Filming for the second season of Prime Video/Amazon‘s The Terminal List is currently in full swing, so fingers are crossed that the Chris Pratt series will make speedy progress toward a return. Before that happens, a prequel series based upon Taylor Kitsch’s Ben Edwards will arrive in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, which has completed a season of filming and will “delve deeper into his story and follow his journey from a Navy SEAL to a CIA operative.”
This spin off about James Reece’s old buddy will begin approximately five years prior to The Terminal List‘s onset and will not be based upon an existing James Carr book (although the author did heavily help craft the spin off’s story), which further fuels the sense of intrigue on where this prequel could go. Back when the prequel was announced, Kitsch enthused that “to bring ‘Ben’ back is an honor” as well as “the bromance continues,” and you might be wondering if that means anything in particular about Mr. Pratt.
Will Chris Pratt Be In The Terminal List: Dark Wolf Series?
You know it. When Amazon officially renewed The Terminal List, Pratt did the honors in simultaneously announcing Dark Wolf, and he added, “And to make it even more exciting, I will also be appearing in this prequel series!”
Another cool bonus? Dark Wolf will feature characters who will also appear in The Terminal List‘s second season, as Pratt recently told Collider:
“It seeds a lot of the characters that appear in the second book. So, the Mo Farooq character, the Raife Hastings character, all the characters from the book – we’ll get to know them through that series. So by the time they come into this, it’s going to be out of this world, dude. I’m really f*cking pumped. It’s going to be so good.”
Clearly, Jack Carr fans will be feasting on much more to come from this franchise. Thus far, however, Amazon hasn’t revealed an exact arrival date for Dark Wolf other than (as revealed on social media) “Coming Summer 2025.” In other words, stay tuned.
Among bourbon enthusiasts, Buffalo Trace is widely considered the most popular distillery in the game.
Yes, opinions vary, and it all depends on how you measure popularity, but it’s no secret that even the most quotidian expressions from Frankfort, Kentucky’s biggest distillery, are so sought after that they hardly even exist on store shelves. Try walking into your local store and readily finding bottles of Weller, Blanton’s, or even Eagle Rare. When such bottles are found, they typically command a high price, well in excess of their famously modest MSRP’s.
Simply put, Buffalo Trace whiskey is highly sought after. That’s partially because of the dynamics of supply and demand, where demand for those products greatly outpaces the supply. You also have to give some credit to FOMO, which helps fuel both the demand and the scarcity as many enthusiasts buy multiple bottles at once whenever they do find those coveted expressions at a reasonable price. It’s a vicious cycle with only the upcoming increases in Buffalo Trace’s production capacity standing in the way of never-ending madness.
But while fans of the company have a tough enough time finding some of Buffalo Trace’s everyday offerings, there are a few bottles in the distillery’s history typically only seen at auction houses or behind glass cases, the true unicorns.
I wanted to identify and rank those rarest-of-the-rare bottles from the beloved distillery, not based on rarity or hammer price at Sotheby’s, but rather based on the thing that real whiskey enthusiasts care the most about: the taste.
Think of this, however, as less of a shopping list and more of a historical record. Because though I’m judging these all solely on taste, they arepretty damn expensive.
In my travels as a professional whiskey critic, competition judge, and consultant, I’ve had the privilege of trying a good number of utterly rare whiskeys that Buffalo Trace has produced (even some that remain unreleased). So I’ve got a better vantage point than most when trying to identify the cream of the crop.
Each of the whiskeys below I’ve been able to try, and thus while this is just one man’s opinion, it is a rather informed one. In short, this is about as close as it comes to having a definitive list. Also, as one final note, I did my best to limit this list to whiskey that Buffalo Trace actually distilled, but I made a few exceptions to include the most venerable versions of current product lines that were actually distilled elsewhere (i.e., Antique Collection and Van Winkle expressions).
So, without further ado, these are the 20 best bottles of Buffalo Trace whiskey ever produced!
E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Rye has long been teased, hitting the TTB website a few years back, but it’s finally ready for market in 2024. Aged at Buffalo Trace Distillery, this brand-new release marks the second rye expression in the E.H. Taylor lineup, joining E.H. Taylor Jr. Straight Rye, which is Bottled in Bond.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
With all due respect to Thomas H. Handy, which has produced some high-quality cask strength rye whiskeys over the years, E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye is the rye I’ve been waiting for from Buffalo Trace. This is where I wink and say there might be another cask strength rye in Frankfort that’s even better than this. But since that expression may never see the light of day, I feel comfortable calling this one of the best Buffalo Trace ryes of all time, and thus one of the best Buffalo Trace whiskeys of all time.
19. Old Stagg Whiskey Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection
Non-age-stated but matured for at least four years, it should be noticed that this is a whiskey and not a bourbon, which means the production methods behind it are different than those for Stagg and George T. Stagg. Released as part of the inaugural Prohibition Collection, this one stole the show.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Both editions of the Prohibition Collection are curious in that they are only sold as a set and come in miniature bottles. The result is that it focuses your mind as you attempt to not only savor, but also suss out the flavor differences among them, knowing that the liquid isn’t long for the world. If I’m being totally honest, it’s just as fun as it is frustrating to have such a small amount of whiskey to work with, but across the two collections, Old Stagg is certainly the one that I found most intriguing.
