Category: Viral

If you’re new to the world of stouts, there’s a good chance your education doesn’t go much farther than the likes of Guinness. But you should know that the dark, malty, chocolate-tasting beer style goes from regular to turbocharged pretty quickly. And while we’re all about throwing back a few pints of Guinness from time to time, we definitely recommend exploring the world of higher ABV, robust stouts, too.

Generally speaking, stouts range from more basic styles like dry, milk, and oatmeal to pastry, coffee, and the highly potent barrel-aged and imperial stouts. With the latter designation typically being the darkest and strongest of them all.

We enjoy a great barrel-aged stout in the winter, but today we’re turning our attention specifically to imperial stouts (some do happen to be barrel-aged). To find the best of the bunch, we reached out to a crew of bartenders, who were kind enough to tell us which rich, high ABV stouts they tip back this time of year.

Karl Strauss Wreck Alley

Jerry Skakun, bartender at Cucina Enoteca in Newport Beach, California

Karl Strauss Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. Hands down. With Strauss being one of the oldest breweries in the US to make this style, this pick offers one of the best examples of what an Imperial Stout has to offer.

Average Price: $6.49 for a 22 ounce bottle

Common Space Chocolate Molten Cake Ice Cream Stout

Una Green, USBG bartender in Los Angeles

Try the Chocolate Molten Cake Ice Cream Stout from Common Space Brewery in Hawthorne, California. This beer is an homage to the amazing chocolate molten cake ice cream from the brewers’ friends at Coolhaus.

How rad (and deliciously decadent) is that?

Average Price: $6.99 for a 16-ounce can

New Holland Dragon’s Milk

Christopher Wright, bartender at Don Camillo Tuscan Cuisine in Corinthe, Texas

When I reach for an imperial stout, I smile upon Dragon’s Milk. This Imperial Milk Stout from New Holland Brewing Co. carries rich espresso notes that meet a subtle smokiness from the bourbon barrel in which it’s aged.

Also, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can make a reduction from this milk stout using Madagascar vanilla bean and demerara sugar to add quite a layer to an old fashioned.

Average Price: $14.99 for a 4-pack

Off Color Dino S’mores

Brandon “Habi” Habenstein, bartender at The Kitchen & Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Co. in Bardstown, Kentucky

Off Color Brewing’s Coffee Dino S’mores has every silly flavor anyone ever thought they wanted in an imperial stout. Marshmallow, vanilla, graham cracker, cocoa, coffee, and molasses. If curiosity alone doesn’t get you searching for this beer, I can assure you that it’s actually quite delicious.

Average Price: $24 for a 4-pack

North Coast Old Rasputin

Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis

This winter, cozy on up with an Old Rasputin from North Coast Brewing. One of the all-time great imperial stouts, it’s rich, full-bodied, and rocks a 9% ABV. It’s best poured into a snifter and allowed to warm a bit for a better chance at enjoying the subtle spice tucked away behind the bitter coffee and chocolate.

Average Price: $8.49 for a 4-pack

Angry Chair Loaded French Toast Imperial Stout

Cristina Suarez, beverage manager at KUSH Hospitality Group in Miami

Angry Chair Loaded French Toast Imperial Stout is the way to go. It’s like a liquid breakfast. Cinnamon, maple, and vanilla make it a breakfast of champions.

Average Price: $7.99 for a 16-ounce can

Southern Tier Warlock

Stephen Lasaten, food and beverage manager at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands

Southern Tier’s Warlock Imperial Stout. Usually released during the fall, but if you save it and hold on to it for the winter, it makes for a really nice treat. The spiced pumpkin pie aroma constantly lingering under the toasted malt makes for a great drink to sip and savor. Pairs well with smoked and roasted dishes commonly served during the wintertime.

I like to enjoy mine in a goblet or even a snifter so I can get a waft of the aromas during every sip.

Average Price: $16.99 for a 4-pack

Cigar City Marshal Zhukov’s Imperial Stout

Andres Rairan, lead bartender at High Tide Beach Bar & Grill in Miami

My favorite imperial stout right now is one that comes from here in Tampa, Florida. It’s called Marshal Zhukov’s Imperial Stout (Cigar City Brewing). This stout is aged in a bourbon barrel and has amazing toffee, dark chocolate tastes notes with an amazing, smooth finish that just screams out “winter beer by the fire.”

Beware of the 12.6% ABVs!

Average Price: $13.99 for a 22 ounce bottle

Coronado German Chocolate Cake

Raffaele Dall’Erta, general manager sommelier at Hampton’s Restaurant in Sumter, South Carolina

Coronado German Chocolate Cake. First of all, name anything after chocolate cake, and I am in. This one is aged for six months in barrels, and it shows on the palate. Chocolate, vanilla bean, coconut, roasted coffee beans, and dried figs are center stage for this stout. Delicious and well balanced, this is a perfect warming winter beverage.

