Will Smith slapping Chris Rock sort of upstaged everything else that happened at this year’s Oscars. It might even be easy to forget that the whole thing was a hot mess. There was the awkwardness of the three (game) hosts. There was the attempt to get Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to give a speech (and Sean Penn’s apparently empty promise to “smelt” his Oscars if he doesn’t). But there was another controversy this year, one that might be rectified for the one in 2023.
Shortly before the ceremony, highers-up announced they were cutting eight categories from the live broadcast. The winners for Editing, Score, Production Design, Sound, and more still got their trophies during the ceremony; viewers at home simply didn’t get to see them (beyond quickie samples of their speeches). The move prompted subtle protest from those in attendance. Well, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences now has itself a new CEO, one Bill Kramer, and he strongly hinted that he was righting that wrong.
In an interview with the Academy’s digital magazine a.Frame (as per The Hollywood Reporter), Kramer didn’t outright state that he was bringing those jettisoned categories back. But he did nudge-nudge pretty aggressively. He said “all artistic and scientific disciplines honored on the show,” adding that “we need to produce an Oscars show that celebrates the collaborative work of the industry.”
The Oscars telecast has long come under fire from two sides: from ABC brass, who have breathed down producers’ necks to get ratings back up to where they once were; and from filmmakers/talent and the general public, who have criticized (or at least relentlessly dragged) attempts to dumb the show down. But if there’s a bright side to a famous celebrity about to win an Oscar striking an also popular presenter in the face on live television, it’s that it may compel viewers to tune in next year. And that means they might be able to do things like not snub a large contingent of the night’s nominees and maybe winners.
The Kevin Durant trade saga has reached a standstill, but there are still more questions than answers. Durant wants out of Brooklyn and has reportedly delivered an ultimatum to Joe Tsai to chose between him or Sean Marks and Steve Nash. But exactly how do you trade Kevin Durant? Nevermind the unprecedented draft capital that was delivered in the Rudy Gobert deal that completely disrupted the NBA trade market, what is a two-time Finals MVP, four-time scoring champion, and 12-time All Star entering year one of a four-year extension worth on the open market?
Well, if you ask former NBA big man Scot Pollard, not as much as you think. Pollard went on SiriusXM to discuss Durant’s trade demand and made clear that he doesn’t think particularly highly of the Nets star.
Durant has received (and embraced) plenty of criticism for his decision to join the 73-win Warriors and even his decision to team up with Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. But the team context around Durant does not diminish his stature as one of the game’s all-time greats and one of the best scorers in league history. Durant has had an atypical career for an NBA superstar and his Twitter presence rubs some folks the wrong way, but he’s certainly one of the guys that can lead a team to a championship — just ask Draymond Green.
As someone who’d rather spend my free time exploring outdoors than hanging out at home, Banff, Canada has been at the top of my bucket list for years. Immersed within the Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park is a massive playground for nature lovers and adventurers of all experience levels. And while Banff is famous for its winter ski season, summer is an equally as worthy (if not even better, IMO) time to visit.
I recently crossed over the Canadian border for the first time to spend a few days exploring everything Banff has to offer. But the truth is that I only scratched the surface of what you can see and do there. I could have easily spent two full weeks in town without running out of activities (mountain towns are maximalists when it comes to stuff to do). Between the stunning views, incredible wildlife sightings, and endless hiking opportunities, nearby lakes for boating and water sports, and the main stretch of Downtown Banff — full of local businesses and restaurants — the small but mighty mountain town is the ultimate hub for adventure.
If you’re ready to make the most of the season with a visit to one of Canada’s most beautiful destinations, follow my complete adventure guide below. I’m sharing where to play, stay, eat, and drink in Banff this summer.
As I said, I only had a few short days to spend in Banff, so I wanted to soak in as much as I could in a short amount of time. The Banff Gondola is an excellent way to do just that. It’s a tram ride that takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain where you’ll get sweeping views of the Bow Valley and six different mountain ranges. You’ll even get a birdseye view of the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, where old-time celebs like Marilyn Monroe were often spotted back in the day.
There’s an accessible walkway with informational signage that leads you around the Sulphur Mountain summit, so you can take in the stunning 360-degree views and wildlife from above while learning more about Banff — did you know it’s Canada’s first national park? Once you’ve explored outside and taken (way too many) pictures of the postcard-like landscape, head inside to browse through the gondola’s indoor facility, which houses a gift shop, two restaurants, and interactive educational exhibits.
There’s a hike up Sulphur Moutain you can do as well, but if you’re short on time or you just would rather not hike up the mountain when you can take a fun little tram ride instead (I don’t blame you), then the Banff Gondola is certainly worth it. Besides, the ride to the top is a unique experience in itself…just try not to look down if you’re not good with heights!
The tram fits four people to a ride, but I rode alone on the way back down, apparently making for an opportune time to have a full-on solo photo shoot while suspended hundreds of feet in the air (America’s Next Top Model could never). As you can see above, I got some epic pics thanks to the awe-inspiring backdrop.
For a full afternoon spent outdoors and a chance to see Banff’s diverse flora and fauna up close, take a guided electric biking tour with Banff Cycle. Your experienced guide will take you on a ride up a scenic nearby highway, stopping along the way to check out various views that seem almost too incredible to be real. You’ll be biking for about an hour and a half before making it to your final stop, but the E-bike assistance makes it doable for most fitness levels. Plus, that last stop, Johnston Canyon, is 100 percent worth the push.
At Johnston Canyon, you’ll find a hiking trail that leads you through a riverside canyon to two different waterfalls (if you make it up to the upper falls, be prepared to get wet!). After you make your way back down the path, your guide will treat you to lunch at the local cafe — which serves your favorite comfort food classics like club sandwiches and fish & chips. Trust me, you’ll want the fuel for the hour and a half ride back to Banff.
