Category: Trending

It’s hard to keep track of the various theories swirling about Vladimir Putin, including whether he’s even still alive. But, assuming that the Kremlin isn’t trying to pull a Weekend at Bernie’s on the world, a former aide who worked closely with Putin believes that the Botox fan’s days as president of Russia are numbered.

As The Daily Beast reports, Abbas Gallyamov — who previously worked as a speechwriter for Putin — believes that the Kremlin’s continued focus on the war with Ukraine is causing such a disconnect with the people of Russia that a military coup is likely imminent.

“The longer the war drags on, the clearer its pointlessness becomes,” Gallyamov wrote in an opinion piece for Mozhem Obyasnit. Basically, the Russian public is losing faith in its leaders — who seem intent on to capturing Kyiv, which fewer and fewer people believe will ever actually happen.

Meanwhile, Wagner’s private army of mercenary soldiers are taking a shellacking, which isn’t giving much hope to the rest of Russia. “[Wagner boss Yevgeny] Prigozhin has completely discredited the regime in the eyes of service members with his rhetoric,” Gallyamov writes — none of which is helping Putin’s carefully curated image as a tough guy.

“As problems pile up in the country and the army that the authorities are unable to solve, Putin is more steadily transforming in people’s eyes from a great strategist to an ordinary, second-rate dictator,” says Gallyamov.

For months, we’ve read about soldiers fighting back against their commanders if not abandoning their posts altogether due to seeing the attack on Ukraine as futile. That, says Gallyamov, is where the motivation to revolt against Putin, the Kremlin, and their deep (and deeply flawed) desire to capture Ukraine could come into play.

“It must be understood that the vast majority of commanders in the army of an authoritarian nation are not staunch supporters of the authorities, but run-of-the-mill opportunists,” Gallyamov says. Meaning that if they see a chance to better their situations and lives — even if it means turning against Putin — you can best believe they’ll take it.

(Via The Daily Beast)

After what had been one of the most painfully challenging years of my life, I decided that I would close out 2022 with a solo adventure to Jamaica. I felt the need to work on some personal, emotional, and spiritual healing and growth before welcoming in a new year and a change of scenery would help me do that.

I had settled on Negril, Jamaica for various reasons. I knew I wanted a tropical destination to warm my bones in the thick of a Western New York winter season while keeping it relatively affordable. Cheap flights, easy access to the smaller Caribbean city from Montego Bay, a seven-mile strip of crystal-clear beaches, and a plethora of recommendations from family members who had previously gone had me locked in. And while much-needed solo time was my overarching plan, the actual shape of each day landed on a perfect balance of relaxed downtime and adventure under the Caribbean sun.

PART 1 – Where To Eat & Drink

Negril is home to some amazing flavors. I literally ate out every day on my trip, with dinner being my splurge meal of the day.

Central Negril:

Grabbing a bite to eat in central Negril is very easy since most of the restaurants, bars, and resort-hosted food hubs are located right on Seven Mile Beach. What’s even better is that a lot of restaurants will work with tourists and help arrange pickup taxis and shuttles to bring you to dine. It sounds a little needy but… it’s also pretty dang convenient.

If you want to start your day off with a dose of beachfront sunshine, head over to Travellers Beach Resort. This family-owned boutique hotel features a beautiful seaside patio overlooking the ocean, and you’ll be eating fresh fruit, local dishes, and comfortable cuisine under a canopying seagrape tree. Make sure to bring your bathing suit and snorkel, because there’s a great little coral stretch out into the property’s nearby waters.

Coco La Palm is another great place to wake up and dine at. As one of Negril’s largest boutique hotels, you’ll be treated with some exceptional service at its Marley’s By The Sea restaurant. If you’re a fan of eggs Florentine, make sure to try the island’s specialty of Ackee & Saltfish and pair it with a freshly squeezed cup of pineapple or papaya juice. You can’t go wrong with a coco-bread breakfast sandwich either.

Let’s make one thing clear: You can’t go to Jamaica without trying an authentic Jamaican patty. While I found it hard to set time aside to sit down for lunch, Hammond’s Bakery was the perfect option. Here you’ll find a quick grab-and-go style bakery boasting a variety of traditional Jamaican patties, including beef, chicken, cheese, or vegetable.

Skip out on being a tourist at Margaritaville and sip a cheap, strong drink at a cool bar instead. Bring a joint along to The Boat Bar (or buy one there) and unwind with some free live reggae music every Friday at 3 p.m., drift away to the sounds of reggae jazz and blues with a Red Stripe beer at Drifter’s every Sunday at 3 p.m., or indulge in 2-for-1 Happy Hour drinks (we had some Dirty Bananas) and lobster pizza at Rondel Village.

For dinner, head over to Miss Lily’s for all your jerk flavor cravings. Here you’ll find a fairly large menu with traditional Jamaican dishes and creative spins of island cooking. Its on-display jerk smokehouse and BBQ grilling station produce any smoked or seasoned protein of your choosing, including chicken, pork, or fish. You also can’t go wrong dining under the restaurant’s disco ball.

West End:

The cool thing about Negril is that it boasts a beautiful white-sand coastline but also has some pretty amazing rocky cliff terrain. Make sure you spend some time in the West End for breathtaking views as you sit, sip, and eat.

If you want the ultimate fancy cliff-side sunset dinner experience, you must go to The Cliff. You’ll walk into an open-air luxury hotel lobby and through a gorgeous pool area to the on-site restaurant, ZEST. A short 15-minute drive outside of Negril’s city center, you’ll sit overlooking the Caribbean Sea among elegant rock paths. Photos don’t even do this place justice.

