“It’s been it’s a really hard decision to leave because I’m so immensely proud of the show,” said Corden, who has extended his contract for exactly one year and plans to vacate his desk next spring. “I always thought I’d do it for five years and then leave and then I stayed on. I’ve really been thinking about it for a long time, thinking whether there might be one more adventure.”
Corden made his debut as the permanent host on March 23, 2015, taking the reins from Craig Ferguson, who hosted the show for nearly a decade, from 2005 to 2014. While Ferguson won a Peabody Award in 2009 for his interview with South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Corden made pop culture history with his Carpool Karaoke segments.
Corden was considered a bit of a gamble when he took over hosting duties from Ferguson. While he was already well-known as an actor, comedian, and co-creator of the BAFTA-winning BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey in his native England, Corden was hardly a household name in America — particularly as he’d be joining the ranks of Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert. But as Peter White wrote for Deadline, Corden “reinvigorated the 12:30pm timeslot on CBS and breathed new life into late-night with viral segments such as Carpool Karaoke, Drop The Mic, Spill Your Guts and Crosswalk Musical.”
CBS president and CEO George Cheeks clearly agrees. “Seven years ago, James Corden came to the U.S. and took television by storm, with huge creative and comedic swings that resonated in a big way with viewers on-air and online,” he told Deadline. “From Crosswalk the Musical to the legendary Carpool Karaoke, and every unique comedy segment he introduced, James has truly reimagined many elements of the late-night format.”
As for where he’ll land next, Corden isn’t sure. Yet his talk show is only one of his many current endeavors. In addition to an acting career — an acting career that, yes, included a major role in Cats — he is also a partner in Fulwell 73, the production company you can blame for Hulu’s The Kardashians.
“There’s still some other things that I feel I want to do,” Corden said. “I’d like to try and write. There’s some [stories] I’d like to tell. I’d like to see if I’m capable of it. The fact that it’s terrifying is the reason to do it.”
At first it looked like Suga from BTS might just be involved on the musical side with Psy’s new single, “That That,” but a new teaser shared today indicates there might be more afoot. Psy is releasing what has been dubbed his “comeback single” later this week, and also sharing an entire new album called Psy 9th — but it’s a totally different climate in the music industry when it comes to K-pop than it was back when “Gangnam Style” was setting records. Now, K-pop is in the mainstream consciousness all the time, with stars like BTS, Blackpink, CL, and so many more continuing to win over American listeners.
So it makes perfect sense that Psy would enlist Suga to help produce his new song, and apparently, star in the video as well. Initial promo for the single revealed that the video for “That That” will definitely have a cowboy theme, as Psy runs through a deserted western town and hurls through the air in one of the teasers — but a short clip shared yesterday is a lot more detailed. Starting in the middle of a cowboy line dancing moment, it transitions to a saloon scene with Psy and Suga, and then a moment in a car together, and then back to the bar. Finally, a shot of the two posing together outside closes out the video, which is set to what sounds like the song’s chorus.
It’s the first teaser that really gives a feel for what the song will sound like and the video will look like, and unless this footage is completely unrelated in the end, at least Suga is featured in the new Psy video — if not all of BTS. Check out the clip up top and stay tuned for the entire single coming in just a few hours.
On a recent appearance on Power 106 Los Angeles, Lizzo had a wide-ranging discussion with the hosts about her music, her new shapewear line, Yitty, and also, her sometimes crazy food habits. But that convo obviously led the hosts to bring up another woman in the industry who is well-known for her somewhat zany food choices — and that’s Saweetie. Right around the 30 minute mark the group gets into a convo about these two women and their strange palates, and who would win if the were to face off in a strange foods Verzuz battle.
“Saweetie be doing sh*t that’s like hmmm I might try that,” Lizzo said. “But I do sh*t that’s unthinkable. That makes people… yeah, it makes them gag.” So in Lizzo’s mind, yes, she would be winning that face off. But who knows what Saweetie’s response will be once she hears these fighting words. Check out the clip up top.
New Orleans, Louisiana is widely recognized for its vibrant community, distinctive music scene, classic French-creole (and really just NOLA) cuisine, and of course, its slew of annual parties and festivals. Last weekend, the city’s iconic Jackson Square hosted the famed French Quarter Festival — the largest free festival and showcase of Louisiana music, food, and culture. The festival featured over 270 performances from a variety of musical genres across 20 stages featuring local stars like Irma Thomas, Tank & The Bangas, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Rickie Lee Jones, The Soul Rebels, and many more.
One local chef who made his French Quarter Festival debut is Marcus Woodham, the Executive Chef at The Bower. At the festival, he served festival attendees a Cochon de Lait Po-boy, Crawfish Bread Pudding with Etouffee Sauce, and Smoked Fish Dip. Born and raised in Louisiana, Woodham knows his way around NOLA’s legendary culinary scene. So we asked him to share his top restaurant recommendations (besides his own) in The Big Easy.
