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It’s Irish whiskey season. Yes, you can enjoy the amazing whiskey coming out of Ireland year-round. But come on, we all know March is the month that interest in the Emerald Isle tipple peaks — what with St. Patrick’s Day and all that brouhaha. The beauty of getting to focus some time on Irish whiskey is that it’s so accessible when it comes to its flavor profile.

Meaning — Irish whiskey is drinkable AF. Which is why it’s so beloved by its fans in Ireland and here in the States.

Below, I’m naming 20 Irish whiskeys that you can find on this side of the Atlantic, broken into two categories. There’s Part I with affordable and available bottles that all clock in under $100; then you have Part II, which is all about the unicorns, one-offs, and crazy expressions that you may only get to taste once in a lifetime. I also ranked these whiskeys according to taste. Let’s face it, the bottles under $100 aren’t going to break into the stratosphere taste-wise, especially when you’re talking about Redbreast that’s aged nearly 30 years or one-of-a-kind blends that we’ll never see again. So read through, get some inspiration, and then hit those price links to grab a bottle of two.

After all, St. Paddy’s Day is right around the corner.

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• The Best Whiskeys Under $100 For Your New Year’s Eve Party, Ranked
• The Best International Whiskeys Of 2023, Ranked

PART I — THE AFFORDABLE AND WIDELY-AVAILABLE IRISH WHISKEYS

20. Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $31

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a more refined version compared to White Label Bushmills. The blend is a mix of grain and malt whiskeys aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The final blend, however, leans more into the single malt whiskey than the grain, with a balance set towards the sherry profile rather than the bourbon.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A sherry jamminess and plumminess come through with a hint of vanilla, apricot, winter spices, and nuts on the nose.

Palate: The palate carries on along that path and adds in a serious Christmas spice cake vibe with amped-up nuttiness, sultanas, and a touch more vanilla with a hint of creamed honey.

Finish: The end is fairly quick and sherry-fueled with spice and dark dried fruits leading the way to a slightly malty finish that’s just kissed with honey tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This is the perfect place to start. This is cheap, drinkable, and available everywhere good whiskey is sold. The flavor profile is concise without being simple. You feel the fruits and nuts with that lovely honeyed maltiness. Still, you’ll want to focus on highballs and simple cocktails.

Or use it as a shooter with a Guinness back. The choice is all yours!

19. Northcross Triple Wood Irish Whiskey

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $24

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a classic Irish blend that leans into oak. The whiskey is built from triple-distilled Irish whiskey that’s mellowed in ex-bourbon, ex-sherry (Oloroso), and new American oak casks. Those casks were then blended, proofed, and then bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a clear sense of grain-forward Irish whiskey on the nose with honey-dipped Graham Crackers next to light sweetgrass, mellow nuttiness, and a hint of summer flowers.

Palate: The palate leans into milky chocolate with a hint of orange oils, buttery croissant, and creamy toffee with a light whisper of that malty honey from the nose.

Finish: The end has a marzipan lushness with a very light sense of dried cherries dipped in milk chocolate with a flutter of spiced malts.

Bottom Line:

This finishes very strong with a deep nuttiness, dark chocolate vibe, and soft sweet nature. Plenty is going beyond that in the profile, making this worth the $25-$30 it costs. Use it in basic cocktails and highballs and you’ll be all set.

18. Jameson Black Barrel Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $39

The Whiskey:

This masterfully crafted whiskey leans towards the single pot still whiskey more than grain whiskey — though both are in the blend. Those whiskeys are aged in a combination of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon for anywhere from eight to 16 years. Then, the whiskey is finished in an extra-charred ex-bourbon barrel — hence “Black Barrel” — before blending and proofing.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dark chocolate cut with creamy vanilla sits next to a rich and buttery toffee with a note of orange on the nose.

Palate: The palate amps up that vanilla with a dusting of Christmas spices and fatty nuts that lead to a minced meat pie feel with a dark orange/chocolate underbelly.

Finish: The end has a hint of tannic oak with a creamy vanilla lushness that’s spiked with dark wintry woody spices.

Bottom Line:

This is Jameson turned up. It’s dark and lush with a bite that works. While it works wonders as a sipper over some ice, you really want to focus this one on classic cocktails — sours, old fashioneds, Manhattans, juleps, smashes … it all works.

17. Powers Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey John’s Lane

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $61

The Whiskey:

This is a very classic Irish whiskey. The hot juice is aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks for at least 12 years. Those barrels are then married based on their distinct flavor profiles to create this special whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Raw leather, soft vanilla, mild baking spice, and light milk chocolate greet you on the nose before this hint of floral honey-soaked oak arrives with a moment of fresh rainwater that’s just kissed with minerality.

