Category: Viral

After nearly all live music events were canceled in 2020, music festivals everywhere are setting their sights for a return in the fall. UK’s End Of The Road festival is no different. Officially unveiling their 15th anniversary 2021 lineup, End Of The Road announces headliners like Arlo Parks, Whitney, and Little Simz.

This year’s event takes place from September 2 to 5 at the Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset, England. End Of The Road festival’s lineup, along with Arlo Parks, Whitney, and Little Simz, includes indie acts like Hot Chip, King Krule, Sleaford Mods, Tune-Yards, The Comet is Coming, Tinariwen, Arab Strap, Songhoy Blues, Girl Band, Shirley Collins And The Lodestar Band, Field Music, Squid, Black Country New Road, Dry Cleaning, Richard Dawson, Warmduscher, Anna Meredith, Jane Weaver, Kikagaku Moyo, Altin Gun, and many more.

In a statement about this year’s festival, End Of The Road said they tried to keep their 2021 lineup as similar as possible to their canceled 2020 event, but some musicians weren’t able to make it:

“We worked really hard to bring you our 2020 line-up in 2021, but the world had other ideas. Much has changed since we announced our 2021 line-up in December and some of our pals from across the pond are no longer able to make it. Determined to bring you the best party this summer, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work curating an exciting new line-up. Feast your eyes on our new additions for 2021 and already familiar names.”

Check out End Of The Road festival’s full lineup below.

Late release tickets to on sale May 20 at 6 a.m. ET. Get them here.

Ed. note: Every now and then, we’ll publish a piece from the Patreon account of our own Jackson Frank. This week, we’re running with his series of musings from around the NBA titled “To Be Frank,” in which Jackson identifies a number of trends in the league that have piqued his interest. If you’d like to follow along with everything he publishes, subscribe to his Patreon.

All stats are accurate before games played on May 1.

Bruce Brown, The Tiny Big Man That Could

This season, there is no offensive environment more conducive to experimentation and optimization than the Brooklyn Nets. They tout three elite ball-handlers and a bevy of floor-spacers, fostering a setting in which unusual players who do not adhere to a traditional mold can thrive, if needed (spoiler: it is).

Enter Bruce Brown, a defensive-minded, 6’4 guard who has netted just 29.9 percent of his 244 career triples. During his first year with the Nets, Brown has emerged a critical fill-in starter while their three stars rotate in and out of the lineup. And despite his wonky jumper, he’s excelling as a complementary offensive player, thanks to his own savvy and some creative offensive usage.

Often, Brown is stationed in the corner or wings, tracking events as they unfold, aware of how starkly defenders will ignore him to offer help elsewhere. To counter that, and operate in tandem with the immense gravity guys like KD, Harden, and Kyrie elicit, he’s become a cutting merchant, darting along the baseline or from the arc at the perfect opportunities for finishes.

Cuts are not the only method for Brown to generate assisted scores around the basket. The Nets have treated him as a pick man in ball screens. It’s typically as an outlet when defenses employ aggressive coverage to deter the pull-up threat of Kyrie or Harden. Those 4-on-3 sequences are a runway for the sprightly Brown to convert or create on the short roll.

Nearly 12 percent of his possessions are as a pick-and-roll roll man, per Synergy, where he ranks in the 78th percentile in PPP (1.255). Among 101 players with 40+ possessions this season, he is the lone guard and his 1.255 clip places him 17th.

According to Cleaning The Glass, a career-high 58 percent of shots are coming at the rim, where he’s converting a career-high 66 percent of his attempts (previous best was 54 percent). The spacing Brooklyn places around him on his cuts and rolls, and general team quality upgrade compared to his time in Detroit, are contributing factors, but Brown himself is molding himself to complement a title contender.

He is no longer just a pestering on-ball defender with scarce offensive utility. He is Bruce Brown, The Tiny Big Man That Could.

