The Nebraska Cornhuskers are looking for a new head football coach. On the heels of last week’s 45-42 loss to Georgia Southern, the university opted to part ways with Scott Frost, who made a nasty habit of losing very close games during his tenure in Lincoln. A former national championship winning quarterback for the Huskers, Frost went 16-31 and 10-26 in conference play after returning to his alma mater from UCF to much fanfare.
It’s led to plenty of questions about who Nebraska can hire. Firing Frost gave them more time to figure things out, but on Saturday, a number of the school’s fans made pretty clear there’s one name at the top of their list: Urban Meyer. Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff is in Lincoln ahead of the team’s game against Oklahoma on Saturday, and at one point, Meyer — who is an analyst for Fox Sports — got serenaded by Cornhuskers fans.
A little later in the show, Fox brought The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman onto the show to run through potential candidates and Meyer’s name didn’t come up.
What went wrong for Scott Frost at Nebraska? Who are the leading candidates to take over as Head Coach?@BruceFeldmanCFB weighs in on the Cornhuskers’ Head Coach situation pic.twitter.com/t3kTY1URMP
Meyer is one of the most decorated coaches in college football history, as he has recorded a 187-32 record during his time with Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and most recently, Ohio State. He is a three-time national champion, having won two titles with the Gators and one with the Buckeyes. His last stop as a coach was not nearly as successful, as Meyer made the jump to the NFL last year to serve as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. After going 2-11 and watching him get embroiled in a number of off-field controversies, the Jags decided to fire Meyer.
Kid Cudi seems to be a fan of Abbott Elementary. In a TikTok video uploaded by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph‘s son, Etienne Maurice, Ralph, who plays Barbara Howard on Abbott, reveals to her son that Cudi sent her flowers following her winning the award for Best Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series at the Emmys.
Maurice reads the message sent with the flowers, which says, “Congrats Sheryl, you are a legend, and watching you and Quinta [Brunson] win was truly inspiring. Your speech was everything. Always rooting for you…Looking forward to meeting you one day.”
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think one of my favorite artists of all time would be sending flowers to my mom. I know this is about my Mom, but @KidCudi, my mother wouldn’t know who you were if I wasn’t blasting your music on my way to school in the morning or her buying tickets to see you for my high school graduation. I am your fan from DAY 1 bro bro. Thank you for showing love to moms. You are loved my g.
It’s hard to tell who’s more excited; Ralph or her son. But nonetheless, Maurice is grateful that his mother is receiving her flowers (in both the figurative and literal sense).
“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think one of my favorite artists of all time would be sending flowers to my mom,” he said in the post’s caption. “I know this is about my Mom, but @KidCudi, my mother wouldn’t know who you were if I wasn’t blasting your music on my way to school in the morning or her buying tickets to see you for my high school graduation. I am your fan from DAY 1 bro bro. Thank you for showing love to moms. You are loved my g.”
The second season of Abbott Elementary premieres on ABC next Wednesday, 9/21 at 9 p.m. EST
Drake and music critic Anthony Fantano appear to be having a war of the words. Earlier this week, Drake took to his Instagram story to share a series of messages he sent to Fantano, mocking the rating system he uses on his YouTube channel to rate and review albums.
“Your existence is a light 1,” said Drake in an Instagram DM to Fantano. “And the 1 is cause you are alive. And cause you somehow wifed a black girl. I’m feeling a light to decent 1 on your existence.”
@champagnepapi/Instagram
Fantano, who has been openly critical of Drake’s music for years, had taken to YouTube earlier to share a video called “Drake Slid In My DMs.” In the video, he shares screenshots of fake DMs of a vegan recipe. Drake’s actual messages seem to be a response to this.
Later this evening, Fantano shared a video called “The Drake Situation,” in which, he assures viewers that while he maintains his stances on Drake’s music, he has no animosity toward the rapper.
