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The beauty of single malt whiskey is that it can be from anywhere. While there are location-specific rules for some whiskeys — scotch needs to be made in Scotland, for instance — single malt only requires one common denominator. It has to be made with 100% malted barley. That means that when you take a global look at single malt whisky, you’ll find so many varieties that…well, it’s kind of baffling.

But we’re here to help. That’s right, folks, it’s time for another blind taste test.

Today, I’m lining up 8 killer bottles of single malt whisk(e)y from all over the world. I’m not looking for what’s cheaper but still good, just what tastes the best. Also, I’m not doubling up on any countries. I’m tasting whiskeys from Scotland, the U.S.A., Australia, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Japan, and Israel.

That makes our lineup today the following bottles:

• The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• St. George Spirits 40th Anniversary Edition Single Malt Whiskey
• Starward Vitalis 15th Anniversary Limited Release Single Malt Australian Whisky
• Waterford Irish Single Malt Whisky Heritage Hunter
• Indri Single Malt Indian Whisky Trini — The Three Wood
• Pōkeno New Zealand Single Malt Whisky Single Cask Double Bourbon Cask
• The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky Spanish Oak 2022 Edition “Tsukuriwake” Selection
• M&H Apex Single Malt Whisky Small Batch Dead Sea

When it comes to ranking these fine whiskeys, it’s straightforward. “Does it taste good?” is important, sure, but how much depth does it really have? Does it take me on a journey? Is there a surprise that helps it stand out? I’m looking for both quality and complexity.

Sound good? Let’s dive in!

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Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is complex with a matrix of sticky toffee pudding spices — cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg — next to dried red berries with a slight earthiness, a touch of salted toffee candies, and a whisper of vanilla wafers.

Palate: The palate opens with a chocolate maltiness next to a bowl of fresh and tropical fruits — pineapple, tart apples, sweet pears, plums, bruised bananas — with a mild nuttiness, sharp orange zest, and subtle winter spices.

Finish: There’s a light mustiness on the back end that leads to soft and moist pipe tobacco with a thin layer of orchard fruits and stewed figs.

Initial Thoughts:

Damn, this is delicious, and clearly The Dalmore. In a Scotch single malt tasting, this would be hard to beat. But there are some killers in this lineup so let’s see…

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose pops with a dark orange soda vibe next to a dark chocolate mocha latte, brown butter, salted caramel, and a hint of dry incense cut with red berries and more dark orange citrus.

Palate: Fancy Almond Joy mingles with walnut cake drizzled with dark chocolate sauce and spiced caramel next to a hint of pecan waffle, cinnamon-spiked apple cider, and a whisper of grilled pineapple.

Finish: The end is dry — think figs and prunes — with a blood orange citrus vibe next to dried woody spice and leathery old Fruit Roll-Ups and a twinge of toasted marshmallow.

Initial Thoughts:

This was nice and very different thanks to all that citrus. All that citrus kind of leads me to believe that this is an American single malt. It’s good… but a little on the thinner side.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with rich, buttery toffee candy next to rum raisins, salted dark chocolate bars, grilled pineapple, bruised apricots, and tangerine skins.

Palate: The palate leans into the raisin vibe with black-tea-soaked dates, stewed prunes, and mashed dried apricot next to tart red currants with a hint of mango skin and savory papaya.

Finish: That’s all countered by a mid-palate full of toasted coffee beans and creamy mocha latte notes next to a hint of dark and warm spiciness on the back of the finish with a dash of tart berry tobacco.

Initial Thoughts:

This is really good, classic, and bold malt. It takes you places and has serious depth. I like it a lot.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a sense of old black potting soil on the nose with a rush of freshly bailed hay, bushels of red apples, orange marmalade, and a whisper of fresh rain on slate roofs.

Palate: That orange turns into an orange upside-down cake with a cinnamon/clove caramel drizzle next to old prunes, oatmeal cut with raisins and brown sugar, salted butter, and a twinge of old cedar planks with singed edges and a faint echo of sage.

Finish: That sage leads to a green pepperiness and a hint more of savory green herbs with plenty of honey and dried fruits next to a final note of soft spice.

