Category: Worldwide

The blowback from next year’s Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner selection is still breezing through hip-hop. Yesterday (September 8), Kendrick Lamar announced that he would do the honors in 2025. While Jay-Z and Rihanna showed their support, others let their disapproval be heard loud and clear.

Today (September 9), no one’s objection was louder than Nicki Minaj. In a series of post on X (formerly Twitter), Nicki accused Jay-Z of allowing his “hatred” of Drake and Birdman to overshadow what would have been a monumental moment for Lil Wayne given the championship game his heading to New Orleans.

“One n**** took a knee,” she wrote. “The other n**** took the bag. He gon get you “n*****s” in line every f*cking time.”

Nicki’s lines were stark comparisons of Colin Kaepernick and Jay-Z’s reactions to the NFL protest.

Her rant didn’t stop there. “Got everything in the world,” she wrote. “Still spiteful & evil. Disgusting. Be happy Abeg. Go be f*cking happy n****. In rap business. In women business. When you got the politicians & the police, you good tho.”

Then Nick went on to highlight how Eminem handled 50 Cent reportedly being barred from the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show stage. “Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego,” she wrote. “Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50 Cent come out. A white man. Shit sad. House N***** TINGZ.”

Birdman quickly added his thoughts, writing: “These n****s p*ssy. Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne. YMCMB. Imma make these n****s respek us, on Gladys .”

In several posts Nicki Minaj praised Lil Wayne for all that he’s contributed to the culture, both seen and unseen. She also urged others to give rap legends their flowers while they are still around. Nicki ended with a note to ensure that her words weren’t a slight aimed at Kendrick Lamar, but an intentional show of disrespect aimed at Young Money.

While there are myriad uncomfortably expensive limited-release bourbon whiskeys on the market like Pappy, Stagg, and more, there are also countless bargain-priced bourbons that deserve your attention (and your money). And when we talk about a bargain, we’re referencing bourbon whiskeys that are not only value-priced but also complex, nuanced, and perfect for sipping and mixing.

Bargain is a tricky word. To some it might mean a bottle shelf whiskey that you can choke down or mask when it’s mixed with various ingredients in a cocktail. To us, a bargain bourbon is well-priced (likely less than $40) and can be used as a base for your favorite whiskey-based cocktails as well as a rainy-day (or any day for that matter) sipper. All in all, it’s a decent whiskey that’s sold for a fair price. The kind of expressions you’ll always want to stock on your home bar cart.

Now that you understand our definition of “bargain” bourbons, it’s time to find some to add to your collection. Below, you’ll see prices and descriptions for ten of our favorite bargain bourbons. As a bonus, we even ranked them on the overall price-to-value ratio. Keep scrolling to see them all.

10. Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage

ABV: 43.3

Average Price: $35

The Bourbon:

This award-winning single barrel bourbon is ridiculously cheap at only around $30-40. It has the word “Vintage” in its name because, like vintage wine, its bottle is labeled with the vintage date the whiskey was added to the barrel to mature. This popular whiskey matured between seven and eight years to guarantee a complex, sippable bourbon.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is a mix of toffee, oaky wood, dried fruits, vanilla, and gentle spices that make you want to dive in and take a sip. Drinking it reveals notes of sweet honey, candied orange peels, orchard fruits, buttery caramel, charred oak, and vanilla beans. The finish is warming, and sweet, and leaves you craving more.

Bottom Line:

For only $35, this is a total bargain. This balanced, nuanced whiskey deserves a permanent spot in your home bar or bar cart.

9. Old Grand-Dad Bonded

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $24

The Bourbon:

One of the most popular highlights of Jim Beam’s “Olds” line of whiskeys, Old Grand-Dad Bonded is a potent, 100-proof bottled-in-bond whiskey that will stand up well in all of your favorite whiskey-based cocktails. To add to that, it’s a surprisingly good rainy-day sipper. All this for around $20 for a 750ml bottle. How can you beat that?

Tasting Notes:

Matured for at least four full years, this complex whiskey begins with a nose of cinnamon candy, sweet toffee, toasted vanilla beans, treacle, and charred oak. The cinnamon continues into the palate along with raisins, vanilla beans, peppery rye, and oak. This is a spicy, sweet whiskey that finishes with a warm, oaky, butterscotch ending.

Bottom Line:

This is a spicy, bold whiskey that is guaranteed to warm you from inside out if you sip it on a cool night. It’s also a great, spicy base for drinks like the old fashioned and Manhattan.