Be sure to stay on the lookout while riding down the highway, as you’ll likely get a glimpse at the many animals that roam the national park. Throughout my tour, we saw ground squirrels, dear, a bighorn sheep, and…wait for it…a F*CKING BEAR. Fortunately, it wasn’t a grizzly bear — from which I would have run screaming. It was a small black bear munching on dandelions on the side of the road. It was adorable, beautiful, and… still slightly terrifying considering it was my first bear sighting ever (which you’d know had you been able to hear the audible gasp I let out as we rode by).
Tip:
The weather during summer in Banff can be very unpredictable. Throughout my four-hour biking tour, it went back and forth between rain and sunshine repeatedly. It’s a good idea to bring a light backpack with a rain jacket, layers, sunscreen, and a water bottle in tow.
Book a Banff Cycle tour here or explore on your own with a non-guided bike rental here.
Lake Minnewanka
Chloe Caldwell
Not only are there majestic mountain ranges encompassing the entire town of Banff, but there are several nearby lakes to explore. I visited Lake Minnewanka, Banff’s largest lake, for an afternoon by the water. It was the perfect medium of serene and stimulating. I started by grabbing ice cream at the lake’s snack shop, then enjoyed it by the side of the lake while taking in the scene — the calm navy blue water against rocky and evergreen-lined mountains, brave teenagers who took a plunge into the icy temperatures, families exploring the surrounding walking trails. It’s the perfect spot to relax and people watch.
Then, it was time for my tour on the Lake Minnewanka Cruise, an indoor boating experience that gets you a first-hand look at the lake’s natural beauty. It’s a great way to get out on the water while learning about the area’s legendary history, geology, wildlife information, and other fascinating stories like how the lake got its name (derived from a local Native word meaning “spirit lake”).
Even if you’ve never heard of Lake Louise, you’ve definitely seen it on Instagram. Widely recognized for its crystalline turquoise water tucked within glacial mountains, the lake makes for the ultimate “the camera doesn’t do it justice” moment (but you have to go during summer to see it before the water freezes over).
Adventurers and nature-lovers will truly get a kick out of Lake Louise. First of all, the surrounding area offers ample hiking opportunities with trails ranging from easy hikes to multi-day backpacking expeditions. If you’re looking to get out on the water, you can rent a canoe from the Fairmont Hotel. Rentals are first come first serve, so your best bet is to head to the lake early on a weekday if you’re not down to wait.
You can also tour the Lake Louise area by horseback (horse girls, this one’s for you) by taking a guided equestrian tour with Brewster Trail Rides. You can choose from five different options that will take you around to the local hotspots. AKA, plenty more photo ops — and I guess you can, like, appreciate the nature and stuff too?
Jokes aside, Lake Louise is an influencer magnet for a reason. It’s incredibly beautiful and serene. So if you’re spending time in Banf, making the trek out is a must on your itinerary.
PART II — WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
Park Distillery
Chloe Caldwell
There’s nothing like a cold beverage after a long day of exploring. If you want a taste of the local spirits, there’s no better place to visit than Park Distillery. In fact, it’s the only distillery located in a Canadian national park. Park Distillery’s water originates from glaciers in the surrounding Rocky Mountains, and it sources grain from high-altitude family farms in the Alberta foothills.
You can stop in for a few of Park’s specialty cocktails made with their own locally distilled spirits. Or you can take a guided tour through the property to get a first-hand look at the entire process. You’ll get an inside look at the facilities, learn about how the spirits are made, then get a guided tasting of their six most popular spirits (the gin was my personal favorite). But be wary of the altitude in Banff and stay hydrated, especially if you’re coming from a coastal location. I may or may not have needed a post-tasting nap after getting tipsy off two shots.
Learn more and book a tour at Park Distillery here.
Hello Sunshine
Hello Sunshine
Hello Sunshine is where delicious food and good vibes collide. The groovy, retro-inspired restaurant and karaoke bar hybrid is ideal for lively group dinners or a night out with your travel crew. With a sushi bar, fire tables, two karaoke rooms, and even a “tiny bar” which is like a miniature speakeasy, this spot offers one of the most eccentric dining experiences in Banff.
Not only is the ambiance on point, but the food and drinks menus are equally satisfying. You’ll find sharable sushi bites, hand rolls, seafood skewers, and more. You have to try the Hello Lobster roll (tempura lobster tail, tarragon mayo, tobiko) and the grilled miso eggplant. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
As for drinks, you of course can’t go wrong with one of the many sake options. But I’m a sucker for a specialty cocktail, so I first tried the Lycee Cucumber Sour, made with local Park Gin, lychee liqueur, apple, lemon, egg white, and cucumber bitters. It was the tantalizing and tart libation I needed to kickstart my meal. I also sipped on the Smoked Peach Margarita, which was infused with Blanco tequila, mezcal, peach liqueur, and white peach.
Reading this back, it seems like I was buzzed for 90% of my time in Banff — no wonder I loved it!
View the full Hello Sunshine menu here and book a private room here.
For a laidback yet elevated sports bar environment, head to Three Bears Brewery and Restaurant. It offers outdoorsy mountain vibes, classic bar food favorites, and small-batch brews made with pure glacier water. Three Bears Brewery is an outdoor-indoor experience during summer with an open rooftop and plenty of hanging greenery to make you feel like you’re chilling in the wilderness. And the great thing about visiting Banff during summer is that it stays light out until about 10 p.m.
The drinks menu offers a selection of six beers (you might as well get the flight to try them all), various on-tap and signature cocktails, as well as wine. The food menu puts comfort food at the forefront with options like cheesy waffle fries, burgers, pizza, and beer-battered fish and chips.
View the full Three Bears Brewery and Restaurant menu here.
Banff Ave Brewing Co.