Palate: The palate has a malty vanilla cake foundation with woody spice and fruity candy sweetness before leaning into a soda bread vibe with a hint of fresh butter, sea salt, and more of that soft floral honey.

Finish: Chocolate pudding arrives on the mid-palate and drives the back end of the taste towards wet grains, nutty fruit cake, and a hint of wintry spice.

Bottom Line:

This is a very well-rounded whiskey-tasting experience. The flavor notes are precise but light. You might have to take a little time to find them all. Still, this makes for a great on-the-rocks sipper or classic cocktail base.

16. High N’ Wicked Single Grain Irish Whiskey Foursquare “Mark X 2007” Finish

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $89

The Whiskey:

This sourced Irish whiskey from County Cork is very unique pour. The whiskey is made with 95% French-grown corn and 5% malted Irish barley. That whiskey rested in ex-bourbon barrels for years before it was transferred to an Exceptional Rum Cask from Barbados’ Foursquare. After six more months of resting, the whiskey was batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Nutella and marzipan pop on the nose with a sense of bourbon vanilla, lemon peel, and a whisper of toasted coconut next to a twinge of mango and pineapple with caramelized sugars.

Palate: Those caramelized tropical fruits blend with clove, anise, and cardamom on the palate as a sense of cinnamon bark tobacco and vanilla pods drive the taste toward a rich creamy caramel sauce cut with salt and more Nutella.

Finish: The caramel and hazelnut amp up at the finish as the oak softly arrives with a lush vanilla creaminess with hints of fig and marzipan lurking in the background.

Bottom Line:

This is amped-up Irish whiskey that leans into the rumminess in all the right ways. There’s a wonderful depth with this one that sings over a big ice cube in a class or in a nice and frothy tropical cocktail.

15. The Irishman Single Malt Irish Whiskey

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $44

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is made from Irish barley that’s mashed and then triple distilled. The hot juice is then filled in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks for a long maturation (no age is given). Those barrels and then blended and the whiskey is proofed down for bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose on this is all about the apple candy with a hint of pear in there alongside mild notes of cinnamon and maybe a little honey.

Palate: The palate is light and touches on chocolate chips and winter spice before going big with the apple candy again.

Finish: The end washes out a tad with the proofing water, leaving hints of dark spices, raisins, and more apple/pear candy.

Bottom Line:

This is a very delicate Irish whiskey that’s great for entry-level whiskey drinkers. There’s enough depth to keep your attention but nothing is overly powerful to push you away. Pour it over some rocks or into a cocktail and you’ll be all set.

14. Method And Madness Irish Whiskey Triple Distilled Rye And Malt USA Limited Edition

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $89

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is from Midleton Distillery’s (the place that makes Jameson, Powers, Spot, and Redbreast) craft distillery. The whiskey is made from a mash of 60% rye and 40% malted barley. The whiskey is twice-distilled as per most Irish whiskeys before a long rest in ex-bourbon casks. Once those barrels were ready, they were batched, proofed, and bottled for the U.S. marketplace.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a nice deep leatheriness on the nose with a sense of old dry lemon rinds next to lavender oils, clove buds, and a fleeting sense of eggnog with a lightness to it.

Palate: Oats and winter spices lead the way on the palate with a sense of fresh firewood, honey-dipped malt cookies, and raisins dipped in dark chocolate and flaked with salt.

Finish: Those malt cookies drive the finish toward more raisin and oats with a honeyed vibe, a hint of dry red chili, and a dash of white pepper.

Bottom Line:

This is a very unique pour. There’s a lot of depth that plays away from softer Irish whiskey and into a deep American bourbon vibe. Then there’s the woodiness that plays its own chords on the profile, creating a singular sipping experience. In short, this is the whiskey you get when you want to try something outside the box from Ireland.

13. Clonakilty Irish Whiskey Single Batch Double Oak Finish “The Gentle Cut”

ABV: 43.6%

Average Price: $39

The Whiskey:

This is an Irish whiskey blend — that’s a mix of pot still (made with malted and unmalted barley) and grain whiskeys. The barrels were left to age right next to the ocean in Southern Ireland for years. Once blended, the whiskey was then re-filled into a new oak cask and put back in those seaside warehouses for another maturation run. Once just right, the barrels were vatted and bottled as-is without chill filtration.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is like a walk through an apple orchard in full bloom with pear, peach, and apple leading to fresh sweetgrass, old saddle leather, and a sense of sweet cinnamon and nutmeg baked into an apple crumble.

