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There’s always a new whiskey hitting the shelf these days. That’s especially true as we head into the fall and brands start dropping expression after expression to corner the holiday shopping and partying markets lingering right out on the horizon. This applies to rye whiskeys as much as bourbons, scotches, Irish whiskeys, and so forth.

This means it’s time for a new rye whiskey blind taste test. To sort out the new picks hitting shelves around the country.

For this blind taste test, I pulled eight new bottles from my shelf and lined them up. The thrust of this tasting was to see which one tasted the best overall. I was looking for overall balance, depth, and, well, satisfaction. I then ranked those tasty whiskeys based on which tasted best and which ones I think you should track down.

Our lineup today is:

• High West Double Rye A Blend of Straight Whiskeys Batch No. 22B16
• Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond
• Redwood Empire Rocket Top Bottled In Bond Batch #002
• Ragtime Rye New York Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled In Bond
• Penelope Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Tokaji Wine Casks Batch #57
• Lock Stock & Barrel 21
• New Riff 100% Malted Rye Bottled In Bond Aged 6 Years
• Middle West Spirits Straight Rye Whiskey Dark Pumpernickel Cask Strength Barrel No. 0968

Let’s dive in and find you a nice rye whiskey for fall sipping!

Also Read: The Top Five Rye Whiskey from the Last Six Months on UPROXX

• All 19 Brands From The Buffalo Trace Distillery, Ranked
• The Single Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The 50 Best Rye Whiskeys Of 2021, Ranked
• We Tasted Rye Whiskeys Blind To See If Any Of Them Could Beat Willett
• The 100 Best Whiskeys Our Head Drinks Writer Tasted In 2021

Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

There’s a light fruitiness to the nose that’s just touched with mint chocolate chip, root beer, plenty of winter spice, and a hint of orris root. The palate holds onto the fruitiness as a soft spice mixes with menthol tobacco leaves, green tea, woody vanilla, nasturtiums, and a nice honeyed underbelly. The end settles into a sharp black pepper with a hint of eucalyptus and dried orange rind.

This is a nice place to start. I’m not a huge fan of the floral and botanical ryes, but that doesn’t take away from how well-made this is.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a nice dose of old leather and black pepper next to a hint of dry citrus rind — orange and grapefruit — with minor notes of honey and rum-raisin. The palate adds in a spicy and tart apple crumble with a line of dried rose and floral honey that gives way to rye bread crusts and cinnamon/clove spice. The end kicks the spice up with fresh ginger sharpness, dark cacao, more black pepper, and a soft and chewy tobacco vibe.

This was perfectly fine.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

A sense of fresh sage mingles with meaty dates, black tea, slightly bitter bergamot orange, and a hint of squash. The palate is nicely fruity with a dark edge — think figs, prunes, dried cranberry — next to smooth salted caramel, woody winter spices, and a hint of red peppercorns. That sharp pepper adds a nice warmth to the finish as the caramel and dried fruit attaches to a hint of old cedar and tobacco.

This had a very nice complexity. It’s certainly my favorite so far.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

The starts off dry and woody with a feel of porch wicker, humidors, and maybe even a little fruit orchard bark next to dark and dried fruits, a hint of vanilla, and a dash of winter spices. The palate is earthy and dry with a sense of black potting soil next to more of that orchard bark, a touch of leather, and a whisper of mint chocolate chip. The end remains dry, earthy, and just touched with black pepper and vanilla.

This was really dry and woody. It was nice but I’m not sure where I fall on it yet.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

There’s a sense of mild citrus oils on the nose next to tart green apples, rose water, plenty of sharp cinnamon, and a touch of soft brown sugar. The palate leans into oatbread and prune jam with a hint of blackberry and fig lurking there somewhere. Those fruits drive the end with a sweet tartness that’s countered by mild winter spices, orange rinds, a touch of anise, and soft vanilla toffee.

I dig this. It’s a little fruity/sweet but very sippable.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

The nose balances old cellar oak against a spicy sticky toffee pudding, candied cherry, burnt orange rinds, and marzipan. The palate has a hint of tannic bitterness — this is old — next to vanilla sheet cake topped with orange zest frosting. There’s a sense of butterscotch and Almond Joy on the mid-palate that leads to a finish full of silky molasses, woody winter spices, and tobacco leaf layered with brandy butter and burnt orange and wrapped up in old leather and cedar bark.