Average Price: $14.99 for a 22 ounce bottle

Surly Darkness

Jane Danger, national mixologist for Pernod-Ricard USA

Surly Darkness Imperial Stout packs a punch at 12% with a nontraditional high dose of hops. The hops round out the complex blend of malts to pave the way for coffee, chocolate-covered cherry, dried fruits, and toffee.

Malty and sweet can be signs of the style, citrus from the hops make it fun to pair with foods or enjoy before a meal.

Average Price: $22 for a 750ml bottle

Founders KBS

Sire Negri, lead mixologist at Havana Beach Bar & Grill in Rosemary Beach, California

One of the best-known beers of the winter season continues to be Founders Brewing KBS. This imperial stout is brewed with massive amounts of chocolate and coffee and is then aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. The barrel aging imparts sweetness and notes of vanilla, creating a stout that will deliciously remain on your palate.

This beer is a treat in its own right – and the perfect dessert at the end of a cold evening.

Average Price: $17.99 for a 4-pack

Cigar City Apple Brandy Barrel-aged Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout

Sarah Rexwinkle, key bartender for The Grand Marlin in Pensacola, Florida

I have found that Apple Brandy Barrel-aged Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout is fantastic. This is a limited release that has extensive aging inside wooden barrels that previously held apple brandy, which adds to the depth and character of this imperial stout.

Average Price: Limited release

Munkle Silver Shoes

Allen Lancaster, master cocktail craftsman at The Bar at The Spectator Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina

Currently, I would go with Silver Shoes Russian Imperial Stout from Munkle Brewing of Charleston. The flavors of wonderfully roasted malt give off a molasses-pumpernickel layer without too much sweetness.

Average Price: $6 for a pint

J Wakefield Bake Kujira

Ilan Chartor, head bartender at MILA in Miami

Bake Kujira coming out of the J Wakefield brewery here in Miami, also my favorite brewery. This special release brings winters in Miami and imperial stouts together, which isn’t an easy task. Aged in ex-bourbon barrels you’ll find flavors of roasted coffee, vanilla, and coconut.

Average Price: Limited release

Southern Tier Nitro Hot Cocoa Imperial Milk Stout

Jennifer Jackson-Keating, mixologist at Sneaky Tiki in Pensacola, Florida

My absolute favorite imperial stout would be made by Southern Tier Brewing Company. It’s the Nitro Hot Cocoa Imperial Milk Stout. The name says it all as to why it’s the best beer to drink in the winter. The can releases nitro which creates a foam of creamy flavor.

The chocolate with hints of marshmallow makes this beer great.

Average Price: $15.49 for a 4-pack

Evil Twin Even More Smores Imperial Stout

Aaron Hanson, bartender at Casa Santo Stefano in Tampa, Florida

Evil Twin Even More Smores Imperial Stout is everything. The chocolaty Graham Cracker flavors are mind-blowing. You can’t go wrong with toasted marshmallows and chocolate, right?

Average Price: Limited release

Funkmaster Flex has found some new fuel in his unusual and one-sided feud with Jay-Z thanks to an even more unusual source: Donald Trump’s 11th-hour spate of high-profile pardons just before leaving office earlier this year. Included in those pardons was Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, who was arrested in 1994 for conspiracy with intent to distribute narcotics. She cooperated with the US Attorney and was sentenced to five years of probation. Perez was appointed CEO of Roc Nation in 2019 after serving as COO and working with the company for nearly a decade.

Meanwhile, Flex, who has been harping on what he believes to be Jay’s shortcomings for the past month, shared a headline from gossip site Press Reality on Instagram that posited “Jay Z Cut Deal w/ Trump; Didn’t Support Biden In Exchange For Pardon!” Flex, no stranger to courting controversy to entice curious listeners to tune in, said he’ll be discussing the headline on his show.

Press Reality’s headline seems to have been based on a line of conjecture from Variety‘s January 21 profile on Perez’s pardon that notes few Roc Nation artists spoke up against Trump or for Biden during the election in comparison to Jay and Beyonce’s very public support for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Variety also explained why a pardon would be critical for Perez, as she could be integral to Roc Nation’s move into cannabis with the Monogram brand and a potential public offering. Felons cannot run public companies or be involved in the legal marijuana business, so with her pardon, Perez could take more control as the company moves in those directions.

However, a spokesperson for Roc Nation told Variety the company “does not impose itself in its artists’ political involvement.” In terms of the Roc’s involvement in prison reform, knowing Trump’s sensitivity, insecurity, and vindictiveness, the source says they aren’t surprised if the company toned down its criticism of Trump as it worked with his administration to get legislation passed, saying, “As anyone who’s worked with the Trump White House knows, you can’t piss him off or he will take revenge.”

