Not all electronic producers are built the same. If there’s anyone who can attest to this statement, it’s award-winning artist and producer Ben Böhmer, and this includes how he approaches his global travels.
Fresh off several major performances, including festivals such as Sonar by Night and a closing set at Lollapalooza, and serving as direct support for ODESZA’s finale at The Gorge and Madison Square Garden, Böhmer isn’t slowing down. For the rest of the year, he’ll round out his airline miles with tour stops in Australia and Europe to perform his latest third studio album Bloom.
The 11-track LP is a confident reassertion of Böhmer’s improvisational origins as a songwriter, bringing his innate skill and passion for songwriting and composing to the foreground. Bloom is bursting with raw and emotive electronica melodies that explore new genres and tempos. From the very first piano notes of the introductory track “Martin,” Ben’s melodies are the stars of the show, whether in orbit with vocals by The Blaze’s Enfant Sauvage on “Evermore” or rooted by grounding dancefloor rhythms on “Rust.”
Meanwhile, “The Sun” perfectly encapsulates the feeling of rebirth throughout Bloom. Featuring alt/dance-pop duo Oh Wonder’s Josephine Vander West, Ben toes the line between his established sound and his sophisticated instincts as a composer.
As he sets off on the second leg of his tour, we sat down to chat with Böhmer on his travel essentials, how he beats jet lag no matter the circumstances, his favorite cities to run in, and more.
Let’s talk about your global travels. You’re coming off a huge summer season of festivals and are about to embark on sold-out shows in Australia and in Europe. I see you were also just in the Dolomites. What’s one thing you consider necessary to take on tour that a lot of people might find odd/not agree with?
There’s one thing that I rarely see—slippers on the plane. I like bringing my own shoes that I wear inside my house. It’s really just a comfort thing that might be very unusual, but I like to bring them on the plane.
NATHAN D
What are your travel essentials?
I always travel with a small keyboard, so whenever there’s an idea, I can still play around and compose. Headphones, of course, so I can work while on tour and listen to music in good quality. I always like using biodynamic headphones, those big ones that fit over your ears and they’re comfortable. They sound great. On the plane though I use Bluetooth headphones with a noise-cancelling function.
I also love to run in cities or areas which I’ve never seen before. Especially in America, I wake up often pretty early because of the jet lag and the time zone difference, so I always have running shoes with me everywhere I go. It’s always something magical having a run during sunrise when there are no humans or no big city life going on. It keeps the balance, staying active on tour. It took me years to figure out how to combat jet lag in a really good way. Exercising in the sunlight and in nature is the best thing that works for jet lag.
The best thing to do after a long flight or when you’re traveling for 20-plus hours is just take a shower and go in the woods or the park and just walk around until the sun goes down.
NATHAN D
What’s one city in the U.S. that you absolutely love to run in?
I recently played a show in Aspen, and that’s probably one of the most beautiful surroundings I’ve ever seen in years. I’m also completely in love with Central Park in New York. I like to stay close to Central Park when I play shows in NYC and go for runs there.
Are you sitting in the window or aisle on an airplane?
I love to sit at the window and look out.
What are some of your favorite foods or snacks that you have while traveling and on tour?
I always have a big pack of nuts. They really can be lifesavers. If you’re jet-lagged and you wake up too early before anything is serving breakfast, a bag of nuts is a very good thing to have.
When staying in a hotel, do you tend to order room service or go out to eat? What are you ordering?
I never eat after playing shows. There is always so much going on, and my body just kind of shuts off. I don’t need or push for food after a show.
Before shows, though, I do try to eat quite heavily. I love to go visit new restaurants. I make food a part of touring for me, trying different places and the food of the culture.
Not too long ago, I played in Lima, Peru, and I discovered the best food I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. I was there for five days, and around the show, I had many, many people telling me that Lima has great food. I can agree that ceviche is out of his world, and it’s now my favorite food.
What city are you always excited to return to?
New York City. I’m always excited to come back to that city. I spend a lot of time there because I met my wife there, so I connect lovely memories to that city. And food-wise, it’s also a fantastic place. The shows are nice and the city is just impressive. It doesn’t get boring.
50 Cent is getting ready for his first Las Vegas residency later this year. He’s also ready to add a reported $15 million to his bank account for the shows. Speaking of big paydays, 50 Cent recently told Billboard that Eminem turned down “ridiculous amounts of money” to go on tour back in the day.
“I texted him, ‘Happy birthday.’ Not about the baby. He’s gonna be a granddad,” 50 Cent said about the last time they got in touch. “It’s crazy because a lot of times when we were going on tours, they would offer Em ridiculous amounts of money for us to tour and him go out on a run. He would just be like, ‘Nah, I just don’t wanna go out and then come back and Hailie’s grown.’ I didn’t know what the f*ck he was saying.” He does now, though.
50 Cent continued, “I had a moment where I told him at the wedding — because I went to Hailie’s wedding — I told him I understand now. That sh*t happened really fast. The time went by really fast, and she’s grown. I’m like, ‘What the…?’ She was right there with us the whole time. It’s ill. The time goes by. He’ll be working on a project and be working on the next record. Simple but complex at the same time, because he’s putting intricate things inside the records. I had to listen to it for three or four days before I understood it.”
You can see the dates for 50 Cent’s Las Vegas residency here.
Michter’s was recently voted the World’s Most Admired Whisky brand, and for anyone familiar with their work, that comes as no surprise. The brand dates back to 1753 and is in a modern Renaissance period spearheaded by the Magliocco family. At the tip of that spear is Joe Magliocco, President of Michter’s and its parent company, Chatham Imports, who was instrumental in acquiring the Michter’s trademark in the 1990s for a grand total of $245.
On his quest to produce the best whiskey in the world Joe Magliocco recognized early on that having access to the industry’s top minds would be a top priority. That meant he had to relocate the Michter’s brand, which had deep roots in Pennsylvania, to the modern heartland of bourbon production in Louisville, Kentucky. Along the way, he added several Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Famers (he even became one himself in 2023) to the Michter’s family, along with other industry leaders.
Leading the production team, there’s Master Distiller Dan McKee, Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, and Distiller/Vice President of Production Matt Bell. Together, along with the rest of the team, they’re the ones responsible for implementing Michter’s proprietary filtration on every single product that the brand releases, tailoring the taste of each expression for optimal flavor. It’s a level of attention to detail that’s seldom seen across the industry, and it’s indicative of Michter’s commitment to putting quality products at the top of its priority list.
As for the whiskeys they’re producing, they span both bourbons and ryes, plus American whiskey blends. They’ve got outstanding evergreen products, which we’ll detail below, but also some of the country’s most highly rated limited edition expressions. Simply put, Michter’s is putting out some of the best whiskey in the world from top to bottom.
So, given how much great whiskey Michter’s makes, we decided to put them to the test by ranking every single expression they’ve produced over the past few years to crown the very best. As a final production note, there’s one significant omission on this list: Michter’s 25-Year-Old Rye. The highly sought and high-priced expression hasn’t been released into the wild since 2014, and as such, it’s a little hard to come by. It also falls outside of the scope of our ranking, which focuses on Michter’s more recent releases, but for the completists out there, it’s certainly worth mentioning.
Now, with all of that out of the way, here’s our ultimate ranking of Michter’s whiskey lineup!
This is how you know that the Michter’s lineup is full of bangers: the first entry on this list is the absolutely delicious US*1 Unblended American Whiskey. If “Unblended” on the label gives you pause, here’s the full rundown: this expression doesn’t contain any neutral grain spirits, which can technically be part of any “blended whiskey” here in America. Furthermore, the end product for this expression was aged in “whiskey-soaked” barrels, which is part of what makes it an American whiskey because bourbon can only use new, charred, American oak barrels for primary maturation.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Michter’s American Whiskey features some Smarties candy, dilute honey, and pound cake with a faint bit of oak in the mix as well.
Palate: On the palate is where you pick up some ripe stone fruits like apple and peach, while the Smarties candy chalkiness can be found in the texture. There’s a touch of cinnamon to go with the flavor of pound cake at mid-palate, but overall, the flavor wheel is fairly restrained.
Finish: The finish is brief and marked by the infusion of a bit of nutmeg while maintaining the whiskey’s general sweetness and lean mouthfeel.
Bottom Line:
This is a delicious bottle of whiskey for sipping neat, but be advised, it’s even more excellent as a mixer. You can throw this one in the freezer and keep it on hand for chilled cocktails. Trust us, you’ll be thanking us later.
15. Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
While this expression doesn’t feature an age statement, consumers would be well advised to know that they use 8-year-old bourbon for these small-batch blends, which include up to 20 barrels in each batch. After undergoing the brand’s proprietary filtration process, the bourbon is brought to bottling proof with Kentucky limestone water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Michter’s US*1 Bourbon has a dense aroma bouquet that immediately appears well-refined. Notes like honeysuckle, brown sugar, raisins, and youthful oak fill the air, with each well-developed layer greeting the olfactory senses warmly.
Palate: On the palate, what’s immediately remarkable about this bourbon is the texture, as it gently coats your tongue with moderate warmth, and before you know it, the taste of brown sugar, raisins, and walnuts is suddenly everywhere on your tongue. That deceptively viscous texture works well here and is a credit to Michter’s proprietary filtration process and their atypical proof-point.
Finish: The finish here is brief, with brown sugar and cinnamon coexisting harmoniously alongside new oak and clove, making for a gentle send-off after every sip.
Bottom Line:
This is one of those instances where labeling something a “great bourbon for beginners” is far from a participation trophy. We recently ranked this number one in our “Smoothest Bourbons Under $50” blind-tasting, and it also placed highly on our list of the best-tasting bourbons under $50. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a newcomer, this bottle is sure to impress.
14. Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Original Sour Mash Whiskey
This ground-breaking bottle was the very first American whiskey to be crowned “Whiskey of the Year” by The Whiskey Exchange in the U.K. way back in 2019. The term “sour mash” refers to the process in which some fermented mash is held over from one batch of whiskey to start the fermentation on the next batch. Regarding this expression in particular, the mash bill is undisclosed, but there is likely less than 51% and less than 51% rye, meaning it can’t legally be called either a bourbon or a rye.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This whiskey opens with the aroma of dates and cinnamon, which soon cede ground to youthful oak, a dilute splash of honey, and white pepper.
Palate: The palate on Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey is gentle, with a lean texture full of honey graham crackers, herbal tea, and dried cranberries with a touch of barrel char and vanilla extract, helping to add a bit of nuance.
Finish: The finish features more vanilla extract, but the stone fruits also rise to the fore as they curtly close out each sip with a plume of smokiness.
Bottom Line:
The sour mash process is typically credited with creating a slightly sweeter distillate, and Michter’s US*1 Sour Mash Whiskey certainly provides evidence for that notion. This well-rounded, sweet whiskey is simply delicious for easy sipping and is one of the brand’s bottles most likely to win converts to the category.
Michter’s, primarily its Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, is responsible for putting toasted American whiskey on the map. What began in the fall of 2014 with their Toasted Bourbon has since branched out to include a Toasted Sour Mash Whiskey and this tasty Toasted Rye expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is full of roasted marshmallows with an almost cloying sweetness while rye spice, mint candy, and butterscotch all compete for second billing against the toasted oak notes.
Palate: The cloying sweetness of the marshmallow note from the nose follows through on the palate. At the same time, the flavor of herbal tea, dilute butterscotch, vanilla custard, and semi-bitter walnuts provide some intriguing variance. The mouthfeel is prototypical of Michter’s, which is to say it’s deceptively viscous without ever becoming overtly so.
Finish: The finish is moderately drying as a bit of smokiness encroaches on the sweetness as a touch of dark chocolate and tobacco leaf washes away the marshmallow tones and concludes succinctly with a smattering of oak and vanilla pods.
Bottom Line:
As one of Michter’s most polarizing releases, this expression, above all others, is the whiskey most subject to personal preference. The strong campfire vibes make it a delicious autumnal option, while the underlying rye spice offers some welcome balance to the sweeter notes wrought by the toasted finishing cask.
12. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
For its flagship rye whiskey, Michter’s rests the liquid for an undisclosed period of time before blending it in 20-barrel small-batches and bringing it to bottling proof with some of that famous Kentucky limestone water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Lime zest and Manuka honey lead the charge on the aroma note with a gentle, approachable profile that draws you in for deeper inhalation. On the second pass, you pick up notes of cracked black pepper, oak, and, surprisingly, brisket fat.
