It’s been a little over a month since Drake released his eighth album For All The Dogs. The project was met with mixed reviews, but nothing stopped it from debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with the largest streaming week of 2023 for any album and the fourth-largest ever. Though Drake hinted at a break after the project’s release, the rapper isn’t taking his foot off the gas as he officially announced the release date for Scary Hours 3 on November 16.
Hours before the project arrives on November 17, Drake revealed the artwork and tracklist for Scary Hours 3, which is officially titled For All The Dogs: Scary Hours Edition. In total, the project features six songs for fans to dive into this weekend. Though the tracklist is out now, any potential features have not been revealed yet so it’s unclear whether or not there are any at all on For All The Dogs: Scary Hours Edition.
Following news of Cassandra Ventura, also known as singer Cassie, filing a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging rape and physical abuse, new developments have surfaced surrounding the producer and rapper. According to TMZ, Diddy is currently the subject of a secret NYPD investigation.
It is unclear if this alleged investigation is in relation to Cassie, however, the publication reports that there is strong evidence that the complaint leading to the investigation involves sexual assault.
According to TMZ, the publication was informed by law enforcement that there is an open case at NYPD with the name, “Sean Combs,” and said case is an active case. However, the case file is reportedly locked, “essentially meaning it’s a sensitive case where access is restricted.”
NYPD issued a statement to TMZ, saying, “The NYPD takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a police report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors.”
Based on the statement, TMZ gathers that authorities may be speaking with more than one alleged victim.
The publication has also looked into law enforcement in other jurisdictions, including Miami, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles, however, have found that no police report has been filed pertaining to Cassie or Diddy, and no other investigations have been launched.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens matched up in Week 11 for one of the most anticipated Thursday Night Football battles of the season. In the early going, however, the game was marred by injuries, as Ravens star tight end Mark Andrews went down in the first quarter and Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow left the game soon after. Burrow tossed a short touchdown pass to Joe Mixon with almost six minutes left in the first half but, as soon as he let the ball go, he appeared to be in significant pain.
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) November 17, 2023
The Bengals soon announced a right wrist injury for Burrow, who went to the locker room for further evaluation. In providing additional context to this ailment, Burrow was captured earlier in the day wearing some sort of brace on his throwing wrist/hand, and that could shed light on what transpired, especially given that Burrow’s injury was non-contact.
Lots of talk about a deleted #Bengals post, which showed Joe Burrow wearing some type of brace or sleeve on his right wrist.
Here’s video of Burrow getting off the team bus in Baltimore.
Jake Browning took the next series for the Bengals at quarterback and, for a team already dealing with other injuries to Tee Higgins and others, Cincinnati simply cannot afford to be without Burrow. Updates will likely follow, but the city of Cincinnati is holding its collective breath.
While Barbs may still be bummed that Nicki Minaj‘s fifth album Pink Friday 2, which was supposed to be released tomorrow (November 17), won’t arrive for another few weeks, they can still look forward to a tour announcement. Tomorrow also marks the premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes.
Ahead of the premiere, Rachel Zegler shared a hilarious story on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon about how she accidentally started a rumor that Minaj would be on the movie’s soundtrack.
“It was one of those things where there’s a character named Barb Azure in the movie,” said Zegler. “And the actress who plays Barb Azure has a great sense of humor. Her name is Honor Gillies. She’s so fantastic and posted a video of Nicki Minaj saying, ‘Calling all Barbz’ when she got cast. And her character plays the standup bass in the movie so obviously I commented, ‘Slappin’ that super bass.’ As you would.”
This comment was quickly sniffed out by the Barbz, who immediately began sharing theories on social media that Minaj would contribute to the soundtrack.
“They were screenshotting those comments, posting them all over social media, being like, ‘What is Mother doing?’ They are very, very, very dedicated and amazing,” said Zegler of Minaj’s fan army. “I am a Barb. I love Nicki. But she’s not on the album.”
At one point, Zegler herself even believed Minaj may appear on the soundtrack, recalling how Minaj once shared a video with “The Hanging Tree” from The Hunger Games playing in the background.
“She knew what she was doing. I had no idea what I was doing,” Zegler said. “I didn’t know if she was on the soundtrack so I was like, ‘Okay.’”
Barbz can look forward to hearing Pink Friday 2 on December 8, on the birthday of the Queen Barb herself.
Today (November 16), The New York Times broke news of Cassandra Ventura, better known as singer Cassie, has filed a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging rape, along with years of physical and emotional abuse.
The pair had been previously linked romantically for over a decade before splitting in 2018. As the lawsuit continues to trend poses more shocking information, many are wondering about the timing of the events detailed in the suit, and how they line up other stages of the relationship.
2006: Cassie releases her self-titled album through Bad Boy
Cassie’s debut album, Cassie boasted hits like “Long Way 2 Go” and “Me & U,” the latter of which was accompanied by a remix with Diddy. The album was released through Diddy’s label, Bad Boy.
2007: Cassie becomes the face of Sean Don, Diddy’s fashion house
Cassie became a spokesmodel for Sean Don, around which time, rumors of a romance between the two began to circulate. Both Diddy and Cassie denied said rumors. Also, Diddy was linked with long-time girlfriend Kim Porter at the time.