Palate: There’s a nice zesty spice to the palate with fresh ginger layered into the pear and apple with a hint of hazelnut adding a creamy edge before white pepper and more fresh sweetgrass arrive with this hint of salinity.

Finish: That sweetgrass gets a little dry on the finish with pear and apple skins, orchard wood, and winter spice leading to a salted honey end.

Bottom Line:

This is just good whiskey, folks. It’s subtle, supple, sweet, and a solid sipper. All of that also comes at a great price. This is another one that you can’t go wrong with as a sipper or a cocktail base. Dealer’s choice!

12. Writers’ Tears Red Head Irish Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $62

The Whiskey:

This is a classic Irish single malt that’s triple distilled before a long aging process. The hot juice rests in Spanish Oloroso sherry butts until it’s just right. Those barrels are batched and proofed before bottling otherwise as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Burnt orange and peach skins mingle with a hint of salted dried mango next to red berry tea leaves, plum jam cut with clove, and a mild sense of brandy butter and scones.

Palate: Nutella comes through on the palate with a sense of rum-raisin, old sherry-soaked oak staves, and creamy vanilla cake.

Finish: The end leans into the brandy butter and scones with a sense of sharp orange marmalade and fresh breakfast tea cut with cream and honey.

Bottom Line:

This is quintessential Irish whiskey at a very good price. In fact, this could be $100 a bottle and it’d still feel right. Overall, sip this one neat or on the rocks for maximum Irish whiskey vibes.

11. Waterford Irish Single Malt Whisky Organic Gaia 2.1

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $95

The Whiskey:

This release from The Arcadian Series is comprised of Alt-barley (old-school barley strains) that were harvested back in 2016. The barley was grown by organic farmers specifically for this mash bill. The whiskey was then triple distilled and aged by Waterford to highlight the malted barley in the recipe.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose draws you in with a sense of sharp orange marmalade on freshly baked Southern buttermilk biscuits with a sense of mocha lattes, wet brown sugar, red grapes, figs, and marshmallows fresh from the bag.

Palate: The taste is less fruity but does lean into lemon zest and white pepper before drying out toward grapefruit pith, dark cacao powder, salted black licorice, and a hint of dry white toast.

Finish: There’s a sense of cinnamon bark and clove berries with that black licorice on the finish that leads back to the dark orange and a sweet sense of stewed peaches.

Bottom Line:

This is a very deep and unique whiskey. At first glance, it might feel a bit all over the place. But if you give it time, it’ll align around a deeply fruity and malty profile that’s unlike any other on the list. Take it slow, sip, add water, go back and forth … you’ll be rewarded with great whiskey.

PART II — THE SPLURGE-WORTHY IRISH WHISKEYS

10. Natterjack Irish Whiskey Cask Strength

ABV: 63%

Average Price: $102

The Whiskey:

This is sourced Irish whiskey made from a unique mash bill of 80% corn and 20% malted barley. That mix is triple distilled and then left to mellow for years in ex-bourbon casks. Before bottling, the whiskey is finished in new American oak for a spell before cask-strength bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich orange oils and clove drive the nose toward soft winter spiced and butterscotch candies with this slight sense of cellar floor dirt and old oak staves with a very faint whisper of a cheese cellar and earthy honey.

Palate: That orange really pops on the palate as the clove sharpens with moments of allspice, nutmeg, and cardamom next to more cellar and honeycomb with a twinge of waxiness.

Finish: The honey gets creamy on the end with with a touch of smoldering campfire-roasted marshmallows, soft oak, and mild baking spices in nutty sugar cookies.

Bottom Line:

This new whiskey is a classic Irish whiskey with a solid sweetness that’s creamy and deep. Then there are the little nuances that help this one pop/stand out. The smoky marshmallow, the sugar cookies, and the earthy honey all come together to help this feel like a bigger whiskey while still feeling approachable and sippable.

9. Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Kentucky Oak Edition

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $199

The Whiskey:

This is classic Redbreast tripled distiller single pot still whiskey (made with a mash of malted and unmalted barley). The juice settles for several years in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before it’s vatted and then re-filled into brand new air-dried American oak barrels from the Taylor Farm in Kentucky. After four months, the whiskey is blended and barely proofed before bottling as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a clear sense of almost sweet cedar next to marzipan and old leather with a hint of sour cherry and tart apple skins rounding out the nose.

Palate: The palate starts with a foundational layer of vanilla sauce and builds layers of woody cinnamon, soft nutmeg, and sharp cloves toward dried figs and prunes with a brandy-soaked oak vibe and some stewed cherries.

Finish: The end is nice and buttery toffee with another note of vanilla before the woody spices lead to apple tobacco stuffed in an old cedar box on the slow finish.