Palate: What stands out immediately is that Michter’s US*1 Rye has a really supple mouthfeel, and its flavors of honeyed mint tea with a touch of black pepper and oak are restrained yet well-defined. It’s a flavor profile that plays coy and encourages you to meet it halfway before enchanting you with how well-developed each of the notes truly is.
Finish: Some red pepper flakes, honey, and mint punctuate the sadly brief finish. Overall, each sip is impressively smooth and rich, which makes for easygoing good sipping.
Bottom Line:
While other rye expressions in Michter’s portfolio bring more pizazz, their standard edition rye is the life of the party. Equally excellent on its own or as a mixer, this bottle can either be the lifeblood of your bar cart or the not-so-guilty pleasure that fills your glass on a regular basis.
Created to honor the memory of John Shenk, the man responsible for founding a distillery that would grow to become Michter’s, this whiskey uses a substantial amount of rye and is aged in French oak casks sourced from the Vosges region of France. It is then naturally air-dried and seasoned for 24 long months and toasted to Michter’s exacting specifications. The unique grain recipe for this year’s whiskey also includes malted rye and caramel malt.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Aroma notes like chocolate wafers and orange buttercream enchant the senses at first before the scent of rose petals, allspice, and basil cut in to form a well-arranged symphony of scents.
Palate: As this whiskey splashes across your palate, the senses are primed to pick up the rich notes of chocolate truffle dust and almond meat that wash over the front of the palate before vanilla frosting with orange zest and mellow prickles of baking spice assert themselves on the middle of the palate.
Finish: Youthful oak interrupts things, inciting a brief finish with a bit of malted chocolate and more expressed orange peel at the end.
Bottom Line:
There are years when Shenk’s is the best-kept secret in Michter’s entire portfolio and years when it falls to the middle of the pack. For the 2024 edition, despite an intriguing mix of grains, it falls into the latter camp and places as a mid-tier entry in Michter’s incredibly competitive lineup.
Michter’s is famed for having a low barrel-entry proof, at 103 proof. For this expression, which is bottled at cask strength, the ABV has crept up ever-so-slightly. That means you get to enjoy Michter’s bourbon undiluted and in its rawest form for this expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is immediately dense and quickly grasps you with a touch of black cherry syrup, molasses, mature oak, and salted caramel for a classic arrangement of aromas that exhibits some deft blending from the Michter’s team.
Palate: Once on the palate, the whiskey is just as dense as the nose gave an indication, with the oak becoming more pronounced, while the black cherry and molasses notes sashay to the side and allow a drizzling of caramel and peanut shell to dash up the middle of the tongue.
Finish: The protracted finish finds the black cherry notes morphing into a singed orange wheel, and the peanut shell transforms into more of a spiced walnut before it’s all said and done.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s bourbon is already damn good, so it should come as no surprise that presenting it undiluted at full cask strength offers an explosion of flavor with every sip. This bottle still undergoes the brand’s proprietary filtration, so the experts are able to fine-tune the liquid and present it at its optimal flavor.
Comprised of barrels that Michter’s deems too good for blending, this single-barrel expression showcases the best of their rye whiskey at undiluted cask strength. Be advised that with the exception of Michter’s 25-Year-Old Rye, this is typically one of the brand’s hardest rye whiskeys to find.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Smoked caramel leads the way, with milk chocolate, mint, and graham cracker aromas following closely behind on this whiskey’s robust nose. It immediately comes across as a proofy, dense ride, and it will leave you salivating in anticipation of the first sip.
Palate: Smoked caramel and barrel char with leather lead the way on the palate before mint flows in at midpalate, cooling the tongue and introducing milk chocolate before the finish.
Finish: The finish is full of black pepper and nutmeg, but the smoked caramel is the note that most stubbornly persists. There’s also a touch of mocha present before the liquid completely evaporates.
Bottom Line:
What happens when you take Michter’s excellent rye whiskey and offer it at its full barrel-proof potency? Predictably delicious results, as this expression proves that the brand’s cask curation is as much a science as it is an art.
For this expression in the Michter’s Legacy Series, the brand sought to honor Bomberger’s Distillery, which would later become known as the Michter’s Distillery. Bomberger’s is comprised of bourbon aged in Chinquapin oak, which was naturally air-dried and seasoned for three years before being toasted and charred to the brand’s specifications.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A rush of aromas fills the air once you pour Bomberger’s, ranging from peanut brittle and fudge brownies to lavender and maple candy. There’s also a slight nuttiness that fuses with a touch of black pepper spice.
Palate: The palate opens with a dark sweetness like molasses, chocolate fudge, leather, and black cherry. The mouthfeel isn’t overly viscous, but it offers just enough grip on the palate to allow the flavors to develop without appearing either dense or too thin.
Finish: The finish is medium-long, with the baking spices extending the pleasure of each sip and rounding out with molasses sweetness and the gentle influence of walnuts and black pepper.
Bottom Line:
This year’s Bomberger’s release continues the brand’s streak of excellence by offering a spicy take on its standard bourbon thanks to its use of extensively air-dried Chinquapin oak. While Shenk’s is an annual threat to dethrone this expression atop the Michter’s Legacy Series pyramid, Bomberger’s fans can rest assured that for 2024, it’s the clear winner of the two.
Like Michter’s standard sour mash whiskey, this toasted version doesn’t meet the legal requirements to be called either a bourbon or a rye, but who cares? This one is different from the entry-level version because Michter’s finishes the whiskey in 18-month air-dried and lightly toasted barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Michter’s Toasted Sour Mash Whiskey welcomes the nose with the aroma of apricots, cinnamon, marshmallow, and milk chocolate. The flavors are really rich yet delicate, all glued together by the toasted oak backbone.
Palate: Once on the palate, there’s a bounty of more s’mores-like flavors with chocolate, roasted marshmallows, and oatmeal cookies coming together and gently massaging your tastebuds. There’s also a mellow fruitiness, with stone fruits again announcing their presence and a mellow, faintly viscous mouthfeel that ties it all together.
Finish: The finish introduces a tad more oak and a barely perceptible influx of black pepper, but the campfire vibes are still prevalent, with honeyed graham crackers and milk chocolate standing out.
Bottom Line:
By combining an intense richness of flavors and just the right amount of Kentucky limestone-filtered water, this expression is a nigh-perfect display of Michter’s excellent low-proof whiskey. In fact, it would be the ne plus ultra of their relatively affordable entries in that category if it weren’t for the following expression on this list…
Michter’s has been releasing a fun, new toasted whiskey annually for ten years now, and in 2024, they decided to return to where it all started. To create this release, Michter’s takes their award-winning bourbon recipe and subjects it to secondary maturation in an 18-month air-dried wood stave barrel that’s toasted but not charred.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Marshmallow, brown sugar, and cinnamon toast aromas first come wafting out of the glass. There’s some chocolate ganache and Cafe au lait with the faintest hint of mint in the mix as well. Initially, the marshmallow takes a strong lead, but in time, the aromas balance out and present themselves with magnificent balance.
Palate: It’s slightly smoky initially, with cinnamon, smoked caramel, marshmallow tones, and toasted oak splashing across the palate. Then, a faintly savory undertone helps to push the whiskey’s honey sweetness to the fore. The texture is rich and almost syrupy, which is a proper credit to Michter’s filtration process because I’m in awe that they can wring so much viciousness out at such a modest ABV.
Finish: The medium-length finish has a gentle kiss of ripe orange, and an elusive touch of bananas fosters flavor that cedes to the faint barrel char and toasted oak tones.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s kicked off the toasted bourbon party, and this expression proves they’ve still got the crown. This year’s Michter’s Toasted Bourbon delivers exactly what you’re looking for in a toasted barrel whiskey, but it pushes your palate into unfamiliar territory courtesy of a delightful balance that sees cinnamon, maple candy, and caramelized banana notes join the expansive palette this whiskey has to paint with.
5. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 10 Years Old
Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon, one of the American whiskey world’s most critically lauded expressions, is on an annual release schedule that sends bourbon fans into a fervor each time it’s announced. Utilizing Michter’s well-aged sourced whiskey stock, their blending team subjects hand-picked barrels to their proprietary filtration process for the end result.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Mango, brown sugar, and black cherry all burst out of the glass once this bourbon is poured like they’ve got places to go. I highly encourage sitting with it for a while, as rich oak and a touch of leather add new dimensions to the aroma profile of this intriguing whiskey.
Palate: Milk chocolate, coconut cream, and almonds splash across the palate on the first pass, making this taste like an Almond Joy in a glass. The barrel tones round things out, and it comes complete with a slick texture that brilliantly carries all of those well-developed flavors without going overboard.
Finish: The finish on this year’s Michter’s 10-year bourbon is medium in length but long on notes like hazelnut and coconut with oak tones and black pepper included.
Bottom Line:
With its low proof, Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon perfectly encapsulates the dog in the fight/fight in the dog paradox. This is one whiskey that doesn’t need a heavy dose of ethanol to tightly layer a ton of flavor and stand toe-to-toe with the best bourbon on the planet. Michter’s puts its high-quality craftsmanship on display with every bottle in its portfolio, but when it comes to relatively accessible bourbon released at regular intervals, this is one you need to put a premium on finding.
4. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 10 Years Old
Michter’s is known for being meticulous with its releases, not just the ultra-premium ones. It utilizes proprietary custom filtration for each of its whiskeys. For 2024’s 10-year single-barrel rye whiskey, Michter’s uses yet another custom filter to ensure this year’s version is different from previous years while maintaining the expression’s award-winning quality.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Huge scoops of vanilla ice cream with mint sprigs melt out of the glass. With Manuka honey and gentle leather accents in the background, this is such a classic Michter’s rye nose that it’s immediately identifiable. And awesome.
Palate: Rich buttercream, fresh cinnamon bark, creamy milk chocolate, crisp red apples…need I go on? Michter’s always does an incredible job with whiskey at a lower proof, and these 10-year expressions offer the grandest stage for them to showcase that prowess. Here, the mouthfeel is jaw-dropping, and the richness of the flavors hit you in lush waves, one after another, but they never threaten to overwhelm your senses. There’s enough runway for each excellent flavor note to take flight.
Finish: The finish undulates away gently after a considerable length of time, sucking your teeth for more hazelnut cream and sweet oak tones.
Bottom Line:
In a year full of legendary rye whiskeys, it should be enough to tell you, dear reader, that Michter’s 2024 10-Year Single Barrel Rye stands head and shoulders above the rest. This is one of the whiskeys that will define the year, and if you aren’t already in love with rye, then the 2024 Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel is Cupid’s arrow in a bottle.
3. Michter’s Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 25 Years Old
To create their vaunted 25-year-old bourbon, Michter’s curates some of their most exceptional hyper-aged barrels and blends them for this semi-regular expression. Bottled at full cask strength, this super-premium bourbon offers a glimpse into the liquid being distilled at an undisclosed distillery (or undisclosed distilleries) a quarter of a century ago; that’s a rare treat.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Michter’s 25-Year Bourbon is resplendent with refined chunks of peanut butter, a light cinnamon dusting, oak, and dark chocolate. Each of those dark notes is well-developed and distinct, with a certain sprightliness that allows them all to dart in and out of focus, weaving in concert brilliantly.
Palate: On the palate, the flavors’ impressive refinement and spry nature remain evident. Roasted nuts, stewed raspberries, and peanut brittle stand out on the flavor wheel, and the texture is mellow but expansive, gently unfurling over the entirety of your tongue and clinging to the roof of your mouth for dear life.
Finish: The finish is extensive, thanks to the viscous texture, allowing the flavor of roasted Brazil nuts, dried cherries, and dark chocolate to linger long after each sip.
Bottom Line:
This bourbon is expectedly rich and oaky, and that two-piece combination is enough to knock out most of the competition. That is, of course, unless the competition comes from within the rest of Michter’s ultra-limited portfolio, where we can find the remaining two bottles on this list.
Michter’s has only ever released four Celebration Sour Mash expressions, and 2022’s was the first one since 2019. Limited to just 328 bottles worldwide, Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash is the brand’s second-most exclusive offering. A true collaboration between Michter’s Master Distiller, Dan McKee, and Master of Maturation, Andrea Wilson, the pair selected seven bourbon and rye whiskeys, ranging from twelve to thirty-plus years old, for this premium blend.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is surprisingly expressive, with orange blossom, raw honey, and mellow oak making up the core aromas while a touch of vanilla custard and milk chocolate flit along the edges.
