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Eat, sleep, travel, repeat. This is the life motto practiced by thousands of vagabonds and wanderers from around the world on a daily basis. These are those wise souls who know that traveling and soaking up new experiences is what really makes someone rich. Even when it isn’t easy (or doesn’t make perfect financial sense). In other words…

After the world was forced to stay at home for most of 2020 and 2021, last year saw a monster resurgence in travel. With over two years of lost travel opportunities, people were keen on getting their boots back on the ground in new states and countries, making up for lost time in a major way. That shows in the data too, with global tourism rising 41% in 2022. From micro trips, car camping, spontaneous adventures, local solo travel, and more, last year was one for the books.

With travel in the forefront of our minds and budgeting plans as spring starts kicking, we turned to travel writers and influencers to share their favorite travel experiences of the past year. From road-tripping across the southern coast of Iceland to chasing down the super bloom just a few days ago, let these recaps inspire you to start mapping out your next travel adventure for the year ahead.

EDITOR’S PICK: STEVE BRAMUCCI (@steve_bramucci) — CHASING THE SUPERBLOOM IN A VAN

A few weeks ago, I drove up to LA, grabbed a Cabana Camper Van from a nondescript parking lot, unlocked it with my phone, and hit the road with my lady. It was incredibly easy and totally intuitive. Absolutely un-stressful. From there, we headed to the less trafficked and most-underrated of California’s many hotly debated superbloom spots, Anza Borrego.

The trip was, in short, a marvel. Not necessarily because of the bloom, though seeing a desert floor carpeted with flowers is really lovely. It was more… a reminder.

I’ve traveled around the world more than a few times, seen 50+ countries, partied on white sand beaches, driven a car across the Australian outback powered by used french fry oil, eaten a few of the best restaurants on earth, stayed in some absurdly decadent hotels, and had wild adventures in Jurrasic canyons. And yet, this trip reminded me that there is always so much to see in your own backyard. That’s an important reminder for anyone who truly loves travel.

Anza Borrego is a desert hemmed in by mountains. After the wild winter that Southern California has had, the rivers were surging up over their banks. It was unseasonably warm but not oppresively hot. And then there were those flowers, sprouting out of the cracked earth, showing off their beauty in bright bursts of color before the sun could shrivel them.

As you might expect, the trip itself was defined by the mode of transport/ shelter — the van. Since we started Uproxx Life, I’ve been a huge proponent of the #VanLife. But vans have grown exceedingly stylized and with that has come expense. A fully kitted out Sprinter van is going to run you at least $100. Then there’s the fuel, the upkeep, the worries over theft, the storage, etc. It’s a lot. Whereas renting a Cabana Van was defined by how easy is was.

I still got to way up surrounded by nature, I still got to take roadside naps with the sun filtering through the curtains, but I also got to drop the thing off at the end and let someone else empy the waste tanks. It’s a superb road tripping alternative for anyone who doesn’t have the money, time, or energy to go full #vanlife.

MARISSA STRANG (@marissa.daily) — ROAD TRIPPING ACROSS ICELAND

Last September, I spent a week solo road-tripping across the southern coast and western peninsula of Iceland, which is called Snæfellsnes. The natural landscapes are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I love the outdoors and I felt like I was in outer space, the diversity of the landscapes is really mind-blowing. You could be driving and see towering snow-capped mountains and then see tall green, grassy hills, and even miles of flat, mossy rocks. While I was there, I got to visit the Blue Lagoon, bathe in the silica-rich mud, and walk behind the 200-foot tall Seljalandsfoss waterfall.

In this photo, I’m standing on Diamond Beach which is a long strip of black sand that glisten like diamonds. It was really cool to feel so small among these huge iceberg fragments. Also in that same day, I took a glacier tour of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which is at the foot of Europe’s biggest icecap. It was really cool to take this boat and get up close to these free-flowing icebergs that gradually break off and become smaller chunks.

Aside from those things, I definitely can’t forget to mention seeing the elusive northern lights for the first time. That was something on my bucket list and it was just so incredible to see it in person. If somebody was on the other side of the sky with a paintbrush and they were painting it, and just watching the paint strokes, that’s the way I would describe it. Watching the lights dance was just so magical.

I really couldn’t have asked for a better experience being there.

CHLOE CALDWELL (@chloeicaldwell) — HOTEL HOPPING IN HAWAII

My favorite travel experience of the year was visiting Honolulu, Hawaii. In addition to the classic tourist attractions like hiking Diamond Head and surfing at Waikiki Beach, I stayed in three different hotels around Honolulu. I know that may seem weird, but I love hotel hopping when I travel because different properties often offer a range of experiences, perks, and locations. And in a tourist-centric, resort destination like Honolulu, the hotel you choose can make or break your experience.

I first stayed at White Sands Hotel, a budget-friendly option that also happens to be home to one of the newest bars in town, Heyday. Rumor has it that White Sands is also opening a speakeasy! It’s the ideal spot for young travelers looking to party without spending their life savings. Next, I stayed at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa — because sometimes living that basic resort life really is worth it. It was walking distance to everything, offered free classes like lei-making and yoga, housed several restaurants, and had two pools to choose from, not to mention the incredible views (you won’t regret splurging on an oceanfront room). Lastly, I spent a few nights at Kaimana Beach Hotel, a luxury boutique property that’s tucked away from the craziness of Waikiki but still close enough to walk to the heart of the action. With surf lessons, yoga classes, its own private beach area, and a trendy, up-and-coming restaurant called Hau Tree, this is a hotel I would come back to again and again.

Skipping around to all of these hotels in between my daily adventures is what made this trip to Honolulu so memorable. If you’re visiting a destination for a week or longer, I definitely recommend checking out a few different hotel properties during your stay.

MIKALA LUGEN (@miklugen) — BACKPACKING & ROCK CLIMBING IN THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS

While last year saw me enjoying mny most robust travel plans and trips to date, backpacking in the San Juan mountains was my favorite experience. In the sweltering heat of August, my friend Liz and I ventured off into the cooler San Juan Mountains in Colorado for a three-day backpacking and rock-climbing adventure. They say the mountains you climb represent your mind, so I find it ironic that we chose to take on one of Colorado’s hardest 14,000-foot mountains, Mt. Sneffels.