8. Jim Beam Double Oak

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $32 for a liter

The Bourbon:

If you already have a bottle of Jim Beam White Label for mixing, it will behoove you to grab a bottle of Jim Beam Double Oak as well. It gets its name because it’s first matured in new charred white oak barrels for four years before being transferred to different charred white oak barrels to continue to aging process. The result is a sublimely complex, rich, oaky whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

Nosing it reveals aromas of sweet corn, sticky toffee, maple candy, toasted vanilla beans, and raisins. The palate continues this trend with roasted corn, caramel candy, vanilla, brown sugar, fresh leather, and oaky wood. The finish is warming, lingering, and loaded with toffee and oak flavors.

Bottom Line:

For the price, this is a major upgrade for drinkers of Jim Beam White Label. It’s complex, sippable, and highly mixable. This is a versatile bottle to add to your home bar.

7. Maker’s Mark

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $20

The Bourbon:

There’s a reason Maker’s Mark is one of the most popular bourbons on the market. It’s difficult to beat its price-to-value ratio. Matured for around six years with a mash bill of 70% corn, 16% red winter wheat, and 14% malted barley, it’s well-known for its soft, complex, mellow flavor profile.

Tasting Notes:

Surprisingly sweet, the nose is a mix of brown sugar, toasted vanilla beans, dried fruits, caramel candy, and oak. The palate continues this trend with a ton of vanilla, toffee candy, oak, raisins, and brown sugar. Like the palate, the finish is soft, sweet, and warming. It’s a must-have bottle for home mixologists.

Bottom Line:

Maker’s Mark is one of the classic bottles of whiskey every home bartender or beginner drinker should have on hand at all times. It’s filled with classic flavors for a bargain price.

6. Buffalo Trace

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $28

The Bourbon:

There’s no bigger name in the bourbon world than Buffalo Trace and its flagship whiskey might be one of the most underrated bargains. Made with a mash bill of corn, rye, and barley, it’s matured in new charred oak barrels between six and eight years. The result is a spicy, sweet, mixable, sippable, and very versatile bottle of whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

A nose of fresh mint, sweet treacle, vanilla beans, butterscotch, dried fruits, cracked black pepper, and oak greet you before your first sip. Drinking it reveals notes of toasted vanilla beans, mint leaves, molasses candy, toffee, brown sugar, raisins, licorice, pipe tobacco, and oak, The finish is long, warming, and lingering in the best way possible.

Bottom Line:

This balanced, sweet, spicy, whiskey is a must-have for home mixologists. It’s perfect for sipping neat or mixing into cocktails. And a bargain at around $30.

5. Four Roses Small Batch

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $35

The Bourbon:

One look at this bottle and you might assume that Four Roses Small Batch is much more expensive than it is. This sleek bottle holds this popular 90-proof small batch bourbon that was matured between six and seven full years. This award-winning whiskey is known for its nuanced, lightly spicy, memorable flavor profile.

Tasting Notes:

Candied orange peels, charred wood, butterscotch, dried fruits, and peppery rye spice are highlights of a very inviting nose. On the palate, you’ll be treated to flavors like dried cherries, peppery rye spice fresh leather, charred oak, butterscotch, and gentle wintry spices. The last sip is a warming, lingering mix of caramel, oak, and pepper.

Bottom Line:

Four Roses Small Batch is a great choice for drinkers who want both a bargain whiskey for sipping on a cool night and a whiskey to use as a base for their favorite cocktails.

4. Elijah Craig Small Batch

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $23

The Bourbon:

While it’s up for debate, some people believe that Elijah Craig was the man who invented bourbon when he decided to mature his corn whiskey in charred barrels. Whether or not that’s true, the former Baptist minister still has a whiskey line in his name. Its Elijah Craig Small Batch is one of the best bargains in the whiskey world. This award-winning small batch bourbon is known for its balanced, complex aromas and flavor.

Tasting Notes:

This popular 94-proof whiskey begins with a nose of toasted vanilla beans, pipe tobacco, mint leaves, raisins, and candied nuts. On the palate, you’ll find notes of vanilla beans, butterscotch, cinnamon candy, charred oak, cracked black pepper, candied pecans, and dried cherries. The finish is warming, and complex, and ends with a mix of cinnamon and vanilla.

Bottom Line:

This is a sublimely well-balanced small batch whiskey for a bargain price. The best part? If you enjoy this whiskey, the next batch will be similar (and just as high-quality), but subtly different.

3. Old Forester 86

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $20

The Bourbon:

For the price of around $20, you’ll have a tough time finding a better everyday bottle than Old Forester 86. Named because it’s 86-proof, this award-winning whiskey is made with a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. It’s aged in new American oak barrels But doesn’t carry an age statement.