NBA, you have a Kelly Olynyk problem

The Houston Rockets are very bad. They’re 16-47, three games clear of any rivals for the league’s worst record. Cade Cunningham certainly might be in their future. But a jigsaw roster and focus on youth development have provided Kelly Olynyk the freedom to display his offensive versatility and credentials, just in time for free agency this summer, when he will be on the market.

In 19 games with the Rockets, he is averaging 18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals on 70.7 percent true shooting (.587/.396/.881 split). Long a multifaceted big man, Houston is the platform for him to flourish and he is seizing the moment.

Thirteen percent of his offense is coming via post-ups, compared to 3.8 percent with the Heat pre-trade, per Synergy, and he ranks in the 92nd percentile. He’s crushing switch-heavy defensive schemes by punishing mismatches in the post with physicality and deft touch. Once an undersized guy latches onto him, the Rockets make it a priority to feed the sweet-shooting Canadian:

In pick-and-rolls, he’s a master at timing slips to the rim, knifing into openings amid Houston’s well-spaced offense:

And he even gets to wield greater self-creation savvy, whether it be the occasional pull-up long ball, a corkscrew finish or a keeper on a DHO (long a favorite of his):

Increased offensive usage has also established chances to derive playmaking from the attention he commands on a nightly basis. His 16.3 percent assist rate with the Rockets is the second-highest of his career. He’s threading dimes to cutters and spraying passes to shooters, serving as a viable, prominent fulcrum for the Rockets:

Every team in the NBA can bring joy while watching their games, you just have to find the reasons. Olynyk’s emergence as a versatile scorer and facilitator is high on the list for Houston. He is fun. I encourage everyone to watch this blossoming before the season concludes and Olynyk parlays this stretch into a lucrative, well-deserved contract on a new team asking less of him offensively.

Jayson Tatum, taking another leap

Jayson Tatum scored 60 points on Friday in a dazzling performance to lead his Boston Celtics back from a 32-point deficit against the San Antonio Spurs. It was a brilliant outing, yet as I watched through his 20 buckets, I was most impressed with his approach as a driver and interior scorer.

He had patience and craft, and played through physicality. These are sustained improvements that date back to well before his career-high explosion. Over his past 29 games, since Feb. 28, he has a rim frequency of 25.6 percent, where he’s converting 72.4 percent of his attempts. In the prior 28 games, his rim frequency was 21.7 percent and he was only shooting 60.6 percent there. So, not only was he struggling to pressure the basket, he was also failing to score at a high level around the rim.

A 25.6 percent frequency is still fairly low, but 72.4 percent shooting is borderline elite for a wing. It ranks 33rd among 180 players with 50+ shots in the restricted area over that span and 21 of the guys ahead of him are centers. For reference, his 60.6 percent clip ranked 130th among 189 within the same parameters.

Early in the year, and for much of his career, Tatum lacked a reliable plan on his rim forays. He’d bank on length to finish around defenders or burrow his head into them without any sort of counter once swarmed. Contact aversion was far too popular in his approach:

Over the past couple months, he is blending extension finishes and an embrace of contact. He’s simplifying his attempts by leveraging space creation or advantages with a functional East-West handle and applying his 6’10 frame to battle through contract. Fewer of his finishes are overly difficult. He can get off cleaner looks.

On the year, per Cleaning The Glass, he is shooting a career-high 67 percent at the rim, which ranks in the 71st percentile. This second-half stretch isn’t an aberration. It’s an entire half of his fourth year in his age-23 season. He is developing in-season, seemingly a hallmark of his at this stage.

The results are evident and encouraging, but most pertinent is how he’s producing them, operating with improved patience, guile and physicality. The pull-up 3 arrived last season. The ambidextrous, live dribble playmaking surfaced shortly before the 2019-20 hiatus and solidified itself in the bubble. Competent interior scoring is the next step in his development Since late February, it has come to life.

Every year, Jayson Tatum identifies necessary areas of growth and manifests them. This particular plotline is another natural evolution of his basketball journey and is critical to attain his ceiling as a scorer.