The first bit of the hike was fairly easy, bringing us four miles into the mountains where we camped at the base of these breathtaking alpine Blue Lakes. The turquoise waters were something out of a movie, and watching the sunset while cooking our dinners and going to bed to the sweet silence of the mountains is something I’ll never forget. That second day was one of the hardest physical challenges of my life, as Liz and I had the last three miles to go with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain. After several hours, we found ourselves looking over the world at over 14,000 feet high, exhausted but holding so much pride and accomplishment.

If you’ve never gone hiking before on am actual mountain, the way down can be just as much – if not more – hard on your body as going up. After six or more hours of down-hiking, we finally arrived at our cars. Dirty, sweaty, and sore, we drove down into the town of Telluride and pulled up to a restaurant, and completely devoured some delicious greasy cheeseburgers and fries. We were able to sleep really well that night, as a friend of mine gave us his guest room to sleep in.

Without waiting, we hit the ground running the next day and conquered yet another massive feat, the Telluride Via Ferrata. The term “via ferrata” is Italian for “iron way.” A via ferrata is a route on a mountain face equipped with steel cables, ladders, and other fixed anchors that allows people to traverse or travel across rock faces without their own climbing rigs. With our gear ready to go, Liz, my friend Benson, and I started our crazy adventure in the morning, traversing the rock over 600 feet above the forest floor and town of Telluride. This was easily one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life, and seeing the views of Bridal Veil Falls, the town of Telluride, and the surrounding peaks of the San Juan Mountains was truly incredible.

Let’s just say my body was very sore after this mountain trip but something I’ll never forget taking on these beautiful mountains.

CAMERON LEE (@thecameronlee) — STAYING AT AIRELLES LA BASTIDE DE GORDES IN THE MAJESTIC LUBERON VALLEY OF PROVENCE, FRANCE

Sitting atop a hillside village in the majestic Luberon Valley of Provence, France, my stay at Airelles La Bastide de Gordes was my favorite travel experience in 2022.

The whole experience was like stepping into an enchanted French fairytale. The 18th-century decor, from the period furniture to the staff’s uniform, gave off an atmosphere of magical grandeur, as if I’d been transported back in time. There are antiques and artwork from the 18th century sourced across France around the property.

My favorite part was definitely the stunning panoramic view of the Luberon Valley, especially from the outdoor pool – truly magical! Needless to say, I spent the majority of my stay by the pool. Watching the sun goes down from their open-air restaurant terrace at dinner was probably one of the most romantic dinners I’ve ever had. In fact, when I posted about my dinner here, someone DM me on IG to ask about my exact table location because he wanted to propose to his girlfriend there.

Everything here captures the timelessness of a classic fairytale. If you ever want to experience what it’s like to live in a fairytale, this is the closest you will get to it.

GABBY BECKFORD (@packslight) — HANG GLIDING IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

My favorite travel experience of the past year was hang gliding in Cape Town, South Africa. It was extremely affordable being only $30 and it was one of the most magical experiences I’ve ever had in my entire life. Cape Town as a city is extremely dynamic and complex and has beautiful parts to it. I’m extremely grateful I was able to do a hang gliding experience over the city at the end of my trip to round it all out and get that full bird’s eye view of the city.

This was in October 2022, so it was getting into their warmer season. It was pretty windy and we had tried to go the day before but the wind was too much. When they messaged us bright and early the next day, we got to the top of the mountain as soon as we could. It was maybe a 30-minute drive to the top of the mountain and once we got there it was so quick to sign the release forms and get strapped in.

At that point, the clouds separated and you could see the entire view of Cape Town from sea point to the waterfront. It was absolutely gorgeous. Before we knew it, we were running with our instructor and jumping off the side of the mountain into the air. The parachute catches you and you’re gliding above the city and out above the water. We could see dolphins from our paragliding vantage point which was absolutely beautiful. The wind rushing past your face mixed with the smell of the ocean was really one of those moments where you don’t want to speak and just take in every single sense and smell and sight that you can.

REBECCA FELGATE (@missrebeccaj) — SIPPIN’ ON WHISKEY IN ISLAY

Oh my God, I don’t think life gets better than on Islay? Like, seriously, can I move there? Okay, sure yes, I went on a far-flung whisky adventure during the rare occasion that the Weather Gods shone their good graces on the outer Hebrides, but I have a feeling I would have been just as enamored with the mecca of peated Scotch in the rain. Heck, the “water of life” tastes so great out there, I’d tackle a tempest to return! #WhatWouldRonSwansonDo?

Islay, population 3000, is just 620 square kilometers but is home to nine distilleries producing world-famous single malts. I have my favorites — Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Bowmore — but each distillery is a welcoming space to be and the Islay locals are thirsty and amiable people across the board. If you get lucky, you might be invited down to a local peat cutters hut for a scythe adventure, followed by a swill of the good stuff from a literal horn (in that order, ‘cause nobody needs to die today).

The iconic distilleries are nearly as compelling from the water as they are when standing next to their distinct copper stills. From the ocean, each has its name painted on the side of the building which is frankly just incredibly exciting to witness for a whisky nerd like me. Arriving at the Ardbeg distillery on a boat and standing by that emblazoned white wall is a moment I will never forget, which is impressive considering the amount of Scotch I proceeded to sample henceforth.

The sunrises and sunsets were something I felt as much as I saw, and if you visit in the summer you’ll be treated to as much as 17 hours of light! If nights are your bag, there are plenty of pub spots to cosy up at to enjoyed a sweet sweet round of live bagpipes and local ale. Or, y’know, more whisky.

Ah, Islay. Long may you reign as King of my heart!

VESCOE BLAKE (@vesblake) — CAMPING IN THE OKAVANGO DELTA IN BOTSWANA

My most memorable trip of last year was my trip to Botswana. I didn’t know much about Botswana other than that it’s 75% wildlife and desert. It’s home to the Kalahari Desert and also the world-famous Okavango Delta, a stream that flows through the Northern part of the country that is fed by the rain of Angola. The Delta is a very special place, probably one of the only places in the world where you’ll see Lions swimming and it’s also the hub of so much wildlife.