Despite Congress declaring Joe Biden the rightful winner of the 2020 presidential election allowing him to take the oath of office, that doesn’t mean the wacky-circus attempts to get Donald Trump back in the White House have come to a close. In a bizarre new lawsuit filed in Texas, one lawyer actually attempts to argue that Trump is a modern-day version of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings who should be handed his rightful throne, which is already an odd statement to make, considering America’s whole thing is not having a king. That’s kind of the whole point of an election.

After dramatically citing Tolkien’s epic tome by stating “Gondor has no king,” the suit goes on to argue that all of Congress and every state government should be dissolved while members of the previous administration keep Trump’s throne ready for his return. This puppy really went places. Via The Guardian:

“Since only the rightful king could sit on the throne of Gondor, a steward was appointed to manage Gondor until the return of the King, known as ‘Aragorn’, occurred at the end of the story.”

The lawsuit then suggests that America’s version of the stewards of Gondor should be selected from among – surprise, surprise – Trump’s cabinet members, who should run the country.

Obviously, this lawsuit isn’t going to anywhere as legal experts fully expect it to be “laughed out of court.” However, it isn’t entirely out of place with the recent trend of using odd fantasy references in service to Trump. While attempting to downplay his own participation in the January 6 attack on the Capitol building, which sought to overturn the election, Rudy Giuliani tried to say that his demand for “trial by combat” was merely a reference to the “very famous documentary about fictitious medieval England” Game of Thrones. Although, in Giuliani’s defense, at least he didn’t equate Trump with Viggo Mortensen’s iconic hero, so he’s got that going for him. When you’re Rudy, you gotta take those wins wherever you can get them.

(Via Guardian, Salon)

Imploding The Mirage was a different album for The Killers for one key reason: It was the band’s first to be recorded without guitarist Dave Keuning. He took a hiatus from the group after 2017’s Wonderful Wonderful to pursue a solo career; His first album as Keuning, titled Prismism, was released in 2019. It appears he has rejoined the group, though, as he appears in a new Instagram Live video that teases some new music. A recent broadcast from the band shows the group having fun in the studio, and there are moments when new music can be heard.

It’s unsurprising that the band is already working on new music months after Imploding The Mirage. Back in August, Brandon Flowers suggested that a new album would be released around the middle of this year, saying, “You know when people just say that? Every time someone makes a record they say that they have 50 songs and they’re going to release another record. We really are. We’re going to release another one in about 10 months. We’ve already gone back into the studio with [producer Jonathon Rado] and [producer Shawn Everett]. We did a week in Northern California. I had a lot of time on my hands. Before, I’d normally be gearing up to tour, all of that time has gone back into writing more songs. It’s been pretty fruitful.”

On top of that, in December, they shared what seems to be a tracklist.

GameStop’s business model hasn’t changed in recent weeks, certainly not enough to make the game and accessories retailer any more valuable than it was at the start of 2021. The company sells video games and Funko Pops, and it will give you at least 34 cents for that copy of Madden 04 that you’ve been using as a coaster since the second Bush presidency.

But the company’s stock price has become wildly volatile in recent days, thanks to day traders on Reddit pumping tons of money into the retailer on the market. That, in turn, has seen larger financial companies betting against these buyers in anticipation of the stock failing. Friday alone saw a huge spike in the company’s stock price, but on Monday, it continued in an even bigger way, causing waves once more in the financial industry.

Clearly this movement was not tied to anything the actual company was doing. There was no big announcement that improved or erased consumer confidence. Just a bunch of people coordinating online to buy stocks. When you see the growth of the stock spread out over the course of years, it really is stunning to see the exponential growth.

But just as quickly as it rocked up to $150 a share, the stock had crashed to half of that by Monday afternoon.

As Bloomberg laid out, much of that movement was caused by the Reddit forum WallStreetBets, and some on there have made huge amount of money in the rise and fall of GameStop stock. And there’s a lot more involved than people simply buying a lot of stock of a company that’s fallen on tough times in recent years. Those in the subreddit had been eying GameStop for some time, and a number of market factors and more traditional economic players criticizing the moves eventually made those on WallStreetBets even more willing to buy into the stock to prove them wrong:

As shares began their steady rise during the last four months of 2020, more and more users joined the bandwagon. And as part of their welcome party they were reminded of the code of conduct: never sell, never surrender. Or in WallStreetBets parlance, only buy if you have diamond hands.

Along the way WallStreetBets began calling out those on the other side of the trade.

That sense of unity, and rebellion against the people who have financial power, has worked in a big way. According to Business Insider, those who were betting against GameStop have lost huge amounts of money in a short period of time.

Mark-to-market losses for GameStop shorts on a year-to-date basis reached $3.3 billion when trading closed on Friday, according to data from the financial-analytics firm S3 Partners. Losses totaled nearly $1.6 billion on Friday alone as shares rocketed 51% higher into the close.