“I really do not have anything personal against Drake,” Fantano said. “Do I think he’s made some very mediocre records over the years? Yes. He’s made some really good and great ones as well. It’s always the negative [reviews] that stick out in people’s minds the most, I guess. But that’s kind of the nature of reviews, kind of the nature of criticism, I suppose.”
Fantano continues, reiterating that the fake recipe screenshots were meant as a lighthearted joke, and expressed hope that the two could “bury the hatchet in private.”
Toward the end, Fantano said he’s “looking forward to more Drake music in the future.”
For Bad Bunny‘s latest visual, the reggaeton superstar highlights important issues affecting his homeland. The video for “El Apagón” is accompanied by a 22-minute mini-film titled Aquí Vive Gente, which translates to People Live Here. Throughout the video, viewers see clips of protestors taking to the streets of Puerto Rico, responding to a multitude of social, political and economic issues.
The video is narrated by Puero Rican reporter Bianca Graulau, and throughout the short film, Bad Bunny brings attention to crises like summertime blackouts by privatized energy companies, as well as rent increases across the island, and wealthy foreigners receiving tax cuts. Clips also cover displacement, gentrification, and various forms of modern colonialism.
Bad Bunny, who grew up in Baja, Puerto Rico, maintains an affinity for his homeland, however, he often uses his platform to speak on issues the Island’s people are facing. In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Bunny mentioned the summertime blackouts, and revealed he’s had to bring in special equipment in order to perform in his home country.
“Puerto Rico is the only place [I perform where I have to] install like 15 industrial power generators, he said, “because I can’t trust the power grid. LUMA, go to hell.”
Earlier this year, Kanye West‘s three-part docu-series, Jeen-Yuhs, premiered on Netflix. The docu-series spans over 20 years of his career, including his time collaborating with producer Just Blaze at Roc-A-Fella records. At one point in the documentary, Ye calls Blaze his best friend and his archenemy.
On an episode of Uproxx’s The People’s Party With Talib Kweli podcast, Blaze spoke with the host, revealing that he understands where the comments came from.
“I can see why he would look at it as the ‘archnemesis’ thing,” Blaze said to Kweli. “I guess it kinda was that, ’cause a lot of archnemeses…a lot of times they’re actually guys that are friends. Most of the classic super-villain/superhero stories, there’s a friendship there.”
Blaze continued, saying, “Some people like to spin the narrative, ‘Oh, they were super competitive, they were out there duking it out,’ I never, I honestly never looked at it like that. Like, he would call me to ask me, ‘Yo, how did you get your horns to sound like this on this record, I’m trying to figure that out,’ right?”
Elsewhere in the episode, Blaze revealed that he and West haven’t spoken in a while, not out of bad blood, but rather due to going separate paths. Though in 2021, West accused Blaze of copying his production style, though Blaze remained peaceful on the matter.
The concept of being an introvert versus an extrovert is a fairly new one. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung first came up with both terms in the early 1900s, and from the get-go, it was understood that people’s personalities generally fell somewhere between the two extremes.
Nowadays introverts are often mislabeled as being antisocial, which isn’t necessarily true. Going off of the Jung definition, introverted people simply orient toward their “internal private world of inner thoughts and feelings”—unlike extroverts, who “engage more with the outside world of objects, sensory perception, and action.”
Most introverts will tell you, it’s not that we hate people. We just find them … draining. What we tend to detest are things like trivial small talk and the cacophony of large groups. But even that, many introverts can turn on for, enjoy even … so long as we can promptly go home afterwards and veg out.
Being introverted is certainly not unique—up to half of the entire population is estimated to be introverted. Heck, it’s even a trait for animals. And it’s certainly not a weakness. Many notable leaders were known for being reserved. However, the world is often made to favor extroversion, making it hard for introverts to be understood, let alone valued.
Reddit user Sarayka81 asked for introverts to share their “nightmare situations.” The answers are an eye-opening (and pretty hilarious) glimpse into how one person’s idea of normal, or even fun, can be another person’s torture.