The restaurant offers a five-point experiential dining experience centered on zest, curiosity, gratitude, optimism, and love. I ate the whole Coconut Rundown Lobster when I went. As good as it is, you’ll likely have the place to yourself or find only a couple of other people there.

The same is true for Rockhouse and Catcha Falling Star Ivan’s Bar & Restaurant. Easily the most scenic and romantic restaurants I’ve ever been to. Make sure to get there at least 30 minutes before sunset for the best experience to meander through the fairytale castle-like stone walkways and infrastructure. You must try Escovitch fish when in Jamaica, and both of these places had top-notch Red Snapper filets done up in traditional Jamaican flavors.

Rockhouse is also connected to Pushcart, which offers a more laid-back style dining experience right up against the cliffs.

On your way, hit up Patsy’s for dessert. I mean, who doesn’t want homemade churned ice cream to end your day in the Caribbean? There’s even a ganja-infused ice cream if you want to conclude your evening on a high note.

PART III – Where To Sleep

The whole point of travel is to live among the locals and integrate yourself in the local culture. In Jamaica, it’s very easy to stray from that mindset and book yourself a room in any of the dozen bougie, all-inclusive resorts that line Negril. But what is the whole point of traveling to a new place if you stay stuck in one location, eating and drinking unlimited amounts of what is available and given to you without seeing what the country and culture has to really offer?

This is why I don’t stay at resorts.

Instead, I stayed on the same Seven Mile Beach lined with all the resorts and resided in a beautiful studio condo at The Point. This gated community hosts several dozen baby blue, beachside condos that are occupied by fellow world travelers, expats, and locals alike. I literally felt like I was living in a sliver of paradise. The property offers 24/7 gated and on-site security, two private beaches, an outdoor pool, tropical gardens, brand-new tennis courts, and rocky terrain perfect for snorkeling.

What made this a gem even better is that I felt close to everything. The beaches in Negril are all public, so I was able to wake up with the sun a lot of mornings and walk the beach throughout all of the resorts. This also allowed me to see all of these cute boutique hotels and all-inclusive resorts without needing to stay there. Most of these resorts do offer day passes though, so if you feel like treating yourself to a luxury all-inclusive experience then you can do so.

If you feel like you’re someone who is a little adventurous and open, Hedonism II borders The Point. The name suits this all-inclusive, clothing-optional resort where all guests are there to pursue the ultimate pleasure. There are really no rules at Hedonism II, so you never know what you might see or encounter on the grounds. The unlimited food and drinks are just the tip of the iceberg there. You can also buy day passes to most of the surrounding resorts, including the Riu, Sandals, Azul Beach, Royalton, Beaches, Couples Swept Away, and more.

If you’re wanting more scenic cliffs instead of the beach, there are some really beautiful resort and hotel rentals over on the West End. The Cliff, Rockhouse, and The Caves are all great options to wake up to some crashing Caribbean waves. To book a condo at The Point, click here.

PART II – Where To Beach

It’s pretty much assumed that you’ll be spending quite a bit of time on the beach while in Negril. Luckily, there is a seven mile strip of beautiful white-sand beaches going all along the main road. You literally can’t get lose track of where the beach is in Negril.

At The Point, there was a small and quiet family beach overlooking Booby Cay Island. If you hate tan lines like me, then going to the adult-only nude beach on the western part of the property offers better sun-kissed views.

The beaches in Negril are all public – except the ones at The Point – so you can walk through the whole Seven Mile Beach if your little heart desires. I realized that walking west out of The Point’s nude beach all the way to Margaritaville offered the perfect four-mile round-trip walk to catch the sunrise and sunset. There’s also a local family that sells fresh coconuts at a little stand on your walk there so you can stop and drink fresh coconut water. I walked alone throughout multiple beaches on and off resorts and never felt unsafe, especially with all the dogs and cats freely roaming around.

There are also parts of Seven Mile Beach unoccupied by a hotel or resort that are open to the public, so you can also freely post up there. Up on the eastern part of Negril bordering Hotel Riu is Bloody Bay. This is a cool part of the beach where you’ll find a line of local food and drink shacks, ample coconut trees to relax under, and some amazing coral reefs to explore through snorkeling, scuba diving, and kayaking.

PART IV – Where To Play

When traveling to a new country, you better do some exploring! While island life can sometimes be a little limited or repetitive, I found that Negril offers a plethora of fun little adventures.

Barney’s Flower & Hummingbird Garden

If you want a slice of heaven while in Jamaica, make sure to spend an hour or two at Barney’s Flower & Hummingbird Garden. Located in the West End, I accidentally arrived an hour before they officially opened but the owner let me in any way. Beautifully colored and exotic butterflies and hummingbirds were all around and newborn puppies were playing around in the shade. I thought I had died and was summoned to Heaven. With a little stillness and patience, you can also feed the hummingbirds with mini sugar water bottles.

Ganja Farm

This is a no-brainer if you go to Jamaica. The country is known for its great cannabis. I was fortunate enough to get connected with a trusted local driver who took me into the hills for a private ganja farm tour and it was a mighty high experience. Needless to say though, there isn’t really an “official” way to book such a trip. I was able to find a trusted driver who knew the owner and convinced him to show me – a complete stranger – a tour of his farm.

You just have to poke around a little bit to find the people who know these hidden spots and trust that it’ll all work out.

Sunset Cruise Tour

I hopped on the opportunity to sail on the water three days into my trip. The crystal clear, shimmering waters were calling my name, so I booked an all-day boat tour through the RIU Palace Resort, down the road from where I was staying. The boat was very crowded though, so I would recommend booking through another hotel or resort if you want a better experience or, better yet, seeking out a more limited excursion.

