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A rap legend is gracing Cartoon Network’s Craig Of The Creek with her voice talents next week. In a special episode of the Maryland-set animated series, Missy Elliott will voice a Double Dutch champion named Carla Frazier.

In the upcoming episode called “The Jump Off,” Craig and his friends Cannonball, Sparkle Cadet, and Diane are getting ready for a Double Dutch tournament. When Craig and his friends ask his mom for advice on entering the competition, his mom recalls a rivalry that took place with Carla years ago at a regional tournament.

“I’m so excited to be part of this Craig Of The Creek episode,” Elliott said to Billboard. “Voicing the Carla character was perfect for me as I am a huge Double Dutch fan. I hope the fans enjoy the episode!”

Craig Of The Creek‘s Instagram account teased the upcoming episode with a special sneak peek.

“The QUEEN is back at the Creek!,” read the post’s caption.

Perhaps this is a full circle moment. In an October 2020, Craig’s mom dressed up as Elliott in a costume resembling that from her 1998 video for “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” however, Craig and his friends didn’t get the reference.

You can see a clip from the upcoming episode above.

Missy Elliott’s upcoming episode of Craig Of The Creek will air 4/3 at 5 p.m. EST on Cartoon Network.

Missy Elliott is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The modern age has no shortage of wackadoodle celebrity trials. But compared to the ones involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard or the ones featuring Alex Jones, the one with Gwyneth Paltrow was over and done with relatively quickly, with only occasional and very minor fireworks. It only lasted a mere nine days, too, and it ended in Paltrow’s favor. What’s more, she’s a whole one dollar richer.

As per CNN, a Utah jury found Paltrow not guilty of colliding with a retired optometrist back in 2016. Terry Sanderson, the plaintiff, had accused the Oscar-winning actress and entrepreneur of running into her while skiing on the slopes of Park City, Utah. Sanderson claimed that as a result of the incident, he had suffered lasting injuries, incuding to the brain.

Paltrow, meanwhile, testified that it was Sanderson who ran into her, claiming she was downslope from him, not the other way around.

A jury agreed with Paltrow, perhaps in part because Sanderson’s witness, a neurologist, all but blew up his case by admitting that a skier would have had to be going 50 to 60 miles per hour to deliver the blow he claimed, something only an Olympic athlete could have done. Paltrow, meanwhile, was in the midst of skiing lessons.

Sanderson was seeking $3.2 million. Paltrow only sought a measly $1, which she’ll presumably get.

And so ends a minor addition to the world of celebrity trials, which had its share of oddball moments, from the Taylor Swift cameo to some perhaps unwanted words of encouragement from no less than O.J. Simpson. This time next week all anyone may remember about it is Paltrow’s looks.

(Via CNN)

Donald Trump was right about being indicted. He was just off by nine days. On Thursday, March 30, the guy who reportedly coined the mean nickname “Meatball Ron” became the first president to be brought up on criminal charges in American history. Not even Richard Nixon was indicted. It’s that impressive. It took Trump about an hour to make a public statement, and when he did it was predictably chill.

“This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history,” Trump hyperbolically wrote on his rinky-dink Twitter clone. From there he played the greatest hits.

“From the time I came down the golden escalator at Trump Tower, and even before I was sworn in as your President of the United States, the Radical Left Democrats – the enemy of the hard-working men and women of this Country – have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again. Movement. You remember it just like I do: Russia, Russia, Russia; the Mueller Hoax; Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine; Impeachment Hoax 1; Impeachment Hoax 2; the illegal and unconstitutional Mar-a-Lago raid; and now this.

Trump then claimed that the Democrats have “lied, cheaten and stolen in their obsession with trying to ‘Get Trump.’” He also accused them of cheating “countless times over the decades,” though he could only name accusations he’s made concerning himself.