Patois
Patois
Patios is a cozy uptown restaurant where Chefs Aaron Burgau and Jonathan Lomonaco put out a very locally-sourced menu cooked from the soul. Burgau can flat-out cook and changes the menu fairly often. There is always something new to try along with staples that have been on the menu for years.
Kingpin is a great dive bar uptown that has food trucks pop up almost nightly. Chances are you will run into a chef, server, or bartender that served you earlier that evening. During football season, catch a Saints game here and you won’t be disappointed.
Blue Oak BBQ has huge outdoor seating, and it’s a great place for the family to sit outside. The brisket is amazing, and don’t sleep on the green onion sausage. My kids love the BBQ beans, mac-n-cheese, and the smoked chicken.
Don’t let the line at Hansen’s Sno-Bliz scare you, as you will get a chance to meet new friends while waiting. I think I’ve only ever had the satsuma snowball here, it’s too damn good to try anything else. We like to pop the tailgate on the truck and enjoy.
Maypop
Maypop
Maypop is an amazing mix of South Louisiana and Asian-style cuisine. Chef Mike’s ever-changing bone marrow with seasonal fruit or citrus is a must, and his ability to use local and Asian ingredients in his noodle dishes is incredible. Get all of them.
For me, Jack Rose is the funniest dining atmosphere in the city. Very lively dining rooms, great decor, and Chambongs. This place exudes Chef Brian Landry’s personality — fun, outgoing, and attention to detail. I always get the veal chop. Order a mile-high pie for dessert…Lie and say it’s your birthday and watch the sparks fly.
R&O’s in BuckTown
R&O
Veal Parmesan PoBoy — just get it. After R&O, swing by Captain Sid’s to get your boiled crab, shrimp, or crawfish fix. Take some of their seasoning blends home as well.
Southern’s Food Truck serves amazing hot fried chicken sandwiches. Pick your spice levels. During crawfish season, they do traditional crawfish and Vietnamese style as well, get 5 lbs of both and life is good.
Look out for Southern’s Food Truck at French Quarter Festival. It’s also a festival food vendor!
Creole Creamery is a throwback-style ice cream shop. It gives me the feeling of being one of the actors in The Sandlot. I always get an old-school style malt and my kids go for a waffle cone and “rainbow,” which is however many colorful scoops they can fit into one cone.
Fat Harry’s is a St. Charles Avenue staple. It’s great for watching any sporting event. Any questions you have about the city, ask the staff here. Most of them have been working here for at least a decade. Chef Juicy’s chicken wings are amazing. Bring the fellas, get 40 wings with all the sauces, and drink a couple of local beers.
Thursdays are…well, not Fridays. The excitement of the previous weekend has worn off ages ago, the Sunday scaries have long since passed, and it’s almost a whole new weekend again. You just have to finish strong and today we have the juice to help you power through.
Iconic DJ and electronic music producer, GRiZ, hosted a surprise pop-up beach concert recently in Los Angeles with Brownies x Lemonade, an independent dance music events and promotions company. An epic DJ set on the beach at sunset? Yes, please! The surprise pop-up, which went down on Friday, April 8, was the ultimate spring and summer kick-off, getting attendees hyped for the beach parties and festivals to come this season. Between GRiZ’s banging beats, the ocean views, dancing, and downright good vibes, it’s safe to say we’ll be on the lookout for more events like this one.
If you’re in need of a late-week pick-me-up, scroll through the images below, start a group text, and make some damn plans to live your life. The feel-good scenes at GRiZ’s surprise beach pop-up are sure to get you fired up.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a millionaire or have tens of thousands of followers to be able to travel the world. Sure, you may not get the comfort of a private jet or a five-star villa with butler service. But honestly, adventure is more memorable and thrilling than luxury anyway (at the very least, you’ll have better stories to tell when you get home — no one wants to hear your wealth-related humble brags).
So how does one go about jet-setting overseas without breaking the bank? There are actually more options out there than you might think. As a creative in my mid-20s, I know a thing or two about how to “ball on a budget.” In other words, I’m a broke bitch who doesn’t let my humble living stop me from seeing the world. Will I eat oatmeal and ramen for a week straight? Most likely. But will I also dance at a music festival, party on a boat, and fly to a foreign country alone? Absolutely.
Opportunities to save money and even get paid while traveling are out there, it’s just a matter of a little luck and seeking out the right options for you. Below, I’m sharing 10 ways you can start traveling on a budget today.
If you’re down to do some labor in exchange for a free place to stay, then you’ll want to consider joining a work stay program. “Work stays” are travel opportunities in which you work for a family, farm, or organization for a certain period of time in exchange for a place to stay. Depending on the host, this may sometimes also include food (score!).