My trip started in the capital, Gaborone. It’s a very beautiful city and I felt at peace there. After a few days, I went over to the tourist capital, Maun, and also saw the gateway to the Delta. It was quite the experience — seeing more of the rural side of these places, where you could go jogging and see a crocodile. I saw elephant footprints just a mile away from where my hotel was, too.

Then I started the camping part of my trip. I was afraid to camp in the Delta, petrified actually. At the same time, I was proud of myself for conquering this fear of being eaten alive, or actually while sleeping. Our camp was located in a very active area of the Delta with both predators and prey. The first-night camping in the Delta, I couldn’t sleep. You hear noises throughout the night of all the active wildlife at night. Unfortunately, I actually had to leave the camp two days early because I got really ill. I ended up coming back to Delta a week later when I recovered from my illness and this time I stayed for a week and saw lions, hyenas, and elephants. It was the most mesmerizing thing I’ve seen in my life.

What I really enjoyed the most was being able to see all of this in three different ways. I did a game drive through Moremi, flew in a small aircraft over the Delta, and I also did a boat trip through the Delta. On my last night, I spent a lot of time outside of my tent around the campfire and in the middle of the night jI ust stared up into the sky. In the middle of the desert there’s no light pollution so it was a beautiful view of the stars of the southern hemisphere.

PREETHI CHANDRASEKHAR (@eagertravele) — GLAMPING IN VAIL, COLORADO

My best travel experience of 2022 was a glamping trip in Vail, Colorado at the incredible Piney River Ranch! It’s a private 40-acre Rocky Mountain retreat, nestled at the foot of the majestic Gore Range. This place is so magical and it’s located just twelve miles north of Vail Village, surrounded by thousands of acres of back country wilderness within the White River National Forest.

The ranch has lake-view cabins and tents. You have to wake up for sunrise because the chances of seeing moose are very high! Canoeing on Piney River is a highlight early morning. The lake is still and canoeing into the reflection of the Gore mountains was surreal.

If you’re looking for a restful, healing weekend getaway this is it. There’s also a restaurant on-site and even a hike that leads to a waterfall.

JOE SILLS (@joesills) — DOCUMENTING CHEETAH, COUNTING RHINOS, AND MONITORING PANGOLIN IN SOUTH AFRICA

A few months ago, I boarded a flight to King Shaka International Airport and walked out of its doors into a completely alien world to me. As a transfer whisked me up the coast from Durban, I became immersed in a rolling, hilly landscape that inspires both awe and ire. Awe, because the province of KwaZulu-Natal is home to lively communities of people and spectacular species like cheetah, rhino, and pangolin. Ire, because Africa’s cheetahs have lost 90% if their historical range, its rhino brought to the brink of extinction in recent decades, and the pangolin have become one of the most trafficked animals in the world.

I was there, ostensibly, because I had a camera and a pen to tell part of that story with. Embedded with ecology voluntourists at Phinda Private Game reserve, I did just that. We bounced around in the bush for weeks, documenting individual cheetahs, counting rhinos, and monitoring pangolins. It was a photographer’s dream assignment.

But here’s the kicker—anyone can hop on that team. You don’t have to take a luxury safari to enjoy the place. If you’re willing to bunk up with ecologists and spend long days (from dawn to dusk) dedicating your time to wildlife, then you can be a temporary part of the team and form some of the same memories that I have.

CANDACE & GEOFF WONG (@ajourneyinspired) — BACKPACKING MOUNT ASSINIBOINE PROVINCIAL PARK IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Backpacking Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada was hands down the most memorable trip of our past year. Assiniboine is iconic not only because of its striking resemblance to the Matterhorn but also its desktop wallpaper-worthy landscapes that people dream to see once in their lifetime.

The park is only accessible by helicopter or by foot, and we decided to take the latter option to challenge our physical and mental strength. Carrying 30 lbs on our backs, we hiked 27km each way between Alberta and BC and were surrounded by the most stunning views throughout.

Over five days in the park, we also bagged three peaks. If you do visit, we would highly recommend the day hikes that we did – Niblet, Nublet, and Nub Peak (one of the most famous hikes in Canada), the Towers scramble, and the Sunburst scramble. Altogether, the 80 km of hiking made for the most rewarding and beautiful trip in the Canadian Rockies!

ALISE GRAVES (@leeleetalks) — VISITING EL NIDO ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINES

I started my 2023 with a bang. I visited El Nido Island in the Philippines, which offers the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. From the crystal clear water to the views of the surrounding limestones covered with lush plants.

There are some great to do in El Nido from island-hoping to scuba diving to kayaking in the Big Lagoon. I highly suggest adding El Nido to your travel list for 2023.

Lamar Jackson would like the rest of the NFL to know he is very much available after announcing publicly on Monday that he issued a trade request to the Ravens back in early March, five days before the team placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him.

John Harbaugh insisted at the league meetings the team was still preparing for Lamar to be a Raven and that he “felt good” about where negotiations were, but Jackson appears to be a bit more frustrated with his standing in Baltimore right now. There are a number of teams with rumored interest in Jackson, headlined by the Colts — whose team plane just so happened to be in Baltimore recently, as Twitter sleuths discovered. Colts GM Chris Ballard didn’t shy away from how intriguing it is to have Jackson on the market, and armed with the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s Draft, the Colts are probably the team best equipped to make a run at him.

Jackson, meanwhile, apparently has some interest in a longtime AFC power in the New England Patriots, with that information being relayed to owner Robert Kraft by the strangest of brokers: Meek Mill.

Mill is fairly close with Kraft (and former Sixers owner Michael Rubin), regularly attending events with the Patriots owner, so it’s not quite as bizarre as it initially seems, but it’s still a pretty funny game of telephone being played between an NFL owner, a hip-hop artist, and a star quarterback. The best part is Kraft doesn’t even pretend like he wouldn’t be interested, instead passing the responsibility on making that decision to Bill Belichick.

That’s just savvy ownership work, as even the slightest hint of a Jackson rumor will excite the Pats fanbase — and he also knows better than to alienate Mac Jones completely by insisting he fully believes in Jones as their guy. All of this is just the beginning of what ought to be a wild Draft season, with Aaron Rodgers still in the wind as well with the Jets trying desperately to land him from Green Bay, and Jackson now putting the heat on Baltimore by announcing his intentions of playing elsewhere next year.