He also reiterated claims that Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg was “hand-picked and funded by George Soros” — a famous dog whistle. He also claimed Bragg was “doing Joe Biden’s dirty work,” while “ignoring the murders and burglaries and assaults” he says are rampant in New York City. (In fact, the crime index in NYC was down in February by 5.6% what it was last year, when it was nowhere near what it was some 30 years ago.)

Trump ended on an optimistic note, sort of. “I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden,” he wrote. “The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it. So our Movement, and our Party – united and strong – will first defeat Alvin Bragg, and then we will defeat Joe Biden, and we are going to throw every last one of these Crooked Democrats out of office so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”

Not long after dropping the official statement, which was short on all-caps raging, he dropped another, more uncut one, where he even misspelled the legal thing happening to him.

“These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of Amderica, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President,” he wrote. He then hit the caps lock button. “THIS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY THE LIKES OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. IT IS LIKEWISE A CONTINUING ATTACK ON OUR ONCE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE. SO SAD!”

Will the news of Trump being held accountable for his actions rally the splintered GOP together? Or will the bug guy continue to try out weak mean nicknames for his likely 2024 Republican rival while being fingerprinted by law enforcement? Stay tuned.

On Wednesday, a gang of Ron DeSantis cronies were in for a rude awakening. The quintet who were set to take over Disney’s Florida land held their first meeting, which is when they learned that an agreement found a way to strip them of any real power. It was a brilliant case of checkmate by Disney honcho Bob Iger and his legal team. But maybe the funniest aspect was buried deep in the document.

As per the BBC, lawyers for Disney and the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which had up till this week served as the governing district of Disney’s Florida property, had found a way to circumvent DeSantis, who was enraged that the company didn’t hate LGBTQIA+ people. They signed an agreement that greatly reduced their power, handing it over to Disney instead.

But that’s not all they did. Surely recognizing that DeSantis and team could seize power later down the line, they added a clause that would keep their mitts off the company for…well, for forever. The clause stated that the declaration will last until “twenty one (21) years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III.”

King Charles III is still spry in his mid-70s, but the agreement doesn’t last until his death. It lasts until the “last survivor of the descendants” of the soon-to-be-coronated king. Even the relatively young DeSantis won’t be around then.

The clause — an extra eff-you to the governor who retaliated against the company — produced a lot of gasps on social media.

There was also some confusion about the clause’s language. Did it mean Charles III’s immediate descendants?

Or did it mean all of his descendants. If so, that would be a while.

Anyway, when Iger and team made a fool of Ron DeSantis, it was huge Florida news. Few imagined it would be eclipsed by the state’s most famous resident getting indicted.

(Via BBC)

Every year, during the summer months, there are a series of presentations where some of the biggest producers in all of gaming announce upcoming titles, new releases, and more all to the excitement of fans. This period of time has always been associated with the trade show, E3, but over the last few years E3 has struggled to remain relevant as complications from COVID, internal issues, and questions about if E3 should even exist have plagued it. Despite this, the organization running E3 known as the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has been adamant that it will continue on and would have a presentation in 2023. This will not happen.

E3 2023 has been cancelled as first reported by IGN’s Rebekah Valentine. Sometime Thursday, the ESA announced to its shareholders that an event in 2023 would not be happening. This follows months of announcements from some of gaming’s biggest companies, such as Xbox, Nintendo, PlayStation, and Ubisoft announcing that it would not have a presence of any kind at whatever event E3 was planning to host.

Two sources have confirmed to IGN that the organization announced the cancellation via an email sent out to its members today. The email said that while E3 “remains a beloved event and brand” that the 2023 version “simply did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry.”

With yet another cancellation to E3, many are wondering if this is it for the longtime event. Many companies no longer see value in purchasing an expensive physical booth at the Los Angeles convention center when they can do a better job reaching out to fans, media, and shareholders on their own through digital events like Nintendo Direct, or PlayStation’s State of Play. There are even competing showcase events like Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest.

If this really is it for E3, it will leave behind a complicated legacy. Many journalists speak highly of what it did for their careers, and fans have always loved having a week dedicated to the celebration of video games, but E3’s inability to evolve with the changing times may have finally doomed it for good.