My day consisted of snorkeling, swimming through a rocky cove, and ending at Rick’s Café for drinks and cliff jumping. I soon realized that Rick’s Café is a must if you’re visiting Negril for the first time and I had an absolute blast here. So much so that I told the boat guide to leave me at Rick’s Café to fully enjoy and watch the sunset and I took a taxi back to my condo.

If you don’t want an all-day experience, you can also walk up to any of the dozen Glass Bottom Boats on Seven Mile Beach and work out a deal to take you out. They’ll often work with you for the amount of time and the number of people accompanying you, as well as any activities you want to do, including snorkeling or heading over to Booby Cay Island for some freshly grilled lobster.

Jackie’s On The Reef

A perfect little piece of tranquility in the far West End of Negril. It was definitely a little bit of a trek to get here, but so worth it. The owner Jackie offers an array of eco-friendly wellness services, so I was blessed to have had a private yoga class and deep-tissue massage on the beach. The property is very quiet and offers a more meditative and serene, lush environment to be in your own energy.

Sam Smith has seen massive success both nationally and internationally over the past ten years of their career. Most recently, with the release of their single “Unholy,” Smith became the first publicly non-binary solo artist with a No. 1 song.

But with success comes more visibility — visibility invites unwarranted attacks from trolls. Despite using their platform to advocate on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community for causes such as the marriage act, Smith revealed during a recent interview with Apple Music that the nasty comments have only gotten worse in recent times.

During the sit down with Zane Lowe, Smith shared that since publicly expressing their non-binary identity, they’ve been met with hateful remarks.

When asked by Lowe if they had experienced negativity since coming out of non-binary, Smith responded, “In my personal life, there’s not one negative. Since changing my pronouns, it felt like a coming home [party],” even joking, “I wish I knew what the words were when I was in school.”

On the other hand, their public life is another story. “What people don’t realize with trans and non-binary people in the UK is it’s happening in the street. I’m being abused in the street verbally more than I ever have,” said Smith adding, “That was the hardest part, I think, was being at home in the UK and having people shouting at me in the street. Someone spat at me in the street. It’s crazy.”

Smith wants to emphasize that even as a beloved public figure, they’ve been met with physical harm so just imagine how this bigotry has effected less known people in these identities. “What I find hard about it is it’s like, if that’s happening to me and I’m famous, I’m a pop star, can you imagine what other queer kids are feeling,” the singer asked, before closing with, “And it’s just so sad that we’re in 2023 and it’s still happening. It’s exhausting.”

Watch the full interview above.

Rihanna is busy preparing for her highly anticipated performance at the halftime show at Super Bowl LVII. The star is not only a singer but also a businesswoman, and she combined those qualities by teasing a “Super Bowl-inspired” Savage x Fenty collection. But she’s not stopping there — she appears to have more plans with her Fenty collection.

The “Umbrella” performer has filed a trademark for Fenty Kids, which can be found on the United States Patent And Trademark Office website. The trademark was filed on January 20 and lists various types of clothing in the “goods and services” field.

Many fans on social media are expressing excitement about this possible extension of her clothing line; however, most are just begging for new music, because it’s been six years since her last album.

Meanwhile there have also been rumors circulating about a Rihanna documentary. A “music insider” recently told The Sun: “There is a massive appetite for everything to do with Rihanna, especially as this will be her major return to the stage for the first time in years. She will be recorded during rehearsals and meetings in the lead-up to the big night and give an insight into what her life is really like now she is returning to pop as a mum. Rihanna is a massive force to be reckoned with when it comes to music and so Apple has paid millions.”

Just two months after Twitter’s regretful new owner Elon Musk lifted the ban put on Donald Trump’s account following the events of January 6th, Meta has gone and done the same — meaning that the conspiracy theory-spewing former president is free to post all the McDonald’s and Diet Coke food porn he wants. And while Trump himself is trying to make a big show over whether or not he’ll return to any of these platforms (despite his many attempts to try and sneak back on over the past two years), one person who is not impressed by Meta’s decision is Wanda Sykes.

On Thursday night, while guest-hosting The Daily Show, Sykes shared her doubts that Trump could ever play nice on social media — and questioned the real reason Mark Zuckerberg would want the former president and his vitriol back.

Letting Trump back on Facebook is crazy. You’re just asking for trouble. It’s like letting Hannibal Lecter babysit your most delicious child.

But Facebook is putting him back online anyway. Because they say that, quote, ‘The public should be able to hear what their politicians are saying.’ And to that, let me say, quote, ‘Phooey.’

Sykes isn’t buying that whole freedom of speech excuse for one second. “Look, we all know Facebook is losing a ton of money and they want that Trump attention back,” she said. “They need a hit. Trump is their White Lotus! He’s their Jennifer Coolidge of the internet.”

Except that Jennifer Coolidge would have made for a much better, and more entertaining, president.

You can watch the full clip above.

What’s the ideal Super Bowl snack?

Pizza comes to mind, but you can just as easily make the case for wings, or better yet, both. No one is going to balk at the idea of a big plate of nachos. Mozzarella sticks? jalapeño poppers, a big slab of carne asada, some chips, and a side of freshly made guacamole? We’ll take it all! Our point is, there is no one perfect Super Bowl finger food — the more variety the merrier.

No food brand seems to understand that simple point quite like Taco Bell. This week, T-Bell rolled out what it is calling the “Ultimate Game Day Box,” a literal box of food that includes all of their absolute best snacking entries. The box includes four tacos — your choice of all crunchy, mixed crunchy, and soft, and even Doritos Locos — a Mexican pizza, and eight wings. Yes, you read that right, wings.

