready to go, Liz, my friend Benson, and I started our crazy adventure in the morning, traversing the rock over 600 feet above the forest floor and town of Telluride. This was easily one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life, and seeing the views of Bridal Veil Falls, the town of Telluride, and the surrounding peaks of the San Juan Mountains was truly incredible.
Let’s just say my body was very sore after this mountain trip but something I’ll never forget taking on these beautiful mountains.
CAMERON LEE (@thecameronlee) — STAYING AT AIRELLES LA BASTIDE DE GORDES IN THE MAJESTIC LUBERON VALLEY OF PROVENCE, FRANCE
Sitting atop a hillside village in the majestic Luberon Valley of Provence, France, my stay at Airelles La Bastide de Gordes was my favorite travel experience in 2022.
The whole experience was like stepping into an enchanted French fairytale. The 18th-century decor, from the period furniture to the staff’s uniform, gave off an atmosphere of magical grandeur, as if I’d been transported back in time. There are antiques and artwork from the 18th century sourced across France around the property.
My favorite part was definitely the stunning panoramic view of the Luberon Valley, especially from the outdoor pool – truly magical! Needless to say, I spent the majority of my stay by the pool. Watching the sun goes down from their open-air restaurant terrace at dinner was probably one of the most romantic dinners I’ve ever had. In fact, when I posted about my dinner here, someone DM me on IG to ask about my exact table location because he wanted to propose to his girlfriend there.
Everything here captures the timelessness of a classic fairytale. If you ever want to experience what it’s like to live in a fairytale, this is the closest you will get to it.
GABBY BECKFORD (@packslight) — HANG GLIDING IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Gabby Beckford
My favorite travel experience of the past year was hang gliding in Cape Town, South Africa. It was extremely affordable being only $30 and it was one of the most magical experiences I’ve ever had in my entire life. Cape Town as a city is extremely dynamic and complex and has beautiful parts to it. I’m extremely grateful I was able to do a hang gliding experience over the city at the end of my trip to round it all out and get that full bird’s eye view of the city.
This was in October 2022, so it was getting into their warmer season. It was pretty windy and we had tried to go the day before but the wind was too much. When they messaged us bright and early the next day, we got to the top of the mountain as soon as we could. It was maybe a 30-minute drive to the top of the mountain and once we got there it was so quick to sign the release forms and get strapped in.
At that point, the clouds separated and you could see the entire view of Cape Town from sea point to the waterfront. It was absolutely gorgeous. Before we knew it, we were running with our instructor and jumping off the side of the mountain into the air. The parachute catches you and you’re gliding above the city and out above the water. We could see dolphins from our paragliding vantage point which was absolutely beautiful. The wind rushing past your face mixed with the smell of the ocean was really one of those moments where you don’t want to speak and just take in every single sense and smell and sight that you can.
REBECCA FELGATE (@missrebeccaj) — SIPPIN’ ON WHISKEY IN ISLAY
Oh my God, I don’t think life gets better than on Islay? Like, seriously, can I move there? Okay, sure yes, I went on a far-flung whisky adventure during the rare occasion that the Weather Gods shone their good graces on the outer Hebrides, but I have a feeling I would have been just as enamored with the mecca of peated Scotch in the rain. Heck, the “water of life” tastes so great out there, I’d tackle a tempest to return! #WhatWouldRonSwansonDo?
Islay, population 3000, is just 620 square kilometers but is home to nine distilleries producing world-famous single malts. I have my favorites — Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Bowmore — but each distillery is a welcoming space to be and the Islay locals are thirsty and amiable people across the board. If you get lucky, you might be invited down to a local peat cutters hut for a scythe adventure, followed by a swill of the good stuff from a literal horn (in that order, ‘cause nobody needs to die today).
The iconic distilleries are nearly as compelling from the water as they are when standing next to their distinct copper stills. From the ocean, each has its name painted on the side of the building which is frankly just incredibly exciting to witness for a whisky nerd like me. Arriving at the Ardbeg distillery on a boat and standing by that emblazoned white wall is a moment I will never forget, which is impressive considering the amount of Scotch I proceeded to sample henceforth.