…

Online posts urging other investors to join the trade have since driven outsize bullish momentum for GameStop. The stock traded 115% higher as of 10:40 a.m. ET on Monday and is up more than 500% year-to-date.

It’s a trend that will sound very familiar to anyone who has actually bought and sold a game at GameStop:

Brandon Kochkodin’s piece on Bloomberg has a much more thorough breakdown of the subreddit’s campaign over the last year or so, including some screenshots of Redditors loosely organizing and showing off their big profits. But it’s fascinating to see real-world implications of some day traders banding together online, apparently in the hopes of sticking it to financial gurus who claim they know far more about the market. A market that, suddenly, they’re struggling to keep up with.

(Via Bloomberg & Business Insider)

Rico Nasty’s debut album Nightmare Vacation is out now and to help fans get a sense of who she really is, the genre-defying, self-proclaimed “scream rapper” partnered with Uproxx to shoot the latest documentary in our “Who Is…?” series, breaking down her life story and impact on the music scene. While the official episode drops tomorrow, you can check out an exclusive preview above as she explains how she hopes her music helps Black girls and women feel less lonely.

Despite only recently releasing her debut album, Rico’s impact is already undeniable. While she made her late-night television debut a week ago with a performance of “OHFR?” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she had already appeared on one of the biggest shows around with an animated cameo on Big Mouth last year. Meanwhile, her distinctive sound appeared on the soundtracks of shows and films like Insecure and Scoob! and she was even co-signed by Cardi B after appearing on the cover of 2019’s XXL Freshman issue.

Watch Rico Nasty’s “Who Is?” trailer above and catch the full episode 1/26 at 3 pm ET/12 pm PT on Uproxx Music.

Rico Nasty is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

If you’re on TikTok, you probably saw the viral folded quesadilla that took the shanty-loving platform by storm this month. In short, you make a cut in your tortilla so that you can fold it by quarters, creating a stacked quesadilla with each layer adding a new element.

Did the simplicity of the regular fold-over-once quesadilla need an upgrade? Nope. But did this new look pop on camera? Yup. Did a whole f*ckton of content get created around the manuever? You’d better believe it.

So, here we are giving this new fangled quesadilla a shot. But what’s the point in a tweak if the final product is just a run of the mill quesadilla? After some thought and Slack chats, we landed on combining this technique with the internet’s other great food obsession: The spicy fried chicken sandwich.

Below is our recipe for a spicy fried chicken sandwich in quesadilla form. I learned a lot from making this dish, but the most important lesson was that more quesadillas should have spicy fried chicken in them. It’s a no-brainer once you think about it.

Let’s get into this recipe and see if the viral folded quesadilla can be improved upon with some spicy fried chicken.

Spicy Fried Chicken Quesadilla

Before we get into everything, there’s a lot to this seemingly simple recipe. Really the longest list of ingredients comes down to the brine and dredge. In reality, you can adjust this to whatever suits your palate and pantry. This is just an example, not gospel.

With that said, do try this brine. It’s really f*cking good.

Ingredients:

Quesadilla:

• 1 boneless/skinless chicken thigh
• 12-inch flour tortilla
• Pickles
• 1/4 cup shredded yellow cheddar
• 1/4 cup shredded Monterey jack
• 1 tsp. chili flakes
• Neutral oil

Chicken Brine:

• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 boiling water
• 1 tbsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. white sugar
• 1 dash white pepper
• 3 dried Thai chilis

Chicken Breading:

• 1 cup AP flour
• 1/2 cup corn starch
• 1 tbsp. MSG
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. white pepper

Ghost Pepper Sauce:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp. ghost pepper sauce
• 4 dashes Worchestershire sauce
• Juice from half a lime

What You’ll Need:

• Bowls
• Fork
• Spoons
• Cast iron, Dutch oven, or wok (for frying)
• Large pan
• Small pot
• Spatula
• Box grater
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Tupperware (for brine and dredging)
• Plastic wrap
• Tongs
• Cooling rack (or paper towels)

Method:

The first step is getting the chicken thigh ready. Mine is already deboned and skinned. But, these thighs tend to plump up quite a bit then they’re fried. So, I’m using my heavy pan and some plastic wrap to flatten this one out a bit.

I hit the thigh maybe four or five times just to flatten it out. It’s a little like making a cutlet.

I then ready my brine. I add the apple cider vinegar, boiling water, dried chilies, pepper, salt, and sugar to a small pot. I stir until the sugar and salt have fully dissolved and then add in a couple of ice cubes to cool it off.

I pour the brine over the chicken thigh, put a lid on it, and place it in the fridge for a minimum of two hours. Overnight is preferred but I didn’t think that far ahead. Remember to toast the chilies in a pan to let their spice bloom.

In the meantime, I get the oil heating on the stove. I’m using a cast iron skillet because it’s really easy to shallow fry something in it while holding heat well.