Initial Thoughts:

This felt a little all over the place. It’s very good but lacked focus for me. It’s also very Irish with those orchard fruits, oats, and honey.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose greets you with a hint of Earl Grey next to rich toffee with a nice sense of apricot jam with a line of cinnamon and clove next to creamed honey and a touch of tangerine rinds and passion fruit-infused malts.

Palate: The palate opens with a sweet oakiness next to vanilla pods before a hint of bruised peach arrives and slowly boils down to fresh mango, seared pineapple, and a hint of pomelo pith.

Finish: The end dries out toward rummy macerated peaches and mango with a hint of dried banana leaves and warm brown spices.

Initial Thoughts:

This was very solid and felt damn near classic while still taking my palate on a journey with all that tropical fruit. I liked this a lot too.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Old vanilla pods and dark cacao nibs mingle with honeysuckle, nasturtium, and old sweet oak staves with a hint of nutmeg, espresso, and creamed salted caramel filling out the deep nose.

Palate: That honeysuckle and dark cacao drive the malty palate toward a rich sense of malted cookies dipped in toffee candy and rolled in spice barks and dried red berries with a whisper of coconut tobacco lurking in the far background.

Finish: The finish leans into the spice barks and old sweet oak staves with a fluttering of seaside rocky brininess that somehow just works with the sweet and spicy malts, providing a lovely balance on the finish.

Initial Thoughts:

This is really freaking good. That brine on the finish comes out of nowhere and takes this to the next level.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a medley of sultanas, dates, prunes, dried cranberries, and maybe some candied grape before veering toward a big umami note that’s halfway between a sun-dried tomato and a dash of powdered mushroom.

Palate: The palate opens with a rich sticky toffee pudding with plenty of winter spices, black tea-soaked dates, and almost creamy toffee next to orange oils and a hint of dark roasted espresso beans.

Finish: The end takes on a buttery vibe as creamy dark chocolate attaches to those espresso beans and a final hint of orange sneaks in late.

Initial Thoughts:

Shit, this is delicious too. This is a pure classic with a sense of perfectly balanced single malt whisky from the top to bottom. It never overplays its hand while offering serious depth the whole way through.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a sense of mocha lattes and spiced biscuits next to spearmint tobacco, cedar boxes, and a touch of orange dark chocolate balls all dancing on the nose.

Palate: The taste is subtle and builds layers of woody winter spices over coriander seeds, white pepper, and spearmint next to wet Earl Grey tea leaves, cinnamon-apple tobacco, and a sense of sweet and old oak staves.

Finish: There’s a light gingerbread sharpness to the finish with a hint of honey, cinnamon bark, and a flake of saltiness.

Initial Thoughts:

This is also very good. It’s unique for sure and has a wonderful balance thanks to the whisper of salt at the end.

Part 2: The Ranking

8. Waterford Irish Single Malt Whisky Heritage Hunter — Taste 4

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $129

The Whisky:

This new release from whiskey-nerd-beloved Waterford out in Ireland is named after pioneering plant breeder Dr. Herbert Hunter. The initial grow for the barley for this whiskey was started with a 50-gram bag of Hunter barley. Over several seasons, they produced enough barley to fill 50 barrels of whiskey with the help of two other almost extinct heritage barley varieties, Goldthorpe and Old Irish. Finally, the whiskey in the bottles ended up being a blend of 45% first-fill ex-bourbon, 19% new American oak, 21% French oak, and 15% Vin Doux Naturel barrels (a Southern French sweet wine).

Bottom Line:

This was a solid whisky all around. On this panel, it just didn’t quite land and ended up being the thinnest pour.

7. St. George Spirits 40th Anniversary Edition Single Malt Whiskey — Taste 2

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $599

The Whiskey:

This very rare release from California’s St. George Spirits celebrated 40 years of distilling. The mash is made from St. George’s now-iconic recipe of 100% Two-Row barley that’s roasted to four different levels, creating pale malt, crystal malt, chocolate malt, and black patent malt that’s mixed with alder and beechwood-smoked malt from Bamberg, Germany. That juice is aged in ex-bourbon and French oak barrels before finishing in a combination of Cognac, apple brandy, house-made tawny port, sherry casks, California Sauternes-style, and umeshu barrels/casks. The latter was a barrel that held Japanese plum wine.

Very long story short (too late), those barrels are expertly blended to create this once-in-a-lifetime release.

