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In Beyoncé’s Super LVIII commercial, she set out to crash the internet, and that she did. Immediately following the ad’s airing, she unveiled two new singles, “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

The releases kicked off her country era, slated to be heard throughout her upcoming album, Renaissance: Act II. But before the Beyhive could dust off their daisy dukes, Azealia Banks is rattling off her opinion on the creative venture.

On February 12, Banks took to her Instagram Stories to slam Beyoncé’s country records and new direction.

“I love you down, but them r&b runs over the Leslie feist back beats is giving Pickmesha,” she wrote. “Nothing country about it. You’re setting yourself up to be ridiculed again. There’s a theatrical element to country music. Them [country] critics are not just going to accept an ugly blond wig and bullying from Jay-Z. It’s giving big-time musical grift.”

Banks even looped in former R&B singer turned country music star K. Michelle (now known as Puddin) into the conversation. “Yes, Black girls can make country music, but you’re just really not hitting the button,” she said. “K. Michelle, this is your turn to really execute. It’s no shade, but K. Michelle truly understands the assignment.”

After Beyoncé dropped her latest songs, users online also began tagging K. Michelle to get her thoughts on the major shift. K. Michelle is completely on board. “Y’all been mentioning me all night,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I’m just happy to be spoken about in my genre. I love Bey and will be supporting her like I always do. ”

With Bob Marley: One Love, this will be Reinaldo Marcus Green’s third film in a row focusing on the true events surrounding a man, following Mark Wahlberg as the title character in Joe Bell and Will Smith in King Richard. (You are probably much more aware of that second movie.) With Bob Marley, it’s easy to throw out descriptions like “larger than life” and move on, but that doesn’t really do justice to how much larger than life Marley still is to this day and what he still mean to the people of Jamaica. And that’s the thing, Marley (played in the film by Kingsley Ben-Adir) is such an icon, we often don’t think about what this guy was like in his quiet moments. What his relationships were like. And that’s what Green’s movie focuses on: who even was this guy that is still so famous today?

Ahead, Green explains what he learned the most about Bob Marley about making this film and he tells us why he decided to focus on one time period of Marley’s life – Marley planning the Smile Jamaica concert in 1976, then the Concert for Peace in 1978 – instead of a sprawling look at his whole life. And how the people of Jamaica were his inspiration in many ways, including being told many times, “Don’t mess this up.”

How much time did you personally get to spend in Jamaica? Because that sounds like a pretty good deal.

Yeah, it was a fair amount of time. Fortunately for me, it was my second time actually filming there, so I had rapport with the crew. And I think we filmed for a total of 25, 26 days total in Jamaica? And we had a fair amount of prep there. So yeah, it required it, just how much we had to build, how much we had to capture while we were there. So yeah, it was great to be back.

Did you go to Scotchies?

[Laughs] Yes. We went all over, man. Which is great.

Every time I’m there, all the locals are like, ‘You have to go to Scotchies.” There are a lot of fun dogs.

Yeah, there are lots of stray dogs. We were tempted to bring home a lot, but yeah, that’s Jamaica.

If you’ve never been there, you might think the love for Bob Marley is a cliche, but it’s not. Did you feel like you had to bring this movie home for an entire nation?

Yeah, but it was cool because I equally felt like everyone was reminding me not to mess it up. But also just like, okay, we’re not going to let you mess it up. I was propped up by the entire nation, whether it was our drivers or the grip truck or the craft team. Everybody had an opinion and everybody was like, look, we’re going to help you out. This is an important movie for Jamaica. Bob’s the biggest artist that ever came out of Jamaica and his reach is enormous. And so for them, it’s important. It was important that we did it right or that we at least attempted to.

Yeah, this probably means more to them than, say, Cocktail or Club Paradise.

I’m sure they’re all important. They’re all important.

Admittedly, movies I do like.

I think this one, Bob helped to put Jamaican music and reggae music on the map in a way that no other artist had done that before. So I think when you go to Trench Town, there are murals of Bob and there’s so much that they’ve held in such high regard for him and his family. And so, yeah, there was a certain aura around the film in trying to make sure that we upheld the legacy, which was already so strong.

During the end credits, there are a lot of people with the last name “Marley” listed. If I’m a filmmaker I can see how that would be helpful, but also can see times they might not want something in the movie as you’re trying to tell the story of a real person, and all people have flaws. How did that work?

Look, I couldn’t have made this movie without the support of the Marleys. And I mean that sincerely. Number one, the music, we had to get the rights in order to be able to do this.

Right, there’s no chance without that.

There’s no chance without it. And so that was number one. I wanted Bob’s voice to be the voice of the film. And the good news is that they’re not filmmakers. They’re musicians and artists and they love film. They wanted to be there to support us. And look, if I were making a film about my dad, I’d be protective, too. More oftentimes than not, it’s the little things, like the shirt that he’s wearing or colors or things like that. It’s like, don’t put him in that shirt. That kind of stuff.

So there’s a shirt and they’re like, “He would not wear that shirt”?

Or how we would style it or that kind of stuff. It’d be little things. “Story” were the things that I can talk to them about. We were making a movie about their dad that had to fit into two hours, so we were going to have to take certain liberties for the purposes of making a film, and they understood that.

You just mentioned trying to condense this man’s life into two hours. We only see his childhood in some short flashbacks. You start the movie with him planning the Smile Jamaica Concert, then ending with the Concert for Peace.

I think we were trying to figure out the window that captured the essence of who Bob was, and in particular, 1976 to 1978 was just like a period of time of rich musical creation. There was an assassination attempt on his life and that would change anybody. And what did he do? He created Exodus, arguably the greatest album of the 20th century. So he clearly was in a state of just rich musical genius and the outpouring of what essentially took him from being a national star to a global star. Exodus is the album that put him on the map in a global way. And it changed him from being just a musician to a revolutionary. what he was after, his music, his message, and how it just got out there in a massive way. So that period of time was just so essential in Bob’s life. And I think, yeah, it just felt like the richest period of time to focus on that could give us a snapshot to the man behind the myth and all the legends.

That’s a good point because a lot of people only know his myth or legend. But he was also someone who had to make choices about his career, things like deciding what album covers should look like.

That’s what I loved about Bob. And honestly, that was the reason for the film to exist. He’s the guy that you see on the buttons and the bags and the T-shirts, but you could even sing along to some of the songs. But I didn’t know. I didn’t really know. I didn’t really know until I took on the journey of this film and realized, man, how regimented he was. He was running his band on the beach. All the things he was doing, everything he put into his body was to reach a deeper state of consciousness. They said he didn’t sleep, he “rested his eyes.” That’s insane. What do you mean you don’t sleep? He just rested. Maybe just felt like he didn’t have a lot of time. He had no time to waste.

What did you learn that you would not have guessed in a million years?