Palate: The delicate texture of the liquid implores you to sip it gently as the rich flavor of raw honey bursts across your palate, along with cooked red apples and buttery pie crust. This is a whiskey that I would describe as elegant, as the mouthfeel is lean yet surprisingly viscous and mouth-coating, sticking to your palate and boring deep into your tastebuds with those rich, sweet flavors.
Finish: The finish is medium-length, but again, the elegant viscousness causes the liquid to slowly dissipate from your palate, leaving orange marmalade, crème brulée, and milk chocolate behind.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash is the bottle that Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson most frequently cite as their proudest achievement. Not only is the blend of bourbon and rye a showcase of Michter’s most premium barrels, but it also represents the two masters’ most challenging assignment across the brand’s entire portfolio. The result, a labor of love, is one of the greatest whiskeys this country has ever produced.
1. Michter’s US*1 Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 20 Years Old
Master Distiller Dan McKee selects the barrels that end up in this hyper-limited expression, showcasing Michter’s limited, well-aged bourbon stock. Although the age statement on this release says “20 years old,” it’s no secret that Michter’s age-stated portfolio tends to include significantly older whiskey in these blends.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Oh, yeah…this is seriously mature bourbon. It plays all of the classics – black cherry sweetness, deep leather aromas, and refined oak – and does little to stray from them.
Palate: Again, Michter’s 20 is a straightforward sipper with black cherries, leather, and well-aged oak taking the reins and refusing to let go. Along the periphery, clove and black pepper are found in the spice department, and sweet bits of butterscotch, brown sugar, and vanilla extract enhance the sweetness at every level across this dense, decadently textured bourbon.
Finish: The remarkably lengthy finish is where those guest appearances recede, and we’re back showcasing the three primary flavors, which impress due to their ample richness.
Bottom Line:
Featuring a blend of sourced bourbon that is painstakingly mingled and undergoes a proprietary filtration process, Michter’s 20 might be the quintessential bourbon. Full of rich oak, mature leather, and black cherry, this is the whiskey, above all others, that demonstrates what well-aged bourbon should taste like.
We’re finally (allegedly) approaching the cool weather season, which means plenty of brand-new whiskeys are being released that are worth chasing down.
We’re talking about everything from premium-priced, rare offerings from Japan to excellent, everyday expressions out of Kentucky and everything in between. After all, Bourbon Heritage Month is behind us, but the world of whiskey is far larger than just one category. In celebration of that, we decided to round up a bunch of the must-try expressions from around the globe, targeting whisk(e)y at every price point.
Are you ready for the complete list?
Keep reading to see our collection of 24 new whiskeys to chase down this fall!
The Dalmore’s latest iteration of its venerable Cask Curation Series was created in partnership with Graham’s Port, pairing exquisite single-harvest tawny port pipes with The Dalmore’s mature whiskey. The exclusive three-bottle package is limited to just 150 sets globally, with only a shade over 20 sets making their way Stateside.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich malt notes and Brazil nuts with juicy blood orange and caramel greet the nose once this whiskey tumbles into the glass. The aroma of fresh walnuts comes wafting up, too, with candied ginger, cinnamon, redcurrants, and coconut joining for the journey.
Palate: The palate is marked by an incredible creaminess as the flavor of nougat, Tahitian vanilla, flan, and tobacco leaf pool at midpalate, leaving the taste of Medjool dates and chocolate wafer cookies gently undulating at the periphery. It’s far nuttier than either the 27-year-old or 43-year-old iteration.
Finish: The rich liquid concludes with a medium-length finish full of gently toasted walnuts and sweet red berries while hints of vanilla also persist.
Bottom Line:
This ultra-premium set of decidedly mature whiskeys succeeds in matching the beauty of the liquid with the luxury of the packaging that houses it. With only 150 sets available globally (and a hefty asking price), it’s perhaps the most challenging whiskey on this list to acquire, but for those with a sense of adventure and the commensurate coin to seek this release out, it’s well worth the hunt.
Beyoncé’s much-talked-about entry into the whisky world comes in the form of a bespoke blend of American whisky made with a grain recipe that’s 51% rye and 49% malted barley, meaning this is officially a rye whisky. Once the whisky, hand-selected by Dr. Bill Lumsden, reached maturity, it underwent a secondary aging process in Texas. It was dumped into Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for that aging process, imparting it with a ruby hue, a creamier texture on the tongue, and a more berry-forward flavor profile.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Cherries and rye spice delight the nose at first, and with a twist of orange rind in the mix, it actually smells a lot like an Old Fashioned cocktail. Swirl SirDavis in your glass, and you’ll also begin to pick up notes of honeyed wheat toast, oregano, and black tea.
Palate: The flavor of fresh mint sprigs, vanilla pod, and nutmeg greet the tongue while notes of honey and ripe cherries begin to spring up once you get past that initial wave of baking spices. The notes of nutmeg and black pepper kick up again at the end of each sip, as does some sherry flavor, which leaves a whisper of Brazil nuts with a gentle kiss of dessert wine sweetness.
Finish: On the finish, as the whisky trickles off your palate, the taste of sherry is again prominent. Fresh hazelnuts, oak from the barrels it was aged in, and black pepper are also evident. The flavors dissipate fairly quickly, giving the whisky a smooth impression overall. For its final act, you’ll notice that your mouth begins drying out, encouraging repeat sips so you can return to the flavor found early on.
Bottom Line:
This whisky lends itself well to mixed drinks and features luscious, balanced flavors, making it an attractive, moderately proofed option for drinking neat. Its unconventional production method, from the grain recipe to its secondary maturation under the Texas sun, offers enough intrigue to entertain hardcore whisky enthusiasts, and the sweet, sherry-enhanced approachability helps corral newcomers.
Always the product of barrels from a single rickhouse, thus the name — 2024’s Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse focuses on the brand’s Camp Nelson B rickhouse. Also of note: this is the highest proof offering to ever come from the Russell’s Reserve lineup at 120.2 (landing just shy of Wild Turkey Generations’ 120.8 for the highest proof from a Wild Turkey offering).
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes open with a ton of cinnamon, nutmeg, dates, and some savory bacon. With a second whiff, you pick up the aroma of Tahitian vanilla with candied ginger and a touch of milk chocolate.
Palate: Wow, a ton of ginger candy and apple galette notes spring onto the palate, with cinnamon and brown butter in spades. The liquid itself is really active on the palate, especially on the roof of the mouth, with spice and nougat notes thrumming throughout.
Finish: The finish seemingly lingers forever, with the vanilla and cinnamon tones blending with cardamom and nougat for a satisfying send-off.
Bottom Line:
Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson B is the lineup’s most unique bourbon yet, soaring to new heights for Wild Turkey when it comes to proof but also delivering a mouth-watering melange of flavors that aren’t typically associated with the brand. For fans of the classic Turkey flavor profile, don’t assume that means this isn’t for you. This is an incredible bourbon fit for anyone who appreciates in credible bourbon.
Kinfolk Trust is a brand-new blend of American whiskeys from Taste Select Repeat’s Orlando “OJ” Lima. The unique blend takes barrels sourced from Dark Arts Whiskey House (potentially Danville-distilled bourbon) and Bainbridge Distillery. While there are only three batches of the cask strength version planned per year, the same is anticipated for the lower “Preferred Proof” version.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma notes unveil hints of beeswax at first, while butterscotch, oak, and orange blossom aromas follow close behind. It has a very creamy, approachable nose despite the proof, with a faintly vegetal note pulsing throughout as well.
Palate: Bubblegum reaches the palate first, then the faintly citric, sweet note of orange pith comes in. It’s big and flavorful at midpalate, with loads of butterscotch, slightly floral notes, orange marmalade, and restrained spice blossoming. The heat fans out over the edges of the tongue and then dart up the roof of the mouth, with black pepper leading the charge.
Finish: Kinfolk Trust’s Cask Strength offering has a lingering finish that hangs on the palate for a long time, with some nougat and black pepper leaving the most lasting impression.
Bottom Line:
As part of an intimate product reveal in Louisville, Lima indicated that he wasn’t intent on creating an empire with Kinfolk Trust, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is whiskey fit for a king. If this thoughtful, well-constructed inaugural blend is indicative of what we can expect from the future of the brand then you’ll want to keep them firmly on your radar this fall.
For Octomore 15.2, the whiskey was initially aged in second-fill wine casks (42%) and second-fill Bourbon casks (58%) before being finished in second-fill French oak ex-Cognac casks that push the flavor profile in an intriguing direction. The 15.2 features the same batch of Scottish-grown barley as 15.1, also malted to 108.22 PPM.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma notes sing with Brie cheese, lime zest, walnuts, and cherries. Despite having the same phenol level of 15.1, the 15.2 comes across as less smoky thanks to its pine-like woodsiness, with moss, ginger cookies, and brown butter.
Palate: Once on the palate, those nosing notes delicately unfurl with wisps of moss and smoke, subtly masking the vanilla custard, dried apricot, and Rainier cherry notes. The slick, velvety texture finds a home in every corner of the mouth as it gently coats the palate, allowing each flavor note to develop with ample space.
Finish: The finish is where a greater infusion of smoke comes through with pink peppercorn, nutmeg, and a slight salinity.
Bottom Line:
While this year’s Octomore 15.3 is drawing a lot of attention for being a phenomenal phenolic force, it’s the finesse of the 15.2 that stands tall in the lineup. With a balanced bouquet of aromas married to a patient, revealing palate, Octomore 15.2 is a testament to the delicate deployment of peat.
Four Roses’ highly anticipated Limited Edition Small Batch for 2024 has finally been announced, and we were able to get a first taste of it. For this year’s release, Master Distiller Brent Elliott opted to blend three of Four Roses’ ten bourbon recipes with a 12-year-old OBSV, 15-year-old OESK, 16-year-old OESF, and more OBSV, this time at 20 years old, to create the final product.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is initially floral with ripe apples, butterscotch, and butter pecan ice cream. Faint bits of dark chocolate, star anise, and tobacco leaf help to round out the beautiful bouquet of aromas.
Palate: The butterscotch and apple note really pops on the palate off the bat. The whiskey is well-rounded with a mellow black pepper baking spice tone to go with a more pronounced helping of cinnamon bark, pecans, and brown sugar. The range of flavors reminds me a lot of fried apple pie with a splash of citrus zest. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and enhances the depth of the flavors without becoming an attraction unto itself.
Finish: The finish has a mature oak backbone with the additional flavor of caramel chews and Fuji apple skin. It’s medium-length, but that brevity really works, urging your focus on the next sip rather than your last.
Bottom Line:
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch is annually considered one of the stars of the fall-release schedule and its consistently high quality is indicative of why. While last year’s release soared to incredible heights, this year’s expression seems equally eager to touch the sky, making it one of the best bourbon releases to chase after this autumn.
Westward Milestone Edition 2 American Single Malt Whiskey
For Westward’s premium Milestone expression, Master Blender Miles Munroe created a twenty-one-barrel Solera system to continuously age and blend some of the brand’s most precious whiskey in various casks. Two other things that make this release unique? The distillate is slow-proofed in-cask, and new for this year is the inclusion of Amburana barrel-aged whiskey in the solera blend.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich orange marmalade and cinnamon notes come leaping out of the glass when you run your nose over the rim, with further aromas of malt chocolate and dense French vanilla drawing you in and imploring an initial sip.
Palate: This is an incredibly lush and smooth whiskey with cinnamon and nougat meshing harmoniously with the orange marmalade, French vanilla, and malt chocolate notes from the nose. The texture is also remarkably creamy, allowing all of those decadent flavors to coat your palate and blossom at length.
Finish: The medium-length finish gently recedes with orange blossom, Brazil nuts, and cinnamon, leaving the final impression before it escapes your palate.
Bottom Line:
Westward Whiskey’s annual Milestone expression has quickly established itself as a whiskey not to be missed, exhibiting Master Blender Miles Munroe’s expert blending prowess. This expression’s moniker, a sly nod to Mr. Munroe and aptly named to mark Westward’s growth, definitely fits, and the whiskey exemplifies the neck tag’s Latin dictum Verum Factum, the maker’s knowledge.
Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey Small Batch 2024 Release
Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey from Michter’s is always one of the brand’s more intriguing annual blends, and the 2024 edition keeps things interesting by utilizing liquid housed in French oak sourced from the Vosges region of France. The grain recipes include malted rye and caramel malt and showcase Michter’s casks, which underwent natural air drying and seasoning casks for 24 months before being toasted to their specifications.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Once in the glass, Shenk’s whiskey begins giving off the aroma of chocolate wafers and orange buttercream, rose petals, allspice, and basil. It’s a lovely medley of scents that work well in concert with one another and draw you in for an initial sip.
Palate: The flavors of chocolate truffle dust and almond meat come together on the palate with vanilla frosting and orange zest on top. The texture is spry, spreading over the length of the tongue with ease and gently rolling over the palate with a bit of baking spice, seizing the opportunity to make an impression before it transitions to the finish.
Finish: Youthful oak interrupts things with a curt finish that introduces a bit of malted chocolate and roasted coffee notes before gently receding.
Bottom Line:
Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey from Michter’s, as part of the Legacy Series, is always a sought-after release and this year’s expression is a sterling example of why, thanks to its fusion of atypical flavors that come together for a complex yet easy-sipping experience.
Brook Hill is the Rare Character brand’s ne plus ultra expression, which, as you should already know, means this is some absolutely epic whiskey. With a history that dates back to the turn of the 19th century, the modern-day revival of Brook Hill is releasing exclusive bourbons and rye, with a highly limited number of single barrels of the rye hitting the market so far this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Milk chocolate, like the milk in a bowl after you finish your Cocoa Puffs, and sweet mint are most immediately alluring on the nose. Stick around a while, and you’ll also find chunks of toffee, polished leather, and paprika contributing to this dark and brooding nose.
Palate: Candied walnuts hit the palate along with a big spoonful of brown sugar before that Cocoa Puff milk note begins to pool at midpalate, whetting the edges of your tongue. Paprika and barrel char are relegated to the shotgun seat as some nutmeg, Smarties candy, and dried cranberries steer the ship before this transitions into the finish.
Finish: Almost chalky as the texture grips the back of your tongue before tapping out. There’s some oak and nuttiness on the finish, along with drops of honey, but despite the impressive length of those flavors, you’ll probably be on your second glass before you truly appreciate them.
Bottom Line:
Brook Hill came out of the gate strong, but then, that’s what Rare Character has become known for. They don’t half-step when it comes to new releases, and ever since introducing Brook Hill to the market in 2023, they’ve been batting 1.000.
Yamazaki Mizunara 18-Year-Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky 100th Anniversary Limited Edition
Yamazaki has a real treat to offer with this 18-year-old Japanese Single Malt, which sees the entirety of its maturation subjected to Mizunara oak. Created in honor of Suntory Whisky’s centenary, this 100th Anniversary Edition is brand-new for 2024.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Black cherries and peaches introduce this whisky on the nose as a fruit-forward treat before baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg reveal themselves.
Palate: The palate is delicate, with flavors that coyly sidle up to your tongue with subtly spiced torched orange wheels combining with floral undertones, vanilla custard, and a gentle drizzle of honeyed black tea. The texture is very soft, but the flavors hold together even when rolling them over the tongue.
Finish: Despite the sparse texture, the finish lingers with medium length, as aspects of clove, sandalwood, and dried coconut close things out.
Bottom Line:
Yamazaki Mizunara 18-Year-Old shows just how well Yamazaki’s delicate liquid can interact with the porous Japanese oak, utilizing the cask’s characteristic notes of subtle spice and sandalwood to mold the distillery’s mature liquid in an oft-used albeit impressive fashion.
King of Kentucky is the Brown-Forman brand’s most regal annual release. For 2024, it features a fleet of single-barrel bourbons, all aged for at least 16 years. With 5,100 bottles produced from just 63 barrels distilled between July 19, 2007, and November 15, 2007, this expression’s popularity and relative rarity make it difficult to find.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Lush chocolate-covered coconut notes open things up, with vanilla bean and caramel joining brown sugar and the aroma of caramelized fruit, dense oak, and a whisp of malt to close things out.
Palate: The palate begins with intense, dark, sweet notes as chocolate, mature oak, toasted coconut, and Madagascar vanilla make an initial impression before faint leather and sumptuous toffee notes find their way at mid-palate. The bourbon’s texture is incredibly viscous and chewy, making it all the more attractive to sit with this pour at length and parse each dense layer of flavor.
Finish: This might be the bourbon with the lengthiest finish of the year as it lingers for minutes after the final sip with caramel, toasted coconut, dark chocolate, and mature oak reverberating across the palate until the very end.
Bottom Line:
King of Kentucky has gained a reputation as the pinnacle of bourbon’s annual release calendar, and this year’s edition is a hallmark example of that. While some recent releases have struggled to integrate those mature oak notes into the overall structure of the whiskey, resulting in other Limited Edition snatching the crown, this year’s offering shows that Master Distiller Chris Morris hasn’t lost his iron grip.
Keeper’s Heart 21-Year-Old Irish Single Malt Finished in Tokaji Barrels
Keeper’s Heart’s new 21-year-old Irish Single Malt whiskey, crafted by the brand’s Master Distiller, Brian Nation, is truly presented as a work of art. Encased in a luxurious wooden box is this equally luxurious liquid, finished in Tokaji Hungarian dessert wine barrels for an added layer of complexity.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes open with apricots drizzled in honey, vanilla custard, and burnt sugar atop a crème brulée. A few waves of the hand grant the nose further aromas like Medjool date syrup, a faint, creamy nuttiness, butterscotch, and floral notes.
Palate: On the first sip, you’re welcomed by the decadent butterscotch and malt notes one can expect with well-aged Irish whiskey, but they’re joined by soft dates, white sugar, and orange zest with some elusive dark chocolate rounding things out at midpalate.
Finish: The finish is where you notice how silky the texture is, lingering for a moderate length with dessert wine sweetness melding well with the malt and dilute butterscotch left on the palate.
Bottom Line:
While Keeper’s Heart has thus far made its name with delightful fusions of American and Irish whiskey, by staying in one late and deploying an atypical, albeit entrancing finishing cask, they’ve taken things to new heights. This pricy expression of Master Distiller Brian Nation’s visionary blending prowess is a show-stopper.
Fortuna Barrel Proof Bourbon is the pinnacle of the revived Fortuna brand from Rare Character. This beefed-up barrel-proof bourbon is sourced from an undisclosed distillery in Kentucky and blended in three-to-five barrel lots. What’s new, however, is the addition of an age statement, a bit of a throwback to how bourbon was labeled in the early 1900s, which reads “8 Summers Old.”
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with boozy cocktail cherries, cinnamon bark, rich oak tones, and even a hint of mocha. After a wave of the hand, as the liquid tumbles around your glass, aerating it will reveal further aromas of butterscotch, black pepper, cacao nibs, and strawberry jam.
Palate: The nosing notes offer a solid roadmap for what follows on the palate as blackberry jam replaces the strawberries found on the nose while cinnamon, almond extract, dense oak, and sticky toffee run rampant on the tongue. The texture is robust and offers a fullness that allows each flavor to present itself distinctly, revealing its impressive richness.
Finish: The finish is long-lasting and introduces clove, freshly grated ginger, and black pepper for one final baking spice sizzle before the syrupy black cherry notes leave a sweet final impression.
Bottom Line:
Fortuna Barrel Proof entered the market with a splash, immediately challenging the supremacy of several cask-strength stalwarts at 7 years old. Now, nearly a year after its introduction to the market, and with the addition of an 8-year age statement, it’s become clear that it isn’t just beginner’s luck that warrants its place in the conversation. Fortuna Barrel Proof Bourbon is quickly becoming an implacable answer to the question of the best barrel-proof bourbon on the market.
Old Line Navy Strength 114 Proof American Single Malt Whiskey
Old Line Distillery, based in Maryland, created this release by taking hand-selected four, five, and six-year-old barrels based on their unique characteristics and then bottled them at a hefty 114 proof point.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with notes of butterscotch, malted barley, honey, and white pepper that practically leap out of the glass. True to expectations, this noses like an amped-up version of Old Line’s stellar flagship American Single Malt. There’s even a surprising note of star anise to be found.
Palate: It has a heavy mouthfeel with lilac, dark chocolate, star anise, and honey featured most prominently. The rich, floral note is perhaps the most surprising part of the transition to the palate, but the dense texture works well to display the flavors and temper the high heat of this one.
Finish: The lengthy finish is where the oak hangs out, and the lilac note fuses with lavender and honey in a major way. It’s an unusual but wholly welcome development that makes this one fun to sip slowly and savor at length.
Bottom Line:
This Navy Strength version of Old Line’s flagship distillate is a wild departure from the norm with far more floral aspects and an incredibly robust texture that marks this as some of the best liquid coming out of the distillery.
Premier Drams is a new brand that was launched early this summer by the same man behind Washington D.C.’s legendary whiskey bar, Jack Rose, Bill Thomas. 8 years ago, Thomas began procuring contract-distilled whiskey from an elusive producer in Bardstown, Kentucky, and aging it at the site of the historic Old Taylor Distillery, which today is the home of Castle & Key. Due to Castle & Key’s uniquely cool maturation facilities, many of the barrels that went into these Premier Drams single barrels saw a significant drop in ABV, with the majority hovering right around the 100-proof mark at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Strawberry saltwater taffy escapes the grasp of the glass to greet the nose at first before evolving into a cherry Luden’s note and partnering up with truffle honey, white pepper, and peanut brittle for a mellow and intriguing medley.
Palate: On the palate, it’s a delight to discover that the Luden’s cherry note has evolved into a full-blown Rainier cherry, carrying white pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and honey in tow. The flavors here are markedly rich, defying its moderate proof and delivering a depth and richness that will have you sucking your molars, frantically trying to prevent even a single drop from slipping through the cracks.
Finish: Vanilla pods, salted butter, fatty Brazil nuts, and white pepper prevail on the finish with a dollop of honey and Rainier cherries, adding a sweet closing kiss as it succinctly slides off your palate.
Bottom Line:
By delivering cask-strength bourbon at such a moderate proof point, Premier Drams is quietly revolutionizing the modern bourbon landscape. In the fashion of any groundbreaking innovator, I’m not entirely sure the public is ready for it yet, but that’s what makes discovering excellent single-barrel offerings like this so awesome.
Wolves Whiskey has been producing some stellar and incredibly unique premium blends over the past few years, but this expression is the brand’s very first crack at creating an evergreen product. Aged for five years in California wine barrels before being finished in Cognac casks, this brand-new American Single Malt debuted in September this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with mocha, deep honey tones, and roasted Brazil nuts. After a few waves of the hand, cinnamon and doughy notes emerge out of the glass, along with dried strawberries.
Palate: This whiskey is immediately supple and expansive on the palate, defying its modest proof to flood your tastebuds with the flavor of Manuka honey, crème brulée, clove, and fresh figs. There are additional layers of nutmeg, cinnamon, and half-baked pastries, complete with a slight doughiness and well-developed sweetness.
Finish: The finish is medium-length and just as silky as the liquid itself, causing it to gently recede, leaving a touch of black pepper and clove with cinnamon bark at the end.
Bottom Line:
Wolves Whiskey’s brand-new American Single Malt is sure to turn heads as the brand’s very first evergreen product showcases an impressive utilization of finishing casks. While the brand has a ton of intriguing higher-end offerings, this new entry-level whiskey is sure to capture a new audience thanks to its more affordable price point and approachable flavor profile.
Maker’s Mark’s sole age-stated product, Cellar Aged, is now in its second year of production. This year’s release features 15% 12-year-old bourbon and 85% 13-year-old bourbon, making it their oldest release to date.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dark chocolate truffle dusting, orange blossom, and floral aromas kick off this aromatically impressive bourbon. Further notes of brown sugar, lavender honey, faint umami, wet soil, and coconut soon follow.
Palate: Citrus and red berries with vanilla and black pepper hit the palate at first, with heavy dark chocolate notes following thereafter. The texture is very creamy up front, with a tasty pop of cinnamon on the back end. Luscious caramel and toasted coconut develop at midpalate.
Finish: The finish is lengthy and has dried strawberries with black pepper, gentle oak, and vanilla.