2012: Cassie and Diddy attend several events and parties together, seemingly going public with their relationship
2013: Cassie cites Diddy as inspiration for launching her own business venture
In an interview with Madame Noire, Cassie said she would like to start her own empire of some sort — seemingly taking inspiration from Diddy.” Just being around him is a completely inspiring experience,” she said at the time.
2014: Cassie is seen wearing a ring, prompting engagement rumors
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Diddy shared a picture of a diamond ring. According to Billboard, the caption read “Baby do you like it? I just want to give you what you like!” Representatives for Diddy denied rumors that the two had gotten engaged, however, photos of Cassie wearing the ring continued to surface.
2015: Cassie and Diddy reportedly break up, then reconnect. Diddy shares his bizarre relationship philosophy
Page Six reported that Diddy and Cassie had split, but gotten back together soon after. In an interview with The Breakfast Club, Diddy shared his perplexing 25/75 relationship rule. “If I’m in a relationship with you, like 25 percent of your time, you’re gonna just feel like, ‘Aw man, I hate being here, this guy, aw man, he cheated on me, he lied on me. But then there’s 75 percent of ‘I’mma make you the happiest woman in the whole wide world,’ and I promise you’ll smile the most.”
2016: Cassie and Diddy reportedly break up once again, following an allegedly explosive argument
TMZ reported that Cassie and Diddy got into an argument after Diddy allegedly took Cassie’s phone and began scrolling through. Police were reportedly called to Cassie’s home, and while neither party was charged for a crime, a domestic violence incident report was filed.
2018: Cassie and Diddy split
In another now-deleted post, Diddy shared a picture of Cassie, calling her his “best friend” and his “love.” Shortly after, sources close to them said the two were no longer together.
2019: Cassie marries Alex Fine
Cassie and physical trainer Alex Fine got married, just one year after she and Diddy split.
The Memphis Grizzlies went through a strangely public break up with Dillon Brooks. While teams decide players aren’t part of their long-term plans all the time, reports indicated that Memphis straight up told Brooks that he was not in their plans “under any circumstances” as he was preparing to hit unrestricted free agency.
Things ended up working out pretty well from Brooks, who got a big bag from the Houston Rockets and has been an important part of their early season success this year, all while the Grizzlies scuffle due to injuries and Ja Morant’s suspension. And with his first game against his old team popping up next week, Brooks spoke to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated and got a whole lot of stuff off his chest, including his belief that the team’s success was directly tied to the size of his role.
“It wasn’t what I wanted,” Brooks said of his departure from Memphis. “The whole season was not what I wanted. I feel like we did better when I was a focal point in that organization. They chose a different route. But I’m happy that through all the bullsh*t I was able to get what I always deserved.”
While Brooks played more last season than he did at any other point of his tenure in Memphis, he saw his efficiency numbers fall off considerably, as he shot a career-worst 39.6 percent from the field. While the team won 51 games and earned the 2-seed in the Western Conference, they fell in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening round of the playoffs.
Listen, Week 10 wasn’t kind when it comes to NFL handicapping in this space. After a positive result on Thursday, Sunday brought ugliness to the tune of a winless day and a 1-4 week. The process wasn’t ideal, the results weren’t good, and these things happen. Alas, Week 11 brings more opportunity and, in zooming out, the first ten weeks of the year have been rock-solid on the whole.
As always, we strive to maintain our principles and, before we get to the five-pack of games, let’s glance at the big picture.
Week 10: 1-4
2023 Season: 26-21-3
Come get these winners.
Carolina Panthers (+10.5) over Dallas Cowboys — Widely Available
This is the first of two double-digit underdogs we have this week, and Carolina is at home for good measure. There isn’t a lot to get excited about for Carolina, but the defense has shown more in recent days, and the Panthers have extra rest after playing on Thursday last week. I wouldn’t love this at 9.5, but 10.5 is an appealing number here.
Cleveland Browns (-1) over Pittsburgh Steelers — Widely Available
It brings me no joy to back Dorian Thompson-Robinson against the Steelers. I can assure you of that. However, Cleveland is the sharp side this week as the numbers continue to make no sense for Pittsburgh. Granted, this might just be Mike Tomlin voodoo, but Cleveland’s defense is the best unit in this game and I continue to believe the downgrade from Watson to whichever backup quarterback for the Browns is smaller than the market indicates. On the bright side, maybe I’ll stop fading Pittsburgh if they beat us again this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+12) over San Francisco 49ers — DraftKings
San Francisco is very likely to win this game. The 49ers were utterly dominant last week, and I get that this is a mismatch on paper. Still, this number should be 9.5 or 10 and we can grab 12. It probably won’t be a fun sweat, but principles are principles.
TEASER: Jacksonville Jaguars (-0.5) over Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills (-1) over New York Jets — BetMGM
We’ve been profitable on teasers this year, but last week was gross. We’ll go back to the well on Buffalo, choosing to buy (very) low on the Bills, and Jacksonville is coming off a disastrous showing against San Francisco. These are two home favorites that should get home.
Los Angeles Rams (+1) over Seattle Seahawks — Widely Available
Matthew Stafford is in line to return here and, provided he does, this is a number I like a lot for the Rams. Los Angeles simply isn’t the same team without him, but Stafford unlocks the Rams’ offense and this is a friendly overall spot.