The sunrises and sunsets were something I felt as much as I saw, and if you visit in the summer you’ll be treated to as much as 17 hours of light! If nights are your bag, there are plenty of pub spots to cosy up at to enjoyed a sweet sweet round of live bagpipes and local ale. Or, y’know, more whisky.
Ah, Islay. Long may you reign as King of my heart!
VESCOE BLAKE (@vesblake) — CAMPING IN THE OKAVANGO DELTA IN BOTSWANA
Vescoe Blake
My most memorable trip of last year was my trip to Botswana. I didn’t know much about Botswana other than that it’s 75% wildlife and desert. It’s home to the Kalahari Desert and also the world-famous Okavango Delta, a stream that flows through the Northern part of the country that is fed by the rain of Angola. The Delta is a very special place, probably one of the only places in the world where you’ll see Lions swimming and it’s also the hub of so much wildlife.
My trip started in the capital, Gaborone. It’s a very beautiful city and I felt at peace there. After a few days, I went over to the tourist capital, Maun, and also saw the gateway to the Delta. It was quite the experience — seeing more of the rural side of these places, where you could go jogging and see a crocodile. I saw elephant footprints just a mile away from where my hotel was, too.
Then I started the camping part of my trip. I was afraid to camp in the Delta, petrified actually. At the same time, I was proud of myself for conquering this fear of being eaten alive, or actually while sleeping. Our camp was located in a very active area of the Delta with both predators and prey. The first-night camping in the Delta, I couldn’t sleep. You hear noises throughout the night of all the active wildlife at night. Unfortunately, I actually had to leave the camp two days early because I got really ill. I ended up coming back to Delta a week later when I recovered from my illness and this time I stayed for a week and saw lions, hyenas, and elephants. It was the most mesmerizing thing I’ve seen in my life.
What I really enjoyed the most was being able to see all of this in three different ways. I did a game drive through Moremi, flew in a small aircraft over the Delta, and I also did a boat trip through the Delta. On my last night, I spent a lot of time outside of my tent around the campfire and in the middle of the night jI ust stared up into the sky. In the middle of the desert there’s no light pollution so it was a beautiful view of the stars of the southern hemisphere.
PREETHI CHANDRASEKHAR (@eagertravele) — GLAMPING IN VAIL, COLORADO
Preethi
My best travel experience of 2022 was a glamping trip in Vail, Colorado at the incredible Piney River Ranch! It’s a private 40-acre Rocky Mountain retreat, nestled at the foot of the majestic Gore Range. This place is so magical and it’s located just twelve miles north of Vail Village, surrounded by thousands of acres of back country wilderness within the White River National Forest.
The ranch has lake-view cabins and tents. You have to wake up for sunrise because the chances of seeing moose are very high! Canoeing on Piney River is a highlight early morning. The lake is still and canoeing into the reflection of the Gore mountains was surreal.
If you’re looking for a restful, healing weekend getaway this is it. There’s also a restaurant on-site and even a hike that leads to a waterfall.
JOE SILLS (@joesills) — DOCUMENTING CHEETAH, COUNTING RHINOS, AND MONITORING PANGOLIN IN SOUTH AFRICA
A few months ago, I boarded a flight to King Shaka International Airport and walked out of its doors into a completely alien world to me. As a transfer whisked me up the coast from Durban, I became immersed in a rolling, hilly landscape that inspires both awe and ire. Awe, because the province of KwaZulu-Natal is home to lively communities of people and spectacular species like cheetah, rhino, and pangolin. Ire, because Africa’s cheetahs have lost 90% if their historical range, its rhino brought to the brink of extinction in recent decades, and the pangolin have become one of the most trafficked animals in the world.