Welcome to SNX DLX, our weekly roundup of the best sneaker drops to hit the market. This week is a sneakerhead’s dream, with the relaunch of some classic Jordan colorways, a new Supreme and Nike link-up, new Dunks, some more luxurious-leaning footwear from Rick Owens, and probably the most colorful iteration of the Yeezy 500 to date. We’re burning through spring and rapidly approaching the summer season, which means if you want to rock a dope look at the BBQ, you’re running out of time. Cop those kicks you’ve been eyeing and get your summer fit on lock already!

If you’re looking for an outfit to complete your look, be sure to hit up last week’s apparel roundup after you scan this week’s best sneakers. Let’s dive in.

Air Jordan 1 Rust Shadow

You probably already took an L on this one early this week, but the Air Jordan 1 Rust Shadow is still alive and kicking (see what we did there) over on the aftermarket, so if you saw this rugged and worn slightly Old Western-esque version of the Air Jordan 1s and thought “I got to have them” there is still a chance. Featuring a mix of Nike’s Rust Shadow and Light Army colorways, this Air Jordan 1 is nicely rounded out with its off-white Sail midsole.

This is such a harmonious color combination that we’re surprised it’s coming straight out of Nike and isn’t some skate shop retailer exclusive. Now if only Nike would’ve released enough pairs that we didn’t have to turn to the aftermarket to cop a pair. Nike… do you own StockX? What’s the deal here?

The Air Jordan 1 Rust Shadow is out now and hovering around $220 on aftermarket sites like StockX.

Supreme x Nike Air Max 96 Collection

Remember the Nike Air Max 96? Yeah, we don’t blame you, the silhouette doesn’t quite have that iconic shape of the Air Max 95, and isn’t quite as next level as the Air Max 97, but it’s still a pretty dope design and we can’t be mad at Supreme for choosing it for their latest collaboration with Nike. It gives us the opportunity to appreciate an often forgotten design and Supreme really bumped things up here with a modern upper of mixed materials and translucent PVC, which acts as a window for Supreme’s classic box logo.

Basically, the sneaker gives Supreme heads the chance to rock the famous box logo on their feet. Don’t think about it that way though, because then the collaboration starts to seem lame and not as cool. Sorry.

The Supreme x Nike Air Max 96 Collection is set to drop on May 6th for an unannounced retail price. Pick up a pair exclusively at the Supreme online store.

WMNS Air Jordan 11 Low Bright Citrus

Jordan bros, I know this is hard news to take but deal with it — we’re getting a new tropical summer-ready Jordan 11 Low but this one is dropping exclusively in WMNS-sizing. Before you get all hot and bothered, remember that almost every big sneaker release ever drops almost exclusively in big sizes that smaller-footed sneakerheads don’t get to enjoy.

The Bright Citrus features a pristine white upper with bold tropical Brith Citrus accents on the outsole, tongue, and insole. Somehow this colorway managed to take the luxurious high-end design of the 11 and inject a little summer fun into it.

The WMNS Air Jordan 11 Low Bright Citrus is set to drop on May 6th for a retail price of $185. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Air Jordan 11 Low Legend Blue

Remember when we said that Jordan bros needed to chill (we literally just said it!)? This is why. Presenting the Legend Blue Jordan 11, a low-top version of a mid-top classic colorway that launched back in 2014. Check out that icy color scheme juxtaposed against that pure white upper? This is the type of Jordan 11 that belongs on a Best Of List.

Are they dropping this dope design in a full-size run? Nope — which is why the large-footed amongst us should never complain about size exclusivity, we’ve got it made.

The Air Jordan 11 Low Legend Blue is set to drop on May 7th for a retail price of $185. Pick up a pair at GOAT or Flight Club.

