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The best bourbon under $100 is a wide category. There are easily 100 bottles that could slot into that wide-ranging parameter. But when you narrow it all down to the best bourbons between $90 and $100, you get a glimpse at some of the best bourbons on the shelf right now.

Below, I’m calling out 15 bottles of bourbon that you should know, taste, and enjoy — all between $90 and $100. These bourbons are all prime cuts. There are no losers listed below. That’s not always true of whiskey at this price point, there are some very mid bottles that don’t wow. Iron Smoke, I.W. Harper, Gentleman’s Cut, and Good Times are all very skippable at this price point.

But we’re not here for those. We’re here for the good stuff.

There is one big elephant in the room at this price point too. Some bottles are priced for retail (MSRP) at $99 or near that that you’ll never see at that price point unless you win the lottery (sometimes literally). I did not list those bottles here because we’re dealing with the real-world prices of things and not mythical MSRPs that no one gets access to. So E.H. Taylor’s, BTACs, etc. are not on this list (but will be on later installments with their real-world retail prices).

Let’s dive in!

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2023, Ranked
• The 100 Best Kentucky Bourbons, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Tasting Bourbons Under $50, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The Best Bourbons Under $100 For Thanksgiving Dinner, Ranked

15. Old Elk Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels

ABV: 54.05%

Average Price: $94

The Whiskey:

This Colorado whiskey has a base of 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye. That whiskey rests for five years before it’s batched and re-barrelled into 59-gallon port casks from Portugal. After 10 months to a year, those barrels are batched and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is crafty bourbon turned up to 11 with a sweet porridge nose, raw leather, cold apple cider, and a hint of fresh oak on the nose.

Palate: There’s a honey-apple crisp sweetness on the opening of the palate that leads right back into that slurry of sweet porridge — now with a white grits edge — before a nice ABV buzz (not burn) leads to orchard barks, winter spice mixes, and a soft sense of cherry bark.

Finish: The finish holds onto the buzziness as the fruit wood and spice settle into a soft and sweet grit ending.

Bottom Line:

This is just good bourbon. The port is perfectly balanced with a deep crafty graininess that works wonders. It’s kind of like a nourishing bowl of grits cut with stewed and spiced dark fruits and syrups on a cold morning.

The warmth of the ABVs is also very well balanced, creating a lovely, warming sipping experience.

14. Lost Lantern Single Distillery Series New Riff Distilling Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 58.1%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

This single cask bottling from Lost Lantern is a one-of-a-kind Kentucky barrel from New Riff Distilling (across the river from Cincinnati). The whiskey in the barrel was a low-corn bourbon (65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley) aged for four years. The barrel was bottled at cask strength and yielded around 196 bottles.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with a deep burnt caramel sweetness that gives way to five-spice powder over fatty smoked pork next to dark cherry cola and rich and clear tobacco.

Palate: That tobacco is fresh and vibrant on the palate as the fatty smoked pork drives the taste toward rich dark chocolate sauce, winter spice medleys, and campfire toasted marshmallows.

Finish: Mulled wine and apple cider spices drive the finish to some wet brown sugar, more dark cherry cola, and a hint of a buttermilk biscuit with marmalade just kissed with that five-spice powder before the heat really kicks in a mutes everything with a loud numbing mouthfeel.

Bottom Line:

This is a fun and fresh sipper that makes for a great food pairing whiskey, especially if you’re leaning into East Asian flavors. The warmth of the ABVs balances beautifully with the sharp spices and soft sweetness to create a wonderful slow sipper.

13. Kings County Distillery Bottled-In-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $96

The Whiskey:

This crafty whiskey from New York is a grain-to-glass bourbon experience. The mash bill on this one eschews rye and wheat for 80% locally grown corn supported by 20% malted barley from England. The juice is then aged for four years in small 15-gallon barrels treated according to the law and bottled in Kings County’s signature hip flask bottles.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This draws you in with a strawberry shortcake with a cornmeal base, topped with fresh berries, buttery vanilla whipped cream, and then dipped in a caramel sauce.

Palate: The palate veers away from all of that and touches on bitter black coffee syrup with brown sugar and butter notes next to oatcakes and vanilla sauce with a hint of spice lingering in the background.

Finish: The end is long and full of chocolate malts, leather, and more of that creamy and buttery vanilla whipped cream.

Bottom Line:

This is another crafty bourbon that has a great balance of grains and deep spice with the perfect hint of bitterness, creating a well-rounded sipper. This is the sort of pour you reach for when you want to try what’s new in bourbon.

12. Pinhook Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2023 Vertical Series Bourbon “Bourbon War” Aged 8 Years

ABV: 57.3%

Average Price: $92

The Whiskey:

This is an instant classic from Kentucky’s Pinhook. The whiskey is hewn from a mash bill of 75% corn, 20.5% rye, and 4.5% malted barley distilled at MGP of Indiana and aged at Castle & Key (in Kentucky). The whiskey was left alone for eight years before batching and bottling as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with toasted raisin bread, cinnamon butter, dates, prunes, and figs with a nice layer of leathery dark berries cut with bright orange zest.