Work stay jobs often include tasks like building and painting houses, gardening, hosting tours, taking care of house pets, and farmwork — including the occasional shoveling goat shit (still worth the free trip, IMO). This option is obviously best if you plan on staying in any given destination for more than just a few days to a week, as you’ll need to use your off time and weekends to explore.
If you live in a well-frequented tourist destination, becoming an Airbnb host is a great way to make a buck while you’re away. People just like you are always looking for affordable places to stay on vacation. Upgrade your home with some dope decor, keep your space clean, and snap some high-quality images of your place. The good thing about Airbnb is that you can choose when and how often to rent it out.
List your home whenever you have upcoming travel plans. The funds you make from hosting can go directly to your own vacation accommodations and adventures.
You don’t need to scour the internet on a daily basis to find the best travel deals available. Instead, subscribe to weekly newsletters dedicated to sharing what’s new in the travel world. There are tons of newsletters out there — Jack’s Flight Club, Scott’s Cheap Flights, Airfarewatchdog, and TravelPirates are a few notable ones — that ensure you’ll never miss the chance to snag discounted flight tickets.
It’s also worth following your favorite airlines, tourism boards, travel influencers, and travel agencies to stay in the loop on sales, discount codes, and updates regarding airfare, hotels, destination excursions, and more. Lastly, if you don’t follow Secret Flying across all social platforms, shame on you.
If you’re an avid traveler who’s not taking advantage of at least one airline’s reward system, you’re seriously missing out. When you join an airline membership, you can accrue miles over time that you can eventually use for free or majorly discounted flights. AKA, you can jet off to Paris or take a trip to Bali essentially for free.
Most airlines will also reward you with a few extra points just for signing up in the first place. Plus, you can earn additional perks like priority boarding, free seat upgrades, and early check-in.
Tip: Do your best to stick to a single airline when booking flights in order to rack up those miles quicker and gain more rewards. Personally, Southwest and American Airlines are my two favorite airline memberships.
There are incredible destinations all around the globe that are also in need of support. What better way to see the world than by giving back at the same time? Whether you choose to volunteer with a conservation group, work at an animal sanctuary, teach at underprivileged schools, or build shelters in local communities, the options to volunteer while traveling are abundant. And when you volunteer in a far-out destination, meals and housing are most likely included in your trip.
When searching for volunteer opportunities in other countries, it’s best to research a specific destination and the variety of non-profit groups in the area. For instance, you can apply to Conservation Volunteers in Australia, Kibbutz Volunteer in Israel, or Kaya Responsible Travel operating in Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America. Hell, you can even join the Peace Corps!
Like to take pictures, write, and share your everyday experiences online? Then you might want to consider starting your own travel blog. While it’s a pretty saturated industry, literally anyone can start and grow their own digital audience. Whether you post solely on Instagram, create a travel-dedicated TikTok account, or launch a website with useful travel tips and hacks, there are opportunities waiting for you online.
Once you start to grow your audience, you can make an income with digital ads and sponsorships. You can also leverage your blog and social media to gain complimentary travel accommodations and trips. If you’re not sure where to start, it may be worth taking an online course and following other travel bloggers who inspire you.
Skyscanner is an excellent source for finding cheap flights fast. You can search for flights anywhere in the world, and the database will pull the most affordable flight options from every available airline. It will even mix and match airlines on your departing and return flights to provide you with the most budget-friendly choices. Skyscanner also allows you to search for the most affordable hotels and car rentals in your chosen destination.
I’ve been using Skyscanner for years, and it never ceases to help a girl out. You can book through the Skyscanner platform itself, but I like to search and book the results directly through the airlines to reap the full benefits of the airline rewards mentioned above.
Search for cheap flights and book your next trip using Skyscanner here.
Teaching English in a foreign country seems to have grown in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Most programs will provide housing in addition to a fixed salary. In other words, you’ll get paid to live abroad and hang out with kids — sounds like a win-win. Plus, you’ll be able to take advantage of school breaks and paid holidays by venturing out to other nearby cities and countries.
As a budget traveler, chances are you’ve stayed in a hostel or two. While shared bunk beds and bathrooms aren’t the most extravagant of accommodation amenities, hostels make for affordable lodging and an easy way to make like-minded friends on the road. If you’re in search of a long-term nomadic lifestyle, looking into different hostel jobs is your best bet. You’ll not only get a free place to stay, but you’ll gain an income that you can put towards your daily adventures.
When searching for jobs, it’s a good idea to reach out to specific hostels directly. There are also databases like Hostel Jobs and Worldpackers that can help narrow down your search.
This was my preferred method of acquiring free and paid travel opportunities, although it probably takes the most time and effort out of the bunch (mixed with a dose of passion and a hint of naive belief in one’s self). If you love writing and you’re interested in approaching tourism from a journalistic point of view — finding unique stories, sharing inside destination tips, highlighting must-visit sites and restaurants in detail — then you might want to give travel writing a try.