As women, travel hasn’t always been as accessible to us as it’s been to men. Society has historically taught us to “stay home” rather than to wander freely around the globe (f*ck that, amirite?). While there are still some limitations and risks that come with female travel, much of that age-old stigma is changing as more women are taking their life experiences, and their passports, into their own hands — whether someone joins them or not.

These wanderlust-fueled women are also building growing communities of like-minded travelers and inspiring even more women to embark on exciting new journeys of their own. So, if you’re a woman looking for her next big adventure, consider the travel experiences below. From writing retreats to luxury girls’ trips to sustainable tourism immersions, these will motivate you to finally buy that plane ticket without hesitation.

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Gals Abroad Getaways

If you’ve been dreaming about your bucket list vacation but haven’t been able to convince your crew to come with you, look no further than Gals Abroad Getaways. Founded by travel blogger Alle Pierce, the bespoke group trips business (run by Pierce and her luxury travel advisor mom) is made for, “luxury-loving, independent women seeking a blend of immersive cultural experiences, meaningful connections, and fabulous accommodations in some of the most dazzling destinations around the world,” says Pierce.

“I founded Gals Abroad Getaways because I was tired of waiting for my friends to finally commit to taking that group trip that we talked about for years but never actually took. Turns out that thousands of other women are in a similar situation,” she continues. “My mom and I have traveled to more than 100 countries and worked in the travel industry for more than 15 years. These trips are a culmination of the years we’ve spent traveling the world, immersing ourselves in new cultures, and creating lifelong friendships with our partners who help bring our bespoke itineraries to life.”

It’s not just another gimmicky tour group, either. Gals Abroad Getaways emphasizes cultivating intimate groups of like-minded women. Not only does that create a safe and inclusive space for all travelers, but it makes it all the more fun!

There are still spots left for a getaway to Athens and the Greek Isles this September. Book your next trip with Gals Abroad Getaways here.

El Camino Travel

El Camino Travel is a woman-founded company designed for the bold woman traveler. It offers “group trips for solo travelers” that are especially ideal for the digital nomad or solo wanderer who might be craving connection with like-minded people. What makes El Camino Travel stand out, though, is the type of trips it curates. The brand brings sustainability, immersive cultural experiences, and supporting local businesses to the forefront of its group trip itineraries.

You can choose from a range of themed categories depending on what kind of travel experience you’re looking for — such as beach, relaxation, design, street food tour, and dancing — in destinations like Bolivia, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, Morocco, and more. If you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for, you can take a survey and get matched to your perfect trip. Basically, El Camino Travel takes all the work out of vacation planning for you, even picking the destination.

All you have to do is pack!

Book your next big adventure with El Camino Travel here.

Amansala Signature Retreats

Yogis, fitness aficionados, and wellness junkies alike will love the six-day signature retreats offered at the Amansala Resort and Spa, an eco-conscious property in Tulum, Mexico. There are two all-inclusive retreats to choose from: Bikini Bootcamp and Restore ‘n’ Renew. Both offer a mix of curated beach walks, yoga classes, pampering, and healthy eating.

Of course, you’ll also have plenty of time to relax on Tulum’s famously stunning beaches.

Bikini Bootcamp is a high-energy retreat that includes more fitness, strength, and toning classes, while the Restore ‘n’ Renew option focuses more heavily on mindfulness through beach walks, journaling, and meditation. Whichever you choose, you’re sure to return home feeling like a new person in the best way possible. While these retreats are available to all travelers, women are the most common attendees.

Sign up for an Amansala Signature Retreat here.

Trust & Travel

Calling all creatives! For both working and aspiring writers, Trust & Travel offers immersive writing retreats set around the world — as well as online writing workshops. Founded by Uproxx contributors Erin Rose Belair and Jade Moyano, Trust & Travel retreats are, “designed with the intention to foster authentic expression, confidence, and creative breakthroughs.”