What exactly is Weller Millennium? It’s a blend of straight bourbon and wheat whiskeys distilled in 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2006, which will raise the eyebrows of astute readers. That’s because, for one, this expression doesn’t feature an age statement, despite this indication of provenance, and secondly, it’s now the first expression in the Weller lineup that is a blend of straight wheated bourbon as well as wheat whiskey.
Further, while Buffalo Trace is not releasing the mashbills of the whiskey that comprises this bottling, we are given the percentages of each vintage in the blend. To wit, 3% of the blend comes from the 2000 vintage, 50% from 2003, 40% from 2005, and 7% comes from 2006.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
If you want to sip whiskey like it’s 1999, that is to say, if you want an ultra-aged expression that delivers a rich vintage profile, then you’ve found the Weller for you. Weller Millennium offers a more mature take on the prototypical Weller profile by displaying slight tweaks on the periphery, which serve to elevate it on the whole. The oldest Weller expression since some early offerings of William Larue, this is truly a unique whiskey in Buffalo Trace’s lineup, and matches curiosity with quality.
17. Colonel E.H. Taylor Four Grain Bourbon (Batch 1)
Colonel E.H. Taylor Four Grain Bourbon was first released in April 2017 and features a unique blend of four grains (corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley). Despite the expression essentially being non-age-stated, the press release for it claims that this bourbon is at least 12 years old.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Buttery, creamy, silky, whichever is your preferred, dressed-up version of “smooth” fits this bourbon like a glove. I’ve had very few bourbons that so warmly coat your palate with rich flavors and go down this smoothly. The prices that this bottle continues to hit on the secondary market are absolutely ridiculous, but this would be one of the most delicious “everyday sippers” of all time if the price and availability allowed it to sit on shelves.
Believed to have been launched sometime in the early aughts and sunsetting around 2009, Blanton’s Silver is one of the cooler Blanton’s variants out there. Despite clocking in at a slightly lower proof than Blanton’s Gold, this one retained a lot of richness, and it came with really cool silver packaging.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
I’ll come clean, this one just has a sentimental place in my heart. I’ve had some vintage bottles of regular Blanton’s Single Barrel that really hit, and Blanton’s Gold is probably my favorite contemporary version of the lineup. Still, when I first stumbled across this Silver variant, I was instantly intrigued, and after one sip, I was hooked. You can certainly make the case that Blanton’s Gold belongs in this spot, but sometimes Silver deserves the top spot. This is one such case.
First announced in 2013, Stagg Jr. underwent some growing pains in the shadow of its big brother George. Early releases were criticized for being “too hot,” but things steadied out around batch 9. Eventually, this expression, Batch 12, was said to be even better than that year’s Buffalo Trace Antique Collection bruiser. This expression is believed to be somewhere between 7-9 years old, bottled without chill filtration at full cask strength.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Batch 11 of Stagg Jr. was an eye-opener for me. Hell, batches nine and ten were damn good too, but batch 12 is the one that puts them all to shame. While subsequent batches of Stagg Jr. (now known simply as Stagg Bourbon) have hit a bit of a slump, batch 12 is still the clubhouse leader, and one of the better Buffalo Trace bourbons of all time.
To pay homage to what would have been Elmer’s 100th birthday on August 5th, 2019, Buffalo Trace released this special edition of Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon at 100 proof, up from its standard 93 proof. Proceeds from the bottle sales went towards Frankfort VFW Post 4075, where Elmer was a member until he passed away in 2013. Sticking with the theme, the bottle was released with an MSRP of $100.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Best Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel ever? While there were a number of private selections under the brand’s banner, this is definitely the best “general release” from the expression that Buffalo Trace has ever put out. Not only are the story and packaging really cool, but that bump in proof also awards it a boost in flavor.
Eagle Rare 17 is always at least 17 years old. Says so right on the front label. However, 2023’s Eagle Rare 17 was special because the majority of (if not all) the liquid in the bottle was actually 19 years old.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
The age of the whiskey in the bottle isn’t as important as the quality of the whiskey in the bottle, and 2023’s Eagle Rare 17 was hands down the best in the brand lineup’s history. This one features the rich black cherry note that Eagle Rare is known for, but with additional layers of flavor that make it impossible to put down.
Honestly, this one might even be better than Double Eagle Very Rare. The difference between the two is simply a matter of splitting hairs.
Double Eagle Very Rare halfway lives up to its name in that it’s the same whiskey as Eagle Rare, but aged twice as long and more than twice as rare (only 199 bottles of the 2021 expression were released). Originally launched in 2019, this expression debuted with an MSRP of $2,000.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Double Eagle Very Rare, formerly the oldest Eagle in the brand’s lineup, was one of the first expressions in this recent wave of high-priced limited editions from the distillery. It can also be seen as their first step towards normalizing hyper-aged, 20+ year bourbon. While it doesn’t fly as high as its successor, this is still a damn delicious bottle that tastes as luxurious as its packaging would suggest.
11. Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel (My Only Blanton’s)
From 06-’07, these extremely limited single-barrel offerings were made available to select Takara Shuzo customers in Japan. When I say “extremely limited,” wrap your mind around this: fewer than five of these bottles are known to be open in the world. As part of the first round of Blanton’s barrels offered as single barrel selections to private buyers, this is one of the rarest Blanton’s of all time in addition to being the highest-proofed Blanton’s release ever bottled.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
The story of this one is cool in itself, but the whiskey is next-level delicious. Without a doubt, Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel is one of the best expressions in the Buffalo Trace stable of whiskeys, and My Only Blanton’s is easily the best barrel-proof Blanton’s I’ve ever tried.