Of course, a journalism degree helps, but the truth is that anyone with a knack for words and adventure can do it. When you’re new to the journalism field, it’s a smart move to take a course, hire another experienced journalist for a coaching consultation, and read the work of writers in your desired beat.
Tip: Use your new blog as a way to showcase your talent and travel experiences to editors at publications you admire! That’s what I did, and here I am two years later, chasing my dream job at UPROXX.
Netflix just released the trailer for The Pentaverate starring Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, Mike Meyers, and Mike Meyers. According to a press release, Mike Myers will be playing eight new characters in the series including:
Ken Scarborough: An old-school Canadian news journalist who sets out to expose the Pentaverate and win his job back Anthony Lansdowne: A New England conspiracy theorist, determined to expose the Pentaverate Rex Smith: A far-right radio host and highly prominent conspiracy theorist Lord Lordington: The Pentaverate’s oldest and highest-ranking member. Bruce Baldwin: Former media mogul Mishu Ivanov: Ex-Russian oligarch Shep Gordon: Former Rock-N-Roll manager Jason Eccleston: A tech genius who invented the Pentaverate’s supercomputer, MENTOR
The film marks Meyers’ first leading role since 2008’s The Love Guru. Following a small role in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds, Meyers took an eight-year hiatus from live-action acting, until he appeared in small roles in 2018 films Terminal and Bohemian Rhapsody. Here’s the show’s description, per Netflix:
What if a secret society of five men has been working to influence world events for the greater good since the Black Plague of 1347? As this new series begins, one unlikely Canadian journalist finds himself embroiled in a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world himself. Remember, the Pentaverate must never be exposed!
The comedy also stars Ken Jeong, Keegan-Michael Key, Debi Mazar, Richard McCabe, Jennifer Saunders, and Lydia West. It will include special appearances from Rob Lowe and Maria Menounos. The Pentaverate drops on Netflix Thursday, May 5.
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.
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. It’s springtime, so if you didn’t spend the last two weeks anywhere near Coachella, it’s time to hit the beach, grab a milkshake, and maybe take a trip to the market to stock up for your Cinco De Mayo cookout — which means you’re going to need some cool kicks to rock while you do it!
(Look, we’ll take any excuse we can to buy new sneakers, it’s that SNX mentality. Give me any random season, holiday, or event, and I’ll find a way to justify why new sneakers are needed.)
This week the drops are back in full force after last week’s slump. We’ve got new AF-1s, some spring-centric footwear, a few restocks, and Nike’s 2022 Doernbecher Freestyle collection. Let’s dive into this week’s eight best sneaker drops.
Converse X Golf Wang By You Collection
Converse
For 24 hours beginning on April 28th, Converse will be giving Tyler the Creator’s Golf Wang label the By You treatment, allowing fans to customize a pair of Chuck 70s using iconography and patterns from the Golf Wang archive. The logos and customizable aspects can be built on six different color bases including black, gold, red, blue, green, and egret. If you’ve ever wanted your own custom Golf Wang sneakers, now is the time — make sure you hit this short window.
The converse By You x Golf Wang Chuck 70 will be customizable at the Converse webstore on April 28th at 10 am EST. The shoes will retail for $85.
ConverseConverse
Air Force 1 Mid University Red and Midnight Navy
Nike
Let’s be real, rocking red, white, and blue sneakers in 2022 is a bit like wearing a red baseball cap or writing “patriot” in your social media bio. If you do these things, people are going to make assumptions about you. But it’s time to take back this classic three-color combination because I mean, just look at this Air Force 1 Mid colorway!
University Red swooshes adorn a white leather upper with midnight blue paneling over a translucent outsole with a mid-rise collar, it’s an unbeatable combo! How are you not going to love these? Do they look like something Forrest Gump would wear? Absolutely, but we’d like to point out that they… look like something Forrest Gump would wear. Pretty cool.
The Air Force 1 Mid University Red and Midnight Navy is set to drop on April 28th for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Nike
Air Force 1 Mid Ale Brown
Nike
If you’re not feeling the red, white, and blue colorway of the mid-top AF-1 Nike is also dropping an Ale Brown version with metallic brown paneling over the same white leather upper with rusty orange Swooshes and a slightly off-white aged midsole.
On the one hand, it’s not red, white, and blue, but on the other hand, you don’t get that translucent outsole and super clean design. This pair is probably a bit more wearable as an everyday option thanks to its neutral colors. Compromises!
The Air Force 1 Mid Ale Brown is set to drop on April 28th for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Nike
Air Jordan 13 Navy
Nike
If you’re all about luxury and comfort then this week’s Air Jordan 13 Navy is a must-cop. Featuring a dimpled mesh Navy Upper, the Air Jordan 13 Navy looks supremely luxurious to the eye, but thanks to its lightweight and flexible mesh upper, it puts comfort at the forefront while still looking great.