Last year for a limited time Taco Bell released wings and people went absolutely nuts for them (us included). Now, for Super Bowl season, they’re back. But is the Ultimate Game Day Box truly “ultimate?” How does it fit into your Super Bowl food spread? What are the best components?

We answered all of those questions in our full review, let’s dive in!

The Ultimate Game Day Box

Tasting Notes:

We’ve covered each element of this Ultimate Game Day Box separately before and I have to say, tasting it all together leads me to conclude: this box is pretty f*cking “ultimate.” We named the crunchy taco Taco Bell’s absolute best taco and we still stand by that. For that reason I didn’t mix and match, I just went for four of the best.

The taco has a great crunchy mouthfeel, a zesty beefy flavor, and just the right amount of salty sharpness paired with silky nuttyness from the finely shredded cheese to make what is essentially the simplest taco in all of fast food taste absolutely delicious. Under the right circumstances (stoned, buzzed, or drunk), I’ll take a Taco Bell taco over Chipotle any day!

Right behind the taco on the Bell’s menu is the Mexican Pizza.

There is a reason it’s so beloved, and while I think it’s hard for the dish to live up to the hype there is something truly special about this item. It takes that same zesty beef taste and adds an earthy component to it with a smear of refried beans all served up between fried corn tortilla and topped with sweet and mildly spicy red sauce and a whole bunch of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese.

I need to talk about that tortilla for a second — it’s better than Taco Bell’s crunchy taco shell, it’s thinner and greasier with a light and crispy snap that becomes more addicting the more you eat it. It’s a near-perfect fast food snack.

And then we have the wings.

I know that the idea of Taco Bell making wings is likely to inspire some trepidation, so let me make it as simple to understand as possible. Imagine a fried chicken wing (hard to f*ck that up) doused in the sort of zesty seasoning that gives all of Taco Bell’s food that unmistakable Taco Bell flavor, and you have these wings! They are way better than they have any right to be and should honestly be a permanent fixture on the menu.

If we had to rank each component, we’re going

3. The Tacos
2. The Wings
1. The Mexican Pizza

How Does This Fit Into Your Super Bowl Sunday?

Here is the thing, the Ultimate Game Day Box sort of positions itself as something you can feed a lot of people with. It’s $23 which is an unusually high price for something from Taco Bell — you can buy over 20 tacos for that price — but the Ultimate Game Day Box only feeds about two. Maybe four people, but at that point, each person is only getting a taste of what makes this box great, which is a true shame.

If you’re looking for a supplemental snack to feed you and a friend, or you’re just really hungry, get the Ultimate Game Day Box, but if you’re looking to cater a Super Bowl party, this isn’t going to get you there. Especially because just about anyone who has a taste is going to want a whole lot more.

The Bottom Line:

Definitely get the Ultimate Game Day Box, it’s the best new menu option Taco Bell has added… maybe ever. But split it with a friend, not several, unless you want to end up in a fight over who got the most bites.

While taking a break from no longer being aroused by M&Ms, Fox News host Tucker Carlson has set his eyes on a much bigger prize: Invading Canada. During a recent episode of his Fox Nation talk show, Carlson interviewed David Azerrad, a so-called manliness expert from the great up north, and inevitably the conversation steered toward last year’s Freedom Convoy, which saw anti-vaxxer truckers go up against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They lost.

No stranger to anti-vaxxer conspiracy theories, Carlson supported the truckers protest and started to wonder aloud why the United States doesn’t just go in and remove Trudeau. “I’m completely in favor of a Bay of Pigs operation to liberate that country,” Carlson said.

Via The Daily Beast:

“Why should we stand back and let our biggest trading partner, the country with which we share the longest border, and actually, I’ll just say, a great country, I love Canada, I’ve always loved Canada because of its natural beauty, why should we let it become Cuba?”

He continued: “Like, why don’t we liberate it? We’re spending all this money to liberate Ukraine from the Russians, why are we not sending an armed force north to liberate Canada from Trudeau? And, I mean it.”

However, while Tucker was ready for a full-scale invasion, his guest wasn’t entirely on board prompting the Fox News host to quip, “I’m just talking myself into a frenzy here!” Maybe they could agree on the man-tastic virtues of testicle tanning. Seems like common ground.

(Via The Daily Beast)

Do you have any plans for the weekend of March 24th-26th? Cancel them. Your niece will understand why you can’t attend her bat mitzvah: you’re busy watching John Wick.

The final weekend of March will see the release of the long-delayed John Wick: Chapter 4, as well as the returns of Succession and Yellowjackets on HBO and Showtime, respectively. If Elon’s Twitter still exists in March, the servers better be ready. To recap:

March 24th: John Wick: Chapter 4
March 26th: Succession season four and Yellowjackets season two premieres

John Wick and Logan Roy don’t stand a chance against Misty. (I also just realized that the plot synopsis of John Wick: Chapter 4 — “​​John Wick uncovers a path to defeating the High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes” — basically works for Succession, too, if you replace “John Wick” with “Kendall Roy.”)

Also out in mid- to late-March: 65, the Adam Driver vs. dinosaurs movie (March 17th); Lucky Hank, Bob Odenkirk’s first starring role since Better Call Saul wrapped up (March 19th); Zach Braff’s A Good Person, starring Florence Pugh (March 24th); and next year’s Best Picture-nominated sequel, Murder Mystery 2 (March 31st).

Movies and TV shows (and Taylor Swift tours): now more than ever!

Good cheap bourbon isn’t hard to find. The shelves are stacked with bottles that won’t break the bank. But those same shelves are also stacked with cheap bottles that leave… a lot to be desired. As a customer, how do you sort the bottles that kind of suck from the good ones?

