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“¡Ay bendito! I’m in Puerto Rico!” I exclaimed (sorta quietly, mostly to myself) as I walked off the jet bridge and into the terminal of Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan. While it would be my second time to the island(s), I felt particularly excited to return to this U.S. territory and continue practicing my Spanish-speaking skills. I’m on an 800+ day Duolingo streak, so my hopes for being able to communicate were exceedingly high.

For those who failed HS government, Puerto Rico is one of the 16 territories owned by the United States. It’s wrapped in the same collection as American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. While these territories aren’t considered states, U.S. citizens can freely travel to these destinations without a passport. I repeat: YOU DON’T NEED A PASSPORT TO TRAVEL TO PUERTO RICO — making it exceedingly easy.

Another even lesser-known tidbit about Puerto Rico is that it’s more than just one island. In fact, Puerto Rico is an archipelago — consisting of the main island, four small islands, and hundreds of cays and islets. When planning a trip, you should definitely spend time on the main island (which takes only six hours to drive around completely) but also craft part of your itinerary to explore its second main sister island, Vieques. Which is exactly what I had planned.

To help build a travel itinerary that spans more than just a weekend and covers more than just the hits, I’m sharing the best places to visit and things to do that I’ve personally discovered in two trips to the territory.

Fly Like A Budget Travel Pro

Island-hopping in Puerto Rico doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, one of the most alluring factors when it comes to booking a trip to Puerto Rico is its close proximity to the states, making for cheap and short flights.

Most flights departing from the east coast of the United States cost as little as $200 roundtrip. Plus we’re only talking two to four hours from the east coast, so you can spend more time vacationing in the tropical sun and less sitting on a crowded airplane. If you want to parlay off of a larger Florida trip, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami all have under three-hour direct flights for as low as $100.

Scouting Google Flights with flexible dates and airlines will give you even more budget-friendly options.

Start With Some History In Old San Juan

You’ll want to land in San Juan to secure your cheapest flight to Puerto Rico from almost anywhere in the United States. At first glance, San Juan looks like any regular Americanized / fast-food favorable city. Take a taxi out of the main city limits and head to Old San Juan for a better (or at least prettier) representation of the city’s capital and enjoy some true Spanish and Puerto Rican history (the Indigenous history is less readily visible, which we’ve covered in the past).

Originally built/ conquered/ colonized/ etc. by the Spanish in the early 16th Century, Old San Juan is often called the oldest city in America, which is wrong for a few million reasons. I link to these articles (here’s another — from the tourism board no less!) because it’s important to wrestle with the interplays of Indigenous and Spanish history while you stroll the cobbled streets adorned with pastel-colored colonial buildings and apartments, leading you to Castillo San Felipe del Morro, or what the locals call “El Morro.” Spanning over 500 years of history, this six-level fortress was an important military outpost for Spain and later the United States in both World Wars (here again, the reappropriation of the island as a military hub is an issue that deserves your attention). A short half-mile walk away is also Fortín San Juan de la Cruz or “El Cañuelo.” Both forts allowed Puerto Rico to defend the island from invasions by the British, Dutch, and various pirates.

Cap off your day of walking (and wrestling with the heavy/ dense matter of colonial history in the Caribbean) with a meal at Marmalade. Nestled in the heart of Old San Juan, this might turn out to be one of your best culinary experiences on the whole island. While it’s certainly not light on your wallet, there’s nothing wrong with splurging on a five-course meal with a perfect wine pairing to round out the day and it’s my highest recommendation for a fun splurge.

Adventure In El Yunque National Forest & Sleep In Luxury

Once you’ve had a day in Old San Juan, take an easy hour’s drive east for some lush luxury at St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort. The resort is placed on 483 acres of what was once a coconut farm and is beautifully situated among natural rivers, lakes, and lush tropical greenery. Most of its buildings overlook the gardens and the two-mile Crescent Beach, or boast views of the nearby El Yunque National Forest (more on that soon). What makes this St. Regis stand out among the rest of its global locations is its 65% on-site green areas, including wildlife sanctuaries and nature trails. The resort works directly with public and private organizations to protect local endangered species – like the leatherback turtle – and is one of 21 resorts worldwide (and the only one in the Caribbean!) designated as a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary.