Bottom Line:

Kentucky and Ireland make great partners on this excellent slow sipper. The profile is a balance of sharp oaky spice and creamy bourbon vanilla with soft nuttiness, orchard fruits, and a touch of honey for good measure.

It’s basically the best of both worlds.

8. Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Kilranelagh Wood

ABV: 56.8%

Average Price: $476

The Whiskey:

The fifth installment of Midleton’s famed Dair Ghaelach series is here to help you fall in love with Irish whiskey. The whiskey is made with Midleton’s very rare whiskey that’s then aged in very specific barrels made from a single estate in Ireland (Kilranelagh Estate). The new oak barrels hold the whiskey until it’s just right before batching and bottling 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is like walking through a pine forest after the rain with soft notes of fresh honey, freshly cracked black pepper, and soft oolong tea leaves leading to a sense of roasted almonds dipped in vanilla cream and rolled in freshly ground nutmeg and cinnamon.

Palate: The palate leans into a sharp but sweet bell pepper with a hint of candied orange and chocolate leading to soft roasting herbs, a touch of apple pie, and spiced oak staves that are inching toward dried red chili.

Finish: That spiced oak drives the finish toward more candied orange and oolong tea with a honeyed creamy finish that’s light and almost airy with a vanilla foundation.

Bottom Line:

This is one of those whiskeys that demands time. You need to slowly nose and taste, add water, and go back in for five — maybe even 10 — minutes to really get the full beauty of this one. And wow is it a beautiful whiskey once you give it time. I know that sounds like homework, but you’ll be so entranced by the whiskey that time will slip away.

7. Jameson 18-Year-Old Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $201

The Whiskey:

This is more than just 18-year-old Jameson. It’s a masterful blend of hand-selected 18-year-old whiskeys aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks initially. That whiskey is then married and finished in first-fill bourbon casks until it’s just right. Once those barrels hit the right notes, they’re vatted, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with soft bourbon vanilla, dry cedar bark, orange oils, rich toffee, and subtle winter spices on the nose.

Palate: The taste delivers on those promises and adds in worn boot leather, hazelnuts, and a dusting of dark chocolate that melds into the hazelnut to create a creamy Nutella when you add a drop of water.

Finish: The end arrives with a rush of spiced plum jam with cloves, allspice, and a hint of licorice next to more of that dry cedar next to a nutty/chocolate-infused tobacco leaf with a slight chew to it.

Bottom Line:

This starts off small and quiet and then slowly builds toward a bold and delicious crescendo of classic Irish and bourbon flavor notes. The layers are deep on this one with malty honeyed nuances mingling with lush creamy vanilla and sharp wood spices.

It’s just really freaking good.

6. Bushmills Aged 30 Years Single Malt Irish Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $2,349

The Whiskey:

This is a serious whiskey from Bushmills. The Irish single malt rests in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks for 14 years. Those barrels are batched and then re-filled into first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for another 16 years of slow aging. Finally, that whiskey is proofed down and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a mix of mincemeat pie and sticky toffee pudding on the nose with salted toffee sauce, rich buttercream, and leathery dried fruit countered by soft and powdery dark winter spices.

Palate: The lushness is amazingly silky with fresh figs, black-tea-soaked dates, and rum-soaked raisins with burnt orange, old vanilla pods, and poppy seed dessert rolls with brown sugar syrup icing.

Finish: The dried and dark fruits get leathery as the toffee sweetens with a touch of old oak stave and cellar floor dirt lurking in the background of the finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a wildly expensive whiskey. Maybe try it as a pour at a good whiskey bar first? Either way, you’ll be for a masterfully balanced whiskey with incredibly nostalgic depth that’ll leave you warmed to the deepest recesses of your soul.

5. Clonakilty Atlantic Distillery 32-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey

ABV: Varies

Average Price: $2,440

The Whiskey:

This is a massive whiskey. The Irish malt was distilled way back in 1991. It was left in old Oloroso hogshead casks next to the Atlantic Ocean to age all those years. Finally, those barrels were pulled for a cask-strength bottling (one cask at a time) for only 500 bottles.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Sticky toffee pudding and panettone drive the nose toward soft floral honey with a slight sense of fresh figs swimming in clotted brandy cream and fresh mint with a whisper of walnut.

Palate: The Christmas cake vibes amp up on the palate as soft and leathery prunes mingle with those fresh figs, more walnuts, soft cream, and a hint of olive oil with a flake of sea salt.

Finish: The walnuts take on a toasted and salted feel on the finish as a moment of tobacco arrives with soft winter spice and a touch of candied citrus and dark fruit over salty driftwood.