The sneaker features a black nubuck mudguard, a tumbled leather toe box, and embroidered Jumpman details in University Blue. Another week, another great Jordan drop.
The Air Jordan 13 Navy is set to drop on April 29th for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app and aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
GOATGOAT
Women’s Air Jordan 11 Low Pure Violet
Nike
Throughout SNX history we’ve been applauding Nike for finally paying attention to people who wear women’s size shoes by giving them the brand’s best silhouettes in some of the best colorways in recent memory. Good job Nike, but now it’s not really novel anymore so this is the last time we’re going to mention it, but someone should tell Adidas and pretty much every other sneaker brand to step it up.
This week’s Pure Violet is pure class. Featuring a white mesh upper with leather overlays in a soothing light lavender colorway, this spring sneaker sits atop an icy translucent outsole and has a certain calming aesthetic about it. We couldn’t think of a better sneaker to rock on a beautiful spring day.
The Women’s Air Jordan 11 Low Pure Violet is set to drop on April 28th for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like Flight Club.
NikeNike
Nike Doernbecher Freestyle Collection
Nike
Nike’s annual partnership with Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital, the Doernbecher Freestyle series, is dropping this week and truthfully, the entire collection is dope. If you can cop any of these this week, it’s a win, but we’d like to put a spotlight on our favorite of this year’s lineup, Michael’s Air Jordan 5 Retro Low.
A love for airplanes, sharks, and Mac ’n’ cheese combine for a sneaker that looks like something straight out of Kyrie Irving’s Nike output, it’s in step with modern sneaker design and the color combination along with details like the embroidered branding and the noodle graphics, work beautifully on top of that icy outsole.
The Doernbecher Freestyle collection is set to drop on April 30th. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Nike
Off-White Out Of Office
HBX
Off-White’s Out Of Office sneakers have received a re-stock! The Abloh-designed sneaker features a finished suede upper with a padded collar and off-white arrows in light blue. The sneaker comes in a worn pre-distressed style, with a dirty midsole and upper.
The Off-White Out Of Office sneakers is out now for a retail price of $513. Pick up a pair via Off-White retailers like HBX.
HBXHBX
Patta x Mephisto Sam Sandal
Patta/ Dafe Oboro
It’s springtime, if you haven’t made your way to a beach you need to get on that ASAP. Even if you’re living in a landlocked state, take a road trip to your nearest sandy shore and soak in the sun. And while you do that, you’re going to need a good sandal, because there are few worse things you can do to a pair of Jordans than get sand in them.
Luckily Patta is coming through by linking up with Mephisto for the Sam Sandals. The sandals feature Patta branding over a leather build with a non-slip sole in a green, cream, and brown colorway. The sneaker sits on top of SOFT-AIR technology, which is designed to keep you comfortable in all types of terrain, from natural to urban.
The Patta x Mephisto Sam Sandal is set to drop on April 29th for an unannounced price. Pick up a pair exclusively at Patta and the Patta webstore.
Patta/ Dafe Oboro
New Balance MADE in USA 990v1-3 Collection
New Balance
2022 marks the 40th anniversary of New Balance’s 990 and in celebration of one of the label’s best silhouettes, New Balance is dropping a special premium collection of versions one through three of the design. All three versions feature the same vintage grey, beige, and olive colorway and a premium pigskin suede and mesh upper.
If you’re wondering why these 990s look so damn good, it probably has to do with the fact that it’s the first collection by New Balance’s new creative director Teddy Santis, aka the founder of Aimé Leon Dore, a label that probably deserves at least 95% of the credit for why New Balance is so popular right now.
The New Balance MADE in USA 990v1-3 collection is set to drop on April 28th for a retail range of $189-$199. Pick up the V1 here, the V2 here, and the V3 here.
The creator of “gazpacho police” is at it again. CNN’s Jim Acosta’s out there, doing his job as chief domestic correspondent. Today, his duties involved approaching QAnon cheerleader Marjorie Taylor Greene, which likely wasn’t something he looked forward to doing because she’s so confrontational. Nonetheless, Acosta needed to ask her about that text message that could get her removed from the 2022 ballot for reelection. Under testimony, that is, Greene straight-up lie under oath while denying that she advocated for “marshall law.” Yet her text to Mark Meadows told a different tale:
“In our private chat with only Members, several are saying the only way to save our Republic is for Trump to call for Marshall law. I don’t know on those things. I just wanted you to tell him. They stole this election. We all know. They will destroy our country next. Please tell him to declassify as much as possible so we can go after Biden and anyone else!”