Check in at the earliest time you can, enjoy the stunning five-star pool, and then head to the resort’s Paros restaurant for dinner. Because of the island’s location, the sun sets early here, usually around 5 p.m. Make sure to go around then to sip and eat overlooking the sea with its floor-to-ceiling windows. Some highlights for dinner that you should definitely make sure to order:

• Tuna Sashimi: I had this for a starter but I could’ve eaten it as a whole meal. It literally melted in your mouth, it was that fresh.
• Paros Signature Dish: As the restaurant’s “signature dish” I held this to pretty high standards. It’s essentially Puerto Rico’s version of paella but instead of prawns it came with pieces of lobster. It was so filling due to the richness of the lobster, though I will admit that I thought the rice was a tad dry. It’s big enough to share with the table – especially with the steep price of this dish.
• Cauliflower Steak: I’m not normally one to order many vegetarian dishes, but this one hit out of the park. The sunflower pesto sauce drizzled over this with fresh tomatoes were paired great together and made eating a roasted cauliflower anything but a chore.

After a lay day, the real adventure begins — head out to El Yunque National Forest just 25 minutes away. This ecological gem should definitely be on your itinerary, so make it a priority. It’s the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system, spanning over 29,000 acres of some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world and home to over 240 plant species. You’ll find over 18 miles of roads and 24 miles of recreational hiking trails, boasting waterfalls, lagoons, and lush mountains. If you’d rather explore the beauty of the rainforest in your car, you can drive through El Toro Scenic Byway. But we recommend getting dirty and sweaty and having a proper adventure!

Book your stay at St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort here.

Fly (Don’t Ferry) To & From Vieques

In my humble opinion, no trip to Puerto Rico is complete without visiting its sister island, Vieques. You’ll find a lot of information online about taking a ferry to Vieques, but we’re here to tell you to skip that. You can take a flight from San Juan to Vieques, or even better, head to Ceiba. You’ll continue an hour Southeast from St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort to this tiny little airport. You’ll have to be aware of how much luggage you bring as everything is weighed, including yourself. It’s a whole add-on adventure on top of your trip and it saves you so much time.

A flight from Ceiba to Vieques takes exactly seven minutes and most flights are only $45. It’s a no-brainer.

Book your flight from Ceiba to Vieques via Vieques Air Link here.

Holistic & Ayurvedic Living At La Finca Victoria

Because Vieques is just a mere 21 miles long and three miles wide, you can get around pretty easily. With that said, there aren’t many hotels on the island!

I stayed at La Finca Victoria, a farmhouse-style bed and breakfast in the heart of the island. The property boasts luscious vegetation and soothing symphonies of the native Coqui frogs. Being on one of the highest points of the island, it had amazing views of the sunrises and sunsets and with the lack of light pollution, stunning views of the night sky. It was also 10 minutes from multiple beaches and the “downtown” area, so that was also a huge plus.

This was one of my favorite stays during my travels to Puerto Rico. Each morning starts off with an 8 am complimentary yoga class overlooking the island before you’re served an inclusive vegan breakfast prepared from the vegetables, fruits, and herbs from its onsite garden. It radiates peace and tranquility, with plenty of areas to unwind and find some quiet space. Every person there was young and exuded a positive and healthy persona that was infectiously admirable throughout all parts of the property.

Each “casita” was completely different but all had similar local vintage furniture and aesthetic. I stayed in one of the Victoria suites which was so cute, with its Victorian-style chandeliers and artwork. The private outdoor shower was pretty amazing to wash off in after spending some time at the beach as well.

Book your stay at La Finca Victoria here.

Plan Accordingly & Don’t Go During A Full Moon

You can’t go to Vieques and not visit the world-famous Mosquito Bay, known to be the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay. Unfortunately, I traveled to Vieques during the peak full moon (plan around this, people!) — because of how bright the full moon is on the water, you can’t successfully experience Mosquito Bay and see the bioluminescence certain times of the month. It’s one of my most epic travel fails to date.

Ideally, you should travel during a new moon. At the very least, go when it’s anything but full.

Horseback Ride Through Rolling Hills & A Black Sand Beach

Horseback riding seems kind of like a basic tourist activity but I promise you won’t regret booking it on Vieques. I took a two-hour horseback riding tour with Esperanza Riding Company and it was one of the best riding tour experiences I’ve had. I rode a native island Paso Fino horse through winding hills, open meadows, wooded terrain, and through the idyllic beaches of Playa Coqual and Playa Negra.

The overviews overlooking the coast and land are truly breathtaking and it was such a lovely way to connect to the land.