It’s okay if you want to laugh at the prospect of paying — gulp — $250 for a single bottle of bourbon. It’s a crazy price point in a world where plenty of very good cask strength, bottled in bond, special oak finished, and even single barrel bourbon whiskeys cost less than 50 or 60 bucks. But… don’t be a spoilsport now. You already clicked, after all.

Look, expensive bourbon is expensive for a good reason (usually). We’re talking about special one-off limited edition bourbons, old barrels that somehow lasted longer than expected and actually taste amazing, and special blended bourbons that highlight something that we may never see again from a brand or blender. This isn’t about average bourbon whiskey, this is about the exceptional stuff that lives up to the hype. And it doesn’t matter if it’s Supreme sweatshirts, Air Jordan 1’s, or early 1960s Fenders, “exceptional” and “rare” paired together surely means that more cash is necessary for entry.

To that end, I’ve listed 12 expensive bourbon whiskeys that are actually worth their hefty price tags, between $200 and $250. But be warned with whiskey this rare, availability and pricing are going to vary — sometimes dramatically. In general, I’ve included bottles that you can actually find depending on where you live. When it comes to the prices, some of these are new enough releases that you’ll still be able to find them at MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) in some markets and at distillery bottle shops (always try there first!). On the flip side, some of these are so allocated that you just won’t be able to find them without a markup unless you are really deep in the industry and know where and when to look — cough, cough, Blatnon’s, cough, cough.

Basically, the access to these bottles all just depends. I know that’s an unsatisfying answer but that’s just how it is. How hard do you want to search and hustle? Do you have some relationships in the industry? For instance, you can get the Wild Turkey bottle on this list in Texas at MSRP pretty easily. That same bottle is nowhere to be found in Kentucky — where it’s bloody made — not even at the bottle shop at the distillery. But again, for true aficionados, this is all part of the fun.

Good luck out there, folks.

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12. Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Tawny Port Casks

ABV: 55.8%

Average Price: $224

The Whiskey:

This new limited edition whiskey has a small 5,400-bottle run and that’s it. Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson built this whiskey from 10-year-old bourbon barrels. Once batched, that whiskey was filled in old tawny port barrels for a final 10-month rest. Finally, those barrels were batched and bottled 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Leathery dates and prunes mingle with a hint of black tea and cinnamon bark next to cranberry compote cut with orange rinds and clove with a hint of salinity lurking underneath.

Palate: Toasted almond mixes with a sense of clove-studded oranges and black peppercorns soaked in prune juice with a hint of apricot jam over warm and buttery buttermilk biscuits with a hint of raisin.

Finish: That raisin takes on a hint of rum as sweet cedar layers with rich and chewy cherry tobacco next to a dash more of that woody winter spice and dark dried fruit.

Bottom Line:

Angel’s Envy really shines brightest with their cask strength releases. Look, I dig their standard port-finished stuff for mixing cocktails, but it’s these special, longer-aged whiskeys that shine a spotlight on how great the team over at Angel’s Envy really is. This is a great sipper that just keeps going with classic, wintry bourbon flavor notes. Over ice, it takes on a buttercream creaminess with a marzipan vibe that’s luscious.

Buy this if you’re an Angel’s Envy fan who wants to take that adoration to the next level.

11. Booker’s 2022-03 “Kentucky Tea Batch” Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 63.25%

Average Price: $229

The Whiskey:

This Booker’s is a nod to “Kentucky Tea” which isn’t tea at all. It’s when you add a little whiskey to a glass of water and then that looks like tea. The juice in this case is a blend of bourbon barrels from seven locations across six different warehouses. The final product was bottled without any fussing at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a clear sense of sour cherry and vanilla cookies on the nose with a supporting cast of dark tobacco packed into old cedar boxes with a rough and worn leatheriness tying everything together.

Palate: The palate opens with a vanilla white cake frosted with cherry and chocolate — a bit like a Black Forest cake — that leads to orange oils, clove, and old pine boards with a touch of sap.

Finish: The end has a fruitiness that leans towards a spicy star fruit with a fresh vibe next to light pear tobacco with a pine humidor edge.

Bottom Line:

Father and son team Fred and Freddie Noe out at Beam really have been killing these Booker’s blends lately (they’ve always been good really). This pushes the classic Kentucky bourbon vibes to 11 while staying as approachable as possible. Delicious is the only thing you need to know. So if you want a classic and wonderfully warm Kentucky hug via a soft vanilla/chocolate/cherry softness, this is it.

10. Wyoming Whiskey The Ten Anniversary Edition

ABV: 51.7%

Average Price: $249

The Whiskey:

This is a low-corn bourbon made with a mash of 68% corn, 20% rye, and 12% malted barley that’s left to rest for 10 long years. The barrels were hand-selected by Master Distiller and legend Steve Nally and Master Blender and Master Distiller Nancy Fraley, giving the final product some serious pedigree for the whiskey nerds.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This leans into classic bourbon notes of black cherry, sticky toffee pudding, pecan pie, and marmalade before veering toward dried ancho chili powder and a touch of pistachio and honey.

Palate: That dark cherry turns syrupy before maple sap kicks in with a sense of toasted marshmallow, creamed honey, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and blueberry pie with a big dollop of bourbon vanilla ice cream.

Finish: The end has a sense of sweet potato pie covered in candied pecans next to toasted oak that’s been dipped in cherry tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This melds classic and new very well. The chili spiciness takes the more standard bourbon notes somewhere deeper and a little more vibrant while the sweetness is like your childhood rendered in whiskey warmth. If you’re looking for a masterfully built craft whiskey that tastes essential, add this one to your collection.

9. Widow Jane The Vaults Aged 14 Years A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys 2022 Release

ABV: 49.5%

Average Price: $229

The Whiskey:

This sourced New York whiskey is made from 14 to 19-year-old barrels from Tennessee and Indiana. Those barrels were sent out to Brooklyn and blended and then re-barreled into Missouri Ozark casks that were air-seasoned for three years before they were coopered and charred. Finally, the whiskey was blended in a small batch and bottled as-is without filtering but was cut with limestone mineral water from the Rosendale Mines in New York.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a mild sense of graininess on the nose with a hint of vanilla wafer honey sandwiches with mild winter spices — woody cinnamon, allspice, star anise — next to a hint of sweet tobacco layers of cherry and apple pie filling.