Acosta dutifully inquired about this text message, and he made sure to point out (two times!) how Greene misspelled “martial law.” She was pretty steamed and tweeted video of their discussion while writing, “I am repulsed that people gladly take a paycheck to lie and mischaracterize me like this guy, Jim @Acosta. I want to think good things about the press, but they behave like this and it makes me sick to my stomach.”
I am repulsed that people gladly take a paycheck to lie and mischaracterize me like this guy, Jim @Acosta.
I want to think good things about the press, but they behave like this and it makes me sick to my stomach. pic.twitter.com/jSOUPK9RM4
Acosta also asked her about her going full soulless ghoul about Satan and the Catholic Church, and Greene wasn’t having that either. More to the point, though, she simply doesn’t recall sending that text message, but if she did, she thinks that the “I don’t know on those things” line would absolve her of accusations that she wanted the military to take the place of law enforcement and overturn the election that Trump definitely lost.
The video’s less than four minutes, but it sure feels longer. After Acosta kept pressing her to answer a question, Greene exclaimed, “Stop harassing me!” Apparently, she feels much more at home while chatting with a sympathetic Laura Ingraham above a misspelled chyron on Fox News.
For this list, I’m pulling all the top-ranked Scotch whiskies from our four-month-long journey through each price point, in which I named 130 scotches I dig. To make this list as diverse as possible, I’m not repeating bottles from the same brand (I tend to rank Talisker’s expressions pretty high across all price points). That way, I hope you’ll have a broader idea of all the great Scotch whisky out there.
The 13 Scotch whiskies below — both blended whisky and single malts — are some of the best of the best. Yes, even the bottle in the $20 to $30 bracket. Hopefully, this list can help you find a great bottle so that you’re not stuck with a shitty one. Let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months
Chivas Regal is one of the biggest whiskies in the world, but that’s mostly outside of the U.S. The juice is a classic blend that is specifically built to be in a glass filled with rocks and maybe a splash of water.
Tasting Notes:
Cedar with hints of citrus, anise, banana, and salted caramel greet you. Creamy vanilla marries mild nutty notes as the nose carries on through the palate with hints of black pepper and malt. The finish is mellow, spicy, and creamy, albeit short.
Bottom Line:
This is a lot of people’s entry point to scotch in general. Chivas is a stone-cold classic and one of the original “scotch on the rocks” whiskies. So, yeah, pour this over some rocks and enjoy the fruity ride.
The lion’s share of this blend — 45 percent — comes from a single grain whisky aged in ex-bourbon from Cameronbridge Distillery. 22 percent is a single malt aged in ex-bourbon that comes from Linkwood Distillery. The rest is a mix of French oak and ex-bourbon single malts and blended malts from the Highlands, Clyneilish, Linkwood, and Balmenach. Those whiskies are vatted and then proofed down before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a very clear and concise note of apple candy with a hint of salted caramel ice cream cut with a touch of eggnog spices. There’s a nice maltiness that leans into a creamy vanilla, soft holiday spice mix, butter toffee, and a hint of milk chocolate near the end. The finish is warming with a whisper of tobacco next to a woody apple, spice candies (maybe ginger), and a final hint of cocoa and caramel.
Bottom Line:
Though Compass Box has been around for a couple of decades now, their releases always feel fresh. This blended whisky really has some great depth that makes it work over some rocks or layered into a great cocktail.
This is an entry whisky not only to Speyside but to single malts in general. The juice is aged in a combination of used American and European oak before it’s married, rested, proofed with Speyside’s iconic water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
This dram is creamy like a vanilla pudding with a bright pear orchard vibe, some mild toffee, and hints of sweetgrass next to mild oak. That leads towards a very easy and soft woodiness with a touch of candied pear and more vanilla cream before hints of soft cinnamon spice poke up in the background with those soft malts. By the end, it’s clear how light and approachable this whisky is as that pear, vanilla cream, and milt spice slowly fade away, leaving you with a silken mouthfeel and just enough malts and toffee.
Bottom Line:
This is another easy landing for anyone looking to dip their toe in unpeated, or sweet, scotch. There’s a lovely fruitiness that’s clear and concise with a real creamy edge. Overall, this is a cocktail base more than a sipper but works either way.
Johnnie Walker’s Green Label is a solidly crafted whisky that highlights Diageo’s fine stable of distilleries across Scotland. The juice is a pure malt or blended malt, meaning that only single malt whisky is in the mix (and no grain whisky). In this case, the primary whiskies are a minimum of 15-year-olds from Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, and Linkwood.
Tasting Notes:
Soft notes of cedar dance with hints of black pepper, vanilla pods, and bright fruit with a wisp of green grass in the background. The palate really delivers on that soft cedar woodiness while edging towards a spice-laden tropical fruit brightness. The finish is dialed in with hints of cedar, spice, and fruit leading towards a briny billow of smoke at the very end.