This brand was created to honor the O.F.C. Distillery, the original name of what we now call Buffalo Trace Distillery (the site itself was previously known as the Leestown Distilling Company). As the big number on the front indicates, this whiskey was distilled in 1990, released in 2018, and yielded just 63 bottles, which initially retailed at $2,500.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
The O.F.C. brand of bourbon comes in several vintages, not all of which I’ve tried, but the 1990 stands out among those I have. I’ll admit, I had higher hopes for this whiskey when I first tried it, given the limited nature of the release, the maturity of the liquid in the bottles, and the exorbitant asking price. But sometimes you have to just appreciate a bourbon for what it is, and what this bourbon is, is really f*cking good.
This 2020 expression might’ve been the year’s lone bright spot. Following the Colonel Taylor lineup’s middling “Amaranth of the Gods” release, they came back strong with an 18-year-old version of the limited edition bourbon. This one is a blend of all three Buffalo Trace signature bourbon mashbills, “high rye”, “low rye”, and “wheated” in undisclosed proportions.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
I’m honestly surprised this one isn’t higher on my list, but that just goes to show how much great bourbon Buffalo Trace has put out. When I initially tried this expression, it quickly vaulted to the upper stratosphere of my favorite bourbons of all time. Despite having been eclipsed since then, that statement still holds true.
8. Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Bourbon (Batch 1)
Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Bourbon was first released back in 2012 in honor of the man who founded the Buffalo Trace Distillery, then the O.F.C. Distillery. This one is believed to contain a slightly higher rye content in the mash bill and is the pinnacle of the E.H. Taylor core range, bottled at cask strength and released in annual batches.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
I’ve had this expression just once, but it left quite an impression on me and my palate. Even better? I experienced it in a blind tasting against batches 2-6, and it was my favorite of the bunch by a country mile. This is easily the best Colonel Taylor Barrel Proof Bourbon I’ve ever had.
This was the year that “Pappy” replaced the Old Rip Van Winkle 15-Year Bourbon, and while observers at the time weren’t pleased with the switch (does anyone in the bourbon world like change?), history has been kind to our dear old Pappy. You know the drill, this is bourbon matured for 15 long years, distilled by Stitzel-Weller and bottled by Buffalo Trace for the Van Winkle family.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon, of course, would go on to become one of the defining expressions of the aughts and the bourbon world at large, winning lavish praise from the late Anthony Bourdain, earning marks as one of the best American whiskeys of all time, and spawning heists, documentaries, and knockoff versions along the way. While Bourdain was partial to the 20-year version, it’s the 15-year offering that has persisted as the best of Buffalo Trace’s takes on the brand.
Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey is what it sounds like. Drew Mayville created this expression as a tribute to Sam Bronfman, who was the head of Seagram’s while the Sazerac savant was cutting his teeth there. Made from a blend of “the finest American and Canadian whiskeys.”
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
This is the biggest exception made for this list, because technically, Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey is a Sazerac product (Buffalo Trace’s parent company). Still, it includes Buffalo Trace bourbon in the blend and was produced by the company’s Master Blender Drew Mayville, so we’ll allow it. Bourbon fans tend to turn their noses up at other whiskey categories, even if the flavor profile aligns closely with America’s Native Spirit. That’s a mistake.
This expression proves not only that Drew Mayville is probably the best blender on this side of the Atlantic, but also that an incredibly bold textural experience can pair with a remarkable depth of flavor when you combine two different whiskey categories.
George T. Stagg needs no introduction. It’s generally considered the expression that took barrel proof bourbon to the next level. Distilled in the spring of 1992, and released in the fall of 2007, the specs sheet for this release tells us that it came off the still at 135 proof with 45.23% of the original whiskey lost to evaporation (those are some thirsty angels!) Aged on the first floor of Warehouse I, this 15-year and 6-month-old bourbon came from 94 hand-selected casks.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
The ongoing battle for “best BTAC expression” is typically a two-man slugfest between George T. Stagg and William Larue Weller. Year to year, the matchup can truly go either way, but in the all-time rankings, there really are no losers. This hazmat version of GTS is the finest example of what makes the burly, bold bourbon so beloved.
William Larue Weller is now regarded as one of the greatest annual releases on the bourbon calendar, but back in 2000, it was a complete unknown. Despite only clocking in at 90 proof, this future icon of the bourbon world jump-started the new millennium with a bang thanks to this stunning 19-year-old bourbon, which was distilled in the fall of 1980 at none other than the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Despite losing its fastball over the past few years, William Larue Weller is still one of the most sought-after bourbons in all of the land, often eclipsing even the Pappy Van Winkle lineup in critical acclaim. Sure, this one was distilled at Stitzel-Weller, and so it has a little extra cache among the bourbon cognescenti, but even tasted blind, it’s impossible to discount just how delicious this expression is.
Without a doubt, this is the best William Larue Weller offering that Buffalo Trace has ever released.
This incredible whiskey comes from some of Buffalo Trace’s oldest casks and is a project that Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley and Master Blender Drew Mayville collaborated on on behalf of The Last Drop brand. The bourbon in this blend was originally distilled in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and those ultra-mature casks combined only yielded 508 bottles worldwide.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Buffalo Trace has increasingly been trying its hand at hyper-aged whiskey, blowing past the 20-year mark on multiple occasions. This latest release scratches the pinnacle of those attempts. Bottled under the Last Drop brand, which is so-named because they aim to capture the last liquid in some of the rarest casks across the globe, this expression is not only a fantastic representation of Buffalo Trace’s finest bourbon but also some of the finest whiskey in the entire world.