This is a hell of a whiskey. It’s also pretty well aged with that old oak and tannic edge.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

There’s a hint of figs and dates on the nose that lead to a spiced Christmas cake covered in powdered sugar frosting with plenty of candied citruses, dried dark fruits, and roasted nuts next to vanilla pudding and dried pear skins. The taste has a hint of orange saltwater taffy on the front that leads to a mix of clove, allspice, and sassafras as dark fruit leather and white peppercorns pop. The end is lush and mellow with a hint of that pepper next to dark dried fruit layered into a tobacco leaf alongside cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and dark orange oils.

This might just be the winner. It’s deliciously complex.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

There’s a sense of slight sourdough rye funk on the nose with a hint of pumpkin seed, caraway, sweet cinnamon, vanilla husks, and a whisper of candied ginger. The palate leans into that sour funk and caraway as oloong tea, piney honey, and spicy, raisin-filled oatmeal cookies vibe. The mid-palate kicks in hard with the heat as sharp cinnamon and chili dominate until a soft sense of vanilla, toffee, and dark fruit leather try to calm things down on the finish.

This was hot. It needs some water or ice to calm it down. That said, there was enough complexity at play to make it enticing.

Part 2: The Ranking

8. Ragtime Rye New York Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 4

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $43

The Whiskey:

This rye from NY Distilling has a very local feel. The juice is made from 75 percent rye, 13 percent corn, and 12 percent malted barley. That whiskey is then aged for four years in New York. Finally, select barrels are blended, proofed down slightly, and bottled.

Bottom Line:

This was fine. It’s clearly made to use for good cocktails.

7. Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond — Taste 2

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Nevada is a single estate spirit. That means it’s made with 100 percent rye in the mash bill and that rye (Winter Rye specifically) came from the Frey Ranch farmland. The spirit was then aged a few years before only a few thousand bottles were filled.

Bottom Line:

This was better than fine but still felt like a solid cocktail whiskey more than a sipper.

6. Middle West Spirits Straight Rye Whiskey Dark Pumpernickel Cask Strength Barrel No. 0968 — Taste 8

ABV: 64.7%

Average Price: $47

The Whiskey:

This Ohio whiskey is made with dark pumpernickel rye, Ohio soft red winter wheat, yellow corn, and 2-Row barley malts. The juice is then aged for three years in new white oak before it’s bottled as-is at cask strength.

Bottom Line:

This was a lot. That heat was real. That all said, this had a really unique and enticing flavor profile. Just make sure you add some water or a rock or two to the glass before you dive in.

5. High West Double Rye A Blend of Straight Whiskeys Batch No. 22B16 — Taste 1

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $35

The Whiskey:

High West’s Double Rye is quickly becoming a modern classic. The Utah whiskey is made from a blend of 95 percent rye from MGP of Indiana and two-year rye from High West’s Utah distillery with a mash of 80 percent rye and 20 percent malted rye. All the whiskeys in the mix are at least two years old before they’re blended and proofed for bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was the whiskey that bridged the gap between a solid cocktail base and a solid sipper. I can see mixing with this as much as just pouring it over some rocks and enjoying it as is.

4. Penelope Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Tokaji Wine Casks Batch #57 — Taste 5

ABV: 53.5%

Average Price: $85

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Penelope really leans into the specialty cask finish. The base is a six-year-old MGP 95 percent rye. Those barrels are shipped out to Penelope and they re-barrel that juice into Hungarian Tokaji barrels for a final rest. Once the whiskey hits the right spot, the barrels are blended and bottled with a touch of proofing water.

Bottom Line:

This was a nice, but a little bit thin, sipper. Overall, it was complex and inviting. It was just missing something I can’t quite put my finger on.

I’m nitpicking for this ranking, of course. Because this really was a very nice sip of whiskey overall.