Tasting Notes:

Complex scents of pipe tobacco, fresh leather, mint leaves, toasted vanilla beans, caramel candy, and oak greet your nostrils before your first drink. Sipping it reveals notes of candied orange peels, butter caramel, vanilla beans, spicy rye, and corn sweetness. The finish is a warming mix of caramel and spice.

Bottom Line:

Peppery rye, sweet corn, toffee, vanilla, and a dry, warming finish. As bargain sippers go, you can do much worse than Old Forester 86.

2. Woodford Reserve

ABV: 45.2%

Average Price: $30

The Bourbon:

There’s a reason Woodford Reserve is one of the most popular bourbons. It’s highly complex and surprisingly value-priced. This 90.4-proof bourbon has no age statement but is believed to have matured between six and seven years in charred American oak barrels. The result is one of the smoothest, complex, bargain whiskeys available today.

Tasting Notes:

If you take a moment to nose this bourbon, you’ll be met with aromas of candied orange peels, pipe tobacco, raisins, mint leaves, toasted vanilla beans, and caramel candy. Tasting it, you’ll be met with hints of cinnamon candy, chocolate fudge, caramel, orange peels, oak, and tobacco. The finish is mellow, sweet, and completely warming.

Bottom Line:

Woodford Reserve makes a variety of different expressions. But none’s a better value than its original Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It’s balanced, complex, and highly memorable.

1. Wild Turkey 101

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $20

The Bourbon:

If you’ve never tried Wild Turkey 101, what exactly are you waiting for? There’s a reason this is a bartender and bourbon fans’ go-to bargain whiskey. This high-rye, 101-proof bourbon is matured using Wild Turkey’s deepest alligator char between six and eight years. The result is a spicy, sweet, must-have whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

Complex aromas of sticky toffee, cinnamon, peppery rye, raisins, candied nuts, oak, and vanilla beans are prevalent on the nose. Sipping it reveals a symphony of toasted vanilla beans, charred oaky wood, peppery rye, cinnamon sugar, toffee, pipe tobacco, and raisins. The finish is warming and loaded with cracked black pepper and brown sugar.

Bottom Line:

This list is littered with tremendous bargain bourbon bottles. But none matches the quality-to-price value of Wild Turkey 101. For around $20, it’s one of the most versatile bargain bottles available today.

Tyreek Hill was detained by the Miami-Dade Police Department and cited for reckless driving ahead of the Miami Dolphins‘ season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hill was not the only Dolphins player detained — Calais Campbell stopped while he was driving past to figure out what was going on and ended up being detained — but there were major questions as to why he ended up in handcuffs.

On Monday evening, the Miami-Dade PD released footage of the incident, which shows that an officer knocked on Hill’s window in a way that he did not like, leading to Hill asking them to not do that. After he handed over his driver’s license and appeared to tell the officer to do what he had to do so he could get going, Hill tried to roll up his window, which the first officer did not appreciate. This led to another cop (who threatened to break the car’s window) coming over as Hill was instructed to get out of his car, but that second officer started to open Hill’s door and forcefully pulled him out.

Hill attempted to call his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, while being thrown to the ground and handcuffed, and after the officers got him up and him go over to the sidewalk, he was asked to sit down — he started to go slowly, citing a recent surgery on his knee, but one officer forced him to the ground. Here is another angle of Hill being removed from his car, handcuffed, and forced to sit down.

In the original clip, the officer goes over to Jonnu Smith, who is given conflicting information on whether he should get in his car and leave, or stay and give his license to the police. And here, the officers put Campbell in handcuffs for not leaving the scene after he stopped to see why Hill was in handcuffs.

“Disobeying a direct order,” Campbell said after the team’s win on Sunday about why he was detained. “He said I was too close to the scene and then I think he said something about me not moving my car in time, I don’t know … He told me I wasn’t being arrested but he cited me for being detained and then released.”

In a pair of statements, Miami-Dade PD director Stephanie Daniels announced that an immediate review would occur of the incident, and shortly after, one of the officers involved in the incident was “placed on administrative duties.”

This post will be updated as more footage is released.

Who needs a traditional album rollout—certainly not Cass McCombs. Today (September 9), the “We Belong To Heaven” musician pulled a Beyoncé. However, instead of a collection of new tracks, McCombs went deep into his vault to unleash some vintage goodies.

Cass McCombs’ new surprise album, Seed Cake On Leap Year, is a ten track body of work featuring some of his earliest works. The previously unreleased records were initially recorded between 1999 and 2000, inside of Jason Quever’s San Francisco apartment.