I was there, ostensibly, because I had a camera and a pen to tell part of that story with. Embedded with ecology voluntourists at Phinda Private Game reserve, I did just that. We bounced around in the bush for weeks, documenting individual cheetahs, counting rhinos, and monitoring pangolins. It was a photographer’s dream assignment.
But here’s the kicker—anyone can hop on that team. You don’t have to take a luxury safari to enjoy the place. If you’re willing to bunk up with ecologists and spend long days (from dawn to dusk) dedicating your time to wildlife, then you can be a temporary part of the team and form some of the same memories that I have.
CANDACE & GEOFF WONG (@ajourneyinspired) — BACKPACKING MOUNT ASSINIBOINE PROVINCIAL PARK IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Candace & Geoff Wong
Backpacking Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada was hands down the most memorable trip of our past year. Assiniboine is iconic not only because of its striking resemblance to the Matterhorn but also its desktop wallpaper-worthy landscapes that people dream to see once in their lifetime.
The park is only accessible by helicopter or by foot, and we decided to take the latter option to challenge our physical and mental strength. Carrying 30 lbs on our backs, we hiked 27km each way between Alberta and BC and were surrounded by the most stunning views throughout.
Over five days in the park, we also bagged three peaks. If you do visit, we would highly recommend the day hikes that we did – Niblet, Nublet, and Nub Peak (one of the most famous hikes in Canada), the Towers scramble, and the Sunburst scramble. Altogether, the 80 km of hiking made for the most rewarding and beautiful trip in the Canadian Rockies!
ALISE GRAVES (@leeleetalks) — VISITING EL NIDO ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINES
Lee Lee
I started my 2023 with a bang. I visited El Nido Island in the Philippines, which offers the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. From the crystal clear water to the views of the surrounding limestones covered with lush plants.
There are some great to do in El Nido from island-hoping to scuba diving to kayaking in the Big Lagoon. I highly suggest adding El Nido to your travel list for 2023.
Lamar Jackson would like the rest of the NFL to know he is very much available after announcing publicly on Monday that he issued a trade request to the Ravens back in early March, five days before the team placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him.
John Harbaugh insisted at the league meetings the team was still preparing for Lamar to be a Raven and that he “felt good” about where negotiations were, but Jackson appears to be a bit more frustrated with his standing in Baltimore right now. There are a number of teams with rumored interest in Jackson, headlined by the Colts — whose team plane just so happened to be in Baltimore recently, as Twitter sleuths discovered. Colts GM Chris Ballard didn’t shy away from how intriguing it is to have Jackson on the market, and armed with the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s Draft, the Colts are probably the team best equipped to make a run at him.
Jackson, meanwhile, apparently has some interest in a longtime AFC power in the New England Patriots, with that information being relayed to owner Robert Kraft by the strangest of brokers: Meek Mill.
Robert Kraft said Meek Mill texted him 3 or 4 days ago and said Lamar Jackson wants to be a Patriot. Kraft said it was Bill’s decision
Mill is fairly close with Kraft (and former Sixers owner Michael Rubin), regularly attending events with the Patriots owner, so it’s not quite as bizarre as it initially seems, but it’s still a pretty funny game of telephone being played between an NFL owner, a hip-hop artist, and a star quarterback. The best part is Kraft doesn’t even pretend like he wouldn’t be interested, instead passing the responsibility on making that decision to Bill Belichick.
That’s just savvy ownership work, as even the slightest hint of a Jackson rumor will excite the Pats fanbase — and he also knows better than to alienate Mac Jones completely by insisting he fully believes in Jones as their guy. All of this is just the beginning of what ought to be a wild Draft season, with Aaron Rodgers still in the wind as well with the Jets trying desperately to land him from Green Bay, and Jackson now putting the heat on Baltimore by announcing his intentions of playing elsewhere next year.