I think it’s the thing that ended up being the core relationship in our film, which is his relationship with Rita and what that was like. And because I didn’t know, I was not aware that Rita was the one that introduced him to Rastafarianism, which is I think the single most important thing in Bob’s creation of music and his rich belief. And their unconventional relationship. Their unconventional courtship, but a love story nonetheless. I felt the same on King Richard. Behind every great man is a great woman, and that relationship was really important to me.

Well, speaking of King Richard – and I promise it’s not the part I assume you don’t want to talk about – but you had Will Smith set as Richard. This is different because you had to cast Bob Marley. How many auditioned and how did you get to Kingsley Ben-Adir?

Look, I want to say I looked at hundreds or thousands. It was a lot. And they were good actors, but just nobody was right. It’s finding a needle in the haystack. And again, we weren’t looking for an identical replica of Bob. I knew I wasn’t going to find that. But I needed someone. And look, it was the 11th hour, man. The rights were about to lapse.

So it was now or never?

It was a now or never. And it was one of those things where it was like, well, I guess I can’t make the movie without Bob. And lo and behold, this tape shows up in my inbox. I get this link and it’s of this guy named Kingsley Ben-Adir. And I didn’t really know Kingsley or his work, and when I saw the tape, I just said, whoa. Leaning in. It had the it factor.

Was he singing and dancing?

No. He wasn’t singing and he wasn’t dancing. And I learned shortly thereafter that that was not in the cards right away. That was something that we were going to have to learn and develop. But I was interested, man. And in the same way that with King Richard, I didn’t need tennis players. I needed a good actor. I could cheat everything else. And that was the most important thing. I needed somebody that could play under the surface, that could dig into the humanity of who Bob was. The guitar, the singing, and the dancing, of course you want to get to be right, but I’m thinking, we’ll see how far he can take that and the rest we’ll have to figure out some movie magic. But luckily for us, we had somebody that dove insanely deep into the research and was able to just capture the essence of Bob for us, which was remarkable. I think my job was not to add more pressure.

So the way people were saying to you, “Don’t mess this up.” You, as a good director, did not pass that along to him…

I was definitely trying not to. Look, it’s trickery, right? What we do is try to get performance. We’re trying to get something that allows your actors to disappear in a performance and a story to be revealed. And no matter how intense it was, I think he was able to let go in the key moments that we needed him to to deliver what I think is a stellar performance.

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

Although the Kansas City Chiefs managed to pull in the historic victory in overtime, Super Bowl LVIII was painstakingly lackluster. Thankfully, the same cannot be said of Usher’s record-setting Halftime Show performance.

The “Ruin” singer’s rollerskating set not only featured some of his biggest hits (view the full setlist here) but also a few of his notable collaborators. Lil Jon, HER, Ludacris, and Alicia Keys headed to Las Vegas to join the fun. Today (February 12), users went back to rewatch the clip on the NFL’s official YouTube but quickly noticed a slight modification.

According to viewers, Keys’ vocal slip-up while opening with her 2003 song “If I Ain’t Got You” had been edited. Now, folks are calling out the NFL for allegedly correcting the vocal crack as a professional courtesy to Keys.

“Alicia Keys said, ‘Sike.’ Lol. Mandela effect happening right before our eyes,” joked one user.

“The way they fixed her vocals before uploading this on YouTube, LOL,” wrote one user.

“No way they fixed Alicia Keys’ voice online ,” said another.

“It be the non-music mfs on here like, ‘Alicia started in the wrong key.’ Terminology all wrong. She just cracked, babe,” penned another.

That isn’t the only thing users are up in arms with from Keys’ cameo. When Usher embraced Keys during their debut of “My Boo,” viewers began tagging her husband, producer Swizz Beatz demanding that he have a word with Usher. However, he laughed it off as the unbothered cool guy he’s always proven to be.

Alicia Keys hasn’t issued a response to the audio scrubbing. She’s probably just as unfazed as Swizz.

What did Taylor Swift ever do to make MAGA hate her? She voted for Joe Biden four years ago — and probably will again — but other than that? And yet the far right have made her one of their many, many (many, many, many) enemies. Some even hatched a tinfoil hat conspiracy theory about her somehow rigging the Super Bowl and the 2024 presidential election. Now they’ve even come for one of her guests at Sunday’s big game.

Per HuffPost, a number of MAGA wackos have glommed onto the idea that Ice Spice, the hit-making rapper who was hanging with Taylor at Super Bowl LVIII, was flashing “Satanic hand gestures” during the game, all while dressed in “demonic clothing.”

Oh, and Taylor? She was being an “alcoholic” for occasionally downing beer at a football game.

What Ice Spice was really doing was throwing up “devil signs,” which has been used in music since the Jazz age but which gained a new kind of notoriety in heavy metal circa the ‘70s thanks to Ronnie James Dio. As for the “demonic clothing,” i.e., her upside-down crucifix, the debunkers Snopes spent some valuable time pointing out that such jewelry isn’t necessary “demonic” or “satanic,”

Still, is Ice Spice some Satanist? Unlikely! In an interview with Interview magazine in 2022, the one born Isis Naija Gaston talked about going to Catholic school as a kid and how even today she’s “still religious in the sense where I strictly pray every day, all the time.”

Anyway, keep it up, Republicans! Enraging both Swifties and Ice Spice fans will only drive them to make sure you’re never back in the White House.

(Via HuffPost)

It’s been a week since the death of Toby Keith. After the late singer’s family announced his passing (reportedly due to stomach cancer), figures all across country music rallied together to pay tribute to the fallen entertainer. Even The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, still filled with emotion, issued a statement reflecting on his “unlikely” friendship with Keith.

While Keith’s loved ones asked for privacy as they mourned, his fans came together in a very public way to honor him. According to Billboard, due to the spike in streams and album sales of Keith’s 2008 album, 35 Biggest Hits landed the No. 1 spot on its 200 chart. 35 Biggest Hits, upon its debut release in 2008, peaked at No. 2.

The milestone marked Keith’s fifth No. 1 album overall and first chart-topper since 2010’s Bullets in the Gun. Billboard’s metrics for the week of February 8 comprised a total of 66,000 units. The breakdown includes 46,000 SEA units (equaling 64.04 million on-demand official streams), 11,000 album sales, and 9,000 TEA units (or song sales from an album).

During Zach Bryan’s recent show, he paid his respect to Keith by performing a cover of his 2002 song “Courtesy Of The Red, White, And Blue.” “America lost a really, really important Oklahoma boy this week,” he proclaimed to the sold-out crowd.

The streams are predicted to increase as the country music festival starts in April, starting with 2024 Stagecoach.

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

Little Book Whiskey is the yearly release where Beam gets to spread its wings. It’s also a very specific whiskey made by one person who has whiskey-making deep in his DNA — Freddie Noe. Since this is a yearly one-off (that means we only see it once a year and each release is 100% unique and not replicated), we thought we’d break down what we know so far about the 2024 Little Book whiskey drop.