Chloe Caldwell
Right in the heart of Downtown Banff, the Banff Ave Brewing Co. serves up a casual and cool restaurant and bar experience. Head upstairs from the tap room entrance for a lively ambiance inside the main restaurant, or snag a spot on the upstairs patio to sip on a brew while you take in the mountain views and scenes of the downtown streets bustling with tourists.
(Drinking game idea: Take a sip every time someone stops in the middle of the street for a classic Banff Instagram moment. Warning: You might leave stumbling out of the bar.)
The menu offers a selection of craft beers, cocktails, wine, and spirits, so there’s plenty to choose from for everyone. I went with the Strawberry Basil Sour, a refreshing and fruity beer that’s perfect for the summer season. What I liked about the food menu is that it goes beyond your average bar food. You’ll find a few slightly avant-garde options like mushroom & ricotta toast, a falafel burger (this is what I ordered), and housemade smoked olives. But don’t worry, you’ll still find classic bar food options like wings, mac ‘n’ cheese, and nachos if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
If you want to be in the heart of the action, book a room at Peaks Hotel & Suites. Just a few steps from the many restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and bars of Downtown Banff, Peaks is one of the area’s newest accommodation options (opened in 2020). Along with its insanely convenient location, it offers a homey yet modern aesthetic. Think, “cabin chic.”
With a pool, gym, and restaurant available to guests at Peaks’ sister hotel across the street, you’ll have everything you need less than a minute away. There are four different lodging options to choose from, all of which make for a comfortable mountain escape. There was nothing like coming back to my cozy hotel bed for a much-needed nap after a long afternoon of exploring.
If you’re looking for more of a rustic mountain experience with the comfort of a hotel, check out the Banff Bear Bed & Breakfast. When you book a stay, you’ll get this cozy cabin all to yourself — including two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and self-contained apartment-style space.
Due to Banff’s strict zoning laws, Airbnbs are extremely hard to come by. So if you typically prefer a private vacation rental, this spot makes for a great alternative. It’s located at the foot of Tunnel Mountain in Banff and is only a five-minute walk from downtown, so you have privacy while still being close to the action. Plus, Banff Bear Bed & Breakfast offers your choice of continental breakfast items (I mean, it is a bed and breakfast, after all).
Book your stay at the Banff Bear Bed & Breakfast here.
PART IV — GETTING THERE & GETTING AROUND
Banff Airporter
Chloe Caldwell
To get to Banff, you’ll first fly into the Calgary airport. From there, it’s about a two-hour drive to the national park. If you plan on venturing far into the wilderness, then you may want to get a rental car. But otherwise, you really don’t need one. Instead, you can save money and get to Banff using the Banff Airporter. It’s a shuttle bus that takes you from the airport straight to your hotel, which to me seems way more convenient than dealing with rental cars and parking. Besides, the drive to Banff is gorgeous, so you can take in the views without worrying about keeping your eyes on the road.
Tip:
Schedule your flight times to coordinate with the shuttle so you’re not stuck waiting around at the airport for the next available time slot.
The public transportation in Banff is convenient, affordable, and easy to use thanks to the Roam Transit. The busses run regularly, making stops along Banff Avenue and to the many tourist spots mentioned above like the gondola and Lake Minnewanka. It’s only $2 per one-way ride (or less if you get a day pass), and the accompanying transit app makes getting around simple and straightforward, even for the directionally challenged like me.
Download the transit app and check the ride schedule here.
Uproxx was hosted for this story by Banff and Lake Louise Tourism. However, they did not review this story. You can learn more about the Uproxx Press Trip policy here.
It’s back-to-school time for a lot of folks in America and that means getting the kids ready for another year in the classroom. For teachers, it often means forking out a lot of their own money to give the kids in their class the tools necessary to learn.
A 2018 study found that 94% of teachers spend their own money to stock their classrooms. The average teacher spends $479 and 7% of teachers spend more than $1,000. This comes at a time when, in inflation-adjusted terms, teacher salaries have declined by almost 4% over the past decade.
According to Newsweek, this unnecessary burden placed on teachers inspired entrepreneur Erin Foster, who has more than 600,000 followers on Instagram, to put out a story linking to teachers’ Amazon wishlists.
Erin Fuller-Wellman, a first grade teacher at Buffalo Elementary School in Wayne County, West Virginia, needed books for her classroom so she posted her wishlist on Foster’s “Clear the Lists” and Facebook, but she never believed the response she’d receive.
“The CRAZIEST thing just happened to me,” Erin Fuller-Wellman posted on Facebook. “I go outside to see literally 10 boxes laying on my porch. I open the first box and it’s full of books. I think, ‘I wonder who sent these?’ At the bottom, there’s a note, ‘Here is to your best year, yet! Thank you for choosing to teach, you have the most important job in the world from @jennifer.garner.’ My jaw literally dropped. Every box after was from her.”
Fuller-Wellman believes that Garner saw her list on Foster’s post and sent her some books because the actress knows how difficult life can be in West Virginia. Garner was born in Houston, Texas, but moved to Charleston, West Virginia, at the age of 3.
“When I saw the first note, saying it was from her, my jaw dropped and I thought I was imagining it,” she told Newsweek.
Garner has in the past spoken out about the importance of teachers. Last year, at the start of the school year, she shared her support for teachers at a time when COVID-19 was making their profession even more challenging.
“Thank you teachers, thank you administrators, thank you school staff — for being on the receiving end of a year and a half of feelings (kids’ and parents’) — big and loud, quiet and deep,” she wrote.
Garner’s donation to the teacher was a fantastic show of support for the people with the most important job in the world. It was also a savvy move in the social media age. She has to know that word would get out (we’re writing about it!) and it would inspire others to help teachers as well.
The actress has spoken out about the challenges that rural kids in West Virginia face so that’s probably a big reason why she chose to help Fuller-Wellman. Garner didn’t grow up impoverished, but she saw it all around growing up in West Virginia.