Palate: The palate has a very Tennessee vibe with soft bran muffins next to vanilla wafers layered with nougat and cinnamon with a hint of root beer cut with cherry syrup.

Finish: The end has a mild chocolate milk powder feel next to old oak, worn leather, and root beer-laced tobacco leaves.

Bottom Line:

There’s a gentle beauty to this whiskey that really shines through. It’s subtle yet succinct. Then is a masterclass in blending and proofing.

8. Remus Gatsby Reserve 15 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 48.9%

Average Price: $229

The Whiskey:

From the newly minted Ross & Squibb Distillery (formerly just MGP of Indiana), this whiskey combines barrels that were filled in 2005 and 2006. Those carefully selected barrels were small batched into this fine whiskey. The final blend was bottled as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose on this is classic old-school bourbon with dark dried cherry and cranberry next to caramelized pecans inside a waffle, soft leatheriness, and rich maple syrup cut with lush vanilla and subtle woody tobacco spiciness.

Palate: The palate leans into brandied cherries with a hint of blueberry syrup next to leathery notes of tobacco and dark berries with a hint of woodiness that leads to huckleberries and mulled wine spices.

Finish: The end has a lovely softness that leans into apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks, singed cherry bark, and pipe tobacco loaded into an old oak barrel.

Bottom Line:

This is MGP of Indiana absolutely flexing with their own barrels (which are usually used for tons of sourced labels). The berry fruitiness is front and center and makes total sense with the subtler bourbon vibes. This is the bottle you get when you’re hankering for a dark berry-forward bourbon that creates a soft and beautiful harmonization with classic bourbon tones.

7. Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon Cask Strength 15 Years

ABV: 52.5%

Average Price: $249

The Whiskey:

Barrell Craft Spirits is another craft blendery that’s sourcing some of the best barrels in the game and expertly marrying them. This expression blends 15-year-old bourbon from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee into a final product that reaches new heights for blended bourbon.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is obviously a Tennessee whiskey from the jump, with honey-dipped Graham Crackers next to cherry Necco Wafers and vanilla wafers with a hint of nougat, pear candy, and a minor salted note.

Palate: The taste is cherry-forward with a mix of berry multivitamins next to woody winter spice, wet brown sugar, and Earl Grey tea bags.

Finish: The end leans into the blackness of that tea with a hint of salted dark chocolate next to figs mixed with pinenuts and dosed in olive oil and orange oils with a hint of old pine boards and woody pear tobacco lurking at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This is another masterclass in blending. The palate just keeps going on this one, especially when you add some water or a rock and the creaminess comes forward. This is the whiskey your pour when you’re looking for something new and fascinating.

6. Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 65.15%

Average Price: $249

The Whiskey:

Blanton’s is “The Original Single Barrel” bourbon, and this expression is the purest form of that whiskey. The whiskey in this case is from the barrels that need no cutting with water and are excellent as-is, straight from the barrel. All the barrels will come from Warehouse H (where Elmer T. Lee stored his private stash of barrels back in the day) and arrive with varying proofs. The through-line is the excellent taste of that single, unadulterated barrel in each sip.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is full of very bespoke dark chocolate-covered salted hard caramel toffees encrusted with almonds and pecans — the kind you get from a chocolate shop that imports their goodies from somewhere like Belgium.

Palate: The nutty toffee carries through into the taste as oily vanilla pods mingle with cedar boxes of dried tobacco leaves and a touch of floral honey.

Finish: The end is very long and lingers in your senses, with a hot buzzing that subtly fades through all that sweetness.

Bottom Line:

Standard Blanton’s is a delicious whiskey that is proofed way down (93-proof to be exact). The whiskey simply shines more brightly at cask strength. If you’re even remotely attracted to standard Blanton’s, then it’s time to graduate to this.

5. Garrison Bros. Cowboy Bourbon Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 67.4%

Average Price: $239

The Whiskey:

Cowboy Bourbon is Garrison Brother’s signature bottle of whiskey. This year’s release was made from 118 hand-selected 25-gallon barrels, aged between eight and nine years. Master Distiller Donnis Todd went through all of their small-format barrels over the course of the year to find a dozen or so that he thought met the high standards of Cowboy Bourbon without filtering or cutting with water. That makes this a very as-is representation of what makes Garrison Bros. special.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a rush of sharp cinnamon bark wrapped up with old saddle leather, freshly fried apple fritters, walnuts, old cedar bark braids twisted up with dried wild sage, and a hint of dried yellow mustard flowers with an underlying sense of maple syrup over pecan waffles.

Palate: The palate leans into the spice with a hint of allspice and ginger next to apple pie filling with walnuts, brandy-soaked raisins, and plenty of brown sugar next, next to spiced Christmas cake dipped in dark chocolate sauce.

Finish: The end takes its time and meanders through salted caramel, stewed plums with star anise and sharp cinnamon, a hint of vanilla Dr. Pepper, and a mild sense of chocolate-cinnamon-spiced chewing tobacco buzziness with a warming Texas hug that’s part Hot Tamales and part chili-spiced green tea.

Bottom Line:

This might well be the best whiskey from Texas right now. I’ll leave it at that.

4. Sweetens Cove 22 Tennessee Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 57%

Average Price: $200

The Whiskey:

This brand-new whiskey from Tennessee is a serious blend. The blend is made with a mix of five-, six-, eight, and 10-year-old bourbons. That whiskey then goes into Speyside Scotch whisky casks for a final rest before blending and bottling with a tiny drop of proofing water.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Leathery raisins and cranberries mingle with marmalade and sweet cedar next to a hint of clove tobacco and some old boot leather and vanilla buttercream.

Palate: Cinnamon toast and tart apple pies with plenty of cinnamon and walnuts mix with a touch of smoldering cedar bark and allspice on the palate.

Finish: That singed vibe applies to vanilla pods as dark berries and old dry tobacco dominate the finish with a hint of sweet cedar and soft vanilla cream drizzled with salted toffee.

Bottom Line:

This is a fantastic Tennessee whiskey blend. It runs deep and offers exacting flavor notes that feel right on your senses.