Palate: Soft caramel opens the palate before sharp winter spice barks stewing dark plums, sticky toffee pudding, and vanilla buttercream lead to fresh gingerbread.

Finish: The end leans into the rich buttercream and woody spices with a soft sense of pipe tobacco and Christmas cakes.

Bottom Line:

This is a bright and, well, just gorgeous pour of bourbon. It’s nostalgic while still feeling vibrant and fresh. It also makes one hell of an old-fashioned.

11. Fox & Oden Double Oaked Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 49.5%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

The whiskey in this small batch bourbon is rendered from MGP’s 21% and 36% rye bourbon mash bills. The barrels are between eight and 15 years old when they’re married. Once vatted, the whiskey is just touched with water before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A rich buttery note comes through on the nose with a hint of salted corn next to savory figs with a hint of honey and freshly ground nutmeg mixed with some vanilla cream.

Palate: The palate turns that butteriness into salted caramel with a hint of sticky toffee pudding with plenty of cinnamon and nutmeg next to a thin line of charred oak underneath it all.

Finish: The end dries out with a sense of old leather wrapped around an old and dry tobacco leaf with a twinge of raisin.

Bottom Line:

This is another one that’s just a delight to sip. It’s essential American whiskey with a deep yet very concise profile that shines. Sip it slowly and enjoy the ride.

10. Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey Private Select Single Barrel

ABV: 57.2%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

This craft distillery out in Washington is starting to create a big footprint nationwide. This release is a single barrel pick of five-year-old local grain-to-glass Washington bourbon. The barrel spent exactly five years and four months aging in Central Washington during deeply cold winters and very hot high-desert summers, accelerating the aging process significantly. It was then barreled 100% as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A dark and almost dried cherry greets you on the nose with a sense of toasted Graham Crackers, maple syrup, and huckleberry pie next to hints of spiced winter cakes and salty dark chocolate.

Palate: Those spicy winter cakes follow on the palate as salted caramel and vanilla cake lead back to a lush cherry ice cream with a hint of dark chocolate and almond.

Finish: That dark chocolate gets creamy and sweet on the finish with a hint of floral honey and nasturtium spice next to a mild sense of old yet sweet oak.

Bottom Line:

This is a distinct whiskey that feels of a place. The wild berries and soft graininess speak to Washington craft spirits with a sense of floral spice and soft mountain honey that all work wonderfully in unison to deliver a great slow-sipping whiskey.

9. Southern Star Paragon Single Barrel Cask Strength Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 58%

Average Price: $91

The Whiskey:

This North Carolina bourbon is starting to make some serious waves. This very limited batch of single-barrel bourbon is made from wheated bourbon mash bill with 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley. The hot juice was left for around four years before the barrel was hand-pocked and bottled as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a sense of orange blossoms and an apple orchard with a hint of pear and plum next to walnut shells, old honey bottles, and rich vanilla sauce with a hint of poppy seed.

Palate: The palate has a touch of dark chocolate powder sweetness that melds with walnuts and honey to make a cluster before the brown spice kicks in with sharp cinnamon and a touch of root beer.

Finish: The end leaves the spice and warmth behind for smooth vanilla walnut cake with a hint of apple-honey tobacco wrapped up with old cedar bark.

Bottom Line:

This whiskey keeps winning big awards. It’s easy to see why once you get your hands on a bottle. It’s deep and keeps delivering more and more nuance and beauty with each successive sip. This is one to take your time with and really dig into. You’ll be rewarded with a very enjoyable sipper.

8. Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Barrel Strength

ABV: 65%

Average Price: $97

The Whisky:

This is classic Old Forester from a single barrel that’s not cut with water for bottling. When you find these, they’ll generally be a pick from a retailer or bar program. That means they’ll vary slightly, depending on what the person picking the barrel was looking for. Still, there’s a consistency of “Old Forester” running through them all.

Tasting Note:

Nose: There’s a clear sense of dark fruit, especially cherry, that becomes stewed with dark winter spices on the nose with a good dose of dry tobacco in an old cedar box that’s wrapped up in old leather.

Palate: A hint of old dry roses sneaks in on the palate as those spices and syrupy cherry and berries intensify and attach to the chewy tobacco.

Finish: The mid-palate sweetens with an almost rose-water marzipan vibe as the cherry tobacco dried out pretty significantly, leaving you with a sense of pitchy pine sap and your grandparent’s old tobacco pipe that’s still hot to touch.

Bottom Line:

These tend to start off as a cherry bomb, but they go so much further. There’s a massive depth of flavor notes in these single barrel releases from Old Forester that makes them beloved (and also sell out quickly).