Retreats take place in destinations like Sicily, Nicaragua, Tuscany, and Costa Rica, where travelers are immersed in nature, culture, and community. If you’re in search of creative inspiration and a community of equally passionate artists, Trust & Travel is for you.

Learn more about Trust & Travel and its creative travel experiences here.

Trafalgar Women’s Only Travel Tours

Well-known and award-winning travel brand, Trafalgar, offers a variety of women’s only tours around the world led by an all-women team of travel directors. This is an excellent route to take if you don’t have a ton of travel already under your belt, as the group leaders will be by your side every step of the way to guide you through it. It’s also great for both solo travelers and group trippers who want an already organized itinerary. You’ll meet like-minded women in a classic tour group setting that gives you ample opportunity to connect with your fellow travelers and the destination you’re visiting.

Whether you choose to embark on an 11-day getaway through Italy, attend a history-filled experience in Jordan, or go sightseeing in Greece, Trafalgar is your one-stop shop for a dream vacation.

Book your next girls’ trip with Trafalgar here.

The grand jury looking into the Manhattan district attorney’s case against Donald Trump wasn’t even supposed to deal with it this week, instead putting it on the back burner for a later date. But on Wednesday, they made a surprise decision: They made him the first president in U.S. history to be indicted on criminal charges.

As per The New York Times, the grand jury made the historic decision to indict the former president over his role in a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. She has long alleged that the two had an affair back in 2006, which she vehemently did not enjoy.

Details on what specific charges have been made against Trump have not yet been made public; D.A. Alvin Bragg is expected to address those in the coming days. In the meantime, Trump will be asked to surrender to the authorities, though he may not get that perp walk he so desperately craves.

The decision was what Trump predicted, only he got the date wrong by nine days. On Saturday, March 18, he took to Truth Social to gin up his already worked-up base, claiming the indictment was scheduled for that Tuesday and asking for protests. The former didn’t happen and the latter didn’t quite, drawing only a handful of his fans.

Anyway, congrats to Donald Trump for adding another creatively original failure to a list that includes Trump Steaks and Trump Shuttle.

(Via NYT)

Let’s face it. The first few weeks (and even month) of spring don’t feel like spring. The weather is still holding on to its cold winter chill. Maybe once April arrives, the real spring that we know and love will begin. Sure, there will be a lot of gloomy, rainy days. But they’ll make way for the sunny, warm days ahead.

Regardless of the weather, this portion of spring is great for beer drinking. Whether you need to wear a raincoat or slap on at SPF 50, it’s a good time for a great beer. A crisp, flavorful spring beer, in fact. And while there’s no specific definition for what a spring beer is, you can assume it’s lighter and hoppier than its malty, darker winter counterparts. Just like the world outside is reawakening and growing ever greener and alive, your spring beer choices are getting more refreshing and easy to drink.

To find these springtime gems, we went to the professionals who bide their time behind bars from Bangor to Bakersfield. We asked some of our favorite bartenders to tell us the best, most crushable beers to drink this spring. Keep reading to see them all.

Evasion Eclipse of the Tart

Augustina Elizabeth, bartender at SIM Golf in Portland, Oregon

ABV: 4%

Average Price: $15 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Eclipse of the Tart kettle sour by Evasion Brewing is an outstanding spring beer. This is a gluten-free sour beer with passion fruit. It’s the perfect treat for a day out wakeboarding or floating in the river with friends on a warm spring day.

Tasting Notes:

This very refreshing, tart beer gets its flavor from passionfruit and its bright hoppy flavor from the addition of Amarillo and Hallertau Blanc hops.

Pacifico Clara Mexican Lager

Sean Noddin, principal bartender at JW Marriott Tampa Water Street in Tampa, Florida

ABV: 4.4%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Living in a tropical climate like Florida, a Mexican lager like Pacifico is my go-to in the warmer months. Always cool, crisp, and refreshing. Citrus and ocean mist. It’s everything I look for.