Adidas Yeezy 500 Enflame

This week brings what is easily the Yeezy 500s most wild colorway with the Enflame. Featuring a mix of bright orange, signature Yeezy earth/barf-toned browns, and a mix of dusty blue and cool grey, we’ve never seen a 500 this colorful before. In between some pretty standard Yeezy drops, Ye has been taking the time to offer radically reimagined colorways of the Yeezy classics this year and we’re not complaining.

These louder colorways are really allowing us to see these designs in a whole new light. Generally, the 500 looks like some sort of alien blob, but this colorful iteration really helps to bring all the curves and contours alive.

The Adidas Yeezy 500 Enflame is set to drop on May 8th for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair at the Adidas webstore or via Yeezy Supply.

Air Jordan 7 Flint

Of the single-digit Jordans, the AJ7 has got to be the most slept on. Actually no, it’s the 2, definitely the 2, but the 7 is a very close second. It’s transitional design, not as sleek and luxurious as the double-digit Jordans that would soon come after it, but not as boxy and 90’s indebted as what came before. As such, it looks like it’s floating between eras, but we like it’s not easy to place.

Despite its slept-on status, the Flint colorway is probably its most appreciated on the 7 and it’s easy to see why with its elegant mix of tumbled white leather, suede accents, and subtle purple details that lend a nice contrast to the design.

The Air Jordan 7 Flint is set to drop on May 8th for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair at Flight Club.

Dr. Martens x Rick Owens Collection

Last month Rick Owens linked up with Dr. Martens to drop a reworking of some of the boot brand’s most iconic silhouettes and now for the duo’s second collaboration Owens is offering up two iterations of the 1461 Bex Boot and the Gladitorial Gryphon sandal. We’re pretty convinced that Dr. Martens has found the perfect collaborator in Owens, we’ve never seen the ‘ol Doc looking this high fashion and luxurious.

The Dr. Martens x Rick Owens collection is set to drop on May 8th for an unannounced price. Pick up a pair at the Dr. Martens or Rick Owens webstore.

Stingwater x Nike SB Dunk Low Magic Mushroom

Nike and playful skatewear brand Stingwater are joining forces this week to deliver one of the most exciting takes on the SB Dunk this year. No, it doesn’t quite reach the level of last year’s Chunky Dunkys or the Grateful Dead dunks, but look at this thing — it looks like Amanita Muscaria, the psychedelic mushroom that inspired Super Mario’s own iconic mushroom, which is hilarious when you remember that Super Mario is largely for children.

This design features the Dunk Low in a spotted safari-print University Red colorway with an icy midsole, hidden zip pockets for storing your power-ups (wink wink) as well as an inner design that is meant to mimic the gills of a mushroom.

We’re finding this incredibly hard not to love, definitely our cop of the week.

The Stingwater x Nike SB Dunk Low Magic Mushroom is set to drop on May 10th for a retail price of $125. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or select skate retailers like Berric’s Canteen.

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

With just over a week left until Castlevania season four hits Netflix, the streaming service has released some first look images of the upcoming — and final — season. Each of the eight photos tease a tense and trying time for the characters we’ve come to know and mostly love over the course of the past three seasons, with Trevor and Sypha looking battle-ready, Carmilla looking even more unhinged, and Alucard looking like a silver-haired snack. But seriously, look at this deep V.

Foodbeast’s Kitchen League: Challengers Vs. Champs is coming to Twitch.TV as the world’s first-ever live-streamed cooking series on a major platform. A truly live cooking competition series with a sprint towards a final showdown sounds intense. Who’s going to burn their protein? Who’s going to undercook their rainbow risotto? Who’s knife skills are going to falter and leave a pinkie finger on the cutting board? Who’s going to make it to the finale and then go down in a blaze of glory?

Live stream aside, the show sounds like a fun respite from the usual cooking competition shows we already know and love. Each live stream, airing on Twitch.TV/Crown, features a mix of real-deal chefs, Tik-Tok-famous cooks, and Twitch-famous cooks facing off against each other in their home kitchens. Host Elie Ayrouth, publisher and co-founder of Foodbeast, is the master of ceremonies and calls each match like a UFC bout.

