Post Malone‘s new album, Austin, features him showcasing a different side of himself. Though much of his projects have been pop- and hip-hop-inspired, Austin is largely comprised of Post delivering vocals over acoustic instrumentals. He also opens up about mental health, addiction, and the consequences of fame on this particular record.
In conjunction with Austin, Malone, whose real name is Austin Post, the artist made an appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast. During the interview, Malone opened up about his experiences with childhood bullying while living in upstate New York.
“I’ve always been kind of an introverted kid,” said Malone. “I loved to express, I love making music forever, I love playing games. Weird, a little weirdo.”
He continued, explaining that even after moving to Grapevine, Texas, where he spent much of his youth and teenage years, the bullying didn’t slow down.
“I moved when I was nine, and then I used to get bullied a whole bunch in school,” he said. “I guess for dressing the way I did. We wore skinny jeans and all that stuff, and that was just kind of like a new deal. I don’t know. And people would throw gum in my hair…Kids are mean.”
Thankfully, it looks like being a good guy paid off for Malone.
You can watch the interview above.
Austin is out now via Republic. Find more information here.
Despite rumors that any of the four members of The Elite — Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and the Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) — could jump to WWE, the promotion announced on Wednesday ahead of its 200th episode of Dynamite that the group signed long-term contracts to remain in AEW. (Sports Illustrated was the first to report on the group’s extension)
“The Elite have been so important to the launch of AEW, with the Young Bucks going all in when I first approached them in 2018 about my dream to create an international pro wrestling promotion,” said AEW CEO, GM, and Head of Creative Tony Khan in a press release.
“Shortly after that, their partners and closest friends Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page joined us to formally launch All Elite Wrestling. All four of them have been instrumental to AEW’s success from the very first episode of Wednesday Night Dynamite in 2019 through the present day. Now as we celebrate tonight’s 200th episode of AEW: Dynamite, I’m excited to share that Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and Hangman Adam Page will all be staying in AEW for years to come! Congratulations to The Elite, and we look forward to celebrating the great news with fans around the world.”
Omega and the Young Bucks are Executive Vice Presidents of the promotion, and along with Page will remain cornerstone figures of AEW. Omega and Page are both former AEW World Champions and AEW World Tag Team Champions. Omega has held the AEW World Trios Championships twice with the Young Bucks, while Matt and Nick Jackson are also former two-time AEW World Tag Team Champions.
Decades after The Replacements made their major label debut with Tim, longtime fans are now in for a special treat as Rhino is set to release the Tim: Let It Bleed Edition.
The deluxe box set will include a 4-disc CD and 1LP, with a new mix of the album done by producer and engineer Ed Stasium. It will also feature a “collection of previously unheard tracks” with material taken from their January 1985 session that was unearthed. The band’s January 1986 show at Chicago’s Cabaret Metro was also recorded in its entirety and is part of the set.
There is also a hardcover book included with new photos of The Replacements during the album’s era and a history of it all, written by Bob Mehr — a frequent documenter of the band’s history.
According to a press release, 50 out of the 65 tracks have previously been unheard. Additionally, those who purchase the box set will receive a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl.
“After nearly 40 years, Tim remains a charmed collision of intention and accident, a balance of deliberate anthems and tossed-off gems, of raucous release and refined beauty–and a record that perfectly captures the band’s fraught but always compelling ascent on the ladder of success,” Mehr said in a statement.
Continue scrolling for the full tracklist.
Tim (Ed Stasium Mix)
1. “Hold My Life”
2. “I’ll Buy”
3. “Kiss Me On The Bus”
4. “Dose Of Thunder”
5. “Waitress In The Sky”
6. “Swingin Party”
7. “Bastard Of Young”
8. “Lay It Down Clown”
9. “Left Of The Dial”
10. “Little Mascara”
11. “Here Comes A Stranger”
Tim (2023 Remaster)
1. “Hold My Life”
2. “I’ll Buy”
3. “Kiss Me On The Bus”
4. “Dose Of Thunder”
5. “Waitress In The Sky”
6. “Swingin Party”
7. “Bastard Of Young”
8. “Lay It Down Clown”
9. “Left Of The Dial”
10. “Little Mascara”
11. “Here Comes A Stranger”
Sons Of No One: Rare & Unreleased
1. “Can’t Hardly Wait (Acoustic Demo)”
2. “Nowhere Is My Home (Alternate Mix)”
3. “Can’t Hardly Wait (Electric Demo) [Alternate Mix]”
4. “Left Of The Dial (Alternate Version)”
5. “Nowhere Is My Home (Alternate Version)”
6. “Can’t Hardly Wait (Cello Version)”
7. “Kiss Me On The Bus (Studio Demo)”
8. “Little Mascara (Studio Demo)”
9. “Bastards Of Young (Alternate Version)”
10. “Hold My Life (Alternate Version)”
11. “Having Fun”
12. “Waitress In The Sky (Alternate Version)”
13. “Can’t Hardly Wait (The “Tim” Version) [Alternate Mix]”
14. “Swingin Party (Alternate Version)”
15. “Here Comes A Regular (Alternate Version)”
Not Ready For Prime Time (Live at the Cabaret Metro, Chicago, IL, January 11, 1986)
1. “Gary’s Got A Boner”
2. “Love You ‘Till Friday”
3. “Bastards Of Young”
4. “Can’t Hardly Wait”
5. “Answering Machine”
6. “Little Mascara”
7. “Color Me Impressed”
8. “Kiss Me On The Bus”
9. “Favorite Thing”
10. “Mr. Whirly”
11. “Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out”
12. “I Will Dare”
13. “Johnny’s Gonna Die”
14. “Dose Of Thunder”
15. “Takin’ A Ride”
16. “Hitchin’ A Ride”
17. “Trouble Boys”
18. “Unsatisfied”
19. “Black Diamond”
20. “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
21. “Customer”
22. “Borstal Breakout”
23. “Take Me Down To The Hospital”
24. “Kids Don’t Follow”
25. “Nowhere Man”
26. “The Crusher”
27. “I’m In Trouble”
28. “Go”
LP: Ed Stasium Mix
Side A
1. “Hold My Life”
2. “I’ll Buy”
3. “Kiss Me On The Bus”
4. “Dose Of Thunder”
5. “Waitress In The Sky”
6. “Swingin Party”
Side B
1. “Bastards Of Young”
2. “Lay It Down Clown”
3. “Left Of The Dial”
4. “Little Mascara”
5. “Here Comes A Regular”
Tim: Let It Bleed Edition is out 9/22 via Rhino. Find more information here.