I use a large Tupperware for dredging and simply put all those ingredients in there and blend them with a fork. It’s ready.

I grab the thigh from the fridge and get ready to dredge it. I drop the thigh straight from the brine into the flour mix. I scoop a bit of brine onto the chicken thigh to help the flour mix really bind to the meat.

By this time, the oil in the cast iron is up to 350f. We’re ready to fry.

I gently lay the thigh down away from me in the hot oil. I let it sit there for a good two minutes before I flip it over. I then let it fry for another two minutes until both sides are golden brown.

I flip the thigh one last time and let it fry for one more minute. I take it out of the oil with the tongs and place it on a drying rack. I use a thermometer to check the internal temp has hit 150F.

It has. We’re good to go.

While the thigh was frying, I made a quick chili mayo and shredded the cheese.

For the chili mayo, I simply add the mayo to a small bowl with the chili sauce, lime, and Worcestershire. I stir with a spoon until fully emulsified.

Readying the cheese is easy. I grate both kinds of cheese into a bowl. I mix in the chili flakes by tossing the cheese a few times. Done.

I get my tortilla ready by making a slit, allowing for the viral “quarter fold.” I smear the chili mayo on the first quarter of the tortilla, place the chicken thigh on the second, the pickles on the third, and the cheese on the last.

I fold the sauce quarter over the chicken thigh, the thigh over the pickles, and rest it all on the cheese.

NOTE: You want your cheese in one of the spots that will be exposed to heat (either the one slot or the four slot), not a middle section.

I get a large pan on a medium flame with a thin layer of oil in the bottom. As soon as it’s hot, I use a spatula to gently place the quesadilla in the pan cheese-side on the bottom, making sure not to let any cheese spill out.

After about two or so minutes, the flour tortilla is crisping up nicely and I use the spatula to flip the whole thing over. Another two or so minutes later, and the quesadilla is nicely seared, the cheese is melty, and it’s ready to go.

I use the spatula to lift out the quesadilla and let it rest for a minute or so before cutting into it for a look at that cross-section.

Bottom Line:

First and foremost, this held together remarkably well. The flour tortilla really is quite the culinary miracle. I was expecting spillage from the open edges, but everything held in place wonderfully.

And goddamnit! This was freaking delicious. The chicken thigh was well-seasoned and had a deep heat to it, with a still crunchy breading. The ghost pepper mayo brought some serious extra heat with a dose of lime for balance. The pickle was was still crunchy and briny, making for another good counterpoint. And yes, the cheese was melty and added just enough extra heat to really tie the whole dish together.

While I rolled my eyes pretty hard when I first saw this so-called “hack” for a quesadilla, it legitimately works pretty well. I’m definitely making spicy fried chicken quesadillas again. And, if I’m being honest, I’ll probably only make them this way from now on. You win, internet.

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri (along with Ted Cruz of Texas) played an inarguable role in stirring up the chaos that led to the deadly MAGA insurrection on the U.S. Capitol. He was astounded to see that there are consequences for sowing the seeds of sedition, and that includes Kansas City-based Hallmark Cards taking a stand against him (and asking for their donation money back), and Hawley was taken to the woodshed by his hometown newspaper and dropped by his book publisher. Hawley’s book has since been picked up by a conservative imprint, but he’s apparently still feeling booty-hurt because he penned a front-page op-ed for the New York Post, for which he wrote about how “muzzled” he feels because of justifiable backlash against him for his (enthused) role in attempting to overthrow representative democracy .

Hawley proudly tweeted a link to his piece, in which he writes, “It’s time to stand up against the muzzling of America.”

This move is, of course, enormously ironic. He’s not being silenced in any way. He’s still a sitting senator, and his opinions are being published by a widespread publication and in his upcoming book. Hawley’s also able to freely tweet about what he calls “the woke mob” at Simon & Schuster, and yep, he is definitely not muzzled. He’s simply angry about losing donation money and being called out for his dangerous, seditious lies. Not incidentally, the Kansas City Star has published an illuminating feature that digs into Hawley’s radical, far-right stances, including how he penned a column (at age 15) to defend the bombing of the Oklahoma City Murrah Federal Building.

Needless to say, people find it to be pretty rich that Josh Hawley is the person who’s always (very vocally) complaining that Josh Hawley is being muzzled.

Yep, as one Twitter user put it, this “is next level gaslighting.”

The Lincoln Project got in on the game, too, with a very blunt “resign” tweet.

All this week, Dime is teaming up with the NBA 2K League to give everyone a glimpse into life as a gamer. On both our Instagram account (@DimeMagazine) and Twitch (UproxxEdge) accounts, along with the official NBA 2K League Twitch (NBA2KLeague), some of the best on the sticks will take you through a day in their life and show off why they are among the best in the world at what they do.