The show ups the ante for competing chefs by throwing sabotages into the mix while they’re cooking live. These are obstacles like cook “one-handed” or “without a knife” or “blindfolded.” All of them add to the intensity of every cook and can lead to some serious crash-and-burns when timed right. Those sabotages are inflicted on the sweating chefs by, well, you. Viewers can use their channel points to sabotage a chef at any point in their cook. Which, if we’re being honest, is a great twist on the cooking competition show format. Incidentally, you can also use your channel points to protect your favorite cook. But where’s the fun in that?

If you’re looking for a sense of the show, you can catch a glimpse with our own Steve Bramucci (who’s no stranger to cooking battles) competing right here. Check out the trailer for the show below!

The first episode of the new season will live stream on May 5th from 12 pm to 2 pm Pacific/3 pm to 5 pm Eastern at Twitch.TV/Crown.

Megan Thee Stallion is a legitimate star, yes, but so too is her dog, Foe Thee Frenchie, who has over half a million followers on Instagram. Now, Meg and Foe are teaming up for a new endeavor: Today, Snapchat announced that Megan will be hosting a new show on the platform called Off Thee Leash With Megan Thee Stallion.

Snapchat describes the show, “With multiple Grammys to her name, including Best New Artist, Megan Thee Stallion commands the charts, popular culture, and now Snapchat! In this new series, she’ll be joined by celebrity friends and their pets hosted in a way that only Megan can.” It is not currently clear when the show is set to premiere.

Snapchat also describes its new slate of programming more broadly, “Our new slate is a reflection of our community – what they care about, and the stories and personalities they love. […] Through our Snap Originals, it’s been exciting to see A-List talent become passionate about telling stories on mobile and creating content designed for the Snapchat community. We’re also giving Snapchatters a look at their favorite creators like they’ve never seen before, and finding rising stars on their way to becoming household names.”

On a related note, check out our recent list of the most adorable pets in music here.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Crypto mania continues to tighten its hold on hip-hop as more and more jump on the blockchain wave in the hopes of a big payday. Just a week after Eminem reportedly pulled down almost $2 million selling a collection of NFTs and Nas purportedly made out like a bandit thanks to early investment in the cryptocurrency exchange platform Coinbase (prompting him to dub himself the “Cryptocurrency Scarface” on DJ Khaled’s “Sorry Not Sorry”), Meek Mill has joined in the feeding frenzy, buying $50,000 worth of the meme currency Dogecoin as prices rise in the wake of increased media coverage (but not scrutiny).

The rise was precipitated by this year’s flurry of coverage of the Reddit-shorted GameStop stock, as offshoots of the movement turned their focus to Dogecoin (“To the moon!”), like a rabbit hole with enticing lighting strewn up around it. After Elon Musk and his cultis– er, fans — sent the price flying thanks to a tweet from the SpaceX mogul, it looked like Dogecoin might actually be worth something, and noticing this Meek felt a fierce case of FOMO.

“I just grabbed some doge I’m tired of missing out,” he said on Twitter. Meanwhile, on Instagram, he posted a screenshot revealing both his investment — $50,000, or the price of a midsize sedan, or more than many Americans make in a year, depending on how you look at it — and his chronic misunderstanding of investment practices (buy low, sell high, Meek!).

We’ll see if it works out for him but for now, it looks like he’s another person who’s bullish on cryptocurrency and betting he can cash out before the casino closes.

Chloe Moriondo has been steadily releasing new music over the last few years, but now the 18-year-old songwriter is gearing up to release her major-label debut. Blood Bunny is a departure from the sound on Moriondo’s previous work, employing a full band to create alternative rock songs that sound absolutely massive (think: The Joy Formidable), combined with excellent songwriting.