Tasting Notes:

Crisp, clean, and very easy to drink with flavors like sweet corn, citrus, and grassy, herbal, earthy hops.

Montucky Cold Snacks

Guillermo Bravo, bartender at Vol. 39 in Chicago

ABV: 4.1%

Average Price: $8 for a six-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Montucky Cold Snacks is a can’t-miss spring beer. It is a really good cheap beer. It’s crisp and not overly malty. Plus, it’s called Cold Snacks. What’s not to love about that?

Tasting Notes:

While not overly exciting, this highly crushable beer has flavors like cereal grains, citrus peels, honey, and lightly bitter hops.

Stella Artois

Donny Largotta, beverage director at Gansevoort Meatpacking in New York City

ABV: 5%

Average Price: $9 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Stella Artois will always be the best beer to drink in my opinion. One of the most popular beers in the world, this Belgian beer is known for its easy-drinking, crisp, memorable flavor profile.

Tasting Notes:

During the spring, it’s great because it’s a light-bodied lager that has the perfect amount of sweet malt and hoppy bitterness that just sits in your mouth. However, I personally enjoy it throughout the year.

New Glarus Spotted Cow

Adnan Kahn, food and beverage director at FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar in Chicago

ABV: 4.8%

Average Price: $8 for a six-pack

The Beer:

New Glarus Spotted cow is my go-to. It’s made at a Wisconsin brewery using 100% natural ingredients to produce handcrafted beer. Spotted Cow in particular is a farm cask ale with fruity flavors. Fun fact: Deb Carey was the first woman in the U.S. to establish a brewery.

Tasting Notes:

Cereal grains, citrus peels, toasted malts, and grassy, herbal hops make this a surprisingly complex, flavorful farmhouse ale.

Love City Deep Cut Pilsner

Alex Clark, lead bartender at Square 1682 in Philadelphia

ABV: 5%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

The Beer:

The best beer to drink in the spring is Love City Deep Cut Pilsner. Who doesn’t love a well-made pilsner in the spring? It’s one of the most refreshing beers out there and definitely one of the best beers Philly has to offer.

Tasting Notes:

This local Philadelphia-made beer is super light but does not lack flavor at all. The hops come through but don’t take over the whole beer like a hazy IPA would.

Whiner Le Tub Saison

Andrew Bone, food and beverage manager at Deveraux in Chicago

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $13 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Whiner in Chicago has a fantastic barrel-aged saison called Le Tub. This drinks nicely on the cooler days of spring when the sun starts setting a little later in the day. Saisons are already a great compliment to spring weather. Adding the barrel-aged aspect just brings it to a new level.

Tasting Notes:

It’s a little funky and just a bit tart with a lemony finish. It’s a simple, elegant, easy-drinking farmhouse ale perfect for spring.

Prost Pilsner

Justin Hay, bar manager at Sky Bar at Stanley Marketplace, Aurora, Colorado

ABV: 4.6%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Spring beers for me consist of lighter-in-body brews. I love a good Pilsner or blonde — something I can take golfing or play baseball with, but not feel too full. One brewery that creates German pilsners well is Prost brewery in Denver. They have perfected the Pilsner and is something I plan on enjoying in the months to come.

Tasting Notes:

Classic European pilsner flavors of biscuit malts, lemon peel, honey, and fresh, herbal, piney hops make this an exceptional spring beer.

Pabst Blue Ribbon

Alex Cuper, beverage director at El Che Steakhouse & Bar in Chicago

ABV: 4.7%

Average Price: $6 for a six-pack

The Beer:

This may be a truly hot take that I can catch a lot of flak for, but I’m going to say it anyway. Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) is the best beer in the world, and when you get a cold one on that first day of spring when it is warm enough to go outside in shorts and a T-Shirt bumping Chance the Rapper’s “Angles” in your headphones in one downtown Chicago, that is as close to perfection and pure, unadulterated bliss that I can get to.