The combined power of Barbie and Oppenheimer has been a goldmine for AMC Theaters. Thanks to cinema fans going to see both films in a phenomenon affectionately known as “Barbenheimer,” the theater chain had the biggest box office week in the entire history of the company.
According to a press release provided to CNN, the Barbie and Oppenheimer double feature was a much-needed salve after the COVID pandemic threw the entire theater industry into disarray. Release dates were scuttled and films were shifted to streaming, leaving theater owners scrambling to make up business. While Top Gun: Maverick got things roaring back into gear last summer, “Barbenheimer” has been a historic moment for the theater chain.
In a news release on Sunday, the world’s largest theater chain announced that from July 21-27, it earned its largest single-week admissions revenue since the company’s founding in 1920. AMC attributed this 103-year high to the incredible opening weekend of both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” as well as the strong momentum that continued to carry them along.
Of course, the double feature has not been without controversy, and no, we’re not talking about the right-wing weirdos freaking out over Barbie. Those dorks don’t count.
The “Barbenheimer” social media craze forced Warner Bros. to issue an apology after its Japanese division took understandable offense from the official Barbie Twitter account interacting with a mushroom cloud meme. Warner Bros. apologized and quickly deleted the offending tweet.
However, Japanese movie fans reacted by creating 9/11 memes featuring Barbie because have we mentioned this summer is weird? This summer has been very weird.
We’re deeeeeeeeep in swimsuit season. It’s hot as f*ck outside and we’re all collectively looking for ways to cool down and excuses to hit the beach. It’s the only time of the year when swimwear doubles as streetwear and we’re all for it! Bikini tops and shorts, trunks, sandals without socks — who doesn’t love a seasonal look?
That’s why for this special edition of Style Watch, we’re focusing entirely on swimwear. Whether you’re looking for a good breezy fit to rock at the park or backyard barbecue, or you know, actually hitting up a pool or beach (and if you’re lucky, all four), we’ve got you covered with all the best swimwear from our favorite brands right now. If you’re looking for non-swimmable streetwear, you can still hit up our previous style watch which was themed around festival fashion (it’s still festival season, after all).
Fans of more traditional streetwear stylings will just have to wait until it’s cool enough to wear pants again. Let’s dive in!
EDITOR’S PICK: Bydee USA — Cyprus Bikini In Alythia
Everyone wants to get to Greece right now. Also: Greece in the summer is crazy expensive. But this swimsuit conjures Greece and is also stylish as hell. Rather than a typical string bikini, this look has extra fabric — making it more decadent and luxurious. It’s also sexy as hell without having anything to prove.
If you’re going boating this month, especially if your destination can look remotely like the Mediterranean — think Catalina Island on the West Coast or Long Island out east — this is the look you want to have all over your IG. If blue and white isn’t your vibe, the brand features a whole range of beautiful, painted-looking swimsuits in a variety of styles.
I was really late on the shorter shorts with a drawstring look. I come from the “snap fly boardshorts” era and it was an adjustment. But then I got a few pairs of Roark’s shorts and I realized something: I look better in these. I’ve got pretty nice thighs and a little extra weight around the waist, so boardies weren’t doing me any favors at all.
Since picking up one pair of Roark’s shorts, I’ve gone all in and gotten… seven? Eight? My most recent buy was these. Because if you can’t be bold enough to wear pink in the summer, when can you do it?
Nothing beats a pair of Patagonia Baggies. It should come as no surprise that the iconic outdoor brand also sells swim trunks — available in both men’s and women’s sizes with either a five or seven-inch inseam.
These multifunctional shorts look great both in and out of the water and are made from quick-drying nylon and sport a DWR durable water-repellent finish with an elasticized waistband, quick-drying black mesh liner, and vertical side pockets to reduce drag in the water.
Lulu’s — Island Time Peach Underwire Cutout One-Piece Swimsuit
Lulus
Price: $88
Lulu’s is well supplied with everything from tops to rompers, jumpsuits, two-piece ensembles, skirts, and a large variety of summer-ready swimwear. Whether you’re looking for printed swimsuits, bright sets, cutouts, string bikinis, and underwire tops, Lulus has it all.