7. Booker’s “Charlie’s Batch” 2023-01 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 63.3%

Average Price: $90

The Whiskey:

This first Booker’s Small Batch of 2023 was the one to get. This release is an hommage to Charlie Hutchens — the woodworker who makes Booker’s boxes the whiskey comes in and a long-time family friend to the Noe family who makes Beam whiskeys. The whiskey is a blend of mid to high-floor barrels from five warehouses. Those whiskeys were batched and bottled 100% as-is at cask strength after just north of seven years of aging.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Toasted almonds and walnuts lead the way on the nose with a deep and rich vanilla cake lightly dusted with cacao, dry cherry, and cinnamon with a touch of old oak cellars and black-mold-encrusted old deck furniture.

Palate: The soft caramel and vanilla open the palate before a rush of woody and sharp spices — clove, anise, allspice, red chili pepper — arrive with a sense of old wood chips on a workshop floor leads to salted toffee dipped in roasted almonds and dark salted chocolate with a whisper of cherry cordial backing it all up.

Finish: That soft sweetness counters the hot spices on the slow finish as the spices take on an orange/cherry/vanilla Christmas cake vibe with plenty of nuts and ABV heat.

Bottom Line:

Booker’s is always going to be a good play at this price point. This bottle is a stellar example of the cask-strength whiskey coming out of Beam right now. You really cannot go wrong with these bold sippers.

6. Old Ezra Aged 7 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 58.5%

Average Price: $97

The Whiskey:

This brand from Luxco is still sourced whiskey though they did start distilling their own in 2018. This bottle is a seven-year-old blend of barrels with a bourbon mash bill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye, which just so happens to be Heaven Hill’s bourbon mash bill. These barrels are blended down and left as-is at cask strength for bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is a pretty classic bourbon from nose to finish with a strong sense of rich caramel, pancakes with plenty of vanilla, sweet oak, wet brown sugar, and a whiff of cherry tobacco.

Palate: The palate leans into the woody brown spices as a dark cherry vibe sweetens the mid-palate before this deep sense of nutty Christman cake arrives with a sense of candied citrus, stewed red fruit, and sharp yet sweet winter mulled wine spices.

Finish: The end circles back to that sweet oak and spicy cherry tobacco with a whisper of smudging sage, old boot leather, and brandy-soaked spiced winter cake cut with a fluttering of salt and orange.

Bottom Line:

This is the biggest “hidden gem” at the price point. This is a very good bourbon that never gets the love it deserves. Buy one, dig into that profile, and then make a killer Manhattan with it.

5. Joseph A. Magnus Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

Joseph A. Magnus has been the insider’s bourbon for a while now. This version is made from old barrels of bourbon that were finished in cognac and sherry casks before batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with sticky toffee pudding that amps up the cinnamon and nutmeg next to black-tea-soaked dates next to some stewed prunes wrapped in chili-chocolate-laced tobacco leaves and dripped in honey and then walnuts.

Palate: A savory fruitiness opens the palate with figs and pumpkin that leads towards an apricot jam with a hint of clove and cinnamon next to light touches of old library leather and funk.

Finish: A faint hint of dark berries arrives on the mid-palate before the finish luxuriates in burnt toffee, almond shells, more of that leather, and dried-out apricots.

Bottom Line:

This is an excellent bourbon with the perfect proof point. It’s so sippable neat that you don’t really need a rock or water unless you want to dig deeper into that seemingly bottomless profile. You can also make a great whiskey-forward cocktail with this one.

4. Starlight Distillery Carl T. Huber’s Limited Release Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Second Oak Barrel French Oak

ABV: 59.8%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

This is a four-year-old Starlight bourbon that was aged in French oak casks from the jump. Then that same whiskey was refilled into new French oak casks for a final maturation before batching and bottling to help with prostrate cancer research via bottle sales this year.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Your grandma’s caramel candies draw you in on the nose with a light sense of vanilla malts topped with whipped cream and cherry before the oak arrives with a sense of sweetness and light mocha espresso vibes.

Palate: The dark cherry takes on a mild cola feel before it drives toward rich vanilla buttercream cut with poppyseeds and nutmeg next to a hint of that sweet oak dipped in salted caramel.

Finish: Rich tobacco leaves wrap themselves around that caramel oak before a whisper of apple blossom and maybe some brandy-soaked pear round out the finish.

Bottom Line:

This French-on-French bourbon is a vanilla dessert lover’s dream pour. It’s so rich and creamy with a lovely counterbalance of stewed and spiced orchard fruits. Pair this with a dessert course or just make this the dessert — either way, you’ll be in for a real treat.

3. 15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon Kentucky Stars A Select Blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys

ABV: 52.5%

Average Price: $99

The Whiskey:

15 STARS did it again with this special release. The whiskey in the bottle is a blend of Kentucky straight bourbon that is at least eight years old, with several much older barrels in the mix. The final blend was just kissed with limestone water and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose draws you in with a deep sense of brandied cherries dipped in rich and creamy salted dark chocolate that almost leans into baker’s chocolate with a hint of oily espresso before a soft burnt sugar vibe arrives with a whisper of old sweet oak and worn boot leather.