Enjoy 15 of the best responses. Introverts, beware.
1. Public marriage proposals
“I’ve told every partner so far, if you propose in public I will turn it down.” – @AngelaTheRipper
“All those youtube videos of these big proposals, like a whole dance routine pop up…everyone is like ‘omg what a great gesture!’ No. no. no.” – fearme101
2. Afterparties
“You mean there’s more stuff to do after the stuff we planned on doing? I only have so much energy to deal with people and it was already used up.” – @Nyctomancer
3. Being picked out of the crowd to speak
“People who just raise their hand to be chosen are true heroes.” – @Chogolatine
4. Unexpected visitors
“As a child my worst nightmare was when my parents got visitors and I’m stuck upstairs hungry and thirsty because I can’t access the kitchen.” – @mikasott
“Ask them nicely, ‘would you kindly REMOVE yourself from my personal space.‘” – @GDog507
“But that requires talking to them.” – @StinkyKittyBreath
5. Introducing yourself
“I get locked jaw when this happens. Along with sweaty palms and cold sweat.” – @ellisonjune
6. Multiple conversations at once
“I was at a conference where everyone is doing the circle thing and I was chatting with some people about some interesting, but pretty dry, industry topics. All of the sudden I hear someone in another conversation circle say something along the lines of: ‘Yeah man, gorillas will rip your head off.’
All of the sudden, I can’t concentrate on my current conversation and my brain tunes into the gorilla conversation instead. I could not for the life of me tune back into my main conversation.” – @reAchilles
7. Running into someone you know in a public place
“All you want to do is read your book, but there’s no way out and you decide to put up a brave front. Already you can hear the office gossip in your head: ‘Oh my God, guess who I was stuck on the train with…’Nightmare fuel. Work from home was a blessing in this regard.” – @jew_bisquits
8. Singing “Happy Birthday” at a restaurant
“This shouldn’t be legal” – @Chogolatine
9. Surprise parties
“I’m essentially the 49th wheel at my own party. Kill me now.” – @Anneboleyn33
10. Being talked over
“Especially when the only thing the person interjects with is filler or exclamatory flurry that adds nothing to the conversation while stifling any other contribution. Things like ‘yes girl yes!’ or ‘I can’t believe that!’ or …even loud forced laughter – really any noise interjected in that space to make it seem like they’re contributing or listening instead of actually participating.” – @torn_anteater
11. Networking events
“Don’t forget to come up with a fun fact!” – @sub_surfer
12. Extroverts who just don’t get it
“‘Wanna hang out this Saturday?’
‘Sure!’
… Saturday arrives, 10 minutes before hangout time …
‘Oh also I invited my friend you have never met before to join us.'” – @drflanigan
13. Phone calls
“Receiving and twice as bad having to make one.” – @Isand0
14. Impromptu work presentations
“I need like a couple days to prepare myself for any speaking engagement lol.” – @koriroo
15. Party games that involve small talk
“‘Who’s up for two truths and a lie?’
Thinks … Can they all be lies? No … What are the most boring truths I can think of so no one comes up to talk to me after this?‘” – @littlewittlediddle
Though only four months have passed since Becky G released her sophomore album, Esquemas, the Latin-pop icon has dropped a new single. On her latest, “Amantes,” which is the Spanish word for “lovers,” Becky collaborates with Daviles De Novelda, incorporating flamenco and rap sounds, blending them with bachata rhythms.
The song is Becky’s first bachata song, on which, she and De Novelda, seek to rehabilitate a past love.
Over the course of her decade in the game, Becky has evolved her sound. Known initially for viral pop hits, like “Shower” and “Break A Sweat,” Becky has become a staple in Latin music, as she’s made a name for herself in the genre with reggaeton tracks like “Sin Pijama” with Natti Natasha, “Mamiii” with Karol G, and now, “Amantes.”
While she’s been putting out music since she was a teenager, Becky, 25, revealed in an interview with Teen Vogue that she feels like she’s just getting started.
