While we got a four-game appetizer in Week 0 (including a stunning top-10 upset), the college football season began in full on Thursday night as Week 1 got underway with a few intriguing games, headlined by FCS powerhouse North Dakota State heading to Boulder to take on the much-hyped Colorado Buffaloes.
It figured to be a competitive game, but Colorado was expected to have an edge with their athleticism at the skill positions. Early on that played out, as the Buffs took a 14-10 lead on a pair of touchdown passes from Shedeur Sanders to Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr., who both ran away from the Bison defense on their way to the end zone. However, as the first half dragged on, the Colorado offense couldn’t continue creating explosive plays and the NDSU offense leaned on the Buffaloes defense, taking a 20-17 lead into halftime. That put some real pressure on the Buffaloes to figure some things out coming out of halftime and find pay dirt again.
The Buffaloes marched down the field early in the third quarter, but saw disaster strike on the goal line on a freak play when a Sanders pass hit a DB’s foot, popped up into the air, and got picked off by the Bison (watch the full video here). It’s a wildly unlucky play, but was also just generally not a very good pass from Sanders to end up hitting the defender’s foot (a rare misfire from him on the night). Sanders would bounce back quickly, though, as the Buffaloes were able to get a rare quick stop on defense and Shedeur was able to find Hunter for a go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing drive.
The new album just begs for an intimate listening session — and that’s exactly what his André’s companion film, Listening To The Sun, is. To star the 90-minute film, André introduces the album, lights a candle, and lets the mood move him as the album plays. “I hope you enjoy the ride as much as we did,” he says. “What you hear is what we did as it was happening.” The film, directed by Terence Nance, isn’t terribly complex, but the soundtrack takes care of that.
Although New Blue Sun was well-received in general, though, André’s comments about rapping after 40 while promoting it certainly ruffled a few feathers. Lil Wayne called André’s thoughts “depressing,” while LL Cool J shot down the idea that there are no new ideas after 40. Still, most fans seem to be holding out hope that André will rediscover his inspiration, after his most recent rap verse, on Killer Mike’s “Scientists & Engineers,” not only scratched their longstanding itch for new André 3000 wordplay, but also helped Mike sweep the Grammys’ rap categories.
You can watch André’s film, Listening To The Sun, above.
With Travis Scott’s breakout mixtape Days Before Rodeo finally coming to streaming after ten years, it looks like the master promoter is making the most of the occasion. In addition to surprising fans with the release of a music video for tape standout, “Drugs You Should Try It,” he’s followed up with a second release of supplementary material, including vaulted tunes, a chopped-and-screwed version, and a live recording from his Atlanta tenth anniversary concert. All the new, old material can be found at shop.travisscott.com.
The consummate multi-brand pitch man, Travis announced that he was branching out yet again and living out one of his biggest dreams: Teaming up with WWE legend Rey Mysterio for an upcoming match. He wouldn’t be the first music star to partner with the wrestling promotion; last year, an extensive storyline saw Bad Bunny team up with, then turn on, fellow Puerto Rican Damian Priest in Puerto Rico, suffering a back injury in the process that should put paid to all those rumors about wrestling being fake.
At the very least, it should give the Houston native a productive outlet for some of that destructive energy, because he’s made almost as many headlines for brawling, trespassing, and assault arrests as for his music this year.
When he first founded New England Barrel Company, James Saunders had no idea that the project, which began as an after-hours gig, would soon grow to become the region’s biggest whiskey brand. Over the span of four years, New England Barrel Company has risen to prominence, winning major awards and becoming the whiskey of choice throughout the six states representing its home base. The credit for that rapid ascent belongs to the visionary entrepreneur behind the brand, who began creating a template for diversifying the alcohol business after he became fed up with what he was seeing at local liquor stores in his backyard.
“What I was seeing take place really bothered me,” said James, “in 2017, I saw prices starting to tick up, and that continued at a steady pace for three years. I realized that the consumer didn’t have an opportunity to enjoy accessible whiskey for under $60 anymore. That’s when I decided I wanted to bring sanity back to the American whiskey space.”
James launched New England Barrel Company in September 2020, and despite the difficulty of launching a business in the heart of a pandemic, he has seen his company flourish. Winning awards from industry-leading tasting competitions like the San Francisco Wine And Spirits Competition has helped raise the brand’s profile among discerning whiskey enthusiasts, and strategic investment from the Diageo-backed incubator program, Pronghorn, has enabled New England Barrel Company to extend its reach outside of its home market.
Frank Dobbins III
“I wanted to work with (Pronghorn) because I know it’s not enough to find money for investment; you have to find smart money. For example, I didn’t know I needed to be a geopolitical expert to make whiskey, but having Pronghorn involved, I don’t have to be. They can marshall resources to help me overcome obstacles with the global supply chain for obtaining things like glass for bottles.”
New England has a rich culture of distilled spirits that stretches back to the time of George Washington when rum was all the rage, and the influx of imported molasses into Boston and Providence turned the region into our nascent nation’s biggest rum exporter. Since that time, however, its distilling success has seen a downturn due to shifting tastes, which saw rum fall out of favor as whiskey’s popularity grew. Today, New England is on the rebound, with just north of 30 distilleries calling the area home, and none of them are as nationally recognized as New England Barrel Company.
Still, even as New England has been rebuilding its distilling culture more recently, Covid presented a new set of challenges that caused several distillers to call it quits. James explains,
“We’ve seen a number of distilleries close, which is sad for the communities they’re in. I wanted to create a brand that would put New England on the map because this is not just about me. We’ve got some amazing small distilleries that need to receive recognition as well, and if my success can shine a light on them, that’s something we aim to spearhead.”
By conservative estimates, the U.S. spirits business is a nearly $40 billion industry, and as one of the key pioneers putting a new face on the industry, James Saunders plans to use his influence to create a rising tide that lifts all boats. Starting in New England, he envisions collaborations on the brand level as well as a craft-centric whiskey festival to showcase the spirits that he and his neighboring distilleries are producing.
“Pulling those disparate communities together and paying these things forward is of the utmost importance to me. Raising awareness is just a start.” The idea is that by working together to pull in consumers as well as experts from across the country, New England will once again be one of America’s preeminent alcohol-producing regions.
New England Barrel Co.
New England Barrel Company recently received its Distilled Spirits Plant number from the TTB, with licensing set to arrive this fall. That will allow the brand to officially begin distilling spirits on their home turf (up to this point, they’ve been contract distilling at another facility) in Redding, Massachusetts. Having learned from his experience distilling in Kentucky, which he likens to being a guest chef in someone else’s kitchen, James Saunders aims to fully restore New England’s distilling tradition by controlling the entirety of his production process and setting aside a portion of their production capacity to distill spirits for other upstart companies.
Regarding the keys to his success in a space that has historically excluded BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) business owners, James credits his willingness to take such a community-minded approach. Despite its yawning embrace of inclusivity in positions of power, the American whiskey industry is more ready than ever to accept new folks into the fold. In fact, it has to be if the industry’s historic growth will continue.
Thanks to strategic partnerships like the Advancement Initiative established by Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniel’s and the investment from companies like Pronghorn into New England Barrel Company, the alcohol industry has seen an uptick in successful black-owned businesses and their achievements are enriching the category as a whole. Consumers are eager to support these businesses because they know as well as anyone that having diversity in the space only means a wider variety of affordable, high-quality options on the shelf, and that’s the exact problem James Saunders set out to fix.
“The whiskey industry works like this,” James concluded, “you work hard to make your whiskey good, you engage with your consumers, you expand who your consumer is, and if they like your whiskey, they buy it. If they don’t like your whiskey, you don’t survive.”
In fact, in a new interview, he assigns blame for his treatment by the public to his hip-hop origins, asserting that he’s stigmatized as a white rapper — but mostly by other white people. On Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, MGK told the internet troll turned part-time WWE superstar, “I won’t deny that there is a subconscious stigma around that — being white in hip-hop. To me, it’s so funny because the streets f*ck with me so tough. It’s honestly from other white people that give me the most sh*t.”
He also has a bit of a theory about why that might be — and it connects to that battle with fellow white rapper Eminem. “The crazy thing is there’s only been one who’s done it,” he said of dissing the hip-hop legend, who has been considered something of a North Star for other white rappers like Jack Harlow, Mac Miller, and Russ. “There’s only been one who’s done it and crossed that line of acceptance.”
You can watch the full episode above; the conversation about hip-hop begins at the 37-minute mark.
There has been a ton of wide receiver drama in the NFL this offseason, with three superstar names finding themselves in tense negotiations on a new deal with their current teams: Brandon Aiyuk, Ja’Marr Chase, and CeeDee Lamb. While Chase’s situation has yet to be resolved and Lamb has already signed a new deal to remain in Dallas, on Thursday evening, we finally got a resolution in the Aiyuk saga that will keep him in San Francisco.
Aiyuk wanted to sign a new deal this offseason, but the defending NFC champions worked on paying him while simultaneously looking around to see if they could figure out a trade — the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers were two of the teams that were heavily linked to the second-team All-Pro selection, who requested a move to a place that would pay him earlier this year. Ultimately, San Francisco was able to get something done, which theoretically lets them turn their focus to arguably their best player, as star tackle Trent Williams is holding out in search of a new contract.
Aiyuk had a career year in 2023, as he caught 75 balls for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, all of which led the team.
Anna Kendrick, multi-hyphenate talent that she has proven to be for decades, is taking her first whirl in the directors chair with the film formerly known as The Dating Game, which has given way to Woman of the Hour. This is a true-crime narrative feature that was snapped up by multiple international markets before filming began, and although there will be a theatrical release in some markets, the movie will soon make a streaming debut on Netflix.
The film’s subject matter is both horrific and laced with the bleakest of humor as confirmed by Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting, who calls it “an unshakable debut,” and Collider’s Nate Richard described the film as a “tense and has a great knack for dark humor, but it also has a lot on its mind.” Let’s talk about what viewers, should they dare to watch this story, can expect.
Plot
Kendrick’s extensive involvement in this project arrived around the same time that she starred in Alice, Darling, a film that she starred in to help exorcise an incredibly bad relationship. As it turns out, Woman of the Hour arrives with a similar theme but on a mass scale, given that this movie looks back on that time that a serial killer, Rodney Alcaca, appeared as a contestant on the true-to-life, 1970s-era The Dating Game show. Kendrick stars as aspiring actress Cheryl Bradshaw, who was unlucky enough to pick Alcaca as her date, but fortunately, she made it out of the situation alive.
Tragically, 100+ other women could not escape Alcaca’s clutches and lost their lives in the process. Some victims likely still have not been identified, according to photographs acquired by police following Alcaca’s arrest, and he served over three decades on death row before dying behind bars. The below video revisits Alcaca’s appearance on The Dating Game:
Netflix describes this movie as a “searing film” that “explores the way women navigate a world of violent men” — an especially sobering thought since Alcaca was at the height of his murder spree (and had already served time) when he decided to find a date on TV. When this film was announced, TIFF stressed that this story does not indulge in “gruesome details,” and that Kendrick’s project “harbours a dark truth: when you’re confronted by the rage of men, the only way to make it out alive is to play the game.”
Cast
Led by Anna Kendrick as Cheryl Bradshaw, the cast includes Daniel Zovatto as Alcaca along with Kathryn Gallagher, Tony Hale, Max Lloyd-Jones, Darcy Laurie, Kelley Jackie, Dylan Schmid, and Nicolette Robinson.
Release Date
In the U.S., Woman of the Hour will stream on October 18, only on Netflix. In Canada, the VVS Films-distributed movie will arrive in theaters on October 11.
Trailer
This trailer does not reflect well upon (due to Alcaca’s stalking specter) men who menacingly roam with cameras.
Despite being the It Girl of the ’80s and ’90s and being a part of a majorly popular show, Winona Ryder doesn’t really keep up with current pop culture trends. She doesn’t use social media. She doesn’t like Wikipedia. She probably doesn’t know what Brat Summer is, and that’s fine, she doesn’t shame people who do! But this is what sets her apart from her Stranger Things co-stars who, at the time of season one, were barely teenagers when they all met.
In a new interview with Esquire while promoting Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ryder spoke of her love for old-fashioned things and her mild hatred for more modern technology. This must be why she chose to do Stranger Things, which takes place in the ’80s. But when she first met the rest of the cast, which consisted of Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard, she was shocked to learn they didn’t know what a vinyl record was. “I cried,” she joked to the magazine. Ryder then said that the sound of a record needle dropping is the greatest sound in the world.
Even though she’s not against social media per se, she does think it has drastically altered how people view the world. “I just think that social media has changed everything, and I know I sound old. I’m very aware of that,” she began. “But I just think there was such an abundance: the history of film, the history of photography, it’s so rich, and there’s so much there, and I don’t mean we should go backwards, but I wish and I hope that the younger generation will study that.”
On the other hand, with the internet, there is so much more accessible information out there. But Ryder says that younger people seem to only use the internet for engagement, “If you try to find out what they are into…it’s this idea of followers and how many you have. That’s all that matters, that you’re rich and famous,” she explained.
It’s nice that Ryder found a co-star in Jenna Ortega, who has a similar approach to social media by not approaching it at all anymore.
We’re on a quest to find the smoothest bourbons available today. Pay no attention to the fact that “smooth” is sometimes derided as a descriptor because, let’s face it, sometimes the word just works. When discussing the best smooth bourbon, we’re not looking for something dull, bland, or otherwise anodyne but rather the most polished, velvety, and sleek.
Smooth bourbons have a creamy, silky mouthfeel and a balanced, well-rounded bevy of flavors. We’re looking for something approachable, refined, and crowd-pleasing that puts a spin on bourbon’s reputation as a brash, robust spirit and helps you appreciate it as a flavorful, easy-sipping option.
Sound good?
The contenders:
Angel’s Envy Bourbon
Basil Hayden Bourbon
Castle & Key Wheated Bourbon
Green River 1885 Bourbon
Michter’s US*1 Bourbon
New Riff Bourbon
Starlight Distillery Carl T. Bourbon Whiskey
Yellowstone Bourbon
Blue Note Bourbon
Bulleit 10-Year Bourbon
Four Roses Bourbon
Larceny Wheated Bourbon
Maker’s Mark
Old Forester Straight Bourbon
Russell’s Reserve 10-Year Bourbon
Still Austin Bourbon
Weller Special Reserve
Widow Jane Baby Jane Bourbon
Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Woodinville Straight Bourbon
These aren’t bourbons that will punch you in the face which can make the tasting experience a challenge. Instead, this ranking highlights the beautiful flavors you can get from a bourbon without the bite. These are the 20 smoothest bourbons under $50, blind-tasted and power ranked!
While it features a spruce label, in line with the rest of Old Forester’s packaging, Old Forester 86-proof has a history that dates back to 1959 when consumers were thirsty for a lighter style of whiskey, well-suited for inclusion in cocktails.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose has a touch of graham cracker, young oak, and cocktail cherries, but the volume of each aroma is a bit restrained.
Palate: On the palate, all of the nosing notes come alive with a bit more vibrancy and are joined by a vanilla splash. With regards to the mouthfeel, this is a thin whiskey. Still, the texture isn’t overly watery or unpleasant, as it’s just substantive enough for the flavors to develop before washing out and transitioning to the finish.
Finish: On the finish, there’s a bit of oak, honey, and bright red cherry, but it’s so brief that you’ll find yourself reaching for a second sip rather than savoring your first.
Bottom Line:
There are outlines of a really flavorful bourbon here, so it’s easy to see why Old Forester originally introduced this expression in the late 1950s to ingratiate themselves with the growing cocktail culture. This entry-level offering from Old Forester showcases the more mellow side of their bourbon portfolio and is well-suited for a smooth, neat sipping experience.
Weller Special Reserve is the entry-level offering in the highly sought-after Weller lineup, which features the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection’s William Larue Weller as the jewel in its crown. Like all others in the Weller lineup, Weller Special Reserve showcases Buffalo Trace’s wheated mash bill.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is effusive with honeysuckle and corn-laden sweetness for a mellow and inviting initial pop of aroma. However, there isn’t much underneath those notes on the nose, with only a gentle vanilla aroma and a slightly artificial floral aspect coming through on return visits.
Palate: That floral aspect, which was relegated to being a background player on the nose, comes through with gusto on the palate while clover honey and faint vanilla notes do their best to contend with it from the sidelines. The flavors are speciously rich, but the whiskey’s thin texture prevents them from coming anywhere close to their full potential.
Finish: The finish is where this bourbon gains a few extra points, as the flavors of honeysuckle and vanilla manage to survive the watery mouthfeel and cling to the back of the palate for a satisfying send-off.
Bottom Line:
Weller Special Reserve has never been my cup of tea, even as a last-ditch replacement for the genuinely remarkable Weller Antique. That said, if you squint, there’s just enough flavor in every sip to give you glimpses of just how good Buffalo Trace’s wheated bourbon mash bill can be with additional aging, higher proof, and selective blending. This one may be only slightly above average overall, but it fits the bill nicely as a smooth bourbon option.
As the first limited edition offering from the 1792 lineup, making its debut back in 2015, Sweet Wheat still holds a place of reverence with many bourbon consumers. Aged for eight years and utilizing wheat in the mash bill, this product is made at the Barton 1792 Distillery, owned by Buffalo Trace. That last tidbit has led to speculation that this product might be strikingly similar to Buffalo Trace’s other celebrated wheated bourbon lineup, Weller, though that speculation is unconfirmed.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, Sweet Wheat lives up to its name without being saccharine-sweet. Instead, it treads lightly with scents like bubblegum, bright cherries, and caramel corn. As those top notes blow off, there’s a heartier undergirding of leather, cocoa, and cinnamon bark lying in wait.
Palate: Mature oak and caramel notes come across the palate at first before vanilla extract, and a slight bit of doughiness emerges at midpalate. Clove, straw, and a healthy dose of black pepper usher in the transition to the finish as this creamy-textured whiskey slowly coats your palate.
Finish: Living up to its name, the finish on this whiskey is short and sweet with a bit of wheat funk, black pepper, and brown sugar.
Bottom Line:
1792’s Sweet Wheat expression has maintained its popularity thanks to a mild-mannered nature that makes it a treat to sit back and enjoy. This is a whiskey that will meet you in the middle when you go searching for flavor notes, revealing itself after inspection, but otherwise remaining creamy and demure. Something to be mindful of.
Yellowstone’s history dates back to 1872, and its Master Distiller has the most famous last name in bourbon: Stephen B. Beam. A blend of 4- and 7-year bourbons, Yellowstone Select is the entry-level offering from Limestone Branch Distillery’s Yellowstone lineup.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Yellowstone Select Bourbon opens with cherries and the aroma of the limestone water used to bring it to proof. There are gentle oak tones, faint rye spices, and a strong showing of corn pudding as well.
Palate: Once the whiskey hits your palate, the corn pudding note leads the way with the taste of limestone water, giving it mineral-like steeliness and some faint butterscotch notes. The mouthfeel is pretty average, but when the object in mind is “smoothness,” you don’t want an overly slick texture mussing that up.
Finish: The finish concludes quickly, leaving some rye spice, peanut shell, and a slight coriander note behind.
Bottom Line:
Yellowstone’s flagship bourbon has an impressively mellow flavor profile that brings some fun grain-forward notes. This, paired with a sweet kiss on the finish, makes it a great choice as a smooth sipper.
Larceny Wheated Bourbon gets its moniker thanks to a legend about a Treasury agent named John E. Fitzgerald, who was reputed to have “used his keys to the warehouses to pilfer bourbon from the finest barrels.” The crime earned him infamy and now acclaim as his name adorns the label of Heaven Hill’s most widely available wheated bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Larceny bourbon is mellow and light with clover honey, some indistinct lemon zest, and vanilla coming across expressively. In the background, there’s a touch of smudging sage and sawdust.
Palate: The flavors in Larceny bourbon are surprisingly well-developed, as the gentler notes of vanilla, honey, and citrus really shine and complement the liquid’s lean texture and limited complexity. While it echoes the simplicity of earlier bourbons on this list, it also reflects a turning of the corner with regard to flavor development and depth.
Finish: The finish here is curt, as it fades pretty quickly, with honey, cereal grains, and a touch of white pepper providing the closing salvo.
Bottom Line:
Wheated bourbons are commonly regarded as far tamer and mellower than their rye-recipe counterparts, and that reputation is on full display with Larceny. As an easy-sipping and easily found wheated bourbon, Larceny is a rock-solid bourbon if you’re looking for something smooth.
The latest in Green River’s whiskey portfolio, 1885, is intended to be a back bar staple. Made from 76% corn, 15% rye, and 9% malted barley, this bargain bottle is heavily advertised to be a mixer first and a sipper second.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Brazil nuts, mint, and cotton candy open up the nosing notes on this interesting bourbon at first pass. After a few shakes of the hand and swirls of the glass, this one begins emitting an aroma of cornbread and peanut shells, making for a satisfying blend of scents.
Palate: The whiskey has an immediately noticeable medium-bodied, supple texture that swiftly finds all corners of your palate and fills it with honey-roasted peanuts, bubble gum, and corn Pops. There’s a nice sizzle of black pepper and caramel to be found at midpalate, which ushers in more of the sugary corn cereal flavors before transitioning to the finish.
Finish: The finish on Green River’s newest whiskey features abundant orange peel, powdered sugar, and grain-forward corn notes. It lingers somewhere between having a short and medium-length finish, and the closing impression satisfactorily caps off the deceptively tasty pour.
Bottom Line:
While 1885 was clearly made for mixing thanks to its balanced, far-flung flavor profile, punctuated by pops of baking spice, it does quite a good job of being a smooth bourbon all on its own. The steady, substantive texture is the star of the show, but the intriguing flavors in this bottle aren’t far behind.
Four Roses Bourbon is the brand’s most prevalent and affordably priced offering. New for 2024 is its revamped label design, though the consistent, high-quality flavor profile that fans have come to expect over the years remains unchanged.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Four Roses Bourbon begins with a touch of honeysuckle, the floral aspect of rosewater, and stone fruits like white peach and Golden Delicious apples.
Palate: This whiskey is surprisingly spry on the palate, as the lean mouthfeel allows notes of black tea, white peach, and honey to coast over your tongue. A touch of vanilla and black pepper spice can be found as each sip transitions from midpalate to the finish, which adds a bit of nuance to the generally light flavor profile.
Finish: On the finish, the sweet notes make their final stamp, with honey and vanilla leading the way as this pour succinctly falls off the palate.
Bottom Line:
This whiskey works wonders as a secret weapon for bourbon novices because its gentle, sweet flavor profile comes at you free of any rough edges. Thanks to its approachable ABV and easy-to-appreciate flavor profile, you can skip the ice and avoid the fuss of mixing this one into a cocktail; this stuff is damn good on its own.
Carl T. Bourbon Whiskey features a blend of 3-grain and 4-grain mash bills that then undergo a full sweet mash fermentation process. After being distilled in copper pot stills, the straight bourbon whiskey is then aged for a minimum of 4 years at the Huber estate in Borden, Indiana, on the same site the family has called home since 1843.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes begin with a vivacious red berry aroma, most reminiscent of dried strawberries and Rainier cherries, before buckling under the weight of butterscotch, sweet oak, and candied walnuts.
Palate: On the palate, the flavor of lively red berries makes this whiskey pop. Gentle butterscotch and oak tones help to elevate that fruit-forward experience on the front of the palate. As it transitions to the middle of your tongue, you start to pick up some faint hazelnut and grain-forward notes reminiscent of cornbread. The mouthfeel is slightly oilier than your average bourbon, which is a welcome feature because this pour doesn’t pack much heat, so the creamy texture serves to enhance the notes without singing the edges of your tongue.
Finish: The finish here has some freshly cracked black pepper, and the cherries fade in favor of butterscotch and mellow oak as it recedes swiftly but satisfactorily.
Bottom Line:
While the Huber family has been producing spirits for several generations, it’s only in the last decade that they’ve begun their full-force whiskey-making. Take advantage now. Their bourbon is only improving as they gain experience. Still, for those in the know, they’re already releasing a vast range of impressive bourbons that can satisfy anyone, from those just starting to the savviest whiskey enthusiast.
Angel’s Envy’s flagship expression, its Kentucky Straight Bourbon, is blended in small batches of 8 to 12 barrels at a time and finished in 60-gallon ruby port wine casks. This expression’s base liquid is typically aged up to 6 years.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, Angel’s Envy doesn’t shy away from the influence of its finishing cask as the aromas associated with port wine come tumbling out of the glass. Think candied walnuts, red berries, and a lovely mingling of vanilla and milk chocolate. The base whiskey peeks through ever-so-slightly, but the fruit-forward sweetness shines the brightest.
Palate: On the palate is where Angel’s Envy’s base spirit begins to assert itself as the gentle undulation of caramel and oak prop up those rich berry-forward flavor notes from the nose. The whiskey has an almost sticky texture, starting off austere at the front of the mouth before sinking its hooks into the edges of the tongue and asserting those rich red berries, walnut, and clove notes.
Finish: On the finish there’s a flourish of freshly cracked black pepper that adds depth to the red-berry flavors and a gentle oak tone that sits on the middle of the palate, extending the finish into the medium-length range.
Bottom Line:
If you want the short and simple, here it is: this is a bourbon that excels by being rather unlike a bourbon. The ruby port notes do a lot of the heavy lifting, but what makes that a plus and not a minus is the fact that this is a bourbon that can deftly capture an audience more attuned to wine or mixed drinks, making this a smooth option and one readily capable of creating new fans.
Blue Note’s Juke Joint Whiskey is their entry-level product, sourced from an undisclosed distillery in Kentucky and aged for at least three years before bottling. The mash bill is 70% Corn, 21% Rye, and 9% Malted Barley, which internet sleuths will note is a mash bill currently popular with clients of Green River Distillery’s sourced bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose begins a bit grassy with grain-forward notes of corn before accenting aromas of butterscotch, youthful oak, and fresh red cherries begin to rise to the top.
Palate: Once on the palate, Blue Note Juke Joint Whiskey follows the nosing notes closely with a faint grassiness that gives way to corn pudding, bright underripe red cherries, and butterscotch. The mouthfeel is lean, which adds to the approachability of the whiskey, lending to it the precise smoothness that we’re looking for.
Finish: The finish on this whiskey is fairly brief and marked by the appearance of pears, light lemon zest, and youthful oak as the grassiness subsides and leaves the gently sweet top notes behind.
Bottom Line:
Blue Note Juke Joint Whiskey has just the right amount of polish to make it an excellent choice for sipping neat. The flavors aren’t loaded with depth, but what you sacrifice in complexity, you gain in smoothness — exactly what we’re looking for here.
Still, Austin’s primary bourbon offering is comprised entirely of Texas grains, with 70% white corn, 25% rye, and 5% malted barley making up the mash bill. It’s distilled on a 42-foot column still in downtown Austin, TX.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Aroma notes of caramel and stewed apple cascade out of the glass as soon as you pour this whiskey out. Give it some time to develop. Raisins, raw dough, and black pepper will draw you further in and whet your palate before the first sip.
Palate: Once in the mouth, this whiskey is far sweeter than the nosing notes initially indicated, with warm caramel enveloping the tongue while the flavor of raisins and dark chocolate follow in its wake, cascading across your palate with purpose. There is also a significant uptick in spice here, with black pepper detonating at midpalate and carrying through to the finish. That’s worth noting because ‘smoothness’ is the game’s name here, and it rocked the boat a little bit, though it is well-integrated with the overall flavor profile.
Finish: The finish features a touch of leather, honeyed mint tea, and a strong dose of the aforementioned black pepper, causing it to linger for a moderate amount of time after the final sip.
Bottom Line:
Still Austin’s Bourbon is pretty smooth, just not as smooth as the nine bourbons above it on this list. That said, it presents a delicious medley of flavors that will reward those who are more acclimated to bourbon’s prototypical heat and spice notes while maintaining an even-keeled profile that should be palatable, even with its relative potency, to newcomers.
New Riff, founded in 2014, is pumping out high-quality bourbon and rye via its bottled-in-bond flagship offerings and innovative limited editions that utilize esoteric grain varietals. For this entry-level bourbon, made according to bottled-in-bond specifications, they eschew chill filtration and utilize a mash bill of non-GMO grains: 65% corn,30% rye, and 5% malted barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on New Riff’s bourbon is full of honey and caramel, two notes that rise to greet the olfactory senses quite distinctly. It’s a feature found throughout New Riff’s product line: aroma and flavor notes that are clearly defined and well-developed.
Palate: In the mouth, New Riff bourbon remains true to the brand’s core with a very ‘clean’ and distinct set of flavors that range from sweet cherry, honey, youthful oak, and grains. The grain note tastes similar to Corn pops, the cherry flavors are bright and ripe, and the texture is spry and substantial. At midpalate, the whiskey perks up with a bit of baking spice in the form of black pepper and clove, which add nuance as your palate braces for the finish.
Finish: When this whiskey reaches the finish, you’ll find an uptick in black pepper, clove, and oak, though the honey note persists and even welcomes some caramel sweetness. The finish is short to medium, giving you enough time to enjoy those distinct flavors before beckoning you for a second sip.
Bottom Line:
New Riff Bourbon is so well-rounded and easy-going that it would be practically impossible to offend any whiskey fan with a pour from this bottle. That said, it isn’t just an agreeable pour, but it reaches for a depth of flavor that will make you want to sit with it for an afternoon, perhaps while watching a game, keeping you amused as a background whiskey but engaging enough to entertain as the star of the show.
Woodford Reserve Bourbon is frequently cited as one of the best bourbons for beginners for two main reasons: it’s bottled at a relatively low proof and has an assortment of rich, balanced, and crowd-pleasing flavors. Woodford Reserve is owned by Brown-Forman, which also includes Jack Daniel’s and Old Forester in its portfolio.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Plums, rich oak, and sticky toffee notes are immediately evident on the nose of this whiskey, and they’re joined by the aroma of vanilla pods, clove, and cinnamon bark.
Palate: The palate of this whiskey introduces the toffee note from the nose right off the bat, and that’s joined by a surprising yet welcome splash of citrus to go with the additional flavors of vanilla, mellow oak, and gentle black pepper spice. The mouthfeel is lean, but rather than contrasting with the richness of the flavors, it helps to make them more pronounced while maintaining the whiskey’s general agreeable smoothness.
Finish: The finish is brief but marked by more vanilla and sweet oak, with a final kiss of sticky toffee and candied walnuts.
Bottom Line:
Woodford Reserve deserves all the praise it receives for being a fantastic beginner bourbon. Sure, its proof point might make bourbon snobs turn up their noses. However, there’s absolutely no denying that this whiskey still manages to pack a ton of flavor, free from any harsh elements, making it one of the best easy-sipping whiskeys of any category on the market.
Widow Jane distills its proprietary “Baby Jane” heirloom corn varietal for this bourbon blend, which was made in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and Kentucky. Once blended, this bourbon is brought to proof using Widow Jane’s mineral water from the Rosendale mines and bottled without chill filtration.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Waxy plum, black pepper, and nutmeg make the initial impression of this whiskey a welcome one on the nose. From there, it develops into the aroma of blueberry pancakes, dark chocolate, and apple crisps. It’s immediately alluring and atypical, and it beckons the first sip…
Palate: The palate is as delightful as the nose’s promise, with ripe plum, cinnamon bark, and apple crisp notes fusing with a savory bacon fat note that sounds crazy, but it works. The liquid itself is medium-bodied, enhancing the flavors’ perceived richness as the flavors of cafe au lait and golden raisins begin to ascend in prominence before the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium-length and features a delightful blend of blueberries and ripe plums, while maple syrup and youthful oak bring it all to a close.
Bottom Line:
What the heck is up with Widow Jane lately? They’ve long been producing some truly underrated blends utilizing sourced whiskey, but now that they’ve got some of their own distillate to play with, it seems they’re ready to turn a corner and start wowing folks with their brand of mellow but remarkably flavorful bourbon.
Maker’s Mark features an iconic bottle design, the same one they’ve been utilizing since their founding in 1953, and a mash bill that’s been used for just as long. This wheated bourbon is one of the best-selling whiskeys in the entire world, making it a ubiquitous sight on liquor store shelves.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, you’ll find a bit of corn pudding, vanilla extract, and indistinct red berry aromas wafting out of the glass. There’s also a bit of graham cracker sweetness and white pepper.
Palate: On the palate, Maker’s Mark greets the tongue with a bunch of honeyed graham cracker notes that soon make way for vanilla pod and cornbread. A second sip morphs the vanilla pod into a custard note, complete with caramelized sugar and some red berry compote.
Finish: The finish of Maker’s Mark features some mellow spice and more red berry compote, as those natural sugars fuse with vanilla notes to quickly dissipate from the palate.
Bottom Line:
Despite its modest proof point, Maker’s Mark has a ton of flavor, meaning you won’t blow out your palate or scare off bourbon novices if you decide to sip this one neat. It’s ubiquitous on liquor store shelves and should be a staple on your bar cart, primarily if you aim to offer guests a smooth bourbon they can enjoy at their leisure.
Basil Hayden, and its eye-catching bottle, is produced by one of the most well-regarded brands in the whiskey world — Jim Beam. Though the age statement was removed back in 2014, the whiskey in this blend is still believed to be between 6-8 years old.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Buttery croissants and a bit of brown sugar punch through on the nose, making you instantly sit up to recognize how rich they are. A warm vanilla aroma, cola nut, and clove join those notes.
Palate: Gentle oak tones, gooey caramel notes, and more beautiful brown sugar prevail on the palate — each well-defined and coming through as clear as a bell. Those focused flavors come together on a superbly substantive mouthfeel that rewards “chewing” as well as easy-sipping.
Finish: Brown sugar, black pepper, and clove accent the finish, but a bit of space is left for some subtle barrel char.
Bottom Line:
Basil Hayden is an easy-sipping bourbon banger. The bouquet of prototypical bourbon notes on the nose prepares your senses for the palate’s steady yet unrelenting bounty of flavor. Basil Hayden is already well-known as one of the smoothest bourbons available today, and it checks every box from affordability and well-rounded flavor to availability.
Bulleit is a well-established brand with its cocktail-friendly rye whiskey and seemingly ubiquitous flagship bourbon. While the latter is an easy-going, affordable option, it’s this 10-year bourbon that makes for the most well-rounded and smooth sipping experience.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes begin very floral with caramel, bubblegum, sweet oak, and some cocktail cherry vibes. You can pick up a bit of graininess, but that aroma is rounded off with a dollop of honey, making it really enjoyable to sit and nose at length.
Palate: This whiskey begins with a slick mouthfeel and a rush of vanilla, oak, and cloves, a very prototypical bourbon profile that Bulleit executes with high efficiency here. There’s practically zero harshness up front, where cherries and a touch of leather offer a nice interplay of sweetness and richness that leads you to deeper exploration.
Finish: The finish introduces some rye spice as it lingers for a moderate length of time and welcomes a bit of caramel into the mix for a delightful send-off.
Bottom Line:
If you’re already a bourbon fan, you’re probably familiar with Bulleit’s tasty but simple standard offering. With this 10-year expression, they offer a creamier texture and a smoother overall experience and bring even more flavor to the table, making this one well worth the extra few dollars.
Russell’s Reserve’s 10-Year Bourbon was initially released in 2001 as an age-stated, 101-proof expression. In 2005, much to the chagrin of Wild Turkey fans, the ABV was brought down to its current level, making this a 90-proof expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Bourbon contains varying vanillas, from ice cream to vanilla extract. There are also pastry notes and the aroma of brioche buns, along with a touch of salted caramel, warm oak, and fresh nutmeg.
Palate: The palate on Russell’s Reserve 10-Year Bourbon is distinctly earthy at first, with toasted walnuts, apple leather, and mature oak leading the charge. As you chew the bourbon, you’ll notice that those notes grow in prominence with the oak and walnut flavors outpacing the restrained fruitiness and baking spices like clove and cinnamon become more pronounced. The mouthfeel is modest, which serves well to carry all of those earthy flavors without being overly slick and distracting from them.
Finish: More vanilla tones mark the departing notes; think vanilla pod more so than vanilla extract, and there’s more hazelnut flavor to be discovered alongside oak and red apple skin. It’s a medium-length finish that works well because it fades before that mature oak dries out the back of your palate.
Bottom Line:
Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Bourbon is one of the best values in American whiskey, offering a well-aged expression at an affordable price that is one of the better offerings in an iconic legacy brand’s lineup. If you’re looking for the smoothest bourbon money can buy, you’ll be very happy with how Russell’s Reserve pairs approachability with a deep reservoir of well-aged flavors.
Woodinville Whiskey Co., out of Washington State, has been producing stellar craft bourbon since 2009. Even with the incredible quality they put into their limited edition offerings, you’d be foolish to skip over their flagship offering. Aged for at least five years, Woodinville Bourbon is made entirely with local grains from a mash bill of 72% corn , 22% rye, and 6% malted barley.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Woodinville Bourbon’s nosing notes offer a surprising array of atypical aromas with a sweet blend of coconut and pineapple, giving it a piña colada vibe at first before maraschino cherries, whipped cream, corn pudding, and a floral aspect begin to emerge out of the glass.
Palate: Milk chocolate with whipped cream and coconut flakes come rushing over the tongue at first with a silky mouthfeel, helping all of those flavors find their footing. As it switches to the mid-palate, there’s some light umami savoriness, crème brulée, and very little burn, which gives this whiskey the “creamy” texture we’re looking for in a smooth bourbon.
Finish: As that creamy texture ends on the brief finish, we’re left with cacao nibs, caramel, and vanilla ice cream flavor.
Bottom Line:
Woodinville Bourbon’s borderline tropical appeal is a substantial part of its smoothness. Those coconut and milk chocolate flavors work well with the whiskey’s velvety texture to provide a smooth experience that will impress bourbon savants and intrigue any newcomers.
Michter’s was recently voted the World’s Most Admired Whiskey Distillery and its flagship bourbon is the most readily available example of why. For this expression and the rest of its whiskey lineup, Michter’s uses a proprietary filtration process to optimize the flavor coming from its barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Michter’s US*1 Bourbon has a dense aroma bouquet that immediately appears well-refined. Notes like honeysuckle, brown sugar, raisins, and youthful oak fill the air, with each well-developed layer greeting the olfactory senses warmly.
Palate: On the palate, what’s immediately remarkable about this bourbon is the texture, as it gently coats your tongue with moderate warmth, and before you know it, the taste of brown sugar, raisins, and walnuts is suddenly everywhere on your tongue. That deceptively viscous texture works well here and is a credit to Michter’s proprietary filtration process and their atypical proof-point.
Finish: The finish here is brief, with brown sugar and cinnamon coexisting harmoniously alongside new oak and clove, making for a gentle send-off after every sip.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s US*1 Bourbon perfectly threads the needle of being delicious and affordable. Free from any harsher elements, your palate will take to this whiskey like a fish in the water as those enchanting mellow notes wash over your tongue and coat your mouth with a remarkable range of flavors that make this the smoothest bourbon money can buy.
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. Last week I mentioned that holding onto your money could be a smart move, considering the drop list was so sparse, and now here we are in the final week of August and we’ve got a full roster of 10 sneakers!
If you were hoping that meant a lot of brand diversity, well, we’re not there yet. This week is entirely dominated by Nike and Adidas, the two biggest sneaker brands in the market. That’s not a bad thing if you’re a fan of Nike or Adidas — and there is a good chance you’re a fan of at least one of those brands — but if you were hoping to step out in a brand a bit less saturated (New Balance, Hoka, Asics come to mind) you’re going to have to keep hoping, at least until next week.
Highlights from this week include a three-way collaboration between Adidas, BAPE, and Damian Lillard, a couple of Converse Alexis Sablone link-ups, and, as always — new Jordans. There is a lot to get to so let’s just dive in already!
Damian Lillard’s and Adidas teamed up with BAPE for this special take on the DAME 9 and we’ve got to say, it’s the best DAME signature to drop all year. The sneaker features a lightweight textile upper and lining with a Lightstrike midsole, which is the standard tech-focused build we expect out of the DAME series, but what sets this one apart is the BAPE camo colorway.
The sneaker has two color variations, a traditional Core Black version that utilizes BAPE’s green camo pattern, and a red Scarlet version, which has much more subtle camo patterning. Both look great, but if we had to choose one, we’d go with Scarlet, without a doubt.
The Adidas BAPE x DAME 9 Core Black/Better Scarlet is out now for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app or aftermarket sites like Flight Club.
Pro skater Alexis Sablone is linking up with Converse CONS this week for the AS-1 Pro, a signature sneaker that takes a classic Converse shape and outfits it with custom artwork and debossed details.
The sneaker features a wear-away suede upper in white that reveals a fuchsia under-color designed to peek through in high abrasion areas of the silhouette. Rounding out the design is a commemorative Alexis-branded crest and Converse CONS branding at the heel tab.
The Converse CONS AS-1 Pro x Alexis Sablone is set to drop on August 29th at 8:00 AM PST for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
The year of the Field General continues with this new White and Gorge Green colorway. There isn’t much that differentiates this pair from the other Field General sneakers that have dropped this year. Same synthetic leather and textile upper and the same heavy-tread Waffle sole (this time in black). It’s simply a great design in a dope white and green colorway.
The Nike Field General ’82 White and Gorge Green is set to drop on August 29th at 7:00 AM PST or a retail price of $100. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
The Oxidized Green AJ-1 is a nice addition to your late summer or early fall wardrobe. The sneaker features a leather upper in white with green accents and an off-white midsole with a traditional gum sole. This is one of those simple but beautiful Jordan 1 colorways — we wish it would’ve dropped in a full-size run though.
The Women’s Air Jordan 1 Low Oxidized Green is set to drop on August 29th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
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Nike SB Dunk Low Pro x Alexis Sablone White and Pacific Moss (Chameleon)
If the Alexis Sablone Converse CONS collaboration was looking a bit too tame for you, the skater’s take on the legendary SB Dunk is much more out there. This thing straight up looks like a dragon! The sneaker features a debossed premium leather upper with tumbled leather underlays and suede details. If you were digging the gimmicky wear-away upper of the Converse, this sneaker has that too, revealing a fuchsia undertone as you wear it away.
The Nike SB Dunk Low Pro x Alexis Sablone White and Pacific Moss is set to drop on August 29th at 8:00 AM PST for a retail price of $135. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
Last week A Ma Maniére dropped a new Jordan 3 dubbed the “While You Were Sleeping Pair,” and this week the brand returns with yet another in the W.Y.W.S. line, this time, surprisingly, a Jordan 39.
Jordans this high in the lineage don’t generally get the cool collaboration treatment, but the Atlanta-based brand is taking a stab at it and we have to admit, it looks pretty dope. The sneaker features a woven synthetic textile upper with jacquard patterning, suede overlays at the toe, and a textured synthetic TPU tongue over a transparent rubber midsole.
It is easily the coolest the Air Jordan 39 has ever — and will ever — look.
The A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 39 W.Y.W.S. is set to drop on Friday, August 30th for a retail price of $215. Enter the raffle at A Ma Maniére.
Last year, Nike reintroduced bad boy of tennis John McEnroe’s signature sneaker, the Nike Attack, and the revamp was warmly received (Travis Scott even dropped his own signature version). Now Nike is looking to capture that same hype with the return of the Air Tech Challenge 2, a sneaker made popular by one of tennis’ all-time greatest players, Andre Agassi.
This new take on the sneaker features the Air Tech Challenge 2’s original colorway with some aged details at the midsole and an upper composed of real and synthetic leather. It’s not quite as stylish as the Attack but it’s a nice blast from the past for those who love ‘90s era silhouettes.
The Nike Air Tech Challenge 2 Hot Lava is set to drop on August 30th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Those with big feet may be missing out on the Jordan 1 Oxidized Green, but this Cement Grey Jordan 3 is a worthy consolation prize. Featuring a classic colorway, the Cement Grey sports a full leather upper with elephant print overlays, embroidered branding, and a nice pop of Fire Red at the tongue.
The Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro Cement Grey is set to drop on August 31st at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
It’s a hell of a week for fans of pro skater signature sneakers. In addition to the double Alexis Sablone we’re also getting a new colorway for Tyshawn Jones’ Adidas Tyshawn II. We ride pretty hard for the Tyshawn II, as of now it’s our favorite signature skate sneaker on the market.
This sneaker features a white leather upper with a textile lining, reflective accents at the three stripes, and rides atop supportive Lightstrike cushioning.
The Adidas Tyshawn 2 Cloud White is set to drop on September 1st at 10:00 AM PDT for a retail price of $100. Pick up a pair at Adidas or aftermarket sites like GOAT.
We’re living in a sneaker era that favors early ‘00s designs and some ‘90s classics, which could leave those that love the retro designs of the ‘80s wanting. Well, Adidas has your back this week with the release of the Forum ’84.
The Forum is Adidas’ favorite canvas currently, it’s the silhouette the brand is constantly utilizing for collaborations, so it’s great to see a sneaker that celebrates it’s heritage. The ’84 Forum deconstructs the sneaker to its original design specs and features a suede and leather upper, metallic accents and a vintage lace closure strap. It’s a nice reminder of what makes the Forum a special silhouette.
The Adidas Forum 84 High Cloud White is set to drop on September 1st at 12:00 AM PDT for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair at Adidas.
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Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.
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