Palate: The palate leans into a soft sense of cherry tobacco with a chewiness that’s wrapped in that old boot leather, wet cedar bark, and smudging sage with a touch of marmalade and apricot preserve over a buttermilk biscuit just kissed with brown butter cut with cinnamon and molasses.

Finish: The end dries out toward spiced oak staves in an old brick warehouse with plenty of dirt and mold from a fallow orchard, soft brittle dry tobacco leaves, and a medley of nutshells all twinged with orange, cherry, and pear oils.

Bottom Line:

This is a wonderful sipper. It’s so deep and nourishing. You’re transported to an old barrel house in Kentucky where you feel the wood and whiskey in your bones as you sip.

2. Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: Varies

Average Price: $96

The Whiskey:

This brand-new release from Bardstown Bourbon Company is part of their Origins Series in single-barrel form. The whiskey is their 36% high-rye bourbon mash bill and is selected from prime single barrels from their vast rickhouses. The whiskey is bottled as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Expect a nose full of stewed stone fruits — peach cobbler comes to mind — on the nose with a good sense of baking spices with brown butter, soft brown sugars, and creamy vanilla that leads to salted caramel, touches of dark chocolate, and hints of black licorice with a whisper of fatty roasting herbs.

Palate: The fruit gets brighter on the palate as apricot preserves and blueberry pies drive the taste toward a sense of old rickhouses full of barrels, soft orchard trees on a summer day, and a deep sense of real vanilla pods baking in the sun with a hint of almond nuttiness.

Finish: The end leans into the nuttiness and vanilla husks with a deep oakiness that’s countered by sharp winter spice, grassy smudging sage, and cedar-infused tobacco layered into an old humidor.

Bottom Line:

These single-barrel picks are going to dominate the conversation in 2024. They’re excellent. This is what you want from a sipping whiskey — depth, unique vibes, and deliciousness. These also feel like they’ll make killer whiskey-forward cocktails.

1. Fortuna Rare Character Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 59.41%

Average Price: $94

The Whiskey:

Last year’s Fortuna release was an instant classic. In 2023, the Rare Character team has upped the ante with a cask-strength version and, ho boy, they hit it out of the park. The whiskey in the bottle is a small batch of minimum seven-year-old barrels that were expertly batched and bottled 100% as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a sense of deeply roasted walnuts, almonds, and chestnuts dipped in salted toffee with a sense of darkly charred old oak staves countered by a lush vanilla cream cut with winter spices.

Palate: The nuttiness drives the palate toward vanilla buttercream next to winter spice cakes filled with rum raisin, candied orange rind, and brandy-soaked cherries before a hint of sticky toffee pudding arrives with a whisper of roasting herbs and sweetgrass.

Finish: Nutshells and dried pipe tobacco round out the finish with a deep winter spice bark vibe before the luscious vanilla creates a creamy landing for the pour that’s part eggnog and part malted vanilla shake cut with peppermint, clove, and sasparilla.

Bottom Line:

This is a mic-drop whiskey. It has everything plus so much more that you could want from a Kentucky bourbon at cask strength. It’s bold, gentle, nuanced, brash, warming, delicate … divine. Pour this into a simple whiskey-forward cocktail and it’ll blow minds. Then show it off as a sipper and tell them where you heard about it!

Shōgun, which streams on Hulu, is the latest home run from FX, which has fired off several must-see beloved series in recent years, including Reservation Dogs and The Bear. The cable network can now claim a next-big-thing trophy for their adaptation of James Clavell’s best-selling 1975 novel, which counts as the first chronological part of the author’s Asian Saga.

The series gathers an ensemble acclaimed cast to tell the novel’s epic wartime story of 1600s feudal Japan, but there’s one actor in particular who looks awfully familiar to American audiences. That would be Cosmo Jarvis, the British actor who portrays English navigator John Blackthorne (based upon historical figure William Adams, who became a British samurai warrior), so where have you seen this actor before now?

Jarvis has numerous credits to his name, including 2016’s Lady Macbeth (starring Florence Pugh) 2022’s Persuasion (the version with Dakota Johnson). He’s a singer as well with his “Gay Pirates” single gaining more notoriety amid Shōgun’s release:

Additionally, Jarvis recently told The Guardian about a major source of inspiration for his character: “My old man’s a merchant seaman and I borrowed a lot from him. The confidence in his style of speech suited Blackthorne.” He also portrayed a tragic Peaky Blinders character, Barney (a PTSD-afflicted ex-Royal Marines sniper and WWII buddy of Tommy Shelby), and here’s a brief refresher clip:

With the arrival of Shōgun, Jarvis’ profile is seeing a significant boost. According to Samba TV’s figures, over 1 million viewers are catching the FX show within five days of release, and the debut scored 1.8 million viewers during that timetable.

FX’s Shōgun airs on Tuesday nights.

Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign may have been spending the past week insisting there’s a conspiracy against them in the recording industry (despite still receiving enough streams for their album, Vultures 1, and its singles that they debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s albums chart even challenged Beyoncé for the top Hot 100 spot two weeks in a row), but that may not stop them from continuing to release new projects under the Vultures moniker. Early last week, Timbaland tweeted, “Vulture Vol 2 OTW,” prompting fans to speculate when a second installment of Vultures would be released.

According a since-deleted post from West, March 8 is the expected release date for the album, but before getting too excited, here’s your reminder that the first Vultures was allegedly due for release months ago, but was repeatedly pushed back without notice, eventually dropping on February 10 — but not without issues. The album’s distributor FUGA declared that it was never supposed to be released through FUGA, resulting in the album being pulled from Apple Music, while FUGA works with other platforms to have it removed. Meanwhile, the estate of Donna Summer filed a lawsuit against West for interpolating Summer’s hit song “I Feel Love” on “Good (Don’t Die)” without permission.

So, take the March 8 release date with a grain of salt, as it’s entirely possible the album could get deleted, canceled, or otherwise delayed at the last minute, without warning. Of course, for anyone still waiting for Kanye West albums in 2024, that possibility probably won’t deter them.

On February 23, K-pop favorites TWICE released With YOU-th, their 13th mini album. While 13 is often considered to be an unlucky number, it’s actually now a big one for TWICE: With YOU-th has debuted at No. 1 on the new Billboard 200 chart (dated March 9), the first chart-topper for the group.

As Billboard notes, the project earned 95,000 equivalent album units in the US the week ending February 29 “largely from traditional album sales,” so the fact that the mini album has only six tracks (much shorter than most albums these days) didn’t significantly get in the way of its chart success. (Albums units typically come primarily from streaming, so the more songs an album has, the better.)

The album, which is sung mostly in Korean, is the 24th primarily non-English language album to ever hit No. 1, and the first to do so in 2024. As a press release also notes, this is TWICE’s fifth top-10 album, which is the most for a female K-pop act. With YOU-th also gives TWICE the most pure album sales out of all K-pop girl groups.

Meanwhile, LE SSERAFIM debuts at No. 8 this week with Easy. With the group joining TWICE on the chart, this is the first time two all-female Korean pop groups have been in the top 10 simultaneously.

If any movie released in 2024 so far needs to be seen in a theater, it’s Dune: Part Two (no offense, Madame Web). Even better if you can find an IMAX screening that isn’t sold out. But the sequel to 2021’s Dune, which is a massive box office hit, will eventually hit streaming, too. But when?

Warner Bros. Discovery head (and villain of ‘toons) David Zaslav said during a recent earnings calls that one Timothée Chalamet movie (Wonka) will “join” Max on March 8th, followed by another (Dune: Part Two) “in the spring.” You know what other movie comes out in the spring? Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Make it a sand-filled double feature of rad action movies.

Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve spoke to Uproxx about potentially turning Dune into a trilogy. “For now, I’ve had my share of sand and I would love to take a little break from Arrakis before going back, if ever I go back,” he said. “I will go back if there’s a strong screenplay on the table. It’s a work in progress right now. So, I have nothing to say about Dune Messiah, other than it could be interesting to finish. Totally finalize the poetry, this arc. But I will say that, for me, I tried to complete the story in the two first movies. And to see that, if it stopped there, there was a part of me that I knew I will have spent enough time in Arrakis.”

You can read the rest of the interview here.

Jack Black and Kyle Gass (a.k.a. the melodious duo known as Tenacious D) dropped a cover of Britney Spears‘ debut hit “… Baby One More Time” on social media last week, which naturally, melted the faces of anyone who watched it. The cover was a match made in heaven, and Black is definitely ready to take things to the next level.

While walking the red carpet for Kung Panda 4, Black made it abundantly clear that the D is ready to collaborate with Britney at the drop of a hat. Just say the word, and they’re there.

“Britney, if you’re watching, I love you. I love the song,” Black told Entertainment Tonight. “I’m here! I’m ready when you are. I’m waiting by the phone. I got kicks! I don’t quite have Britney kicks, but you know, I got some moves.”

Black also hopes Britney saw the cover and liked what she saw.

“We’re very proud of it, [and] I hope you like it, too,” Black said.

The Tenacious D cover has already racked up over 3 million likes thanks to Black absolutely going for it. You can watch his madcap performance below complete with Gass pulling off his best dance moves in the background and the words “Baby” written across Black’s knuckle in this hilariously badass cover of a stone-cold classic:

Kung Fu Panda 4 opens in theaters on March 8.

(Via Entertainment Tonight, Jack Black on Instagram)

Patton Oswalt didn’t let his hosting gig for the 71st Annual Golden Reels Award ceremony go to waste. During his opening monologue, the comedian took several swings at Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav following the controversial decisions to shelve Batgirl, and more recently, Coyote vs. Acme so the studio could score a tax write-off.