3. Jim Beam Lineage Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey A Father And Son Collaboration

ABV: 55%

Average Price: $250

The Whiskey:

This whiskey was released for the struggling travel retail market late last year. The whiskey in the bespoke bottle is a 15-year-old classic Beam bourbon that was aged on specific ricks in Warehouse K (the most famed warehouse on the Clermont, Kentucky campus). Father and son Fred and Freddie Noe both selected the barrels to make this blend and released it almost completely as-is with just a drop of that soft Kentucky limestone water.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is classic from the jump with a soft caramel candy with vanilla buttercream frosting over spiced choco-cherry cake, a touch of clove-studded burnt orange rind, and soft marzipan with a hint of old oak cellars.

Palate: The palate is lush with a sense of Black Forest cake — stewed cherries, vanilla cream, moist chocolate cake, dry dark chocolate shavings — next to a bunch of woody and barky winter spices with a hint of hazelnut and burnt orange.

Finish: The end leans ever-so-slightly into old cedar bark and rich spiced cherry tobacco layered with dark chocolate-covered espresso beans and a hint of sharp mint and maybe some more of that clove.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the best Beam products there is. You can even get it at the distillery (and travel retail) right now. If you’re in any way a fan of Knob Creek, Booker’s, or Basil Hayden, then this is a no-brainer buy.

2. Russell’s Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Rickhouse Limited Release Rickhouse Collection Camp Nelson C

ABV: 56.2%

Average Price: $249

The Whiskey:

All of Wild Turkey’s bourbon is made from the same mash of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. Comparatively, Turkey uses less rye and more barley than your average bourbon. These barrels were loaded into Rickhouse C in Camp Nelson and left alone on floors three and four for years (those are the central floors of the seven-story rickhouse). As the rickhouse was falling apart and it became clear it was beyond repair (nearly hundred-year-old structures tend to do that), the Russell crew started tasting whiskey to see what they could do with it. 72 barrels rose to the surface with a parallel flavor structure that became this whiskey, which was bottled completely as-is without filtration or proofing.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is super supple with a soft marzipan fondant that leads to mince meat pies with plenty of rum-raisin, brown sugar, and mild cinnamon/nutmeg/clove spice with a thin layer of powdered sugar frosting over the buttery crust. The nose also has a sense of brandy butter with a hint of salted caramel and vanilla taffy next to a faint whisper of apple fritters.

Palate: The palate is lush and silky with rich buttery toffee rolled in roasted almonds and coconut and dipped in dark and creamy chocolate sauce with plenty of orange zest and flakes of salt. The mid-palate leans into cinnamon bark, allspice berries, and freshly ground nutmeg next to tart apple pies loaded with pecans.

Finish: The mid-palate stays silken as mild hints of soft cedar bark mingle with cardamon pods and more of the nutmeg (almost like eggnog) and maybe a hint of dried mint. The finish circles back around the brandy butter, rum-raisin, and powdered sugar frosting for a sweet and luxurious end.

Bottom Line:

This is an excellent Wild Turkey offering. It is a little dessert-forward, but I dig that when paired with the classic Wild Turkey spiciness. Overall, if you’re looking for a special one-off Wild Turkey product, then this is a must-buy.

1. Booker’s 2022-04 “Pinkie’s Batch” Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 61.2%

Average Price: $249

The Whiskey:

The last batch of Booker’s of 2022 is a nod to Booker Noe’s father, Pinkie Noe. The whiskey in the bottle was created from barrels from the middle/sweet spot of four warehouses. The average age of the batch ended up being 6 years, 10 months, and 10 days old when it was bottled entirely as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is full of dark brown sugar vanilla pods and winter spices that start to lean toward chili and cumin and then a sense of a well-seasoned pork butt before it goes into the smoker — it’s kind of like raw leather.

Palate: The palate is classic bourbon with a rich vanilla white cake frosted with buttercream next to bold dark cherry, woody notes of dry reeds, and salted caramel with a twinge of orange oils.

Finish: The end has a mild sense of tangerine flesh and star fruit that leads back to warm ABVs and dark winter spices layered into fresh tobacco and old cedar bark.

Bottom Line:

Yup, I’m putting another Booker’s on this list, it’s that good. This one, however, is so unique. Where the “Kentucky Tea” batch was classic up and down the flavor profile, this is a flex that leans toward backyard barbecue notes. This is like hanging out at a 4th of July pig roast with a great classic glass of whiskey in your hand while someone smokes a good cigar in the distance and the kids run through the sprinklers.

It’s a … vibe. And that’s the little something extra you expect at this price point.

Chris Pine has a whole lot of love for his latest film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. While the actor is no stranger to playing brash adventure heroes thanks to his role as Captain James Kirk in the latest Star Trek films, there’s just something special about D&D that Pine can’t stop revisiting. Namely, that it’s a stark contrast to the real world, which has been pretty crappy lately.

“I’ve seen this film probably more than I’ve seen many of my other films because I love watching it with an audience,” Pine told Variety at the Hollywood premiere. “To come out and see audience’s faces, you see exactly what cinema should do, which is people are, like, alive. They want to talk about it. They’re in a great mood. The world is so sh*tty so why not use this vehicle — big budget cinema — to make people feel better.”

Pine plays the dashing rogue Edgin in the film, and he was particularly drawn to the ’80s vibes that came with the role:

“I’m an ‘80s baby. So all of my references were ‘80s. So this movie to me was like ‘Goonies,’ ‘NeverEnding Story,’ it was a bit of ‘Indiana Jones.’ Fast forward, and maybe it’s a bit of ‘Pirates.’ All kind of mashed together with his big heart. That really more than anything is what I loved about it. I felt like it was just really honest, it was sweet.”

According to Pine, movies could use a little more sweet, presumably to make up for the aforementioned sh*tty-ness.

“Sweet has gotten a bad rap,” Pine told Variety. “Everything’s got to be really cool nowadays, and I’m really over cool. I think cool is super boring. I want something that’s genuine.”

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves rolls into theaters on March 31.

(Via Variety)

Broadcasters who have to report on tragedies as they are happening have a tough job. On the one hand, they have to maintain their professionalism and inform the public of what’s happening in a factual way. On the other hand, they’re still human and sometimes humanity trumps the traditional perception of what’s “professional.”