Book your Vieques horseback riding tour here.

Head Out On The Water With A Catamaran Tour

I spent two days in Vieques and felt that it was enough time to see the small, beautiful island. I flew back to the main island with another cheap $45 flight and was thrilled to spend the day at sea. Although I was disappointed I couldn’t experience Mosquito Bay and the bioluminescent water, I was thrilled to go out on a private Catamaran out of Fajardo.

I’ve been on plenty of boats in various locations, and I must say, East Island Excursions hosted a great day out on the water. I was originally supposed to visit the other famous island of Culebra and visit the world-famous Flamenco beach during the boat tour but my bad luck continued and I was rerouted to visit the small, uninhabited island Icacos due to intense currents. While I was disappointed I couldn’t get to Culebra, East Island Excursions made sure I had a great day snorkeling and wading in the ocean while also providing the best lunch I’ve ever had on a booked boating experience.

Here are several Catamaran experiences departing out of Marina Puerto Del Rey in Fajardo. Check out all the options here.

Ride The Longest Zipline In America

Now you’ll want to start making your way to the Western side of the island. Two and half hours into your drive from Fajardo, make sure to stop at Toro Verde Adventure Park. Nestled in the mountains of Orocovis, Toro Verde has one of the world’s longest and fastest ziplines, a 1.57-mile adrenaline-pumping adventure called “The Monster.” The ecological adventure park boasts some of the most breathtaking mountain views or “vistas” on the island, which can be seen through its other seven ziplines and suspension bridges.

Obviously, don’t go here if you’re afraid of heights, but if you’re up for an exhilarating adventure — this is a must.

Check out all of what Toro Verde Adventure Park has to offer here.

Be A Beach Bum & Surfing Babe In Rincón

We’re saving the best for last on this one. After throwing yourself through the air on some crazy ziplines, continue driving another two and a half hours and settle into Rincón. Once you visit, you won’t want to leave. Especially, if you’re in my age range and single and fun and adventurous. I was actually that girl who semi-seriously looked into renting an apartment here for a couple of months because I simply did not want to leave. There’s just a peaceful and slow essence about it that truly captures anyone who comes here.

Often overlooked, this small town rests on the far West side of Puerto Rico. With more than eight miles of coastline, the beaches of Rincón are some of the best in the world for surfing. So if you’re one to get your surf on, make sure to add this town to your list. I can’t stand on a surfboard to save my life, so I perfectly played the beach bum role by beach hopping Sandy Beach, Domes Beach, and Maria’s Beach.

If you want to change up your daily itinerary from just lounging on the beach, you can conclude your epic island vacation with a quick trip to Gozalandia Falls. Located less than an hour from Rincón, this “locals only” spot features a 60-foot tall waterfall for picturesque views, swimming, and rope jumping. Totally Instagram-able to round out your Puerto Rico trip.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour has arrived at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and as one of the US cities where Beyoncé has her strongest support, the show is sure to be spectacular. Fans looking to maximize their experience with an adult beverage will probably want to use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, and fortunately, the stadium has provided a handy guide guide to the two rideshare locations on Northside Dr. That info pops up at the :30 second mark in the video below.

Beyoncé has so far hit the stage at varying times — usually, around or after 9 PM — so it’ll probably be a good idea to get there early enough to find your way around if its your first visit or visit the refreshments or merchandise counters. Beyoncé’s 11-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, typically joins her onstage to perform the songs “My Power” and “Black Parade,” which typically appear a little before halfway through the show, after Beyoncé performs “Run The World (Girls).”

Beyoncé plans to do three nights in Atlanta, including Friday, August 12, and Sunday, August 14, before moving on to Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, August 16. She’s still got 13 more cities to go, including three nights in LA and two in her hometown, Houston. You can check out the remaining dates here.

It’s been 12 years since the U.S. military overturned its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and allowed openly gay LGBTQ people to serve. But even though the discriminatory policy was overturned, tens of thousands of those dishonorably discharged between 1980 and 2011 still have to live with the scarlet letter of the designation.

Veterans who were thrown out of the military after their sexuality was discovered have to relive the trauma every time they present their DD-214 paperwork when accessing VA benefits or applying for jobs, homes or loans.

Further, dishonorable discharges often ban veterans from receiving essential benefits such as education, unemployment, healthcare, and housing benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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But all of that may soon change if a civil rights lawsuit filed by five veterans against the Department of Defense is successful. The lawsuit claims that the DOD should overturn the dishonorable discharges and update discriminatory language on their discharge papers referencing their “real or perceived” sexuality.