Tasting Notes:

It is damn near perfection. It’s crisp and clean and refreshing but still has some personality to it. It’s a near perfect beer, and I will argue this until the end of time.

Bearded Iris Flamingo Road

Garth Poe, bar manager at Easy Bistro & Bar in Chattanooga, Tennessee

ABV: 5%

Average Price: $15 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

My favorite beer to drink in the Spring is a good sour. Something about sunshine and a tangy beer just goes together. One of my current favorites is Flamingo Road from Bearded Iris.

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on with this beer. Medium-high upfront acidity that gives way to subtle hints of strawberry and raspberry.

Off Color Le Woof

Alex Barbatsis, head bartender at The Whistler in Chicago

ABV: 7.8%

Average Price: $9 for a 12-ounce bottle

The Beer:

In the springtime, I like a beer with little heft, lots of flavor, and nothing super heavy. I often try to find a Biere de Garde style, a technique created by adding more alcohol to the beer to keep it fresher for year-round drinking. Off Color’s Le Woof with Munich and Vienna malts comes in at 7.3% ABV. Lovey for a spring afternoon hangout in the park.

Tasting Notes:

Caramel malts, fruit ester, light funk, and earthy, memorable flavors guarantee you’ll drink this beer all spring long.

If you’re a novice to Mexican, agave-based spirits, you might be confused by the differences between tequila and mezcal. Technically, all tequila is mezcal but not all mezcal is tequila. This is because the term used to define agave-based spirits is, technically, mezcal. Tequila is simply one branch of the family tree — it’s similar to how bourbon is a type of whiskey. Also, tequila can only be made from Blue Weber agave while mezcal can be made using any type of agave. Obviously, there are more differences and rules but at least that gives you a starting point.

As drinkers are becoming more familiar with other agave-based Mexican spirits besides the usual tequila, mezcal has surged in popularity.

“The last five years have seen a significant shift in the way we drink and think about mezcal, making it a growing favorite to find behind a bar,” says Erica Dimmig, lead mixologist at Hotel Pendry in Chicago.

It’s also a favorite to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks as opposed to being simply used as a base for cocktails. The flavors of vegetal sweetness, baked agave, honey, spices, and light (sometimes robust) smoke make mezcal a perfect, warming, sipping spirit for spring.

We hit up a handful of bartenders to tell us the best sips of mezcal they’ve ever had. Keep reading to see them in all their smoky, agave-filled goodness.

Mezcal Macurichos

Walter Meyenberg, founder of Hanky Panky in Mexico City, Mexico

ABV: 53%

Average Price: $130

The Mezcal:

Without a doubt, Mezcal Macurichos, crafted by proper 5th-generation maestros mezcaleros continuing the tradition of artisanal and ancestral processes. It’s an eye-opening, memorable sip of mezcal to say the least.

Tasting Notes:

A beautiful genuine taste that is smoky, earthy, and herbal. It’s complex and flavorful, the kind of mezcal you’ll want to sip neat on a cool evening.

Lucy Pistolas Joven

Alicia Leftridge, bar manager at The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles, Illinois

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $50

The Mezcal:

Lucy Pistolas joven is one of my favorite mezcals. From the meticulous replanting of the hijuelos in the agave growing process to the recycled glass bottles, Lucy Pistolas’ brand mission of shedding light on the impact Mexican women had on the revolution. Who wouldn’t want to sip on a spirit that proudly touts itself as a symbol of the ongoing fight for women to be respected, recognized, and valued for their contributions? It helps that it’s a really good mezcal.

Tasting Notes:

Not only for its brightly herbal and delicately smokey flavors but also for the sustainable and intentional process from which it’s made.

Código 1530 Artesanal Mezcal

Alex Clark, lead bartender at Square 1682 in Philadelphia

ABV: 42.2%

Average Price: $70

The Mezcal:

Best sip of mezcal is Código 1530 Artesanal Mezcal. Código is a brand made with old-style family recipes. You might know it for its tequilas but definitely don’t sleep on its complex, exciting mezcals.