“We were surrounded by generational world poverty, so when I suddenly found myself with a little bit of a voice, I just said ‘who was helping kids in rural America?’” she said on Kerry Washington’s “Street You Grew Up On” show. “Who’s giving them a leg up in West Virginia or Mississippi or South Carolina?”
Meet Sunny, the lucky duck with an adorable afro and heartwarming story.
Sunny, named after his shining personality, has a genetic mutation that gives him a glorious feather poof on his head. However, it has also caused him some significant health issues, including being blind in one eye.
In a video shared by GeoBeats Animals, Sunny’s owner (Sarah) recalled seeing the wee duckling all by his lonesome while at a tractor supply. She was instantly smitten with his quirky look. Though none of the other ducks would embrace Sunny, being partially blind made him less skittish and more approachable to the other animals. And, of course, people—especially kids. Sunny was always up to sit on a lap and share a nap.
Sarah wouldn’t become aware of Sunny’s condition until she noticed he wasn’t growing and he began wheezing due to an upper respiratory infection. When she realized her little afro’d duckling had some disabilities and might need some special care, she willingly obliged.
The result? Sunny is now a happy, healthy and undeniably dashing adult duck … and an influencer, at that. His Instagram is dedicated to brightening people’s days with adorable pics, which his 12,000 followers flock to.
The other ducks still aren’t all that nice to our beloved outlier, sadly. However, Sunny now has his own duck buddy, one who is also blind in one eye and has a mini pompadour, and they regularly enjoy “blind” dates together. You know what they say, birds of a feather…
Plus, less of a duck-tourage means more watermelon cake for Sunny! Win-win!
Caring for a disabled pet can be challenging, but it can also yield great rewards, like inspiring empathy and acceptance. As Sarah told GeoBeats Animals, “What makes [Sunny] different makes him special. He’s taught us so much just by being who he is.”
Thank you Sunny, for reminding us that even if we’re built a bit differently, we can always find our flock.
A new invention looks like it may completely change how hearing-impaired people communicate with the rest of the world. According to EuroNews, XRAI Glass has developed augmented reality glasses that allow people who have difficulty hearing to read real-time conversations in their glasses through closed-captioning.
It’s like watching a TV show with subtitles, but in real life.
The idea came from Dan Scarfe in January while he was spending time with his 97-year-old grandfather. His grandfather wasn’t participating with the rest of the family because he couldn’t hear their conversations.
“It’s just so difficult when there are so many people around you and you’re trying to keep track of the different conversations which are going on,” Scarfe told Euronews. “It’s got to the point now where he literally just sits in silence. And I thought, well, hang on a second. He watches TV all the time with subtitles. Why can’t we subtitle the world?”
Now, just seven months later, his new company XRAI Glass is already testing its closed-captioning glasses on 100 people before they’re released to the public.
To make the glasses a reality, Scarfe and his team used software based on Amazon’s Alexa transcription service and combined it with glasses made by augmented reality manufacturer Nreal. The result is comfortable glasses that look natural while allowing the wearer to read the text of the person with whom they are speaking.
Josh Feldman, who was born with profound hearing loss, says that the glasses are “quite extraordinary,” he told The Daily Mail. “The impact of being able to not rely on looking at someone’s lips and being able to talk to them is clearly something which could be life-changing.”
Hannah Brady, 60, who has 60% hearing loss in both ears agrees.
“Gosh that’s really accurate,” she said according to The Daily Mail. “What’s brilliant about it is it’s not getting in the way of what I’m trying to see either.”
The glasses also have the support of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). “This is a great example of the positive difference innovative technology can make for people who are deaf or have hearing loss,” RNID CEO, Mark Atkinson, said in a statement. “XRAI glass is intuitive and simple to use and could be a powerful tool in ensuring people with hearing loss don’t feel excluded in social settings.”
The technology is similar to a prototype that Meta revealed earlier this year that was highlighted by Upworthy. The software connects to existing hands-free wearable devices such as Microsoft’s HoloLens and provides subtitles for conversations.
u201cThese augmented reality glasses help deaf people see live captions of people’s speech nnBy @paul_mealynn#techforgood #innovation #technology #AR #VR #augmentedrealitynn@TechAmazing @sebbourguignon @Nicochan33 @KirkDBorne @mvollmer1 @pierrecappelliu201d
However, it’s uncertain when this technology will be available to the general public.
The good news for those who are interested in trying XRAI glass is that if all goes well, they could be available to consumers in the near future.
“We’re going with a small number to begin with to prove it out, to get the feedback, to understand what people like, what they don’t like, [and] rapidly innovate on that,” Scarfe told EuroNews.
“And then we’re hoping if the winds are behind us, then we will reach general availability by September,” he added.
After releasing Who Is Nardo Wick?? (Deluxe) and unveiling the music video for his collaboration with The Kid Laroi on “Burning Up,” Nardo Wick is back with another video, this time for “Dah Dah Dahdah.”
The last video was directed by Cole Bennett, and this time it was by Dell Nie and even Nardo himself. It begins with a stunning shot of three pianos set up in a triangular form while bloody hands play the haunting rhythm on the keys, whose melody can be recognized from Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner” or, more recently, Fall Out Boy’s “Centuries” which also samples it. Guns are laid out on the pianos and Nardo dances in the middle in between them all. Interspersed are scenes with an intense downpour and some security footage.
The Jacksonville rapper concluded his 2021 year with the release of his Who Is Nardo Wick? project, which consisted of 18 songs and features from Future, Lil Baby, Hit-Boy, G Herbo, Lil Durk, 21 Savage, Lakeyah, and Big30. The deluxe of Who Is Nardo Wick? added onto the amount of features, pulling in artists like Latto and The Kid Laroi for special guest appearances that excited fans.
Warning: This post contains vague-ish spoilers for the last final episodes of Better Call Saul.