— (@)

“Thousands of veterans discharged for their actual or perceived sexual orientation often received a less than Honorable discharge or had their discharge flagged with separation codes publicly associated with ‘homosexuality,’ denying them benefits they rightfully earned based on their service,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit addresses the emotional damage caused by the discriminatory laws by referencing a quote on the tombstone of Vietnam veteran Leonard Matlovich: “When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”

Although there is a process for altering dishonorable discharges, the lawsuit argues that it should be the job of the DOD to facilitate such changes instead of putting the burden on the victims of the discriminatory policy. It’s a lengthy bureaucratic process requiring some veterans to hire lawyers.

“Requiring LGBTQ+ veterans to first bear the stigma and discriminatory effects of carrying indicators of sexual orientation on their [discharge papers] and then navigate a broken record correction process to seek resolution violates their constitutional rights to equal protection, informational privacy, property, and due process protected by the Fourteenth and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution,” the suit says.

The lawsuit does not aim for monetary compensation. Instead, it urges the DOD to proactively update the discharge documents for these veterans by eliminating any mention of sexual orientation instead of requiring the individual veteran to initiate the process.

This ruling could have a tremendous effect on the lives of thousands of veterans. It’s estimated that if the lawsuit succeeds, it could affect at least 35,000 service members discharged because of “real or perceived” homosexuality, homosexual conduct, or “sexual perversion.”

Although nothing can be done to completely repair the damage to the thousands of veterans who lost their military careers because of their “real or perceived” sexuality, let’s hope the DOD does its part to help right the wrongs committed in the three decades that LGBTQ+ people were discriminated against in the U.S. military.

J Hus and Burna Boy link up once again in the video for “Masculine” from Hus’ new album, Beautiful And Brutal Yard. The video, shot in greyscale, captures the boys backstage at a show, where they put each other to the test in a pushup contest and share a few laughs before they hit the stage to perform. “Masculine” is the duo’s fifth collaboration, according to Genius, and their chemistry shines through not just in the lyrics but also in their joyful performance in the video.

“Masculine” is the third video from Beautiful And Brutal Yard, following “Who Told You” with Drake and “Militerian” featuring Naira Marley. The British rapper’s latest slate of songs has raised his profile significantly stateside, to the point where he’s even received a coveted spot on former President Barack Obama’s annual summer playlist.

Burna Boy, meanwhile, continues to expand his own foothold on the American music scene with a slew of summer singles that have him “Sittin’ On Top Of The World.” In addition to that ’90s-hit-sampling single, he’s released “Talibans II” alongside Byron Messia and announced his next album, I Told Them…, with the star-studded video for “Big 7.”

Watch the video for “Masculine” above. Beautiful And Brutal Yard is out now via Black Butter Ltd.

Burna Boy is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Heading into the 2022 election, Ron DeSantis glommed onto the pervasive, MAGA-driven fears of election fraud by forming a new Office of Election Crimes and Security in Florida. The new investigative unit launched in April 2022, but since that time it’s run into major problems: Voter fraud is extremely rare, and so are people who want to go on wild goose chases looking for it.

According to a new report from The Intercept, DeSantis’ election fraud unit has struggled to fill open positions, and voting experts aren’t exactly surprised by that development:

People are reluctant to join the office because there’s a public sense that it’s unnecessary, said Cecile M. Scoon, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. State attorneys and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement previously handled cases of alleged voter fraud, which remain exceedingly rare. “The way it was presented would make most reasonable and rational people hesitate to be a part of that,” Scoon said.

On top of being wildly unnecessary and redundant, the election fraud office has been routinely criticized for having racist aims, which has also created a lack of interesting in DeSantis’ little meatball project.

“This office was created in a partisan attempt to further unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud, a claim often used to attack ballot access of Black and brown voters,” a social justice director at Demos told The Intercept. “Qualified people — regardless of political affiliation — do not want to be affiliated with fringe conspiracies about our elections.”

Turns out people in Florida are crazy, but not “join a batsh*t election fraud unit” crazy. Who knew?

(Via The Intercept)

Johnny Hardwick, the actor and comedian who voiced conspiracy theorist and pocket sand enthusiast Dale Gribble on King of the Hill, died this week. He was 64 years old. TMZ reports that law enforcement officers “were called to Hardwick’s Texas home Tuesday for a welfare check and discovered his body. We’re told Hardwick was pronounced dead at the scene.” The cause of death hasn’t been revealed yet, but no foul play is suspected.