McCombs and Quever’s musical relationship can be heard on past projects including McCombs’ debut 2002 EP Not The Way. Seed Cake On Leap Year isn’t McCombs only venture into his past. Three of his earlier projects, including Not The Way, 2003’s A, and 2005’s PREfection, were reissued.

With Cass McCombs’ As Paint On Fur Tour slated to kick off on September 19, the timing couldn’t be more impeccable. Continue below for Seed Cake On Leap Year artwork, tracklist, and more.

Artwork

Tracklist

1. “I’ve Played This Song Before”
2. “Anchor Child”
3. “Baby”
4. “Gum Tree”
5. “Wasted Again”
6. “If I Was A Stranger”
7. “You’re So Satanic”
8. “Always In Transit”
9. “What Else Can A Poor Boy Do”
10. “Northern Train”

Cass McCombs 2024 Tour Dates: As Paint On Fur Tour

09/19 — Santa Cruz, CA @ Moe’s Alley *
09/20 — San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel *
09/21 — Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room *
09/25 — Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg ^
09/26 — Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s ^
09/27 — Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar ^

* with Papercuts
^ with Advance Base

Seed Cake On Leap Year is out now via Domino. Find more information here.

(SPOILERS on The Perfect Couple will be found below.)

Nicole Kidman is the undisputed Queen of the AMC ads, and she has an A24 erotic thriller movie, Babygirl co-starring Harris Dickinson, coming out this December. However, Kidman is also racking up streaming series like nobody’s business.

In recent years, those shows include The Undoing, Expats, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Big Little Lies. Kidman is also set to star as Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta in a series that, according to TV Line, will begin filming in September. She’s got plenty going on, but here’s the question on your mind if you are reading this post after watching a season of Kidman’s newest Netflix series, The Perfect Couple:

Will There Be The Perfect Couple Season 2?

As viewers are aware, Kidman starred as the super wealthy Greer Garrison Winbury, the wife of Tag Winbury (Liev Schreiber). Their son, Benji Winbury (Billy Howie), was set to marry Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson) until a murder turned the nuptials upside down. By the end of the series, we learned that sister-in-law Abby Winbury (Dakota Fanning) was in fact the killer of Merritt Monaco (Meghann Fahy), the best friend of Amelia.

Is the story over? Well, Netflix hasn’t spoken on the subject following last week’s series debut, but months ago when the streamer’s Tudum blog announced the wedding of Benji and Amelia, the streaming service also took a moment to pointedly describe The Perfect Couple as a “limited series.”

This doesn’t mean that there will not be a second season if the show is successful enough for Netflix to change its mind. After all, Big Little Lies was also billed as a limited series until that show took off, and a second season materialized and was based upon a newly penned “novella-style bible of where these characters went” from author Lynne Moriarty. Currently, the four lead actresses (including Kidman) are talking about a third season, too.

So, it is certainly possible for a second season to eventually happen, but also, Kidman is damn busy. This hasn’t stopped her before from tacking on additional seasons, and if anybody can pull that off with her current roster, it’s Kidman. If that’s the case, The Perfect Couple couldn’t return for a few years at least, but again, Netflix has not renewed this series. Yet.

Despite the hopes of Eagles fans that he’ll make a dramatic return this season, Jason Kelce has hung up his cleats for good as a player and is all-in on his second career as a member of the media. Between his New Heights podcast with brother Travis, which just netted them a nine-figure deal with Amazon, and new gig as part of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown crew, Kelce is keeping plenty busy.

However, life on the road is a bit different now that he’s not part of a team, and among the big changes for Kelce in his new role as part of ESPN’s Monday night road show is that he has to remember to bring what he’s wearing to work with him on the road. That proved tougher than expected for Kelce’s official Monday Night Football debut in the Bay area, as the future Hall of Famer was on set ahead of Jets-Niners in a shirt that was a bit snug. As Scott Van Pelt explained, that’s because Kelce left his travel bag in his truck and had to run to the mall before the show to get a button down.

The good news, as Kelce explained, is his post-playing days weight loss meant he can find a shirt that fits his belly, but, in his words, “the tits are still struggling.” His colleagues were delighted by the mishap and it’s a testament to the Jason Kelce charm that he can not only get away with this but have it make him even more endearing and lovable.

It’s the start of a new week, which means Crumbl has just dropped its latest roster of cookies and desserts. As hardcore Crumbl fans, you can count on us to pick up and taste-test the newest treats and point you in the direction of which snack deserves your hard-earned cash. This is the first week since I started covering Crumbl religiously and I have to admit, I’m not that hyped about what’s on the lineup. At least visually.