I’ve experienced my share of delicious cuisine internationally; traveling for good food isn’t going anywhere. But it’s been the bars serving libations with a strong sense of place that have left an indelible imprint on my memories. While the concept is similar to culinary travel — trying something special in the place where people know it best or execute it at the highest level — seeking out amazing bars on the road is fully the wave I’m on right now. And since different areas of the globe specialize in specific spirit categories and even certain ingredients, it’s a great way to evolve your palate and gain a delightful memory.
So much of travel these days includes seeing a city through the lens of a local, especially for the Gen-Z and Millennial demographic. The proof is in the numbers. American Express Travel’s 2023 Global Travel Trends Report mentions that 79% of Gen-Z and Millennial respondents agree they’d “love to partake in a day in the life of locals in the destination they are visiting.” And to live like a local, you must drink like a local – which means hitting the area’s hottest or most underrated bars.
“Cocktail tourism is big now and we believe it is going to be huge,” says Dave Dove, founder of Global Bartending and co-founder of The Pinnacle Guide, which spotlights bars worldwide. “Whereas dining at a top restaurant might set you back a few hundred dollars, having a cocktail in one of the world’s best bars is a fraction of that – a really affordable luxury.”
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Kristy Hanft, founder of Austin-based luxury travel agency Flaneur Travel Co., attests to the allure of traveling merely to hit a hotel’s acclaimed bar. She’s found that many of her clients have an increased interest in what she’s coined “the destination is the hotel.” Bars are surely a big part of that phenomenon. As an Austin, Texas area local, I’ve driven two hours to stay at San Antonio’s luxury Hotel Emma to experience Sternewirth, their tavern and club room. I was thrilled to indulge in their impressive bar offerings without even needing to leave the hotel.
Hotels are rising to the occasion by creating incredible bars (or bringing in incredible bar teams to create an in-house offering). The destination is certainly the hotel with Six Senses in Gulhi, Maldives. The hotel is home to the Chill Bar, built over the ocean just a few meters from a coral reef.
“The Chill Bar is passionate about using local ingredients,” Hanft notes. “Fruits and herbs native to the area. They have their own herb garden to use for all the cocktails.”
One of their signature cocktails uses gin, a coconut turmeric mixture, and coriander leaf – all made with local ingredients.
“The Maldives is known for its beauty,” she continues. “And you’re sipping a cocktail with herbs they pick from their garden.”
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Curious travelers who let bars guide them benefit by gaining local intel on other boozy haunts they can visit.
“Get a seat at the bar, then ask the bartender for their top tips for cocktail bars or where they enjoy going out to enjoy great drinks and atmosphere,” says Siobhan Payne, co-founder of The Pinnacle Guide. “The people with the inside scoop are the ones who work on the ground. Bartenders are often a tight-knit community of people who are always keen to recommend each other’s bars!”
When it comes to the future of bar and cocktail tourism, Hanft says, “It isn’t going anywhere. It will just be integrated into itineraries forever.”
As a traveler and lover of fine bars around the world and close to home, I wholeheartedly agree.
Need some inspiration on what bar scene you should visit first? Check out three recommendations from drink and travel pros below!
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
“The bar scene is just getting stronger and stronger, with fantastic bars opening all the time. The city is a bit of a hub for travel within Mexico, which means there are lots of bartenders traveling through and lots of international bar takeovers, which inspires brilliant creativity. We also absolutely love the architecture, which really lends itself to beautiful bar setups.” – Hannah Sharman-Cox, co-founder of The Pinnacle Guide
PARIS, FRANCE
“One bar I love in Paris is called Bar Joséphine in Hôtel Lutetia. It’s named after Josephine Baker because she used to stay at that hotel back in the day. It’s an old Art Deco hotel. When they were restoring the bar, they found these frescoes under six layers of paint, and it took them 17,000 hours to uncover and restore them. It’s a gorgeous place. It’s where to be seen during Fashion Week. Josephine Baker would say her two loves were mon pays et Paris (“My country and Paris”). So, their signature cocktail is J’ai Deux Amours (“My two loves”) made of Belvedere Vodka, barbecue sauce, smoked essence, and clarified mango.” – Kristy Hanft, founder of Flaneur Travel Co.
MANILA, PHILLIPPINES
“I think Manila is underappreciated. Their hospitality is amazing, seriously. They’re super genuine and very welcoming. I always have a great time when I go there. Two of my favorites are Oto, for its incredible all-vinyl playlist and great hospitality, and Spirits Library, for its incredible selection.” – Desiree Jane, co-founder of award-winning Singapore-based bar Sago House
You’re not alone if you’ve ever lost someone and found yourself talking to them, whether at a grave site while lying in bed at night or looking up to the sky on a walk. Many people speak to loved ones who’ve passed because it’s a healthy way of processing grief.
“Speaking out loud to a loved one who has passed — whether at a grave site or out loud at home — is helpful for many people processing grief,” Dr. Alison Forti, an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling at Wake Forest University, told Teen Vogue. “Many people will experience a sense of disbelief after they lose a loved one. By encouraging people to speak out loud to their loved one it helps them resolve that disbelief.”
Two sisters who recently lost their 63-year-old mother to pancreatic cancer in Albany, New York, showed that not only is it healing to talk to the deceased, but it can be hilarious, too. In honor of November’s Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Sara Wollner and Katie Riggins made a fun video where they confessed everything they’ve done wrong since their mom left them a little over a year ago.