“The true artist at heart knows that I want to keep going,” she said. “I want to keep learning. I’m that little sponge that just loves to absorb anything that I can, understanding the meaning and the why of something. And so, I’m excited for what’s to come because I know that the opportunities can be made into something even more beautiful. It’s humbling as hell.”
Going into the offseason, a Russell Westbrook trade appeared inevitable on the heels of a tumultuous Los Angeles Lakers season defined by injuries and Westbrook’s underwhelming performing. Westbrook’s rigid approach to his on-court play style and his role within the Laker roster made him a cumbersome fit and completely torpedoed his trade value. The former MVP and his $47 million salary were no longer an asset to a contending team nor a young team looking for a veteran mentor.
A Westbrook trade would presumably require Los Angeles to give up their 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks. But despite that, Westbrook getting moved still felt inevitable, especially after the Lakers acquired his longtime nemesis Patrick Beverley. And on Friday, it seemed like the team took another step in that direction by signing Dennis Schroder to a 1-year deal.
However, The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Jovan Buha report that a Westbrook deal is no longer imminent, in part because the Lakers would like to hold onto their draft ammo unless a specific sort of deal comes along.
Yes, those are the same picks that so many people expected them to give up as part of a Westbrook trade that had once seemed so inevitable but which ultimately never happened. According to a high-level Lakers source, their refusal to do Westbrook deals with Indiana and Utah that have been discussed in various capacities for months has everything to do with this hopeful vision for their future beyond this season.
As uncomfortable as this Westbrook experience has been — and might yet still be — this best-case scenario outlook is the driving force behind their surprising choice to pass up chances to part ways with Westbrook. In the absence of a deal they truly believe returns them to title-contender status, sources say, Westbrook is highly likely to remain.
This would present quite the challenge for new coach Darvin Ham to balance the guard rotation between, Westbrook, Beverley, and Schroeder. Would Westbrook be willing to come off the bench, or sit during crunch time? That’s not something he’s welcomed, but Ham may have no choice but to take that course of action.
From a macro view, this is a prudent decision by Laker management that could allow them to build a proper championship team next season. But this roster dynamic is quite the burden to place on a first-time head coach in Ham. LeBron James may have signed an extension, but he does not have a reputation for patience. If the Lakers face any adversity early in the season, perhaps the Westbrook situation could go back to square one.
“Tap tap tap is the sound of Poot’s boner on the window” -Dave Schilling
On this episode of The Wire, the police try to get a desk through a door, but no one knows which direction they’re going (it’s a metaphor), and on this episode of Pod Yourself The Wire, Matt and Vince invite the host of the Free Validation podcast and writer for the LA Times, Dave Schilling to talk about season one episode four, “Old Cases.”
This is the episode featuring the famous f-word scene. McNulty and Bunk show that they may be alcoholic philanderers with limited vocabularies, but they’re natural po-lice who understand basic bullet physics. Omar wouldn’t like hearing all those dirty words coming out of their pretty mouths, but the rest of us piggies are eating it up yum yum yum.
Support the Pod: become a patron at patreon.com/Frotcast to get more bonus content than you could ever want. Sign up for the Pod Yourself a Shoutout tier to hear Vince give you a corner nickname on the podcast.
Calling any of the bourbons whiskeys below “losers” is a misnomer. The bourbons below lost to, in some cases, some of the best bottles of whiskeys on the planet when tasted blind. When blind tasting these whiskeys, there are a million variables at play — weather, time of day, mood, and most importantly, what bottles you’re tasting them with. Sadly, the 10 whiskeys that I’m blind tasting today just didn’t pass muster on their respective days when I blind tasted them the first time around.
To see if these really are that bad tasting or how mediocre they really are, I collected the 10 last place bourbons from the last 10 bourbon whiskey blind taste tests I did over the last couple of months. The thrust of this tasting is to find redemption for bottles I know are good and give them a little glow-up at the same time. That said, I also want to find out if the bad is really that bad. Or were these bottles just dinged because everything else was crazy good on that particular panel on that particular day? Which is a long-winded way to say that this blind tasting is going to come down to taste, balance, and execution.
