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Snoop Dogg has three decades worth of experience in the music industry. It goes back to the 1990s with his time on the legendary Death Row record label and more recently to earlier this month where he, along with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, and Anderson .Paak, performed at the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. Snoop also has plenty of great memories that took place outside of the music world, and during an interview with DJ Whoo Kid tha was released today, he shared one that involved Queen Elizabeth II coming to his rescue.

“You got to embrace this sh*t because you used to be a young n****,” Snoop Dogg began. “N****s didn’t understand us when I was 17. Look at all of the footage of me when I was a young n****. They was trying to — they kicked me out the U.K.!” Snoop is referring to his first tour in the United Kingdom back in 1994. Press coverage from a number of tabloids in the country, including The Daily Star, called for his exile from the UK.

“‘Kick this evil bastard out’,” Snoop said one of the headlines read. “Look at me, it’s a headline n****. That sh*t is documented. They had a picture of me on the front, I had a handcuff on one of my hands — this a picture I took. I got a handcuff on one of my hands — and the other one was off. “He continued, “They was like, ‘Kick this evil bastard out.’” Snoop then explained how Queen Elizabeth II, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, came to his rescue and how Prince Harry and Prince William may have helped.

“But guess who came to my defense?” he said. “The Queen n****. The Queen said ‘This man has done nothing in our country he can come.’ The Queen n****, bow down. When The Queen speaks bow down.” He continued, “That’s Harry and William’s grandmother you dig. You think you think they weren’t there saying ‘Grandma please let him in grandma he’s OK, we love his music.’ ‘You know Harry, I’ll let him in for you he’s not so bad after all and he’s quite cute.’”

You can check out Snoop’s interview with DJ Whoo Kid in the video above.

The 2021-22 men’s college basketball season has been a nightmare for Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas. After opening the campaign with a 6-4 record that was misleading in retrospect, the Hoyas lost 16 consecutive contests, including the first 15 games in Big East play. On Thursday, Georgetown had a prime opportunity to snap that losing skid with a winnable home game against DePaul and, late in the first half, the Hoyas were in a solid position. From a national standpoint, however, the attention quickly shifted from Georgetown’s status on the scoreboard to the free throw approach of big man Malcom Wilson.

Wilson was fouled with under a minute to go in the first half and Georgetown trailing by two. The seven-footer made both attempts, but that wasn’t the interesting part because Wilson attempted both shots in one-handed fashion.

This wasn’t the first time Wilson used this motion in game play, even if he came into the evening having attempted only 11 shots at the charity stripe this season. Still, this was a nationally televised contest and, as the announcers noted, this isn’t something you see every day in modern college basketball.

Exploring the backstory here could be quite interesting, as it seems as if Wilson may have been assigned a one-handed shooting drill to help with his form before electing to just keep using that motion. Regardless, this was a small reprieve for the struggling Hoyas and some positive press for a young player.

Did The View‘s Joy Behar wake up and decide to take some heat off of Whoopi Goldberg (for those Holocaust remarks that resulted in a suspension), perhaps? Probably not, but it seems like last week’s anti-masking guest host has been left in the dust due to Behar’s outrage over not being able to take a vacation in Italy.

Strangely enough, that was what worried Behar while the co-hosts discussed Russia’s declaration of war upon Ukraine that, for whatever reason, prompted a maternal speech from 90210 star AnnaLynne McCord. Behar’s remarks followed those of Sunny Hostin lamenting the estimation that “50,000 Ukranians will be dead or wounded, and that this is going to start a humanitarian crisis, a refugee crisis in Europe” due to as many as 5 million people fleeing their homes. Already, families are hunkered down in subways because there’s no where else to go for protection, but Joy has other worries.

“Well, I’m scared of what’s going to happen in Western Europe, too,” Joy complained. “You know, you plan a trip, you wanna go there. I wanna go to Italy for four years, and I haven’t been able to make it because of the pandemic, and now this.”

Yep, she really said this:

No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, it’s obvious that this was an out-of-touch take, and people are pretty aghast that she devoted airtime to this complaint.