To celebrate the new album, Moriondo sat down to talk Hayley Williams, being able to fall asleep anywhere, and more in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Teenage, honest, gross, and fun!!! >:P

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

I want my music to be remembered as fun pop and rock music that lesbians all over the world loved.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

I haven’t had enough experience I don’t think to truly pick my favorite city, but my first and only two headliners in London at Thousand Island were incredibly enthusiastic and so high energy and fun!! So I will say London for now or Detroit because it’s so close to home!!!

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

Probably Hayley Williams. I’ve listened to her voice in Paramore since I got my first purple iPod Nano and earbuds and I think it’s been echoing in my ears ever since!! She is so cool and inspirational and I’ve always just adored the insane rock chick energy she holds. I always wanted to hold that energy myself to others someday.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

The best meal of my life was at this tiny little ramen place with my best friend and now girlfriend Samantha and tour manager Ally (if you’re reading this I miss u desperately!!). I believe it was in Boston and it was before I was vegetarian so I know I wouldn’t be able to get the exact same thing but Samantha let me have sips of the little bottled jasmine teas they sold and the ramen was heavenly.

What album do you know every word to?

This is mildly embarrassing, but I could confidently recite every lyric to any song thrown at me from Pretty. Odd. by P!ATD. That was the first album that came to my head because it’s so visceral to my middle school experience, but I could probably even more confidently recite every lyric to No Dogs Allowed by Sidney Gish as well.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

The best concert I’ve ever attended was probably my first real smaller “show,” which I suppose is different from a concert? It was an Alvvays show at the Magic Stick in Detroit. Jay Som also opened, I remember, and it was my first time ever hearing of them which is crazy cus I love them now. If we’re talking best CONCERT, I would say BTS, which I spent far too much money on but got close enough to make eye contact with Jimin so I call it a win.

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

I haven’t performed for a while, but I would probably say a nice loose or cropped t shirt and shorts or a skirt would be best. I get really hot on stage and I like to move around a lot, so that will likely be my go-to outfit for the coming shows! I wanna look cool though so hopefully enough accessories + glitter + bright colors + stickers will make it cooler!!!

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

He’s not a person but he is better, Mr. Bubz on Instagram is my favorite boy to look at besides my own dog. Something about angry little dogs is so endearing to my weird little brain, I just wanna hug em and let them bite me!!

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

On my last tour it was probably either “Judy Garland” by Frog or “I Eat Salads Now” by Sidney Gish, but who knows what this next one will bring…

What’s the last thing you Googled?

“Open e guitar” I am too lazy to get a tuning pedal!!!!

What album makes for the perfect gift?

Mother Earth’s Plantasia by Mort Garson. I would give that album to anybody I cared about who maybe needed some nice plant music/ambience!

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

I’m pretty good at being able to sleep anywhere, but so far I don’t think I’ve crashed anywhere weirder than a green room couch?!?!?! I’m sure the tour managers who have had to virtually carry me like a baby through venues would maybe have a nice tidbit for this question but I can’t think of anything!

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

My first ever tattoo was the tiny eyeball on my right middle finger, and it’s inspired by the eyes from a video game very close to my heart called Night in the Woods! I stick n poked it myself at first, but it was kinda shitty, so my friend Robin (Cavetown) poked over it for me much nicer when I visited him to record my first EP, Spirit Orb 😛 I have more + my eyeball is definitely not my favorite but that’s all I’ll say about them for now!!!

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

I don’t listen to the radio very often anymore, but if I’m in the car with my dad and Dua Lipa comes on he is not touching that tuner. I don’t know what comes over me, it’s just the groove of it all. U want me. I want u baby.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

I have so many lovely people in my life who have done kind things for me so it’s hard to pick something especially with my bad memory and fear of offending other people who have done nice things for me…… I will say the time a really cute fan in a pink lil outfit gave me a big BT21 Tata plushie that I still show off in my room. He’s so cute and those things are expensive so I was really touched cus he’s my favorite and I couldn’t imagine someone getting it for me!!