To be clear, this one was probably not distilled by Buffalo Trace, and rather at Stitzel-Weller, where a lot of Pappy Van Winkle expressions began their life. However, this special release was put out seven years after the Van Winkle family began their partnership, and thus it “kind of sort of” falls under the Buffalo Trace umbrella. Originally distilled in 1986 and hand-selected by Julian P. Van Winkle III and Preston Van Winkle from a 50-barrel lot, this expression, produced 1,200 bottles, is non-chill filtered and bottled at a much higher proof than standard issue Pappy 23, which clocks in at 47.8% ABV.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
I’ll admit I bent the rules a bit to include this expression, but, in fairness, it was bottled by Buffalo Trace. I’ve only had the pleasure of enjoying this expression once, but it left such an impression on me that I’d be remiss if I didn’t give it special recognition here. Furthermore, when consulting the whiskey world’s foremost Van Winkle historian, Gil L. Schwarz, who authored the definitive account of Van Winkle whiskey with his book, Van Winkle: The Bespoke Barrels, he was adamant that I include this expression in any Buffalo Trace “best of” list.
In Gil’s words, “It beats anything else produced before or after by Buffalo Trace.”
Produced? Perhaps. But if we’re talking about Buffalo Trace distillate, then this next expression deserves the top spot…
Eagle Rare 25, which was first released by Buffalo Trace Distillery in 2023, represents the pinnacle of their celebrated Eagle Rare Bourbon lineup. To create this whiskey, they took barrels that were initially earmarked for their Double Eagle Very Rare expression and began aging them in the experimental, climate-controlled Warehouse P for an additional 5 years beginning in 2018.
Why It Belongs Among The Best:
Several companies, Buffalo Trace included, have begun attempting to stretch the upper limits of hyper-aged bourbon. It’s an admirable effort that has thus far only produced checkered results, but the most resounding success of them all is clearly Eagle Rare 25.
The vibrancy of this expression is simply remarkable for a bourbon that’s rested for a quarter century in new oak, and it couples that liveliness with a lush, bordering on decadent, flavor profile that gently coats your tongue and slowly unfurls to reveal the richness of its depths.
Buffalo Trace has put out a lot of legendary liquid in the 155 years since Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. first established the distillery, which he christened O.F.C., but to call Eagle Rare 25-Year Bourbon the modern distillery’s most incredible feat is no stretch.
The bourbon world’s oldest Eagle soars higher than them all.
Bad Bunny is one of the kings of the streaming era, which has made him an in-demand live artist. Well, Bad Bunny will be meeting that demand this year and next on the Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour.
The trek doesn’t currently include any US shows, but there are a couple of Mexico City dates in December 2025. He’ll also visit Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Poland, Italy, and Belgium.
Tickets go on sale starting May 9 and more information can be found on the tour website.
Check out the dates below.
Bad Bunny’s 2025 Tour Dates: Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour
11/21/2025 — Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic @ Estadio Olimpico*
12/05/2025 — San Jose, Costa Rica @ Estadio Nacional
12/10/2025 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio GNP
12/11/2025 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio GNP
01/23/2026 — Medellin, Colombia @ Estadio Atanasio Girardot
01/30/2026 — Lima, Peru @ Estadio Nacional*
02/05/2026 — Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Nacional
02/13/2026 — Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Estadio River Plate
02/20/2026 — Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Allianz Parque
02/28/2026 — Sydney, Australia @ ENGIE Stadium
03/2026 — Tokyo, Japan
05/22/2026 — Barcelona, Spain @ Estadi Olimpic
05/26/2026 — Lisbon, Portugal @ Estadio Da Luz
05/30/2026 — Madrid, Spain @ Riyadh Air Metropolitano
05/31/2026 — Madrid, Spain @ Riyadh Air Metropolitano
06/20/2026 — Dusseldorf, Germany @ Merkur Spiel-Arena
06/23/2026 — Arnhem, Netherlands @ Gelredome
06/27/2026 — London, UK @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
07/01/2026 — Marseille, France @ Orange Velodrome
07/04/2026 — Paris, France @ La Defense Arena
07/10/2026 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Strawberry Arena
07/14/2026 — Warsaw, Poland @ PGE Narodowy
07/17/2026 — Milan, Italy @ La Maura
07/22/2026 — Brussels, Belgium @ King Baudouin Stadium
Blackpink have a tour launching this summer, but now there’s even more exciting news for fans: It looks like new music is on the way.
Lisa told Variety, “Actually, we were in the studio a few days ago. We’re all so super excited to get back together and go on tour. We really miss the blinks. We can’t wait to see them.” She also said of a new album, “You have to be patient about it. It’s coming soon, I promise. It’s about time.”
Elsewhere, she was asked who she’d want to collaborate with next and she responded, “I really want to try EDM, so maybe I could work with some DJs.”
It’s been a while since Blackpink fans have gotten a new album, as the group’s most recent is 2022’s Born Pink. Members have remained busy, tough. Most notably, Lisa was one of the stars of the latest season of White Lotus. She recently reflected on that, writing, “It was the greatest honor to be part of this show as my first acting gig alongside such incredible actors. And I’m so proud to be able to share my culture and show the beauty of Thailand to the world. Mook has changed my life in a way where I am learning more about myself and my capabilities. My Sunday nights may feel a lot emptier but closing out The White Lotus with a full heart [heart emoji][lotus emoji].”