Our pick is the Island Time underwire cutout one-piece swimsuit, which sports stretchy tricot knit shapes, a bustier-inspired cut with hidden underwire support, removable padding, adjustable shoulder straps, a fitted bodice with twin waist-wrapping cutouts, an open back design, and cheeky bottom in an eye-catching soft peach colorway.
Pretty Little Things — Black Frill Edge Padded Bikini
You’ve likely seen Pretty Little Things pop up on your various social media feeds and that’s because the brand attempts to cater to everyone, whether you’re looking for a party-ready statement piece or an everyday staple. The brand’s swimwear is no different — offering all sorts of different styles catering to every body type.
Our pick for this article is the simple Black Frill Edge Padded bikini which features a boosting padded top with a matching ruched side tie bottom made of polyamide elastane.
To shop Pretty Little Things swimwear, click here.
If you’re not feeling Lulu’s one-piece offerings, keep it simple with this form-fitting Poolside Party Red Ruffled bikini. The piece features high-cut legs, cheeky bottom coverage, and is made from 80% nylon and 20% spandex, in a shiny red colorway with ruffled triangle cups, and an adjustable halter neck.
Quicksilver Men’s Ocean Union Amphibian Board Short
Admittedly, it’s been a minute since we’ve even thought of Quicksilver, but surfwear enthusiasts know the brand continues to go strong, which is why the brand’s Ocean Union Amphibian Board Short is a favorite amongst many.
Featuring a mid-length cut, these board shorts sport four-way stretch, a regular fit, and side pockets with a water-repellent hydrophobic coating which is designed to quickly dry after being submerged.
The board shorts are available in a variety of colorways and patterns.
If you’re looking for a statement bikini that’ll look great on your social feeds, your latest photo shoot, or IRL, Minimale Animale is your brand. The swimwear from this brand is simple, but designed to stun.
The Lucid Bijou top features a fully lined nylon spandex build designed and made in California, with a simple flattering design that can be paired with a variety of Minimale Animale bottoms. Complete your look with the cut you’re most comfortable with at Minimale Animale.
If you’re looking for swim trunks that lean higher-end, Polo Ralph Lauren has got your back. Don’t be misled by the name, these trunks aren’t explicitly ‘hiking shorts,’ but rather hiking inspired with a recycled nylon build, elastic waist, webbed belt, and angled pockets, with the iconic Polo Beach label and a super dope color black design.
Polo Ralph Lauren might have the backs of the high-end-minded, but Polo isn’t streetwear. If you’re a streetwear enthusiast, no other brand is going to connect with you like Stone Island. The Italian luxury streetwear brand brings is minimalist aesthetic and earthy colorways to the swimwear world with these double-dyed recycled nylon taffeta swim shorts which sport a concealed drawstring, elastic waist, three-pocket build, with mesh lining and Stone Island branding.
There is a difference between pool wear and vacation wear, Nalia Swim understands this, so if you’re looking for a statement bikini to rock at the resort, you’re going to want to grab something like the Bali Crochet bikini,
Made in Bali and featuring a handmade crochet knit, the Bali Crochet Bikini fits true to size with an adjustable halter neck, tie and back frayed, and pearl embellishments throughout. It’s the sort of bathing suit that is designed to make it clear to the world that you’re living your best life.
Page Six reports that while Lopez and Affleck were in Southampton, New York, this week, she bought him a gift from a store called Flying Point Surf & Sport. This wasn’t just any present, however. It was a t-shirt that reads, “Woke Up Sexy As Hell Again.” I guess they were out of “My Wife Thinks I’m Crazy But I’m Not the One Who Married Me” hats.
“Surprise visit from two of our favorites… @jlo & Ben Affleck. They picked out one of our favorite T-shirts!!” Flying Point Surf & Sport wrote on Instagram, along with a photo of Lopez. Affleck is nowhere to be seen, but the store helpfully included another picture of a stock photo model wearing the “Sexy” shirt. An insider (presumably an employee taking a vape break) told Page Six, “She and Ben were super nice and posed for several fans.”
The “Woke Up Sexy As Hell Again” shirt is hanging in Affleck’s closet, next to four Celtics jerseys and five oversized pocket tees with the Dunkin’ logo on it.
Single-barrel bourbon whiskey is typically a masterclass-level experience from whichever distillery the bottle hails from. Single barrel expressions of any whiskey offer a chance to see, taste, and feel what the people working the mash tanks, stills, and blending rooms truly believe is the best of their stocks. There’s no blending out certain flavor notes or blending in other notes to create something more than the whiskey’s individual parts. These are whiskeys that come from single barrels and are just right as-is — maybe with a little water added to really let those profile notes shine.
If you can’t tell from my effusing, I like single-barrel whiskeys — especially bourbon versions — a lot. To that end, I gathered a whole bunch of new and a few classic single-barrel bourbon whiskeys from all over the U.S. to blind taste-test them. I had only tasted a lot of these newer single-barrel bourbons in standard tasting settings and found myself legitimately curious to see what might pop once they were tasted blind, especially against some stone-cold classics.