Tasting Notes:

This mezcal is not crazy smoky like you would have in others. This allows the other flavors to shine. This is one of the most balanced mezcals you can get your hands on.

Mezcal Vago Ensamble of Jabali and Tepeztate

David Tyda, co-owner of BARCOA Agaveria in Phoenix

ABV: 50.4%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Mezcal:

One the best sips of mezcal I’ve ever had was the Ensamble of Jabali and Tepeztate from Mezcal Vago. You rarely see these two agaves together, and it’s an extremely limited batch. Agave nerds of all levels find the flavor of this Ensamble unlike anything they’ve ever had.

Tasting Notes:

You’ve got the pepper and spice from the tepeztate, but that Jabali funk runs underneath the flavor from start to finish. Both expressions are mellowed out by the other, making this a beautiful drinking experience. At 50.4%, it packs heat without the burn. You can detect everything from mint to creosote in the profile. It’s truly complex and we’re honored to have it.

Del Maguey Vida

Donny Largotta, beverage director at Gansevoort Meatpacking in New York City

ABV: 42%

Average Price: $35

The Mezcal:

Del Maguey Vida is a truly delicious Mezcal. It’s great mixed in drinks but also ideal to enjoy in sips. This popular mezcal is made with Espadín agave. Like all of Del Maguey’s expressions, it’s naturally fermented and distilled two times in wood-fired copper pot stills.

Tasting Notes:

You get a nice aroma of tropical fruit, honey, and roast agave as well as taste hints of ginger, cinnamon, and tangerine – all with a soft smoky finish.

Dos Boots Mezcal Ancestral

Inga Tantisalidchai, bartender at OLEA Cellar Craft Cook in Newport Beach, California

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $99

The Mezcal:

I recently got introduced to Dos Boot’s ancestral collection of mezcal ( specifically its Dos Boots Mezcal Ancestral Clay Pots Castilla) and I must say it is quite delightful. It’s definitely one of (if not the) best sips of mezcal I’ve ever had.

Tasting Notes:

The tahona stone wheel used for milling and clay pots impart some beautiful mineral flavors that bring out a mild sweetness from the agave in this smokey mezcal.

Mezcal de Leyendas Maguey Cenizo Durango

Alex Cuper, beverage director at El Che Steakhouse & Bar in Chicago

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $80

The Mezcal:

Mezcal de Leyendas Maguey Cenizo Durango is arguably my favorite sip of mezcal I have been privileged to try. It was the first “ah-ha!” moment with mezcal where I could taste the agave, the process, and the terroir. I know it is usually a wine term, but to me, mezcal is the “wine” of the spirit world and is greatly affected by where it is grown and how it is handled.

Tasting Notes:

Long story short, you can taste its sense of place. his is a dense and rich mezcal with a good amount of smoke on it and a really amazing smell that I can only equate to the first time I got a pair of shoes at Foot Locker and you’re hit with that intoxicating “new shoe” smell. It’s such an amazing spirit to sip on those delightfully warm summer nights.

El Jogorio Mardecuishe

Alex Barbatsis, head bartender at The Whistler in Chicago

ABV: 47%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Mezcal:

El Jogorio is an amazing line of mezcals, and I’ve always been partial to their Mardecuishe. The ABV of 47.7% makes for a nice sipping temp to enjoy. (Note: avoid 40% ABV mezcal, it doesn’t showcase the best flavors of agave and is generally manipulated to be less flavorful).

Tasting Notes:

Madrecuishe mezcal has a high minerality and lovely floral notes, and El Jogorio knows how to make the most out of every style of agave with their single batch and wild-grown agave practices.