Days before Kanye West’s eleventh album Donda 2 was set to arrive, the rapper announced that the project would not appear on streaming services as some may have expected. Instead, Kanye said Donda 2 would be exclusively available on his Stem Player website. The Stem Player is the device Kanye released last year after he dropped Donda and it let users control vocals, drums, bass, and samples, isolate certain parts of a song, and add effects. While Donda 2 was not available on the site as expected on February 22, Kanye stuck to his word and released a batch of songs from the project onto the website.

On Thursday, 16 songs unexpectedly appeared on the Stem Player website. Many, if not all of the songs, were played during Kanye’s live performance of Donda 2 in Miami. The new records include contributions from Future, Migos, Jack Harlow, the late XXTENTACION, Vory, Alicia Keys, Fivio Foreign, Soulja Boy, Sean Leon, Baby Keem, Travis Scott, and Don Toliver. Four of the songs in the new batch of Donda 2 records were released on Wednesday. It’s unknown if these are the final versions of the songs from Kanye’s eleventh album and if any additional records will be uploaded to the site.

The songs are only accessible from the Stem Player website if you have the Stem Player device, but if you may find them elsewhere with a few Googles.

Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Aging bourbon — or any whisk(e)y for that matter — in a special or second cask is nothing new. That practice has been around forever. But with the latest whiskey (and more specifically bourbon) boom raging in full, unique cask agings and finishings have become a way to get more shelf space for brands large and small. It’s also a fun way for drinkers to expand their palates.

Today, I’m shouting out some uniquely-casked bourbons that I think you might enjoy. I disqualified any “Double Oak” maturations, since that’s simply putting the whiskey into another oak barrel. Whether that barrel is new, toasted, rebuilt, re-charred, or what-have-you, it’s still another standard oak vessel. While that can result in a damn tasty whiskey (Woodford Double Oaked, Michter’s Toasted Barrel, and Peerless Double Oak come to mind), it’s really not a “unique” barrel for our purposes here.

Which does raise the question: What even is “unique” anymore? Most brands have already gone whole hog on specialty barrel releases. So, for the 20 bottles of bourbon below, I chose a good mix of more classic special casks, like sherry, port, and stout, alongside whiskeys aged in different oaks from the other side of the world, fruit brandy casks, and even some with Rocky Mountain Aspen staves right in the barrel.

It’s a good mix, with two throughlines: They’re all tasty bourbons and they’re all under $200 (MSRP). Hopefully, you find something here that excites you.

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months

• The Single Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The 50 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2021, Ranked
• Every Winning Bourbon From Our 2021 Taste Tests, Blind Tasted And Re-Ranked
• The Best Value-Per-Dollar Bourbon Whiskeys, Ranked
• The 100 Best Whiskeys Our Head Drinks Writer Tasted In 2021

20. Thomas S. Moore Finished In Port Casks

ABV: 49.45%

Average Price: $80

The Whiskey:

It’s very likely this is Barton 1792’s low-rye bourbon mash. The barrels are pulled from various, undisclosed age ranges and vatted. That juice then goes into ex-port casks for an additional maturation of one to three years. That whiskey is then married, slightly proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is rich with hints of red berries, sweet and dry dates, a touch of vanilla tobacco, and a whisper of soft leather. The palate has a jammy presence with a plum compote spiked with cloves and allspice next to a touch of port-soaked cedar planks, vanilla cream, sultanas, and, mulled wine cinnamon sticks. That spice does start to build towards the medium-length finish but doesn’t overheat. The fade is nice and mellow with more dried and red fruit leading towards a creamy veneer of spicy vanilla custard with a very distant tobacco vibe on the end of the tail.

Bottom Line:

This feels like a great place to start. While this is on the lighter end of the spectrum when it comes to boldness in special barrel finishing, it still packs a pretty good flavor profile. That being said, I lean more towards using this in a simple cocktail like a Manhattan.