Lost Lantern Single Cask Series Tom’s Foolery Ohio Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Green River Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Full Proof
Yellowstone Hand Picked Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel by ReserveBar
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond
Frank August Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Lost Lantern Single Cask Series Still Austin Whiskey Co. Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Kirkland Signature Single Barrel by Barton 1792 Master Distillers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 10 Years Old
Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Vintage
Lost Lantern Single Cask Series New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Lost Lantern Single Cask Series Boulder Spirits Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Russell’s Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel
Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel
Jefferson’s Very Rare Twin Oak Custom Barrel Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey by ReserveBar
Barrell Bourbon Single Barrel Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel#Z5G2 by ReserveBar
After the blind tasting, I’m going to rank these based on taste alone. And look, these were all very good whiskeys. There isn’t a loser in the bunch. That doesn’t mean they’re all equals though. There are some seriously tasty bourbons that transcend on this panel so let’s dive right in!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
Part 1 — The Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Blind Tasting
Zach Johnston
Taste 1
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a rich nuttiness on the nose that veers from marzipan to walnut cake (with plenty of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice) before a rich and creamy peaches and cream ice cream takes over with a hint of a buttermilk biscuit.
Palate: Fresh sourdough old fashioned doughnuts with a cinnamon frosting drives the palate toward honeyed Graham Crackers, caramel malts, and a deep sense of leathery pipe tobacco.
Finish: The end is lush with a sense of bourbon vanilla and dark cherry next to malted vanilla and cakey doughnuts cut with winter spices and light notes of pecan.
Initial Thoughts:
This is really good bourbon. It’s a tad grainy, so I’m guessing this is a crafty. It’s a good one whatever it is.
Taste 2
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Cream soda and honeycomb greet you on the nose with a light sense of spiced holiday cakes, vanilla sheet cake, soft-dried chili, and old woody spice.
Palate: The honey and vanilla bond on the palate to create a luscious mouthfeel that leads to balanced notes of sharp dried chili spice, soft worn leather, pipe tobacco, and rich walnut bread with plenty of butter, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
Finish: The end leans toward the leather and tobacco with a chili-choco vibe that’s accented by soft walnut and even softer vanilla.
Initial Thoughts:
This is delicious. No notes!
Taste 3
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Soft brown sugar fresh from a new bag mingle on the nose with honey-dipped Graham Crackers, candied orange rinds, soft powdered baking spices, and a hint of roasting herbs with a sliver of fresh and bright mint.
Palate: That orange edges toward bitter on the palate as Cinnamon Toast Crunch drives the taste toward mulled wine spices, dark apple butter, vanilla lushness, and a sense of brandied cherries.
Finish: The cherry inches toward Cherry Coke on the finish before old apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks and allspice berries veer the end toward old oak staves wrapped in leathery tobacco leaves.
Initial Thoughts:
This is quintessential and delicious bourbon.
Taste 4
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dried dark fruits and a hint of vanilla wafers mingle with fig fruit leather, a touch of earthy orchard wood, and a deep caramel on the nose.
Palate: The palate holds onto those notes while layering in dark berry tobacco with sharp winter spices, new leather, and a singed cotton candy next to a cedar box filled with that tobacco.
Finish: The finish lingers on your senses for a while and leaves the spice behind for that dark, almost savory fruit note with an echo of blackberry Hostess pies next to soft leather pouches that have held chewy tobacco for decades and a final hint of old porch wicker in the middle of summer.
Initial Thoughts:
This is earthy and full of dark notes that make for a unique bourbon experience. I like it a lot.
Taste 5
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This is a very classic Kentucky bourbon nose with big winter spice notes tied to barks and buds with a hint of nutmeg before leaning into oily vanilla pods and salted caramel chews with a nice hint of apple cider and black cherry cola.
Palate: Clove buds, cinnamon bark, and allspice berries lead on the palate with a hint of chili pepper spiciness before a lush sense of vanilla white cake with toffee frosting and burnt orange creates a luxurious mouthfeel with a hint of alcohol warmth.
Finish: The end arrives with a deeply classic vibe that’s slightly tied to old oak cellars next to cherry bark, old bottles of vanilla, and easy-going salted caramel sweetness next to a hint of apple cider tobacco rolled with cinnamon bark and cedar.
Initial Thoughts:
This takes classic to new heights with a delectable bourbon profile that just keeps going. It’s excellent.
Taste 6
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a deep nose full of burnt orange and vanilla cake that leads to a hint of chili-choco-laced tobacco with a hint of woody spice and old leather boots.
Palate: The spice builds on the palate as soft nuttiness leads to candied orange and cherry with a touch of ABV heat sneaking in a buzzing sensation.
Finish: The ABV warmth builds on the finish as the winter spices melt into a walnut bread with a buttery vanilla underbelly and a dash of red berry tobacco spice.
Initial Thoughts:
This is pretty nice overall. It gets a little hot around the mid-palate toward the end. But a rock would cure that ill.
Taste 7
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This is a deep nose with salted caramel cut with dried red chili flakes, Mounds bar, sour mulled wine full of star anise, clove, and allspice, and creamy malted vanilla ice cream cut with candies cherry and tobacco crumbles.
Palate: The palate lets those cherries sour toward cranberry as a woody sense of huckleberry arrives with brown sugar and butter next to dark chocolate-covered espresso beans dusted with cinnamon and orange zest.