Read our reviews of the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Little Book Whiskey releases by clicking the years.

Before we get into the bottle, it’s important to know one thing: This is Master Distiller Freddie Noe’s baby. Noe is the eighth-generation Master Distiller of James B. Beam and responsible for the second best-selling American whiskey in the world — Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. You’ve all seen it. The white label, the cherry palate, the easy shooting vibe … it’s iconic worldwide for a reason.

Anyway, Noe started “Little Book” when he started working with his father, Master Distiller Fred Noe. Long story short, Freddie earned the nickname “Little Book” thanks to his deft, almost preternatural skill at distilling like his grandfather, bourbon legend Booker Noe. Booker, Little Book, you get it.

Freddie Noe set out to honor his heritage by creating a brand of Beam whiskeys that was 100% unique … and his. That became the Little Book brand. Each year, Freddie Noe creates a uniquely blended and finished whiskey that’s the best of the best that Beam’s warehouses have to offer. Sometimes that’s a mix of their bourbons and ryes. Sometimes Freddie adds in American single malt or corn whiskey or something he made in the lab years ago. Often there’s a finishing barrel involved too — last year’s was applewood smoked, for instance.

The point here is that these bottles are always amazingly unique, delicious, and fleeting. People clamor for them because of that but also because you’re getting something new and fresh when you open one of Freddie’s Little Books. That’s exciting. Let’s get into it.

Little Book Chapter 8

ABV: 59.5%

Average Price: $150 (MSRP)

What We Know:

This year’s release will be a Straight Whiskey — so a blend of likely straight bourbons and ryes though there might be single malt in there again. We also know that this will be a Sherry cask finished whiskey. That should be very exciting for anyone who’s been following Beam for the last couple of years. They released Legent Bourbon a few years back, which is a partial sherry-finished whiskey and it’s magnificent. So adding a full-on sherry finish to a Beam product is going to slap.

When Will It Be Available?

August. However, you’ll start to see some bottles leak out in July (as it always tends to go with these things). In reality, expect to see it on shelves leading into fall, and plan to buy for the holidays.

We should also note that the price for these tends to reach closer to $199-$220 a bottle, especially if you wait until late fall to buy one. Still, given the unique nature of the juice in the bottle, it’ll certainly be worth it.

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2023, Ranked
• The ‘Smoothest’ Bourbons Under $100, Blind Tasted And 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

On Monday night Jon Stewart returns to the show that made him a titan of political comedy. From now until Election Day, the comic will hosting The Daily Show, at least on Mondays. Surely he wouldn’t have come back had his last show not abruptly come to an end. Speaking of, why did that show — Apple TV+’s The Problem with Jon Stewart, that is — abruptly come to an end? Stewart has a vague-ish answer for that.

Per Variety, Stewart stopped by CBS Mornings before his maiden re-voyage, where he explained why he decided to do what he swore he’d never do and return to the Daily Show desk.

“I wanted a place to unload thoughts as we get into this election season,” he explained. “I thought I was going to do it over at — they call it Apple TV+. It’s a television enclave, very small. It’s like living in Malibu. But they decided … they felt that they didn’t want me to say things that might get me in trouble.”

Stewart didn’t go into specifics or anything like it. Were they censoring him? Or were they truly trying to stop him for his own good? Perhaps a bit of both.

During Problem‘s run, Stewart was an older, more serious version of his more clownish Daily Show self. No longer did he do what he often did and claim he was just trying to tell jokes (except when he wasn’t). Instead he was an often savage interviewer, trying to hold the powerful to task for the wrongs they allegedly did, for the heinous positions they refused to stop taking.

But The Problem with Jon Stewart is kaput but that’s fine because now he’s got a new home, at least every Monday, at least through November — or, who knows, maybe longer if things get a little weird again. Which they almost certainly will. Whatever the case, sounds like he’ll have to do a lot of work to win back Meghan McCain.

(Via Variety)

When you hit the $75 mark in bourbon, you’re right in the middle of the special bottles. These bourbons are often for special occasions and typically have something special about them. They’re also still easy to find… for the most part. This is the sweet spot before you start getting into the stuff that’s harder to find and rarer in general (also the stuff that starts getting marked up by retailers).

Below, I’ve called out 20 great-tasting bourbons that you can get for under $80. As I mentioned above, these are a bit more special than your average bottle of bourbon. That means that some of these will be a little harder to find. Some of them will be regional or distillery-only releases while others will be very available. The throughline is that they’re all tasty bourbons that are worth $70 to $80.

Naturally, I did rank these whiskeys. They’re all good, sure. But some are freaking amazing while others are just really, really good examples of bourbon from people who care deeply about their product. Let’s dive in!

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2023, Ranked
• The ‘Smoothest’ Bourbons Under $100, Blind Tasted And 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

20. Peerless Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 54.65%

Average Price: $74

The Whiskey:

Kentucky Peerless Distilling takes its time for a true grain-to-glass experience. Their Small Batch Bourbon is crafted with a fairly low-rye mash bill and fermented with a sweet mash as opposed to a sour mash (that means they use 100% new grains, water, and yeast with each new batch instead of holding some of the mash over to start the next one like a sourdough starter). The barrels are then hand-selected for their taste and bottled completely un-messed with.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Expect notes of blackberry next to worn leather, rich toffee, vanilla oils, and wet tobacco leaves on the nose.

Palate: The taste holds onto the toffee and vanilla as the tobacco dries out and spices up with touches of cedar bark and a few bitter espresso beans.

Finish: The end is long and holds onto the vanilla and tobacco while touching back on the berries as it fades through your senses.

Bottom Line:

This is a great crafty Kentucky bourbon, especially if you’re looking for something from the smaller producers on the scene. Overall, you’ll want to taste this one neat and then experiment. Add rocks, and water, and then try it in your favorite cocktail for the best results.

19. Rock Town Single Barrel Cask Strength Arkansas Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: Varies

Average Price: $72

The Whiskey:

Rock Town is all about using Arkansas ingredients to make Arkansas whiskey. The mash (82% corn, 10% wheat, and 8% malted barley) is made with local corn and wheat that’s grown right outside of Little Rock. Every step of the process happens on site from the milling of the grains to the aging of the juice. After four years, barrels are hand-selected for single-barrel bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a hint of minerality on the nose next to fresh honey, dark cherries, peaches, pie crust, and a touch of maple syrup.

Palate: The palate has a sense of tangerine next to bran muffins with a whisper of green grass and vanilla wafers.

Finish: The end is full of soft toffee and mild woody spiciness with a clear vanilla-orange foundation.

Bottom Line:

This is a really solid all-around bourbon with a nice balance and depth. It works wonders in cocktails. It’s also a great example of the whiskey coming out of Arkansas right now.

18. Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey Original Cask Strength

ABV: 57.9%

Average Price: $78

The Whiskey:

This release from actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley is an evolution of their brand. The whiskey in the bottle is a blend of three bourbons which create a four-grain bourbon. That blend was then bottled as-is, creating a deeply classic bourbon experience from founders who truly care about whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with a balance of old leather boots and freshly cracked black pepper next to a hint of walnut shell, vanilla pod, and orange zest.

Palate: The palate leans into what feels like star fruit as orange marmalade, salted butter, and fresh honey drip over rye bread crusts.

Finish: The end comes with a good dose of peppery spice and old leather as those walnuts and oranges combine with a handful of dried fruit and a dusting of winter spices on the finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a very solid whiskey. It’s a great sipper over a big rock and makes a hell of an old fashioned.

17. Jefferson’s Ocean Aged At Sea Straight Bourbon Whiskey Very Small Batch Special Wheated Mash Bill

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $74

The Whiskey:

Jefferson’s Ocean is deeply skilled at crafting unique and very tasty drams. This expression uses a wheated mash bill (instead of high rye) that’s aged for six to eight years on land. Barrels are then loaded onto a ship and sailed around the world where the spirit and wood interact the whole time thanks to the choppy seas, creating an incredibly unique whiskey in the process.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This has a very subtle nose, with hints of vanilla, dark salted caramel, and mild eggnog spice drawing you in.

Palate: The palate holds onto those flavors fairly well, while adding a touch of popped corn to the salted caramel as the vanilla becomes more of an eggnog-spiced pudding that remains very airy and light.

Finish: The end is slightly nutty with a touch of cedar as the spice and svelte vanilla slowly fade away.

Bottom Line:

Jefferson’s has expanded its line of whiskeys drastically. This wheated bourbon is one of the top expressions that you can get right now. It’s subtle yet runs deep with a varied but classic profile. The low ABVs also mean that you can enjoy this neat all day long.

16. Jeptha Creed RWB Heirloom Mash Bill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $74

The Whiskey:

This whiskey was released for Veteran’s Day late last year. The mash is a mix of 25% Bloody Butcher corn, 25% heirloom white corn, 25% Bruce’s Blue corn, 20% malted rye, and 5% malted barley. That juice is aged for at least four years before blending, proofing, and bottling for this special once-per-year release.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with hints of wicker, old leather, apple and pear cider, and a good dose of burnt orange and old oak.

Palate: The palate has a salted caramel vibe that leads to pecan waffles with plenty of maple syrup and butter next to burnt orange tobacco leaves and a touch of holiday spices.

Finish: The end leans into those woody holiday spices with a sense of caramel candies and allspice-spiked apple cider with a hint of old apple orchard wood and bark.

Bottom Line:

This is another great example of crafty Kentucky bourbon. There’s a real distinction here and this whiskey feels fresh, new, and fun. I really dig sipping this one with a little water or ice to see what new flavor notes surface. There’s always something new lurking just beneath the surface.

15. Heaven’s Door Cask Strength “Homesick Blues” Minnesota Wheated Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 61.35%

Average Price: $79

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Bob Dylan’s brand celebrates the singer’s home, Minnesota. The whiskey is a Minnesota bourbon made with Minnesota grains and distilled in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The massive temperature swings — up to 116F in the summer and -80F in the winter — make for a very unique aging experience. Still, this whiskey was ready after seven years of rest and bottled in a small batch as cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Creamed honey and salted caramel draw you in on the nose with a sense of prunes and dates mixed with rum raisin and brandy-soaked pears kissed with rich vanilla and freshly ground nutmeg.

Palate: That creamy vibe remains on the palate as creamy vanilla buttercream cut with equally creamy honey dances with soft sweetgrass and smudging sage next to a hint of old oak staves soaked in brandy and just touched with old cellars.

Finish: The musty old cellar vibe accents the sweetgrass and sage with rich pipe tobacco laced with marmalade and brandied pears before the lush vanilla takes back over on the very end.

Bottom Line:

Minnesota is another state to keep an eye on when it comes to great whiskey. This new-ish expression from Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door is a stellar example of the great juice coming out of the Land of a Thousand Lakes. It’s a quality sipper

14. Lux Row Four Grain Mash Bill Double Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 57.5%

Average Price: $79

The Whiskey:

This new Lux Row release is a very unique “double” single barrel. What does that mean exactly? The four-grain (corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley) whiskey was aged twice for five years at a time in two different barrels. The second barrel was then bottled with a whisper of water.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dark winter spices, old boot leather, and cigar humidors greet you on the nose with a sense of old vanilla pods, dark stone fruit, and a fleeting sense of freshly ground black peppercorns.

Palate: That spiciness translates to rich and creamy cinnamon frosting on the palate as vanilla sheet cake with caramel drives the sweet taste toward warming apple cider spices and nutty candy.

Finish: The cinnamon is joined by clove and allspice on the warming finish as a hint of cedar and tobacco round things out.

Bottom Line:

This is just good whiskey. It’ll shine in any application you want from poured neat to complicated cocktails, and all stops in between.

13. Henry McKenna Single Barrel Aged 10 Years Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $73

The Whiskey:

This very affordable offering from Heaven Hill is hard to beat at its price. The juice utilizes a touch of rye in the mash bill and is then aged for ten long years in a bonded rickhouse. The best barrels are chosen by hand and the whiskey is bottled with just a touch of water to bring it down to bottled-in-bond proof.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens slightly tannic with rich orange zest and vanilla cream next to woody winter spice, fresh mint, and wet cedar with a hint of gingerbread and burnt cherry.

Palate: The palate hits on soft vanilla white cake with a salted caramel drizzle and burnt orange zest vibe next to apple/pear tobacco leaves dipped in toffee and almond.

Finish: The end has a sour cherry sensation that leads to wintery woody spices, cedar bark, and old cellar beams with a lush vanilla pod and cherry stem finish.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the whiskeys that rang the bell of the current bourbon boom. That made it very hard to find (especially at MSRP) for a very long time. Well, that bell toll has faded and this whiskey is back on shelves for its real price. That’s great in that this is still a great bourbon that hits “classic” from top to bottom as a sipper or cocktail base.

12. Mary Dowling Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tequila Barrels

ABV: 46.5%

Average Price: $74

The Whiskey:

This new whiskey celebrates Mary Dowling, who helped create and then save the whiskey industry in Kentucky back in the early 20th century. The whiskey in the bottle is a three-year-old bourbon from Rabbit Hole. Those barrels are batched and the whiskey is rested again, this time in reposado tequila barrels, until just right.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Floral honey and soft black licorice lean toward fresh and real root beer on the nose with a light moment of white pepper and roasted agave that’s accented by bold winter spice barks and berries with a whisper of orange rind.

Palate: That orange drives the bright palate toward a moment of smoked winter spices (smoldering barks if you will) before creamy eggnog and vanilla buttercream drive the palate back toward warming winter spice and a fleeting note of pepper.