Bottom Line:

This was a lot. It was very good whiskey though, so I’m not mad at it. I want to go back to this one and find more as it felt like a bottomless pour of flavors to find.

6. Indri Single Malt Indian Whisky Trini — The Three Wood — Taste 5

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $62

The Whisky:

This whisky starts off with Six-Row malted barley grown in Rajasthan. The whisky is then filled into three types of casks — ex-bourbon, ex-wine, and ex-sherry casks — and left to rest through extreme temperature shifts from season to season, ranging from 120+F in the summer to freezing in the winter. That, in turn, allows for a lot of expansion and contraction of the wood, which lets the spirit have more direct contact and rest with/from the wood.

Bottom Line:

This was classic malt with a tropical fruit (almost hazy IPA) vibe. It didn’t go far beyond that so it’s ranked a little lower. That said, you won’t be disappointed if you reach for this pour. It’ll make a nice highball or cocktail while also shining over some ice.

5. Starward Vitalis 15th Anniversary Limited Release Single Malt Australian Whisky — Taste 3

ABV: 52%

Average Price: $150

The Whiskey:

This limited edition whisky from Australia’s biggest brand celebrates the 15th anniversary of the distillery. The whisky in this bottle commemorates the brand’s finishing program that made it famous. The whisky was blended from six different barrel types, focusing on tawny port, rum, bourbon, and Apera barrels between four and 11 years old.

Bottom Line:

Again, this felt like a stone-cold classic. It was really tasty, had serious depth, and took me somewhere. I can see sipping this neat or on the rocks and being pretty happy about it. The only reason it’s fifth instead of first is that it didn’t go beyond “classic.”

4. M&H Apex Single Malt Whisky Small Batch Dead Sea — Taste 8

ABV: 56.5%

Average Price: $163

The Whisky:

Milk & Honey Whisky Distillery is putting Israel on the single malt map. This expression is their standard malt that’s wholly aged at the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Besides the pressure and salt in the air, the temperature also takes huge swings from near freezing to above 120F, which helps accelerate and deepened the aging process.

Bottom Line:

This was just damn good whisky. Again, the malt was classic but didn’t wow. Drink it over some rocks, in a cocktail, neat — whatever floats your boat — and you’ll be in good hands.

3. The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Taste 1

ABV: 44%

Average Price: $199

The Whisky:

This Highland whisky is a no-age-statement version of The Dalmore. The juice is made from Golden barley that grows on the island in the rich and very coastal soils. The ground malted barley is mixed with pure water from the Cromarty Firth nearby during the mashing process. After a couple of times through pot stills, the hot whisky is loaded into ex-bourbon casks, 30-year-old Matusalem Oloroso Sherry butts, and former Cabernet Sauvignon from the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux. After 10 to 15 years, those barrels are vatted, the whiskey is proofed, and it’s bottled.

Bottom Line:

This is great whisky. It’s a damn near-perfect single malt. It’s pretty much the gold standard of unpeated Highland malt. The only reason it’s not number one today is that it’s only that and doesn’t really surprise or take you beyond being a classic whisky. So pour some in a Glencairn or over a rock or two and enjoy.

2. Pōkeno New Zealand Single Malt Whisky Single Cask Double Bourbon Cask — Taste 6

ABV: 56%

Average Price: $112

The Whisky:

The New Zealand malt is made with local barley. That hot juice is then aged in first-fill bourbon barrels for just under 3 years before it’s re-barreled in fresh first-fill bourbon barrels for an additional six months of mellowing. One barrel was then bottled completely as-is for this special U.S.-only release.

Bottom Line:

This was the biggest surprise on the list. It had those classic malt whisky notes but went beyond that with the brine on the finish. It was fun and fresh while still delivering a really good whisky-tasting experience. I want to go back for more and find the other surprises lurking in that whisky’s deep palate and nose.

1. The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky Spanish Oak 2022 Edition “Tsukuriwake” Selection — Taste 7

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $3,999

The Whisky:

This Japanese single malt is all about marrying fine Japanese whisky with Spanish oak. The whiskies are aged exclusively in oak from Northern Spain. After the flavor profile hits the exact right depth, the barrels are vatted and proofed with a dash of water for bottling.