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

Uhhhhhhh I’m 18 now, so just keep rockin and rollin I guess!!!!!????

What’s the last show you went to?

I think it was technically my own show, one of the Cavetown shows I was supporting in the UK before lockdown in 2020! I miss it so badly!!!!!

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

They’re not often on TV, but if either Labyrinth or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Johnny Depp version) are on I will sit on the couch and vibe. I fall asleep during movies a lot so I might pass out but I love them regardless.

What would you cook if Obama were coming to your house for dinner?

Oh sh*t I can’t cook. I’d beg my dad to help me make a vegetarian lasagna, but if he weren’t home I would try my best to make a soup of sorts I suppose…. Everyone likes soup right? Obama likes soup right???

Blood Bunny is out May 7 via Public Consumption Recording Co/Fueled By Ramen. Pre-order the album here.

For those unaware, mezcal is technically the broad term used to define all Mexican agave-based spirits. This means that all tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila (get it?). The difference is that mezcal can be made using any type of agave and can be made anywhere in Mexico (though most of it is made in Oaxaca) while tequila has strict rules about which agave must be used (Blue Weber) and where it can be produced (Jalisco and a few surrounding areas), among other rules.

With summer coming on quickly, we figured the time was right to highlight some of our favorite sipping and mixing mezcals. These eight expressions will pull your palate in new directions and they’re (almost) all squarely in the affordable range. Check them out below and click on the prices to buy a bottle!

Amaras Cupreata

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $59

The Story:

This Joven mezcal was distilled using agave Cupreata grown and harvested in the mountainous region of Rio Balsas. Just awarded Double Gold, Best of Show in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Amaras Cupreata is fermented in open air before being distilled in copper pot stills.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find roasted agave, nutty sweetness, and subtle cocoa beans. The palate is swirling with freshly cut grass, cracked leather, and a nice mix of subtle smoke and fresh wildflowers. The finish is filled with vegetal sweetness and floral notes.

Bottom Line:

When it comes to mezcals, this one isn’t the smokiest. But what it lacks in the smoke department, it makes up for with bright, floral notes that reveal a new layer of mezcal’s complexity for the newbie.

Madre Espadin

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $55

The Story:

Finely crafted by Jose Ines Garcia Morales and his family (and two other families), this Oaxacan-made mezcal is made using both Espadin and Cuishe agave. It’s made traditionally by smoking the agave underground before stone grinding it using a horse-drawn tahona. This is as authentic as mezcal gets and you can taste it in every sip.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is filled with roasted agave sweetness, a hint of minerals, and a nice wafting of smoke. Taking a sip will reveal vegetal sweetness, brown sugar, freshly cut grass, chili peppers, and more pleasing, rich smoke. The finish is subtly smoky and effortlessly sweet.

Bottom Line:

This is a perfect beginner mezcal. It’s well-rounded with a nice combination of sweet and smoky, but not complex enough to scare off mezcal newcomers.

Ilegal Joven

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $39

The Story:

This brand was launched in 2005 as an effort to make a legitimate business using the mezcals that founder John Rexar originally smuggled to his bar Cade No Se in Antigua, Guatemala. This unaged mezcal is made using Espadin agave. It’s known for its easy-to-drink, mellow flavor that works well in cocktails.

Tasting Notes:

Take a moment to breathe in the aromas of fresh peppers, citrus zest, pineapples, and a slight minerality. Take a sip and you’ll find flavors of bright lime, vanilla beans, vegetal sweetness, and smoky pipe tobacco. The finish is sweet, smoky, and complex.

Bottom Line:

For the price, this is a very flavorful mezcal. It’s the kind of spirit that requires multiple tasting before you discover all of the various flavors — that makes it a great pick for someone excited about developing their palate.