Mickey Haller has really done it now. Or rather, he hasn’t done it (the crime in question), but somebody has framed him, and The Lincoln Lawyer‘s fourth season will see him defend himself against murder charges.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo will return as Mickey. The season will also bring back crowd favorite Neve Campbell for every fourth season episode as Mickey’s first ex, Maggie. Other support (and Mickey’s gonna need it) will come from Becki Newton (as Lorna), Jazz Raycole (as Izzy), and Angus Sampson (as Cisco) while Mickey attempts to overcome Constance Zimmer’s Dana Berg, a rule-bending prosecutor who is bad news for any defendant, let alone for a case of this caliber. The main question, however, is when this will happen.
Does The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 Have A Release Date?
Not yet. Netflix is formally sticking with the “still under wraps” on a precise release date, but since this show generally returns in a little over a year between seasons (with the last one arriving in October 2024), late 2025 is possible.
Author Michael Connelly’s maverick lawyer is currently grinding away on production after that cliffhanger, and the Netflix series will adapt Connelly’s sixth book in the series, The Law of Innocence, which will pick up after Mickey found himself on the other side of the law due to a body in the trunk of his famed vehicle of choice.
Since a release date is still up in the air, at least we know one thing, which is that Mickey is screwed. He will be stuck behind bars on $5 million bail, and Dana Berg is known as “Death Row Dana” for a reason. She does, however, have a history with Maggie, so perhaps that will help Mickey’s team assist him from afar, and ideally, Netflix will start hinting at a release window soon.
The 29 new shows run from August to October and see him hitting just about every major North American city. Tickets go on sale starting with an American Express pre-sale starting May 7 at 10 a.m. local time, then a special fan pre-sale on May 7 at 10 a.m. local time, then the general on-sale on May 9 at 10 a.m. local time. More information is available on Boone’s website.
Find the dates, including previously announced shows, below.
Benson Boone’s 2025 Tour Dates: American Heart Tour
05/24 — Napa, CA @ BottleRock Music Festival
06/05 — Canandaigua, NY @ CMAC
06/06 — New York, NY @ The Governors Ball Music Festival
07/03 — Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
07/05 — Québec City, Canada @ FEQ Festival
07/10 — Algés, Portugal @ Nos Alive Festival
07/11 — Madrid, Spain @ Mad Cool Festival
07/13 — Berlin, Germany @ Lollapalooza Berlin
07/15 — Montreux, Switzerland @ Montreux Jazz Festival
07/16 — Monaco, France @ Monte-Carlo Summer Festival
07/18 — Paris, France @ Lollapalooza Paris
08/22 — St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
08/23 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
08/25 — Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
08/26 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Arena
08/27 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
08/29 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
08/30 — Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
09/02 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
09/03 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
09/05 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/06 — Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
09/07 — Raleigh, NC @ Lenovo Center
09/09 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
09/10 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
09/11 — Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond Music Festival
09/13 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
09/14 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
09/16 — Orlando, FL @ Kia Center
09/18 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
09/19 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
09/20 — Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena
09/22 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
09/24 — Glendale, AZ @ Desert Diamond Arena
09/26 — Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
09/27 — San Diego, CA @ Pechanga Arena San Diego
09/30 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
10/03 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
10/04 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
10/05 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
10/08 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
12/04 — Abu Dhabi, UAE @ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
American Heart is out 6/20 via Night Street Records/Warner Records. Find more information here.
Genre-bending English producer-songwriter Labrinth has long had a reputation for bending and breaking the rules defining the separations between musical styles. His latest creation, “S.W.M.F.,” might just create a genre of its own, blending a booming synthetic bassline with ominous choral vocals to create what can only be described as a trap opera.
The song sees Labrinth defying his inner demons and outer critics, admitting, “I’ve been way too hard on myself,” before declaring it “time to spring back on some king sh*t.” As for what the acronym in the title stands for, it seems Labrinth may have recorded the song as a subtle celebration of May 4th, and he ends the song on the refrain, “Star Wars, mother f*cker,” comparing himself to that franchise’s hero, Luke Skywalker.
Labrinth has been out of the spotlight since 2023, but it’s fair to say he’d earned a break. In addition to dropping his third studio album, Ends & Begins, he played Coachella with a special appearance from Euphoria star Zendaya and Billie Eilish, with whom he’d previously collaborated on “Never Felt So Alone.” He’d also been working on the music for the long-delayed third season of Euphoria, so some time to himself was certainly warranted. With the release of “S.W.M.F.” though, it certainly looks like he’s back in the swing of things for 2025.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Is it safe to say Cinco de Mayo is America’s favorite underdog holiday to celebrate, even though 95% of people celebrating it don’t know the significance of the holiday? Now granted, there is a case to be made that July 4th is technically the ultimate underdog’s holiday, being that it marks the formal declaration of independence from the British Empire, but what sounds better? Hot dogs, hot weather and fireworks, or tequila, Mexican beer and tacos at the height of spring? Cinco de Mayo wins on all fronts, and that’s not just the bias of my Mexican heritage talking.
So to celebrate the country’s best — and tastiest — underdog holiday, we’re shouting out the 10 absolute best additive-free tequilas your money can buy this Cinco de Mayo. This list features a mix of blancos, high proof expressions, reposados, and añejos, so hopefully we have a little bit of something for every kind of tequila drinker. Unless of course you like cristalinos, but let’s face it, nobody likes cristalinos (we’re kidding, we love them).