Bottom Line:
The question you may have is whether or not this year’s Cellar Aged is better than 2023’s edition. The answer: it depends. While last year’s version is full of caramel tones that are very true to Maker’s Mark’s standard product, this year has much more chocolate and an atypical coconut note that will bring newcomers into the fold.
Uncle Nearest 777 Anniversary Blend Premium Tennessee Whiskey – The Lost Chapter (Batch 007)
For this special Anniversary Blend, created to honor Uncle Nearest’s 7th year in operation, the brand takes 7-year-old Tennessee whiskey that’s been hand-selected and mingled by their Master Blender, Victoria Eady Butler. The ABV for these small batch blends varies, but the one we’ll be considering today from Batch 007 landed on the higher side at 121.7 proof.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rainier cherries, maple candy, and white chocolate. There’s some clove and more faint cinnamon, but the cherries are the strongest aroma.
Palate: Incredibly smooth and supple mouthfeel that instantly and gently coats your palate with honey, rainier cherries, and allspice hitting the palate. It’s remarkably even-keeled, and it’s only as it transitions to the finish where baking spices from clove to black pepper start to tingle the tongue.
Finish: The lengthy finish finds white pepper, sage, and rich, well-rounded honey, gently sending this whiskey on its way.
Bottom Line:
This is far and away the best whiskey I’ve ever had from Uncle Nearest. The 777 Anniversary Blend has an incredible depth of flavor coupled with an impressive balance that subtly and effectively coats the palate this whiskey will leave you craving a backup bottle as soon as you take your first sip.
The latest project from the Henderson family, the same folks who founded Angel’s Envy, is True Story. True Story’s whiskey lineup features an Amburana and Sherry-finished rye with a Moscatel-finished bourbon as their flagship.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes fling the door open with delightful honey, surprising macadamia nuts, and stewed stone fruits. It’s a balanced and generally light melange that is a treat to nose at length despite not being overly complex.
Palate: The palate opens with vanilla frosting, dates, and macadamia nuts’ faintly nutty, creamy flavor. This is easy-sipping bourbon for sure, with a nice roundness that highlights how balanced and well-integrated it is with those Moscatel secondary maturation casks.
Finish: The finish ends succinctly with a touch of white pepper joining red berries and dilute honey.
Bottom Line:
True Story doesn’t just have a highly unique bottle the bourbon (and rye) housed in those opaque bottles is one of a kind as well. With a light, sweet flavor profile ideal for the bourbon-curious, but rich enough for the enthusiasts, the Henderson’s definitely have another hit on their hands.
New for 2024, Old Grand-Dad’s first age-stated expression is a hefty 16-year-old bourbon proofed down to 50% ABV. This expression joins Old Grand-Dad, Old Grand-Dad Bonded, and Old Grand-Dad 114 in the lineup.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Cornbread and caramel fill the air at first, with notes of brown sugar, peanuts, and wheat toast closely following behind for a classic Jim Beam-esque profile with added depth and nuance.
Palate: Well-aged oak, cinnamon, brown sugar, tobacco leaf, and Chex Mix make for the most striking flavors on the palate, which is even-keeled and even a bit restrained, which is typical of bourbon in this age range. The texture is admittedly quotidian, given this whiskey’s moderate proof point. Still, there’s no denying the depth of flavor, as the mature oak tones provide plenty of runway for the rest of the tasting notes to develop to their fullest potential.
Finish: Old Grand-Dad 16 concludes with a medium finish that’s slightly drying with heavy spice and peanut shell vibes punctuating the end of every sip.
Bottom Line:
The newest Old Grand Dad in Jim Beam’s portfolio, this stellar 16-year-old bourbon pushes the OGD flavor wheel to new heights with increased richness and beautiful depth of flavor previously out of reach for the lineup. While one is left wondering whether or not the expression would benefit from added proof (16-year OGD 114, anyone?), there’s no denying that this well-constructed, balanced bourbon is worth seeking out immediately.
This year alone, Jack Antonoff — musician, producer, husband of Margaret Qualley — has worked with Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lana Del Rey, Japanese Breakfast, Bartess Strange, Nick Cave, The 1975, and Kendrick Lamar. He’s the prolific pop and indie producer of the moment, and with that comes a lot of fans for his ability to make “beautiful art” with other musicians… and a lot of detractors over accusations of an increasingly formulaic sound (think: lots of synths and introspection). But it’s undeniable that he’s helped shepherd some of the best albums of the 2010s and 2020s.
Below, you’ll find a ranking of every album produced by Jack Antonoff. A few disclaimers: his bands — Bleachers, fun., Steel Train, and Outline — are omitted. I also only included albums where he produced at least five songs, which leaves off Taylor Swift’s 1989 (including the Taylor’s Version), Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet, Carly Rae Jepsen’s Dedicated Side B, etc.
Get off the bleachers, let’s have some fun.
20. Daddy’s Home by St. Vincent
Daddy’s Home is St. Vincent’s attempt at making a “sleazy, grimy record” that recreates what it was like “being down and out Downtown in New York, 1973.” So why does it sound so sterile? There’s no swagger, no grit, no glam to Daddy’s Home, only gauzy retro-pop with too-thick production from Antonoff. Thankfully, another album of theirs will be much higher on this list.
19. Lost At Sea by Rob Grant
Looking at a photo of Rob Grant, you would think his debut album sounds like Jimmy Buffett. But there’s no “attitude” to be found on Lost At Sea, only relaxation. It’s a slight-but-calming album of piano ambience, save for two songs with Grant’s daughter, Lana Del Rey. Antonoff, who produced five tracks, stays out of the way, letting the piano do the talking (minus any actual talking). “My Deep Dream Blue” sounds best while wrapped in seaweed at the spa.
18. Solar Power by Lorde
After the out-of-nowhere success of Pure Heroine and an Album of the Year nomination for Melodrama, Lorde wanted to “just chill out” on her third LP. She chilled out too much. On Solar Power, Lorde sounds subdued, with little momentum from song to song. There are individual moments of spark (closer “Oceanic Feeling” is a highlight), but the album as a whole lacks personality. The most spirited Lorde gets on Solar Power are the comments she made to The New York Times about working with Antonoff. “I haven’t made a Jack Antonoff record. I’ve made a Lorde record and he’s helped me make it and very much deferred to me on production and arrangement,” she said. “Jack would agree with this. To give him that amount of credit is frankly insulting.”
17. Minions: The Rise of Gru (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists
Look, as far as soundtracks for Minions movies with contemporary artists covering popular songs from the 1970s goes, this one is the best. You’ve got “Hollywood Swinging” by Brockhampton, “Black Magic Woman” by Tierra Whack, and so on. Some covers work better than others (H.E.R.’s “Dance To The Music” isn’t nearly chaotic enough, while St. Vincent’s robotic “Funkytown” is somehow more grating than the Minions singing “Cecilia”), but Antonoff sounds at home working with the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Weyes Blood, and Caroline Polachek on the more melancholy renditions.
16. The New Look: Season 1 by Various Artists
The kind of soundtrack — for a peak-streaming Apple TV+ series starring Ben Mendelsohn and Juliette Binoche as fashion designers Christian Dior and Coco Chanel — that I’m happy exists, but can’t imagine ever listening to the whole album. It’s an Antonoff-curated playlist of modern renditions of classic songs, including Perfume Genius’ lovely “What A Difference A Day Makes” and Bartees Strange’s stirring “You Always Hurt the One You Love.” The highlight is “La Vie En Rose” by Nick Cave, who sounds like a frail Tom Waits.
15. Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey
The album after an opus is a tricky proposition, and Lana Del Rey felt the pressure of Norman Fucking Rockwell! in making Chemtrails Over The Country Club. “I’ve been really stressed about this album,” she admitted. Wisely, instead of trying to top NFR, she made her most restrained album to date. Chemtrails Over The Country Club is a wistful exploration of fame and wanting to leave California behind for the “Tulsa Jesus Freaks” of middle-America, bathed in what she called “seamless, sun-kissed production” from Antonoff.
14. Arizona Baby by Kevin Abstract
In an interview with Vulture, Kevin Abstract, a founding member of rap collective Brockhampton, was asked what he learned about working with Antonoff on Arizona Baby. “He taught me how to pick a single,” he said before reflecting on the unfiltered album as a whole. “I’m always telling myself I want to make a pop album, and then I make this introspective artsy album with him. Looking back, I wish I understood my intentions a little more.” Abstract is being too harsh on himself: there are times where Arizona Baby is too caught between genres, but it also “contains so many moments that make the listener feel the aching pull of adolescence,” as my co-worker Aaron Williams glowingly put it. Try not to be moved by “Baby Boy,” which begins crisp and smooth before building into a swirl of strings, drums, and synths.
13. Midnights by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff met in 2012. A year later, they released their first collaboration, “Sweeter Than Fiction,” for the otherwise-forgotten film, One Chance. A year after that came 1989, where Antonoff co-wrote and co-produced the massive-sounding “Out Of The Woods.” Since then, he’s been listed as a producer on every one of her albums, including Midnights. It’s Swift’s most low-key pop album, full of moody synths and chill beats. Midnights is sometimes too much of the same — which makes the exclusion of “Hits Different” on the original tracklist so confounding. The exhilarating blast of ‘90s guitar-pop should have been a No. 1 hit; instead, it was relegated to the bonus tracks. (This applies to “Is It Over Now?” on 1989 (Taylor’s Version), too.)
12. Dance Fever by Florence and the Machine
A common criticism of Jack Antonoff as a producer is that he’s too repetitive, too mellow, too nice. None of those complaints applies to Dance Fever. Inspired by everything from Iggy Pop to author Carmen Maria Machado to folk horror films like A24’s The Witch and Midsommar, Florence + the Machine’s post-pandemic album is a triumph of festival and arena-filling anthems. The album title is a nod to the “plague” that swept across Europe during the Middle Ages that caused people to spontaneously begin dancing. The modern equivalent is listening to the euphoric “Heaven Is Here.”
11. The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift
Is The Tortured Poets Department too long? Yes. But is it also raw, and funny, and unapologetically dramatic, with some of the finest songs Swift has ever written? Also yes (shout out to “The Black Dog” and “Guilty As Sin?” in particular). The expectations-defying album is an introspective mashup of eras: the autobiographical lyrics of her older albums; the character studies of Folklore and Evermore; the sleek synth-pop production of Midnights. If Swift decides it’s time to switch things up and work with someone new, The Tortured Poets Department is a worthy ending to the Swift/Antonoff (and Dessner!) era.
10. Lover by Taylor Swift
I recently wrote a whole lot of words on Swift’s “what if?” album, which you can read here. So, instead of recapping everything about her era-less era, here are the five best songs on Lover produced by Antonoff:
5) “The Archer”
4) “Lover”
3) “Death By A Thousand Cuts”
2) “Cornelia Street”
1) “Cruel Summer”
9. Being Funny In A Foreign Language by The 1975
The 1975’s tour behind Being Funny In A Foreign Language was called At Their Very Best. That’s not quite accurate (it’s a toss-up between I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It or A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships), but it’s still a profound, focused album that has something for everyone. The funky “Happiness,” the mixtape vibe setter “I’m In Love With You,” the shoegaze-y “About You.” The 1975 and Jack Antonoff is a match made in sax solo heaven.
8. Gaslighter by The Chicks
The Chicks enlisted Antonoff — who they met through Taylor Swift — for the country group’s first album in 14 years (and since changing their name). The original plan was for Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Strayer to “write with a bunch of different people and get different producers,” Strayer explained, but “he blew us away.” There’s no karaoke classic like “Goodbye Earl” on Gaslighter, but it’s a strong return from The Chicks.
7. Reputation by Taylor Swift
Swift recruited Antonoff for Reputation‘s winking first single, “Look What You Made Me Do,” and he’s all over the place on the second half of the album. Perhaps not coincidentally, it’s the stronger, more vulnerable half, with Swift looking to find “something sacred throughout all the battle cries.” (Is there anything more 2017 coded than songwriting inspired by Game Of Thrones?) “Getaway Car” recaptures the breathlessness of “Out Of The Woods” (the moment they wrote the iconic bridge was captured for all to see), while “New Year’s Day” is a romantic predecessor to the Folklore / Evermore era. Reputation was divisive at the time, but it’s aged like fine wine (spilled in a bathtub).
6. Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey
“When Jack comes in, you know you’re making a real record.” That’s Lana Dey Rey on the recording of Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, a masterful album that would be a career-best for most artists not named Lana Del Rey. These are knotty, confessional songs about family and motherhood, to an almost discomforting degree: “Will the baby be alright? / Will I have one of mine? / Can I handle it even if I do? / It’s said that my mind / Is not fit, or so they said, to carry a child” But Tunnel‘s highlight — and a peak achievement for Antonoff as a producer — is “A&W.” The song is split in two: the first half is muted with a spare guitar and a piano over Lana’s serene vocals, but around the four-minute mark, Antonoff adds a trap beat, a Mellotron, Moog bass, and synth bass and pads. It’s unpredictable, and thrilling.
5. Masseduction by St. Vincent
Masseduction still sounds as adventurous and lustful (“I can’t turn off what turns me on”) as it did when it came out. It’s St. Vincent and Antonoff at their most willing to experiment. “Hang On Me” glitches with tension, “Los Ageless” is a jolt of electro-pop energy, and the deceptively titled “Happy Birthday, Johnny” slows things down but doesn’t kill the momentum; the aching melody is gorgeous. There’s an anxiety that hovers over Masseduction (one of the best pop albums of the 2010s) that keeps it timelessly vital.
4. Sling by Clairo
The album cover for Sling is a photo of Clairo in the wintery woods with a dog’s paw gently touching her face. That’s somehow how the album sounds, too. It’s cozy and comforting, like sitting by a warm fire in a cabin while it’s snowing outside. Antonoff once described Clairo as having “an incredible toughness through sensitivity,” and it shows on Sling. She sings with conviction, but there’s a gracefulness to her lyrics. “Wade” and “Partridge” are supported with light touches of warm guitars and subtle drums (Clairo is credited with over a dozen instruments; it’s around 20 for Antonoff). It’s Joni Mitchell meets Elliott Smith. “There are so many things I wanted to experiment with on Sling that he was all for,” she told Spin about Antonoff. “He’s great at directing, but he’s also great at making you feel and know that it’s your record and your song.”
3. Norman F*cking Rockwell! by Lana Del Rey
Even if Lana Del Rey retires from the music industry tomorrow (where is Lasso?) to settle into a quiet life of gator wrangling, at least we’ll always have Norman F*cking Rockwell!. Featuring some of her most beautiful arrangements and sublime lyrics, it’s the kind of all-encompassing album that identities are built around. But it may not have existed without Antonoff’s involvement. She wasn’t in the mood to write, until he requested to meet her at “some random diner” and started playing atmospheric guitar riffs. Suddenly, she had an idea: “A folk record with a little surf twist.” There’s nothing little about Norman F*cking Rockwell!, however. It’s a huge achievement. F*ck it, I love you, NFR.
2. Folklore by Taylor Swift
If Taylor Swift had to pick her favorite Taylor Swift album, I bet it would be Folklore. Of course she would never pick a favorite, for the same reason that parents don’t have preferred kids. But let’s just say that Swift’s preferred kid isn’t Evermore (only one song produced by Jack, for what it’s worth). Folklore, which was written and recorded remotely during the pandemic, opened up new songwriting avenues for Swift. It was her first time writing character studies, eschewing the ripped-from-a-diary lyrics of her previous albums. It’s also when she stopped thinking about how a song would sound on the radio or in a stadium. Folklore is Swift at her most natural. Among Taylor and Jack albums, it’s the 1.
1. Melodrama by Lorde
In a 2016 Facebook post, Lorde waved goodbye to Pure Heroine — and sped through a green light to the future. “Writing Pure Heroine was my way of enshrining our teenage glory, putting it up in lights forever so that part of me never dies,” she wrote before adding, “And this record – well, this one is about what comes next.” What came next was Melodrama, an intimate, Max Martin-defying triumph of self-reflective pop. It’s a near-perfect album (the lonely guitar outro of hushed-but-playful “The Louvre” into the achingly brittle “Liability” is peak) about imperfect emotions. Melodrama was a step up for both Lorde, as an artist, and Antonoff, as the behind-the-scenes talent helping guide her vision. It was Antonoff’s first album as a lead producer — and still his best.
“It’s kind of funny: The backlash is actually not from the rap community, or the jazz and spiritual jazz community,” he said. “There’s actually more support — surprising support — from both sides. I think it’s more [OutKast] fans, which I understand. I always try to put myself in their shoes: If my favorite rapper said, ‘I’m not rapping’ and I like it, I like it. But if I don’t, I move on. I think some people take it as blasphemy or something.”
He also explained why he didn’t just release the project under a different name to dodge the expectations that would come with a “new André 3000 album.”
“In retrospect, I’ve asked myself, ‘Would I have been better off releasing it under a new name?’” he admitted. “But I’m glad I didn’t. The ridicule that I get from it is the thing I did not expect. If I’m a fan of anybody, I’m not waiting 17 years for this great rap album to come out. I’m thinking, ‘Well, that ship has sailed.’ I felt like the name ‘André 3000’ showed the bigger story — the journey from where I was to now. I kept it so that wouldn’t get lost.”
With fast food becoming more and more expensive, there has never been a better time to lock in what the best menu item at each of the big chains is. We understand that tastes and preferences vary, but if you’re not a regular fast food eater, you need to have some sort of guide that helps to separate the good from the bad, unless you like wasting money. We’re here to be that guide.
How else are you going to know which chain has the best fried chicken tenders, the best milkshake, and whether the quality of something that you thought was great — like the McRib or the Mexican Pizza — still holds up when you haven’t eaten it in recent memory (spoiler, only one of them does)?
A couple of weeks back, we named the absolute worst menu items at 20 of our favorite fast food chains to dissuade you from burning your money, and now we’re here to do the flip side of that premise. Here are the 20 absolute best menu items at 20 of our favorite fast food chains.
We’ve heavily vetted each menu on offer at the big chains and have named a top menu pick for the absolute best experience. Let’s eat.
Arby’s — Smokehouse Brisket
Arby
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Hands down, the best thing on the entire Arby’s menu is the mighty Smokehouse Brisket. It’s got creamy and nutty gouda, a layer of crunchy, perfectly indulgent onion rings, tender smoked brisket, and smokey sweet BBQ sauce on a toasted bun.
It’s sumptuous, smokey, and delightful — a perfect combination of crunchy and tender textures with a whole lot of savory flavor.
The flavors of this sandwich are sumptuous and smokey, the mouthfeel is excellent, a mix of crunchy and tender texture courtesy of the onions and brisket. The sandwich begins rich and smokey and ends salty with a sweet top note on the aftertaste.
The Bottom Line:
Arby’s best sandwich. One bite takes you on a journey through rich meaty, smokey, and salty flavors with a slight sweet aftertaste.
I have to tell ‘ya, I never thought Burger King would recover from removing the Ch’King sandwich. That sandwich was nearly perfect, but it was too laborious for Burger King to keep on the menu, so they replaced it, and until the Fiery Royal Chicken Sandwich, nothing could compare to the Ch’King.
But this sandwich is great, in fact, it’s the greatest thing on the entire Burger King menu. They might as well change their name to Chicken King.
This chicken sandwich features a heavily seasoned chicken breast filet that kicks your tastebuds to attention with a lot of cayenne-forward heat. Lettuce and tomato help to control some of that intense heat, while the crispy and airy breading offers a nice pleasing crunch.
BK really knocked it out of the park with this one, no notes.
The Bottom Line:
The true king of Burger King is the Fiery Royal Chicken Sandwich.
Carl’s Jr. is at its best when it’s offering something decadent and bold in flavor. Nothing on the menu fits that bill quite like the Double Western Cheeseburger. Two charbroiled meat patties, a layer of bacon, fried onion rings, and a double dose of American cheese, all pulled together by a sweet and smokey BBQ-sauce finish — need we really say more here, this burger is near perfect.
The Bottom Line:
A sweet, savory, smokey umami-bomb with an irresistible crunch.
Chick-fil-A may not hold the crown of greatest chicken sandwich in all of fast food anymore, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t one of the all-time greatest chicken sandwiches. The build here is simple but perfect: you’ve got a cayenne, garlic, onion, and black pepper seasoned fried breast filet on a bed of leaf lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and pickles, topped with a slice of creamy, mildly spicy, pepper jack cheese.
Some people note the lack of sauce on this sandwich as a weak point, but they’re wrong, it’s a strength. First of all, this sandwich is so tender and juicy that it doesn’t need a sauce, but if you must sauce (no judgment) you have the option of choosing any of Chick-fil-A’s dipping sauces, from Polynesian, to BBQ, to the titular Chick-fil-A sauce, offering ultimate customizability.
The Bottom Line:
One of the greatest, most flavorful chicken sandwiches in all of fast food.
We will never stop promoting this build — if you want the best Chipotle burrito build, look no further. Is it arrogant to say that our Chipotle build is better than yours? We say no, it’s not a matter of arrogance, it’s a matter of expertise. We’ve done vigorous tests, and tried all sorts of builds, and the feedback we’ve received on this one is consistent. We’ve yet to find someone who doesn’t like this.
The build is incredibly simple: pinto beans, white rice, barbacoa, the salsa of your choice (we say go with the hot or green), extra cheese, lettuce, and guacamole.
And there is a reason this is the build, if you want to know how we justify skipping things like sour cream and queso, hit up the full article,
Here is what you can expect: a mix of mild sweetness with a sizzling burn that helps to usher in earthy, herbal, and creamy flavors. The mouthfeel is perfection, and because the ingredients are balanced you’ll never have a bite that is mushy or deal with a burrito that is too big for the employees to fold without the tortilla ripping.
The Bottom Line:
A tasty AF burrito. Try it and tell us otherwise, we dare you.
We think it goes without saying that if you’re hitting up Dairy Queen, you better be ordering dessert. At DQ, you’ve got a lot of dessert options, and we know that the temptation to get a Blizzard is there, but nothing slaps like the simplicity of the chocolate-dipped cone.
The combination of a rich chocolate crunchy shell and sweet creamy vanilla is perfect. Sure it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of a Blizzard, but it’s dirt cheap and just as satisfying.
The Bottom Line:
Simple, delicious, and remarkably consistent. We’ve never had a chocolate-dipped cone from Dairy Queen we’ve been disappointed by, even if it isn’t as flashy and fun as a Blizzard.
The newest addition to the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu and our favorite chicken nugget of 2024, Dave’s Chicken Bites are a must-eat. These nuggets are heavily seasoned with a perfectly balanced mix of garlic, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and earthy and floral paprika.
The nuggets offer an addicting smoked flavor with a strong cayenne pepper kick on the aftertaste. If the flavor wasn’t good enough, dipping this into Dave’s comeback-style sauce accentuates the given flavors and adds a tangy top note that makes this dish come across as all the more savory.
The Bottom Line:
Dave’s Hot Chicken’s Chicken Bites are a must order, and our current go to on the menu.
This is admittedly a boring choice, but the titular crunchy Del Taco is the best tasting and most consistent thing on the restaurant’s menu. Until of course, Del Taco decides to bring back the birria quesadilla.
There isn’t a lot going on with this taco, it’s just ground beef, shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, and diced tomato, but it absolutely dunks on Taco Bell and Jack in the Box’s crunchy tacos.
The beef is zesty and well seasoned, the cheddar is freshly grated, offering a nutty and salty flavor, and the tomatoes bring some umami to each bite. It’s also incredibly cheap, you could pick up three of these and spend less than $5. That has become all to rare in fast food.
The Bottom Line:
Big flavors for a cheap price. It’s not the most glamourous choice, but you’ll never be disappointed in a Del Taco, and the same can’t be said for other cheap Mexican-inspired fast food from the other big chains.
I’ve been straying away from “secret menu” items for this list, but because you can order this patty melt without issues, I’m including it. Simply ask for a grilled cheese, and add a patty, and bam! Instant patty melt.
This patty melt features heavily buttered buns, a double dose of cheese, and any other ingredients you want to add on it. Our personal build? One patty, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, and grilled jalapeños. You don’t even need sauce for this thing because it’s so packed with flavor.
The Bottom Line:
It’s a shame that Five Guys isn’t more open about this how easy it is to order this, especially because its significantly better than the brand’s stock cheeseburger.
Flame Broiler — Korean Spicy Chicken
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Launched sometime last year, the Korean Spicy Chicken is hands down the best protein option at Flame Broiler, and therefore, the best thing to order, period.