Better Call Saulcame to an end on Monday, and even for a Breaking Bad spin-off, it went to some pretty dark places. One of the most gutting scenes happened in the penultimate episode, entitled “Waterworks.” It found Rhea Seehorn’s Kim Wexler having a breakdown on a bus. Crying onscreen ain’t easy, and Seehorn, a professional thespian, knows it. Luckily, they only wound up doing two takes, but Seehorn was ready to do far more.
“I didn’t know we’d only do two takes until I arrived,” Seehorn told Vulture in a kind of exit interview for the show. “I prepared as best I could to have to do many, many, many, many takes. That is not because any of our directors are sadistic, but it’s because the visual vocabulary of the show is many angles on the same thing. So, just technically, that requires you doing it over and over and over and over.”
Still, she was hoping for fewer takes. She was already anxious about having to “go over to a corner and drum up some painful memory of my real life.” But she also knew she “can’t do that for 36 takes.” One way she steeled herself for possibly doing several crying jags was to “think about the different pieces that she’s crying about here, because it is not just about one moment. She’s crying for the entire Shakespearean tragedy of Jimmy McGill and of Kim Wexler and of their relationship and of Chuck and of Howard and of people that try to be a good person and how hard that fight could be in day-to-day real life.”
And so Seehorn decided to think about the many heartbreaking aspects of the show’s storyline:
I just tried to pull all of those things, get on a bus with strangers, which made me feel so alone even though my crew was there, and now try really hard not to cry. Literally that was my plan because if you go in there and say, “I hope I can make myself cry for 30 takes,” you’ll fail. That’s too scary. I literally just put the things physically that we have all felt in extreme shame in our lives or extreme pain in our lives and then try to not let them come all the way out. As soon as you get fissures and it cracks a little bit and you fight to squash it down harder, it’ll come back at you harder. Those are the takes you ended up witnessing and then Vince [Gilligan, the show’s creator and the episode’s writer/director] said, “I think we’re good. We’re just going to do two.” And I was like, “Oh.”
Seehorn says she even offered to do more, but Gilligan told her, “No, we have it exactly. We have it exactly.”
The scene not only shows a side of Kim we’ve never seen before, but also one, Seehorn argues, that she’s never seen of herself. “Someone asked me the other day in an interview, ‘Do you think Kim, over the last five, six years, has been privately crying in a closet like this away from people?’ I said, “No,’” Seehorn explained:
“The decision I made is that this is the first time she’s let any of this out. She would not let herself feel it. One, for fear that the dam would never be able to be closed up again and two, because of the compartmentalizing. You can’t rehearse it in a traditional way, but I did a lot of thinking about it and then gave myself some tactile markers that I knew that I could have as a reminder of my starting point each time when I get on the bus.”
You can watch Seehorn cry her eyes out in the video above. Hope you liked it because you might not be seeing the Breaking Bad-verse any time soon, though Seehorn told Vulture if Gilligan and team ever change their minds, she’s return to the role “in a heartbeat.”
Russell Peters jumped on People’s Party with Talib Kwelithis week, primed to tell amazing stories about his life on and off the stage. For years, Peters has made millions laugh while learning a bit about themselves with his unique brand of comedy. Beyond the celebrity though, he’s a man who has a deep reverence for art, culture, and music (especially hip-hop!) — making an interview with Kweli and co-host Jasmin Leigh a natural fit.
Being a top tier comedian often means you move between elite and very thugged out circles. Here Russell tells a truly bonkers story about how he lent his Bentley to legendary hip-hop icon Eric B. When Eric B brought the car back, it arrived with none other than boxing legend Iron Mike Tyson. The exchange they had was a historic exchange about a very hood-affiliated friend they had in common from Tyson’s pre boxing fame. Several years later, they met again. Upon seeing Peters, Tyson immediately recounted their first conversation to Chuck Zito, former President of the notorious Hells Angels motorcycle club.
Peters was blown away by Tyson’s clarity in what he recalled from their first meeting. In the years since, they’ve become close friends.
Chuckling in amazement he says to Kweli “He meets one hundred and fifty people a day — of note! To remember that detail…” Peters pauses in awe reflecting on the moment, then adds. “Don’t think people aren’t paying attention. The people [at the top of the game] are retaining everything. It’s what they choose to react to [that matters].”
Check out more insane and informative stories from comedian Russell Peters onPeople’s Party with Talib Kweli with co-host Jasmin Leigh below.
“Small Batch” bourbon whiskey still has pretty big sway in the American whiskey industry. The term is a catch-all for bottles of whiskey that exist one step above the standard expressions on the lower shelves at the liquor store (but below the single barrels, limited editions, bottled in bonds, etc.). The term “small batch” imbues a tad more refinement which whiskey drinkers look for once they get past the entry-level stuff and start craving the “better” bottles.
To that end, let’s rank some serious small batch bourbons for you to drink. Before we dive in, let’s get a little context. Small batch doesn’t technically mean anything. There’s no legal destination that makes any whiskey expression a “small batch” offering. It’s simply a marketing term that was made up to allow brands to take up more shelf space with their whiskeys. A small batch of bourbon whiskey can be made with anything from two barrels that were painstakingly hand-selected by the blenders to an expression that incorporates hundreds of barrels in the blend. That’s not to say that there isn’t more refinement at play in small batch expressions, there absolutely is. It’s simply to say that there’s no hard and fast rule for what makes a small batch bourbon a “small batch” bourbon.
That means that this category of bourbon comes down to the flavor profile created by the distillers and blenders. Make sense? Great! Now let’s rank some spectacular new and classic small batch bourbons!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This is a standard “small batch” from Buffalo Trace’s budget brand, Benchmark. There’s not a whole lot of information on what this is exactly when it comes to the mash bill or aging. The “batch” could be 20 barrels or 200. The bourbon is cut down to 90 proof before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Vanilla extract, slightly wet oak, and that Buffalo Trace Bourbon raw leather/wet grain dominate the nose. The taste pretty much stays in that arena with caramel apples and floral honey popping up next to a slight metallic note and soft mineral water mouthfeel. The end is short and sweet and leaves you with that leather, oak, and vanilla primarily.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the cheapest pours on the list that also still feels a little cheap. It’s not astringent. It’s just very much for taking shots, mixing with Coke, and maybe mixing into a really fast old fashioned.