A great place to start is this blind taste test of 20 cheap bourbons. For this blind tasting, I pulled every cheap bourbon off my shelf and put it to the test. The price range was between $10 and $30 (give or take a dollar here and there) with the bulk hitting around the $20 mark.

That makes our lineup the following today:

• Kirkland Signature Small Batch by Barton 1792 Master Distillers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Very Old Barton 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Old Crow The Original Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Weller The Original Wheated Bourbon Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Old Tub Unfiltered Bottled In Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Old No. 8 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Jim Beam Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• George Dickel Bourbon Whisky Aged 8 Years
• J.W. Dant Bottled In Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Heaven Hill Old Style Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• J.T.S. Brown Bottled In Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Old Fitzgerald Prime Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

As for the ranking, it’s simple, folks. This is about taste alone. If it had a good flavor profile and real depth, it ranked higher. If not, it ranked lower. And perhaps surprisingly, the more spendy bottles didn’t beat out the cheaper ones by all that much. Let’s dive in!

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked
• We Put A Whole Bunch Of Bourbons To A Giant Blind Test And Discovered Some Absolute Gems
• The Affordable Vs Expensive Blind Bourbon Bottle Battle
• The Best-Known Basic Bottles Of Bourbon, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• The 30 Best Bourbon Whiskeys For Fall, Blind Tasted & Ranked

Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Apple and pear open the nose up toward peach taffy with a hint of black licorice ropes, old leather, sweet winter spices, and a whisper of Nutella.

Palate: The palate lets the vanilla linger while a sweet and mild Red Hot vibe mixes with classic cherry cola, dried sweetgrass, salted caramel candies, and apricot jam on a Southern biscuit with a drop of fresh honey and butter.

Finish: The end stays pretty classic with a sense of spiced cherry tobacco, rich vanilla, and a few old oak staves.

Initial Thoughts:

This was pretty nice overall — solid nose, palate, and finish with a very classic sweet bourbon vibe.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This has a really nice nose full of buttery caramel, dark berries in a pie, soft oak, and a hint of peppermint.

Palate: The palate dials those berries into a slice of blueberry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a dusting of cinnamon and leather.

Finish: The end is short and sweet but brings back the mintiness but more like menthol tobacco with a dry edge.

Initial Thoughts:

This hit pretty well. It wasn’t bold but had a standard solidness that helped stand out.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Fresh Wonder Bread and burnt popcorn lead to buttery caramel and a dab of vanilla oil.

Palate: The palate is very balanced between a sense of caramel, cherry, and “spice” with a wintry vibe.

Finish: The end is pretty short and watery with the vanilla and brown spice leading to a dash of dry straw.

Initial Thoughts:

This was pretty light and thin with a decent finish.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a tannic sense of old oak next to sweet cherries, vanilla cookies, and that Buffalo Trace leathery vibe with a hint of spiced tobacco lurking underneath.

Palate: The palate has a creamy texture kind of like malted vanilla ice cream over a hot apple pie cut with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and walnuts next to Frosted Raisin Bran with a hint of candied cherry root beer.

Finish: The end takes that sweet cherry and apple and layers it into a light tobacco leaf with a mild sense of old musty barrel warehouses.

Initial Thoughts:

This was far and away better than the last pours. The depth was far more evident from the jump.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Soft leather and old vanilla pods mix with old lawn furniture sitting in green grass with a hint of floral honey and apple pie on the nose.

Palate: The palate has a rich toffee vibe next to sweet cinnamon and plenty of eggnog creamy/spicy vibes that leads to a nutmeg-heavy mocha latte.

Finish: There’s a sense of dried corn husks on the finish with a mix of rum-raisin, vanilla pound cake, and cherry bark-infused tobacco layered into an old cedar box.

Initial Thoughts:

This is classic, deep, and simply tastes good. I like this one.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose has a sweet yellow corn meal, a hint of butterscotch, and a mix of creamy honey and creamy eggnog with plenty of nutmeg and allspice next to a very distant dry woody note.

Palate: The palate has a touch of candy corn next o Almond Joys, sweet cinnamon Hot Tamales, and black cherry tobacco leaves rolled up with dried sweetgrass.

Finish: The end is lightly dry with a sawdust vibe next to apple stems and burnt orange.

Initial Thoughts:

This is nice and sweet but has a little roughness to it.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a woody cherry bark next to sour apple pies, distiller’s beer, and caramel candies next to vanilla cream with a counterpoint of cumin and dry chili lurking in the deeper reaches of the nose.

Palate: The palate opens with a Cherry Coke feel next to rich and buttery toffee, vanilla malts, and sharp Hot Tamales cinnamon candy with a nod toward allspice and root beer.

Finish: The end is soft and lush with vanilla smoothness leading to black cherry tobacco braided with cedar bark and wicker.

Initial Thoughts:

This is really nice bourbon. It has a great balance of spicy and sweet with a classic vibe through and through.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Nose: It takes a minute to find the nose on this one. There’s a touch of lemon honey next to vanilla wafers but that’s about it.

Palate: The palate is very middle of the road with clear hints of leather, brown spice, cornmeal, and vanilla.

Finish: There’s a dash of buttered popcorn and caramel toward the end, but the finish is pretty watery overall.

Initial Thoughts:

This smells cheap — think cardboard by way of lemon pepper from the 90s. It’s pretty thin all the way through too.

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Vanilla pound cake and salted caramel are countered by spicy cherry tobacco, mulled wine vibes, and dark chocolate cut with orange zest and a hint of corn husk.

Palate: The palate brings in some floral honey sweetness and more orange oils with a sticky toffee pudding feel next to more spicy cherry tobacco and a hint of coconut cream pie.