Del Maguey Wild Papalome

Garth Poe, bar manager of Easy Bistro & Bar in Chattanooga, Tennessee

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $129

The Mezcal:

My favorite sip of mezcal has got to be Del Maguey Wild Papalome. This is a giant agave that looks similar to a very large Tobolà. This exceptional mezcal comes from the village of San Pedro Teozacoalco. It’s naturally fermented and distilled two times.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is Earthy, dark, and seductive with notes of mole and leather. The palate has a surprising burst of flavor with black currant that gives way to a savory finish of mushroom and black olive.

Mezcal de Leyendas Tobala

Andrew Bone, food and beverage manager of Deveraux in Chicago

ABV: 48.7%

Average Price: $100

The Mezcal:

I fell down the mezcal rabbit hole while working for Chef Carlos Gaytan at Tzuco. Mezcal de Leyendas has a Tobala from Oaxaca that expanded my appreciation of mezcal as a spirit.

Tasting Notes:

Tobala plants are typically smaller and have a higher sugar content creating a smooth sippable almost honey-like spirit. The fact that they take so long to grow brings the terroir of the territory into play as well.

Real Minero Largo

Erica Dimmig, lead mixologist at Hotel Pendry in Chicago

ABV: 48.9%

Average Price: $139

The Mezcal:

Real Minero Largo by Graciela Angeles Carreño is one of the most sought-after bottles of agave on the market and for good reason. This bottle is light but so complex. To add to the long list of why this mezcal is so special, Real Minero is the biggest and premier producer participating in sustainable agave reforestation practices.

Tasting Notes:

You will catch peppery, light coconut, citrus, and mineral notes. Largo is rested in glass giving it an incredibly soft and creamy mouth feel.

Mezcal Vago Madrecuixe

Joe Vandal, general manager at Rita’s in Breckenridge, Colorado

ABV: 49.8%

Average Price: $110

The Mezcal:

Mezcal Vago Madrecuixe. I feel the same way about mezcal as I do about tequila-there’s no way I can pick just one. There is so much good juice out there. I have a soft spot in my heart for Mezcal Vago. It’s such a unique brand. On my first Palenque visit in 2016, I was fortunate enough to meet Aquilino, Vago’s first producer and it changed me. It’s really unique. 100% madre that sat in clay for six months and then another three years in glass.

Tasting Notes:

I get giddy every time I pour it-huge clay, minerally on the nose. The palate starts with the same clay, minerals, and has the typical Emigdio madre spiciness softened up by its time in glass. It finishes with a nice dry touch.

There was a time, if you can believe it, when Quibi was supposed to revolutionize the way people watched and engaged with content in a meaningful way. That never happened, but they sure did their best. Hey, 2020 was not good.

Quibi, if you have never heard of it (likely), is a now-defunct streaming app that launched in April 2020 and boasted shows from big-name celebs like Joe Jonas and Anna Kendrick… before shutting down in December 2020 after losing nearly $2 billion. What could you expect when the shows were about sex dolls coming to life and Kendall Jenner impersonators? Not much, it turns out.

This is where Jim Toth comes in. The actor/producer had been married to Reese Witherspoon since 2011. We say “had” here because the duo announced their divorce earlier this week. But it appears that the problems started years ago. In 2019, Toth left CAA in order to work at Quibi, which is where the troubles between the two allegedly began.

In a new report from RadarOnline, an unnamed source insists that Quibi’s failure caused strain between the two. “Leaving his position at CAA to join Quibi was a huge gamble. At the time, Reese asked Jim if it was worth the risk, but he said he was up for the challenge and felt confident he’d bring home millions,” said the alleged insider. Instead of bringing home millions, Quibi just sat half-downloaded on everyone’s phones before going bankrupt within six months, so that didn’t pan out.

Witherspoon posted about the split this week on Instagram, saying, “It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness, and mutual respect for everything we have created together.” Earlier this year, the actress was lightly bullied about her chemistry (or lack thereof) with costar Ashton Kutcher. If only we had known then what we know now.

Just think: If Quibi’s Punk’d reboot worked out the way it was supposed to, this all could have been avoided.

(Via Decider)