“Johnny Hardwick was an incredibly beloved member of the King of the Hill family, whose tremendous talent, brilliant humor, and friendship will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to work with him over the past 25 years,” 20th Television Animation and Hulu said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to his friends and family as we mourn the loss of one of the animation greats. His voice gave life to one of our most iconic characters, and he will be truly missed.”

No list of the greatest animated characters of all-time is complete with Dale Gribble, and huge reason for that is Hardwick’s line readings. As @lennyburnham tweeted, “There’s a King of the Hill scene where the waitress asks how everyone at the table is and Dale goes ‘Jennifer, we’re fantastic!’ It’s such a non-joke but the line read is so incredible that my dad and I would quote it all the time. Johnny Hardwick had so many moments like that.”

The tributes to Hardwick poured in:

(Via TMZ)

Republicans have lost yet another crucial abortion vote, this time deep in the heart of MAGA country, and Steve Bannon is worried. So worried, in fact, that he invited a priest representing a grassroots anti-abortion group onto his podcast in order to rant about how badly “pro-life” groups are fumbling the ball after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade reversal.

This week, Ohio — a GOP-controlled state that voted Trump in 2016 and 2020 — shot down a Republican-backed measure known as Issue 1 that would have made it more difficult to pass future amendments to the state constitution. In November, an amendment safeguarding abortion rights in the state is up for a vote. Pundits viewed Issue 1 as a temperature gauge for where voters stood on the abortion debate with Republicans hoping they could politically game the system and prevent abortion from becoming a constitutionally protected right. The fact that it failed has stoked fear in GOP analysts — like Bannon — who are starting to realize a majority of Americans support pro-choice policies, and Trump’s former henchman said as much to a priest who guested on his podcast this week.

“I’m telling you that if [the anti-abortion movement] doesn’t get organized, and I mean organized quickly, there’s a lot of voices in the donor community and others saying, ‘Hey, you know, what are we doing here? Because these guys are a drag right now when we can’t afford it,’” Bannon told Frank Pavone, a Catholic priest and the director of an anti-abortion group known as Priests for Life. “You’ve had three in a row where that case hasn’t been made or is not resonant, and these are not close. In modern American politics, these are blowouts.”

Bannon ended by suggesting Republicans put anti-abortion activism on the backburner now that Roe v. Wade was reversed to focus on issues Trump’s MAGA base cares about.

(Via Newsweek)

Good single malt Scotch whisky is nearly overflowing across the shelves these days. Sherry cask this, double casks that, Highlands this, cask strength that, peated this, Speyside that… The labels and options feel like they’re endless. That can be a good thing in that you can get some seriously good Scottish single malt whisky pretty goddamn easily. You can also roll snake eyes and grab a bottle that’s subpar.

We’ve all been there and it sucks. Let’s avoid that, shall we?

With that said… Who’s ready for another classic single malt Scotch whisky blind taste test? Below, I’m pulling in 10 single malts from Scotland that all clock in under $100 — they mostly fall in the $50-$70 range really — and are generally easy (enough) to find, coast-to-coast. There are no special releases that you’ll only find behind the glass behind the register or hidden away on some high-end whisky bar menu. This is stuff you should be able to find on your next trip to a good liquor store.

That makes our lineup today the following single malt Scotch whiskies:

• Mortlach Single Malt Scotch Whisky The Wee Witchie Aged for 12 Years
• Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• The Glenrothes Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky “Whisky Maker’s Cut”
• Torabhaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky Allt Gleann
• The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky DoubleWood Aged 12 Years
• The Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old Double Cask
• Arran Single Malt Scotch Whisky 10 Years Old
• Kingsbarns Balcomie Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• The GlenDronach Orignal Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
• Glenmorangie The Quinta Ruban Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 14 Years

After blind tasting these wee drams, I’m going to rank each one based on taste and depth. It’s that easy, folks, so let’s just dive right in!

• The 100 Best Scotch Whiskies Under $100, Ranked
• The 50 Best Scotch Whiskies Of 2023 (So Far), Ranked
• The Best Whiskeys To Chase Down This May
• The Best Scotch Whiskies Of 2023, According To The International Wine & Spirits Competition Awards
• The Full Core Line Of Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky Bottles, Ranked

Part 1 — The Single Malt Scotch Whisky Blind Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with almost burnt toffee next to bright red berries, mild chili pepper spice, hints of oak, and a bit of cedar.