3. Redwood Empire Rocket Top Bottled In Bond Batch #002 — Taste 3

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $90

The Whiskey:

This California whiskey was made back in the spring of 2017 with a mash of 87 percent rye, five percent malted barley, five percent wheat, and a mere three percent corn. Five years later, the juice was small batched from 55 barrels and bottled with a hint of water to bring it down to bottled-in-bond proof.

Bottom Line:

This was a clear winner today. It’s subtle yet deeply built. Overall, I can see this as a solid on-the-rocks sipper or your next go-to for fall Manhattans.

2. Lock Stock & Barrel 21 — Taste 6

ABV: 55.5%

Average Price: $490

The Whisky:

This rye is made from that magical Canadian 100 percent rye mash bill. The juice went into the barrel back in May of 1999 and was left alone in the cold north for over two decades before Lock Stock & Barrel blended and bottled this without any fussing.

Bottom Line:

This is just a great whisky. It’s so dark and engaging while still feeling accessible and tasty. I’d say pour it over a single rock and really take your time.

1. New Riff 100% Malted Rye Bottled In Bond Aged 6 Years — Taste 7

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $190

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from New Riff is a whiskey lover’s dream pour. The mash is made from 100 percent malted rye (most rye that is used for whiskey is unmalted). That means more sugars are available in the grain as it goes through germination and then heating to stop that process, which helps create a lot of sugars. Anyway, the juice then rests for six years in new oak before the barrels are blended, proofed down, and bottled as-is.

Bottom Line:

This is a truly great whiskey. It’s extremely well balanced while carrying a deep flavor profile that hints at bourbon sometimes. Overall, this is the perfect Manhattan rye or end-of-the-day slow-sipping pour.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

This was a fun tasting. All eight of these whiskeys are winners in their own way. Even the eighth-ranked Ragtime Rye has a place on your bar cart as a simple cocktail mixer for cocktails where the whiskey isn’t the star of the show — think smashes, sours, nogs.

The rest are all solid in their own ways. I’d say the top four are the ones you want to hunt down. Each one has a little different flavor profile, so go back and see which set of tasting notes speaks to you.

If you don’t want to think about it, then just get the New Riff. It’s a guaranteed win for your bar cart.

The Handmaid’s Tale has just launched a new season on Hulu, and here we are with the U.S. looking a lot like Gilead. The Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade gave the green light for red states to start putting near-total bans on abortion, and in a late-breaking update, Sen. Lindsey Graham decided to push right past the GOP by proposing a national ban that doesn’t even leave the matter to states’ discretion. At the very least, Mark Cuban’s online discount pharmacy is providing some drug-based relief to women who worry about being unable to run their own bodies, and now, Chrissy Teigen is getting real about her own medically necessary abortion.

This is a subject that Chrissy (who’s married to John Legend, with whom she shares two children and is pregnant with another) took awhile to come to grips with in her own mind. As the Hollywood Reporter relates, the model and food enthusiast took the stage (on Thursday) at Propper Daley’s “A Day of Unreasonable Conversation” summit, where she reveals that she openly considered her third pregnancy a miscarriage, but now, she’s speaking out to reveal that this was a life-saving abortion. Via Hollywood Reporter:

“Two years ago, when I was pregnant with Jack, John and my third child, I had to make a lot of difficult and heartbreaking decisions. It became very clear around halfway through that he would not survive, and that I wouldn’t either without any medical intervention. Let’s just call it what it was: It was an abortion/ An abortion to save my life for a baby that had absolutely no chance.

Chrissy related how she only really realized that she’d had an abortion after the Supreme Court’s gut-punch of a verdict for women’s health. And yes, she had a difficult decision that she’d had to make at the time, but these days, the decision might be even more difficult because of how some states will inevitably scrutinize every medical decision when it comes to abortion. Lindsey Graham, who wants to abortions at 15 weeks throughout the U.S., isn’t helping matters, but awareness (and public outreach) from pro-choice advocates is vital, especially going into the fall elections.