Biting into this chicken gives you a blast of warm chili spice that shifts into a savory, sweet, and satisfying finish. Add some of FB’s Magic Sauce to the equation, and you have a medley of spicy, umami-rich, and sweet flavors that’ll cause you to forget that you’re eating something healthy.
The Bottom Line:
Big, addicting flavors in a healthy dish? Sign us up!
Simply put, this is one of the greatest double cheeseburgers in all of fast food. It has a perfect bread-to-meat ratio, and a simple but effective build. The double patties are juicy, beefy, and salty, while the grilled onions accentuate the savoriness of the meat and burger sauce combo.
This burger is so damn good that just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
If you’re looking for a way to elevate this burger, ask for chopped chilies for some mild heat and a bit of tang. It’ll offer way more flavor than the simple but more well-known “Animal Style.”
The Bottom Line:
The Double Double is simply one of the greatest cheeseburgers in fast food.
Early this year, Jack in the Box launched its Smashed Jack Burger, taking it from a mid-tier fast food restaurant to being in competition with brands like Wendy’s. The Bacon Double Smashed Jack is one of the best fast food burgers you can buy right now, excluding more high-end fast casual-leaning places like Shake Shack, Five Guys, and Smashed Burger.
This burger is JiB’s version of a smashed patty but despite what its name would suggest, it’s not a true smash burger. Instead, what you have here is something Jack in the Box calls “smashed-style,” and they achieve this with a beef patty that is thinner along the edges, which allows it to get crispy and form that Maillard crust typical of a smashed patty.
It’s a technicality that sounds incredibly off-putting, but regardless, this burger delivers on flavor and that’s what’s most important.
The burger is incredibly juicy, savory, and salty with carmelized grilled onions, lots of melted American cheese, and bacon, finished with a tangy and smokey burger sauce. It’s served on a light, airy, and buttery bun.
The Bottom Line:
It’s hard to believe, but Jack in the Box quietly dropped one of the best new fast food burgers of 2024. If you haven’t tried it yet, remedy that ASAP.
KFC has finally dropped chicken tenders seasoned in its Original Recipe breading and instantly, these are our new favorite chicken tenders in all of fast food. Yes, they’re that good.
These chicken tenders are juicy and well seasoned with a mix of thyme, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, and salt. They aren’t quite as crunchy as KFC’s regular chicken tenders, but the greater emphasis on flavor here is worth the lack of crunch.
The Bottom Line:
Incredibly well seasoned and tender. They’re herbaceous, complex, and nuanced. Easily the best chicken tenders in all of fast food. Yes, even ebtter than Cane’s.
Picking French Fries as the one thing you should order at McDonald’s feels cheap, but we’ve thought deeply about it, and if we were forced to pick one singular dish from the golden arches, it’s hard to pick anything more satisfying than the fries.
These aren’t just delicious French fries, they’re the best in all of fast food, so that’s something! A piping fresh order will give you a combination of salty and buttery flavors with a mysterious sweet finish so addicting that it’ll have you convinced that McDonald’s is adding a pinch of sugar to every order.
The Bottom Line:
It’s admittedly not exciting, but there simply isn’t anything else on McDonald’s menu that could compete with its fries.
Released to coincide with the Halloween season, the new Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich isn’t just the best chicken sandwich at Popeyes right now, it’s also the best chicken sandwich in all of fast food.
This bare-bones chicken sandwich features a big, juicy, tender, heavily breaded chicken breast seasoned with a mix of garlic, onion, and spices, with a buttery, mildly fruity finish.
Aside from the chicken you’ve got pickles, and a spicy cayenne-based sauce, and that’s it. And frankly, that’s all this sandwich needs to be the best chicken sandwich in all of fast food, it’s that good!
The Bottom Line:
The current best chicken sandwich in all of fast food. A must eat.
Rally’s has only one menu item that truly wows us and it’s the fries. These things are lightly breaded in an addicting mix of garlic, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper, delivering a one-two punch of big flavors with a crunchy mouthfeel.
While they aren’t quite as amazing as McDonald’s fries, when these fries get soggy, they still manage to hit the spot, which can’t be said about a lot of other fries.
The Bottom Line:
Easily the best thing to order at Rally’s. Everything else on the menu is going to take a back seat to these fries.
This one is a menu hack so it’s not technically on the Raising Cane’s menu, but still, all you have to do is ask for a “sandwich on toast,” and you’ll be able to order it, no self-assembly required. Considering how easy that is, we’re counting it!
This sandwich offers a strong flavor bomb of garlic and butter before you reach a tender bite of perfectly fried juicy chicken. Couple that with Cane’s sweet, savory, and slightly smokey sauce and you’ve got fast food culinary perfection.
If only Raising Cane’s would make a proper breast filet for its sandwiches, this just might be the best chicken sandwich in all of fast food. But until that day, it’s just very, very good.
The Bottom Line:
So close to being the greatest chicken sandwich in fast food. Even though it’s not, we’ll gladly eat it.
I’m not really a fan of when fast food brands try to offer black truffle-enhanced food, because it usually ends up tasting overwhelming and lacks the nuance and depth of actual black truffles. Shake Shack is different though, this Black Truffle Burger is a true culinary feat!
The burger features Shake Shack’s near-perfect smashed Angus patties, complete with lacy edges and perfect Maillar crust (take not Jack in the Box!), topped with creamy, pungent Gruyere cheese, fried sweet onions, and a funky, umami-rich black truffle sauce.
Biting into this burger is wave after wave of intense savory flavors that never let up. It’s almost overwhelming how much of a punch a single bite packs.
The Bottom Line:
Shake Shack has done it again! A truly elevated cheeseburger that is worth its $10 price tag.
It was a toss-up between the Mexican Pizza and the Crunchwrap Supreme, but ultimately we’re going with the former for this list. What I love about the Mexican Pizza is the way it is essentially an encapsulation of everything this brand does well. It’s a unique dish that is unabashedly Taco Bell-ian.
This dish features two thin layers of fried tortilla loaded up with beans and ground beef, topped with an Enchilada-like red sauce, a three-cheese blend, and diced tomatoes. The result is bite after bite of beefy, salty, and earthy flavors with a nice zesty finish.
The Bottom Line:
It’s essentially a giant nacho. Only Taco Bell could’ve invented this Frankenstein food, and we love it for that reason.
While I really love this year’s new Ghost Pepper Ranch Chicken sandwich, ultimately, I have to name the Baconator as the quintessential Wendy’s order. This thing is a decadent, rich, bomb of smokey, beefy, salty flavors.
Wendy’s has some of the best beef in all of fast food (not counting the higher-end fast casual brands of course), couple that with the finest bacon in all of fast food and you have a perfect bacon burger. Just be warned, this thing can be overwhelming. It’s the reason terms like “food coma” exist.
The deadline for teams to extend players drafted in the class of 2021 came and went on Monday evening at 6 p.m. ET, with a handful of big names getting deals — and some others opting to play out the last year of their deal and try to make more money in restricted free agency next summer.
Here, we’re going to look at each of the extensions that got done before the deadline — including the three max deals from earlier this summer — and grade them out from a team perspective. From the player side, every single one of these guys just signed on for life-changing money and gained the kind of financial security most can only dream of, which is a win for anyone. While some could’ve possibly gotten more next summer, in the current NBA world where restricted free agents pretty regularly get squeezed and often are just back at the negotiating table with their current team, it’s hard to fault anyone for taking the guaranteed deal now, especially when you can lock in eight or nine-figures.
For the grades, we will take into account each team’s current situation, what committing that kind of money means to them in the short and long term, as well as what we think the likelihood is the player in question ends up out-performing the average output of players in that pay range at their position. We’ll go in order by contract amount, from least to most, starting with the Mavericks and Jaden Hardy.
Dallas Mavericks — B: Jaden Hardy (3 years, $18 million)
This is a pretty low-risk move from the Mavs to keep around a guy with some real offensive upside. Any team in the title contender needs guys in this price range who can provide depth and even if Hardy stagnates some, this is a perfectly fine deal for a down the bench scorer. If he continues to develop and can take on a more regular role, this is a steal, but that’ll come down to whether he can pick it up on the defensive end, which is certainly not a guarantee.
Golden State Warriors — B: Moses Moody (3 years, $39 million)
Getty Image
I think, value-wise, this could be really good for Moody. I just don’t know whether the Warriors are the team that’s going to give him the opportunity to maximize his potential as a 3-and-D wing. He’s a good defender and has been consistently a league-average shooter, and guys of that archetype are pretty helpful. At $13 million per year, he’s right in line with what a solid 3-and-D guy makes (think, Dorian Finney-Smith), I just wonder if the Warriors will finally utilize Moody enough to get the value out of this deal.
Washington Wizards — B: Corey Kispert (4 years, $54 million)
Kispert’s deal is very close in terms of AAV to Moody’s, just with the extra year, and I think it was a very solid deal for the Wizards. Again, the question is whether this Wizards team is the one that can get the most out of Kispert, who seems best served as a connective piece on a good team and the Wizards, right now, are not that. However, if the goal is to get to being a playoff contender again, a guy who is 6’7 and can shoot at a near 40 percent clip from three is good to have. Beyond that, teams are always looking for wings that can shoot and this deal shouldn’t be hard to move for decent return if the Wizards end up deciding in a couple years they need more time and he’s not going to fit their timeline anymore.
New Orleans Pelicans — A: Trey Murphy III (4 years, $112 million)
I will admit that I’m probably higher on Trey Murphy’s upside than the consensus, but I think he’s an All-Star caliber player that they just locked up for $28 million per year. That’s the going rate for an Andrew Wiggins-type player, and I think he might already be that level of player with room to be even more in an expanded role. Now, the question is how quickly the Pelicans can create that role for him, as he’s still stuck behind Brandon Ingram, but there is, in my opinion, All-Star upside that could make this an incredible bargain for a guy who shoots it at a tremendous clip and is a high-level defender.
Houston Rockets — C-: Jalen Green (3 years, $106 million)
Before Rockets fans or Jalen Green fans get mad at me, this is not me saying Green cannot become the type of player that makes this contract look like a value. The issue is, with a third-year player option, there’s not a lot of upside for the Rockets with this deal. The best-case scenario is that Green is fantastic and blossoms into a consistently great scorer, but then it’s back to the negotiating table in 2027. If he stagnates, then he’s definitely picking up his $36 million player option for 2027-28, and he won’t be particularly tradable. I think Green and his agents did a great job with this deal, as he has the control on this contract while still getting financial security if his development stalls, and the team just doesn’t get much in the way of value on placing a bet that he takes a leap.
Atlanta Hawks — A-: Jalen Johnson (5 years, $150 million)
Getty Image
This isn’t a deal without risk, but there’s a real chance this ends up being the best value of any of these extensions. Johnson’s history of ankle injuries is certainly a bit concerning, and he’ll need to be able to be on the floor consistently throughout the life of this deal for it to be the home run the Hawks hope it can be. That said, this is a guy that averaged 16 points and 8.7 rebounds per game a year ago and figures to be Atlanta’s second option this season. The opportunity will be there for Johnson to flourish this year (there’s a reason he’s high up the MIP odds list), and if the shooting improvement from last year is real, he could be the budding star on the wing Atlanta’s been desperately trying to find alongside Trae Young.
Orlando Magic — B-: Jalen Suggs (5 years, $150.5 million)
If the shooting from last year (39.7 percent from three) is real, this is a phenomenal deal. If he takes a step back in that regard, then the Magic certainly took on some risk here. Suggs is a sensational point of attack defender and given the Magic want to hang their hat on that end of the floor, I understand why they want to lock up a guy that made the All-Defensive team last year long-term. What I’m interested in is whether there are strides coming for Suggs as a playmaker and facilitator, because this is the going rate contract for a league-average starting point guard in the NBA right now (see: Immanuel Quickley). Orlando is a unique situation with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as high-usage, on-ball wings, but for this kind of money, they’ll want Suggs to be able to run the show a bit more and get everyone involved.