Palate: The palate leans into the berries by becoming jammy with more of that toffee and a mild sense of spicy tobacco arriving late.

Finish: The end is long-ish with a plummy chew next to that tobacco and malty spice.

Initial Thoughts:

Well, this is tasty. It’s very straightforward from the jump but then just kind of keeps going. It’s nice stuff.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This sip amps up the peat a tad while bringing in the brine next to a clear caramel maltiness, honey-stewed pears, and a touch of charred beach driftwood.

Palate: The smoke at play here is more akin seaside campfire while the brininess is reminiscent of oyster liquor with a dry chili spice lurking in the background that’s just kissed with salted plum preserves.

Finish: There’s a hint of the bright berry leftover from the Talisker 10 with a touch more peppery spice by the end that leans towards a salted toffee that’s laced with faint campfire smoke and charred oyster shells.

Initial Thoughts:

This is just excellent.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

Nose: You’re met with candied orange peel spiked with hints of eggnog spices and a touch of gooey pine resin on the nose.

Palate: The taste holds on tightly to that candied orange while adding in a velvety vanilla cream generously dusted with those eggnog spices and a softer touch of almost sweet wood.

Finish: The finish zeroes in on the orange and nutmeg as the vanilla and oak fade away on the slow end.

Initial Thoughts:

This feels like a bourbon-y single malt but doesn’t really go beyond that.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose on this one is subtly maritime with a hint of sea spray on cold grey rocks mingling with soft nutmeg, lemon and vanilla-laced shortbread, oyster shells, and a hint of burnt ends from a slow-smoked pork butt.

Palate: The palate leans into smoked salmon skins with a thick line of belly fat still attached as woody spices and dried apple skins lead to a sweet fruit throughline.

Finish: The finish has a hint of fennel and rye next to more sea spray, pepperiness, and a minor note of red fruit.

Initial Thoughts:

This is also a very good whisky.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Soft and floral honey mixed with a hint of vanilla extract, sweet red berries, and wine-soaked oak.

Palate: The palate meanders through light touches of marzipan with a hint of cinnamon and fields of plum trees with a whisper of tree bark and leather lurking in the background.

Finish: The finish lets the spicy malt kick in with a dose of hot cinnamon and honey tobacco.

Initial Thoughts:

This is classic single malt. It also feels just thin enough to build a cocktail with.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Apple cider with a cut of cinnamon and clove in the juice greets you with a clear sense of vanilla, nuts, and plums on the nose.

Palate: The palate opens as those plums turn into prunes as orange peels mingle with sweet oak and a hint of tobacco spice.

Finish: The end is long, full of that sherry, dried fruit, and sweetness, and returns back to the chewy tobacco spice.

Initial Thoughts:

This is also a really good classic unpeated malt. There are no bells or whistles but it kind of doesn’t need it.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This has a bourbon vanilla vibe on the nose with a bunch of cinnamon sticks soaked in apple cider and then cut with orange oils.

Palate: That cinnamon takes a sharp turn toward chili spice on the palate with a soft caramel maltiness and a hint of apple candy.

Finish: The end sort of meanders through apple cider and used cinnamon sticks with a vanilla and caramel malted cookie base.

Initial Thoughts:

This is decent whisky that feels like a cocktail malt.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The light nose opens with a sense of banana bread, pineapple skins, and floral honey with a moment of wet brown sugar and pancake batter.

Palate: That pineapple gets sweet on the palate with a sense of winter spice and dark red berries dipped in vanilla-chocolate sauce.

Finish: The fruitiness builds at the end toward more pineapple, mango skins, and kiwi while the spice leans into some soft wood.

Initial Thoughts:

Again, this feels like it’s built for cocktails and highballs more than anything else. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with spicy berries next to tart apples with a hint of lemon/lime and old leather on the nose before diving into a rich marzipan dipped in dark chocolate and brandy.

Palate: The sip leans into a honey sweetness with vanilla bean cream, dark plums, and spiced malts with a Christmas nutcake vibe tied to soft candied citrus, berry, and nuts over dark spice cake.

Finish: The finish smooths out with a mineral water softness as old cedar boards mingle with a raisin tobacco chewy spice on the very end.