However, Oswalt first dropped a self-deprecating joke as he addressed the crowd full of sound editors.

“What better choice to entertain a room full of postproduction workers than a guy who is in both SAG and the WGA,” Oswald sarcastically quipped. “That’s right. I’m the asshole that forced you to take out a second mortgage on your home.”

From there, Oswalt pivoted to landing blows on Zaslav. Via The Hollywood Reporter:

“But despite the nightmare of last year’s basically living hell that we all went through, you guys, as always, did some amazing work. And I’m just talking about the movies that were locked in a vault for a tax break. Get it?”

The comedian went on to specifically call out Zaslav, whose company has scrapped multiple finished films amid cost-cutting measures, including Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt in 2022 and Coyote vs. Acme last year. “I joke, but it’s exciting to see our industry once again flourishing,” Oswalt said. “I hear that David Zaslav just gave a three-picture deal to H&R Block. Vive la cinéma!”

Oswalt’s remarks arrive directly on the heels of Will Forte’s open letter to the cast of crew of Coyote vs. Acme. Forte, who starred in the now-deleted film, assured everyone that they created an “incredible” movie as he voiced his frustration with it never seeing the light of day.

“This was the movie they’re not going to release?” Forte wrote. “Look, when it comes to Hollywood business stuff, I don’t know shit about shit. Even when a movie tests very well (like ours), there’s no guarantee that it’s going to be a hit. And at the end of the day, the people who paid for this movie can obviously do whatever they want with it. It doesn’t mean I have to like it (I f**king hate it). Or agree with it. And it doesn’t mean that this movie is anything less than magnificent.”

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Every week, Billboard unveils the top 10 songs on the latest Hot 100 chart. The most recent rankings, for the chart dated March 9, are out now, so let’s run down who had this week’s biggest hits.

10. Taylor Swift — “Cruel Summer”

The Taylor Swift news cycle never stops, whether its bonus track announcements or concert film trailers. Through it all, though, “Cruel Summer” has stuck around on the Hot 100 top 10.

9. SZA — “Snooze”

It’s been a big past few days for SZA: Aside from her Hot 100 success (beyond this song, even, as you’ll see in a minute), she visited Sesame Street and won a BRIT.

8. Tate McRae — “Greedy”

McRae’s not getting greedy, but her hit did just move up a spot from last week on the Hot 100.

7. Zach Bryan — “I Remember Everything” Feat. Kacey Musgraves

As “I Remember Everything” holds onto its top-10 status, it continues to crush on other charts. Specifically, it’s No. 1 for the 27th week on both the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts.

6. SZA — “Saturn”

SZA has the week’s biggest debut with “Saturn” (the song she teased with a Grammys ad). The track is SZA’s milestone 10th top-10 song on the Hot 100. It also makes her the only artist this week with multiple top-10 songs.

5. Teddy Swims — “Lose Control”

Two breakout hits round out this week’s top 5, starting with Swims’ “Lose Control,” which previously peaked at No. 2.

4. Benson Boone — “Beautiful Things”

Then there’s Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” which rises a spot this week to re-approach its previous high at No. 3.

3. Jack Harlow — “Lovin On Me”

After spending six non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, Harlow’s “Lovin On Me” continues to float around near the top of the chart.

2. Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign — “Carnival” Feat. Rich The Kid and Playboi Carti

“Carnival” had a major surge this week, after debuting at No. 3 and then falling to No. 4 last week. The boost wasn’t quite enough to dethrone this week’s No. 1, though.

1. Beyoncé — “Texas Hold ‘Em”

This is the second week at No. 1 for “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Meanwhile, Beyoncé’s hit is also No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart for a third week, after making history as the first song by a Black woman to ever top that chart.

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

It’s about time we acknowledge that the WWE 2K series is back to churning out consistent hits. After the debacle that was WWE 2K20, developers went back to the drawing board and committed to getting things right.

The 2K22 iteration was a clear rededication to improving the system, building a strong foundation, and making it easier than ever to play. The following year was about incremental updates to making the gameplay better with enough shiny, new objects to appease both returning and new players, like the insane WarGames match type. This year, WWE 2K24 does what a great video game series does once they’ve found their groove — make incremental updates to gameplay, presentation, and roll out a few new modes that cause a stir.

The gameplay additions aren’t necessarily groundbreaking. For me, they’re enough to move the needle as someone who appreciates refining things that work and making them even better. Changing the camera angle to allow to view the side angle of the ring and down the ramp is such a small tweak that brings an old school feel and somehow freshens the game at the same time.

After playing the full release of the game — which releases with the Deluxe and 40 Years of WrestleMania Editions on March 5 and Standard edition on March 8 — the new Exchanging Blows mini-game remains far and away my absolute favorite new addition. The realism of two opponents on their absolute last legs putting everything they have into each shot is something I didn’t realize I wanted in a game until it arrived. You can’t just toss shots endlessly, and depending on your character, stamina can go pretty quickly. Add that with the ability to make tag matches more intuitive by providing tag team partner instructions, and matches are significantly affected by these very small additions.