Look, expensive bourbon is expensive for a good reason (usually). We’re talking about special one-off limited edition bourbons, old barrels that somehow lasted longer than expected and actually taste amazing, and special blended bourbons that highlight something that we may never see again from a brand or blender. This isn’t about average bourbon whiskey, this is about the exceptional stuff that lives up to the hype. And it doesn’t matter if it’s Supreme sweatshirts, Air Jordan 1’s, or early 1960s Fenders, “exceptional” and “rare” paired together surely means that more cash is necessary for entry.
To that end, I’ve listed 12 expensive bourbon whiskeys that are actually worth their hefty price tags, between $200 and $250. But be warned with whiskey this rare, availability and pricing are going to vary — sometimes dramatically. In general, I’ve included bottles that you can actually find depending on where you live. When it comes to the prices, some of these are new enough releases that you’ll still be able to find them at MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) in some markets and at distillery bottle shops (always try there first!). On the flip side, some of these are so allocated that you just won’t be able to find them without a markup unless you are really deep in the industry and know where and when to look — cough, cough, Blatnon’s, cough, cough.
Basically, the access to these bottles all just depends. I know that’s an unsatisfying answer but that’s just how it is. How hard do you want to search and hustle? Do you have some relationships in the industry? For instance, you can get the Wild Turkey bottle on this list in Texas at MSRP pretty easily. That same bottle is nowhere to be found in Kentucky — where it’s bloody made — not even at the bottle shop at the distillery. But again, for true aficionados, this is all part of the fun.
Good luck out there, folks.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This new limited edition whiskey has a small 5,400-bottle run and that’s it. Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson built this whiskey from 10-year-old bourbon barrels. Once batched, that whiskey was filled in old tawny port barrels for a final 10-month rest. Finally, those barrels were batched and bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Leathery dates and prunes mingle with a hint of black tea and cinnamon bark next to cranberry compote cut with orange rinds and clove with a hint of salinity lurking underneath.
Palate: Toasted almond mixes with a sense of clove-studded oranges and black peppercorns soaked in prune juice with a hint of apricot jam over warm and buttery buttermilk biscuits with a hint of raisin.
Finish: That raisin takes on a hint of rum as sweet cedar layers with rich and chewy cherry tobacco next to a dash more of that woody winter spice and dark dried fruit.
Bottom Line:
Angel’s Envy really shines brightest with their cask strength releases. Look, I dig their standard port-finished stuff for mixing cocktails, but it’s these special, longer-aged whiskeys that shine a spotlight on how great the team over at Angel’s Envy really is. This is a great sipper that just keeps going with classic, wintry bourbon flavor notes. Over ice, it takes on a buttercream creaminess with a marzipan vibe that’s luscious.
Buy this if you’re an Angel’s Envy fan who wants to take that adoration to the next level.
This Booker’s is a nod to “Kentucky Tea” which isn’t tea at all. It’s when you add a little whiskey to a glass of water and then that looks like tea. The juice in this case is a blend of bourbon barrels from seven locations across six different warehouses. The final product was bottled without any fussing at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a clear sense of sour cherry and vanilla cookies on the nose with a supporting cast of dark tobacco packed into old cedar boxes with a rough and worn leatheriness tying everything together.
Palate: The palate opens with a vanilla white cake frosted with cherry and chocolate — a bit like a Black Forest cake — that leads to orange oils, clove, and old pine boards with a touch of sap.
Finish: The end has a fruitiness that leans towards a spicy star fruit with a fresh vibe next to light pear tobacco with a pine humidor edge.
Bottom Line:
Father and son team Fred and Freddie Noe out at Beam really have been killing these Booker’s blends lately (they’ve always been good really). This pushes the classic Kentucky bourbon vibes to 11 while staying as approachable as possible. Delicious is the only thing you need to know. So if you want a classic and wonderfully warm Kentucky hug via a soft vanilla/chocolate/cherry softness, this is it.
This is a low-corn bourbon made with a mash of 68% corn, 20% rye, and 12% malted barley that’s left to rest for 10 long years. The barrels were hand-selected by Master Distiller and legend Steve Nally and Master Blender and Master Distiller Nancy Fraley, giving the final product some serious pedigree for the whiskey nerds.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This leans into classic bourbon notes of black cherry, sticky toffee pudding, pecan pie, and marmalade before veering toward dried ancho chili powder and a touch of pistachio and honey.