Finish: The end arrives with burnt orange, marzipan, and woody clove edge as fir firewood bark with a twinge of black soil in it arrives next to cherry-apple tobacco with a buttery and rummy feel.
Initial Thoughts:
Again, this is just really freaking good bourbon. It’s deep, delicious, and delightful.
Taste 8
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a peppery sense of cedar bark and burnt orange next to salted caramel and tart red berries with a moist and spicy sticky toffee pudding with some brandy butter dancing on the nose.
Palate: The palate blends vanilla tobacco with salted dark chocolate-covered marzipan while espresso cream leads to new porch wicker and black peppercorns.
Finish: The end has a pecan waffle vibe with chocolate chips, maple syrup, blackberry jam, and minced meat pies next to old tobacco and cedar with a sweet yet toasted marshmallow on the very end.
Initial Thoughts:
This is an incredibly well-balanced whiskey. It hits a tad soft but that just makes it easier to enjoy neat.
Taste 9
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This has a really nice nose full of woody cherry and salted caramel with a tart apple edge and a soft leatheriness.
Palate: The palate feels and tastes “classic” with notes of wintry spices (eggnog especially) with a lush creaminess supported by soft vanilla, a hint of orange zest, and plenty of spicy cherry tobacco.
Finish: The end is supple with a hint of tart apple tobacco with a light caramel candy finish.
Initial Thoughts:
This was nice and succinct. If I had to find one thing to complain about it was maybe the soft finish. It didn’t peter out exactly, I just wanted a bit more.
Taste 10
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a nice spiciness that leans toward chili, winter baking spices, and sharp herbs on the nose with a sense of oak staves and cherry.
Palate: Dark cherry comes through on the palate with deep vanilla buttercream and rummy molasses next to candied mint and lemon pound cake cut with poppy seeds.
Finish: That lemon, cherry, and vanilla vibe darkens on the warm finish with sharp mint and old winter spice barks wrapped up in tobacco leaves and worn leather.
Initial Thoughts:
This was another nicely balanced whiskey with a classic bourbon profile. Good stuff. But maybe not exciting stuff.
Taste 11
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Huge chocolate brownie notes drive the nose toward chili-chocolate tobacco hot chocolate with marshmallows before bold apple pie filling arrives with plenty of winter spice.
Palate: The ABVs instantly numb my whole mouth on the smallest of first sips — seriously, even my lips and outer cheeks are numb this is so hot. Once the bombastic warmth fades slightly, there are notes of rich apple crumble, Cherry Coke, spiced pipe tobacco, and soft vanilla.
Finish: Those notes fade as the finish just gets hotter and more buzzing on the senses until everything is muted.
Initial Thoughts:
This was almost painfully hot. It truly numbed my face and I had to take about five minutes to fully reset my palate. The annoying this is that there’s a good-tasting whiskey buried under all that heat, fighting to get out.
Taste 12
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: You’re met with creamy depths of vanilla next to pound cake, spicy tobacco, sweet oak, and a clear hit of orange oil.
Palate: That vanilla really amps up as hints of rose water-forward marzipan lead towards cedar, more vanilla, and a dash of Christmas spices.
Finish: On the finish, a really deep dark chocolate smoothness arrives with a more nutty almond that’s reminiscent of an Almond Joy straight from a special candy shop.
Initial Thoughts:
This was good standard bourbon with a nice balance and depth.
Taste 13
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose leans toward old leather tobacco pouches before hitting a classic cherry vanilla cake vibe accented by green herbs and old sourdough bread crusts with a hint of caraway.
Palate: That cherry vanilla stays moist on the palate as sharp cinnamon, allspice, and clove drive the palate back toward green floral rye dill, caraway, and fennel with a sweet pear candy cider vibe.
Finish: The end holds onto the fruit candy as a rush of soft nutmeg eggnog arrives and is countered by a slow warmth from Hot Tamale candy-laced tobacco.
Initial Thoughts:
This was nice and funky with a sweet vibe that just worked. This isn’t a “wow” whiskey but it’s a really damn good one that felt truly unique.
Taste 14
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Oak comes through with moments of firewood, cedar, and woody winter spice accented by vanilla pods and honey Graham Crackers.
Palate: That oak stays bright and toasted on the palate as woody apples and grainy malts lead to woody braids of cedar, tobacco, and sweetgrass are accented by soft vanilla and caramel sauce.
Finish: That cedar, tobacco, and sweetgrass braid starts to smolder on the finish as the toasted oak takes on a cellar earthiness late on the finish.
Initial Thoughts:
This was a good sip but a little woody and grainy.
Taste 15
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rummy spice and fruit open the nose with a sense of nutty winter cakes, caramel sauce, and soft kindling with a light whisper of tobacco just kissed with chili chocolate.
Palate: The palate really leans into the chili-chocolate vibes with plenty of winter spice barks, rich marzipan, soft vanilla lusciousness, and a good dose of mincemeat pie.
Finish: Stewed plums and dates drive the finish toward sharp spice barks, more tobacco, and a whisper of walnut bread.
Initial Thoughts:
This is like Christmas in a glass and it’s delicious from top to bottom.