Our lineup today is:
Benchmark Old. No. 8
Maker’s Mark
Cedar Ridge Iowa Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond Release 003
The D12tance Puncher’s Chance Aged 12 Years
Off Hours Straight Bourbon Whiskey
The Clover Single Barrel Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Vanilla wafer, oats, straw, a little honey, a smidge of apple core, and maybe a little lemon soda mingle on the thin nose. The palate touches on dry cornmeal and some more vanilla with a hint of caramel popcorn balls. The finish has the essence of leather and holiday spice but is very thin and watery… and cheap.
I’m guessing this is the Benchmark. It’s not bad — it’s clearly well-made — but there’s not really anything there beyond the basic.
Taste 2
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
There’s a brief hint of chocolate malt on the nose that leads to a lot of porch wicker, sweet grass, sour apple, and vanilla caramel candy. The taste layers some salt into that caramel with a hint of winter spice, butter, apple pie filling, and maybe some dates with a hint of dry straw and cherry wood bark. The end has a nice wintry spice mix next to plums and apples with a slightly tart and woody edge next to mineral water and old leather.
The end of this is a little watery but it doesn’t kill it. It’s the sort of low-proof finish that you can easily cover up in a cocktail.
Taste 3
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is light with a raw cookie dough vibe next to cinnamon, nutmeg, and raisins. The palate has a nice bitterness next to bales of straw and Frosted Mini-Wheats, creamed vanilla, and a hint of winter spice. The end leans into that spice and layers in cornmeal, raisins, and a hint of mint.
This was thin overall but fine.
Taste 4
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Tennessee comes through on the nose with a vanilla protein powder, a few sour cherries, and a hint of sage. The palate leans into vanilla Necco Wafers with a soft bourbon oatmeal cookie vibe layered with raisins, brown sugar, butter, brown spices, and walnuts. A light toffee sweetness drives the end towards a finish with a hint of cherry next to apple pie, old cellar beams, and dashes of old leather.
This was pretty nice overall. It’s not mind-blowing but it gets the job done.
Taste 5
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
The nose is full of wet straw and leather with a faint dash of clove and cinnamon. The palate has a bit of apple skin next to vanilla, some wicker, and maybe a little dill with a grainy vibe overall. The end has a little brown sugar sweetness and grilled pineapple next to sour cherry and dry sweetgrass.
This very much feels like a two-year-old MGP with all that graininess and tropical fruit.
Taste 6
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is very basic on the nose with leather next to banana Necco Wafer, a hint of cherry, and maybe some caramel. The palate is grainy like a bran muffin with a sense of cherry protein powder, some almond, and a vanilla wafer. The end has a sense of toasted cedar next to vanilla and cherry.
Meh.
Taste 7
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Rich vanilla and caramel come through on the nose with salted popcorn and thick cherry pie with a hint of cinnamon and leather boots. The palate layers some orange zest over cherry tobacco leaves, winter spices, a hint of old wicker, and a nice edge of that old leather. The end is bursting with spice, toffee, and cherry all layered into tobacco and stuffed in an old humidor.
This is pretty freakin’ great. It’s straightforward but deeply hewn.
Taste 8
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
The nose on this is a steel and wet grain mess with savory notes of fake cucumber and maybe some dark chocolate powder and leather, but that’s reaching. The palate is also grainy and somehow soggy with bruised apples and more of that steeliness. It doesn’t even taste like whiskey by the end.
This is bad. Really bad.
Taste 9
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
The nose greets you with an old boot leather vibe next to salted caramel, ripe tart apples, sour cherry, and corn muffins with a hint of butter and salt. The palate has a light graininess that leans into soft oatmeal raisin cookies with a hint of walnut and nutmeg and a drizzle of caramel sauce with clear vanilla tying it all together. The end wraps those cookies in a soft leather sheet and adds in some cinnamon-apple tobacco with a very slightly thin finish.