The video struck a nerve with many people, earning over 20 million views on TikTok.
Confessions to our dead mom #funny #siblinghumor #dayinmylife #viral #trending #sisters #funnytiktok #parentloss #parentlossawareness #fyp #fypage #fypシ #confessions #siblingcomedy
“So, our mom died a little over a year ago, and these are some of the things that we’d like to confess to her that have happened since she died,” Wollner said in the TikTok video. “Number one, we didn’t know that we had to file your taxes.”
“Nope,” chimed Riggins as the girls laughed so hard they began wheezing. “I didn’t know that I needed to get my own (car) insurance … (I drove) an uninsured car for 7 months and then suspended your license plates — and mine. So I couldn’t drive either car.”
Wollner confessed she wasn’t of much help at their other sister Megan Dixon’s baby shower because she had a stomach virus, leaving hosting responsibilities to Riggins. “I had to do it alone!” she said.
“Megan was a good sport, though,” Wollner added. “Sorry about that.”
Perhaps the hardest thing to confess was that Wollner didn’t cry at her mother’s funeral, but she had a good reason. “It’s because I was so pregnant that if I cried, I would have thrown up,” she said.
“Lots more to come,” Riggins concluded the touching tribute. “We’ll continue to disappoint you as time goes on.”
After the video’s success, the sisters posted a follow-up with more confessions.
Part 2: Konfessions to Kare #griefjourney #parentloss #trending #viral #deadmomconfessions #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage #sibling #siblinghumor #sisters #confessions
The videos are entertaining to watch, but they also provide much comfort for people dealing with grief and loss.
“I lost my mom over a year and a half ago, and I’ve been very depressed BUT seeing this video and your perspective is so refreshing and heartwarming,” Nobody’s Family Law Attorney wrote in the comments. “This is morbidly awesome! I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last year. I’m trying to prep my kids for reality. I’m sharing this with them,” Carmensence added.
“My Mom passed 3 months ago and today is my 45th Birthday (first without her). Thank you for making me finally smile,” BethAnn Backus said.
Wherever the mother has seen the video or not, she would have thoroughly enjoyed her daughters’ sense of humor, especially in the face of grief. “When something bad happened, [mom] would say, ‘Let’s laugh about it and keep it moving,’” Riffins told TODAY. “Our family motto was, ‘We are women, hear us roar.'”
Finding the best whiskey for a cocktail doesn’t have to be limited to bourbon or scotch. While both of those whiskeys make fine cocktail bases, there’s a whole world of whiskey out there that suits cocktail mixing. So let’s expand our horizons and name some of the best whiskeys — that aren’tbourbon or scotch — for mixing up a great cocktail.
While I’ve often leaned toward only naming bourbons and Scotch whiskies that are available at any common liquor store, this time I’m casting a much wider net. These whiskeys might be a little harder to find, a little more niche, and a lot more expensive (only some…) than your average bourbon or scotch. But I’ll tell you this — they’ll make a mean whiskey sour, old fashioned, or Manhattan.
The idea that you can’t even add ice to elite whiskey much less make cocktails with them is made up by people who don’t know what they’re talking about. There’s no argument to be had here. Every single whiskey maker says the same thing, “Drink it how you like it.” So while there are some elite and very expensive whiskeys on this list, don’t for a second think that you can’t make a killer cocktail with them.
Not only can you, but the people who made that whiskey would love it if you did. Remember, the best ingredients yield the best results. Let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top Five Cocktail Recipes of the Last Six Months
The team from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Rob McElhenny) have released their first permanent mainstream whiskey. This new release is an Irish American whiskey made with American rye and Irish whiskey (a blend of malt and grain whiskeys). The whiskey is batched in the U.S. and proofed down to a very dive-bar-friendly 80-proof.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Hints of dried chilis, old leather, vanilla-laced honey, apple tarts, and caramel candy mingle on the nose.
Palate: The Irishness arrives in spades on the palate with bright apple orchard vibes next to flora honey, a hint of yellow straw, light nutshells, and a moment of sultanas just kissed with caramel.
Finish: The apple swings back around on the finish with a sense of fresh apple cider just kissed with cinnamon and caramel before fading toward leathery malt.
How To Use It:
This is a well whiskey through and through. That means you’ll want to use this for shots and highballs. If using it in a highball, I recommend a Four Walls and Ginger as a good jumping-off point. The honey and apple with a hint of spice work well with ginger ale.
From there, I’d use this in classic old-school highballs with good sparkling water and a nice dried fruit or floral garnish.
19. Mellow Corn Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey Bottled In Bond
This whiskey has a hardcore fan base. The actual whiskey in the bottle is made from a mash bill of 81% corn and aged for at least four years (in a once-used bourbon barrel) before bottled-in-bond proofing to 100-proof and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a clear sense of corn husks and snickerdoodles on the nose with a hint of vanilla oak.
Palate: The palate is almost creamy (kind of like corn chowder) with a good dose of winter spice, rum raisin, and dry firewood.
Finish: The end leans into the snickerdoodle and rum raisin with a hint of funkiness and warmth.
How To Use It:
This is another great candidate for highballs with sparkling water. In this case, I’d garnish this with a dry corn husk (seriously). You can get them at any Mexican supermarket. Next, try this with Coke. It works almost weirdly well.