Bottom Line:

This is almost too good. It’s a perfectly balanced whisky that is just plain f*cking delicious. I want to drink this stuff every day and never have to think about which whisky to drink ever again.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

The top six whiskeys on this list are all killers. You’ll be in a good place if you grab any of those six bottles. Seriously. They’re all that good.

The bottom two entries aren’t bad by any stretch. They’re both complex and tasty. They just couldn’t quite stand up to the heights of the rest of the bottles on this panel today.

All of that said, I’d really try and add that Pōkeno New Zealand Single Malt Whisky Single Cask Double Bourbon Cask to your bar cart. It’s unique and delicious with a truly fun and fresh profile that’s surprisingly deep. And if you have the means, get some Yamazaki Spanish Oak. It’s really that good.

If there’s one thing Donald Trump never wants to be, it’s a loser. Ironically, however, losing seems to be the one thing he’s actually good at. That and possibly golf — though it’s hard to know for sure. For as many hours as the former president has spent on the links (and for all the tax dollars Americans have shelled out to Trump-owned golf clubs to pay for the Secret Service to follow him around in golf carts), the person who most often talks up Trump’s skills with a golf club is Trump himself. (Remember the hole in one?) But Trump’s latest golf accolade might be his most pathetic yet, as Jimmy Kimmel explained.

On Wednesday night, Kimmel poked some fun at Trump, a.k.a. “Bragger Vance,” who shared a major announcement on TRUTH Social that isn’t another NFT project. Nope, this time it was to boast about how he won the golf tournament at his own golf club… despite not even being there for an entire day. As Trump told his followers:

A great honor to have won the Senior Club Championship at Trump International Golf Club, one of the best courses in the Country, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Competed against many fine golfers, and was hitting the ball long and straight. The reason that I announce this on fabulous TRUTH is that, in a very real way, it serves as a physical exam, only MUCH tougher. You need strength and stamina to WIN, & I have strength & stamina – most others don’t. You also need strength & stamina to GOVERN!

“The only problem with this win,” Kimmel countered, “is that Fattyshack didn’t exactly play fair. He missed the whole first day of the tournament because he was in North Carolina paying tribute to himself at a memorial for his super-fan Diamond of Diamond and Silk. But he told the organizers of the tournament… ‘I played a strong round two days before the tournament,’ and he decided that would count as his Saturday score. So he started the tournament with a five-stroke lead. Which is like showing up at Mile 6 and claiming he won the marathon.”

You can watch the full clip above, beginning around the 2:15 mark.

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B and Afrobeats column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists. Beyoncé brought out Blue Ivy to perform “Brown Skin Girl” at a private gig in Dubai, which reportedly paid her $24 million and Kehlani brought her talents to Chicken Shop Date. Drake’s OVO Sound label signed its first alternative R&B singer in Naomi Sharon and Sudan Archives brought “Homesick” to The Tonight Show in an orchestral performance. Elsewhere, Frank Ocean signaled an album is in the works and SZA’s SOS continues to lead the album charts.

Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:

Coco Jones — What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe)

Following her strong performance as Hilary in Bel-Air, Coco Jones released her What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe) EP to end 2022. A couple of months after its release, Jones extends the project with a new deluxe project. Four new songs, with one featuring Babyface, join the project which includes highlights like “ICU” and “Caliber.”

August Alsina — “Myself”

August Alsina released just three songs in 2022, those being “Shake The World,” Beautiful Way,” and “Lied To You.” Hopefully, he has more for us in 2023 and begins his run for the year with “Myself.” It’s an honest record that finds the singer staying true to himself and detailing the good and bad in his life.

Popcaan — “Great Is He”

At some point in the near future, Popcaan will release his fifth album Great Is He. He began the rollout for the project with last year’s “Next To Me” featuring his girlfriend Toni-Ann Singh. It continued with “We Caa Done” alongside Drake this year, and final single before the album’s release on January 27 is its title track which arrives as a euphoric and elevating outro for the album.

Nonso Amadi — “Ease Up”

Last week, Nonso Amadi teamed up with Savannah Ré for a remix of her song, “Closure.” This week, Amadi is back with an offering of his own in the form of his “Ease Up” single. He says the record is “a reflective song speaking about some of my experiences back home and the struggles of the average Nigerian youth based on issues with police harassment, day-to-day traffic in the cities, and the disproportional wealth gap between the average Nigerian and politicians.” He adds, “among all this, we just want to chill, relax, and have a good time – ease up.”