The festivities will include three members of the 2K League, community ambassador Graham “BLKFRANKWHITE” Borden, and 2019 WNBA champion Aerial Powers, who may be as good of a gamer as she is on the hardwood. Here’s how the entire schedule will break down:

“To be a 2K League streamer for the past few months has been epic for me,” Powers told Dime. “The league isn’t yet filled with women but it soon will be, and to know that I am one of the few that get to be on the 2K League platform streaming is an honor, but also a push for more women to be involved. This is exactly why the Women in Gaming initiative is so important. We need more women in this space and soon we will have exactly that.”

Jomar of Pacers Gaming is bringing a unique perspective to the festivities, and is showcasing that the 2K League (and its community) is truly worldwide.

“The International Takeover on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch has been awesome!” says Jomar of Pacers Gaming. “To be able to connect with top players from around the world and help with their journeys is something I’ve cherished. I’ve had the chance to bring the Spanish speaking community content, and show them appreciation for what they’ve done and how important they are to the growth of the 2K League. International players are under the radar just like I was, so it’s really important for me to give them exposure and provide them with a platform to show their personalities so they can take that label of ‘unknown’ away. These players are some of the top 2K talent in the world that are deserving of being a part of the league and I’m thankful the 2K League Takeover streams have given them the chance to make their path to the league easier.”

It’s a busy week for the 2K League, which will also host its Women in Development Gaming Camp (including Powers as one of its hosts) on Wednesday evening. Be sure to tune into that along with everything going on with Dime and the 2K League all week long.

While you can easily (and maybe even happily) spend the rest of your days drinking the same whisk(e)ys that have been readily available for decades, there’s a world beyond that classic black-labeled bottle of Jack Daniel’s, red wax-sealed Maker’s Mark, and poultry-adorned Wild Turkey. That’s why we suggest that between sipping on “the usual suspects” you try a new release every now and then. What better way to improve your palate and whiskey IQ?

Besides, who doesn’t want to try something different from time to time?

Well, lucky you. These days there’s a new bourbon, Scotch, or rye released every week, a mix of annual releases and limited-edition offerings. Some are just okay, plenty are solid, and a rare few are worth getting truly hyped about. Knowing which is which — that’s the art.

To help you out, we’re naming eight of our favorite recently released whiskeys across all styles. These memorable bottles might not be around for long (certainly not at these prices), so get them while you can.

Last Drop 1980 Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey

Released: January 2021

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $4,600

The Story:

This 1980 Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey was, you guessed it, distilled in 1980 at what was then referred to as the George T. Stagg Distillery. Jimmy Carter was still the president and Empire Strikes Back was the number 1 movie in America.

The Sazerac Company (which owns The Last Drop) purchased the distillery back in 1992. It wasn’t until 1998 that a full inventory was taken, and the 1980 barrels were discovered. Already having aged for 18 years, it was decided that they’d be left where they were. That is, until 2000 when they reached the ripe old age of 20 and were removed from their barrels and vatted into stainless steel to halt the aging process.

This is where they’ve remained for the last 20 years, before finally being bottled by The Last Drop Distillers — which specializes in these sorts of releases.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find hints of the musty, ancient barrelhouse, rich almonds, dried cherries, and charred oak. (That oakiness is expected for how long this one is aged.) The sip is full of notes of leather, sticky toffee, raisins, almonds, creamy vanilla, and treacle. The finish is mellowwwwwww, long, and ends with a final dose of sweet, buttery caramel.

Blissful and all too easy to sip.

Bottom Line:

This rare, limited-edition whiskey is truly special. But obviously… the price.

If you can swing it, it’s worth knowing that you’re drinking an exclusive dram of history — the brand only released 240 bottles of this 40-year-old expression — so for god’s sake don’t muck it up by adding anything more than a single drop of water.

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength

Released: Nationwide November 2020

ABV: 60.2%

Price: $248

The Story:

The genesis of the Angel’s Envy Cask Strength program hails back to 2012. This is when late master distiller Lincoln Henderson, his son Wes, and grandson Kyle walked around the rickhouse and picked out a few barrels of bourbon to finish in Port wine casks. Even though Lincoln passed away in 2013, the Henderson family has continued his tradition every year since.

2020-21 is a special year for the brand — this expression is finally available for the whole country to enjoy. Prior to last year, Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon was only available in eight states, including Kentucky, New York, and California. Named as the “Best Spirit in the World” back in 2013 by Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal, you can currently find this beloved bottle in all 50 states (and at the distillery in Louisville).

While regular Angel’s Envy bourbon clocks in at a potent 86.6 proof, its Cask Strength bourbon comes in at a robust 120.4 proof. Just like the brand’s original bourbon, this one is finished in Port wine casks.