Palate: That dark cherry turns syrupy before maple sap kicks in with a sense of toasted marshmallow, creamed honey, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and blueberry pie with a big dollop of bourbon vanilla ice cream.
Finish: The end has a sense of sweet potato pie covered in candied pecans next to toasted oak that’s been dipped in cherry tobacco.
Bottom Line:
This melds classic and new very well. The chili spiciness takes the more standard bourbon notes somewhere deeper and a little more vibrant while the sweetness is like your childhood rendered in whiskey warmth. If you’re looking for a masterfully built craft whiskey that tastes essential, add this one to your collection.
9. Widow Jane The Vaults Aged 14 Years A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys 2022 Release
This sourced New York whiskey is made from 14 to 19-year-old barrels from Tennessee and Indiana. Those barrels were sent out to Brooklyn and blended and then re-barreled into Missouri Ozark casks that were air-seasoned for three years before they were coopered and charred. Finally, the whiskey was blended in a small batch and bottled as-is without filtering but was cut with limestone mineral water from the Rosendale Mines in New York.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a mild sense of graininess on the nose with a hint of vanilla wafer honey sandwiches with mild winter spices — woody cinnamon, allspice, star anise — next to a hint of sweet tobacco layers of cherry and apple pie filling.
Palate: The palate has a very Tennessee vibe with soft bran muffins next to vanilla wafers layered with nougat and cinnamon with a hint of root beer cut with cherry syrup.
Finish: The end has a mild chocolate milk powder feel next to old oak, worn leather, and root beer-laced tobacco leaves.
Bottom Line:
There’s a gentle beauty to this whiskey that really shines through. It’s subtle yet succinct. Then is a masterclass in blending and proofing.
8. Remus Gatsby Reserve 15 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
From the newly minted Ross & Squibb Distillery (formerly just MGP of Indiana), this whiskey combines barrels that were filled in 2005 and 2006. Those carefully selected barrels were small batched into this fine whiskey. The final blend was bottled as-is at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this is classic old-school bourbon with dark dried cherry and cranberry next to caramelized pecans inside a waffle, soft leatheriness, and rich maple syrup cut with lush vanilla and subtle woody tobacco spiciness.
Palate: The palate leans into brandied cherries with a hint of blueberry syrup next to leathery notes of tobacco and dark berries with a hint of woodiness that leads to huckleberries and mulled wine spices.
Finish: The end has a lovely softness that leans into apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks, singed cherry bark, and pipe tobacco loaded into an old oak barrel.
Bottom Line:
This is MGP of Indiana absolutely flexing with their own barrels (which are usually used for tons of sourced labels). The berry fruitiness is front and center and makes total sense with the subtler bourbon vibes. This is the bottle you get when you’re hankering for a dark berry-forward bourbon that creates a soft and beautiful harmonization with classic bourbon tones.
Barrell Craft Spirits is another craft blendery that’s sourcing some of the best barrels in the game and expertly marrying them. This expression blends 15-year-old bourbon from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee into a final product that reaches new heights for blended bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This is obviously a Tennessee whiskey from the jump, with honey-dipped Graham Crackers next to cherry Necco Wafers and vanilla wafers with a hint of nougat, pear candy, and a minor salted note.
Palate: The taste is cherry-forward with a mix of berry multivitamins next to woody winter spice, wet brown sugar, and Earl Grey tea bags.
Finish: The end leans into the blackness of that tea with a hint of salted dark chocolate next to figs mixed with pinenuts and dosed in olive oil and orange oils with a hint of old pine boards and woody pear tobacco lurking at the very end.
Bottom Line:
This is another masterclass in blending. The palate just keeps going on this one, especially when you add some water or a rock and the creaminess comes forward. This is the whiskey your pour when you’re looking for something new and fascinating.
6. Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Blanton’s is “The Original Single Barrel” bourbon, and this expression is the purest form of that whiskey. The whiskey in this case is from the barrels that need no cutting with water and are excellent as-is, straight from the barrel. All the barrels will come from Warehouse H (where Elmer T. Lee stored his private stash of barrels back in the day) and arrive with varying proofs. The through-line is the excellent taste of that single, unadulterated barrel in each sip.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is full of very bespoke dark chocolate-covered salted hard caramel toffees encrusted with almonds and pecans — the kind you get from a chocolate shop that imports their goodies from somewhere like Belgium.
Palate: The nutty toffee carries through into the taste as oily vanilla pods mingle with cedar boxes of dried tobacco leaves and a touch of floral honey.
Finish: The end is very long and lingers in your senses, with a hot buzzing that subtly fades through all that sweetness.
Bottom Line:
Standard Blanton’s is a delicious whiskey that is proofed way down (93-proof to be exact). The whiskey simply shines more brightly at cask strength. If you’re even remotely attracted to standard Blanton’s, then it’s time to graduate to this.
Cowboy Bourbon is Garrison Brother’s signature bottle of whiskey. This year’s release was made from 118 hand-selected 25-gallon barrels, aged between eight and nine years. Master Distiller Donnis Todd went through all of their small-format barrels over the course of the year to find a dozen or so that he thought met the high standards of Cowboy Bourbon without filtering or cutting with water. That makes this a very as-is representation of what makes Garrison Bros. special.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a rush of sharp cinnamon bark wrapped up with old saddle leather, freshly fried apple fritters, walnuts, old cedar bark braids twisted up with dried wild sage, and a hint of dried yellow mustard flowers with an underlying sense of maple syrup over pecan waffles.
Palate: The palate leans into the spice with a hint of allspice and ginger next to apple pie filling with walnuts, brandy-soaked raisins, and plenty of brown sugar next, next to spiced Christmas cake dipped in dark chocolate sauce.
Finish: The end takes its time and meanders through salted caramel, stewed plums with star anise and sharp cinnamon, a hint of vanilla Dr. Pepper, and a mild sense of chocolate-cinnamon-spiced chewing tobacco buzziness with a warming Texas hug that’s part Hot Tamales and part chili-spiced green tea.
Bottom Line:
This might well be the best whiskey from Texas right now. I’ll leave it at that.
This brand-new whiskey from Tennessee is a serious blend. The blend is made with a mix of five-, six-, eight, and 10-year-old bourbons. That whiskey then goes into Speyside Scotch whisky casks for a final rest before blending and bottling with a tiny drop of proofing water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Leathery raisins and cranberries mingle with marmalade and sweet cedar next to a hint of clove tobacco and some old boot leather and vanilla buttercream.
Palate: Cinnamon toast and tart apple pies with plenty of cinnamon and walnuts mix with a touch of smoldering cedar bark and allspice on the palate.
Finish: That singed vibe applies to vanilla pods as dark berries and old dry tobacco dominate the finish with a hint of sweet cedar and soft vanilla cream drizzled with salted toffee.
Bottom Line:
This is a fantastic Tennessee whiskey blend. It runs deep and offers exacting flavor notes that feel right on your senses.
3. Jim Beam Lineage Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey A Father And Son Collaboration
This whiskey was released for the struggling travel retail market late last year. The whiskey in the bespoke bottle is a 15-year-old classic Beam bourbon that was aged on specific ricks in Warehouse K (the most famed warehouse on the Clermont, Kentucky campus). Father and son Fred and Freddie Noe both selected the barrels to make this blend and released it almost completely as-is with just a drop of that soft Kentucky limestone water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is classic from the jump with a soft caramel candy with vanilla buttercream frosting over spiced choco-cherry cake, a touch of clove-studded burnt orange rind, and soft marzipan with a hint of old oak cellars.