Finish: That pepper builds towards sharp black peppercorns on the finish with sharp winter spice, a hint of buttermilk, and softly spoken notes of roasted agave attached to candied orange and vanilla paste.

Bottom Line:

This is where we really start getting into the special stuff. This is a deep and fresh whiskey that goes beyond the expected and delivers … just more. Take your time with the flavor profile and it’ll reward you with great flavor notes that build toward a crescendo on your senses. It also makes a mean whiskey sour.

11. Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 59%

Average Price: $79

The Whiskey:

The folks at Still Austin have spent the last six years perfecting their grain-to-glass whiskey experience. The juice is rendered with grains from Texas and water from the ground beneath their feet, all imbued with a crafty Texas vibe in every sip. The actual whiskey is a two-year-old high-rye bourbon (25% Elbon rye grown in Texas) that’s batched to highlight the bright fruits of the new and crafty whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is really fruity. Think of a tropical, hazy IPA with clear notes of pineapple, lemon-lime, and maybe a slight hint of savory papaya next to more typical bourbon notes of vanilla, holiday spices, and caramel.

Palate: There’s a clear sense of those spices on the palate with a hint of dark chocolate leading back to all that fruit, a touch of marzipan, and a dash of vanilla cream pie.

Finish: The end warms a bit with the fruitiness waning towards a spicy, choco-tobacco end.

Bottom Line:

This whiskey blends the worlds of craft (beer and whiskey) to create something bigger. It’s a whiskey that feels classic but then goes beyond with a great fruity depth and freshens. It works so well in sours and fruity seasonal cocktails. But don’t sleep on sipping this one over some rocks either.

10. Redwood Empire Bottled In Bond Grizzly Beast Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $77

The Whiskey:

California’s Redwood Empire is made with a unique mash bill of 68% corn, 20% rye, 5% wheat, 5% malted barley, and 2% triticale. That whiskey was left to mellow for years in California before it’s small batched and proofed with pure water from the Russian River Valley.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Raspberry crumble with a big dollop of vanilla buttercream mingle with spiced nut cakes, salted caramels, and orange chocolates with a hint of buttermilk biscuit.

Palate: Rich dark molasses leads the palate toward more spiced nut cake with an almond oil edge and a hint of lemon, like a good sugar cookie, before soft buttery biscuits and Graham Crackers hipped in honey arrive.

Finish: The end leans into woody spices and a hint of sweetgrass before veering back toward fresh dark fruit and nuttiness.

Bottom Line:

This is another whiskey that just delivers. Sometimes it’s as simple as that.

9. Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 3 Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 52.5%

Average Price: $79

The Whiskey:

This year’s Wyoming Whiskey Fall 2023 release is the third edition of the National Park series. This year Grand Teton National Park is the star of the show with a minimum five-year-old batch of bourbon aged in the plains of Wyoming as they descend from the Rockies.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Wyoming Bourbon’s signature orange creamsicle opens the nose with a sense of wet brown sugar, fresh unsalted butter, and little cups of toffee pudding before a hint of dry black tea leaves arrives.

Palate: The orange attaches to floral honey on the palate with a sense of coffee cake, Nutella, and soft vanilla pudding swimming in caramel sauce.

Finish: Pecan waffles with pancake syrup sweeten the finish before that black tea sneaks back in with a mild sense of leathery tobacco and the stick from an orange creamsicle.

Bottom Line:

Wyoming Whiskey has really dialed in their identity and these special releases are a shining example of that. The orange running through the profile is accented by fun, exciting, and iconic bourbon notes that help elevate it beyond the ordinary. Sip it slow and enjoy the ride.

8. Penelope Architect Straight Bourbon Whiskey French Oak Staves

ABV: 52%

Average Price: $77

The Whiskey:

This bourbon is all about precision blending. The MGP barrels create a four-grain whiskey that’s finished in oak staves from Tonnellerie Radoux in France. Those staves are added to the barrels to create a unique finish that’s part Kentucky and part France.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This starts fairly familiar with notes of sugar pie and vanilla cream with orange spice and a hint of dried florals that then veer into dried mushrooms and firewood bark with a bit of black dirt.

Palate: The palate circles back to the sweetness with a big pile of pecan waffles covered in vanilla/maple syrup before soft orange-infused tobacco leads back to that wet firewood and black dirt on the backend of the sip.

Finish: The very end has a touch of charred oak that’s more like singed red-wine-soaked-oak staves.

Bottom Line:

This is a great pairing bourbon for a big meal. The flavors are deep and so varied but all make sense as a whole. Pour this over some ice and serve it the next time you sit down with your crew for a feast.

7. Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $73

The Whiskey:

The first whiskey from Frank August is a sourced bourbon. The whiskey is made in Kentucky, where it’s also aged. The team at Frank August then takes roughly 10 to 15 barrels per batch and builds this bourbon painstakingly to fit their desired flavor profile. The whiskey is then lightly proofed down to 100 proof before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is pure classic bourbon with hints of salted caramel with a twinge of soft grains next to spicy cherry syrup, a whisper of sour apple, and a touch of aged oak staves soaked in mulled wine.

Palate: The palate moves on from the soft grains towards rum-soaked raisins with a warm winter spice matrix — cinnamon, ginger, clove, allspice — before a brown sugar/rock candy sweetness takes over on the mid-palate.

Finish: The finish is long and sweet with a nice dose of sharp cinnamon and soft nutmeg that leads to a supple vanilla cream with a thin line of dry cedar and tobacco spice just touched with dark cherry on the very end.

Bottom Line:

This is an excellent example of the amazing bourbon barrels still hiding in Kentucky barrel houses. While you can easily sip this any old time, you really want to make your favorite whiskey-forward cocktail with this one. It’ll pop as brightly as a firecracker.

6. McTavish Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $75

The Whiskey:

This brand-new whiskey brand from Graham McTavish (Outlander, House of the Dragon, etc.) is a lovely built batch of whiskey. The whiskey is made from a classic mash of 75/21/4 (corn/rye/barley) that’s left to rest for seven years. Those barrels were proofed down to bottled-in-bond standards and bottled as-is otherwise.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Caramel chocolate candies and vanilla cake with sprinkles drive the nose toward cinnamon and clove heavy nutcake, eggnog, and a soft layer of burnt orange zest.

Palate: The vanilla creates a lush buttercream on the palate as dark Black Forest Cake with spicy stewed cherry and very dark chocolate leads to more nutmeg and cinnamon with a fleeting sense of pipe tobacco and smoldering marshmallow.

Finish: The end leans into old oak and a light sense of fall orchard leaves, more stewed cherry, and creamy vanilla with a line of spiced winter bark warmth.

Bottom Line:

This is a shockingly good bourbon for a first foray from the label. It’s everything you could want from a quintessential Kentucky bourbon and more — this one goes deep. Pour it neat, take your time, and then add it to your rotation.

5. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch A124

ABV: 59.5%

Average Price: $71

The Whiskey:

2024’s first Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a unique one. The batch is made from barrels that averaged out to 10 years and nine months old, which is on the young side for these releases. Moreover, the ABVs are much lower than usual as well, coming in under 60%.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich salted caramel, apple fritters, cherry pie, winter spice, old leather tobacco pouches, and deep oakiness drive the nose with a touch of rye bread crust and nutty … I want to say granola covered in dark chocolate.

Palate: The sweetness really gets buttery on the palate with rich toffee and salted caramel ice cream next to creamy cinnamon chews, vanilla malt, dark and smooth chocolate sauce, and a counterpoint of sharp oak spices with a touch of old spicy tobacco.

Finish: That tobacco and oaky spice sharpen on the finish before the creamy caramel, vanilla, and chocolate base returns for a soft and lush end.

Bottom Line:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a must-have for anyone looking to take bourbon seriously. It’s essential, delicious, and palate-expanding while still feeling deeply Kentuckian.

4. Knob Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 12 Years

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $74

The Whiskey:

This is the classic Beam whiskey. The whiskey is left alone in the Beam warehouses in Clermont, Kentucky, for 12 long years. The barrels are chosen according to a specific taste and mingled to create this aged expression with a drop or two of that soft Kentucky limestone water.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with clear notes of dark rum-soaked cherry, bitter yet creamy dark chocolate, winter spices, a twinge of a sourdough sugar doughnut, and a hint of menthol layered with smudging sage and orchard barks.

Palate: The palate leans into a red berry crumble — brown sugar, butter, and spice — with a hint of dried chili flake, salted caramels covered in dark chocolate, and a spicy/sweet note that leads toward a wet cattail stem and soft brandied cherries dipped in silky dark chocolate sauce.

Finish: The end holds onto that sweetness and layers in a final note of pecan shells and maple candy before leaning into a creamy vanilla cream spiked with tobacco and stewed prunes, dates, and figs.

Bottom Line:

This is the Knob Creek to buy. It’s a fantastic sipper, an amazing example of Kentucky bourbon, and one of the best whiskeys to make simple whiskey-forward cocktails with out there. The best part is that you can generally get this at this price at most places where good liquor is sold.

3. Starlight Distillery Carl T. Huber’s Bottled-In-Bond Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey Toasted Series

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $79

The Whiskey:

This starts with Starlight’s high-corn bourbons that are four to six years old. Once batched, the whiskey is refilled into new toasted oak from France for an additional six to eight months.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a sense of soft apricot leather next to dark fruit layered with dry spice barks and berries, toasted oakiness, and fluttering moments of woody tobacco imbued with red chili pepper spice.

Palate: A clear dry cedar kindling vibe leads to creamy eggnog, plenty of moist winter spice cakes, and black tea cut with creamed honey on the palate.

Finish: The dark fruit darkens on the finish as dry kindling, sweet oak, and rich chewing tobacco dance with dates, figs, and plums with a distinct almond shell nutty/woody feel that ends on a warm hug of a fireplace on a cold fall day next to a fallow orchard.

Bottom Line:

This is a phenomenal example of the craft whiskey coming out of Indiana right now. It’s deep, delicious, and delivers far beyond any standard bottle of bourbon. It’ll be a little harder to come by but worth the effort once you nose and taste it.

2. Pursuit United Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Toasted American and French Oak

ABV: 54%

Average Price: $74

The Whiskey:

This release from the Bourbon Pursuit team is a blend of four to six-year-old bourbons. The three bourbons involved are a Finger Lakes whiskey (70/20/10 corn/rye/malted barley), an MGP bourbon (60/36/4 corn/rye/malted barley), and an undisclosed Tennessee whiskey (80/10/10 corn/rye/malted barley). Those whiskeys were finished in both American and French toasted oak barrels before batching and bottling with a touch of Kentucky water.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dark chocolate nut clusters (pecan and walnut heavy) mixed with burnt orange, a hint of mulled wine, and rum-raising with an echo of fresh cedar on the nose.

Palate: The palate has a sense of Nutella over scones with a Cherry Coke on the side while singed cedar and cherry bark mingle with clove-studded oranges and a hint of freshly cracked black pepper.

Finish: The end has a nice spicy warmth and a touch more of that singed wood next to spicy cherry tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This is a great sipper. Get some. You’re sure to savor it!

1. Jack Daniel’s 10 Years Old Tennessee Whiskey

ABV: 48.5%

Average Price: $73

The Whiskey:

This age statement released from Jack Daniel’s is a throwback to a bygone era in Tennessee Whiskey. The whiskey is aged for at least 10 years before batching. During that time, the barrels spend time in the “Buzzard’s Roost” at the top of the rickhouse. Once they hit the right flavor profile, those barrels are moved to the bottom floors of other warehouses to slow the aging down. Finally, the whiskey is batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with a rich matrix of cherry syrup, apple cores, sticky toffee, vanilla ice cream, and a bold line of wet and sweet oak with a mild earthiness.

Palate: The palate opens up towards the dark fruit but dries it out and marries it to a woody and spicy tobacco leaf alongside toasted cedar soaked in salted caramel paired with dry corn husks that are just singed.

Finish: The finish really takes its time as the cherry attaches to an old cinnamon stick and the tobacco takes on a sticky chewiness with an almost smoked oak woodiness.

Bottom Line:

Normally, this whiskey would be on a much pricier list. But this whiskey is about to hit shelves and you will be able to find it for MSRP this year. That makes this the best whiskey at this price point kind of by far. This is one of the best bottles of Jack Daniel’s released in the modern era. Buy a case if you can.

Not every city has a reputation for partying like New Orleans. Each year, the city comes alive with the vibrant spirit of Carnival season, and amidst the kaleidoscope of parades, indulgent cocktails, and delectable king cakes, there’s an undeniable energy that captivates both locals and visitors alike. In short, it’s lit.

As the iconic Fat Tuesday approaches – this year on February 13th – the streets of New Orleans undergo a two-week transformation of a tapestry of colors and festivities, creating a truly unparalleled atmosphere. Amidst all of these extravagant celebrations, New Orleans never falls short for its culinary prowess, offering a diverse array of dining experiences, from traditional Creole dishes to innovative culinary creations — earning a spot on Uproxx’s acclaimed Fall Travel Hot List back in September.

If your week started with this sort of text…

Then your first question after “Are there cheap flights?” is probably, “Where am I going to sleep?”

New Orleans boasts a plethora of hotels that cater to every preference — from historic accommodations steeped in charm to modern luxury establishments. Check out our list of the best hotels the city has to offer to maximize your Carnival celebrations below.

PART I — The French Quarter

The epicenter of Mardi Gras celebrations with lively parades, vibrant street life, and iconic Bourbon Street festivities. Staying here ensures you’re at the heart of the action.