Part 2 — The Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Ranking
Zach Johnston
15. Lost Lantern Single Cask Series Boulder Spirits Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 11
This Colorado bourbon is a very low-corn whiskey. The mash bill has only 51% corn, which is the legal minimum, supported by 44% malted barley and a mere 5% rye. That whiskey rested in a single barrel up in the Rockies for six years before Lost Lantern bottled it as-is at cask strength, yielding only 151 bottles.
Bottom Line:
Ah, it’s a Hazmat bourbon (above 70% ABV). That makes sense.
Look, you need to water this down to closer to 50% ABV. There’s a good whiskey in there but that 71.3% ABV is burying it in mouth-numbing heat. Seriously. I would water this down before I used it in a cocktail even. And given all of that work required to find the good whiskey buried in the bottle, I have to say this is a hard pass … sadly (because I love Boulder and Lost Lantern in general).
14. Lost Lantern Single Cask Series Still Austin Whiskey Co. Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 6
This Texas whiskey is made in Austin with a mash bill of 70% corn, 25% rye, and 5% malted barley — which is pretty old-school high-rye bourbon. Still Austin slowly adds in water for a low barrel entry proof and adds water while the whiskey is aging to allow the distillate to stay put and concentrate while the water evaporates instead. After four years, Lost Lantern bottled this barrel as-is at cask strength, yielding 167 bottles.
Bottom Line:
This is a good bourbon. It’s a tasty sipper and would make a solid cocktail.
13. Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Vintage — Taste 9
This is Heaven Hill’s hand-selected single barrel Evan Williams expression. The whiskey is from a single barrel, labeled with its distillation year, proofed just above 86, and bottled as is.
Bottom Line:
This is classic bourbon through and through. I wanted a little more from the finish but that’s only because I wanted more of what was already there.
12. Jefferson’s Very Rare Twin Oak Custom Barrel Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey by ReserveBar — Taste 14
This special single barrel from ReserveBar and Jefferson’s takes their classic bourbon and re-barrels it in a custom-designed “wave barrel” for a final maturation run. The “wave barrel” is toasted and then heavily grooved with wavy grooves to create more surface space for the whiskey to interact with the wood.
Bottom Line:
This was woody and grainy but had a serious depth that went so much further. Overall, this still felt sort of niche — or a whiskey that you need to be in the mood for.
Jimmy and Eddie Russell — Wild Turkey’s Master Distillers — hand-select these barrels from their vast warehouses for just the right bourbon flavor. The bourbon is bottled with a touch of water added.
Bottom Line:
This was another great standard Kentucky bourbon. No notes. Use it for sipping or cocktails.
10. Lost Lantern Single Cask Series Tom’s Foolery Ohio Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 1
This single barrel bottling from Lost Lantern is one-of-a-kind. The whiskey in the bottle is made in Ohio from a mash of 52% yellow dent corn, 20% winter rye, and 28% 6-row malted barley. That juice was left to age for nine long years before Lost Lantern came along and bottled it 100% as-is at cask strength, yielding only 117 bottles.
Bottom Line:
This was really nice overall with a hint of craftiness left over in the grainy mid-palate. That aside, this is an easy sipper that’d make a killer cocktail.
9. Lost Lantern Single Cask Series New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 10
This Lost Lantern single-barrel bottling is all about the high-rye bourbon. The whiskey from New Riff in Kentucky has a mash bill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. That juice was left to age for four years before bottling at cask strength, yielding only 214 bottles.
Bottom Line:
Again, this is just good stuff. If you’re looking for a good one-off tasty bourbon, then try this.
Baker’s is pulled from single barrels in specific warehouses and ricks across the Beam facility in Clermont, Kentucky. The bourbon is always at least seven years old. In this case, it was aged eight years and one month before bottling as-is.
Bottom Line:
This was very rye-forward. So if you’re looking for a truly rye-heavy bourbon, this is the bottle for you.
7. Kirkland Signature Single Barrel by Barton 1792 Master Distillers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 7
This Costco release is sourced from Sazerac’s other Kentucky distillery, Barton 1792 Distillery down in Bardstown, Kentucky. The bottle’s whiskey is likely the same distillate/barrels as 1792 Full Proof. However, this is proofed down a tiny bit below that at 120 proof instead of 125 proof, adding some nuance to this release.
Bottom Line:
This is really good bourbon. It’s a tad hot on the finish but that in no way takes away from the overall depth and detectability of this one. Plus, that price is amazing. Drink this stuff however you like to drink your bourbon — you won’t be disappointed.
6. E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 4
This whiskey is aged in the famed Warehouse C at Buffalo Trace from their Mash Bill No. 1. In this case, single barrels are picked for their perfect Taylor flavor profile and bottled one at a time with a slight touch of water to bring them down to bottled-in-bond proof.
Bottom Line:
This has a nice earthiness to it that takes it beyond standard or classic. It’s really, really good whiskey that works beautifully as a neat sipper.
5. Green River Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Full Proof — Taste 2
The latest addition to the core Green River lineup is a doozy. The Kentucky whiskey is a rye-forward single-barrel bourbon. The mash bill is 70% Kentucky-grown corn with 21% rye and 9% malted barley. That whiskey rests for at least five years before water is added to bring the proof back down to entry proof, hence “full proof”. The whiskey is then bottled directly from the barrel as-is.
Bottom Line:
This was delicious through and through. That said, I really wanted to try this in a cocktail before I sip it again. I can see this making a killer Manhattan or Sazerac.
4. Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 10 Years Old — Taste 8
The whiskey barrels sourced for these single-barrel expressions tend to be at least 10 years old with some rumored to be closer to 15 years old (depending on the barrel’s quality, naturally). Either way, the whiskey goes through Michter’s bespoke filtration process before a touch of Kentucky’s iconic soft limestone water is added, bringing the bourbon down to a very crushable 94.4 proof.
Bottom Line:
This had incredible balance. The only reason it’s lower on this list is that it was a little lighter on the finish. Otherwise, this is probably the easiest and most rewarding sipper on the list.
3. Frank August Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 5
This brand-new release from awards-favorite Frank August dials things into a single barrel of whiskey. The whiskey in the bottle is a 5.1-year-old Kentucky bourbon from an undisclosed source. That barrel is bottled 100% as-is with no cutting, filtering, or fussing.
Bottom Line:
This had a nice depth and an easygoing vibe. It’s damn good whiskey that deserves some time to really dive into the deep profile. It also makes one hell of a cocktail.
2. Yellowstone Hand Picked Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel by ReserveBar — Taste 3
This whiskey from Steve Beam at Limestone Branch in Kentucky is a carefully stewarded barrel of whiskey. It started with a classic bourbon mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. The hot juice went into the barrel on June 7th, 2016, and was left alone until 2023 when it was bottled with a touch of local water.
Bottom Line:
This was a “wow” whiskey. It was classic turned up to quintessential Kentucky bourbon and tasted amazingly deep when sipped neat.
1. Barrell Bourbon Single Barrel Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel#Z5G2 by ReserveBar — Taste 15
This single-barrel pick from ReserveBar is a very unique bourbon. The whiskey in the bottle is made from a 99% corn and 1% rye Indiana bourbon. The team at Reservebar picked one special eight-year-old barrel of that whiskey and bottled it 100% as-is at cask strength.
Bottom Line:
This is just excellent. It’s one of those whiskeys that just keeps going and gets more and more rewarding the more time you take with it. Get some while it lasts.
Part 3 — Final Thoughts on the Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskeys
Zach Johnston
Honestly, I highly recommend trying all of these except for the last one. That Lost Lantern Boulder Single Barrel was just too hot. It’s still annoying, in that the whiskey is good and well-made. They just stumbled on the bottling by not proofing it down to allow that whiskey to shine. Everything else is worth your time and money.
If you really want to go for the best, then any of the top five will do. They’re all a little bit unique with their own vibes, but they all f*cking rock. So re-read my tasting notes and find the one(s) that speak to you and go from there.
Now that Victor Wembanyama is in the NBA, Cooper Flagg has perhaps the strongest case for being the best basketball prospect in the world. Flagg is either the No. 1 or 2 recruit in the class of 2025 depending on the scouting service you are using, and the 6’9 wing turned heads earlier this summer at Peach Jam with his AAU squad, Maine United.
Flagg is getting to the point of being a household name for basketball fans beyond the folks who follow prospects closely, and a recent story from Brian Scalabrine certainly helps his cause. The long and the short of it: Scalabrine claimed that Flagg played 1-on-1 against Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal at Jayson Tatum’s basketball camp. Beal wasn’t going full bore, Flagg started to score on him, began talking trash, and got Beal “really mad.”
Cooper Flagg was allegedly cooking Bradley Beal in a 1v1, per @Scalabrine
“I heard a rumor that my boy Cooper Flagg was at Jayson Tatum’s camp and he was busting Brad Beal 1-on-1, and Brad Beal got mad at him. Started cussing him out…This dude is a major trash-talker. … So I… pic.twitter.com/OSp3QorUTS
It is a very funny story, but according to one of the folks involved in this, it’s not true. The Instagram account @leaguealerts posted the story on Wednesday morning, and apparently, Beal saw it and said the whole thing was a lie.
A more skeptical person would say that Beal would obviously stress that this is not true because no NBA player would admit they got mad over trash talk by a high schooler who took it to them. But this is also a pretty wild story, and we’re willing to take Beal’s word on this one until video pops up to indicate otherwise or Flagg pushes back on it.
After making the Western Conference Finals in 2022, the Dallas Mavericks entered last season with lofty expectations, but after letting Jalen Brunson walk in free agency, they stumbled toward the bottom of the West standings. A midseason trade for Kyrie Irving wasn’t enough to lift them out of their funk, as a lack of roster balance doomed them to being a high-octane offense with an equally flammable defense, ultimately falling to 11th in the West (purposefully to try and hold on to their draft pick).
This summer, there were two focal points for Dallas. One was re-signing Irving, because seeing him walk after giving up a first round pick and a key role player in Dorian Finney-Smith would’ve been catastrophic. The second was figuring out how to build out their roster to have more depth and bring in some players with a defensive focus that could fit alongside Irving and Luka Doncic. They didn’t have a lot of space to make that happen, which forced them to get creative in spots, but as the season approaches, they hope they’ve done enough to put a supporting cast around Doncic and Irving capable of getting them back in the playoff mix in the West.
Here we’ll grade out the Mavericks offseason moves in the Draft, free agency and contract extensions, and on the trade market.