Bottom Line:
This tastes as good — if not better — than whiskies three, four times the price. Even though Johnnie Walker Blue is considered the mountaintop of the brand, this expression slaps. It’s a fantastic sipper (neat or on the rocks) that also makes a killer cocktail or highball. It’s versatile (and among my favorites on this list).
Where many scotches spend time in ex-bourbon and then ex-sherry casks or some combination therein, this expression spends all 12 years of its maturation just in sherry casks. The barrels are imported from Jerez, Spain, and hand-selected for their excellence to mature this much-beloved whisky.
Tasting Notes:
Apple cider with a cut of cinnamon and clove in the juice greets you with a clear sense of vanilla, nuts, and plums on the nose. On the taste, those plums turn into prunes as orange peels mingle with sweet oak and a hint of tobacco spice. The end is long, full of that sherry, dried fruit, and sweetness, and returns back to the chewy tobacco spice.
Bottom Line:
The Macallan 12 is another gateway scotch. This is one of those pours that hooks folk into that malty and fruity side of things when it comes to whisky. But it’s just that, a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
This entry-point bottle to the wider world of Dalwhinnie is a hell of an easy drinker. The juice is aged in Scotland’s oldest distillery, making the maturation process a severe one. The juice spends 15 years hiding in those barrels as the temperatures dip well below freezing across all those winters.
Tasting Notes:
Imagine a bowl of pear and apple peels sitting next to an open jar of floral summer honey on the nose. Dots of citrus oils mingle with that honey as a smooth vanilla character arrives on the back of sweet brown bread bespeckled with smoked walnuts. The nuts, sweet bread, and floral honey all converge on the finish as it slowly fades towards a final billow of sweet smoke at the back of your mouth.
Bottom Line:
This is where things get really good. This is a peated malt whisky that’s far more of a sweet, fruity, and nutty whisky than an acrid “smoky” one. That makes this a great place to start with peated malt. You have to go easy before you go hard.
This is the most recognizable Lagavulin out there. The malts are smoked just down the road from the distillery at Port Ellen and the juice is crafted expertly by the sea at Lagavulin. Then the whisky spends 16 long years mellowing in old American and Spanish oak.
Tasting Notes:
Imagine a beach fire that’s using dried seaweed as fuel next to mugs of honeyed black tea and a clump of wet moss on the nose. The taste of this dram meanders through dried pipe tobacco smoke laced with hints of vanilla and tart apple while notes of briny caramel lead towards an oyster shell minerality. The finish is pure silk as the seaweed grows wetter and the smoke sweetens towards that caramel, vanilla, and apple.
Bottom Line:
Speaking of going hard, Lagavulin 16 is a pretty spectacular whisky that bridges the worlds of peat monsters and fruity sweet whisky damn near perfectly. There’s going to be some seaside funk in this whisky, but that’s what so many folks fall in love with.
The 2021 Distillers Edition is a classic Talisker, aged by the sea, that’s finished for six months in Amoroso sherry casks. The whisky was distilled in 2011 and bottled at 10 years old. It was then finished in another Amoroso sherry cask, making it “double” matured.
Tasting Notes:
The nose runs deep on this whisky with mild hints of beachside campfire smoke whispering in the background as hints of red fruit, wet driftwood, and green peppercorns draw you in. The palate embraces the red berries with a slight tartness next to the sweetness as the peat remains dry and distant and tied to the brine of the sea with an almost oyster liquor softness. The finish lingers for just the right amount of time as sweet berries and dry peat lead towards soft dark cacao powder with a tiny note of vanilla and one last spray from the sea.
Bottom Line:
The refinement of this whisky is astounding. This is also one of those “ah-ha” whiskies that are either going to drive you deeper into the style or push you away for good. It’s also a perfect raw oyster or caviar pairing whisky.
$100-$125 — Laphroaig Càirdeas 2021 Pedro Ximénez Casks
Laphroaig is always innovating its line. 2021’s Càirdeas is a triple-matured, cask-strength whisky. The whisky first mellowed in ex-bourbon casks before being moved to quarter casks and, finally, finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. That whisky was then bottled as is.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a lot going on with this nose from a starting point of fresh Band-Aids to rich marzipan with plenty of rose water to apples stewed in holiday spices with hazelnut and caramel to a light touch of bourbon vanilla and maybe a hint of cherry tobacco. The palate takes that Band-Aid and turns it toward a sharp but very fatty smoked bacon vibe while a medley of smoked apples, salted licorice, and eggnog spices mingle beneath that bacon. The mid-palate leans into a very dry cedar as notes of nori, fennel, and sharper brown spices, almost Red Hots, warm the back end of the finish.
Bottom Line:
Heavy peat and sherry casks really marry well. This whisky is bold with a capital “B” but retains some real nuance. That PX sherry cask adds this beautiful layer of dried fruits and nuts that works with the big peaty flavors of the spirit. This is a big swing if you’re new to peated malt, so think about working your way up to it.