Next, make a basic old fashioned with this one. It’ll be earthy and sweet and the orange and cherry helps tie everything together nicely.
18. Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Unblended American Whiskey
Generally speaking, when you see a whiskey labeled as “blended whiskey” or just “bourbon” (instead of “straight bourbon”), it’s a blend of whiskey with neutral grain spirits to help keep costs down and profits high. This expression is labeled as “Unblended,” specifically because it’s made with whiskey only (no grain spirits added). The whiskey in these bottles was aged in barrels that were “whiskey-soaked.” Once the whiskey is just right, it’s then blended and small-batch bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Orchard fruits, butterscotch candies, and vanilla cake greet you on the nose with a hint of wooden spice.
Palate: That fruit becomes more dried and almost salted on the palate while bourbon vanilla and mild caramel sweetness mingle with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish: The finish is pretty short and sweet with a red berry vibe next to some thin apple cider.
How To Use It:
Here’s the secret to this whiskey — keep a bottle in the freezer. This is approved by Michter’s Master of Maturation who does this for making cocktails at home. This whiskey takes on a phenomenal texture from the freezer that helps make silky smooth old fashioneds or highballs (just make sure to use very good sparkling water with a 50/50 ratio).
This isn’t going to be a “wow” but it’ll be a very good base for casual mixing.
This rye was designed by Master Distiller Fred Noe as a return to the bigger and bolder days of rye before Prohibition defanged a lot of the industry and its recipes. The juice is a throwback recipe to the 1920s version of Beam’s rye, giving the whiskey a fruitier edge in the process. Beyond that, the recipe and details on aging are whispered but not really known.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Tart berries and sourdough apple fritters dusted with cinnamon sugar mingle on the nose with a sense of candied cherry and lemon pepper.
Palate: The palate opens with a lush vanilla base next to butter toffee before a hint of rye bread crust leads to a whisper of black pepper and caraway with a twinge or star anise.
Finish: The end pops with sweet floral honey next to salted black licorice and mint chocolate chip with a hint of dry sage and plum pudding.
How To Use It:
This is a great whiskey to practice with thanks to that dirt-cheap price tag. What makes it “great” is that you’re getting a legitimately deep and nuanced Kentucky rye profile full of buttery vanilla, soft winter spices, and dark fruits.
All of that means that you can use this to really refine your stirring skills with old fashioneds and Manhattans. Again, this isn’t going to “wow” per se but it will give you a quality cocktail that’s a delight to drink while you’re dialing in those skills.
The second edition of Bernheim Wheat Whiskey Barrel Proof is here. This edition is made with a mash bill of 51% winter wheat, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley. That whiskey was then left to age for seven to nine years before prime barrels were chosen for batching. Once batched, the whiskey went into the bottle 100% as-is at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Fresh loaves of whole grain bread vibe with rich oaky winter pieces on the nose before soft vanilla cake, hints of dry grass, old leather tobacco pouches, and a touch of dried orange round things out.
Palate: Rich buttery toffee drives the palate toward clove-laced honey next to dry orange oils, salted caramel, rum raisin, and hints of cedar bark braided with smudging sage and dry tobacco.
Finish: Piney honey and salted caramel attach to the tobacco as dry straw and back porch wicker lead to a sense of dry winter spice and soft caramel candy corn.
How To Use It:
This whiskey is so much grassier than even a wheated bourbon or a rye. Those notes really play well with herb-forward cocktails like juleps or seasonal smashes. Think of an orange rosemary whiskey smash or a spicy mint julep and you’ll be set.
15. Keeper’s Heart Whiskey Irish + American Single Barrel Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels
This new release from Keeper’s Heart up in Minnesota blends Irish whiskey with American Rye. Once batched, that whiskey was re-barreled into a maple syrup barrel for another rest. Once that barrel hit the right notes, it was bottled as-is with a hint of proofing water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich vanilla custard with a hint of cotton candy drives the nose toward pecan waffles with salted butter and real maple syrup next to hints of apple fritters, nutty fruit cake, and a touch of leathery tobacco.
Palate: The taste opens with creme brûlée swimming in more maple syrup as deep and rich vanilla tobacco leads to softer notes of almond, malted chocolate, and a hint of winter spice mixes.
Finish: The vanilla creaminess and spices meld on the finish with a touch of spiced warm apple cider, soft almond, and mincemeat pies all grounded by rich and real maple syrup sweetness that nearly takes on a rock candy vibe.
How To Use It:
This is a lovely sipping whiskey with a very creamy sweet base. That makes this a great candidate for old fashioneds where you can dial back the extra simple syrup. I’d also argue that you can make an old fashioned with this without extra syrup but that might be a little too far if you have a sweet tooth.
Still, if you’re looking for a deeply maple-seasoned winter old fashioned or breakfast-forward hot toddy, spiked apple cider, or creamy nog, this whiskey will shine.
14. Whiskey War Double Double A Blend of Straight Whiskeys
This Ohio whiskey is hewn from a rye-heavy mash bill. That spicy juice is then rested in new American oak for a spell before being vatted and re-barreled into another brand-new American oak barrel, all adding up to five years of mellowing. Those barrels are then batched and bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a sweet sense of salted caramel on the nose that gives way to dried chili pepper, old wet leather sheets, pink peppercorns, and a hint of burnt orange rinds over cider-soaked cinnamon bark and raw waffle batter with a whisper of pecan.