Such was the case for WTVA meteorologist Matt Laubhan, who found himself live on the air staring at a radar scan of a deadly tornado as it moved towards the small town of Amory, Mississippi. He, more than anyone, understood the severity of the situation, and he did his best to convey that to his viewers.

“This is a strong, life-threatening tornado that’s going to move either extremely close to Amory or in through the northern part of the city of Amory.”

He added, “Y’all trust me too much,” explaining that people sometimes take his predictions of where the tornado will go as hard fact, but the reality is that tornados can change directions at any time. “So Amory, we need to be in our tornado safe place,” he said.

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Just after he told people they needed to be in their shelters, a new scan came in that clearly affected him.

“North side of Amory, this is coming in,” he said. And then the reality of how strong the tornado was clearly hit. “Oh, man,” he said, leaning down on the table with his hand over his mouth. After a deep breath, he stood and said a brief prayer—”Dear Jesus, please help them. Amen.”—before continuing to explain where the tornado looked like it was going to track.

Watch the emotional moment:

Laubham shared with CNN Business what moved him to pray on live TV.

“I can’t say that I was intending on praying,” he said. “It was kind of a situation where we knew that something extremely bad was happening, and we knew that it was possible, maybe even probable, that people were being hurt and about to die. I’m very rarely at a loss for words, and I was feeling a little bit overwhelmed, honestly. And it just kind of came out.”

He added that many people who were watching live have told him his spontaneous prayer helped them to “realize the seriousness of the situation.”

After one commenter on Twitter said that the meteorologist “should have been focused 100% on his weatherman job at that point,” others chimed in to support Laubhan’s display of compassion and humanity—including many who are not people of faith themselves.

“I’m not a believer. He’s just having a human reaction,” wrote one person. “There’s nothing else he could’ve done in that moment. Let him cope how he can. From the short clip it seems he takes his job incredibly seriously. The two seconds it took to say that are inconsequential.”

“It’s his genuine human reaction to what he knows is going to be a horrible event,” wrote another. “He’s warned people, can physically do no more, so he draws on his faith. I don’t pray, exactly, because I don’t believe in Micromanager God, but I do think positivity helps even if only the doer.”

“I’m not a believer but positive vibes are positive vibes,” wrote another. “It was well meant. Give him a break, people.”

“Not religious but I found this very touching and showing true concern for people,” shared another.

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Resident Leah Ann Hubbard told The Independent how helpful Laubhan’s reporting was as she prepared for the tornado.

“Everybody watches him around here to find out if they need to shelter for a tornado,” she said, adding that his urgency made her think, “Hmmm, maybe we should take this seriously, maybe we should really get prepared.” She pulled out her mattress and hid in the bathtub with her two dogs.

“The last thing I heard him say was, ‘Debris is 7,000 feet in the air,’ and then the lights go off, the phone service dies, and you’re in the dark with the dogs,” she said.

Hubbard’s description of feeling helpless as the tornado raged over her town seems to reflect what Laubham experienced as he saw the tornado bearing down on the radar.

“You know that there is a monster swirling over your house and over your town, and there’s nothing you can do. And you’re just praying for yourself and for everybody else,” she told The Independent.

As one person wrote about the tornado and Laubhan’s reaction, “There’s tornadoes and then there’s tornadoes. Some will take the roof off your house and some will take your town off the map. This was the latter. He knew in that moment that in a few minutes, that town would no longer exist.”

The town of Amory was hit hard, but the next-day footage from Rolling Fork, a few hours away from Amory, is utterly apocalyptic. The rare, long-track tornado path stretched across western Mississippi through the night of March 24, 2023, killing 25 people and injuring dozens of others.

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Seeing the aftermath from this storm system, it’s clear why Matt Laubham took a moment to pray for those in the tornado’s path. When a storm is that powerful, there’s really nothing else anyone can do, and his moment of genuine care and concern for his fellow humans was deeply appreciated.

It’s always a treat when Nicolas Cage has a movie coming out, not just because he is a talented actor, but because he has very little filter when it comes to the wild stuff he says while out and about during a press cycle. So when there is a Reddit AMA scheduled with the actor, you know it’s going to be filled with absurd anecdotes mixed with thoughtful movie critiques. And that’s exactly what happened with Cage’s latest AMA alongside his Renfield costar Nicholas Hoult.

One of the questions involved another universally loved actor, Keanu Reeves. One fan asked Cage for his favorite Reeves movie, and he had a surprising reply (no, it isn’t The Watcher). “Well…Keanu kicked my ass at billiards one night. He came up to my house on his motorcycle, and he was making these impossible shots,” Cage explained. It seems like Reeves might have hustled Cage, just a little. “He said ‘Now I dunno if I can get that shot or this shot’ and he made every single shot.”

It’s not surprising that Reeves would be good at these things, as he notoriously became “too good” at performing car stunts. That seems threatening to Cage, who is also good at car stunts…in his own way. He continued, “So I have mixed emotions about the skill that Keanu has because he completely dominated me at pool.” Maybe he didn’t watch the behind-the-scenes feature from Point Break where it became apparent that Reeves is a bit of a professional when it comes to pool. Maybe he’s not a real fan, then.

So what is Cage’s favorite Keanu Reeves movie? Cage is a fan of the older stuff, “I like some of the early stuff like Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. I thought he was great in River’s Edge. He was just great in that movie.” Maybe if Cage explored the John Wick universe he would find that he has a lot in common with his characters. They both went on a horrendous rampage when their beloved pets were killed, so they should have stuff to talk about.

Hoult, on the other hand, had a simpler answer to the question: “I liked the first John Wick. Speed as well.” And both the Nicks are correct! Nothing about Speed 2, though.

(Via Reddit)

In John Wick, Keanu Reeves, as the titular assassin, says 484 words, 13 of which are “I’m going to kill Theon Greyjoy for what you did to my dog.” That’s how I remember it, at least. It’s been awhile since I’ve watched the movie.