This is a “small batch” in theory. The expression marries 200 classic bourbon barrels from Heaven Hill’s warehouses. That juice is then proofed down to 45 proof and bottled as is.
Tasting Notes:
Vanilla and leather lead the way with a distinct note of fresh and warm cornbread that’s just touched by an oak note. The palate holds onto that caramel apple flavor profile while the cornbread makes a very buttery and honey-forward return with a light hint of egg nog spices. The end is short-ish and dances through that honey-soaked and buttery cornbread, rich vanilla, caramel apple, and oak towards a final touch of brown spice.
Bottom Line:
This is a big step up from Benchmark with a classic vibe that doesn’t feel cheap or bottom shelf at all. This is also a great mixing bourbon and makes a solid cocktail.
This brand was devised by Heaven Hill to be the accessible wheated bourbon with Heaven Hill’s own Old Fitzgerald and Buffalo Trace’s Pappy and Weller having long left mass accessibility far behind. The juice is a wheated bourbon mash bill that’s small batched with no age statement before proofing and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a note of freshly baked biscuits with butter and toffee dripping from the breadbasket. That butter really becomes creamy as the toffee leads towards rich vanilla, sweet oak, and very slight fruitiness. The real star of the show is the buttery toffee, biscuits, and hint of sweet wood that lingers the most through the short fade.
Bottom Line:
This is a pretty solid cocktail base that can work as an on the rocks sipper in a pinch.
Paul Sutton is a new bourbon from an old family recipe. I know, we’ve all heard it before. The new whiskey is not a blend of sourced bourbons. The brand took the time to release its contract distilled whiskey. The bourbon mash bill has a touch of rye in it and it aged for up to five years in medium char barrels.
Tasting Notes:
The nose on this has a distinct barnyard funk tied to wet bales of straw that leads to a salted caramel sweetness with a twinge of a pine box full of cherry pits. The taste veers away from most of that towards sweet corn cakes with a touch of vanilla cream and eggnog spice. A Caro syrup-soaked pecan sweetness and nuttiness drive the mid-palate towards a cherry tobacco finish with a hint of dark cacao powder.
Bottom Line:
This is a nice standard bourbon with a unique vibe. I tend to use this for cocktails and highballs thanks to that funky nose.
This whiskey is made under contract at Owensboro Distilling Co. The mash is 70 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and nine percent malted barley. Those barrels then have oak staves put in them for a final maturation. The “Oak Bill” by Broken Barrel is 40 percent French oak, 40 percent ex-bourbon, and 20 percent sherry cask staves. That whiskey is then blended and bottled after proofing.
Tasting Notes:
This feels classic on the nose with big notes of dark cherry, rich cacao, raw biscuits, and wintery spice next to vanilla beans and a hint of caramel. The palate largely delivers on that nose, which is a little bit of a letdown, but also layers in some dark cacao and espresso beans with clove/cinnamon/allspice spicy warmth. The end is cherry tobacco dipped in lush eggnog and packed into a cedar box.
Bottom Line:
This is a new whiskey that leans into classic vibes. I like using this one for cocktails mostly, but you can certainly enjoy it over a few rocks too.
Bib & Tucker is another classic example of what great blending can do with sourced juice. The Tennessee whiskey is a marriage of ten-year-old whiskeys aged in the lowest char barrels available, allowing more direct contact with dried wood rather than black char (which is a filter). Those barrels are blended and then proofed down before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a sense of vanilla bean (pod, seeds, essence) up top with hints of spicy chewy tobacco, dry oak (almost pine), and a distant note of fresh corn husks. The palate really holds onto that velvety vanilla as the corn husks dry out and notes of orange-infused dark chocolate mingle with that spicy tobacco, which starts buzzing on your tongue. The end is long-ish, has touches of that dry pine, and holds onto both the vanilla and dried corn husks.
Bottom Line:
This is a high point for the brand. I dig this neat or on the rocks, but it truly shines as a solid cocktail base for a Manhattan, Sazerac, or old fashioned.
This is Elijah Craig’s entry-point bottle. The mash is corn-focused, with more malted barley than rye (12 percent and ten percent respectively). Originally, this was branded as a 12-year-old whiskey. The brand decided to move away from that labeling and started blending younger whiskeys to create this label.
Tasting Notes:
Classic bourbon notes greet you with a clear focus on vanilla, caramel, oak, orchard fruit, and a touch of fresh mint. The palate holds onto those flavors while adding in mild Christmas spices with a touch of oak and tobacco. The end is short, simple, and will leave you with a warm Kentucky hug.
Bottom Line:
This is just a solid whiskey all around. It’s not mind-blowing but it gets the job done either as an ice-filled sipper or a cocktail base.
This craft whiskey from Kentucky is made with a mash bill of 65 percent corn, 30 percent rye, and five percent malted barley. The barrels have aged a minimum of six years before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Butterscotch leads the nose on this sip as ginger snaps mingle with rich and sharp toffee candies next to a touch of vanilla, pepper, and cherry lurk underneath everything. The taste really amps up the creaminess of the vanilla and the butteriness of the toffee, as a slight marzipan flourish arrives with a thin layer of freshly cracked black pepper and salted black licorice. That pepper marries to the ginger as the heat levels off and fades out leading towards a finish with more of the vanilla and dry wood than anything else.
Bottom Line:
This really does have a lot going for it from the nose to the finish. It’s a little green with that butterscotch note, which is the biggest reason it’s ranked this low. Otherwise, this is a solid bottle to have on hand for everyday use.