Bottom Line:

This is like a long walk on a beach on a sunny but brisk day with a supple glass of whiskey in one hand and the best fresh holiday pastry in the other. This is delicious whiskey with this moment of seaside vibes that just works.

Sip it slowly and enjoy the transportation to another place and time.

4. Teeling Whiskey Single Malt Aged 33 Years Pineau Des Charentes Finish

ABV: 49.7%

Average Price: $3,795

The Whiskey:

This latest release from Teeling’s ultra-rare whiskey line is an oldie but a goodie. The whiskey was distilled back in 1989 and spent 30 years mellowing in ex-rum casks before it was batched and re-barreled into Pineau Des Charentes wine casks for three more years of rest.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Black tea-soaked dates, stewed prunes with cardamom and clove, and white mulled wine drive the nose toward floral honey that’s so fresh you can still feel the honeycomb and this whisper of dried apricot rolled with roasted almonds.

Palate: That medley of apricot and almond pops on the palate as grilled pineapple combines with clove-laden tobacco and spice cakes with a hint of brandied cherries dipped in salted dark chocolate with a whisper of orange oils lurking in the background.

Finish: That cherry vibes carry on throughout the finish as the winter spices get woody and dry and attach to sharp and spice tobacco with a hint of old worn boot leather, soft marzipan, and a touch more of that honeycomb.

Bottom Line:

This is amazing whiskey, full stop. It’s so deep and funky and yet it’s comforting and warming with this sense of deep nostalgia. It’s like a warm hug from a very old friend.

3. Red Spot Singel Pot Still Irish Whiskey Aged 15 Years

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $319

The Whiskey:

This is a high-water mark of Irish whiskey distilling and blending down at Midleton in County Cork. The whiskey is aged for 15 years in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-Marsala wine casks. The spirit is then married and proofed down to a very approachable 92 proof.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Apple pie and stewed cherries with a bit of stem drive the nose toward old boot leather, nutty Christmas cake, candied citrus, and plenty of dark baking spices with a hint of rum raisin, orange oils, and vanilla bean husks.

Palate: Those nuts and holiday vibes carry on through the taste as layers of apple peels, cherry bark, black pepper, and soft cedar planks settle into the mid-palate with a note of sticky toffee pudding-spiced tobacco.

Finish: That finish fades slowly and gently through the wintry dark spice barks and buds, hints of dark cacao just kissed with salt, cherry tobacco, and pear brandy-soaked marzipan, and a whisper of smduging sage braided with cedar bark.

Bottom Line:

This is another phenomenal whiskey, especially if you’re looking to bridge the gap between deep and dark Kentucky bourbon and succinct Irish whiskey. Pour this one over a big ol’ rock and let it wash over you. Or make one of the best Manhattans with it.

2. Midleton Very Rare Vintage Release Irish Whiskey 2023

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $250

The Whiskey:

The 2023 edition of the esteemed Midleton Very Rare is the 40th release from the brand, which is a milestone for sure. The whiskey in the bottle is a blend of single pot still and grain whiskeys from the hallowed grounds of the Midleton Distillery in County Cork. The key to this blend is the balance of the pot still and grain whiskeys with a spotlight on refill casks for aging and a tad more pot still whiskey in the mix.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Apple orchards on a sunny day greet your nose with fresh apricot, tangerine, and savory melon next to malted spiciness, fresh ginger, and fresh espresso pepperiness over honey, marzipan, and a fleeting sense of white wildflowers.

Palate: The palate is lush from the jump and hits on notes of creamy honey mixed with dried chamomile buds, soft distillery grains, and sweet oak with hints of marmalade, leathery dried apricot, and more marzipan.

Finish: That dried stone fruit mingles with woody winter spices on the end as soft cedar planks and honeyed malt gently rest on your senses.

Bottom Line:

This is the most “Irish” Irish whiskeys on the list. There’s no “it feels like bourbon or Scotch” here. This is Irish whiskey to its core with a deep sense of honey and fruit orchards with Irish grains and butter. It just oozes Ireland. It’s also amazing soft and approachable as a sipper. Start with a neat pour and you’ll be hooked for life.

1. Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Aged 27 Years Ruby Port Casks

ABV: 54.6%

Average Price: $674

The Whiskey:

This is the mountaintop of Irish whiskey and Redbreast. After triple distillation, the whiskey is left in ex-bourbon, ex-port, and ex-sherry casks for at least 27 years before batching and bottling at cask strength with zero fussing.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Bright red berries and mango skins (that are almost freaking juicy) mix with seared pineapple spears, roasting herbs, and spiced wood barks dipped in rock candy syrup and rolled in roasted walnuts and vanilla pods.