(Via Hollywood Reporter)

Here we go again y’all: Kanye West is everywhere. After appearing on MSNBC to discuss how leaving Gap has affected the company’s stock and insinuating that he is the, “One individual in the world who could save the Gap,” he wasted no time in announcing that he’s opening a private Christian school called Donda Academy — one where parents have to reportedly sign NDAs. Talk about a scholarly week for Mr. West! But then, in a wholly unpredictable, but also obviously predictable, Ye admitted in a podcast interview that he’s actually never read a book before and said that it’s about as icky to him as, “Eating Brussels sprouts.”

On the latest episode of the yoga-centric fitness apparel company ALO Yoga’s podcast, Ye sat down with company CEO Danny Harris and host Alyson Wilson for a discussion about building lasting brands. Harris welcomed Ye to the show by saying, “I am so inspired by you, the inspiration you’ve had in Alo…your street sense and your street vibe.” Harris was smitten by Ye and how Alo’s, “Manufacturing, excellence and efficiencies,” were inspiring him. It was all a bit hokey from the get-go and Kanye wasted no time in being extremely forthcoming.

When Harris started talking about a conversation he had with Ye about a book he told the rapper he’d read 100 times, saying how Ye, “Embodies every positive attribute from this book,” Ye interjected to say: “I actually haven’t read any book. Reading is like Brussels sprouts for me. And talking is like getting the Giorgio Baldi corn ravioli.” Uhhhh…ok? Perhaps this provides some insight into the friction that caused West to sever ties with the Gap claiming that they violated their contract?

Ye went on to cite an example of a conversation he had with Mike Howe, the inventor of the ripsaw military tank, and how he admitted to only reading the first and last sentence of lengthy texts from his mother. Somehow, this anecdote validated West’s quest to never read a book. But it now begs the question: Did Kanye only read the first and last sentence of his contract with Gap?

Watch the podcast episode below, with the conversation about reading and Brussels sprouts happening at the very top.

The nonprofit group Gen Z for Change may have had something to do with Yelp changing its policy regarding crisis pregnancy centers. The online local listings directory now notifies consumers that these businesses typically don’t provide medical services and may not be staffed by licensed medical professionals. Many people searching online for abortion services, especially those in states that have enacted trigger laws, see crisis pregnancy centers pop up as if they provide the desired service. Yelp now helps potential patients navigate this deceptive practice by adding a warning label over the results on its platform.

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What does Gen Z for Change have to do with this change in Yelp’s policy? After Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in June, crisis pregnancy centers, also known as “fake abortion clinics,” began populating in searches for people looking for abortion care. This is a problem for multiple reasons, the main one being that vulnerable people were being deceived by these centers, whose main goal is to get the mother to carry on with the unwanted pregnancy at all costs. Gen Z for Change began flooding their online presence with negative reviews to warn potential patients.

The group was so efficient that it was able to create a program that automatically ran a prepared script to flood Yelp with negative reviews on crisis pregnancy centers. The program it designed is called S.A.F.E.R., which stands for spam, assist, fund, educate and register, and encourages users to spam Yelp in an effort to warn others. Yelp eventually disabled its review system to stop the spamming from Gen Z for Change. But it looks like Yelp took notice of the reviews being left by the activist group.

In August, Yelp added a notice to its listings for pregnancy centers to help differentiate them from actual abortion providers. Noorie Malik, Yelp’s vice president, said in a statement, “To provide consumers with helpful information when looking for reproductive health services, Yelp’s new consumer notice will appear on Crisis Pregnancy Centers and Faith-based Crisis Pregnancy Centers business pages, informing consumers that businesses in those categories typically provide limited medical services and may not have licensed medical professionals onsite.”

Yelp is hoping the change will prevent people from being confused about the services provided at the centers.

There are currently more than 2,700 crisis pregnancy centers across the United States and they provide limited services, such as free pregnancy tests, peer counseling, clothes and diapers. Some centers offer ultrasounds, but the healthcare they provide is very limited. Crisis pregnancy centers are not bound by HIPAA, which could lead to violations of client privacy—a real concern in states where pregnancy termination is now illegal and citizens can turn others in to authorities.

While Yelp doesn’t directly credit Gen Z for Change for its policy change, it would seem the group was able to at minimum get Yelp’s attention. It’s a small change that can make a big difference in a post Roe v. Wade world.