Initial Thoughts:

I want more of this immediately. It’s great.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose draws you in with a sense of burnt orange layered into dark chocolate and then melted over a singed marshmallow with a hint of malted vanilla cookie tying it all together.

Palate: That dark chocolate drives the palate with a hint of waxiness and woody winter spice next to whole black peppercorns, fresh tangerine, and a whisper of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Finish: The dark chocolate, woody spice, bright orange, and sharp spearmint all collide on the finish with a sense of soft malted sweetness and faint old oak staves.

Initial Thoughts:

Goddamn, this is so good. It’s so deep and delicious without being overwrought. I really like this whisky.

Part 2 — The Single Malt Scotch Whisky Ranking

10. The Glenrothes Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky “Whisky Maker’s Cut” — Taste 3

ABV: 48.8%

Average Price: $85

The Whisky:

The bulbous bottle from The Glenrothes is all about the sherry. The expression spends an undisclosed amount of years in first-fill sherry casks. When those barrels are just right, the whisky is then batched and vatted before being proofed down only slightly.

Bottom Line:

This kind of felt like a malt that got a little lost in the bourbon barrel. It’s perfectly fine. But I’d recommend using this as an intro single malt for bourbon fans to get their footing and then moving on. After that, this is well-suited to mixing whisky-forward classic cocktails or highballs.

9. Kingsbarns Balcomie Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Taste 8

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $44

The Whisky:

This whisky is from a new(ish) Lowland distillery in Scotland. The whisky in the bottle is a single malt that was aged in ex-bourbon and ex-red wine barriques (a slightly bigger barrel by a few gallons). Those barrels were vatted and proofed with Lowland water before bottling.

Bottom Line:

This felt and is a cocktail whisky. Use it accordingly.

8. Arran Single Malt Scotch Whisky 10 Years Old — Taste 7

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $65

The Whisky:

This is Arran’s entry-point bottle. This is classic unpeated malt that’s left in ex-bourbon to age for a decade before vatting, proofing, and bottling as-is.

Bottom Line:

Again, use this for mixing up nice and easy whisky cocktails and highballs. It’s perfect for that.

7. The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky DoubleWood Aged 12 Years — Taste 5

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $67

The Whisky:

This is the whisky that launched the “double aging” trend back in 1982. This unpeated single malt spends 12 years mellowing in ex-bourbon casks before it’s transferred to ex-sherry casks for a final maturation of nine months. Finally, the whisky is vatted in a “tun” where it rests for three to four months before proofing and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This is where we rise up a notch. While I’d still highly recommend using this for cocktails, this can work over some rocks on a rainy weekday when you really don’t want to have to think about your whisky pour.

6. The Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old Double Cask — Taste 6

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $59

The Whisky:

Where many scotches spend time in ex-bourbon and then ex-sherry casks or some combination therein, this expression spends all 12 years of its maturation just in sherry casks. The barrels are imported from Jerez, Spain, and hand-selected for their excellence to mature this much-beloved whisky. Then the whisky goes into another sherry cask for one more maturation run before bottling.

Bottom Line:

This is good. You’ll easily see why people love The Macallan when sipping this. Still, I’d rather use this to make a killer cocktail. This feels like a true elevator for whisky-forward concoctions.

5. Mortlach Single Malt Scotch Whisky The Wee Witchie Aged for 12 Years — Taste 1

ABV: 43.4%

Average Price: $53

The Whisky:

This single malt hails from a tiny yet beloved Speyside distillery. The actual whisky is also made on their smallest still, nicknamed “Wee Witchie.” That juice then goes into ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks for 12 years. Finally, those whiskies are married, proofed, and bottled.

Bottom Line:

This just feels better built with a clearer profile/voice. I still would use this for dope whisky cocktails primarily. That shouldn’t stop you from enjoying this over a big ol’ rock though.

4. Torabhaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky Allt Gleann — Taste 4

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $59

The Whisky:

The Torabhaig Distillery is the new kid on the block on the Isle of Skye. This whisky is made from heavily peated malts and blended to highlight the seaside vibe of that northern island. The whisky was made back in 2018 from two bespoke barley varieties. It then went into first-fill and re-fill ex-bourbon casks before a touch of water for proofing and bottling as-is.

Bottom Line:

This one has serious depth and nuance with a familiar peated smokiness that’s more akin to smoking meat on the beach. Sound good? Get some!

3. Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Taste 2

ABV: 45.8%

Average Price: $72

The Whisky:

This no-age-statement whisky has an interesting aging process. The whisky is aged in a combination of used barrels and re-charred barrels. Basically, they take old barrels, strip the charring, rebuild those barrels, and then re-char them to Talisker’s standards. The process adds a new layer of depth by rejuvenating the staves. The whisky from those barrels is then blended into a darker, smokier, and deeper single malt.

Bottom Line:

There’s a subtly to this that’s extraordinary. The balance of soft peated beach vibes, spice, and dark fruit just works. Try this over a rock and then mix it into your favorite whisky cocktail.

2. The GlenDronach Orignal Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years — Taste 9

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $66

The Whisky:

This Highland malt is blended by Scotch icon Dr. Rachel Barrie to highlight the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. The juice is a blend of whiskies aged for 12 years in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks before vatting, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

I love this pour. That said, it’s a second today purely because this feels like a holiday pour more than any other whisky on the panel. I’m saving this one for holiday cocktails and sipping while cooking big meals.

1. Glenmorangie The Quinta Ruban Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 14 Years — Taste 10

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $54

The Whisky:

Glenmorangie’s 14-Year expression spends 10 years resting in used American oak casks. Those barrels are vatted and the whisky is re-barreled into Quinta Ruban port wine casks from Portugal for another four years of mellowing before batching, proofing, and bottling as-is.

Bottom Line:

This was all-around an excellent whisky. It felt evergreen. There’s no way to go wrong here. No season it doesn’t fit. No time of day or week it won’t slap. Drink however you like to drink your whisky.

Part 3 — Final Thoughts on the Single Malt Scotch Whiskies

There wasn’t a bad whisky in the bunch. That said, unless you’re looking for an everyday cocktail whisky for yourself, I’d skip the bottom three entries and go straight for the middle of the pack — numbers seven through five will make a great cocktail, highball, or on-the-rocks sipper.

Then there’s the top four. They’re all great in their own way. Each one offers something very different. You know what to do — read those tasting notes, find something that sounds like you’ll love it, and then hit that price link to bring it home. Enjoy!

We all have a friend named Bella who had a tough time in 2011 when Twight became a thing, or maybe you recently met a pre-teen named Arya. And surely you have met a Luke or Leia at some point in your life. But the latest name craze is throwing it all the way back to your grandma’s friend group, all thanks to Greta Gerwig (no, it’s not Lady Bird….yet).

According to Nameberry, the baby name database, searches for the name “Barbie” have gone up 603% since April, when the trailer first dropped. Similarly, “Ken” is also seeing a 293% increase in page views. Somewhere out there, Ken Jennings is fuming at the thought of being grouped among the commoners.

But even if people are searching “Barbie” to learn the origins, it doesn’t mean that we’ll have a ton of Barbies in college two decades from now. “Barbie and Ken are piquing parents’ interest, but this doesn’t mean that will translate into actual usage. As of now, Barbie is a predominant Amish name,” Nameberry Editor-in-Chief Sophie Kihm told People. Side note, the most popular baby girl name for 2023 might be “Luxury,” so use that information however you see fit.

The name stems from Barbara, which, according to Nameberry, means “foreign woman.” Perhaps that means someone from Barbieland, maybe? Barbara landed on the Top 10 list every year from 1927 to 1958, when the name slowly began to decrease in popularity. Only time will tell if the name really catches on in the 2020s. Who knows, maybe we’ll see some Julius Oppenheimers running around daycare next year.

(Via People)

Controversial rapper and internet personality Tekashi 69 was arrested on Wednesday, August 9, after being pulled over for a traffic violation. According to NBC News and Billboard, the rapper was pulled over by police after committing “a moving traffic violation” and failing to display a license tag. He was arrested on a warrant issued for failure to appear at a court date in July for a previous traffic incident in June. He was released on bond today.

69 hasn’t had the greatest luck over the past several months. In March, he allegedly assaulted by three men at a gym in Florida and temporarily hospitalized for cuts and bruises. While the three men were later arrested on robbery and assault charges, Tekashi deplored the attack on Instagram, calling the attackers “nothing but cowardly.” He also boasted about “walking around with no security,” while leaving out the part where he couldn’t get security services in the first place and was sued in 2021 for an unpaid $75,000 security bill.

He might need to get caught up on that bill because he’s getting beat up with alarming frequency. Early last year, he was sucker-punched from behind in a Miami nightclub, while later in the year, his girlfriend apparently also punched him, leading to him having to bail her out.