Palate: The palate is like silk with a sense of plums, figs, and cherries fresh from the vine next to dried chili over cinnamon bark, whole nutmeg, and toasted clove before lush brandy butter and a whisper of menthol pipe tobacco arrive.

Finish: That tobacco wanes as the fruits stew into a spiced holiday cake soaked in the best brandy and served with a dollop of the richest vanilla cream.

Bottom Line:

This is so unique. It’s bright and vibrant with wild and tropical fruits that feel juicy. Then there’s the dark and murky depth like descending into an ancient wine cellar or dark rickhouse with the melange of flavors that exude amazing whiskey. If you buy one high-end bottle from Ireland, this it the one to buy. This is spectacular whiskey, Irish or not.

What started as a rant against “scantily clad women” at the Oscars quickly devolved into an appreciation of John Cena’s naked body on Fox News. During Monday morning’s episode of Outnumbered, Kayleigh McEnany started to complain about some of the red carpet attire before co-host Brian Kilmeade derailed the whole discussion by apparently revealing that he spent a considerable amount of time ogling the actor/wrestler.

Via Acyn on Twitter:

Kayleigh McEnany: There were some scantily clad women there. Carley Shimkus showed me pictures there. Just Google it.

Brian Kilmeade: So John Cena, he’s got a very good build and he was willing to shave his body and he wanted everyone to know.

Harris Faulkner: I wasn’t looking that closely. Thank you.

Kilmeade: I’m a reporter.

You can watch Kilmeade send his co-hosts into fits of laughter after he gushes about Cena’s body below:

Of course, the big question is was John Cena really naked behind that “Costume Design” sign? The answer is no, but he was pretty darn close. Behind-the-scenes photos revealed that the muscle-bound actor wore a crudely fashioned nude-colored loincloth that just barely covered his nether regions.

Considering how closely Brian Kilmeade studied Cena’s nude performance, we’re surprised he didn’t notice the loincloth while staring so intently. Guess he must’ve been distracted.

(Via Acyn on Twitter)

You’ve probably heard this one before: a princess desires to run away from the castle to abandon her duties and live a royalty-free life amongst her friends. It’s nothing new! But in real life, it’s not as common as Disney would like you to believe, which is why the current frenzy regarding Kate Middleton’s whereabouts is a little alarming. This is the kind of drama your grandmother lives for, by the way.

Here are the cold hard facts: Kate Middleton was admitted to the hospital on January 17th for a “planned abdominal surgery.” While Kensington Palace rarely shares details regarding the health of the Royal Family, the statement confirmed that the Princess would remain in the hospital for 10-14 days, and she likely would not be seen out in public until after Easter, which falls on March 31st. The statement also said, “She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.” Some royal fans believed it was a little unusual for the announcement to come out so last minute for a planned surgery, however, no alarms were raised. Yet.

On January 29th, Middleton returned home, and again, things were business as usual. But the longer the people go without seeing their Princess, the weirder people get. There were some theories, but rumors began to pick up when Prince William withdrew from a memorial service for his own godfather, citing a “personal matter,” on February 27th.

Some harmless rumors began (“She’s just waiting for her bangs to grow out!”), but the story started to crack. King Charles was also admitted to the hospital for his own health struggles, though some believed that was a move of deceit. Kate’s team scrambled to put out a statement: “We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant,” her spokesperson said on February 29th. Keep in mind that this is a year after Middleton reportedly hired a “PR guru” to help with her royal ambitions, but said guru then declined the job. Or maybe that was her plan all along?!

To make matters even weirder, many fans pointed out that Kate had her own photo shoots just hours after giving birth to all three of her children, so the efforts to keep her hidden are unheard of, and her absence is noticeable. Still, the palace claims that she is recovering nicely.

On March 4th, Middleton was finally seen in a grainy paparazzi photo in the passenger seat of a car alongside her mom, though she was wearing sunglasses, and her mom sure looks fed up.

Then on March 10th, Mother’s Day in the UK, things took a turn: Kensington Palace released the first “official” photo of Middleton since her surgery, but eagle-eyed fans spotted a series of editing mistakes in the photo. Within hours, the Associated Press took down the image after stating that photo appeared manipulated. “At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image,” the AP said in its advisory. “No replacement photo will be sent.”

According to their official Twitter account, Princess Catherine edited the photo. Who among us hasn’t signed up for a free Adobe Cloud trial just to see what kind of stuff they have going on there? The only issue here is that one would assume the Royal family has a professional for this. Either way, the Palace apologized for the confusion, by adding even more confusion. Meanwhile, William is just chilling.

Of course, this doesn’t stop the theories that the images were really old or even reused from other photo shoots.