There’s nothing like preparing for a new baby. The excitement and anticipation take hold and before you know what’s happening, your baby registry is five pages long full of things you’ve probably never heard of. I’ve been there before, and now, four kids later, I can tell you with absolute certainty that there are tons of things you actually don’t need. It’s easy to get carried away when everything is so tiny and cute, especially ’cause marketing around baby stuff is bananas. The following offers some alternative items to the ones you’ll likely only use a limited number of times before practicality takes over.

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Many of us have been there, standing in the baby aisle looking like we’re smuggling an oddly shaped beach ball under our now-too-small maternity shirt contemplating between the many styles of pacifiers and different types of bottles. You’d be forgiven for spending an insane amount of money on bottles shaped like a deflated spaceship that guarantee your baby will never burp, when two weeks after they’re born you find out your baby actually prefers the $0.98 ones from Walmart. Figuring out what you really need is tricky enough, so let me help you out. Hold on to your bellies or shiny new babies folks, this list might blow your mind.

1. Put the Pee Pee Teepee down and back away slowly.

Aside from the word “teepee” being highly inappropriate for non-Indigenous people to use, you can go ahead and take this bad boy off your baby registry. If you’re not familiar with a “pee pee teepee,” it’s a cone-shaped item that goes on top of your little guy’s business so he doesn’t accidentally pee in his eyes or on the unsuspecting diaper changer. Here’s the thing, baby wipes or a baby washcloth work just as well. When my boys were little I’d just throw a wipe over their baby business while I changed the diaper, and once the dirty diaper was off, it’s easy to toss the used wipe in before trashing the diaper. Easy peasy and it’s one less thing to put on your list.

2. Diaper Genies are unnecessary and it’s easy to forget they exist.

I had such high hopes for my Diaper Genie as a first-time mom. They’re so cool, you shove a dirty diaper in there and twist. That’s it. It locks in the odor and makes a weird-looking segmented snake of dirty diapers. Alas, when your diaper pail is in one room and you’re changing a diaper on a wiggly baby in another, most times the diaper just winds up in the closest trash can. So just buy some small cheap trash cans to put in different rooms and then empty them at the end of the day. There’s only so much odor a diaper genie can hold and they only take special expensive trash bags. Save your money. Get some small trash cans and those little smell good bags to toss the smelly diapers.

3. You can buy a swaddler but you don’t actually need it.

I know this might be a controversial statement, but honestly those swaddlers are really expensive and babies quickly outgrow them. You can do the perfect swaddle with a receiving blanket for a fraction of the price and just as much energy. You know how babies come all bundled up when the nurse brings them in from the nursery? Yeah, that’s a really good swaddle that will give your snuggle bug the same coziness as an expensive swaddler.

4. You don’t have to be fancy and get a Baby Brezza.

Honestly, I had never heard of a Baby Brezza until I had my youngest, so I’m assuming its a newer invention. They’re certainly cool and also really expensive and unnecessary. These little doodads are like baby Keurigs but for formula. They hold powdered formula and water, you press a button and it supposedly perfectly mixes up a warm bottle of sustenance. The price tag on these things are about the same as a larger much more needed baby item, like a car seat-stroller combo. There have also been some concerns raised by pediatricians due to some bottles not getting enough formula added.

Take the guesswork out of it and just fill the bottles by hand. You can even put water in the bottles in advance and leave them out at room temperature and use a portable formula container to put premeasured scoops in. I know it’s no Baby Brezza, but you’ll be $200 richer and know exactly how much formula is going into your baby’s bottle.

5. Your baby doesn’t need fake grass to dry their bottles on.

Don’t laugh, a fake grass bottle dryer is something that actually once sat on my kitchen counter. That’s about all it did because I dang sure didn’t use it for more than the first week. When you’re sleep deprived, you want the easiest thing available and oftentimes that’s the top rack of the dishwasher or the dish rack that’s already on your countertop. The things we get suckered into buying is laughable sometimes. Besides it being esthetically pleasing, you don’t actually need it and a regular bottle rack, in fact, works better because there are no removable trees holding the nipples.