Oban’s location on the Scottish coast, next to both the Inner Hebrides and Highlands, allows it to harness the best of both regions when making its whisky. This year’s 12-year release is built on the backs of both ex-bourbon casks and refill bourbon casks, allowing the stronger notes of those new bourbon casks to get a light mellowing from the refill wood. The results are bottled at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Briny — that’s the draw here. The nose has this mellow mix of spicy nori crackers that lead towards an old wooden cutting board that’s slick with olive juice, fish oils, salt, and black pepper that you then take a heel of bread to mop up while a slight note of smoked whitefish lingers on the very backend. On the palate, a burst of citrus oils arrives to cut through all that umami, oil, and brine as a light malty fruitiness adds a little tart and sweet to the mix, with a sense of cedar chips soaked in mild chili oil driving a sense of warmth. The finish lets that spice build towards a dry pepperiness thanks to the wood as the fruit ties itself to a very mild tobacco leaf and another note of that smoked fish sneaks in at the very end.
Bottom Line:
This is another massively distinct whisky with serious depth. The beauty of this bottle is in how exact the flavor notes are. You really feel every nuance as you take your time sipping this one.
Ardbeg’s boilers breaking down led to this whisky. Instead of throwing out the mash until the boilers were fixed, Dr. Bill Lumsden (the mad-scientist distiller behind Ardbeg) decided to see what would happen if they let it be. The washback lids were opened and the mash was allowed to ferment with the sea-kissed Islay air for three more weeks. To put that in perspective, Ardbeg (and most whiskies) usually ferment for 72 hours before distillation. Once the boilers were back up and running, the whisky was distilled and then barreled in first-fill and re-fill bourbon casks. 13 years later, Dr. Bill decided it was ready.
Tasting Notes:
The nose starts off with this burst of fresh green grass just after the rain that melts into a summer herb garden (mint heavy), grapefruit seeds, and smoked butter with sweet lemon candy and orange trees that are underpinned with a dark and rich soil that’s been turned with manure. Going deeper on the nose, you get fresh tires, mossy fir bark, and maybe a hint of fennel-heavy focaccia. The palate starts off incredibly soft with a toffee note before veering into burnt scones, hints of absinthe, turmeric, and finally Marlboro Red cigarette ash. That ashiness builds on the palate as a slight Windex note pops in next to a hint of mint candy and some more mild toffee. The finish lets that sweetness stay while the cigarette ash builds towards a crescendo and leaves your senses feeling like you’ve licked an ashtray with a hint of minty toffee candies.
Bottom Line:
There should be a warning on this bottle: “This might blow your mind.” There’s a lot going on here that somehow just works. Yes, even the ashtray vibes. In the end, if you’re looking at spending nearly $200 on a limited edition peaty from Islay, you’re probably already on the road to loving these types of whisky. If not, maybe try a Dalwhinnie first.
$200-$250 — The GlenDronach Parliament Aged 21 Years
Don’t let the name fool you. The “parliament” in this case is the collective noun for rooks — a type of European crow that nests above the distillery. That dark essence is rendered in the whisky through 21 long years of maturation in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks exclusively.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a lot going on with this nose, starting with blackberry brambles hanging heavy with ripe fruit leading towards a well-spiced oatmeal cookie vibe and cut with hints of orange zest and vanilla. A sticky toffee pudding sweetness arrives (heavy on the dates) with flourishes of bitter dark chocolate notes and a sharp holiday spice matrix. The end is very long but very velvety with hints of dark fruits and spices warming your body as it fades away.
Bottom Line:
Taking a sip of this is like seeing the clouds part and the sun shine through for the first time. This is perfect malt whisky with a succinct flavor profile. Everything is so clear and makes sense as you sip it. You kind of don’t want this one to end because it’s like a silken flow of all your holidays, nostalgia, and hopes rolled into one glass of whisky.
This 21-year-old whisky, released in 2021, was crafted with help from old Port, sherry, and bourbon barrels. The peated whisky from the tiny Campbeltown region is built to highlight the unique and very fruity notes of the style while having its own vibe.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is all about the malt that’s a mix of oatmeal cookie and a Graham cracker with rich vanilla pudding notes, a touch of buttery toffee, and a final burst of deep red strawberries. The fruitiness takes on a savory note that’s kind of like smoked watermelon before heading back towards those cookies with plenty of cinnamon warmth and nutty depth on the palate. The finish arrives slowly with a nod towards peat as a passing fancy that’s buried beneath a vanilla cream laced with cinnamon, oats, raisins, and bitter over-roasted coffee beans.
The Bottom Line:
This bottle is very “go big or go home.” It’s super rare, very delicious, and just unique enough that you really need to dig in to find all of those deep flavor notes. Overall, this is a bit of a show-off bottle, sure, but it’s also just really goddamn good.
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