Draft: B+
The Mavs understood that they could not fill out their roster through free agency alone this year, and they needed an influx of young talent on rookie scale deals to avoid having constant turnover in their rotation. That meant making a pair of trades, first moving back from 10th to 12th and unloading Davis Bertans contract in the process, and later using the trade exception created to add Richaun Holmes and the No. 24 pick from the Kings to add another first round rookie. With those picks they added Dereck Lively II out of Duke, who fits the bill as the rim-protecting center they desperately need, and Olivier Maxence-Prosper, who profiles as a 3-and-D wing with considerable defensive upside. Those are two areas they needed to address and our Brad Rowland gave them a B+ for both selections on Draft night.
Things worked out well for Dallas. The Mavericks moved down two spots and picked a guy they could’ve very reasonably taken at No. 10. Lively isn’t a finished product, but he was a defensive monster in the second half of the college season. Dallas needs that kind of defensive presence, and Lively’s offense should be unlocked as a low-usage guy next to Luka Doncic and, perhaps, Kyrie Irving.
Dallas could use a two-way forward, much in the way that most teams could and used their second trade of the Draft to find one. Prosper fits the bill as a high-quality defender who can also space the floor. He also doesn’t need the ball to succeed on offense, which fits nicely with the Mavericks’ system.
Free Agency/Contract Extensions: B+
There is an inherent risk in signing Kyrie Irving to a long-term, big money deal, as you just can’t be guaranteed that he won’t decide at some point he wants to be somewhere else or that he’ll be healthy enough to make the impact you want. That said, once they committed what they did to Kyrie, they had no other options but to give him a long-term deal. At 3 years, $126 million (with a player option in the final year) it’s perfectly fine value on the court given his tremendous talents, but the off court baggage Irving is always threatening to unload is an ever-present concern. If he’s healthy and engaged, it’s a positive value contract. It’s just the possibility for [gestures at recent Kyrie Irving history].
The rest of the Mavs summer signings have been solid as well. Bringing back Seth Curry on a minimum is a very nice add given his success in Dallas years ago alongside Luka Doncic was what vaulted him into some bigger money deals. While he won’t help their defense, the Mavs do still need guys that can knock down spot-up jumpers around Luka and Kyrie, and he’s as good as there is at that in the league. They also re-signed Dwight Powell, who is perfectly good value at 3-years, $12 million. The problem with Powell previously was he was being asked to play a much larger role (and paid as such) than is ideal for him, but he’s a useful player, particularly as a rim-runner alongside a great lob thrower like Doncic. Finally, they signed former lottery pick Dante Exum, who has spent the last two seasons overseas, first with Barcelona and most recently with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, where he had an excellent 2022-23 campaign (including a very good shooting year from deep which would be quite the development in his game).
Given their resources, the Mavs did well this summer. Any issues with them lie with past decisions, but there weren’t really any better options for Dallas this offseason.
Trades: B+
I’m just going to keep with the B+ trend here, as I think their work on the trade market has been quite good. The draft night deals were done with a plan in mind, landing the player at 12 everyone figured they’d target at 10 while also moving off of a massive contract clogging their books. They then further addressed their center crisis from a year ago by using the exception created by trading Bertans to add Richaun Holmes, who can give them some scoring punch in the frontcourt, alongside another first round pick that they used on a defensive wing — something they very much need.
Then, once the league year started, they moved Reggie Bullock, a pick swap, and some second rounders for Grant Williams in a three-team sign-and-trade, upgrading their power forward spot with a versatile defender who is a capable knockdown shooter. Bullock was a streaky shooter, who certainly had value for Dallas, but Williams has become a very reliable three-point shooter (39.5 percent last year) and is a bigger, stronger defensive presence in the frontcourt.
For a team that didn’t seem to have much of a plan in terms of roster construction a year ago, this summer represents a considerable upgrade in that area. They saw clear needs and went out to try and address them in all phases, rather than trying to rely solely on a big splash in free agency or a mega trade. Instead, they utilized the Draft well, made solid minimum signings, and got a player who has proven capable of playing a sizable role on a contender in the sign-and-trade market. All of that is good work and they come into the 2023-24 season with a roster that’s considerably better than it was at the end of last year. That’s a success. The issue they face is where the roster was at the end of last year was a borderline catastrophe, so solid improvement there might still not be enough to lift them into the contender tier.
Beyoncé has been continuing her Renaissance Tour run across North America, with recent dates taking place on the East Coast, and her family is joining her for the ride. Her daughter, Blue Ivy, has popped up as a mainstay of the show for one of the songs on the setlist.
After Beyoncé performs her hit, “Run The World (Girls),” Blue Ivy then joins her for “My Power,” from the 2019 soundtrack for The Lion King. During the stop at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Blue also returned for “Black Parade” to unveil a special New York jersey.
The pop star’s young daughter debuted her skills during the European leg of the Renaissance Tour, showing off in Paris first.
“She is 11 years old, and she had one week to prepare, and she’s just getting better and better,” Tina Lawson, her grandmother, told People.
“Well, this is a heels family,” she added. “You’re trained early to walk in heels. But yeah, she’s having the time of her life… I couldn’t be more proud of her because she really worked hard… So I’m the proud grandma, always.”
Blue Ivy’s grandmother on Jay-Z’s side (Gloria Carter) has also shared a similar sentiment, revealing that she told the two musicians that they “opened up a door” with this.
Check out Blue Ivy’s performance above.
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