6. Side eye anyone that says you need embroidered burp cloths.

Don’t fall for it. Yes, purpose-made burp cloths can be super cute but they’re literally used to catch baby puke. These things are too small to cover the area needed to prevent your back and shoulder from becoming a casualty of a little guy eating too fast. Remember those receiving blankets we talked about earlier? Yeah, they are much more absorbent and cover more of your body to spare you having to change clothes. Those flannel blankets are versatile. You can use them for swaddling, to cover a car seat or stroller, for burp cloths or even a clean area to change the baby on. There’s no such thing as too many receiving blankets. I’ll make it easy for you, grab a pack here.

7. Skip the bulb syringe and splurge on the NoseFrida.

The hospital will give you a useless bulb syringe that only the nurses know how to work, because I swear no matter how hard you squeeze the bulb you barely get anything out. Bulb syringes even come with many newborn essential sets. I’m sure they work, but they seem to take way too much effort for the little bit of mucus they pull out. Get the NoseFrida—yes, it’s a little more expensive but it’s worth it, even though it seems gross. I promise the hygiene filter that goes in the tube will spare you from getting baby boogers in your mouth. You can literally use that thing well into the toddler years until your little one learns to blow their nose. Can’t speak highly enough of this thing and here’s a link to it here.

8. Do you really need a Pack ‘n’ Play that turns into a rocket ship?

OK, maybe it doesn’t turn into a rocket ship but some of those things are so outrageous that you might need to be a rocket scientist to put it together. Pack ‘n’ Plays are really convenient and a great investment for new parents, especially if you like to travel or have family out of state. You can use it so your baby can sleep in your bedroom until you’re ready for the switch to sleeping away from your little one. Just try not to get distracted by all the bells and whistles and stick to the basics. A Pack ‘n’ Play with a bassinet is really all you need. It’s much cheaper and you’ll use the bassinet piece much longer than the ones that come with other parts.

9. Expensive teething jewelry is overrated.

Fancy teething jewelry is cute and has become quite popular lately, but babies don’t really need it. They are perfectly happy with the normal water-filled teething rings or rubber ones that can be thrown in any diaper bag. They’re tried and true, plus they’re designed specifically for teething. While the jewelry is marketed for teething babies, doctors have warned that they’re not safe enough to use for that purpose. Besides, having a baby is expensive enough, no need to add to it when you can pick up teething rings at just about any store for a reasonable price.

The idea that everything for babies has to be the most expensive top-of-the-line things is just marketing. When it comes down to it, babies need very basic things: a safe place to sleep, food, diapers and lots of love. Everything else is extra and you can be as extra as you’d like but it should never feel like it’s a necessity. Your baby will love you whether you have the Baby Brezza or mix their bottles by hand, promise.

When Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, the story of life on Earth was dramatically and forever changed. No longer were we bound to the land on our own planet. We had set foot on another orb in space, broken a new frontier, literally going where no man had gone before.

The words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” spoke to the technological advances that had catapulted the human race from the first sustained, powered human flight to landing a man on the moon in less than 70 years. It was truly an incredible feat.

That “one small step,” that people around the world watched on their television sets was seriously momentous. But the steps the world didn’t see were genuinely hilarious.

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NASA has footage of astronauts trying to walk around on the moon’s low gravity, zero atmosphere surface, and apparently, it’s a lot harder than it looks. The graceful bouncing of astronauts we’ve seen in moon landing films belies how easy it was to fall and trip. And once you fall down in a huge space suit in gravity conditions your body isn’t used to, it’s not so easy to get back up again.

Universal Curiosity shared a montage of “moon bloopers,” if you will, sped up 2x for optimal comedic effect. Watch these brilliant space scientists stumble Three Stooges-style as they make their way around the moon:

u201cFunny footage of Apollo astronauts falling on the moon. Sped up 2x.nnCredit: NASAu201d

— Universal Curiosity (@Universal Curiosity)
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Eight of the 12 astronauts who have walked on the moon shared recollections of their time on the moon with Forbes in 2019. Nearly across the board, they talked about having a keen understanding of the historic nature of their moon missions, but also being totally focused on the checklists of what they needed to do while they were there. Each Apollo moon mission was limited by time, so there wasn’t a lot of opportunity to just goof around.