Finally, Middleton was “seen” on March 11th (the word is used lightly here) alongside William in a car, looking wistfully out the window as if she were in a Beyonce music video. At this point, we have not seen her full face.

So, what’s the verdict? A few theories have evolved, though most of them point to marriage troubles between Kate and William that are spilling out into the public eye. One thing is for certain, we will likely never know what really went down. At least until The Crown picks back up in 20 years to try and explain it.

(Via Vox, People)

Once Chris Jones and Justin Madubuike agreed to long-term deals to stay with the Chiefs and Ravens, the top star available at defensive tackle on the free agency market was Christian Wilkins.

Wilkins is coming off his most productive year as an interior pass rusher, recording nine sacks and 23 QB hits for the Dolphins to go along with a pair of fumble recoveries and 65 combined tackles. Given how much NFL teams have grown to value interior linemen who can apply pressure on quarterbacks up the middle, that kind of season going into a free agency year figured to be very lucrative for Wilkins.

Sure enough, around 90 minutes into free agency, Wilkins struck a monster deal with the Las Vegas Raiders that will pay him nearly $85 million in guaranteed money and up to $110 million over four years.

With Antonio Pierce now as the full-time head coach, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Raiders would look to build out their defense even more going into next year. Spending big on Wilkins gives them a formidable defensive line that should be able to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks from inside and out, as they already have one of the top edge rushers in the league in Maxx Crosby. A year ago, the Raiders only had 19 quarterback hits from their defensive tackles, four fewer than Wilkins had by himself in Miami. Adding him should considerably improve their pass rush as well as stabilize their front overall, and gives Pierce the kind of defensive line he’ll feel he can build a defense around.

Around this time last year, Weezer announced their joint Indie Rock Roadtrip alongside Future Islands, Joyce Manor, Modest Mouse, Momma, Spoon, and White Reaper. On Monday, March 11, Weezer had an even more exciting tour announcement.

The iconic Californian rockers will commemorate the 30th anniversary of their self-titled debut album (also known as the “Blue Album”) with Voyage To The Blue Planet Tour. The North American trek will feature Weezer performing Weezer “in full along with other fan favorites, rarities, and more,” as per the press release.” The Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr. will serve as supporting acts. All ticketing information is available here.

The press release additionally relayed, “Separate from their tour, the band also announces a special anniversary event on March 15 at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles with Dogstar as support. “This exciting full-circle moment mirrors the band’s March 1992 show at Raji’s, where they ended up opening for Dogstar in an unlikely turn of events.”

Weezer 2024 Tour Dates: Voyage To The Blue Planet Tour

09/04 — Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
09/06 — Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
09/07 — Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
09/08 — Toronto, ON, CA @ Scotiabank Arena
09/10 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
09/11 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/13 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
09/14 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem
09/17 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
09/18 — Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena
09/20 — Orlando, FL @ Kia Center
09/21 — Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
09/27 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
09/28 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
09/29 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
10/01 — Loveland, CO @ Blue FCU Arena
10/04 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
10/05 — Vancouver, BC, CA @ Rogers Arena
10/06 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
10/08 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
10/09 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
10/11 — Inglewood, CA @ Intuit Dome

Weezer’s Voyage To The Blue Planet Tour Poster

The world lost Jimmy Buffett last September, when he died at 76 years old. He left behind a distinct legacy with songs like “Margaritaville” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.” He had tremendous success as a businessman, too: Just months before he died, Buffett was included on the Forbes list of billionaires for the first time, thanks largely to his Margaritaville locations.

Now, some contemporaries and admirers are coming together to honor the legend’s memory: Today (March 11), Keep The Party Going: A Tribute To Jimmy Buffett was announced. The one-night concert will go down at the Hollywood Bowl on April 11 and feature performances from Paul McCartney, the Eagles, Jon Bon Jovi, Zac Brown, Jackson Browne, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Scotty Emerick, Jack Johnson, Caroline Jones, Mac McAnally, Jake Owen, Pitbull, Jake Shimabukuro, The Coral Reefer Band, and “more special guests.”

Tickets for the general public go on sale starting March 15 at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster. American Express card members can also take advantage of an exclusive pre-sale, running from Wednesday, March 13 at 10 a.m. PT to March 15 at 10 p.m. PT. Some other pre-sales will also be available during this time. Find more information about tickets on the Ticketmaster website.

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

This past weekend saw the beginnings of most NCAA conference basketball postseasons, which means March Madness has begun. Drake, the walking meme and ardent Kentucky Wildcats fan whose love for the team apparently knows very few bounds, commemorated one of his most memorable team-related moments ten years on.