Two weeks back we were treated to a delicious season-appropriate Crumbl debut, the Pumpkin Loaf, a week after that we got a Beetlejuice Beetlejuice tie-in cake, and this week the most exciting are Tres Leches and Oreos. Yay? It’s not that I don’t like Tres Leches or Oreos — I love both, who doesn’t? — but this week’s roster just lacks the visual impact of the last two.

But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what a dessert looks like, all that matters is how it tastes. So while we aren’t going in as hyped as we have in the past, maybe we’ll be proven wrong where it matters — the flavor.

Here is our ranking of every Crumbl Cookie for the week of September 8th-15th. Let’s snack!

6. Classic Peanut Butter

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

I’m sorry to say to the peanut butter fans out there but this cookie is incredibly one-note and boring. It tastes pretty much how you’d imagine, like peanut butter. It’s a bit earthy, peanut-forward, and very very sweet. I would’ve appreciated some sort of second flavor to help complement the peanut butter, like chocolate, but this doesn’t have that.

Because of that, this is an easy last-place pick for me.

The Bottom Line:

This cookie doesn’t have enough going on to justify its $4+ price point. Just go get yourself a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup instead.

5. Milk Chocolate Chip

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

Bright and buttery with a brown sugar-forward flavor with just a hint of cinnamon on the backend. As the name would suggest, the chocolate chips here are milk chocolate, so they’re incredibly sugary, like a Hershey bar.

The chocolate chips are thick, chunky, and well distributed throughout the cookie, so every bite delivers that extra dose of sweetness. Every week Crumbl drops a chocolate chip cookie and of the two, this one is my least favorite. That isn’t to say it isn’t delicious though, I just prefer semi-sweet chocolate chips over milk chocolate.

The Bottom Line:

A standard but very delicious (very sweet) chocolate chip cookie. You can’t go wrong here.

4. Chocolate Crumb Ft. Oreo

There isn’t a lot to say about this cookie, it tastes exactly how it looks — like a giant Oreo. It has that dark semi-bitter cocoa flavor, and crumbles just like a real Oreo, but the vanilla cream cheese frosting tastes more elevated than the cheap soybean-oil-based cream in your typical Oreo.

So this is an ideal cookie for people who are crazy about Oreos. But — at over $4 for a single cookie, you could just buy a whole box of real Oreos, and even though this tastes more elevated and high-end, it doesn’t taste all that different from an actual Oreo. So I’m a bit torn on this one.

The Bottom Line:

Reserved for the most hardcore Oreo fans.

3. Lemon Cake

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

If you love lemon bread, this cake absolutely delivers. At first bite the cake comes across as incredibly delicate and refreshing, with a moist mouthfeel that dissolves in the mouth. But by the aftertaste, you’re hit with an intense lemon tang, courtesy of the one-two-punch of the lemon curd spread between the cakes and the lemon cream cheese topping the cake.

A nice little lemon wedge on top rounds it out and helps to make it look more visually appealing. Easily the best-looking dessert at Crumbl this week.

The Bottom Line:

A sweet and refreshing lemon cake that is perfect for the final days of summer.

2. Banoffee Pie

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

I was incredibly close to giving the Banoffee Pie the top spot this week, but ultimately, I’m going to leave it here in second place. But consider this and our number one pick to be neck and neck!

I love this cookie, it features a soft chew graham cracker pie crust base topped with a layer of caramel, banana buttercream, and whipped cream with thin dark chocolate shavings.

The shavings are purely decorative, you can hardly taste them, but the combination of earthy caramel and sweet banana more than makes up for it. There is a rich honey and vanilla finish to this cookie that makes it a joy to eat from first to late bite.

The Bottom Line:

Sweet and rich, it tastes like a slice of banana cream pie in cookie form.

1. Tres Leches Cake ft. Lotus Biscoff

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

Made in collaboration with the Belgian snack food brand Lotus Biscoff, this Tres Leches cake is our number one pick. That means for the third week in a row, our favorite Crumbl cookie is a cake! I’m telling you, they need to change the name to “Crumbl Cakes,” because these pastries don’t miss!

This cake features a spicy cinnamon cake base soaked in tres leches and topped with Lotus Biscoff cookies, whipped cream, and a drizzle of Lotus Biscoff cookie butter. That whipped cream and cookie butter topping is delicious, and the cookie crumbles add a nice textural element, but it’s the cake itself where this dessert shines.

The cake is a delicate mix of cinnamon and brown sugar notes with a super moist texture due to the tres leches. It’s sweet, buttery, and lightly milky and melts on the tongue.