Tasting Notes:

Before tasting this expression, it pays to give it a proper nosing. You’d expect such a high proof bourbon to have at least a few harsh alcohol aromas. This one doesn’t. All you smell is sweet cherries, rich vanilla, and brown sugar. The palate delivers subtle Christmas spices, candied orange peel, caramel sweetness, and charred oak. The finish is medium in length, warming, and signs off with even more toasted vanilla and just a subtle kick of peppery spice at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This bourbon is exceptionally mellow for its high proof. It’s complex and full of so many flavors it’ll take you a few glasses before you uncover them all. That’s the fun of it and makes it worth the high sticker price.

WhistlePig Boss Hog VII

Released: November 2020

ABV: 52.6%

Price: $500

The Story:

Back in 2013, Vermont’s WhistlePig launched the first edition of its now iconic Boss Hog expression. It was made using only 24 barrels. These two-dozen barrels were (at the time) WhistlePig’s oldest and highest quality casks. Aged for over 12 years, this single grain 134 proof rye whiskey was filled with memorable flavors like spicy cinnamon, subtle pepper, and mellow, sweet vanilla.

This whiskey was so well received that the folks at WhistlePig have released a new, unique expression every year. Iconic offerings like Boss Hog: The Spirit of Mortimer, The Black Prince, and The Samurai Scientist. Along the way, Boss Hog bottlings have become some of the most sought-after rye whiskeys in the world. Many sell for hundreds of dollars more than the original price.

This year’s offering is WhistlePig Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic. Made to pay homage to Magellan’s circumnavigation of the earth in 1519, it’s by far the series’ oldest offering to date. Sourced from Canada and aged for 17 years in American oak, this rye whiskey gets its unique flavor from being finished in Spanish oak barrels as well as South American teakwood.

Tasting Notes:

If you’re spending this amount of cash on a bottle of whiskey, you better get the most out of it. This includes a nice, slow, patient nosing. While you might expect spicy pepper to be prevalent in such a high-proof rye whiskey, the first aroma that fills your nostrils is that of sweet, creamy butterscotch. This is followed by warming cinnamon, maple syrup, and toasted caramel. The first sip delivers on the sniff — adding layers of candied orange peel, charred oak, and baking spices, all underpinned by that pleasing pepper. This finish is long, warming, and ends with a beautiful balance of cracked black pepper and rich toffee.

Bottom Line:

This is a bottle for a special occasion. Save this one (if you can) for a cold-weather special occasion and enjoy it neat while you sit under a blanket in front of a fireplace.

Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake

Released: October 2020

ABV: 46%

Price: $109.99

The Story:

Called Glenmorangie: A Tale of Cake, this limited-edition whisky is a celebration of sweet frosting and rich, sugary cake in alcohol form. While this sounds like the perfect luxurious expression to sip during these mid-winter nights, you might be wondering how exactly a renowned Scotch brand known for its high-quality, nuanced whiskies decides to make a cake-based expression.

It all started with a sweet childhood memory.

Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation, found himself reminiscing about the various memories he had baking with his grandma. It made him wonder if there was any way to take that nostalgia and make it into a whisky. He finally settled on finishing Glenmorangie’s single malt whisky in Tokaji dessert wine casks. The result is a mellow, sweet, vibrant, fruit-filled expression that pairs just as well with a piece of cake as it does with a chilly evening on the back porch.

Tasting Notes:

Like all the drams on this list, this dark copper-colored whisky deserves a thorough nosing before taking your first sip. Right away, there’s a quick hit of ripe fruits and sweet sherry scents. This is followed by dried cherries, rich milk chocolate, and creamy vanilla. The sip transports you to grandma’s kitchen as you watch her bake sweet cakes. It’s syrupy, sweet, velvety, and filled with almond, toasted vanilla, candied orange peel, and subtle herbs.

The finish is long, very warm, and ends with a dollop of honey and just that perfect gingerbready hint of cinnamon.

Bottom Line:

With winter on full blast, the time is right to stock up on a bottle (or two) of this limited-edition offering. It’s the perfect end to a hearty meal or as the accompaniment to rich, sweet seasonal desserts.

Orphan Barrel Muckety-Muck

Released: September 2020

ABV: 45%

Price: $251

The Story:

Orphan Barrel’s newest offering is a complex whisky in pretty much every aspect (even its name: Muckety-Muck). It’s a 24-year-old single grain Scotch whisky from the now-defunct Port Dundas distillery. Located in Glasgow along the Forth and Clyde Canal, this renowned distillery shuttered its doors back in 2010. The whisky exists because Diageo found the very few remaining casks of Port Dundas 24-year-old single grain and determined that it was the perfect addition to the Orphan Barrel family.

While the price tag seems a bit high for the average drinker, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bottle of Scotch from a renowned distillery aged for this long for even as low as $300. Added exclusivity bonus: the distillery literally doesn’t exist anymore.