This is pretty good but does have a little watery of an end. Still, it’s really solid throughout.
Taste 10
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Spicy and sweet mulled wine with a layer of honey, raisins, cinnamon/clove/nutmeg, and a hint of toffee round out the nose as a lurking sense of old porch wicker sneaks in underneath it all. There’s a nice balance of chocolate tobacco and honey cake with cardamon and clove on the palate that leads to a hint of orange oils and sticky toffee pudding. The end leans into warm spices and a sense of prunes and dates with a hint of soft cedar and tobacco.
This Texas craft whiskey is made from 72% Texas-grown corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. That spirit ages for two short years before it’s bottled at barrel proof without any fussing.
“Well, that makes sense, this being two years old and still very steely and grainy. There was potential here but it needs a few years to find it. For now, this is a hard pass.”
Bottom Line:
I wanted to pour this whole bottle down the drain. Had I been tasting this in a spirits competition, I would have eliminated it. Yes, it’s that bad.
9. The Clover Single Barrel Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Taste 6
This whiskey is a celebration of golf legend Bobby Jones. The juice in this bottle is a sourced (from an undisclosed distillery) single barrel of whiskey that’s bottled with a touch of proofing water.
“This is a good whiskey overall. It was just up against some crazy competition today and fell to the bottom of the list. That said, I would recommend giving this a shot both for its taste and price.”
Bottom Line:
This is fine. It’s a million miles ahead of the pour above, in that it’s a functioning whiskey that’s competently made. Still, there’s not a lot to get excited about with this one. May I suggest that if you have a bottle, you mix it into a hard Arnold Palmer? That feels like the right use.
This release from Off Hours Spirits is sourced from MGP of Indiana. The juice is a no-age-statement bourbon from MGP’s standard 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley mash bill. The whiskey spends about four years in the barrel before it is blended and bottled by Off Hours with a good dose of proofing water.
“As I mentioned above, this was fine. I never in a million years would have guessed it’s an MGP product though. It tastes very crafty with that wet straw and grainy vibe. Still, this would work fine in a highball.”
Bottom Line:
Well, there you go, a young MGP. Again, this was fine but nothing to write home about.
This very local whiskey is made with 74% corn, 14% malted rye, and 12% two-row malted barley. After mashing and distilling, the juice is aged for at least four years in Iowa. Once just right, the whiskey is touched with a little water to bring it down to proof and bottled without any fussing. For this 2021 release, only 400 cases were released, but it was the first Cedar Ridge Bottled-in-Bond to make it out of Iowa.
“This was the thinnest bourbon of the day. It felt crafty with those grainy notes but it was still perfectly fine. It’s not overly crafty or young by any stretch. That all said, I’d likely use this for cocktails more than anything else.”
Bottom Line:
I still think this would be fine for cocktails. As a sipper, there’s just not a whole lot going on.
The juice in this bottle is from the famed Buffalo Trace Mash no. 1, which is very low rye (supposedly). This is a standard straight bourbon. Once the barrels are vatted, the whiskey is proofed all the way down to 80 proof for bottling.
“Ah, the old black label from Frankfort. This was just too washed out to really be a contender. I can see mixing this with Coke or ginger but I’d probably avoid mixing it with fizzy water or into cocktails.”
Bottom Line:
Wow! This is the biggest surprise by far. It’s still washed out on the finish but does have a much stronger flavor profile when tasted amidst this crowd of whiskeys. That all said, high-ish ranking or not, this is clearly a cheap mixing whiskey… with a decent flavor profile.
5. The D12tance Puncher’s Chance Aged 12 Years — Taste 4
This sourced whiskey is a 12-year-old Tennessee straight bourbon whiskey. Those barrels are emptied and the juice is refilled into old Cabernet Sauvignon casks for a final maturation before proofing and bottling.