As the sequels have gone by, John Wick has gotten less chatty, and it’s not like he was Lorelai Gilmore to begin with. In John Wick: Chapter 4, he’s down to 380 words. His longest “speech” in the film, according to the Wall Street Journal: “You and I left a good life behind a long time ago, my friend.” For that one sentence, Reeves got paid $552,622. Honestly? Worth every penny.

“Keanu Reeves said just 380 words in John Wick: Chapter 4, and he reportedly made $15 million. Trusting reports of his pay, that’s $39,473 per word,” Morning Brew tweeted. Emphasis on the “reportedly” with Reeves’ salary, but it’s hard to imagine him making anything less considering he’s the face of a franchise that gets bigger with every installment.

Reeves also played every part in Chapter 4, at least in pre-production.

Script meetings for Chapter 4 were the opposite of pithy. Mr. Stahelski and Mr. Reeves, the main architects of the movies, presided over writing sessions running nine hours or longer. “Keanu would do all the characters. He was a one-man show,” recalled Michael Finch, who wrote the screenplay with Mr. Hatten.

If Keanu Reeves wants to do a one-man show that recreates the plot of the John Wick franchise, I would pay $39,473 for a ticket.

(Via Wall Street Journal)

When the entertainment history books are written, 2023 might very well go down as the Year of Harrison Ford. In addition to dusting off his iconic brown fedora and bullwhip to play Indiana Jones for the fifth time, the Oscar-nominated actor has been popping up all over your TV — first alongside Helen Mirren in the Yellowstone prequel 1923, then opposite Jason Segel in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, which is the brainchild of Segel and Ted Lasso co-creators Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein.

Shrinking has been a hit with critics and viewers alike, as its Rotten Tomatoes’ scores attest (it currently holds an 81 percent rating with critics and a slightly higher 86 percent with audiences). But has it done well enough to earn it a second season? The answer is a resounding: yes!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Apple TV+ does not make its viewer stats public, but they’ve apparently been strong enough to earn the freshman series a second go at it. Which is very good news for the trio of co-creators, who — back in January — shared that they have a three-season plan for the series with THR’s TV’s Top 5 podcast.

Though the first season of Shrinking has yet to conclude, Apple TV+ execs were excited to share the early renewal news.

“We have loved the engaging, touching and hilarious world of Shrinking since the beginning, and it has been wonderful to watch as audiences around the world continue to connect with these big-hearted characters,” Matt Cherniss, Apple TV+’s head of programming, shared. “We can’t wait for viewers to experience what the cast and creative team have for season two.”

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Saturday Night Live has announced the next round of hosts, and it’s a killer line-up. Abbott Elementary star and creator Quinta Brunson will kick things off this Saturday followed by SNL alum Molly Shannon and Blonde star Ana de Armas.

Brunson is, of course, riding high from the award-winning success of her sitcom. Shannon is currently in theaters with the Florence Pugh-starring film, A Good Person, and she’ll next be seen in the third season of The Other Two on HBO Max. De Armas will be on hand to promote Apple TV’s Ghosted starring her Knives Out co-star Chris Evans.

Here’s the official line-up:

April 1 – Quinta Brunson with Lil Yachty
April 8 – Molly Shannon with Jonas Brothers
April 15 – Ana de Armas with Karol G

While this is Shannon’s second time hosting at her old stomping grounds, it is the first time for both Brunson and de Armas. As for their musical quests, Lil Yachty will be performing from his new album “Let’s Start Here,” The Jonas Brothers will be performing from their new album with the super-original title of “The Album,” and Karol G will be performing from her all-Spanish album “Mañana Será Bonito.”

Saturday Night Live airs Saturday on NBC with new episodes live-streaming on Peacock.

(Via Saturday Night Live on Twitter)

Rick Astley has to be the luckiest ’80s musician on the planet. The whole “Rickrolling” phenomenon has given his hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up” a reach far beyond its natural life span, and kept the guy a household name far longer than he probably would have been.

(For those who are unfamiliar, Rickrolling is when you make someone think they’re being sent to a website, but the link goes to Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” video instead as a joke. It’s a silly viral bait-and-switch gag that’s been going since 2006.)

But what people may not realize, because his most famous song has become an internet joke, is that Rick Astley is actually a really freaking great musician. The man can saaaang and it seems he’s only gotten better with age.

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If you were to choose the most unlikely combo of musical mashups, it might just be Rick Astley and Foo Fighters. Right? Like who would put them together?

Oddly enough, they put themselves together in 2017, when Foo Fighters brought Astley on stage during a concert to sing “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl even created his own Rickroll-inspired meme, the Dave G’Roll, with the band’s song “Best of You.” So there’s a history there.

But nothing has been more surprising than hearing Rick Astley do an acoustic cover of Foo Fighters’ “Everlong.” It’s so good. Like, so good.

Not to knock Rick Astley of the 1980s, but that strangely deep voice on a young man was sort of his signature thing. Ergo, you’d think it would be easy to recognize Astley’s voice no matter what he was singing. But you’d be wrong. If you close your eyes and listen to this, you’d likely never guess it was Rick Astley.

Maybe it’s because the song itself isn’t something you expect from the “Never Gonna Give You Up” guy. Maybe it’s because you had no idea that Rick Astley was still making music. Who knows. All I know is that my jaw dropped watching him knock out an awesome version of a grungey rock song with just his voice and acoustic guitar.

Seriously, that was amazing, right? Even hardcore Foo Fighters fans gave Astley props in the comments:

“As a huge Foo Fighters fan, all I can say is this cover didn’t let me down.”

“Tbh I could listen to a whole album of Rick Astley doing grunge covers.”

“Are you kidding me?????? That voice from the 80’s… And one of the greatest numbers of all times…. Didn’t think you could pull that of…. But you did….. Respect to you Rick.”

And, of course, some had to make jokes:

“I love this cover. It feels like the singer is never going to give you up or never gonna let you down. He doesn’t run around and desert you. He will never make you cry and never say goodbye. He doesn’t tell a lie and hurt you. I think that is special.”

“This guy should stop making memes and stick to music! He’s got talent!”

“I’m glad he’s never given up. This did not let me down.”

But this comment perhaps best summed up what most of us walked away thinking:

“God now I feel bad that we’ve ridden on Rick Rolling for so long that we missed the part where Rick Astley is actually a badass musician…”

This article first appeared on 4.4.22.