Back in October 2014, Drake launched a thousand memes, one truly horrendous airball, and even a cease-and-desist from the University itself when he attended UK’s Midnight Madness event to kick off the team’s 2014-15 campaign. In addition to starting the lint roller meme and prompting the near-universal ridicule that inspired him to get his jump shot form together, Drake joined the team in their film room, suited up like he was just another player hoping to get some playing time in John Calipari’s system.

Ten years later, though, all the players from that photo have moved on, with Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Trey Lyles, and Tyler Ulis all joining the NBA in the years since. Coach Cal is still around, but when Drake headed to the film room to get pic, he did so all by his lonesome. “Oh hell nah all my brothers left me,” he captioned the photo. Of course, his “brothers” were happy to roast him a bit in the comments. Booker wrote, “Mann we left when u did.”

It’s all in good fun, of course, and you can bet that should they make it to the Big Dance, Drake’s bet on the team will be sizable, as always.

In January, Pitchfork was part of a confusing (and disheartening) merger at Condé Nast that more or less made it one with GQ. Even still, the annual Pitchfork Music Festival will forge on. In July 2023, the festival was held at Chicago’s Union Park and featured Bon Iver, Killer Mike, Perfume Genius, The Smile, Weyes Blood, and so many more.

On Monday morning, March 11, fans received hints as to what will be in store in 2024.

When Does The Pitchfork Music Festival 2024 Lineup Come Out?

It’s coming straight from the source. The festival confirmed on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), “Our 2024 lineup drops this Wednesday [March 13] at 10 a.m. CT, with GA, PLUS, and VIP tickets on sale at the same time. Let’s gooo.” The post also instructed fans, “Join the text list at the link in bio for lineup clues tomorrow.”

On February 1, Pitchfork announced that Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago would be staged from July 19 to 21, 2024 at Union Park in Chicago. The 2024 ticket pre-sale went live on February 29 at 10 a.m. CST. At the time, Pitchfork advertised, “Secure your 3-Day GA tickets for the lowest price possible at the link in our bio. Payment plans start at just $40 down.”

As mentioned above, tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, March 13, beginning at 10 a.m. CST. All ticketing information can be found here.

The Chicago Bears are going to be one of the NFL’s most fascinating teams this offseason, as they hold the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL Draft and are expected to take Caleb Williams.

If they do that, they will also likely trade Justin Fields, sending the young quarterback to a new team where he can get a fresh start. The alternative is to trade the top pick and move back in the Draft, keeping Fields and looking to load up around him, but few expect that to happen as they would have to fully invest in Fields long-term and drafting Williams resets the clock on paying a quarterback big money.

The Bears also have some serious cap space to fill out their roster, although they ate into that some to keep young star corner Jaylon Johnson around long-term. Their first move of free agency provides an indicator of what they see as important going forward, trying to create some balance offensively to take pressure off their likely new rookie QB. On Monday, the Bears made one of the first moves of NFL free agency in terms of signing a player from an outside team, as they brought running back D’Andre Swift over from the Eagles on a three-year deal (with two of the years effectively guaranteed).

Swift had a breakout year in Philly, rushing for over 1,000 yards and being the most reliable back in the Eagles rotation. The Bears want that kind of reliability alongside Williams (or Fields, if they went that route) and Swift has also proven to be a productive receiver out of the backfield over his career in Philadelphia and Detroit.

While everyone on the internet has turned into an amateur sleuth regarding a peculiarly edited photograph, the real investigators are the ones trying to figure out if Messi the dog was actually at the Oscars over the weekend.

The star of Anatomy of a Fall has been making the rounds this awards season, though not everyone has been happy about it. It was reported that Messi would not appear at the Academy Awards, which naturally caused riots in the streets, but then Messi’s handler shared a photo of the two en route to Hollywood, it seemed that he really would be there. Or so we thought.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Chris Gardner posted a video of who he claimed to be a Messi lookalike practicing his role of “audience member” in rehearsal. It shows a group of audience members seemingly pre-taping a segment of Messi “clapping.”

But Messi’s owner/handler confirmed that it was the iconic pup, despite reports that he would not attend the ceremony.

Gardner did get one thing right, though: his “paws” were definitely actors.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for Messi, who is a controversial dog actor (all the best ones are). According to The Hollywood Reporter, “multiple companies” with nominated films complained to the Academy that allowing Messi to attend pre-Oscars events “gave Anatomy of a Fall an advantage during the voting window.” It didn’t seem to work that well, considering that Anatomy Of A Fall didn’t take home the big prize, though Justine Triet did revive the award for Best Original Screenplay.

Meanwhile, Kurt Russell’s dog has been basking in his dog nepotism moment. The two should share their tricks.