Here are all the tequilas you should sip this Cinco de Mayo and beyond.
An organic additive-free aged tequila for just $40.99? Sign us up! Dulce Vida’s entire line of expressions are worth checking out, but our absolute favorite right now is the añejo thanks to its smooth finish, and sweet character.
Dulce Vida is produced at NOM 1443, Grupo Industrial Tequilero de Los Altos de Jalisco, and uses agave that is cooked in a high-pressure autoclave, roller mill extracted, finished with well water, and aged in select American Oak whiskey barrels.
Aged in select American Oak whiskey barrels, rich golden amber color, aroms of vanilla and cinnamon, full-bodied flavor, and smooth finish. Agave from the highlands of Jalsico, 100% oraanic Bourbon note, fruity and vanilla, sweet and smooth
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Sweet vanilla and agave massively dominate here. There is a thick syrupy vibe that is very inviting.
Palate: More vanilla on the palate, joined by caramel tones, some barrel spice, and cinnamon. I’m not getting a lot of green or vegetal notes, but I don’t miss them, this is very pleasing.
Finish: The finish is clean. You taste hints of oak, hints of alcohol, and some chili pepper spice, but none of it sticks around too long.
The Bottom Line:
A high-quality, additive-free organic añejo full of sweet dessert tones that are a pleasure to sip.
High proof, yet surprisingly tame and inviting, Alto Canto has quickly become my go-to bottle on days I want a little more heat than your typical 80-proof tequila, but is not so hot that it’s easy to misjudge how much you’re drinking.
This addtive-free blanco offers a silky smooth experience and is made from stone oven cooked agave that is tahona extracted and mixed with natural spring water at NOM 1636, Tequila El Rocio.
Tasting Notes: Nose: Creamy and a bit lactic with notes of rich cocoa and raw agave.
Palate: Surprisingly soft with a grassy green agave forward quality. As those initial flavors pass the palate, I’m getting some asparagus and green pepper with a tart green apple skin that hovers gently on the backend.
Finish: Buttery with a kiss of roasted agave that produces a gentle heat on the aftertaste.
The Bottom Line:
Buttery, a bit spicy, and very agave forward with a gently hot finish.
Another hot sipper, right now we’re feeling higher proof tequilas and Cazcanes Rosa Reposado is one the finest on the market.
This additive-free agave forward tequila is produced at the famed NOM 1614, Tequilera Tap, using agave that is cooked in an autoclave, roller mill extracted, mixed with spring water, and aged for 82 days in French Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, which give it a nice blush pink tone.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich layers of roasted agave, leather, cocoa, cinnamon, and ripe cherries.
Palate: A blend of vegetal flavors and rich stone fruits. Think cherry, plum, any fruit with a tart dark skin and flesh. I’m also getting roasted jalapeño and vanilla.
Finish: Dry with more plum on the finish.
The Bottom Line:
Cazcanes Rosa Reposado is as eye-catching as it is delicious. Its dark and fruity flavors will keep you coming back for more, and it excels equally as a sipper and a liquid that’ll elevate and add lots of nuance to your cocktail.
If you’re a fan of the delicate floral and herbaceous flavors of Valor’s blanco — or just fans of that flavor profile in general — you’re going to love Valor’s reposado.
This tequila takes the base blanco and ages it for four months in white oak barrels, adding some spicy cinnamon and sweet honeyed notes to an agave-forward, herbaceous, and citrusy foundation.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rosemary, sage, and citrus, with a wet earth quality to it.
Palate: Agave hits the palate first, with a bit of citrus and black pepper, joined by notes of floral honey.
Finish: Citrus, minerality, and cinnamon join notes of roasted agave and barrel oak.
The Bottom Line:
Agave forward and earthy, yet wonderfully mellow. Simply one of the best reposado tequilas you’ll drink all year.
Volans offers a mix of warm, earthy flavors and smooth dessert-like mellowness that makes it one of those rare reposados that serve equally as a great sipper and mixer.
This tequila is produced at NOM 1579, El Pandillo Distillery, using agave that is steamed for three hours before being slow roasted for 19 to 22 hours, rested for 24 to 36, and then tahona crushed. The tequila utilizes well and rain water, which gives it a nice minerality.
To reach the repo state, it is then rested in American White Oak bourbon barrels for just under a year.
Tasting Notes: Nose: A rich mix of caramel and roasted agave with a strong oak character and the slightest hint of wet grass.
Palate: Cinnamon, caramel, and vanilla mingle with lots of minerality, a bit of salt, and wet soil quality. It’s earthy and warm, but rich and luxurious. A real bouquet of experiences here.
Finish: A mix of dessert-like sweetness and black pepper with an oily buttered mouthfeel. It leaves the tongue wanting more.
The Bottom Line:
Volans strikes the perfect balance between natural earthy flavors, and sweet palate pleasing tones that’ll keep you coming back for sip after sip.
If you’re looking to impress someone or appeal to whiskey drinkers who claim that they aren’t fans of tequila, serve them a pour of Tears of Llorona. This extra añejo is made from agave harvested from the highlands of Jalisco that is cooked in a low pressure autoclave, screw mill extracted, mixed with deep well water, and aged for five years in Scotch, sherry, and brand barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Lots of chocolate and dessert flavors with some dark berry characteristics and some herbal notes.
Palate: There is a lot of sweetness here in this wonderful mix of vanilla and winter spice flavors. Underneath that is a warm roasted agave base with a twist of citrus.