The Bottom Line:

Rich, perfectly moist, and wonderfully indulgent. This Tres Leches cake is the star of Crumbl’s lineup this week.

This past Friday, Nicky Jam dropped his latest opus, “Insomnio,” a collection of songs oozing with vivid late-night vibes. Imagine the sort of sensual stories you’d find on a Drake album soundtracked by Reggaeton royalty. Every Nicky Jam album is a time capsule moment, capturing the most cutting edge sounds of the zeitgeist and further cementing his star status and 20 year legacy in music.

It’s not just about the music anymore with Nicky Jam though — his restaurant Industria Bakery in Miami is a thriving brunch hotspot that could become its own empire, his touring vehicle is a plane, and he has starred in movies with Will Smith. Despite the trappings of fame and celebrity, Nicky remains humble when it comes to his culinary preferences. Not only does he pack a personal stash of ham, cheese, and bread on his plane, but he holds his Mom’s cooking over any Latin restaurant.

We caught up with Nicky on the precipice of his next release and talked about the differences between Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Colombian foodways, as well as the must-taste spots in each of the three countries. We learned about his future plans for Industria Bakery in Miami and beyond, what the food was like in Lawrence, Mass where he was raised. We also touch on his obsession with burgers, lemon pepper wings, pasta and the Colombian delicacy known as “the paisa” or bandeja paisa.

What’s on your rider?

It’s always white steamed rice and salmon. Sometimes I ask for breaded chicken cutlets when I don’t want to eat so healthy. I have water. I have Coke. I love Coca-Cola.

When you’re in the studio, is it a similar type of setup when it comes to food or are there certain snacks that you need to have in the studio?

I have the studio in one of my houses, so I have a lot of stuff there. There’s a whole fridge there. I mean, I’ll have my bread, ham, and cheese to make sandwiches and we’ll order food, order wings and stuff. When it comes to shows, I try to eat light because I got to go on stage.

When you go on stage, you want to jump and everything. Normally when I go on stage, I eat a little bit cleaner, but other than that, I’ll eat anything. I’m a big burger fan. I love burgers. I go crazy about burgers. I love rice. I’ll eat rice anytime.

What’s your go to wing or a burger spot?

In Miami where I live, yes. I like lemon pepper wings. I’m crazy about that. So, anywhere they have lemon pepper wings, I’m down.When you’re snacking, are you more like a sweet, savory, or salty snack kind of guy?I could say I used to be sweet, but now I’m more salty right now. I like chips. It could be Dorito Ranch. I like Pringles, the onion and cream Pringles. Stuff like that I go for. And I love cheese. I can eat cheese anytime. So, I like cheese with salami.

When you’re on the road and you don’t have that pantry around to pull stuff from, are there certain things that you like to have in your hotel room? Do you go out to the CVS and grab some stuff or are you showing up with your own?

I make sure I have my bread and ham and cheese. I’ll eat a sandwich anytime. I’m a sandwich guy. I eat bread like crazy. So, as long as I have bread, ham, and cheese in the room, I’m good. I don’t need anything else, you know what I’m saying? Even when I fly on my plane, they be like, “Yo, Nicky, the catering is kind of hard to find for you.” Get me bread, ham, and cheese, and I’m good.

So if there’s a mini bar in the hotel, you’re not even taking anything out of that?

If they have Pringles, I eat Pringles. If they have Snickers, I go with the Snickers. And obviously the Coca-Cola, because I’m a Coca-Cola fan.

When it comes to ham and cheese, is it like sliced ham, or prosciutto? What type of cheese you going for?

I like the sliced ham, the typical sliced ham. I like the yellow cheese, like that Kraft cheese that you use for sandwiches.

After your show, are you going out to get food at a diner, or getting room service?

Yeah, I get room service. I always try to order room service because that’s the moment where we’re all happy because we did a good show. We sit down in my room and we all start eating and just talking.

So is there anything that’s typical for you to get or does it depend where you are?

Club sandwich, you can’t go wrong with a club sandwich.

Are there any cities that you’re excited to travel to because of the food?

When I go to New York, I like to go to Cipriani. They have good pasta there. I get the pasta, I get the breaded steak and they have the breaded shrimp as well. Their food is amazing. They have this other restaurant called Mamo too, that I like a lot. When I go to Philly, I like the Philly cheesesteaks. To be honest with you, I don’t go to these big spots, the famous ones. The best Philly cheesesteaks in Philly are from those small spots in the corners.

Are there any healthy snacks that you really gravitate towards or you have gotten into as you’ve gotten more mature?