Finish: The end amps up the cherry with a little more sweetness than spice before salted dark chocolate tobacco folds into dry sweetgrass and cedar bark before a hint of fountain Cherry Coke pops on the very back end with a sense of sitting in an old wicker rocking chair.

Initial Thoughts:

This is a winner from the first nose to the bold yet nuanced finish. This is a really good pour. I also am 99% sure I recognize it.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is full of those heavily charred oak barrel notes next to classic hints of caramel and vanilla with a grassy underbelly.

Palate: That grassiness becomes vaguely floral as slightly spiced caramel apples arrive, along with a chewy mouthfeel that leads towards a soft mineral vibe — kind of like wet granite.

Finish: The end holds onto the fruit and sweetness as the oak and dried grass stays in your senses.

Initial Thoughts:

This is nice and has a wheated vibe (grassy). The end is a tad thin but that doesn’t really take anything away from the overall depth of the pour.

Taste 11

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with creamy vanilla next to spiced tobacco with plenty of apple pie vibe and winter spices with a butter underbelly.

Palate: The palate has a light bran muffin with a molasses vibe next to vanilla/nougat wafers (hello, Tennessee) that then leads to peach skins and gingerbread.

Finish: The end leans into the nutty chocolate and vanilla wafer with a touch of orange zest, marzipan, and mint tobacco with a dry wicker end.

Initial Thoughts:

This is clearly the Dickel and it’s pretty good. There’s depth, clear flavor notes, and plenty to enjoy.

Taste 12

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose on this one is pure banana bread brimming with buttery cake, walnuts, cinnamon and nutmeg, and a touch of honey.

Palate: The palate leans into the wood with a No. 2 pencil vibe that leads towards dry vanilla husks and a touch of salted caramel-covered peanuts.

Finish: The back end of the sip stays sweet and nutty as wintry spices cut with orange oils drive a slowish finish.

Initial Thoughts:

This was fine. It’s classic bourbon that’s clearly cheap (No. 2 pencil is a dead giveaway).

Taste 13

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a lovely nose at play with soft taco mix spice next to creamy vanilla, caramel-dipped cherries, a hint of pear skins, and plenty of nutmeg.

Palate: The palate has a minor note of cornbread muffins next to cherry-vanilla tobacco with a dash of leather and toffee.

Finish: The end leans into some fresh gingerbread with a vanilla frosting next to hints of pear candy cut with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Initial Thoughts:

This, again, was fine. Nothing to really find fault in beside it just being average bourbon.

Taste 14

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a sweet sense of oak on the nose next to mint chocolate chip ice cream, brown sugar, and dried cinnamon sticks.

Palate: The palate has a light smooth vanilla base with a pecan waffle vibe next to maple syrup and cinnamon butter.

Finish: The end adds a layer of warm but mild chili pepper spice next to cherry/vanilla tobacco with a whisper of sweet oak.

Initial Thoughts:

This is also fine but has a pretty thin finish.

Taste 15

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Sweet and buttery toffee is countered by burnt orange, old oak, and a hint of cumin and red chili pepper flakes.

Palate: The palate leans into soft vanilla pudding cups with a touch of butterscotch swirled in next to orange oils, nougat, and a hint of menthol tobacco.

Finish: The midpalate tobacco warmth gives way to a finish that’s full of woody winter spices and a whisper of Cherry Coke next to orange/clove by way of a dark chocolate bar flaked with salt.

Initial Thoughts:

This is leaps and bounds better. It’s not “wow” better but has serious depth and character that tracks through a bold beginning, middle, and end.

Taste 16

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a light sense of rickhouse wood beams next to that mild taco seasoning on the nose with caramel apples, vanilla ice cream scoops, and a hint of fresh mint with a sweet/spicy edge.

Palate: The palate opens with a seriously smooth vanilla base with some winter spice (especially cinnamon and allspice) next to a hint of grain and apple pie filling.

Finish: The end leans towards the woodiness with a hint of broom bristle and minty tobacco lead undercut by that smooth vanilla.

Initial Thoughts:

This is also pretty damn nice. Bold, deep, and kind of charmingly tasty.

Taste 17

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Cream soda with a dash of cherry opens the nose next to dry leather patches, caramel sauce, and a light touch of floral honey.

Palate: The palate brings forward dry and woody spices with a hint of eggnog creaminess leading toward Graham Crackers and a sweet tobacco chew.

Finish: The end turns the woody spice into old oak with more vanilla, honey, and leather lingering the longest.

Initial Thoughts:

This is another classic that has some depth to it. It’s not a “holy shit!” good, but it’s well put together for what it is.

Taste 18

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is very light but does meander through apple candy, dry corn, vanilla, and a touch of caramel.

Palate: The taste stays on a similar path with a hint of brown spice and “oak.”

Finish: The end is short but does touch on more vanilla and oak with a hint of cherry tobacco way in the background before an ethanol note takes over.

Initial Thoughts:

This is pretty thin and cheap.

Taste 19

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with a rush of Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Cider, pear candy, and vanilla cake with a hint of dark chocolate, orange zest, salted caramel, and some sour red berries tossed with fresh tobacco and mint.

Palate: The palate opens with some dried apple skins next to cinnamon sticks floating in hot and spicy apple cider, a hint of mint tobacco, and salted orange dark chocolate bars.

Finish: The end has a nougat wafer vibe next to caramel and vanilla cookies with a hint of old porch wicker and boot leather.

Initial Thoughts:

This has a nice sense of classic bourbon notes that are never overplayed. I dig it as a good average bourbon pour.

Taste 20

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is a bit thinner on the nose with a touch of vanilla and dry cinnamon next to a hint of caramel and maybe a little straw.