Palate: The palate hits that burnt orange and caramel note harder as minor keys of winter spice, fruit cake, and rum raisin darken the taste.
Finish: The end has a sense of pitchy firewood and sweet oak next to smudging sage and spearmint-chocolate tobacco just dusted with lemon pepper from the 90s.
How To Use It:
This is a bold and multi-award-winning whiskey. There’s a spicy mintiness at play that works wonders in a julep or smash application. Have fun with it and make it seasonal. Think berries and mint in the summer and roasting herbs and orange in the winter. Add in some chocolate and chili bitters to get a mole old fashioned vibe going. This is a fun whiskey to really lean into extra flavor notes and playfulness.
This new release from Still Austin uses 100% Texas rye in its mash bill. That whiskey is then proofed and filled into barrels and left to mellow with water getting added over the years (so that water evaporates before the whiskey does). Finally, a few barrels are selected and bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with pure nostalgia — summertime back porch livin’ — with soft cherry pie, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, ginger rock candy, and a note of apricot jam over buttermilk biscuits.
Palate: A note of coffee cake opens the palate toward marzipan cut with pear brandy and a light sense of lemon cake drizzled with mint frosting.
Finish: The mint gets spice on the finish with a sense of candied ginger and brown winter spices before soft salted buttercream and cherries soaked in brandy round things out.
How To Use It:
This feels like the perfect back porch pour on either a summer day or around a campfire as the snow falls. The candied ginger and marzipan vibes feel like Christmas in a glass if you go in that direction with a cocktail. Similarly, you can lean into the pear, apricot, and cherries with that woody spice to give a bright summery smash or sour cocktail more vigor.
12. Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye Tennessee Rye Whiskey
The base of this new Bonded whiskey is Jack’s signature rye whiskey with a mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley fermented with their own yeast and lactobacillus. The juice is then twice distilled via column stills and then slowly filtered through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal. That filtered whiskey then rests in a barrel for four long years before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Ripe peaches, bananas, and Granny Smith apples lead on the nose with a light sense of molasses winter ginger cakes, a touch of cinnamon bark, and light hints of dry sweetgrass that’s just smoldering.
Palate: The taste really leans into the toffee with a good dose of banana creaminess before veering toward roasting herbs and more sweetgrass braided with cedar bark, pipe tobacco, and smudging sage.
Finish: The end warms up just enough with banana bread cut with dried ancho chili layered into light dark chocolate tobacco leaves and more of that sweetgrass.
How To Use It:
This is made for mixing. Literally. Like the Beam above, this is also cheap enough to practice with while giving you a really good cocktail at the end. The chili spice and bright fruit mean that you can use this in whiskey sours and smashes but also old fashioneds and even simple Manhattans.
I also really like this in a straightforward highball with good mineral water and a twist of orange or cinnamon stick. And if you want to go full highball, make a Horse’s Neck with a few dashes of bitters, good ginger ale, and a twist of lemon.
11. Pursuit United Blended Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished in Sherry French Revere Oak
This new rye from the team over at Bourbon Pursuit is a masterful blend. The whiskey is hewn from Bardstown Bourbon Company’s 95/5 Kentucky rye batched with two Sagamore Spirit ryes — one a 95/5 and one 52/43/5 rye/corn/malted barley. Those whiskeys are batched and re-barreled into a French sherry revere cask for a final rest before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a sense of dark fruits — black cherry, dates, rum raisin — on the nose that leads to soft and sweet oak next to worn leather, mulled wine, and brandy-soaked fig cut with nutmeg and clove.
Palate: The taste is more on the woody side of the spice with a clear sense of old-school mulled wine with sweet vanilla and star anise over orange rinds and raisins with a slight chili warmth underneath.
Finish: The chili warmth drives the finish toward a soft red-wine-soaked oak that’s spiced with orchard barks and fruits next to vanilla/cherry tobacco just kissed with dark chocolate.
How To Use It:
Like all good whiskeys that are built as a sipper, this slays as a cocktail base. The deep dark fruit and spice notes mean that this will make a beautiful Manhattan or seasonal variation on that theme. It also rules in a 50/50 cognac/whiskey Sazerac. But where this whiskey really pops is in a boulevardier. The whole profile vibes wonderfully with a soft sweet vermouth and the boldness of the Campari.
10. Virginia Distillery Co. American Single Malt Whisky Courage & Conviction Double Cask Reserve
This new fall release from Virginia Distillery Co. features double asking. That means that the whiskey was aged a minimum of five years in first-fill bourbon casks and European red wine Cuvée casks before slow batching with a touch of water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with deep honey and candied orange next to apricot jam over scones with a hint of malted spice and brandy-soaked oak staves.
Palate: Black Forest cake by way of honey-pear-floral malted crackers drives the palate toward winter spice barks, soft milk chocolate sauce, and a dash of lemon malt meringue.
Finish: Fresh gingerbread and soft oak round out the finish with a nice dose of spice, chocolate, and malt.
How To Use It:
This is arguably one of the best single malts that’s not made in Scotland right now. Take that to heart and make a killer highball with this one. Use really good sparkling water and garnish with botanicals or dry florals and you’ll be in great hands.