“While this was very obviously a Tennessee whiskey on the taste, it really does shine as a lighter sipper. I’d say this is a good entry point into higher age statements and bigger prices that are not going to blow out your palate with high ABVs and big tannic notes.”
Bottom Line:
This was a perfectly fine Tennessee whiskey. There was nothing that jumped out. Likewise, there was nothing wrong with it all. It’s an easy pour. Drink it over some rocks or in a cocktail.
This is Maker’s signature expression. It’s made from red winter wheat with corn and malted barley and then aged in seasoned Ozark oak for six to seven years. This expression’s juice is then built from only 150 barrels (making this a small batch, if you want to call it that). Those barrels are blended, proofed, bottled, and dipped in red wax.
“If this had a little more proof to it (and less water), it would have been way higher. This is good whiskey at a great price. But because of that watery end, you kind of need to build this into a cocktail to plaster over that thin finish.”
Bottom Line:
This had way more of an impact today. The flavor profile was concise and full-bodied. There’s enough going on that you can forgive the low-proof finish. Just layer this into a Manhattan and you’ll be all set.
This whiskey is vatted from 40 total barrels from three different states. While the team at Pursuit United doesn’t release the Tennessee distillery name, we know the juices from Kentucky and New York are from Bardstown Bourbon Company and Finger Lakes Distilling, respectively. Once those barrels are vatted, they’re slightly touched with water before bottling.
“I usually dig this! That said, on this lineup, it just didn’t quite hit the same. That’s easy to square as this is a blended bourbon. It’s not quite as succinct as the rest of the whiskeys on this list (single barrels, etc.), and that’s not this whiskey’s fault at all.”
Bottom Line:
This is a well-rounded sipper that I also wanted to immediately make some awesome cocktails with.
This whiskey is a sourced Kentucky Bourbon that’s built for country music legend Alan Jackson. The juice is named after the color of Jackson’s iconic “silverbelly” hat. That juice is made in Owensboro, Kentucky, and then built from barrels that Jackson hand-selected with his daughter Mattie Jackson Selecman, who’s a certified sommelier by day.
“As I mentioned in my tasting notes, this is perfectly fine. Another day and another lineup of bourbons, and this might have been closer to the top. Today, it just couldn’t compete with the bigger hitters.”
Bottom Line:
This had a really solid palate with a slightly washed-out finish (like so many on this list). I can see this working well on the rocks or in your favorite cocktail easily.
Each of these Jim Beam bottlings is pulled from single barrels that hit just the right spot of taste, texture, and drinkability, according to the master distillers at Beam. That means this juice is pulled from less than 1% of all barrels in Beam’s warehouses, making this a very special bottle at a bafflingly affordable price.
“This is a pretty solid whiskey and it’s in last place — there are some killers on this list, folks. I like this as an easy everyday sipper on a rock or two. It’s also a great cocktail base, especially for a simple old fashioned.”
Bottom Line:
This was the most well-rounded whiskey, kind of by far. It was deep, the finish landed, and the profile was distinct. This is a great sipper (on the rocks or neat) and makes one hell of a Manhattan or old fashioned.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
Zach Johnston
You know, usually, I’ll break down these rankings into sections of “these three are good for x” and “these two are must haves” and so forth. I’m not doing that this time.
Go and buy a bottle of Jim Beam Single barrel (the higher-proof one listed above). It’s great. Amazingly well priced. Available. It sips well. It mixes well. And it tastes like a stone-cold classic bourbon. You really cannot ask for more from a whiskey.
If one of the other, say, top four entice you according to my tasting notes, then knock yourself out. But it’s the Beam for the clear win.
As for the redemption arc on these bottles. Well, all but one deserve it. That Samuel Maverick is a complete miss. The rest are all fine in their own ways but don’t expect anything more than just that — fine.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
pic.twitter.com/g0pLheTfOL
pic.twitter.com/t3kTY1URMP