The presentation of the actual wrestlers even feels like it was elevated in this year’s iteration. Character models give off the larger-than-life presence often associated with their real-life counterparts.

After making a huge leap forward with the WarGames match addition last year, 2K24 added a few more gems in the shape of Casket, Ambulance, and Gauntlet match variations, as well as a revised Backstage Brawl. Those matches don’t quite move the needle the way WarGames did, but they serve their purpose – they’re fun gimmick options that feel best played in moderation, similar to what you’d expect from the traditional onscreen product.

Each match type has its benefits, but the return of the Special Guest Referee match feels like the most significant addition to the new offerings. As a referee, players can switch between actively refereeing the match and attack mode, meaning you won’t accidentally strike an opponent in the match when you’re in referee mode and you can cause as much chaos as you’d like in attack mode. Customizations are even down to what your referee is wearing, from an official’s shirt to their ring gear or even creating your own official.

The game modes are really where the bulk of my time playing came in. Showcase remains far and away my favorite mode. The Slingshot Tech takes fans from gameplay to real footage and back again as you accomplish tasks to unlock items. Traveling through 40 years of WrestleMania was the perfect tribute to one of wrestling’s most iconic events. And utilizing characters who were likely already going to be in the game felt like a great blend of the past and present.

In the past, playing one-off matches with friends or traveling through the Universe mode was where I spent most of time. The Universe sandbox remains strong with enough new additions to keep the game fresh and storytelling options aplenty through added cut scenes, double title matches, and a Loser Leaves Town stipulation.

This year, however, I found myself unable to put the control down once I got into MyGM mode. New features include allowing users to trade superstars and utilize talent scouts, which makes it one of the more robust iterations of the series. There’s still some functionality lacking, like setting up a match directly after a promo or certain match types missing, but the game mode gives just enough to keep fans satisfied.

Overall, the series is a solid next step in WWE 2K24’s growing empire. Combined with a star-studded DLC crew headlined by CM Punk and new and compelling MyRise stories, WWE 2K has raised the bar yet again on what fans should come to expect from the yearly pro wrestling series.

Regarding household names in the IPA world, it’s tough to beat the name recognition of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. Always one of the top-rated West Coast IPAs, Sculpin IPA is named for (and adorned with an image of) the Sculpin fish, which is well-known for its sting — a reference to the bitter, hoppy bite of this beer.

The best part of this brew? It’s available everywhere, much to the excitement of IPA-loving beer drinkers.

So… assuming you’re a big fan of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA but want to continually try other beers with a similar flavor profile, which IPAs should you drink? Good news! There are countless high-quality, hoppy, dank, piney, perfectly bitter IPAs on the market just waiting to be discovered. And you don’t have to spend too long in the walk-in fridge at your local beer store and risk hypothermia looking for them, we did the work for you.

Below, you’ll find eight of the best IPAs for lovers of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, ranked. Keep scrolling to see all the hoppy, resinous, citrus-filled goodness.

8.) Bear Republic Racer 5

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $14 for a six-pack

The Beer:

One of the most well-known West Coast IPAs ever made, Bear Republic Racer 5 is brewed with malted barley, wheat, and crystal malts. This popular, award-winning IPA gets its hoppy aroma and flavor from the use of Cascade and Columbus hops.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is filled with caramel malts, citrus peels, and floral, dank pine needles. The palate is filled with freshly baked bread, caramel malts, lemon peels, grapefruit, tangerine, and pine tar. The finish is filled with dank pine and lingers long after your last sip.

Bottom Line:

This is the epitome of a West Coast IPA. It has everything fans of the style look for. Especially fans of the Sculpin IPA.

7.) Melvin IPA

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $14 for a six-pack

The Beer:

If you’re a fan of Ballast Point Sculpin and you’ve never tried Melvin IPA, what are you waiting for? The Wyoming-based IPA has won multiple awards over the years because of its balanced, piney, dank flavor profile. This popular beer is brewed with 2-row base malt, C-40, and Carapils malt. It’s hopped with Citra, Simcoe, and Centennial hops.

Tasting Notes:

Before your first sip, you’ll be met with a nose of lemon peels, mandarin orange, grapefruit, bready malts, caramel, and floral, dank, pine needle aroma. There’s more of the same in the best way possible with freshly baked bread, toffee, candied orange peels, lemongrass, grapefruit, hay, and dank, resinous pine. The finish is dry, lightly bitter, and lingering.

Bottom Line:

Like Ballast Point Sculpin, Melvin IPA has a nice mix of malts, citrus peels, and dank, resinous, lingering pine.

6.) Smuttynose Finest Kind

ABV: 6.9%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Brewed with 2-row, Crisp Pale, and C-60 malts, this beloved, bitter IPA is hopped with Magnum, Simcoe, Centennial, and Santiam hops and dry-hopped with Amarillo hops. It’s known for its flavors of citrus, resinous pine, and bitter hops.