Palate: The palate is fine but feels very average bourbon — orchard fruit, vanilla, wood, caramel — and not much more.

Finish: The end is a little washed out (this has to be a lower proof) and ends more watery than bourbon-y.

Initial Thoughts:

This is pretty pointless.

Part 2: The Ranking

20. Old Fitzgerald Prime Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 20

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $11

The Whiskey:

This is the entry-point wheated bourbon from Heaven Hill to the Limited Edition Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond seasonal releases. Overall, this is the same wheated bourbon as that, just aged far less and barreled at a low 80 proof.

Bottom Line:

Yeah, this is hard to defend. It’s just watery and cheap tasting. I’d skip it altogether.

19. Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 18

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $12

The Whiskey:

This is more of an entry point for Evan Williams. The whiskey is a mix of four to seven-year-old barrels of the standard Heaven Hill bourbon. The difference in this bottle is that it’s proofed at a slightly higher 86 proof, giving it a slight edge against Evan Williams Green Label at 80 proof.

Bottom Line:

This was very thin and had a cheapness to it. It was fine but I can’t see doing anything with this besides mixing it with Coke.

18. Old Tub Unfiltered Bottled In Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 6

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $20

The Whiskey:

Back in 2020, Beam decided to release this “distillery-only” expression nationwide. The classic Jim Beam whiskey is a tribute to what the brand was before Prohibition. “Jim Beam” used to be “Old Tub” as a brand back then. Anyway, the whiskey in this bottle is Beam’s low-rye bourbon that’s batched to comply with Bonded laws, meaning the barrels are from one distilling season, from one distillery and distiller, and bottled at 100 proof.

Bottom Line:

This was solid until the mid-palate then it got a little jagged around the edges. That said, I can see this being okay with Coke or ginger ale.

17. Benchmark Old No. 8 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 8

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $10

The Whiskey:

The whiskey in this bottle is from Buffalo Trace’s Mash #1, which has a scant amount of barley and rye next to mostly corn. This is the same mash that’s used for bigger-hitting brands like Eagle Rare, Stagg, and E.H. Taylor. In this case, this is a standard straight bourbon that’s sort of like a base-level Eagle Rare, in theory, but from barrels that didn’t make the cut and were then proofed all the way down for bottling.

Bottom Line:

This also clearly fell into the “cheap” pile with a thinness and alcohol astringency. Still, this felt like it’s work with a Coke or even Cherry Coke mixer.

16. Old Crow The Original Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 3

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $11

The Whiskey:

This is a classic bourbon that became part of Jim Beam about 30-odd years ago. Until then, it was famed for being the drink of choice of President Grant, back in the 1870s — which gave it a lot to hang its hat on as a brand. The whiskey in the bottle is a year younger than a typical Jim Beam bourbon — so three-ish years — and it is cut way down to 80 proof for bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was the epitome of “fine” with nothing really to latch onto. Mix it with Sprite or ginger ale, you’ll be fine.

15. Heaven Hill Old Style Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 14

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $13

The Whiskey:

Heaven Hill’s Old Style Bourbon is always affordable and very palatable. The whiskey is Heaven Hill’s classic bourbon mash that goes into this, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, and so forth. This expression adds an extra two years (or so) of aging to Heaven Hill’s entry-level “Old Style” whiskey (their White Label version).

Bottom Line:

This had a really solid start but kind of petered out by the finish. Still, this was solid enough that I can see this shining in a highball with good fizzy water and twist of orange or lime.

14. J.W. Dant Bottled In Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 12

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $13

The Whiskey:

This is the same mash bill from Heaven Hill as the bottle above. The difference is that the barrels chosen for this brand follow a different flavor profile than the ones for the bottles above and below this entry.

Bottom Line:

File under “fine.” This is a solid mixer that I think inches into making simple old fashioneds.

13. Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 13

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $16

The Whiskey:

Look, Heaven Hill makes great whiskey, especially inexpensive bottled in bonds. This b-i-b is tailored for the Evan Williams flavor profile. Still, this is Heaven Hill, so we’re talking about the same mash bill, same warehouses, and same parent company as several entries on this list. This is simply built to match a higher-end Evan Williams vibe.

Bottom Line:

This was also fine. I can see this working well in a highball or cocktail. It also feels like it’d be a good shooter with a beer back.

12. Very Old Barton 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 2

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $13

The Whiskey:

This was an old-school “bottled in bond” from the Barton Distillery in Bardstown, but they dropped the “b-i-b” designation. The whiskey in the bottle used to be at least six years old but today it’s at least four. All of that sounds like deterrents from this bottle but it’s still 100 proof and there are still barrels up to six years old in the mix, meaning this still works well at this price point.

Bottom Line:

This was pretty good all things considered. I can see mixing some good, simple cocktails with this and being pretty content.

11. George Dickel Bourbon Whisky Aged 8 Years — Taste 11

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $34

The Whisky:

The whisky in the bottle is the same Dickel Tennessee whiskey but pulled from barrels that leaned more into classic bourbon flavor notes instead of Dickel’s iconic Tennessee whiskey notes. The barrels are a minimum of eight years old before they’re vatted. The whiskey is then cut down to a manageable 90-proof and bottled.

Bottom Line:

This was a nice departure that felt classic in its own way. That said, this feels like it’d be a great cocktail candidate for sours or smashes.

10. Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 10

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $24

The Whisky:

This is Maker’s signature expression made with Red winter wheat and aged seasoned Ozark oak for six to seven years. This expression’s whiskey is then sourced from only 150 barrels (making this a “small batch”). Those barrels are then blended and proofed with Kentucky limestone water before bottling and dipping in their iconic red wax.