Houston Rockets — A: Alperen Sengun (5 years, $185 million)
Getty Image
Sengun might just be a monster. He averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists a year ago before his season ended a bit early due to injury, and just keeps getting better as an offensive hub. Getting a guy who has already shown that level of production locked in for under the rookie scale max is very good work by Houston. The main question here is whether you can build around Sengun and Green together, and the Rockets are seemingly committed to that duo for at least a bit longer as the hopeful foundation of this team. Still, Sengun is a guy that very well could have commanded a max deal next summer with another really strong season, and to get him for $40 million less than that is a win for the Rockets.
Detroit Pistons — B+: Cade Cunningham (5 years, $224 million)
I still believe in Cade Cunningham as an All-Star caliber guy, even if they hype around him going into the 2021 Draft was perhaps overstated. The truth is, a No. 1 overall pick has to be pretty underwhelming to not get a rookie scale max extension — the last one not to was Deandre Ayton, who got a max offer sheet from the Pacers instead (which Phoenix matched). Cunningham averaged 22 points and 7.5 assists per game last season on career-best shooting, and did so with a roster around him that was far from ideal. There’s always some risk with this kind of money and Cunningham hasn’t been at that hyper-elite level just yet to make you feel this is a guaranteed good deal for Detroit, but overall this was a deal Detroit had to give out and keep up hope that the best is yet to come for Cade (and the Pistons).
Orlando Magic — B-: Franz Wagner (5 years, $224 million)
I really like Franz Wagner as a player, but I’m not sure the Magic had to give him a max deal this summer. There wouldn’t have been much downside to playing out the year and just confirming that the perimeter shooting would bounce back, and I’m just not sure he’s at the level where you absolutely had to give him this kind of commitment early. That said, there is a clear path to him being more than worth it as the second star alongside Paolo Banchero, particularly if he returns to being a league-average three-point shooter to go along with his leap as a finisher at the rim and in the midrange. It certainly wasn’t a disaster for Orlando to give him this deal, but with this and the Suggs contract, the Magic are going to be beholden to internal development to push them to the next level in the East.
This was a no-brainer for the Raptors, as Barnes was the Rookie of the Year winner in 2022 and took another step forward in his third season, earning an All-Star nod, averaging 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. Given that early success, they traded Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby to clear their cluttered (but talented) wing rotation and give Barnes the keys to the operation. I will say that I am not completely sold on Barnes being the centerpiece you build everything around, but even with my skepticism on that front, this is just a deal you have to make at this point. He’s improved as a playmaker and the next step is combining that with another leap in terms of shooting efficiency, but the vision for Barnes is clear. The truth is, even if he doesn’t reach his full potential, and is just perennially in the All-Star mix and not a No. 1 on a contender, this is still a deal you give him — it’s the next contract that gets much trickier.
(SPOILERS from Woman Of The Hour will be found below.)
Netflix knows when to pounce on a compelling true crime story, and over the past weekend, they scored with Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, Woman Of The Hour. The film follows prolific 1970s serial killer Rodney Alcala (portrayed chillingly by Daniel Zovatto), who surfaced on The Dating Game show where he crossed paths with aspiring actress Cheryl Bradshaw, who realized that something was seriously “off” with Alcala and fled from his deadly web.
Sadly, however, Zovatto charmed his way into the lives of a handful of other victims during the course of the film, and through Kendrick’s direction, these women came to life onscreen in multidimensional ways. Their life stories, their disappointments, hopes, and dreams, none of these details received short shrift in a Black List script from Ian McDonald, who recently told Indiewire about how he framed this story to be more about a culture that let Alcala flourish rather than Alcala himself. Likewise, Kendrick has been forthright in the past about how she has seen some sh*t throughout the course of her own personal life, which she clearly used to fuel her directing fire.
The Woman Of The Hour, despite being a potentially triggering movie to watch, is also unmissable, and those who were transfixed by how Kendrick deftly handled this subject matter are likely wondering what she will do next.
What Will Anna Kendrick Direct Next After Woman Of The Hour?
The answer to that, unfortunately, is that Anna Kendrick does not know what she will direct next, as she recently admitted to Collider. Still, Daniel Zovatto asked during their joint interview, “[C]an I be in it?” Please.
Kendrick also used her answer to praise Ian McDonald’s script and Zovatto’s incredible onscreen turn:
“I haven’t found anything yet because I truly think I hit the jackpot with this script. I hit the jackpot with the cast and the crew, truly, down to a person. I don’t know what I would have done if anything about it was different. That started with Danny because, as you say, I saw him in Station 11. Well before that character is nefarious, I was so drawn in by his performance. One of the hardest things for actors to do is to be still. It requires a certain level of trust in oneself.”
One thing is certain: when Kendrick chooses her next directorial project, the Woman Of The Hour audience will be seated. She will also soon be seen in A Simple Favor 2, directed by Paul Feig and co-starring Blake Lively, which will stream on Prime Video/Amazon in 2025.
The NBA season tips off in Boston on Tuesday night as the Celtics host the Knicks for ring night, followed by the the Wolves and Lakers meeting in L.A. for what will be the TNT crew’s final NBA opening night. One of people’s favorite things to do this time of year is rank players and argue about it. Typically those come in the form of lists of the top 100 or tiered breakdowns where folks layout how they see the league’s hierarchy and then fans get very mad.
Here, we wanted to take a slightly different approach and look at the top five players at each position, because the truth is, once you get past the top stars, it can be a little tricky trying to decide who is better and who has a bigger impact when they do totally different things on the court. While that can make for a fun argument, we wanted to approach our preseason rankings position by position, where it’s a bit easier to put guys head-to-head. The exercise, even when broken down like this, still isn’t easy and that’s a testament to the insane level of talent in the league.
As for how we determined who fell into what category in this world of positionless basketball and guys often playing multiple positions depending on lineups, we went off of Basketball-Reference’s lineup data for each player from last year, as well as the projected starting lineups for this season. For example, Kyrie Irving now plays shooting guard primarily in Dallas next to Luka Doncic at point guard. From there, we polled our writing staff and social team for their top 10s and averaged out the top 5 from each list.
Point Guards
Getty Image
1. Luka Doncic
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
3. Steph Curry
4. Jalen Brunson
5. Ja Morant
One of the two deepest position groups in the NBA along with power forward, there is a ton of point guard talent in the NBA currently. A league average starting point guard now is a guy the caliber of, say, Jamal Murray or Jrue Holiday, which is insane. At the very top, we have Luka who edged out SGA in our rankings largely off what he did last postseason to cement himself as a primetime player. They are the two favorites for the MVP award this season for good reason, and it’s certainly possible for Shai to leapfrog into that top spot by next season if he and the Thunder can reach their full potential as a contender this year. From there, Stephen Curry is the last of the old guard still hanging on at the top of the point guard ranks, but his performance last year and this summer with USA Basketball proves he’s still got a ton in the tank.
Rounding out the top 5 are Jalen Brunson and Ja Morant, as Brunson made quite the statement of his talent last year, while Morant is a guy we expect to bounce back into elite form this year in Memphis. The honorable mentions list at point guard is lengthy, with Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey, Trae Young, Damian Lillard, De’Aaron Fox, and others all having cases for consideration and the talent to leap into the conversation with their play this year.
Shooting Guards
Getty Image
1. Anthony Edwards
2. Devin Booker
3. Donovan Mitchell
4. Kyrie Irving
5. Derrick White
The two-guard spot is not as deep, as the way the game has grown a lot of guys that would’ve been shooting guards in a past life are now scoring point guards. That said, there’s still plenty of high-end talent at the two spot, and the top four spots in our rankings were a near-consensus among our staff, with Anthony Edwards leading the way after his sensational season in Minnesota. Devin Booker spent a year playing point guard for the Suns last year, but with Tyus Jones on board and in the starting lineup, he moves back to shooting guard (primarily) for 2024-25 — and, to be honest, we needed more two guards to pick from and fewer point guards.
Donovan Mitchell once again reminded everyone of his ability to be a monster scorer in the playoffs with Cleveland, and his decision to re-sign is a big reason for optimism with the Cavs. Kyrie Irving has always been at his most dangerous playing off an elite point forward type, winning a title with LeBron and now making a Finals run with Luka. In Dallas, Luka is the actual nominal point guard in lineups, and Kyrie has shifted to the two with ease. The fifth spot was a bit more contentious, but Derrick White got the nod for his incredible two-way play in the Celtics run to a championship. Honorable mentions go to Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Jalen Green.
Small Forwards
Getty Image
1. Jaylen Brown
2. Jimmy Butler
3. Kawhi Leonard
4. Jalen Williams
5. Mikal Bridges
Defining a small forward in the NBA right now can be a bit tricky, as a lot of guys that used to be 3s are now 4s in the modern era, but no matter how you slice it, no one is able to challenge Jaylen Brown’s claim as the best in the league. Brown is coming off of an absolutely remarkable postseason, one where he answered every single question about his game as he led the Celtics to an championship and got named the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. Frankly, there is a bit of a drop off after him, but in our eyes, Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard continue to be among the best of the best … if, of course, they can stay on the floor. When they can, both of them are capable of leading a team to incredible heights, particularly when the postseason rolls around. It’s just a shame that you can’t fully trust either guy, because their highs are worth the price of admission.
Rounding out our top-5 are one of the most promising young wings in the league and one of the best 3-and-D players in the NBA. The former is Jalen Williams, who took a gigantic step forward last year and legitimately looks like someone who can be an All-Star in Oklahoma City if he continues to get better. The latter is Mikal Bridges, one of the players the Knicks gave up a ton to acquire this offseason with the hopes that he can get them closer to a championship. Because of his star upside, we gave Williams the nod over Bridges, but both of them are wonderful players who should play crucial roles on two of the best teams in the NBA. Honorable mention goes to Franz Wagner, Khris Middleton, Desmond Bane, Herbert Jones, Bradley Beal, Brandon Miller, and Michael Porter Jr.
Power Forwards
Getty Image
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
T2. LeBron James
T2. Kevin Durant
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Paul George
Even with the depth at point guard, the power forward position is the most talented in the NBA right now. They are not what power forwards once were, but the versatility, athleticism, and skill of this group is just unfathomable. This was the position with the most variance in our rankings, as it’s very much a matter of personal preference as to who you roll with. At the top, we have Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was a bit out of sight, out of mind at the end of last season as he missed the playoffs with injury, but he’s still one of the most dominant singular forces in the NBA.
From there we had a tie for second in voting between the two members of the old guard, as LeBron James and Kevin Durant still command respect 15+ seasons into their careers. I’m sure Celtics fans will not be happy to see Tatum at 4 on this list after a run to the title, but he did earn a second place vote and is just a casualty of the talent at this position. Those four were at the top in some order on every ballot, but the fifth spot was all over the place, with Paul George earning the nod on aggregate. Honorable mention goes to (deep breath) Pascal Siakam, Paolo Banchero, Karl-Anthony Towns (who, maybe is just a center in NY but also might be the 4 when Mitch gets back), Jaren Jackson Jr., Draymond Green, DeMar DeRozan, Lauri Markkanen, and others as there’s just an embarrassment of riches at the 4-spot in the NBA right now.
Centers
Getty Image
1. Nikola Jokic
2. Joel Embiid
3. Anthony Davis
4. Bam Adebayo
5. Victor Wembanyama
You can argue that no position in the NBA is more fun right now than center, as it features arguably the two-best players in the league. In our eyes, Nikola Jokic edges out Joel Embiid for the No. 1 spot, largely due to availability — Jokic is almost always available and consistently puts up video game numbers. But when Embiid is healthy, his ability to dominate on both ends of the floor is unparalleled, and he’s the reason why the Sixers are so all-in on trying to win a championship right now. Whenever we’re fortunate to watch the two of them play, it just feels like you’re watching something special.
The rest of the top-5 really does hammer home how good of a place the position’s in right now. Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo are a pair of Olympic gold medalists and are critical to the success of two teams that want to win a championship — for how good LeBron James and Jimmy Butler are, Davis and Adebayo are the players who will determine the ceilings of the Lakers and the Heat, respectively. And in fifth, we have the guy who is going to be the best player in the world sooner rather than later, as we’ve never seen anyone like Victor Wembanyama. He’s only 20, keeps getting better (rapidly), wants to be an all-time great, and is already the best defensive player on the planet. Even though he has to get better on the offensive end of the floor, Spurs should thank the good lord every day that the ping pong balls bounced their way in 2023. Honorable mentions are Rudy Gobert, Kristaps Porzingis, Domantas Sabonis, Jarrett Allen, Myles Turner, and Alperen Sengun.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