Garrison Brothers is a true grain-to-glass experience from Hye, Texas. The juice is a wheated bourbon made with local grains. That spirit is then aged under the beating heat of a hot Texas sun before the barrels are small-batched, proofed with local water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a caramel apple note on the nose next to a bit of dry straw, worn leather, and … what feels like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. That cereal nature continues through the palate with a sugary and buttery shortbread note mingling with hints of vanilla cake frosted with lemon cream leading to a touch of orange oils. The end is very long and warm with a bit of cinnamon that ultimately leads back to the caramel apples plus just a touch of dry campfire smoke at the very end.
Bottom Line:
Garrison Bros. bourbon is a great example of juicy and thick Texas bourbon. It’s big and bold but has serious nuance. All of that boldness also makes it a great candidate for powerful cocktails.
This is a sourced bourbon from around Kentucky. The age, mash, and vital details are undisclosed. What we do know is that the team at Jefferson’s spends a lot of time tinkering with their barrels to create accessible and affordable bourbons.
Tasting Notes:
This opens pretty thin with hints of caramel, vanilla pods, and maybe a touch of leather and oak with a mild berry vibe. The palate is either subtle or thin … I can’t decide. There are notes of classic bourbon caramel and vanilla countered by a hint of stewed apple, buttery toffee, and maybe a hint of nutmeg. The end stays pretty mild but does build to a nice finish full of classic bourbon notes.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the most even-keeled sips on the list. It’s light but has real depth, which makes this one an easy drinker. This is also very affordable for such a soft and welcoming bourbon. There are no rough edges here.
10. Dragon’s Milk Origin Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 5 Years
This whiskey from New Holland Brewing up in Michigan marries craft bourbon with the brewery’s beloved Dragon’s Milk beer. The whiskey in the bottle is made with a high-barley bourbon mash bill. After five years in the barrel, the juice is blended, proofed down, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
A big chocolate malt note draws you in on the palate first before layers of winter spices, dark caramel malts, a twinge of orange oils, and a mild Vanilla Coke kick in. The taste has an almost Hershey’s Kiss feel to it alongside spiced chocolate powder next to a hint of lemon-lime that turns into a tangerine-laced maltiness (kind of like a tangerine White Claw) with a chocolate wafer in the background. The end holds onto the chocolate maltiness and mild winter spices the longest.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for big chocolate notes and a great stout pairing, this is the whiskey for you. This is a distinct pour that feels familiar. Make sure to pour it over a rock or two or with a few drops of water to really let it bloom in the glass. You’ll get a much creamier mouthfeel with all that chocolate.
9. Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch
Former Master Taster for Old Forester Jackie Zykan just left her post at Brown-Forman and her new whiskey is already out. Zykan’s first release at her own shingle is a sourced whiskey from Neeley Family Distillery in rural Kentucky. The bourbon is made from a sweet mash (a brand new mash with every cook instead of reusing mash for a sour mash) with a high-ish rye content over pot stills (a true rarity in bourbon these days). Those barrels aged for four to five years before Zykan picked a handful for this inaugural release at batch proof.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is full of digestive biscuits and whole wheat pancakes cut with vanilla and pecan next to hints of anise, caramel candy, and cinnamon-toast tobacco next to plenty of toffee. The palate holds onto the massive graininess with a clear sense of rye bread crumb next to thick oatmeal cookies with more of those pecans and plenty of raisins and spice. Later, a hint of white pepper arrives and leads the finish to soft espresso cream with a dash of nutmeg and creamy toffee.
Bottom Line:
This is another great outlier. The nose is wholly new and fresh before leading into a classic and deep flavor profile on the palate. Though, I would recommend some ice or water to let this one open up a bit in the glass.
This whiskey is built from a batch of barrels that are a minimum of seven years old. Nearest’s Master Blender, Victoria Eady-Butler, builds the blend according to classic flavor notes first put into Tennessee whiskey by her ancestor, Nearest Green, back in the 1800s.
Tasting Notes:
Pecan Sandies and leather pouches that once held cinnamon sticks dominate the nose. The taste is more about the vanilla ice cream over a fresh piece of apple pie with plenty of brown spice and brown sugar with a hint of butter. The end brings about some walnut, cherry, and chocolate powder with a touch more of that cinnamon-infused leather but ultimately kind of peters out.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the better cocktail bases on the list. The juice is soft but deep with a good profile that stands up to mixing really well. Naturally, you can sip this all day over some rocks too but try in your favorite cocktail first.
7. Kirkland Signature Small Batch by Barton 1792 Master Distillers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch no. 1124
This is the entry point to Costco’s new lineup of Kentucky Bourbons (along with a Bottled-in-Bond and Single Barrel release). The whiskey in the bottle is from Sazerac’s Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown with a mash bill of 74 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and eight percent barley. That juice is left to age for four to five years before blended, proofing, and bottling for Costco.
Tasting Notes:
Apple and pear open the nose up toward peach taffy with a hint of black licorice ropes, old leather, sweet winter spices, and a whisper of Nutella. The palate lets the vanilla linger while a sweet and mild Red Hot vibe mixes with classic cherry cola, dried sweetgrass, salted caramel candies, and apricot jam on a Southern biscuit with a drop of fresh honey and butter. The end stays pretty classic with a sense of spiced cherry tobacco, rich vanilla, and a few old oak staves.
Bottom Line:
This has no business being as good as it is. If this were a regular 750ml bottle, it’d be around $15. The quality of the juice and that price jettisoned this up to the top ten.
All of that said, this is more of a cocktail base that works as a table whiskey for end-of-day pours. It’s not fancy but it’s good.