Some astronaut falls were accidental, including one that nearly cost astronaut Charlie Duke his life during the Apollo 16 mission. While jumping up and down on the moon to see how high he could go—not part of the mission—Duke lost his balance and fell backward onto his fiberglass shell backpack. Thankfully, it didn’t crack, but it was a deadly possibility that would have left him without life support and victim to the vacuum of space.

Other falls were planned experiments to see how the conditions on the moon affected human locomotion, providing valuable information for scientists. Still hilarious to watch, though.

This Dark5 documentary segment shares more details about why walking on the moon is such a challenge and the actually quite serious stories behind some of these falls:

Most people have had a friend that jokes around way too much. They’re constantly finding ways to rib you about something—sometimes it’s annoying but mostly you love it because the jokes are pretty funny. Well, that’s the situation with Martin Short and Conan O’Brien, where Short takes every opportunity he can to roast his buddy. O’Brien is funny all on his own, but seeing him continuing to walk right into the hilarious roastings is just a chef’s kiss.

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This friendly act of Short poking fun at O’Brien happens so often that someone decided to put together a six-minute compilation video of nothing but O’Brien being teased by the fellow comedian. While most people would probably start getting a little miffed by the barrage of jokes at their expense, it all seems to be in good fun and O’Brien continues to invite him back on the show. Part of me thinks the long-time talk show host enjoyed being on the receiving end of the ribbing just as much as Short enjoyed doling it out. The compilation does provide some good chuckle moments, albeit at the expense of O’Brien.

In one clip Short tells O’Brien, “You look like Mr. Rogers, if Mr. Rogers drank before his show.” I mean, it’s kind of a compliment right? On the one hand you’re being compared to Mr. Rogers, the epitome of kindness. On the other hand, it’s a drunk Mr. Rogers. Jury’s out on how to take that joke, but laughing is the result. Check it out below.

Metro Boomin works like a machine, providing the sounds that have made up some of the biggest hits over the last decade. While he prospers behind the boards, the super producer also excels at bringing together different talents and creating magic. After a four-year hiatus since his last album which did just that, the RIAA diamond-certified multi-talent is ready to unleash his next album Heroes & Villains.

In a trailer shared on YouTube, a match can be found igniting a flame that later consumes an entire city. As menacing music plays in the background, the words “A Metro Boomin Album” appear on the screen before the video transitions to the aforementioned burning city with the words “Heroes & Villains” made up of their own flames on the concrete. The video closes with the album’s impending release date, confirming that Heroes & Villains will be available this fall on November 4.

Notably, the album’s title continues a heroic theme for the St. Louis producer who shared Not All Heroes Wear Capes in 2018. The album was led by “No Complaints” featuring Drake and Offset and includes appearances from Travis Scott, Gunna, Young Thug, Swae Lee, 21 Savage, WizKid, J Balvin, and more. With Not All Heroes reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, this follow-up is highly anticipated.

Check out Metro Boomin’s promotional trailer for Heroes & Villains above.

Heroes & Villains is out 11/4 via Boominati Worldwide and Republic. Pre-order it here.

Earlier this week, the NBA concluded its investigation into Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver’s history of racism, misogyny, and harassment within the workplace. The league determined the proper punishment for Sarver was a yearlong suspension and $10 million fine. Many across the NBA, including LeBron James and Chris Paul, have spoken up about the decision not being severe enough.

On Friday afternoon, NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio appeared on ESPN’s NBA Today to speak with Malika Andrews. Previously, Tremaglio issued a statement saying “Mr. Sarver should never hold a managerial position within our league again.” Andrews wanted to confirm and clarify Tremaglio’s stance, so she asked whether Tremaglio was calling for Sarver to be banned from the NBA.

“We are absolutely calling for that. We do not want him to be in a position where he is managing or engaging with individuals who are engaging with our players,” Tremaglio said. “We are absolutely clear from the findings that are in that report that we do not want him to be in that position.”

Andrews recognized Tremaglio repeatedly used “we” in answering the initial question, so she followed up by asking if Tremaglio’s sentiment represented the players themselves.

“I am speaking on behalf of our players,” Tremaglio said. “It is our players’ desire that, while we understand that there has been a thorough investigation and we’re very pleased that the NBA was able to follow through on that — because that’s clearly something we want to see happen — we also want to make it very clear that we do not want him back in a position where he will be impacting our players and those who serve our players on a daily basis.”

Those are pointed and powerful words from Tremaglio and her constituents. The conclusion is clear: The NBPA does not want Sarver to ever hold a position of power or influence within the league again.

Yes, the Rob Roy is just a Manhattan with Scotch whisky. But, wow, it’s a different beast. The drink is a 19th-century classic that deserves a lot more love than it gets. These days, most people order these as “Scotch Manhattans” or (even worse) a “Manhattan but with Scotch.” As a former high-end bartender, I can assure you that we know what a Rob Roy is without the explanation. Yes, this is literally a Manhattan variation with Scotch whisky, but that different base makes all the difference in the world.

So please…. just order it as a Rob Roy, okay? That name sounds cooler. (Rant over).

What we’re looking at here is a very classic cocktail that was devised at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan in 1894 to celebrate and operetta called, you guessed it, Rob Roy. The drink and the operetta are all about Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor. You can read up on the exploits of MacGregor and his Highland posse on your own time. For now, let’s focus on the Scotch cocktail at hand.

Manhattans and their variations tend to be late-fall and winter cocktails thanks to the mix of woody botanicals, sweetness, spicy bourbon or rye whiskey, and orange that basically screams “the holidays!” The Rob Roy is much lighter than those full-bodied and often spicy old-school Manhattans made with American whiskey. The reason is that you need to use sweet or unpeated blended Scotch whisky. Those tend to be more orchard fruit-forward — apple and pear especially — with a nice honeyed base. Apples, pears, and honey are much more fall-adjacent. That’s just a fact, folks.

With all of that in mind, let’s jump into this recipe and stir up the perfect fall cocktail!

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• Recipe: The Amaretto Sour Is The Ideal Cocktail To Close Out January
• The Tom Collins Is A Classic Cocktail That’s Perfect For The Hotter Days Ahead

Rob Roy

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. blended Scotch whisky
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
• Orange peel
• Luxardo Cherry
• Ice

I’m using an unpeated blended Scotch whisky, and you should too! You can absolutely make this with a peated blended malt, Johnnie Walker Green is a great choice for that. But this isn’t about peat, it’s about Highland whisky. For that vibe, I’m using Dewar’s 19, which has a wonderful base of honey, heather, and orchard fruits that really make this cocktail shine. It’s only $80 and makes a mean cocktail (yes, that’s cheap for a nearly 20-year-old scotch).

Remember, folks, the better the base spirit you use in your cocktail, the better that cocktail will taste.

What You’ll Need:

• Whisky glass (lowball), Nick and Nora, or cocktail glass
• Mixing jar
• Cocktail strainer
• Barspoon
• Fruit peeler

Method:

• Prechill the glass in the freezer.
• Add the whisky, vermouth, and bitters to the mixing jar. Give it a stir. Then add a handful of ice. Stir until the mixing jar is ice cold to touch (about 30 to 40 seconds).
• Strain the cocktail into the prechilled glass.
• Peel a thin orange rind (about the size of your thumb), express the oils over the cocktail (gently squeeze the orange side of the rind toward the drink while rolling/folding between your thumbs and index fingers), and then rub the peel all around the outside of the glass to coat it in more orange oils then toss. Spear a cherry. Serve.

Bottom Line:

This is — shockingly — lighter than a Manhattan. The orchard fruits and honey come through the barky botanical vermouth and bitters and create a nice balance. The sweetness of both whisky and vermouth blend nicely but don’t make the drink too sweet. It’s more like a hint of rock candy with some floral honey.

Overall, this is a warming-yet-light cocktail that makes you feel like leaves should be falling around you as your pick apples and start bonfires. The whisky is there but not overpowering. There’s balance, depth, and fall vibes through and through. Slàinte Mhath!