Finish: Savory and deep, you get a lot of the barrel here with a smooth finish that is a joy to sip.
The Bottom Line:
A heavy dessert tequila crafted for slow sipping. The quintessential tequila for bourbon fans.
Released last year, Tequila Ocho’s Plata Puntas 108 is the brand’s highest proof expression, so if you love Tequila Ocho and high-proof tequilas (we do), this is a no-brainer pick up. Generally, I suggest someone new to the brand start with the typical blanco, but right now this one is taking precedence, despite the higher price point.
Plata Puntas 108 is produced at NOM 1474, Tequilera Los Alambiques, with agave cooked in stone ovens, roller mill extracted, and mixed with deep well water. It is then fermented in open-air wooden vats, and twice distilled through a copper pot.
Tasting Notes: Nose: Roasted agave, dry earth and lime, with a hint of green olive.
Palate: Buttery and earthy, with a briny-olive flavor, and a lot of black pepper.
Finish: A nice warm heat with a touch of mint.
The Bottom Line:
Tequila Ocho’s Plata Puntas captures everything great about the brand, and filters it into one near-perfect expression. It’s earthy, green, and briney flavors cut through any cocktail, and infuse each drink with an agave-forward quality that tequila lovers will fall head over heels over.
Now granted, putting a tequila that costs upwards of $300 is flat out unfair — we get that, but we said we were going to point you in the direction of the best of the best, and without a doubt, Fuenteseca 8 year is one of the greatest tequilas we’ve ever had the pleasure of drinking.
This tequila hails from NOM 1146, the famed Tequileña, where 75% of the liquid was distilled in a double copper column still with plates removed for lower distillation proof, and the other 25% distilled through alembic pot stills. It is then rested in two casks, one ex-wine American white oak and a dark French oak, and aged for eight years in a damp-climate cellar. It is supremely smooth and stunningly flavorful.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Warm toasty caramel notes joined by a sweet coconut vibe, a hint of maple syrup, and chocolate. It’s warm and inviting, definitely a late night sipper, I can tell from the nose alone.
Palate: Those warm dessert tones translate to the palate, with some added zesty interest via citrus and black pepper notes. After a few sips, I started to get a fruity red apple vibe, more cinnamon, and vanilla.
Finish: A super smooth finish with warm oak tones and some lingering heat that begs to be satiated by another sip.
The Bottom Line:
A warm, sweet, slow sipper with a lot of addictive spiced notes. The way it lingers on the palate makes it clear that this is tequila designed to be savored. Simply one of the finest extra añejo tequilas on the market.
This new expression from Mijenta dropped late last year, and for months I’ve been trying to get my hands on a bottle. Once I acquired a bottle it not only exceeded my expectations, but has quickly become my favorite expression by the brand.
The Maestra Selection No.1 is a high proof blanco tequila made from single estate, eight-year-old agave (grown from seed) that is cooked in a low-pressure autoclave, roller mill extracted, made from deep well water, and twice distilled through a stainless steel pot, resulting in a focused and rewarding flavor that is a joy for the palate to explore.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A warm rush of agave joined by charred honey dew, chocolate, and caramel.
Palate: That fruity flavor translates to the palate, I’m tasting pineapple, more melon with a layer of anise and mint, some vegetal interest and a crack of black pepper.
Finish: More fruit and pepper on the finish. This one ends with a sweet kiss.
The Bottom Line:
Mijenta has knocked it out of the park with this one. The Maestra Selection No. 1 is the brand’s all time best expression, it’s sweet, fruity, and a true joy for the palate.
Our number one spot as the absolute best additive-free tequila to start sipping on right now goes to Wild Common’s Añejo. This is the newest expression on this list, released just this year, and is produced at NOM 1123, Tequila Cascahuin, using agave that is slow roasted for 72 hours in brick ovens, tahona and roller mill crushed, and rested for one year in ex-bourbon barrels.
The results are nothing short of masterful. This is one of the best tequilas released all year, easily.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Flecks of jasmine, vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom, with a light tinge of fruitiness lurking beneath the dessert notes. There is a lot to explore here!
Palate: That nose doesn’t lie, there are a lot of shifting and blooming flavors here. An herbaceous licorice note is joined by a floral rush of honey, stone fruit, caramelized agave sweetness, spicy ginger, and cinnamon, with a subtle sweet and tangy kiss.
Finish: Lots of bourbon sweetness on the finish with a mix of barrel spice and a bit of heat that sizzles gently on the tongue.
The Bottom Line:
Spice, herbaceous, floral, Wild Common’s Añejo is the best kind of tequila. The sort that takes you on a journey and leaves you somewhere surprising. This is the kind of liquid worth getting lost in.
She’s performed it for presidents, at a Super Bowl press conference, and before massive sporting events. And typically, it is performed faithfully, just one of music’s most iconic voices singing a song every American knows deeply, even if our relationship with said song shifts in a mercurial fashion depending on the context.
And on her “Cowboy Carter Tour”, which kicked off at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium last week, Beyoncé is once again delivering “The Star Spangled Banner,” but not quite in a manner she’s done before. It’s performed relatively early in the set, with Bey serving stunning vocals, yet the whole presentation is unsettling. There’s Hendrix guitars in the background, strobing reds and blues on the LED screens, and an overall unease. She doesn’t even finish the anthem, returning back to her Beatles’ cover of “Blackbird” while messaging is presented behind her: “Never Ask Permission For Something That Already Belongs To Her.”