Hotel Monteleone

Since 1886, the Hotel Monteleone has provided luxury and style for travelers to New Orleans. Known for its timeless charm and NOLA’s first and only rotating Carousel Bar, it stands as a landmark in the city.

The brand’s central location on Royal Street places guests in the heart of Mardi Gras festivities, making it an ideal choice for revelers. The hotel offers classic accommodations with high-end touches, providing a comfortable retreat amidst the vibrant energy of New Orleans.

BOTTOM LINE:

With its rich history, iconic bar, and proximity to the excitement of Mardi Gras, Hotel Monteleone promises an authentic and memorable experience in the heart of the festivities.

Amenities:

• Famous carousel bar
• On-site dining
• Pool
• Fitness center
• Business center & services
• Spa
• Free wifi
• Valet parking
• Concierge services

Price: $349

Book Here

Omni Royal Orleans

Nestled in the heart of the French Quarter at the intersection of St. Louis and Royal Streets in New Orleans, Omni Royal Orleans offers a luxurious escape with a prime location overlooking the St. Louis Cathedral. Perfectly situated for Mardi Gras celebrations, guests can immerse themselves in the festive spirit just steps away from parade routes.

The hotel exudes elegance – from its marble lobby, crystal chandeliers, rooftop pool deck, and wrought iron balconies– providing upscale accommodations and amenities that complement the lively atmosphere of the city.

BOTTOM LINE:

With its historic charm and proximity to Bourbon Street (just two blocks away), Omni Royal Orleans is a sought-after hotel to get right in the action of Mardi Gras.

Amenities:

• Rooftop pool
• On-site dining
• Fitness center
• Business center
• Marble decor
• Crystal chandeliers
• Wrought iron balconies
• Free wifi
• Spa
• Concierge services
• Valet parking
• Event spaces

Price: $339

Book Here

Royal Sonesta New Orleans

Right on the iconic Bourbon Street, Royal Sonesta New Orleans, stands as a vibrant hub for Mardi Gras enthusiasts. With its prime location in the heart of the French Quarter, guests are immersed in the lively spirit of carnival celebrations. The hotel offers a perfect blend of luxury and festivities, featuring comfortable accommodations and a lively atmosphere equipped with wrought-iron balconies and a lush courtyard.

BOTTOM LINE:

The hotel’s proximity ensures a front-row seat to Mardi Gras parades and festivities — making it a popular choice for those seeking a (big) easy festive experience during this iconic celebration in New Orleans.

Amenities:

• On-site dining
• Outdoor pool
• Wrought-iron balconies
• Courtyard
• Fitness center
• Business center
• Free wifi
• Spa
• Valet parking
• Concierge services

Price: $270

Book Here

PART II — Uptown

Offers a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the French Quarter. Beautiful tree-lined streets and historic architecture provide a charming backdrop while being close to St. Charles Avenue for parades.

The Pontchartrain Hotel

The Pontchartrain Hotel, located on St Charles Ave in New Orleans, stands as a beacon of Southern elegance along the historic St. Charles Avenue. Built in 1927, this Uptown gem offers a sophisticated stay with its well-appointed 14-story accommodations, blending modern comfort with classic charm through its four dining options, rooftop lounge, and unique architectural design.

BOTTOM LINE:

While not in the immediate vicinity of Mardi Gras celebrations, the hotel provides a tranquil retreat from the bustling crowds, and guests can reach the French Quarter and major parade routes within a short taxi ride.

Amenities:

• Rooftop bar & lounge
• Multiple on-site dining options
• Fitness center
• Business center
• Free wifi
• Valet parking
• Concierge Services

Price: $323

Book Here

The Columns Hotel

Located right on St Charles Ave, The Columns Hotel offers a unique stay in the picturesque Uptown district. Originally built in 1883 as a private residence, it was converted into a boarding house during World War I and eventually a hotel in 1953. Today, it stands listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Known for its Victorian-era elegance overlooking St. Charles Avenue, this historic hotel provides a distinctive experience with its charming accommodations and classic ambiance, featuring an array of gardens, patios, salon, curated retail collection, and more.

BOTTOM LINE:

Also not directly amidst Mardi Gras celebrations, guests can enjoy a tranquil escape from the festivities. The French Quarter and prominent parade routes are easily accessible by a short drive, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant Mardi Gras atmosphere and then return to someplace less chaotic.

Amenities:

• Historic site
• Gardens
• Patios
• Salon
• Retail shops
• Live music programming
• Free wifi
• Parking

Price: $270

Book Here

Henry Howard Hotel

Situated in the Garden District, the Henry Howard Hotel offers a boutique retreat with historic charm in New Orleans. Originally constructed in 1867 as a double gallery townhouse, it is now a reimagined 18-room hotel boasting stylish accommodations while holding much of its original architectural elements.

BOTTOM LINE:

Guests can easily access the vibrant atmosphere of the French Quarter and parade routes via a car ride and then savor the hotel’s quiet yet thriving neighborhood during their “down times.”

Amenities:

• Boutique accommodations
• Complimentary breakfast
• Courtyard
• On-site dining
• Free wifi
• Business center & meeting space
• Parking

Price: $350

Book Here

PART III — Marigny/Bywater

Adjacent to the French Quarter, these neighborhoods offer a bohemian vibe, local art scenes, and a slightly quieter setting while remaining close to Mardi Gras activities.

The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery

The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery offers a distinctive blend of historic charm and modern comfort right in the heart of New Orleans. While not directly in Marigny/Bywater, its proximity ensures a unique New Orleans experience. To reach Mardi Gras celebrations and parades, a short drive or walk leads to the festive atmosphere of the French Quarter.

BOTTOM LINE:

The hotel’s stylish accommodations reflect the city’s artistic spirit, including its featured exposed brick walls. Try it for a modern-stylish feel that’s a little out of the fray.

Amenities:

• Water bottles
• Complimentary bike rentals
• Free wifi
• 24-hour fitness center featuring Peloton bikes & MIRROR
• Well+Fit Kit
• Priority access to restaurant
• Art gallery
• Pet friendly
• Coffee shop
• Valet parking
• Pillow menu

Price: $331

Book Here

The Quisby

Originally known as the Audubon Hotel in the early 1900s, the hotel was restored and renamed The Quisby in 2017. Located in the Lower Garden District, it embodies New Orleans’ bohemian spirit, exuding a budget-friendly atmosphere while offering a unique blend of affordability and style. The hostel stands close to both the French Quarter and the nearby eclectic neighborhoods, ensuring a short walk to some of the best restaurants, shops, and Mardi Gras parties in New Orleans.

BOTTOM LINE:

The Quisby’s accommodations exude a laid-back charm with modern amenities, including complimentary check-in cocktails and its 24-hour Quartz Bar full of local and touring musicians. Guests can choose a hostel-style shared room or opt for private rooms.