After that, try this in a penicillin to lean into the Scotch whisky vibes with an American twist. It also makes a really good old fashioned, but that almost feels like a given at this point.
Nelson Bros. Whiskey Rye is a marriage of Kentucky and Tennessee in a bottle. The whiskey was made in Kentucky and then sent to Tennessee where it finished its maturation before batching, proofing, and bottling in Nashville.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dark and sharp cloves floating in piney honey open the nose toward hints of star anise, allspice, coriander, and red chili … you know what? It’s five-spice with a touch of fresh mint and dried apricot.
Palate: That apricot stars dried on the palate as freshly ground nutmeg over a spiced creamy nog that circles back around to syrupy mint with a sense of old leather boots and cedar bark.
Finish: That leather and cedar bark braids with menthol tobacco on the finish as almonds and dark and sharp cinnamon leads to another whisper of five spice on the very end.
How To Use It:
Those big eggnog notes are obvious. Use this accordingly in a good nog or dessert cocktail. This will stand up to the heavy notes and accentuate them.
If you want to go lighter, I’d highly recommend making a Manhattan with this too. You don’t have to go overboard — just a good well-balanced Manhattan with a nice French sweet vermouth (that’s lighter) works wonders.
8. The Beverly Reserve Barrel Strength American Whiskey
This new release from The Beverly is a limited edition small batch at barrel strength. The blend in the bottle is 60% straight bourbon from Iowa and 40% Indiana rye. Those barrels were batched and bottled at Cedar Ridge in Iown for The Beverly, yielding only 550 bottles.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Pecan waffles with plenty of butter, vanilla, and caramel open the nose toward maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, red chili pepper, and toasted marshmallows.
Palate: The pecans take on a cookie vibe on the palate as brown butter and rum raisin mingle with cinnamon syrup cut with orange and a whisper of chocolate.
Finish: That cinnamon and orange get buttery and lush with a sense of nut cake covered in caramel drizzle with a flake of salt and tobacco before a warming sense of chili arrives on the very end.
This rye from craft distiller Starlight Distillery — part of the Huber Farm and Winery in Southern Indiana — is all about that final blend. The small batch is made from a group of five-year-old barrels and just proofed to highlight the whiskey in those barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The whiskey opens with a nose full of white pepper countered by stewed apples with a twinge of sour cherry tossed in smoked sea salt before a hint of creamy espresso and summer herb gardens arrive.
Palate: The palate has a creaminess that leans toward mocha lattes with a tobacco spiciness, cedar bark, and more of that stewed orchard fruit with an underlying white pepper spiciness.
Finish: The end leans into that white pepper with plenty of warm apple cider spiked with clove and cinnamon over vanilla cake cut with salted toffee and creamy espresso just kissed with chocolate tobacco.
How To Use It:
This whiskey is actually on my everyday bar right now. I mix with it, well, every day. That makes this probably the best all-around whiskey to have on hand for mixing cocktails and highballs. It’s versatile enough to kind of work with everything. That’s no small feat. Think of it as a table whiskey that’ll never let you down.
6. Knob Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 7 Years
This new 2023 rye version from Beam marks the age-statement return of their iconic Knob Creek Rye. The whiskey in this case was aged seven years before batching, slight proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Salted caramel sweetness with a vanilla underbelly drives the nose toward rye bread crusts, a hint of dried savory herbs, apple blossoms, and a whisper of soft leather gardening gloves.
Palate: The spiciness arrives after vanilla cream and salted caramel with a dose of freshly cracked red peppercorns, dried red chili, and sharp winter brown spices next to a spiced oak.
Finish: The sweetness and spiciness coalesce on the finish with a deep sense of fruit orchards full of fall leaves and apple bark.
How To Use It:
Okay, this is where we get into the heavy hitters that truly elevate any cocktail. I like using this for a bold and spiced whiskey sour or a perfectly balanced Manhattan. You can also get a killer seasonal old fashioned with this at the cocktail bar at the James B. Beam Distillery cocktail bar. And while that’s always fun, keep it simple at home and go with stone-cold classics with stirring and shaking.
5. High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram: A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished in Port Barrels Limited Engagement Act 11 Scene 1
This whiskey starts off as High West’s famed Rendezvous Rye, which is a blend of MGP’s 95 percent rye (with five percent malted barley) batched with High West’s own 80/20 rye/malted rye juice. The difference here is that once that juice is vatted it is then re-barreled in both tawny and ruby port barrels for a final maturation stretch. Those barrels are then small batch blended and proofed down every so slightly before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This feels like classic rye on the nose with brandied cherries dipped in woody winter spices next to burnt orange, cinnamon, and clove-spiked plum jam, and a hint of sour red wine by way of a mulled wine barrel.
Palate: The palate has a nutty base with smooth vanilla next to spiced Christmas cakes full of candied and dried fruits and citrus rinds, plenty of nuts, dark spices, plenty of brown butter, and rummy molasses.
Finish: The end hints at that mulled wine oak barrel next to rich toffee sweetness and a whisper of old leather, spiced tobacco, and lush vanilla cake.
How To Use It:
This is probably getting into the very false idea that “you can’t use my special expensive whiskey in a cocktail” territory. That’s, frankly, bullshit thinking. Great whiskey makes great cocktails. In this case, try this is a classic old fashioned. It’ll blow you away.