Palate: The palate is lush with a sense of Black Forest cake — stewed cherries, vanilla cream, moist chocolate cake, dry dark chocolate shavings — next to a bunch of woody and barky winter spices with a hint of hazelnut and burnt orange.
Finish: The end leans ever-so-slightly into old cedar bark and rich spiced cherry tobacco layered with dark chocolate-covered espresso beans and a hint of sharp mint and maybe some more of that clove.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the best Beam products there is. You can even get it at the distillery (and travel retail) right now. If you’re in any way a fan of Knob Creek, Booker’s, or Basil Hayden, then this is a no-brainer buy.
2. Russell’s Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Rickhouse Limited Release Rickhouse Collection Camp Nelson C
All of Wild Turkey’s bourbon is made from the same mash of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. Comparatively, Turkey uses less rye and more barley than your average bourbon. These barrels were loaded into Rickhouse C in Camp Nelson and left alone on floors three and four for years (those are the central floors of the seven-story rickhouse). As the rickhouse was falling apart and it became clear it was beyond repair (nearly hundred-year-old structures tend to do that), the Russell crew started tasting whiskey to see what they could do with it. 72 barrels rose to the surface with a parallel flavor structure that became this whiskey, which was bottled completely as-is without filtration or proofing.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is super supple with a soft marzipan fondant that leads to mince meat pies with plenty of rum-raisin, brown sugar, and mild cinnamon/nutmeg/clove spice with a thin layer of powdered sugar frosting over the buttery crust. The nose also has a sense of brandy butter with a hint of salted caramel and vanilla taffy next to a faint whisper of apple fritters.
Palate: The palate is lush and silky with rich buttery toffee rolled in roasted almonds and coconut and dipped in dark and creamy chocolate sauce with plenty of orange zest and flakes of salt. The mid-palate leans into cinnamon bark, allspice berries, and freshly ground nutmeg next to tart apple pies loaded with pecans.
Finish: The mid-palate stays silken as mild hints of soft cedar bark mingle with cardamon pods and more of the nutmeg (almost like eggnog) and maybe a hint of dried mint. The finish circles back around the brandy butter, rum-raisin, and powdered sugar frosting for a sweet and luxurious end.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent Wild Turkey offering. It is a little dessert-forward, but I dig that when paired with the classic Wild Turkey spiciness. Overall, if you’re looking for a special one-off Wild Turkey product, then this is a must-buy.
The last batch of Booker’s of 2022 is a nod to Booker Noe’s father, Pinkie Noe. The whiskey in the bottle was created from barrels from the middle/sweet spot of four warehouses. The average age of the batch ended up being 6 years, 10 months, and 10 days old when it was bottled entirely as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This is full of dark brown sugar vanilla pods and winter spices that start to lean toward chili and cumin and then a sense of a well-seasoned pork butt before it goes into the smoker — it’s kind of like raw leather.
Palate: The palate is classic bourbon with a rich vanilla white cake frosted with buttercream next to bold dark cherry, woody notes of dry reeds, and salted caramel with a twinge of orange oils.
Finish: The end has a mild sense of tangerine flesh and star fruit that leads back to warm ABVs and dark winter spices layered into fresh tobacco and old cedar bark.
Bottom Line:
Yup, I’m putting another Booker’s on this list, it’s that good. This one, however, is so unique. Where the “Kentucky Tea” batch was classic up and down the flavor profile, this is a flex that leans toward backyard barbecue notes. This is like hanging out at a 4th of July pig roast with a great classic glass of whiskey in your hand while someone smokes a good cigar in the distance and the kids run through the sprinklers.
It’s a … vibe. And that’s the little something extra you expect at this price point.
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(@Mrs_Jumpman23) 
WOLF SZN 
(@meraki_severusX) 
so much like Sir Sir I beg please stop punishing us! Whatever the Brit’s did too you ain’t my fault 
concert is needed!
Fire Fe Dem 
(@sassyb2be) 
(@longlegzK) 