Tasting Notes:

If you find yourself with a glass of whisky aged for this long, please please please take your time with it. The first scent that fills your nostrils is that of sweet cream. This is followed by dried cherries, rich vanilla, and sticky toffee pudding. The first sip is sublimely smooth with hints of charred oak, brown sugar, butterscotch, and a subtle kick of cinnamon spice. The finish is medium in length, effortlessly warming, and ends with hints of leather, toasted caramel, and sweet honey.

Bottom Line:

Orphan Barrel’s bottlings are extremely limited-edition. If you can get your hands on a bottle of Muckety-Muck, save it for a special occasion. Sip on it slowly this winter and savor every moment and nuanced flavor therein.

Blackened Whiskey Batch 106

Released: October 2020

ABV: 45%

Price: $59.99

The Story:

Back in 2018, the famed rock band Metallica collaborated with the late Master Distiller Dave Pickerell to release an extremely unique whiskey. It’s called BLACKENED and to some, the process used to create it might seem like a gimmick, while others couldn’t imagine a more rock and roll way to produce whiskey. The juice is a blend of bourbon and rye with an average age of 8 years. It’s finished in black brandy casks. While this alone sounds great, this is where things get crazy.

Using a process called “BLACK NOISE”, the whiskey is bombarded with low hertz music frequencies throughout the finishing process. While this isn’t the first time a spirits brand has used music to age its product (Louisville’s Copper & Kings has used sonic aging to mature its brandies and absinthe), it’s the first time on record a band used its own music to do so. Did you think they’d use music from someone else?

While the world was just getting used to the idea of one Metallica whiskey, the band and Sweet Amber Distilling Co. dropped a second version in October. It’s called Batch 106 X S&M2 and while it sounds like the name of the child of Elon Musk and Grimes, the title has an important meaning. While the first expression was made using a playlist selected by the band members, this second offering was finished using the S&M2 live album, a concert that featured Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find hints of caramelized sugar, rich, charred oak, toasted vanilla beans, and spicy cinnamon. The first sip is filled with hints of clover honey, dried fruits, sweet chocolate, and brown sugar. The finish is long, mellow, warming, and ends with a nice kick of maple candy.

Bottom Line:

Pour yourself a glass, crank up your favorite Metallica song and sip on this whiskey the same way it was created. What could be better than “Master of Puppets” while you enjoy a glass of whiskey?

O.H. Ingram River Aged Whiskey

Released: November 2020

ABV: 48%

Price: $79.99

The Story:

Historically, whiskey maturation occurs in a massive, dusty barrelhouse in a long line of barrelhouses that’s reminiscent of the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Casks or barrels sit stacked on top of each other for years, slowly aging until they hit a certain milestone, or the distiller deems them ready. This is pretty much the industry standard for whiskey from Tullahoma to Taipei.

In November, the aptly named Brown Water Spirits introduced its first whiskey, called O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey. This is the first-ever whiskey to be aged in a floating rickhouse (another name for barrelhouse) moored on the shore of the Mississippi River.

While aging whiskey in a foating barrelhouse sounds like a gimmick, the brand swears there’s more to it. Moored in Ballard County, Kentucky, the whiskey is exposed to the varying climate conditions of the river as well as the constant rise and fall of the water level. The distillers believe this creates unique flavors and barrel exposure for the juice inside.

Tasting Notes:

You’ll be greeted with notes of caramel corn, baking spices, charred oak, and sweet vanilla on the nose. The first sip yields buttery treacle, dried cherries, allspice, and buttercream. The finish is long, warming, and ends with a nice mix of spicy and sweet.

Bottom Line:

A fun conversation bottle and more affordable than most everything on this list. Having tried it, it’s hard to be sure if river aging really is an exceptional technique — but we are willing to state that the bottle quality is worth tracking down and trying.

Westland Garryana 2020 Edition 5

Release Date: November 2020

ABV: 50%

Price: $183.58

The Story:

This fall, the Seattle-based distillery Westland dropped the fifth edition of its sought-after Garryana. This annual release is the first expression from the brand’s new “Outpost Range.” This and the other whiskeys that will be released are made to pay tribute to a single, specific malt with heightened regard for terroir.

Specifically, Garryana is a reference to the wood used to mature the whiskey. It’s a type of oak (scientific name Quercus garryana) that is found throughout the Pacific Northwest. The 2020 version changes things up by aging peated whiskey in garryana oak and new, charred American oak barrels. The goal is to show that the wood used to age the whiskey is just as important as the juice itself.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’re sure to get notes of charred oak, sweet vanilla, dried fruits, and subtle spice. That’s followed by caramel apples, licorice, buttery caramel, and subtle cracked black pepper on the sip. The finish is long and filled with pleasing heat.

It should come as no surprise that a final flourish of rich oak shows up at the very end.

Bottom Line:

Since this is a different type of whiskey, it should be treated as such. Sip it slowly to let all of the nuanced, barrel-aged flavors emerge. If you can, stare at a pine tree while you drink it and let it transport you to the Pacific Northwest.