Amenities:

• Shared or ensuite bathrooms
• Share or private rooms
• Locking luggage storage
• Bedside reading lights
• Tolietry cubbies
• 24-hour bar
• Live music

Price: $135

Book Here

Ace Hotel New Orleans

Ace Hotel New Orleans is a trendy and artistic haven capturing the city’s vibrant energy. Its unique atmosphere is just a short distance from these eclectic neighborhoods and the Mardi Gras action of New Orleans. The hotel’s accommodations are stylish, blending modern design with local flair while also offering world-class dining onsite with its award-winning chefs.

BOTTOM LINE:

Ace Hotel provides a chic and culturally infused retreat with regularly programmed art and music events, offering a perfect starting point for immersing oneself in the dynamic festivities and cultural richness of New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Features include a rooftop garden, pool, and bar, coffee shop, and two restaurants.

Amenities:

• Multiple dining and bar options
• Fitness center
• Event spaces
• Art decor
• Free Wi-Fi
• On-site shops & boutiques
• Live music and art installation events
• Bicycle rentals

Price: $269

Book Here

PART IV — Treme

Known for its rich cultural history, Treme provides an authentic New Orleans experience. It’s close to the French Quarter and offers a unique Mardi Gras experience.

Lamothe House Hotel

Lamothe House Hotel enchants guests with its historic charm in the heart of New Orleans. This Victorian-style property offers a tranquil and intimate stay with elegantly appointed accommodations and a picturesque courtyard framed by magnificent oak trees.

BOTTOM LINE:

Guests can easily access the vibrant atmosphere of parades and celebrations with a short walk or drive, while the location on Esplanade Avenue provides a cultural backdrop to the Mardi Gras festivities.

Amenities:

• Historic accommodations & Victorian-style decor
• Courtyard
• Outdoor pool
• Complimentary breakfast
• Free wifi
• On-site parking

Price: $270

Book Here

New Orleans Guest House

New Orleans Guest House offers a cozy and welcoming bed and breakfast experience near the vibrant Treme neighborhood. Housed in a historic building, it provides well-appointed accommodations with a charming atmosphere, full of posh antique furnishings. While not directly in the heart of Mardi Gras festivities, its proximity allows guests to enjoy the lively parades and celebrations with a short walk or drive to the French Quarter.

BOTTOM LINE:

This quaint guest house offers 14 guest rooms in a tranquil retreat, providing a unique blend of local charm and easy access to the energetic spirit of New Orleans.

Amenities:

• Free cancellation up to one day prior to arrival
• Free wifi
• Complimentary breakfast
• Pet friendly
• Three blocks to Bourbon Street
• Cable tv
• Antique furnishings
• Courtyard with patio seating

Price: $116

Book Here

Maison Treme Guesthouse

Maison Treme Guesthouse immerses guests in the heart of the historic Treme neighborhood with its unique character and cultural significance. The guesthouse offers stylish accommodations within a historic setting, featuring a two-story pool house overlooking a new luxury saltwater pool. Its central location allows guests to easily access the vibrant parades and festivities in the nearby French Quarter with a short 10-minute walk to the French Quarter.

BOTTOM LINE:

Having a pool in New Orleans feels like a relaxing luxury that’s hard to pass up.

Amenities:

• Private accommodations for two guests
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Complimentary toiletries
• Quaint, private balcony
• Free wifi
• TV with Sling, Netflix, Hulu
• Romantic courtyard with an outdoor table and loungers
• Heated saltwater pool

Price: $243

Book Here

PART V — Central Business District

A good option for people who want proximity to the French Quarter and parade routes but with a slightly more business-oriented and “work hard, play hard” atmosphere.

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans exudes luxury and elegance in the heart of the city. Offering opulent accommodations within the 1908 Beaux Arts Maison Blanche building, the hotel stands as a refined sanctuary. Positioned on Canal Street right on the edge of the French Quarter, it provides a central vantage point for Mardi Gras celebrations, with easy access to the lively parades and festivities.

BOTTOM LINE:

Guests experience a seamless blend of sophistication and proximity — ensuring an exquisite stay while immersing themselves in the vibrant energy that is New Orleans mis Mardi Gras.

Amenities:

• Courtyard
• New Orleans’ largest spa
• City views
• In-room dining
• Three on-site restaurants and cafes
• Live music
• Fitness center
• Business center
• Valet parking
• Free wifi

Price: $350

Book Here

W New Orleans – French Quarter

W New Orleans – French Quarter invites guests into a stylish and contemporary haven on the intersection of the historic French Quarter and Central Business District. The hotel boasts modern accommodations infused with vibrant local flair, while its strategic location provides guests with a chic retreat within walking distance of Mardi Gras celebrations and parades in the heart of the French Quarter.

BOTTOM LINE:

The hotel is offering a special Mardi Gras package from February 6th-February 14th where guests can receive two complimentary daily cocktails from 3rd Block Depot and Mardi Gras masks and beads with the booking code CUE. Check here for details and savor those free sips!

Amenities:

• Pet friendly
• Outdoor pool
• Courtyard-style architecture
• On-site dining
• Private balconies
• Business & meeting space
• Fitness center
• Free wifi

Price: $250

Book Here

JW Marriott New Orleans

JW Marriott New Orleans offers a luxurious escape in the heart of the Central Business District. The hotel provides upscale accommodations with modern comforts, featuring a 24-hour fitness center and rooftop pool. The hotel is offering a special Mardi Gras package from February 6th-14th, offerings two daily complimentary cocktails and two authentic Mardi Gras masks and beads with booking code CUE. For more information, click here.

BOTTOM LINE:

With its prime position on Canal Street, guests can effortlessly access Mardi Gras celebrations and parades, immersing themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the French Quarter and Bourbon Street.

Amenities:

• 24-hour fitness center
• Rooftop pool
• City views
• On-site dining
• Pool tables
• Free breakfast
• Free wifi
• Valet parking

Price: $300

Book Here

Cavemen must have been perpetually late, given that humans didn’t get around to inventing the sundial until 1500 BCE. The first attempts at measuring time via sun movement were shadow clocks created by the Egyptians and Babylonians. These led to the sundial, an instrument that tells time by measuring shadows cast by the sun on a dial plate. Sundials were our preferred method of timekeeping until the mechanical clock was invented in 14th-century Europe.

In 1972, Hamilton introduced the world’s first digital watch. Its $2,000 price tag was hefty, but by the ’80s, digital watches became affordable for the average person. Now, both technologies have merged in a cool invention, the digital sundial. Created by French Etsy seller Mojoptix, this outdoor clock uses the patterns on a suspended wand to mold natural shadows into a digital-looking time readout. The digital sundial has two major drawbacks: It only reports the time in 20-minute intervals, and it’s not very effective after sundown. But it sure does look cool.

Here’s the digital sundial in action!

This article first appeared on 9.15.17.