The first whiskey from Frank August is a sourced bourbon. The juice is made in Kentucky, where it’s also aged. The team at Frank August then takes roughly ten to 15 barrels per batch and builds this bourbon painstakingly to fit their desired flavor profile. The whiskey is then lightly proofed down to 100 proof before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is pure classic bourbon with hints of salted caramel with a twinge of soft grains next to spicy cherry syrup, a whisper of sour apple, and a touch of aged oak staves soaked in mulled wine. The palate moves on from the soft grains towards rum-soaked raisins with a warm winter spice matrix — cinnamon, ginger, clove, allspice — before a brown sugar/rock candy sweetness takes over on the mid-palate. The finish is long and sweet with a nice dose of sharp cinnamon and soft nutmeg that leads to a supple vanilla cream with a thin line of dry cedar and tobacco spice just touched with dark cherry on the very end.
Bottom Line:
I’ve tried this new whiskey a few times now and it feels like an instant classic. This is also where we get squarely into sippers first that happen to make amazing cocktails. The only reason this is on the lower end of the top 10 is that it’s still growing on me. Give it a year and it might be even higher on this list.
This is classic Beam whiskey with a low-ish rye mash bill. The juice is left alone in the Beam warehouses for 12 long years. The barrels are chosen according to a specific taste and married to create this higher-proof expression.
Tasting Notes:
This opens with clear notes of cherry, dark chocolate, winter spices, and a hint of menthol. The palate leans into a red berry crumble with a hint of chili flake spice, salted caramels covered in dark chocolate, and a spicy/sweet note that leads towards a wet cattail stem and soft brandied cherries dipped in silky dark chocolate sauce.
Bottom Line:
This is a great whiskey. It’s a damn near perfect sipper. It makes a killer Manhattan. It’s available pretty much everywhere around the country (with a few exceptions naturally).
4. Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 5 Years Limited Edition National Parks No. 2
This bottle celebrates our National Parks with each limited edition release. In this case, the release celebrates Yellowston’s 150th anniversary with part of the proceeds from each bottle sold going to Yellowstone Forever, which helps protect the park. The whiskey in the bottle is a special release from Wyoming grains — 68 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, and 12 percent malted barley — and water. After five years, the barrels are small-batch blended and bottled with a drop of proofing water.
Tasting Notes:
Soft holiday spices mix with orange creamsicle, dry sweetgrass, old boot leather, a dash of dark chocolate powder, and a hint of cedar. The taste feels like you’re on a back porch on a sunny day with rich toffee, cherrywood, and vanilla next to buttery zucchini bread with walnuts and plenty of cinnamon. The end takes on this woody and sweet carrot vibe while lush marzipan brings a nutty sweetness with a hint of Earl Grey and walnut loaf with low notes of soft cedar and warm tobacco.
Bottom Line:
This is a deeply hewn sipper that supports something great — Yellowstone NP. That’d be great on its own but add in that this is some seriously delicious juice and you have a bottle worth seeking out. Try it neat first and then add some water or a rock to let it bloom in the glass.
This expression uses six of Four Rose’s ten whiskeys in their small-batching process. The idea is to blend both high and mid-rye bourbons with yeast strains that highlight “delicate fruit,” “slight spice,” and “herbal notes.” The whiskeys tend to spend at least six years in the barrel before blending and proofing with just a touch of Kentucky’s soft limestone water.
Tasting Notes:
This nose is enticing with a mix of dark berries and cloves with a yeasty doughnut filled with dark fruit and covered in powdered sugar next to a thin line of berry brambles — stems, thorns, dirt, leaves, everything. The palate is lush with a balance of dark berry pie filling next to winter spices, mincemeat pies, nutshells, and brandy butter vanilla sauce. The finish arrives with a rush of fresh mint next to wet cedar, blackberry Hostess Pies, and nutmeg-heavy eggnog all leading to a final note of that dark berry bramble black dirt.
Bottom Line:
This is the height of Four Roses’ standard bottles. The juice is delightful and fresh with a great unique vibe. It’s fruity and fun. It’s also versatile in that it’s a great sipper and cocktail base.
Kentucky Peerless Distilling takes its time for a true grain-to-glass experience. Their Small Batch Bourbon is crafted with a fairly low-rye mash bill and fermented with a sweet mash as opposed to a sour mash (that means they use 100% new grains, water, and yeast with each new batch instead of holding some of the mash over to start the next one like a sourdough starter). The barrels are then hand-selected for their taste and bottled completely un-messed with.
Tasting Notes:
Blackberry pie dances with old glove leather, buttery toffee, expensive vanilla beans, and wet, almost sticky tobacco leaves on the nose. The palate leans into the butteriness and spicy tobacco has dry ropes of cedar bark leading to a bitter and oily espresso bean. The end goes deeper with a vanilla pipe tobacco which leads back to that blackberry pie filling with a hint of pie crust and white sugar frosting before the dry cedar kicks back in late.
Bottom Line:
This is hard to beat. The whiskey is so well-rounded, enticing, and rewarding sip after sip.
1. Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Michter’s really means the phrase “small batch” here. The tank they use to marry their hand-selected eight-year-old bourbons can only hold 20 barrels, so that’s how many go into each small-batch bottling. The blended juice is then proofed with Kentucky’s famously soft limestone water and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
The nose opens with a hint of ripe peach next to maple syrup, vanilla pancakes, and a hint of cotton candy. The palate leans into the vanilla cakes as the stonefruit takes on a grilled vibe next to peppery spice, fatty cream, and a touch of singed marshmallow. The finish leans into wintry spices as the stonefruit almost becomes smoked while toffee and vanilla cake counterpoint everything. The end has a nice layer of old cedar next to maple/vanilla tobacco leaves.
Bottom Line:
This feels both like a true small batch (only 20 barrels) and a truly great whiskey at a great price. This is the bourbon you give to people when you want to both hook them on the category and show them what bourbon is supposed to be. All of that aside, this makes the best cocktail on this list as well. Those are all wins!
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