This whiskey is made with a fair amount of rye whiskey over a bit of bourbon in a traditional sour mash style. 2023’s release varied with the use of malted rye in the mash bill, adding an extra layer of malty depth. The whiskey was then aged in specially made toasted French oak that spent 24 months seasoning in France before they were made with barrels that spent 18 months air-drying in Kentucky before they were coppered. The barrels were all batched and bottled with just a touch of Kentucky limestone water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Soft boot leather, dried and candied orange, spiced Christmas cake, fresh vanilla beans, sultanas, and a hint of fresh firewood round out the nose with a hint of almost sweet oak char and simmering molasses cut with almond kissed with dark citrus oils.
Palate: The palate has a nice sweet spiciness like a box of Red Hots next to allspice, clove, and orange with rummy raisins, nutmeg-heavy eggnog, and a whisper of oily espresso bean sneaking in late before a bold yet measured winter spice bark sharpness arrives.
Finish: The end marries the orange oils to soft cedar notes with a woody spiciness next to soft notes of sweet cinnamon, stewed plums, minced meat pies, and brandied cherries layered with chewy tobacco leaves over a lush and creamy finish.
How To Use It:
This is “wow” territory when it comes to mixing up a whiskey-forward cocktail. I’d lean more towards stirrers for this one — so Manhattans, old fashioneds, and Sazeracs. That said, this will also make a delectable whiskey sour with a ton of froth (you have to use an egg white) where the whiskey layers into every aspect of the drink. It’s beautiful.
3. Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series Amaro Nonino A Blend of Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskey Finished in Amara Nonino Barrels
This brand-new release from Bardstown Bourbon Company combines Kentucky and Indiana with Italian amaro. The whiskey is a blend of 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon with two Indiana rye whiskeys. Once batched, that whiskey was re-filled in Amaro Nonino Quintessentia Riserva barrels for a long 17-month rest before batching, a touch of proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this is like a walk through a candy store with rich caramel chews mingling with vanilla cakes, chocolate chews, brandied cherries covered in dark chocolate before dark stewed apples and pears cut with bright orange zest arrive with a whisper of … pumpkin pie.
Palate: Roasting herbs pop on the palate with hints of absinth and caraway-encrusted rye bread before pancake syrup leads back to caramel and honey sweetness with a hint of vanilla pound cake.
Finish: The end circles back around to the botanicals and herbs with a deep sense of oily rosemary thyme next to star anise, allspice, and clove over this whisper of dried lavender and chamomile.
How To Use It:
I feel like the good folks at Bardstown Bourbon Company set out to out Sazerac Sazerac and make the perfect whiskey for Sazeracs. This accents that cocktail perfectly by dialing up every flavor note to MAX volume while adding a subtlety that’s extraordinarily supple.
2. Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 18 Years Old (BTAC 2023)
This year’s Sazerac is a “collection of rye whiskey barrels” that were filled in both the fall of 2004 and the spring of 2005, making this an 18-year-old rye with a touch of 19-year-old juice. Those barrels spent all of those years on the Buffalo Trace campus in warehouses K, L, and M before batching, proofing, and bottling otherwise as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Leathery spice barks draw you in on the nose with a deep sense of rye bread crusted with aniseed, clove-studded oranges, and a hint of sweet pear.
Palate: Classic notes of dark winter spice mingle with black pepper, cumin, and chili pepper powder on the palate as candied BBQ pork and new leather lead to a vanilla-laden mid-palate with a soft oakiness.
Finish: That soft oakiness leads to a light and fresh honey sweetness with a light sense of pine and cinnamon bark dipped in hot apple cider with a hint of barrelhouse lurking behind it all.
How To Use It:
If you want an insane Sazerac — a next-level, drink to write home about — this is the play. But this really shines as a base for a thick and almost creamy Manhattan made with a vicousy Italian sweet vermouth. It’ll be a wintry and holiday-vibed Manhattan with oomph.
1. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey 10 Years Old
2023’s Michter’s 10-Year Rye release was an instant classic. The whiskey is made from a corn-rich rye whiskey mash bill with a good dose of barley in there. The absolute best barrels are chosen — with some up to 15 years old — for this release. Then each of those barrels is individually bottled as-is with a hint of proofing water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich and lush toffee combines with soft marzipan on the nose as a dash of freshly cracked black pepper leads to cinnamon-laced apple cider and cherry-soaked cedar bark.
Palate: The palate is part Red Hot and part zesty orange marmalade with creamy vanilla pudding, sweet and spicy dried chili peppers with a hint of smoke and woodiness, and this fleeting whisper of celery salt.
Finish: The end dries out the almond with a vanilla cream tobacco, soft and sweet cedar, and dark chocolate orange vibe all balanced to damn near perfection.
How To Use It:
This is my go-to Manhattan whiskey for when I really want to blow someone’s socks off. If you come to my house on Thanksgiving, I’ll be making $50 Manhattans with this bottle because, well, it’s just the best.
To return to the points I made in the opening of this list, I told the Master Distiller and Master of Maturation at Michter’s about my $70 Manhattans. They loved it so much that they put it on the secret menu at the Fort Nelson Bar in Lousiville at their Whiskey Row distillery. If that’s not proof positive that this is the ultimate Manhattan whiskey, I don’t what is.
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Here’s video of Burrow getting off the team bus in Baltimore.