Mack Keane & ESTA. — “Super”

Singer Mack Keane and producer ESTA. are back it again. After releasing their sweet EP, Intersections, last spring. It seems like the duo could have more on the way. It starts with “Super” which details an ideal love that’s far from ordinary, which makes calling it “super” perfect.

Nil Bambu — “Incomplete”

It’s been a little while since Miami singer Nil Bambu released music to the world, with her last pair of records coming in 2017. However, with a new year ahead of her, she’s back to treat her fans and it kicks off with “Incomplete.” Bambu says of the song, “I wanted to sonically create a moment that people could feel when you’re so in love with someone, but you know it’s not working out. You know this is a bad idea, like it’s over, but that doesn’t deter or take away from the fact that you love this person.”

Joeboy — “Body & Soul”

Joeboy’s 2022 year was sprinkled with a few singles and features, but it wasn’t nearly as bustling as his 2021 year which was carried by the success of his Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic album. Hopefully, there is more in store for the afrobeats singer this year as he returns with “Body & Soul.” The passionate love song is the first offering from his upcoming sophomore album.

Minz — “Wo Wo (Remix)” Feat. BNXN fka Buju & Blaqbonez

Minz is destined to have a breakout year in 2022, and based on the rising success of his “Wo Wo” single, he could fulfill that destiny. The Nigerian singer looked to give the song a boost with a new remix featuring BNXN fka Buju and Blaqbonez. The new guests slide with ease over the graceful production while adding a new flavor to the record.

Casper Sage — “Spinnin’”

On his latest offering, Casper Sage speaks from the heart and lets his feelings bleed on wax. “Spinnin” accounts for the cycle of life, love, and the journey of understanding your emotions. The singer is both somber and hopeful on the song, a feeling many might be able to understand. It follows last month’s “Is This Real Life?”

Aáyanna — “Can You Take It”

Avant Garden signee Aáyanna ended 2022 with her “Risky” and she’s beginning her new year with latest offering “Can You Take It.” The lustful single questions a new partner about their ability to handle her, both in the short-term for intimacy and the long-term for a possible relationship.

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

The seemingly endless web of lies spun by George Santos hasn’t affected his fledgling political career so far, but the newly elected congressman might not be able to get away with alleged fraud when it comes to his increasingly shady campaign finances. According to a new report, there was “blitz of amended Federal Election Commission filings on Tuesday” by Santos’ campaign after he admitted that the source of a highly dubious $700,000 loan was not personal. (Only candidates can loan money to their campaigns.)

However, Santos grew testy after being questioned by CNN about the nature of the loan and his campaign suddenly amending FEC filings. He denied that he had anything to do with the revised filings because it was handled by his “fiduciaries.” There’s just one small problem. Nobody knows who is in charge of handling Santos’ finances right now, and the new treasurer named in the revised filings denies accepting the job offer.

Via The Daily Beast:

That kerfuffle took place after the FEC posted new statements of organization filed by Santos’ five federal political committees, including his campaign, claiming their treasurer, Nancy Marks, had handed the books over to another accountant popular among Republican officials, Thomas Datwyler.

But Datwyler’s attorney, Derek Ross, told The Daily Beast those filings were inaccurate, saying Datwyler had rejected the Santos campaign’s offer earlier this week.

“On Monday we informed the Santos campaign that Mr. Datwyler would not be serving as treasurer. It appears there’s a disconnect between that conversation and the filings today, which we did not authorize,” Ross said.

As for why Santos is having trouble finding a new treasurer to “clean up some of this mess,” unlike a candidate, a treasurer is in a world of trouble if they get caught filing shady paperwork.

“The treasurer is personally responsible for ensuring that paperwork filed with the government is accurate,” the deputy executive director for the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation told The Daily Beast. “We know team Santos is in the crosshairs of the DOJ. While we don’t know the full range of the investigation, one of the most commonly charged statutes in campaign finance is a provision of the criminal code which prohibits anyone from knowingly falsifying, concealing, or omitting a known fact from the federal government.”