Kettle corn chips. I like those. And I don’t feel with that I’m eating really bad. It’s just corn and it tastes really good, so I go for that and that’ll be it. Because I don’t really like snacks, to be honest with you, healthy snacks, there’s not too many healthy snacks unless you’re going to eat fruit and stuff like that.

Are there any snacks that you’ve heard about where you think “That’s nasty. I would never try that?”

I know girls that love eating fries with ice cream and shit like that. I don’t mess around with that.

Is there anything that you eat where people give you the side eye?

I’m not that guy. I don’t eat weird stuff. But to be honest with you, I’ve been to Subway and I see American people before me in line and they put so much stuff on those sandwiches. I’m a Spanish guy with just ham and cheese and mayo, that’s it. They put so many things I’m like, “Wow.”

When it comes to growing up in your household, was the food more Dominican, more Puerto Rican or a little bit of a mix?

You could say a little bit of a mix, but it goes more towards Puerto Rican.

I’ve read that your favorite dish growing up was rice, beans and pork chops. Is that still your favorite?

That’s one of them. And I like rice and fried eggs. That’s the easiest one.

If you had to put people on to maybe some places in the US or Puerto Rico or DR, are there any restaurants that you’re like, “Yo, you got to go here?” I know you have your own spot in Miami.

There’s a lot of places here in Miami that I love to go eat. And I could say I’m a big fan of Novikov in Miami. I go there a lot. I love Surf Club. I’m a big fan, and Fiola as well. Those are my spots.

Do you have a favorite pasta dish?

Chicken Alfredo. Any pasta, to be honest with you. I just don’t mess around with the pasta with the red sauce because it messes me up, but I like it as well.

When it comes to Dominican cooking, what’s your favorite Dominican dish?

The thing is, Puerto Rican and Dominican are the same food. What changes the way they cook it. So, it’s more about condiments. You could say Puerto Ricans eat mofongo, right? Ricans eat it in a way and Dominicans eat it in a different way. They’re both good. It’s just different, the spices are just different. Mofongo is one of my best foods. Dominicans have the mangú, the mangú with salami, that’s like a plantain and they mash it up like mashed potatoes and they eat with the salami and that’s awesome.

So, are there any restaurants you could recommend in either country for when people go there?

Puerto Rico, there’s a lot, but I could say one of the places is Raíces. Their food is amazing. This place in Caguas called El Batey, it’s amazing. And Dominican Republic, to be honest with you, if I say I know a restaurant in Dominican Republic, I’m lying because when I go to Dominican Republic it’s to see my mom and I will never go to a restaurant and not eat my mom’s food.

What’s your favorite thing your Mom makes?

She makes this soup called sancocho, it’s amazing. And if you’re dying, it will wake you up and you will not die. She does the mangú, obviously when I told you about the mashed plantains. And everything else, her food is just amazing. Rice, beans, chuleta, pork chops, stuff like that.

Was that an inspiration when you decided to have your own restaurant?

No, my inspiration was I’m a brunch guy, I’m really crazy about breakfast. And I would go to these brunch places here in Miami and I’m like, “Yo, they need a brunch spot for Latino people, like us.” So, that’s why during the pandemic, I came with the idea of making the Industria Bakery.

How has that been going for you so far? It looks like there’s a lot of incredible feedback.

Phenomenal, man. A lot of lines and everything. Right now, we’re remodeling half of the restaurant, but people are still going and enjoying the food. The food is crazy.

Are there any chances of expansion into maybe doing more restaurants and more in the culinary world?

Yeah, a hundred percent. Well, when you do a franchise, you need to do a book. And we’re still working on that book for the franchise, but we’re definitely going to make it happen.

You also lived in Colombia for some time, is that right? How would you say the food is different there from say, Puerto Rico or DR?

Yeah, I lived 10 years in Colombia. It’s different. It has similarities, it’s different. It’s just the way they cook it. And the food in Colombia is so good, it’s so healthy. Their food is amazing, it’s very clean, their spice is really good. Just a different experience. I mean, when you’re Spanish and you go to different Spanish places, they have typical food. It’s just the way they cook it. So, they will have the rice and beans and meat or whatever, but they just have it in a different way.

Let’s say Medellín, Columbia has the one, the bandeja paisa and they would put fried pork on with white rice and ground beef and eggs and it would be a huge plate with so many things on it. And that’s one of my favorites, actually, and I think that’s one of the favorites of the whole world. Everybody that goes there asks for that one, the bandeja paisa. They love it because it has so many things tha Spanish people will eat. Eggs, ground beef, rice, the pork and all that stuff. But like I’m saying, it’s hard for me to go to a country and a Spanish country and say, “Well, they have this,” because it’s almost the same thing. We all eat the same thing.