Montelobos Joven

ABV: 43%
Average Price: $39

The Story:

Montelobos means mountain of wolves and we think that’s a fitting name for such a cool mezcal brand. Its joven is an unaged mezcal made with Espadin agave that’s roasted for a week in an underground volcanic stone oven before being crushed with a tahona and fermenting naturally pre-distillation.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, expect scents of citrus rinds, green peppers, roasted agave, and slight smoke. Sipping this mezcal reveals flavors of toasted vanilla beans, vegetal sweetness, lime zest, and a nice kick of robust smoke. It all ends with a nice mix of sweet agave and subtle spicy smoke.

Bottom Line:

If you only buy one bottle of mezcal to mix with this year, make it Montelobos Joven. It’s sweet, smoky, and well-suited for crafting a smoky margarita.

Doña Vega Espadin

ABV: 43%
Average Price: $35

The Story:

Doña Vega makes two mezcals: Espadin and Tobala. Its Espadin is made in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca using only 100% Espadin agave. Made by a fifth-generation mezcal producing family, it’s roasted underground before being crushed using a tahona and distilled in copper pot stills.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is filled with the aromas of fresh peppers, citrus peels, tropical fruits, and nice, earthy smoke. Drinking this mezcal reveals hints of roasted pineapple, caramelized sugar, vegetal sweetness, subtle pepper, and light smoke. The finish is smoky, sweet, and ends with a nice kick of cracked black pepper.

Bottom Line:

If you have the cash, we suggest buying one of each of Doña Vega’s expressions and comparing the flavors therein. That’s the best way to find out which one will become your new go-to.

Rey Campero Tepextate

ABV: 48%
Average Price: $115

The Story:

This expression from Rey Campero Mezcal is made using Marmorata agave that is harvested after maturing to around 18 years of age. It’s roasted, crushed, and open-air fermented before being distilled twice to ensure the highest quality and flavor possible.

Tasting Notes:

The aromas of citrus zest, wildflowers, vanilla beans, and slight smoke are most prevalent on the nose. From the first sip, you’ll be transported to a world of ripe, zesty peppers, fresh leather, subtle flowers, and subtle tobacco-like smoke. The finish is long, warming, and ends with a combination of sweet peppers and smoke.

Bottom Line:

This is a highly complex mezcal. It’s not the type of mezcal you’ll want to use as a mixer. It’s subtly smoky, peppery, sweet, and perfect as a intro to slow sipping.

Del Maguey Chichicapa

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $69

The Story:

If you’re a mezcal drinker, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve already heard of Del Maguey. This beloved brand makes a whole slew of highly-rated expressions, but we prefer its Chichicapa for the value and flavor. Named for the village it comes from, this is a sipping mezcal if there ever was one.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find aromas of roasted agave, caramelized pineapple, brown sugar, and pipe tobacco. On the palate, notes of buttery caramel, vegetal sweetness, toasted vanilla beans, and more campfire smoke are all evident. The finish is filled with tropical fruit flavors complemented by slightly roasted agave smoke.

Bottom Line:

The best way to enjoy Del Maguey’s line of mezcals is to work your way around them. Chichicapa is a great choice for mezcal beginners, but it’s so good you’ll keep it stocked on your bar cart for years.

Mezcal Vago Elote

ABV: 50.2%
Average Price: $55

The Story:

Every list deserves a bad boy and that’s exactly what Mezcal Vago Elote is. This 50.2% spirit is made from 100% Espadin agave. But instead of simply making a great mezcal using this popular agave, the master distiller adds toasted corn, also known as elote, after the second distillation. The result is a sweet, smoky, and highly memorable expression.

Tasting Notes:

Take a moment to breathe in the scents of sweet corn, roasted agave, slight minerality, and subtle bacon-like smoke. Take a sip and you’ll enjoy flavors of clover honey, roasted pineapple, and a subtle herbal, woody smoke. The ending is a nice mix of roasted corn and sweet, rich smoke.

Bottom Line:

If you’re a whiskey fan who’s new to mezcal, this is the expression for you. It has just enough sweet corn flavor to help you ease your way into this agave-based spirit.

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