(Via The Daily Beast)

The 2023 Grammys (or the 65th annual Grammy Awards, if you’re nasty) are right around the corner, and that means speculation about who all will win — and perform — at the show is getting downright feverish. The first batch of confirmed performers includes Bad Bunny, Lizzo, Steve Lacy, and more, and fans can’t wait to see who else gets the nod.

One name a few fans are looking out for is Jay-Z, who was tagged as a potential performer by HitsDailyDouble along with Harry Styles. Jay’s performance would likely be in tandem with award show fixture DJ Khaled, with whom Jay collaborated on the monster posse cut “God Did” from Khaled’s album of the same name.

However, Jay — who has become more elusive than ever over the past few years — has yet to confirm or deny the report, which as of now remains an unsubstantiated rumor. Given his and rival-turned-frequent-collaborator Nas’ inescapable orbit, though, it probably wouldn’t be a surprise if he did show up the year after Nas performed at the Grammys for the first time in his 30+ year career.

Meanwhile, “God Did” is nominated for three awards: Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance. A win would see Jay finally passing his Watch The Throne partner-in-rhyme Kanye West, with whom he’s tied at 24 apiece, as the most-awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history.

The Grammys are on February 5 at 8 pm ET.

Pedro Pascal seems to be everywhere these days. This isn’t a complaint, but rather a “good job, everyone, let’s keep it up!” comment, and it seems like the good folks at Saturday Night Live are listening because Pascal is going to make his hosting debut on the show next Saturday, February 4th. Coldplay will join as the musical guest, making it their seventh appearance on the show.

Pascal is currently starring in HBO’s new smash hit The Last Of Us, and late this year he will once again be carrying Baby Yoda around the universe posing as everyone’s daddy. Isn’t the internet so fun! Unfortunately, Kyle Mooney is no longer on SNL and won’t be able to reprise his role of Baby Yoda. But maybe that’s for the best.

This week, the sketch show will feature Michael B. Jordan hosting with Lil Baby as the musical guest. The actor is currently promoting Creed III, the latest installment in the Rocky universe. But perhaps he has been taking his method acting a little too seriously, as he threw a few punches at SNL cast member Michael Longfellow in a promo for the new episode. At least Jonathan Majors wasn’t there at the time.

February 1 will mark three months since Takeoff was fatally shot outside of 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston, where he attended a private event with Quavo. But regardless of how much time passes, Rich The Kid has ensured he will never forget Takeoff.

Tattoo MF Red has posted video of him inking Rich The Kid with a simple yet powerful tattoo: “Takeoff” is written on the outside of Rich The Kid’s hand.

According to TMZ, the tattoo appointment happened in Tampa, Florida and only took 30 minutes. Rich The Kid squeezed it in between a recording session and a scheduled radio interview.

Takeoff was best known as one-third of Migos — alongside Quavo and Offset — but the 28-year-old beloved Atlanta rapper and Quavo had released their joint album Only Built For Infinity Links less than a month before Takeoff’s tragic passing.

When news broke on November 1, Rich The Kid took to Instagram to express his grief:

“Today I lost more than a brother,” he wrote. “My twin my best friend everything. I don’t wanna believe it I can’t. The most humble person I know we used to share shoes & clothes before we made it with no problem! I miss you already you didn’t deserve that!! I can’t stop crying I love you so much bro forever.”

Takeoff and Rich The Kid dropped their joint “Crypto” single in March 2022. It was far from the first time they collaborated. As noted by Billboard, Rich The Kid met Migos in 2012 and featured on their 2013 track “Jumpin’ Like Jordan.” Takeoff hopped on Rich The Kid songs like “Trap-A-Holics” in 2013 or “Rockets” in 2019. Quavo and Takeoff also featured on Rich The Kid’s “Too Blessed” in 2020.

Only three games remain in the NFL season, with four top-flight teams remaining in the mix for Super Bowl glory. The Divisional Round provided fireworks, even without a single all-time game to speak of, and the four-game slate was relatively kind to us with a 3-2 mark across five selections. There is less to dive into with only two games this week but, as always, we press on in search of value.

Before we dig into the AFC and NFC title games, let’s take a look at the full-season effort.

• Divisional Round: 3-2
• 2022 Season: 52-44-2

Come get these winners.

Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5) over San Francisco 49ers

At the time of this post, the -2.5 is a consensus number and, as long as it stays below 3, I like the Eagles. San Francisco is on a 12-game winning streak, and the 49ers are very, very good. I do think Philadelphia’s overall roster strength is being undervalued by some, however, and the Eagles have the combination of the better quarterback and home-field advantage. I think Philadelphia should probably be -3.5 or -4 so we’ll gladly lay less than a field goal.

Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers UNDER 46.5 points

I really loved the Chiefs-Bengals under at the opener, but it got crashed and we can’t give it out at the current price. I still like this under, though, and I’m a believer in both defenses. Part of my lean to Philadelphia is a hesitance on Brock Purdy against a top-tier defense, and Philadelphia is more than willing to lean on Hurts and the ground game in a way that keeps the clock burning. Would I give this out on a full-day slate? Probably not, but we’re here and I think the number should be 45.

Patrick Mahomes OVER 277.5 passing yards (MGM)

Yes, Mahomes is banged up, bringing some risk here. With that said, he’s going to play unless things get drastically worse and, with decreased mobility, he’ll be slinging it around. Mahomes went over this number in 11 of 17 regular season games, and there is at least a chance the Chiefs get behind and have to heave it even more than usual. He’s also a freak.

Kansas City Chiefs (PK) over Cincinnati Bengals

It would’ve been nice to grab the +2.5 earlier in the week when the market went crazy. Also, this line is absolutely all over the place, and line shopping is a must. With that out of the way, I still think the Chiefs are the better team, even acknowledging Cincinnati’s success against Mahomes and company in the recent past. It would be interesting to see what the number would be if Mahomes was healthy, but the market has a swung a bit too much toward Cincinnati in the wake of an admittedly awesome performance in Buffalo. I wouldn’t want to lay 3 with KC, but we don’t have to!

Victor Wembanyama, the French sensation who is almost certainly going to No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, is one of the most uniquely skilled basketball players that we’ve ever seen. While there are plenty of other big time talents slated to enter the league via the 2023 Draft, Wembanyama stands out among the rest, and not just because he stands 7’2 and does stuff that we’re more used to seeing with guards.

One thing that guards cannot do — or at the very least, I assume they cannot do — is palm a basketball with only their thumb and their middle finger. As it turns out, Wembanyama can do this, which he showed off in a video that the NBA posted to its official Twitter account.

As it turns out, the extremely tall person with a reported 8-foot wingspan has pretty big hands! Anyway, it’s been a second since we have last checked in with Wembanyama — that was back when he, the most tank-worthy prospect since LeBron James, called tanking “weird” — so here is a quick update on his numbers this year. Wembanyama is averaging 21.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks in 31.8 minutes per game for Metropolitans 92, which sit in second place in France’s top basketball league, LNB Pro A.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet! This week the overall theme seems to be the “outdoors,” as we’re treated to a handful of sneaker drops that combine warm and earthy colors with some sporty and functional silhouettes. I guess winter is behind us!

Is it actually? No, but let’s pretend things are warming up for the sake of our own sanity.

Highlights this week include Salehe Bembury’s latest collaboration, which sees the designer linking up with the British shoe brand Clarks for a triple drop of vibrant lugger-style sneakers. Elsewhere New Balance is dropping two new colorways of the 990 and 990v3 dubbed the Seasonal Collection and Brain Dead and ASICS are teamed up for two psychedelic renditions of the Gel Nimbus 9.

Notice any big names missing? Yeah, Nike, they’ve managed to put one notable sneaker out this week but nothing truly exciting. Even Adidas is bringing the fire with its new NMD S1 MAHBS! Do better Nike, we’re counting on you to truly get the 2023 sneaker season kicking.

For now, here are the six best drops of the week.

Terminator High Noble Green

Are ’80s sneakers making a comeback? Nike seems to think so. The brand’s only notable release this week is this ’85-era classic, the Nike Terminator High. There aren’t any modern updates to this sneaker, Nike is dropping it unaltered and “straight from the vault,” which means if you pick it up it’ll probably be the most uncomfortable and least supportive pair of shoes you’ll ever own.

But it sure looks cool! Featuring a crisp white leather upper and Noble Green accents, the Terminator High is truly fashion over function.