The moment has, typically, led to some truly worm-brained criticism, that somehow Beyoncé was supporting the current administration or political climate by singing the patriotic number. But that reading ignores literally everything else about the concert and what we know about Beyoncé as a person. Within a few minutes of this moment, Beyoncé would be performing “Freedom,” a song that she notably provided to the Kamala Harris campaign for an ad. Sure, one option in the current world is to distance ourselves from all political signifiers, but Beyoncé’s interests right now are more rooted in the Black contributions to culture and history that get pushed into the shadows and stolen. If you actually think she’s out on stage celebrating the USA, it’s seriously time to log off.
What followed over the next nearly three hours of music was a performance that underscored her multi-act vision of this chapter of her career, that shines a light on Black contributions in genres where it’s often minimized. We’ve seen it in dance with Renaissance, and now in country with Cowboy Carter, an album that finally netted her a long-deserved Album Of The Year Grammy. And there’s plenty of evidence to suggest one more act is coming.
Julian Dakdouk / Mason Poole
For the second performance of the tour last Thursday, Beyoncé laid out a few possibilities for how this Cowboy Carter run might unfold. The setlist changed notably from the kickoff, with some portions shuffled and a section added that served as a greatest hits medley, with “Single Ladies,” “Irreplaceable,” and “If I Were A Boy” all making their first concert appearances since the 2010s. Future performances will tell whether this move will remain in subsequent concerts, whether the songs will shift, or whether this was just a special move for a special night. But while these massive tunes might not hold the political weight of her recent music, it felt like a necessary juxtaposition, that Beyoncé still connected to her own pop-star roots, even if her vision is now set beyond the charts and more to an all-encompassing creative legacy. Both can exist in the same place without detracting from the other. To borrow from Whitman, Beyoncé contains multitudes.
And while the entire concert is the paradigm for creative vision — where riding around the arena on a horseshoe can fit neatly next to BigXthaPlug and JPEGMafia-soundtracked interludes — once again Beyoncé’s incorporation of her family created something truly special. If you watched the Renaissance concert film, you got some great insight into how Blue Ivy started appearing as a dancer on the tour, and how her initial struggle lit a fire in her to do the work and ensure she deserved her place on the stage. Now, a couple years later, Blue Ivy is basically a star. She appears frequently in the show, sometimes taking the spotlight as during “America Has A Problem” but more often performing as just part of the company, usually next to Beyoncé but blending in so much that you’d easily forget she was not just one of the professionals Beyoncé has on tour with her.
And now, we also get little Rumi in on the act. During the song “Protector,” which Rumi already featured on record, Blue, Bey, and Rumi all appear together on stage at the same time. As Beyoncé has her two daughters close for a lovely lullaby, she highlights her desire to shield her family from the hardships of the world, while also letting them find their own light. Blue is practically there already, showing the world in real time that discipline and drive might be an inherited trait from her parents. And now we have Rumi, waving and smiling on stage with her mother and sister, showing the world that the lyrics to the song are not just platitudes.
On this night, Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, joined them on stage to celebrate her book Matriarch reaching the top of the New York Times bestsellers list. It was a chance to stamp their legacy in front of a stadium, with the women of this family conquering writing, music, and dance all at the same time.
Julian Dakdouk / Mason Poole
If you’ve been on social media of late — an action I don’t recommend unless it is literally your job, but that’s neither here nor there — you might witness some misleading narratives regarding Beyoncé’s ticket sales and turnouts for this tour, which will be a whole three days in when this review publishes. Of course, the sources of these narratives are from rival fan groups that populate platforms with bad faith arguments and manipulated information. When you embark on your second stadium tour in three years, ticket demand might lessen, but on this night, SoFi was as packed and ecstatic as it gets, with everyone dressed up in their best cowboy and cowgirl fits. One can’t help but think about the way Sinners was recently given the same asterisk treatment to its accomplishments, and how Black excellence will often be seen as a threat to many in power. (There’s also probably a great piece connecting the themes of Sinners and Cowboy Carter, free idea if anyone wants to write it.)
But at the end of the day, one of the great artists of our time is out there playing music in the biggest of spaces on a tour that will only exist just this one time. Every moment of it is thoughtful and exhilarating, enough to win new fans and satisfy her beloved hive. There’s nothing to do but celebrate that, savor it, and tune all the other noise out.
We have all known those couples who are “too” unnaturally close, despite how miserable their body language suggests that they are behind closed doors. Together, which stars real-life spouses Alison Brie and Dave Franco, is here to make those dynamics churn stomachs in a way David Cronenberg would appreciate. As shown above, Neon‘s body horror flick has dropped a trailer that suggests an invisible force making it impossible for an ill-fated, codependent pair to separate, and an eyeball scene is already telling Mubi’s The Substance to hold its beer. Also, what’s going on in that power drill scene? Damn, they shoulda already broken up.
According to Variety, Together‘s Sundance debut delivered such a visceral punch (including “screams, laughs and squirms of discomfort during the film’s more sickening moments”) that A24 threw its hat in the bidding ring, but Neon walked away with the indie distribution prize in what was “one of the richest deals in Sundance history.” And since Neon’s average (most recently including Best Picture winner Anora, viral sensation Longlegs, and the upcoming The Life Of Chuck) has been impeccable, it’s fair to say that they can read the room on must-see indie flicks to come. From the synopsis:
Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie (Dave Franco and Alison Brie) find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country. Abandoning, all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.
Together drills its way into theaters on August 1.
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.