Bottom Line:

This had a nice, unique profile that stood out. The end was a tad thin, but mixing this into a Manhattan would easily patch that over.

9. Kirkland Signature Small Batch by Barton 1792 Master Distillers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 1

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $19 (1 liter)

The Whiskey:

This is the entry point to Costco’s new lineup of Kentucky Bourbons (along with a Bottled-in-Bond and Single Barrel release). The whiskey in the bottle is from Sazerac’s Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown with a mash bill of 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley. That juice is left to age for four to five years before being blended, proofed, and bottled for Costco.

Bottom Line:

This was pretty damn good. I can almost see sipping this in a glass of rocks, but it really shines as a cocktail base.

8. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 19

ABV: 45.2%

Average Price: $30

The Whiskey:

The mash bill on this bourbon is mid-range rye heavy with 18% of the grain in the bill for support. Triple distilling in pot stills (like Irish whiskey) and blending with column-distilled whiskey is utilized. The bourbon then rests for six to seven years — taking time to mature before barrels are pulled for blending, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

Again, this was pretty damn good but felt like a quintessential cocktail base more than anything else. Plus, it just felt classic from top to bottom.

7. J.T.S. Brown Bottled In Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 17

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $13

The Whiskey:

This is a quality whiskey from Heaven Hill’s expansive bourbon mash bill (78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye). That means this is the same base juice as Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, several Parker’s Heritages, and Henry McKenna. It’s a bottled-in-bond, meaning it’s from similar stocks to their iconic Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond and a few other whiskeys on this list.

Bottom Line:

This one really popped with a purely classic bourbon profile that had some nice depth. I can see sipping this over ice or in an old fashioned.

6. Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 16

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $25

The Whiskey:

This is Elijah Craig’s entry-point bottle. The mash is corn-focused, with more malted barley than rye. The whiskey is then rendered from “small batches” of barrels to create this proofed-down version of the iconic brand.

Bottom Line:

This was a nice, solid, and classic bourbon. No notes!

That said, I’d lean more toward Manhattans and old fashioneds than sipping on its own.

5. Benchmark Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 5

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $19

The Whiskey:

The bourbon in this bottle is a standard “small batch” though there’s not a whole lot of information on what that entails, exactly. What we do know is that the base juice comes from Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill #1, which is the same base as Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor, Stagg, and Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

Bottom Line:

This really started leaning into “I could see sipping this neat territory.” That said, this felt like a classic utility bourbon that can work however you want to use it.

4. Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 15

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $19

The Whiskey:

A lot of Wild Turkey’s character comes from the hard and deep char they use on their oak barrels. 101 starts with a high-rye mash bill that leans into the wood and aging, having spent six years in the cask. A little of that soft Kentucky limestone water is added to cool it down a bit before bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was bold and distinct with a great balance of flavors. I wanted to pour some over some ice and just go from there.

3. Weller The Original Wheated Bourbon Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 4

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $24

The Whiskey:

This is a classic wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace, which doesn’t publish any of its mash bills. Educated guesses put the wheat percentage of these mash bills at around 16 to 18%, which is pretty average. The age of the barrels on this blend is also unknown. Overall, we know this is a classic wheated bourbon, and … that’s about it.

Bottom Line:

This had some serious depth while still feeling approachable. I can see mixing this into any cocktail.

2. 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 7

ABV: 46.85%

Average Price: $29

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Barton 1792 Distillery is a no-age-statement release made in “small batches.” The mash is unknown, but Sazerac mentions that it’s a “high rye” mash bill, which could mean anything. The whiskey is batched from select barrels and then proofed down and bottled as-is.

Bottom Line:

This had a lot of nuance to it while still feeling quintessential as bourbon. I think I’d probably mix with it more but I can see sipping this over some rocks too.

1. Jim Beam Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 9

ABV: 54%

Average Price: $24

The Whiskey:

Each of these Jim Beam bottlings is pulled from single barrels that hit just the right spot of taste, texture, and drinkability, according to the master distillers at Beam. That means this whiskey is pulled from less than 1% of all barrels in Beam’s warehouses, making this a very special bottle at a bafflingly affordable price.

Bottom Line:

This had the best and deepest flavor profile by far. It clearly works as a slow sipper but would pop as a Manhattan or Sazerac base too.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

The thrust of this blind taste test shows that there are a lot of perfectly good bourbons between $15 and $25. There are legitimate winners that truly taste good and deliver classic bourbon vibes.

I would say, you can grab any of the top 10 bourbons on this list and you’ll be set.

After getting roasted on a global scale by Shakira in “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” her ex Gerard Piqué is going public with his new girlfriend. On Wednesday (January 25), the former soccer player posted a photo with Clara Chía Marti for the first time.

After 12 years together, Shakira and Piqué announced that they were separating. Piqué was reportedly caught cheating on Shakira with Marti, which led to the couple’s split. Earlier this month, Shakira teamed up with Bizarrap to release “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53.” In the diss track, she called out Piqué and Marti by name through clever word puns in Spanish. Shakira also likened their relationship as downgrading to a Twingo car and Casio watch.

After a few months of being spotted together, Piqué finally made his relationship with Marti Instagram-official. He posted a photo with her and surprisingly didn’t turn off or limit the comments. In a between a few comments wishing the couple well, many of Shakira’s fans have commented with her lyrics from “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53.” One person commented, “Bruh you really did replace a Rolex with a Casio.” Another person wrote in Spanish, “Clara-mente (clearly) you both are no longer hiding it.”

Earlier this week, Shakira and Bizarrap debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53.” The song marked Shakira’s first time appearing in the top 10 of the chart in 15 years; In 2007, “Beautiful Liar,” her duet with Beyoncé, reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart.