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The Bear has very quickly become the surprise TV hit of the summer, and for good reason. Even if you don’t know quite how to pronounce “stage” like a restaurant industry vet, there’s a lot to love about the frenetic story of a fine dining chef trying to rescue his Chicagoland family sandwich shop.

But those hoping Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy is playing a slightly different version of his Shameless character were probably disappointed, at least initially. As White laid out in a very good GQ profile this week, Lip and Carmy do have some similarities. But they mostly start and end with Great Lakes geography. Which is why, after some hesitation upon reading the script, he took the gig in the first place.

If only so he wouldn’t hate whoever got it instead of him.

It’s for the best, then, that White talked himself out of any initial doubts about the role. He was winding down a 10-year gig playing Phillip “Lip” Gallagher on Showtime’s Shameless when the script for The Bear first came his way. There were some parallels: he’d be going from playing a gifted kid in a dysfunctional working class Chicago family to … a gifted kid in a dysfunctional working class Chicago family. “I think I was too concerned with what other people might think,” he says. Ultimately, the writing won him over. “I also knew that if I said no to this, that whoever ended up doing it, I would hate them forever,” he says. “So there was some spiteful stuff going on, too.”

With the show garnering rave reviews, White’s Carmy has become a meme of sorts for a certain kind of restaurant worker people are attracted to. But that also highlights another big difference between Carmy and Lip. Mainly just how romantically involved his Gallagher role was on Shameless, and the extreme absence of lust in the chef’s life. And Allen White makes it clear: Carmy does not f*ck.”

For the record, there is zero romance, let alone sex, onscreen. Zilch. “Carmy’s, like, the least sexual person. In playing him, I was aware that he had no room for love,” White says, bringing up one particular article that points out there might be some projection going on. “So I appreciated that she was aware that Carmy does not f*ck.”

Perhaps most interestingly, though, White said leaving a decade of playing Lip on television got him prepared for Carmy’s uneasiness and the tension he brought to the kitchen. White said he left Shameless with a lot of doubt, something Carmy could certainly relate to.

“I think that was something Carmy was really struggling with, too,” he continues. “We kind of found each other at a similar place. He knew he’s really gifted at this thing, but he could be painfully insecure about his abilities as well. I was feeling a little insecure at the end, too.”

The full profile is a must-read if you loved The Bear, as it also detailed how he prepared for the role and learned to cook like a pro. And there’s also plenty of optimism for another season of The Bear. After just eight episodes, it certainly left fans hungry for more.

[via GQ]

Harry Styles’ “As It Was” has had an unprecedented time at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart: It’s one of the only tracks to ever reach the No. 1 spot on four non-consecutive occasions. And after topping this week’s Hot 100 (dated July 16), it will remain there for at least another week, its ninth total. However, could the reign of “As It Was” soon be coming to an end?

Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” just soared up a spot to No. 2, now the track’s highest placement so far, as she gets ready to drop her album, Special, this Friday. Jack Harlow’s “First Class” was bumped back down by Lizzo to the No. 3 spot. Meanwhile, Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” has returned to its peak position at No. 4, proving that the Stranger Things effect last far longer than just 15 minutes. Bush moving up two spots dropped “Wait For U” by Future featuring Drake and Tems down a space to the No. 5 spot, and Drake and 21 Savage’s “Jimmy Cooks” down to No. 6.

Rounding out the top 10 are Bad Bunny & Choncho Corleone’s “Me Porto Bonito” at No. 7, Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” holding strong on the chart at No. 8, and Beyoncé’s feverish “Break My Soul” at No. 9. The only new entrant to this week’s top 10 is Latto’s “Big Energy,” who returns to the podium by knocking out Joji’s “Glimpse Of Us” out of the top 10.

Lizzo’s rise to No. 2 is a fortuitously timed one, given her upcoming album release. And perhaps Styles, who just teased the July 13th release of his “Late Night Talking” video, is ready to let another song from Harry’s House have its moment in the sun?

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

As Thor: Love and Thunder continues to rock the box office, director Taika Waititi is spilling some of the film’s secrets and surprises, some of which even he didn’t know about. Particularly a certain proclamation after the credits rolled.

Minor spoiler ahead: At the end of the film, a title card reads “Thor will be back.” According to Waititi, that little addition was a bit of shock for both him and star Chris Hemsworth, who apparently has not finalized plans to return as the God of Thunder. (Although, it’s probably a good chance that he will.) The message was slipped in without their knowledge, but it seems they’re not too concerned about it.

Via Insider:

Well, guess what? That was a surprise to me, too.

You’re serious?

I’m not joking. I saw it in the theater and I was like, “Oh, shit. Really?” Even Chris was like, “What?” But, of course he’ll be back. He’s the best character. I mean, I may be a little biased, but he’s the most fun to watch.

As for the chances of Waititi returning for Thor 5, the director said he would “definitely do one,” but only if Hemsworth came back and he could do a smaller film with less CGI battles. Or none at all.

“Like what would be the new take?” Waititi told Insider. “The battles and all the fighting is fine, but I would want something that feels unexpected when it comes to the story. Like making just a $5 million movie with no fighting at all, just Thor on a road trip. Like Nebraska.”

Thor: Love and Thunder is now playing in theaters.

(Via Insider)

On Sunday afternoon, Sue Bird played in her 13th and final WNBA All-Star Game, as the legendary point guard bid her farewell to the midseason classic alongside Sylvia Fowles.

The future Hall of Famer is still playing at a high level in her 19th season, averaging 8.3 points and 5.9 assists per game, helping guide the Storm to the third best record in the league, just a half-game behind Las Vegas for the best record in the West at the midseason break.

Friday night Bird celebrated her final All-Star Weekend with Crown Royal Regal Apple at an event in Chicago that offered a sneak peek at an upcoming collaboration with Franchise as she will grace the cover and also get a unique merchandise collection in honor of her final season. The limited edition collection will be available to fans at thisisfranchise.com, with Crown Royal donating $20,000 ($100 for each of the 200 pieces) to the Black Future Co-op Fund, which is Washington state’s first Black-led philanthropic organization.

Ahead of that event, we got a chance to speak with Bird via Zoom about that partnership, her final All-Star game, how she’s managing the emotions of her final season and, in her words, “tricking herself” into treating it like normal, and how the Storm are treating the second half of the season like a brand new year with the addition of Tina Charles to the roster. But first, we discussed Megan Rapinoe being honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and how Bird has seen athlete activism grow in the WNBA and beyond in her time in the league.

To start, I gotta go to the big news of the week. What was it like getting to see Megan [Rapinoe] received the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

Absolutely amazing. You know, I’ve been to the White House a couple of times for sports related achievements. And this was just, I don’t know, the minute we got there, there was just a different air in the room, because these are people who have quite literally helped change the world. And so it was just a pleasure to be able to witness it. And of course, to be able to see Megan receive her honor, which is just so deserving.

How proud of you are of the work that she’s been able to do off off the field and what do you think it does in terms of kind of setting the bar for what an athlete can do in transforming and really uplifting a community?

Yeah, well, Megan is a special person in that a lot of people — I think it’s human nature at times to only worry about the things that are impacting us. And Megan just has this ability to see outside of that, to see beyond that to want to help others. And I think what sports has done is given her this unique platform to do that, right? She’s able to speak from a very unique position, like I said, be able to use that platform to help others and she’s always looking for that moment. And that’s really again, what’s special about her. She never misses a moment. I feel like she always meets that moment, and I think she she would tell you also like soccer gives her that ability to do that because I think as an athlete, you’re just like, really the best word is unique, you’re just uniquely positioned to speak on certain issues, to have a microphone in your face all the time and get asked questions. You know, that’s really unique. Not everybody gets that. And so you know, for Megan, I know she never wants to miss those moments.

For you, having been in this league now for 20 years. How have you seen how athletes in the WNBA have embraced that platform over the years because it really seems like now, especially with the Brittney Griner situation, it seems like the league as a whole and players as a whole seem to really embrace that and feel compelled to step forward and make sure that they’re using that platform as best they can?

Yeah, I think the WNBA, the makeup of our league lends to that. I think we just have such a diverse group. Obviously, it’s well documented: 70-80 percent people of color, a large LGBTQ population in our league, like so on and so on. This is literally a melting pot. And what you find is we all kind of have a common ground and that we’re all experiencing real life things. Right? Just because you’re an athlete doesn’t mean you don’t experience the way the world treats you, and so for us we’re just now I think, in the last like four or five years, eh, we’ll go like six years, since probably 2016 — but even before that — 2016 was the like a pivotal moment where we understood, yeah, we’re fighting for ourselves and we have been fighting for ourselves for a long time, but now we can actually lend that voice as well. And there was more impact to be made if we did that, and even more impact if we did it together. And that’s why a lot of us, I think you see our league so united, and you see that with our support for BG as well.

And with the united front, something that I think is maybe interesting in that is you know with the bubble, having all of you together in one place, and all the work you did in Georgia with Raphael Warnock and everything else. Do you think that further galvanized you all as a group, being in one place and have that moment together?

Oh, it 100 percent helped. The pandemic was terrible, as we know, it’s very difficult for everybody. The silver lining of us having to play in a bubble was that we were in the same place at the same time. I always joke it’s like if we had a Zoom call at 7 pm on a Monday, I was like, I know you got to be there. I know you have no plans. Like all of us need to be there. So it made coming together, it made strategizing so much easier, for sure. And then I think what it also did was just kind of strengthen our belief in the fact that we can have a big impact, because that is going to be a part of the legacy of all of us, of our league. You know sometimes the proof’s in the pudding and we have that now we understand that when we speak together it’s just much louder.

To shift this to All-Star and it being your last All Star Weekend, do you approach this any differently knowing it’s your last and knowing that, are you trying to soak it in a little extra?

Um, yes and no, I mean, I’m not really approaching it that differently. It feels like the other All Star games, but I feel like I tried to enjoy it. You know, whether it was my first, my 10th, I always was trying to enjoy it. I think the memories to me are in the smaller moments, not necessarily a shot you hit in a game or nothing like that. It’s like in these smaller moments where you get to share things and that’s actually why I’m really excited for this partnership with Crown because it’s gonna help me continue to leave this legacy, support our game in a way that can pass the baton, but also we’re obviously going to be celebrating myself, which is kind of awkward to say, but we’re gonna be getting to celebrate me and with that, celebrate the entire league. So it’s really fun.

Yeah, how did this partnership come about? And for you, why was it important to make sure that it also benefited the community and specifically Black Future Co-op Fund?

Yeah, I think this kind of all ties into what we’ve been talking about. As an athlete for me now in my last year, I think about legacy in a different way. I’ve learned a lot through watching Megan, to be honest in this regard. Obviously, there’s a legacy you can leave from the championships you win and the points you score and all those good things. But there’s there’s a much larger legacy, and as somebody who currently is still playing and has this platform, you can kind of do both things, I think. For Crown Royal to see it the same way, to want to hook up and join forces to celebrate myself, it being my final year, which is such an honor to have a brand want to do that, but also to pay it forward and to make sure that we have impact in a larger way and that’s where the Black Future Co-op Fund comes in. Just a lot of good things happening across the board.

Definitely. I want to talk about the All Star Game format and the shift to this draft format, because as fans it’s been a lot of fun, I think in both the WNBA and the NBA. From a player perspective, is it fun because you do get to play with some folks that you wouldn’t normally get to sometimes, you might get to go up against a teammate, there’s trades in the draft. Does it kind of — especially for somebody who’s done it a bunch — does it make it fresh every year?

You took the words out of my mouth. That’s what it does. It makes it fresh, right? Like All Star games when I first got into league, they were great. You didn’t need necessarily like different rules or the draft, but I think as time goes, you want to change it up a little bit for the fans, for the players, give people something else to pay attention to or get excited about. I think that’s what some of the things you’re talking about with the draft and the rule changes, like that’s what that does. Just it keeps it fresh.

For you, when you decide to make the announcement this is gonna be your final season. I guess first, like how did you get to the point where you knew and were finally like, okay, it’s time to say this is gonna be it?

Yeah. The short of it is I kind of knew last year. I had like, whispers in my own head if you will. I was like, probably, I’m definitely getting closer. This could be it. But a combination of things made me want to sign up for another year. And I’m so glad I did, because clearly I wasn’t ready then. But once I entered into this season, that’s when like I just had a like, I don’t know, just a really calming sense of this is it. And I’ve actually talked to other people who have retired and most of them say like, ‘Hey, listen, you know when you know, ‘and I couldn’t really relate, but that’s because I didn’t know and now I do. So I’m gonna sit here and say to you, like sometimes you just know when you know, and when this season started, I just knew. I held out a little bit to make sure, right, before telling the world, but I knew.

I’m sure once you’re on the floor, it’s basketball, but are there different emotions going into places for the final time knowing you’re maybe playing a player or a rival you’ve played for years for a final time and how do you kind of manage those emotions as you’re, you know, pushing for another championship?

Yeah, I mean, I’m kind of just I think I’m just like tricking myself at this point. The way I really do it is — just the other day I played in Indiana for the last time on this last trip we were on. I actually missed my last time, quote unquote last time, playing in L.A. — you never know with the playoffs by the way. I’ve played in Indiana a bunch of times. You know, so that moment, that game, it’s amazing at some of the turnout that I’ve seen. Like were just on the road playing at Atlanta, at Indiana and I could see it in the crowd. I could see the Seattle Storm jerseys. I could see my number, I could see shirts, I could see posters, I could see it all. And so in that sense, it’s amazing that I’m gonna get to celebrate this with the fans. But in terms of the actual game, and the actual moment, I’m like, Oh, I played in these places a thousand times. Like, this is just one more it doesn’t have to you know, I guess I’m trying to say it’s like if I play terrible, it’s not gonna change anything right? So I just try to enjoy it and then play the game.

With regards to the team and trying to make this title push. Y’all are half a game back in the Aces right now in the West and you’ve kind of closed that gap. What do you think is the focus that you all have to have for the for the second half of the season?

Well, we picked up Tina Charles, which is a huge piece. And she was able to play I want to say, four games with us — maybe five games I can’t remember now — which is nothing. It’s a really small amount of time. So I think for me, the way I view it is, we’re kind of a different team than we were just two, three weeks ago. And so we have to really focus on building a chemistry, getting comfortable with each other, getting Tina acclimated, and then go from there. I feel like post All-Star break is a little bit of a new season in a way because of the pickup. So that’s how I’m viewing it and I’m happy to be sitting where we are now. We’ve had a couple of bumps in the road. We’ve also I think been one of the teams hit the hardest by COVID absences. So that took people in and out of the lineup, which was tough, but through that, you know, I don’t know exactly what position we’re in but I feel good about it and that we can now try to peak at the right time and make a run with it.

As a point guard when you get a new piece in on a team like Tina Charles who has been a dominant player. How do you try to work her in to what you all already do and make sure that you as a point guard are facilitating everybody and making sure that Stewie still getting what she needs and Jewell still gets what she needs and everybody’s everybody’s still staying happy despite the fact you add a big piece who could who could dominate some possessions?

Yeah, the beauty of our team is we just want to win. It’s like, there’s no ego, it’s not even about that. But to your point it is an adjustment to add a player like that midseason, to not have a training camp, not have practices. But the way I view it is she kind of just complements everybody, and it gives us this brand new look. We haven’t had a block dominant post since … Lauren Jackson. You know, somebody that you were trying to get the ball on the block every possession, every time on the floor. So she gives us this whole new look. And personally, I just think it’s going to open things up for everybody. And like the way that Jewell is playing, the way that Stewie is playing, it’s going to open things up for Tina. So to me, the way I look at it and I know the rest of the team looks at it, it’s just going to make everything easier for everybody. And so that’s how we’re approaching it.

When a lot of us think of Scotland, we’re likely imagining the Scottish Highlands. The craggy peaks, the long murky lakes, shaggy cows, and old distilleries of grey stone hidden away in some shady glen — it truly is an idyllic scene. Today, we’re going to focus on that last image and talk about Highland single malt whisky.

The Highland whisky region of Scotland is home to 47 of Scotland’s 130 distilleries. It’s the biggest Scotch whisky region geographically, with the Speyside region even contained completely inside of it. In short, it wouldn’t be off base to say that the Highlands is the essential heart of Scottish whisky.

For the list below, we’re breaking down (and ranking) 10 unpeated Highland single malt whiskies that’ll give you an introduction to the regional style — all of them are under $100 and pretty available at any good liquor store. We’ve already covered our favorite peated Highland malts here in case you’re a smoke head. However, we are removing the Islands subregion — Skye, Orkney, Jura, Mull, etc. — from the Highlands, as those whiskies truly have their own vibe and more and more people are finally recognizing those whiskies as their own thing outside of “Highland” whisky.

As for this ranking, we’re going on taste alone. Sound good? Let’s get into it!

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months

• All Of Johnnie Walker’s Core Whisky Line, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• Scotch Whiskies Tasted ‘Double-Blind’ And Power Ranked
• The Best Scotch Whiskies Under $50, Ranked
• The Winning Scotch And Bourbon Whiskeys From This Year’s Ascot Awards
• The Best Scotch Whisky Between $60-$70, Ranked

10. Old Pulteney 12

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $39

The Whisky:

Old Pulteney is all about sea vibes. Their entry-point spirit is aged for 12 years in second-fill bourbon casks before it’s batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of creamed honey with a touch of sea spray on the nose. The taste really holds onto that creamy honey while notes of wildflowers and oaky spice mingle with malts. The end is fairly short and leaves you with a sense of that creamed honey and a touch of spicy warmth.

Bottom Line:

This is a great, standard malt that works wonders in a highball with some fizzy water and maybe a touch of lemon or lime. Over the rocks, the creaminess of that honey comes forward along with a dry grainy note. It’s nice and even-keeled.

9. Balblair 12

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $73

The Whisky:

This entry-point single malt from the Highlands is an easy drinker. The juice is aged in a combination of ex-bourbon casks and “double fired” or re-charred used American oak barrels. The results are touched with a little water to bring it down to proof and then bottled.

Tasting Notes:

This is a malty sip with touches of lemon pudding next to a hint of tart apple on the nose with a small edge of vanilla. The palate carries notes of orange rinds studded with cloves next to a touch of creamy honey and vanilla. The end dries out a bit with a note of Scotch broom and lightly spiced malts.

Bottom Line:

Overall, this is a good highball Highland malt. It’s very basic in its flavor profile but does deliver a distinct and well-rounded profile overall. It’s not going to blow any socks off for depth or nuance, but it doesn’t need to.

8. Royal Brackla 12

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $90

The Whisky:

Royal Brackla has had a tumultuous past but has been making a comeback over the last few decades and years. The juice in this bottle is a classic unpeated single malt whisky that spends 12 years mellowing in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The whisky is then vatted, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with a light and bright fruit salad with dark berries, fresh peach, a hint of pineapple, and maybe some mint with a twinge of honey in the background. The palate veers more savory with a pinch of sea salt next to fresh sage and maybe even some rosemary that leads back to creamy honey with a thin line of almond shells and mild spicy malts.

Bottom Line:

This is a great cocktail base whisky. That savory note with the bright fruitiness tends to shine through nicely, especially with some citrus and an egg white in a whisky sour situation.

7. Glengoyne 10

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $58

The Whisky:

Glengoyne uses unpeated Highland barley that they air-dry at the distillery. The uniqueness of this whisky doesn’t end there. They also season their own American and European oak barrels with sherry for six years before filling them with their juice. After 10 years of maturation, those barrels are vatted, proofed, and bottled for this expression.

Tasting Notes:

This starts off with notes of apple candies, butter toffee, and a few chocolate-covered almonds. The taste leans back into the apple but it’s more tart and juicy, as minor notes of anise and wet cedar bark lead to a little bit of warm cream sitting on top of a shot of espresso and hint more of those almonds. The finish lets the malts sweeten with a spoon of orange marmalade on toast rounding things out.

Bottom Line:

This is getting into the more interesting whiskies on this list. There’s enough going on with this palate to warrant a classic “on the rocks” pour. That bitterness from the marmalade and espresso calms down with water and the creamier notes move forward. It’s very straightforward but nice.

6. Loch Lomond 12

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $50

The Whisky:

This Highland malt is all about maturation. The whisky is barreled in three different bourbon barrels. One set is first-fill bourbon barrels (meaning that this whisky was the first thing to go in the barrel after the bourbon was drained). Another set of barrels were re-fill bourbon barrels (meaning that the barrels had already held local whisky). And the last set of barrels were re-charred bourbon barrels.

Tasting Notes:

This is a rush of apple and pear orchards on the nose with hints of dry oatmeal next to floral honey, vanilla husks, and a bright note of lemon oils. The palate really leans into the apple/pear vibe while the lemon turns into a lemon cream pie with stiff peaks of vanilla whipped cream and a lard-based crust supporting everything. The end has a light touch of spicy malts next to all that lemon creaminess and apple and pear woodiness that just hints at a moment of singed cedar thanks to that heavy char from the bourbon barrel.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice and complex whisky that also feels unique. I’d probably focus on drinking this on the rocks, but it also works really well in a cocktail like a Sazerac or Manhattan thanks to that citrus vibe.

5. Blair Athol 12 Flora & Fauna

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $58

The Whisky:

Besides this bottling, you really only see Blair Athol malt in Bell’s Whisky (a very old-school blend) and very limited releases from the distillery or boutique brands. The whisky is a Highland malt that spends 12 years chilling out in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

The sherry really shines on the nose with a deep dried fruit feel next to Christmas cake spices that were soaked in dark rum — all leading towards hot coals straight from a fireplace. On the palate, light yet very thick syrup arrives with a malty edge, notes of lemon jam, dried apricots, and a vanilla tobacco chewiness. The finish takes its sweet time and turns that light syrup into bitter lemon syrup over dried out malt crackers with a throughline of burnt rosemary sprigs.

Bottom Line:

This is an interesting pour. It’s deeply fruity but has a minerality that’s almost chewy. The pour works well on its own thanks to that but really shines with a little ice to let it bloom in the glass.

4. The Dalmore 12

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $68

The Whisky:

This Highland whisky is a gateway whisky that feels like a classic. The juice is aged in ex-bourbon for nearly a decade. The whisky is then transferred to former sherry casks for that crucial finishing touch of maturation for around three years. It’s then proofed down with to a very accessible 80 proof.

Tasting Notes:

Oranges studded with cloves mingle with a deep dark chocolate foundation and a hint of eggnog creaminess and spiciness. The palate goes even deeper on the orange and spice as heavy vanilla arrives — the husks, seeds, and oils are all present. The end is fairly succinct and touches back on the chocolate with a bitter mocha-coffee vibe and more of the vanilla.

Bottom Line:

This is where we squarely get into the “sippable” whiskies on this list. You don’t need a rock here, but it does help it bloom in the glass. Otherwise, this is a fine introduction to Highland whiskies with zero rough edges and a deep flavor profile.

3. Aberfeldy 12

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $47

The Whisky:

This Highland malt is the cornerstone of the much-beloved Dewar’s Blended Scotch. This whisky is a very accessible single malt that spends 12 years resting in various casks before it’s married and proofed down and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

The heart of the nose is in the mingling of pear and honey with a hint of Christmas spice, especially nutmeg. The palate expands on that with a lush maltiness, creamy vanilla, mild spice, and more of that honey and orchard fruit. The end gets slightly nutty and bitter with a little water as the honey, fruit, and spice linger on the senses.

Bottom Line:

This whisky really leans into the honey with a silky edge. Overall, this whisky really works wonders on a single rock or in a cocktail. That honeyed base brings a lot of depth to a sour. On a rock, it gets creamier with a nutty/spicy edge that shines.

2. Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate Batch #2

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $90

The Whisky:

Glenmorangie has finally made this a regular drop on the North American market. The juice is made from Highland barley grown exclusively on the 440-acre Cadboll Estate, which surrounds the distillery. The juice is then filled into French casks which held Muscat and Sémillon wines. It’s then left alone for 15 years to mature. Finally, those barrels are batched and brought down to a low 86 proof with local highland spring water.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a sense of buttered scones with lemon curd next to a good dose of vanilla and a touch of savory herbs on the nose. The palate really holds onto that biscuity nature while adding in a caramel candy note next to a bit of butter with a white sugar cube vibe. That lemon comes back on the short finish with hints of old straw and strawberry jam while the savory edge sneaks back in with a hint of lightly spiced tobacco leaf.

Bottom Line:

It’s hard not to love a good pour of Glenmorangie. It’s just… the quintessential unpeated malt. This bottle is the “turned up to 11” version of the 10 and Nectar d’Or expressions. It’s so distinct on its own but really benefits from that drop or two of water or a single rock.

1. Glendronach 15 Revival

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $79

The Whisky:

This Highland malt has made a roaring comeback (the expression went on hiatus from 2015 to 2018). The juice is aged in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks for 15 long years. Those casks are married and this whisky is brought down to a very easy-drinking 92 proof.

Tasting Notes:

Dark berry brambles with tart and sweet fruit, stems, thorns, and even a little black dirt draw you in on the nose with a hint of walnut shell and cherry pie. The palate is a creamy-yet-bitter dark chocolate orange that leads toward a semi-savory fig countered by ripe apricot. The chocolate comes back with cinnamon spice and more dark berries and walnut on the end.

Bottom Line:

This is the most distinct whisky on this list. The flavor notes are dialed, clear, and delicious. This doesn’t need a rock or water, but adding those will bring out so many more flavors to enjoy. This really could be your next go-to whisky pour.

(Spoilers from The Boys season finale will be found below.)

The Boys viewers loved how Queen Maeve not only kicked Homelander’s ass but also got the happy ending that her character deserved. She even drew Homelander’s blood (and as the above screenshot shows, she was thrilled to do so) before that battle got extra ugly, and then she dove out a window with Soldier Boy to keep his nuclear blast from killing the group. Her character did not die in the process, even if Homelander believes as much. And that’s key to where Queen Maeve goes from here.

Maeve and her partner get to wander off to non-Supe life, apparently in a completely civilian way. They’re headed to a quiet farm, and hopefully, the show will let her live in peace. Dominique McElligott’s presence will be missed on the show, but showrunner Eric Kripke had resolutely determined not to fall into the trope of shows that kill off queer characters. He explained this to Collider:

“From the beginning, we were never going to kill her. We were always going to give her a happy ending. We’re well aware of the super irritating trend of killing off queer characters, and we’re dedicated to not doing that. So then it became about, ‘Well, can we explore that from a meta way and play with the audience’s expectation a little bit and present that big sacrifice moment that happens way too many times?’”

Whew. The Boys really is the best at skewering those tropes, and yep, they still do exist (the ending of Killing Eve proved as much). Finally, someone’s receiving a happy ending, and although Maeve will be missed, it’s a satisfying departure (and what the character wanted) after what she endured as part of The Seven.

(Via Collider)

You can use plenty of words to describe the sneakerhead community but “sweet” or “sentimental” are likely the last words you’d attribute to a group of enthusiasts who would surely roast you if they didn’t like your kicks. Unless you’re wearing Jordans, of course. At their worst, sneakerheads have a reputation for being gate-keep-y mean kids (at their best they’re historians of art and design). But there’s actually a deep sentimentality and camaraderie to be found in these hype-obsessed circles.

Sneakerheads care for their own — bound by a passion for shoes. And nothing exhibits that fact better than the story of Lauren and EJ Wynn.

For years, the Wynns had tried to start a family of their own, enduring eight miscarriages and two failed intrauterine inseminations. Determined to realize their dream, the Wynns decided to give in-vitro fertilization a try — an expensive process that isn’t always guaranteed. To help fund their treatment, EJ parted ways with his coveted sneaker collection, surprising Lauren with the funds who shared the story in a now-viral TikTok.

That story eventually caught the attention of the Hand Made Heat community, a global collective of sneaker customizers, painters, and designers who congregate online and de and reconstruct sneakers from the sole to the stitching.

“Some of the work that comes out of this group rivals major designers,” Hand Made Heat member Nick Tornetta (also the point of contact for anyone who wants to join the discord) tells me over Zoom. Tornetta is the main entity behind Scissors Up, a subgroup within the Hand Made Heat community that tasks itself with sourcing the sort of premium materials sneaker customizers and designers rely on to make their creations and reconstructions as authentic, elevated, and bespoke as possible.

In addition to helping other creators in their respective sneaker customization journeys, the Hand Made Heat community also makes a habit of holding friendly competitions amongst its members to see who can craft the most fire kicks. Those competitions typically revolve around holidays, but the community jumped at the chance to compete for a good cause — replenishing EJ’s sneaker collection with deeply personal original sneakers that not only reflected EJ’s interests and tastes in footwear but also the family he and Lauren were hoping to build.

“We were really inspired by that story,” Tornetta notes. “A real man, a father, steps up and says ‘I’m going to give myself, for the sake of my family, I’m going to give up my collection….’ So the challenge now is, let’s replenish that collection. I really like the fact that our community has banded together to support this family and hope someday we can do more charitable events like this.”

The contest was sponsored by District Leather Supply — used by many Hand Made Heat members — who awarded the first place winner with a $1000 DLS gift card as well as a $250 gift card to Scissors Up, with second and third place tiers at a lower amount. Once the prizes were settled, Tornetta reached out to Lauren to get details on EJ (unbeknownst to him), regarding what was in his collection, what colorways and silhouettes resonated with him, and any other personal details that might be helpful.

“One of the community members made a spreadsheet and just said ‘post your idea here so we don’t send in the same thing,’” Tornetta explains. “People are adhering to some semblance of a design guideline by making a shoe he might like, or colors he might like, and then going wild otherwise.”

The result is a collection of sneakers that are in line with some of the best official releases dropped this year. The group has since sent their final designs to EJ as a surprise package, who in addition to scoring a brand new collection of fire 1-of-1 sneakers made explicitly for him (and his family, check out contest winner below), also got the perfect happy ending with the birth of his and Lauren’s son, Amari, who just last week visited his very first sneaker store Sole Stop. In an chill-inducing twist, Sole Stop is the very store where EJ sold his shoes to pay for the IVF.

All sneakerheads know the feeling of finally catching that big W, but EJ’s win resonates in a truly special way that feels like a win for us all. Check out the Hand Made Heat designs below.

@lab53shoes

Inspired by EJ’s love of the Cowboys, @lab53shoes has ensured that no matter where EJ watches the next game, he’ll be rocking the most fly kicks in the room. This Jordan I recalls the team colors of the Cowboys while updating the design with bandana print suede and calf luxury suede swooshes with suede and milled nubuck accents on the wings and heels.

All of the leather used in this design comes from the Conceria Opera Tannery in Italy. To round out the collection @lab53shoes also threw in a Cowboys onesie and bib.

@mike34customs

Inspired by STAPLE’s iconic Pigeon Dunks and EJ’s old Marshall University football days, this sneaker manages to look like both a skate shoe and one of Nike’s classic University colorways at the same time. With a textured swoosh and paneling, this Nike Dunk sports a Marshall University Thundering Herd logo under the Swoosh and lateral sides with an insole photograph that features EJ and his teammates celebrating a touchdown.

@devolvecustomfootwear

@devolvecustomfootwear went light on the sentimentality and instead went for the cool factor for this fire redesign that looks like it belongs on the SNKRS app ASAP. Featuring black matte and glossy patent, this sneaker features an extended tongue with contrasting stitching, a crimson toe box, heel details, and rear tab buckles with a customized message strap that reads.

“For all the things my hands have held… the best by far is you.”

Rounding out the design is a double swoosh, black matte on the reverse, crimson red suede on the traditional. Eat your heart out, Travis Scott.

@sneakersbytyrel

When making this design @Sneakersbytyrel was also waiting on the birth of his first son, so he decided to supply EJ with something every good dad needs — a quality boat shoe.

Utilizing the low-top Jordan 1, this design features a mix of brown, black, and creamy white with a footprint stamp on the heel with matching blue swooshes to represent EJ and Lauren’s baby boy.

@pinkytoestudio

Instead of another fire AJ-1, @pinkytoestudio took a left turn and dropped this Air Monarch. This sneaker triples down on the dad shoe vibes not only by utilizing the Monarch silhouette but by shouting out The Godfather and grill culture in its design, two staples of dad life.

It’ll only be a few years now until EJ starts talking about how modern movies “aren’t as good as The Godfather,” and insisting that he run the grill at family cookouts (if he isn’t already). That’s what dads do, they’re all grill master movie critics!

Unlike your typical dad shoe, this sneaker was given the luxury treatment with genuine python and alligator details on the tongue and upper with red python accents, a mix of matte and glossy qualities, and a full-length air unit. It may not be a Jordan, but Jordan would rock a pair in a second.

@chicano_ray

For @chicano_ray’s sneaker, the designer went deep on the research. Learning that EJ and his wife had been calling their yet-to-be-born baby ‘lil bean,’ this sneaker features bean iconography at the heel with a furry suede wrap around swoosh and heel tab over a blue elephant print upper.

We wouldn’t blame EJ for never wearing this pair and reserving them for when Amari’s feet are big enough to fit in them.

@mammothnamedjim

You don’t have to be an expectant mother or father for this one to hit you in the feels. Contest winner (are you surprised?) @mammothnamedjim went all out not with one or two but three pairs of Jordan 1s for the whole family.

Featuring a design that recalls the best Union LA Nike collaborations (peep that exposed stitching and ‘Wynn’ tab at the heel) the two adult pairs in this collection are unified by color blocking on the collar and wings but feature alternate color paneling, one green, one navy, giving the pairs a sort of his & hers quality. Unifying the collection is the toddler pair of sneakers which features a perfect blend of both designs. It’s like a little sneaker family, which will surely resonate with EJ and his growing crew.

Extra credit for those fly insoles!

On May 17, 1966, Bob Dylan performed at Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England. That show is famous among Dylan fans, as audio of it was widely bootlegged; Early recordings mistakenly indicated the performance took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall, so the show has long been known as the Royal Albert Hall Concert. Eventually, in 1998, Dylan officially released the full concert himself, on the album The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert.

Now, Cat Power is getting ready to perform at Royal Albert Hall on November 5 and has decided that she will use her set to re-create Dylan’s famed 1966 concert, a set of half acoustic tunes and half electric performances.

Cat Power said in a statement, “When I finally got the opportunity to play The RAH, it was a no-brainer. I just wanted to sing Dylan songs. And as much as any, this collection of his songs, to me, belong there.”

Check out the The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert tracklist, and therefore what should end up being Cat Power’s setlist come November, below.

1. “She Belongs To Me”
2. “4th Time Around”
3. “Visions Of Johanna”
4. “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”
5. “Desolation Row”
6. “Just Like A Woman”
7. “Mr. Tambourine Man”
8. “Tell Me, Momma”
9. “I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)”
10. “Baby, Let Me Follow You Down”
11. “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues”
12. “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat”
13. “One Too Many Mornings”
14. “Ballad Of A Thin Man”
15. “Like A Rolling Stone”

Nathan Fielder surprised his fans last week by dropping a trailer for his new HBO series, The Rehearsal, which clearly takes the hilarious cringe comedy of Nathan For You to a whole new level. In a nutshell, Fielder helps people “prepare for life’s biggest moments” by subjecting them to a simulation of his own overly-elaborate making. Essentially, they can “rehearse” for an uncomfortable conversation and/or life-changing decision. However, thanks to Fielder’s machinations, any wrong move can result in awkwardly devastating (but also kind of hilarious) results.

Again, it’s a natural extension of Fielder’s hit series, Nathan For You, only now the stakes are much, much higher than coming up with outlandish small business schemes. The good news is that Fielder appears to have nailed the execution as the first reviews for The Rehearsal are overwhelmingly positive when they’re not outright heralding the show as a “masterpiece.”

You can check out what the critics are saying below:

Ben Travers, IndieWire:

Fielder’s personal investment in each outcome elevates the series even higher. His initial motivation and what he discovers within the hysterical, emotional rehearsals — the joyful satisfactions and existential fears — provide an eye-opening through-line that makes “The Rehearsal” as addictive as it is endearing.

Daniel D’Addario, Variety:

The closest comparison might be “Synecdoche, New York,” the 2008 Charlie Kaufman film that, like “The Rehearsal,” treats life as a performance that can be perfected. And, like Kaufman’s film, “The Rehearsal” has an anarchic heart throbbing beneath a rigorous exterior — meaning that even the viewer who feels the project losing its way can admire Fielder’s abilities to establish lines for himself, and then to scribble outside them.

Robert Ham, Consequence:

There aren’t many shows, especially in the comedy world, taking the chances that The Rehearsal does. Nor are they lucky enough to be led by someone like Fielder, a comic visionary who has, once again, turned a parody of reality TV into a brilliant dissection of human nature.

Dave Nemetz, TVLine:

The heavy-duty scenario planning that Fielder undertakes to stage these rehearsals is both highly absurd and genuinely jaw-dropping. He dabbled in longer-form stunts on Nathan For You like in Season 4’s super-sized “Finding Frances,” but this is on a completely different level.

Nick Schager, The Daily Beast:

Nathan Fielder is the undisputed king of cringe comedy, and The Rehearsal is a masterpiece of awkward chaos that plays as both an extension and expansion of his heralded Comedy Central series Nathan for You.

Ross Bonaime, Collider:

By mixing the natural insanity of real life and the unbelievable resources at his disposal, there’s no early way of knowing which direction Fielder is going. Yet this is also the most expansive version of Fielder’s comedic vision we’ve ever seen, as if HBO gave him the independence and money to do whatever he wants. If there’s an easy way to do something, Fielder avoids it, instead attempting the most hare-brained, over-the-top solution to a problem.

Keith Phipps, TV Guide:

Fielder may be a man sitting in an offshoot of an elaborate alternate reality of his own creation, but as he sips a soda alone at the bar, he also looks like a man trying to use that alternate reality to figure out something about the real world. It’s that impulse that makes The Rehearsal much more than a prank show.

Lex Briscuso, /Film:

A smart and savvy introspective reali-comedy that challenges our hearts and minds as it prepares us for life’s most monumental eventualities. The show is a bit of surreal genius that reinvents our world as only Nathan Fielder can, with a dash of cringe, a touch of embarrassment, and an unexpectedly heavy dose of purity and heart.

The Rehearsal premieres July 15 on HBO.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of The BBC providing the best television shows both in Britain and beyond, the service is bringing a new series of masterclasses to their BBC Maestro series.

BBC Maestro launched for UK subscribers at the end of 2020, featuring various courses taught by celebrities and experts in their craft. Starting in July, BBC Maestro will offer a slew of new courses, taught by musicians, artists, movie directors, and more. Now, US viewers can sign up for the service, which starts at $120 a year, or $90 a class.

According to a new press release, the site will offer new classes in the coming months with a series of industry experts. Some of the upcoming instructors include acclaimed filmmaker Edgar Wright, who recently released 2021’s psychological thriller Last Night In Soho and even teamed up with Zendaya on a tongue-twisting SuperBowl commercial earlier this year.

Also leading his own course will be Sam Mendes, the former James Bond director who has had nothing but hits under his belt, including American Beauty, 1917, and Jarhead. Mendes recently snagged a Tony for his work in the theater earlier this year.

Author Lee Child, known for creating the Jack Reacher series will also have a course available, as well as DJ Mark Ronson, of “Uptown Funk” fame. You too can create your own viral hit that will make people want to turn off their car radio forever, for the low, low price of $120. Act now!!