The Nike Terminator High Noble Green Is set to drop on January 26th for a retail price of $125. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Salehe Bembury x Clarks Mud Moss Lugger

One of our favorite things about Salehe Bembury is that you just can’t pin him down. Nobody really knows what he’s going to make next, when you think he’s going to zig, he zags every time. The designer landed on everyone’s radar when he first redesigned some forgotten New Balance silhouettes, and rather than doubling down like Teddy Santis or Joe Freshgoods, he started designing Crocs. Now he’s linked up with Clarks for an early rendition of their Lugger.

Dubbed the “Mud Moss” this lugger-style shoe features a Lichen suede upper with leather and fabric accents, a crepe rubber sole, and an asymmetric lace-up system that adds a modern streetwear sneaker vibe to the style.

The shoe is available in unisex sizing and drops in three colorways including dark green, orange, and taupe.

The Salehe Bembury x Clarks Mud Moss Lugger in Dark Green, Orange, and Taupe is out now for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair at the Clarks webstore.

New Balance MADE in USA 990 Seasonal Collection Tan w/ Green

New Balance’s best runner is getting a new colorway! Dropping as part of a double sneaker pack dubbed the “Seasonal Collection,” this 990 features a mixed upper of leather and mesh with hairy suede panels above an ENCAP midsole and that elegant MADE in USA line construction.

The colorway is warm and earthy combining tan and brown with deep forest green accents on the heel and ’N’ logo. Leave it to Teddy Santis to oversee such an elegant and eye-catching take on one of NB’s best silhouettes.

The New Balance MADE in USA 990 Seasonal Collection w/ Green is set to drop on January 26th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $189.99. Pick up a pair at the New Balance webstore.

New Balance MADE in USA 990v3 Seasonal Collection Tan w/ Green

Nike who?

New Balance has slowly been reaching for Nike’s crown for a while now and we’re starting to prefer NB to the old Swoosh. Is that crazy? While no one will be able to compete with Nike’s frequency of releases, New Balance always brings the quality and we’ll take quality over quantity any day.

What a great week for people who love green shoes. If you’re not feeling the understated vibes of the 990, this 990v3 is for you. Dropping as part of the “Seasonal Collection,” this v3 trades in the hairy suede for a sleek upper of nubuck leather and mesh above a pale olive ENCAP midsole and an NDurance rubber outsole. The overall color tones are darker here compared to the v1, with a deep forest base and rich Carmel-colored panels.

The New Balance MADE in USA 990v3 Seasonal Collection Tan w/ Green is set to drop on January 26th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $199.99. Pick up a pair at the New Balance webstore.

Adidas NMD S1 MAHBS Oatmeal

Pharrell is doing some truly interesting stuff over at Adidas with his Humanrace line of sneakers. It might not bring the sort of eyes and excitement that Adidas’ collaborations with Beyonce and Bad Bunny bring, but now that Yeezy is a thing of the past, it’s the only collaboration that truly feels unique and original. This week’s NMD s1 MAHBS sports a textile upper with a canvas shroud, a TPU-encapsulated BOOST midsole, and a mix of earthy oatmeal tones and bright blue accents.

The NMD strikes an interesting balance between utilitarian functionality and asymmetrical design details. It feels like it has its foot dipped into two different style aesthetics simultaneously.

The Adidas NMD S1 MAHBS Oatmeal is set to drop on January 27th at 7:30 AM PST for a retail price of $230. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app.

Brain Dead x ASICS Gel Nimbus 9 Rio Red (Almost Apricot) Night Shade (Laurel Wreath)

There was an era (nearly twenty years ago) when running shoes were strictly function over fashion. They weren’t designed to be seen, they were designed to support you and get you where you needed to go. But as functional-forward as those original running sneakers were, they actually looked pretty dope and futuristic. And now they’re in the streetwear ecosystem, which means the colorways are looking better than ever.

This week Brain Dead teamed up with ASICS for two new colorways of the brand’s legendary Gel Nimbus 9 runner. Featuring polyester mesh, polyurethane leather, and synthetic upper, Brain Dead dressed up this segmented midsole sneaker in two vibrant and loud colorways, including Rio Red and Night Shade. It’s not every week that ASICS catches our eye, but we’re always on the lookout for new designs out of Brain Dead.

Brain Dead x ASICS Gel Nimbus 9 Rio Red and Night Shade are out now for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair at the Brain Dead webstore.