So are there any restaurants in Colombia that you could recommend?

Wow, they have so much. Well, look, if you want to talk about burgers, they have the best burger called El Corral. Their burgers are amazing. And I think if they’re one of the best burgers in the whole world. Apart from, if you want to go to chicken, the best fried chicken, breaded chicken is called Frisby. Frisby is amazing. I mean, forget Popeye, forget about Church’s Chicken, forget about all that. I think it has drug in it. I ain’t lying.

So, these are two spots you want to go. You want to go Frisby, eat that chicken. You want to go to Corral to eat some burgers. And they got the best hot dogs as well.

What are you getting on your burger at Corral?

Man, anything they put on it, to be honest with you. Yeah, it’s just typical burger. It’s just the way it tastes, it’s just the meat. It doesn’t change. I mean, it’s just the way they cook it, the bread, it’s different.

I know you have your own restaurant, but if you could be the ambassador or the spokesperson for any food or snack or whatever that exists, like a big brand. I know you said you love Coca-Cola. What would be your pick to be the representative?

You said it right there. Coca-Cola. I’m a big fan. I’m not even a fan of the way it tastes. I’m a fan of the can. I’m a fan of the color of the can. I’m a fan of the brand. I enjoy it. I’ve always wanted to work with them. I really like Coca-Cola a lot.

Problem is that when you drink so much Coca-Cola and you come out everywhere drinking it, you become an organic ambassador. And when you become an organic ambassador, they don’t need you anymore because you already doing everything for free.

They got you already.

They got me already, yeah.

If you could own a franchise that already exists that’s not competing with your restaurant or whatever, what would that be?

I ain’t going to lie, man. I’m down with McDonald’s. McDonald’s, just the brand, the way it looks. I mean everywhere you see that M, you know it’s okay. I’m a big fan of McDonald’s. I know a lot of people are like, “I will not eat McDonald’s.” I’ll eat McDonald’s, I’ll have breakfast at McDonald’s. I’m not saying it’s healthy, it’s not the most healthy thing in the world, but I like the food. So yeah, I just think it’s not only about the food, it’s about the brand. Something about the brand that calls me.

Legendary actor James Earl Jones has died at the age of 93, according to Deadline. Known for roles ranging from Broadway to Star Wars, Jones amassed nearly 200 screen credits in his 60-year career.

One of a very short list of performers to ever accumulate the EGOT award circuit (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), Jones was perhaps best known to audiences as the imposing voice behind one of the greatest screen villains of all time, Darth Vader. As Vader, Jones menaced heroes through four decades of Star Wars movies and shows, right up to 2022’s Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, he also played a polar opposite father figure in Disney’s The Lion King, voicing the titular protagonist’s father, Mufasa. He reprised the role in the 2019 live-action remake.

In live action, he shook up the screen in roles in films like Coming To America and its 2021 sequel, Field Of Dreams, The Hunt For Red October, and The Sandlot. He narrated numerous documentaries, lending gravitas with his distinctive bass voice, and on stage, he played roles ranging from Othello (twice) and King Lear to Hoke Colburn in Driving Miss Daisy. In 2008, he won the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, and in 2011, an Academy Honorary Award for his standout career in film.

Giddy up!

Beyoncé caused a major splash when she announced late last month that she would be releasing a whiskey — called SirDavis — in partnership with the mega-conglomerate Moët Hennessy.

Here’s the lowdown on what’s in those beautiful ribbed bottles:

The liquid was blended by SirDavis co-founder Dr. Bill Lumsden, who earned his stripes in the whisky world as the mastermind head of distilling for mega brands Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, earning the International Whisky Competition Master Distiller of the Year five times along the way. SirDavis whisky was also created with the help of the whisky blender and Ardbeg’s Global Head of Advocacy, Cameron George. The final result, of course, was vetted and approved by Queen Bey herself.

We’ve been anxious to try this one since it was first announced. Given Beyoncé’s long-established love affair with whisky and the bona fides of its creators, this one has all the makings of a product that can buck the trend of boring celebrity cash grabs. So, will it succeed, or is SirDavis destined to become the latest in a long line of forgettable alcohol brands with famous faces attached?

It’s finally time for our SirDavis Whisky review, so let’s find out!

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SirDavis Rye Whisky Finished In Sherry Casks

ABV: 44%
Average Price: $90

The Whisky:

SirDavis is 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. For that aging process, it was dumped into Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, 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 whiskey 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.

In a nutshell, SirDavis is a strong debut that will definitely win over whisky cocktail fans. It’s far from another paint-by-the-numbers celebrity whisky.