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on with this beer’s nose. There are notes of caramelized pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine, grass, bready malts, and fur tips. Sipping it reveals notes of candied orange peel, grapefruit, toffee, freshly baked bread, lemon zest, and dank pine resin. The finish is loaded with citrus and lingering, bitter hops.

Bottom Line:

While this IPA does have the lingering bitter presence West Coast drinkers love, it also has a nice balance of malts and memorable citrus flavors.

5.) Fat Head’s Head Hunter

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $14 for a six-pack

The Beer:

If you’re a “hophead” you’re likely already a fan of Fat Head’s Head Hunter. If not, you need to add this beer to your IPA rotation. Brewed with Simcoe, Centennial, Mosaic, Citra, and Chinook hops, it gets its malt backbone from pale, C-15, Carapils, and Carahell malt.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is a mix of tangerine, pineapple, grapefruit, lime, caramel malts, grass clippings, honeydew melon, and a ton of resinous, dank pine. While this IPA begins with a nice, sweet, malty backbone, it’s all about the hops. The palate is loaded with grapefruit, tangerine, lemongrass, hay, and a ridiculous piney hop presence. The finish is bitter, hoppy, and highly memorable.

Bottom Line:

You’ll like this beer if you’re a fan of Ballast Point Sculpin. But you’ll love this beer if you can’t ever get enough hop aroma and flavor.

4.) Ithaca Flower Power

ABV: 7.2%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

The Beer:

With a name like Flower Power, you should have a pretty good idea about what you’re getting into when you crack open one of these bad boys. Often rated as the best IPA in New York State, this timeless beer is brewed with 2-row pale and honey malts and gets its hop aroma and flavor from the addition of Simcoe, Cascade, Centennial, and Ahtanum hops in the kettle. To add to that, it’s dry-hopped with Chinook, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops.

Tasting Notes:

Unsurprisingly the nose is very floral. There are also scents of caramel malts, clover honey, lemons, tangerines, grapefruit, and resinous pine. The palate continues this trend with orange peels, stone fruits, honeycomb, hay, wet grass, fresh flowers, and more pine. It ends with a lingering, dank, bitter finish that leaves you craving more.

Bottom Line:

This is a popular beer for a good reason. It’s balanced and flavorful. This is one for the fans of floral hops.

3.) Upslope West Coast Style IPA

ABV: 6.8%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Upslope might not be located on the West Coast, but that didn’t stop the brewers from creating one of the best examples of the West Coast IPA and one that will appeal to fans of the Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. This year-round brew is well-known for its mix of tropical and citrus fruits, dank pine, and lasting bitterness.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is fruity with grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, and some light tropical aromas sneaking through. This is followed by a light malt aroma and a nice kick of resinous pine. Sipping it brings forth notes of lemon, pineapple, grapefruit, orange peel, caramel malt, and more dank, sticky pine needles. It’s hoppy, with just enough hop bite to keep drinkers satisfied.

Bottom Line:

If you enjoy Sculpin, but you wish it was a little fruitier and had the bitterness turned down a notch or two, this is your jam.

2.) Sixpoint Resin

ABV: 9.1%

Average Price: $11 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

This is an extremely aptly named beer. This year-round brew from the folks at Sixpoint is brewed with a wallop of Chinook and Centennial hops. It’s well-known for its massive hop aroma and dank, sticky, resinous flavor. This is one for real hop lovers.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is extremely dank and resinous with a ton of pine. But there are also notes of citrus, tropical fruits, and light caramel malts to back the hop flavors up. The palate continues this trend. There’s a surprisingly sweet malt backbone surrounded by dank, sticky, weed-like hops, pine, grapefruit, and mandarin orange. The finish is super dank and perfectly bitter.

Bottom Line:

This beer leans heavily into the dank pine, but there’s enough fruity flavor and malt background so it doesn’t seem one-dimensional.

1.) Green Flash West Coast IPA

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $13 for a six-pack

The Beer:

When it comes to San Diego (and all breweries in the US), Green Flash is a big name in the IPA game. Its classic West Coast IPA is a great choice for fans of Sculpin. One of the most popular, pioneering IPAs available, it’s brewed with a mix of five different hops as well as British Crystal malt. The result is a mix of sweet malt, tropical fruits, citrus, and dank pine.

Tasting Notes:

Complex aromas of ripe raspberries, pineapple, guava, mango, caramel, and floral, piney hops greet you before your first sip. Drinking it reveals notes of grapefruit, berries, honeydew melon, freshly baked bread, caramel, pineapple, and resinous, floral, herbal pine. The finish is dry, pleasantly bitter, and lingering.

Bottom Line:

If you only try one beer on this list, make it this one. This is a classic West Coast IPA. It ticks all the IPA boxes and should appeal to you if you enjoy Sculpin IPA.