19. Savage & Cooke The Burning Chair

ABV: 44%

Average Price: $58

The Whiskey:

This whiskey marries Napa Valley winemaking to Ohio Valley whiskey. Winemaker Dave Phinney sources four-year-old bourbons from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana and brings those to Napa. Once there, the bourbon is filled into local Cabernet barrels for final maturation. Finally, the bourbon is cut with pure spring water from California’s Alexander Valley before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Those barrels come through with a note of a dry lumber next to caramel apples, butterscotch candy, and a sliver of vanilla bean. That vanilla drives the palate and comes creamy and thick as apples stewed in eggnog spices kick in with a slightly woody, maple syrup sweetness and sweet red grapes. That sweet note drives the mid-palate towards a finish that warms with the holiday spices and almost hot apple cider next to a vanilla cookie with a dusting of maple brown sugar.

Bottom Line:

The only reason this ranks this low on this list is the lower ABVs. That soft spring water comes through and mutes that backend. For me, that means this is more of a cocktail mixer that you can sip on in a pinch on the rocks.

18. Redemption Cognac Cask Finish

ABV: 49.5%

Average Price: $70

The Whiskey:

Master Blender Dave Carpenter built this small-batch bourbon off the back of barrels of very high-rye bourbon (60 percent corn, 36 percent rye, and four percent malted barley) from MGP of Indiana. Carpenter then moved that juice into Cognac barrels from Ferrand Cognac which held Cognac for 30 years. The bourbon spent 12 months finishing in those old-school barrels before vatting, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear pecan pie vibe on the nose with a buttery crust, plenty of holiday spices, a touch of apricot, and a whisper of dried hibiscus petals. The palate takes the apricot and stews it with the spices to create a jammy compote next to an earthy and wet cellar beam dripping with cobwebs as the hibiscus brightens and leads towards a hint of raisin, prune, and white pepper. The mid-palate leans into that sweet dried fruit/peppery edge as the pecans return in a bowl of Karo syrup and dusted with nutmeg-heavy eggnog spices and a final flourish of that wet yet fruity wood.

Bottom Line:

We’re already getting into the “good stuff” and we’re only three bottles in. This has really grown on me as an everyday on-the-rocks sipper in the last six months. That said, this rules in an old fashioned too.

17. Widow Jane Decadence

ABV: 45.5%

Average Price: $88

The Whiskey:

This New York whiskey is sourced from 10-year bourbons from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana that are shipped out to the Empire State. The whiskey is masterfully vatted and then re-barreled into maple syrup barrels from Crown Maple from Upstate New York for a final rest. Those barrels are then blended and proofed with local spring water.

Tasting Notes:

The nose bursts forth with pecan pie next to sasparilla, a touch of old cedar, and, yes, fresh Grade-A maple syrup with a hint of tree sap still in it. The vanilla kicks in pretty strongly on the palate with a crispy waffle vibe, a touch more of that old cedar, and curled cinnamon stick. That waffle draws towards the pecans on the mid-palate as a wet brown sugar sweetness ends and an almost Red Hot cinnamon-laced tobacco wrapped around that old cedar finishes the sip.

Bottom Line:

This is the perfect breakfast bourbon. Well, let’s say “brunch” instead. Either way, this is a solid sipper on a couple of rocks. But that sweet and nutty edge really helps this shine in any “brunch” cocktail.

16. Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon 101

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $125

The Whiskey:

Last year’s drop from Stephen Beam’s Yellowstone line is a mix of seven-year-old and 15-year-old bourbons. The 15-year barrels are high-quality bourbons hand selected by Beam. The seven-year barrels were finished by Beam in Amarone red wine casks before this batch was put together, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a balance of dark stewed fruits — think holiday cake spices with dates, prunes, figs, and raisins — next to this bright burst of bright red berries with a slight tartness and powdered sugar sweetness swimming in vanilla cream, with mild hints of old leather, dark cacao powder, and toffee lurking in the background. The palate really embraces that vanilla cream base while the berries go full dark and sweet cherry with more of that buttery toffee, dark cacao, and meaty fig adding a dark depth to the sip. The finish builds on the sweet and dark fruits of the mid-palate towards an end that’s full of bright cherry tobacco and small lines of cedar plank that’s lightly singed on the edges.

Bottom Line:

This is just a damn fine sipper (rocks or not). Though I recommend adding a little water to really let this one bloom in the glass.

15. 291 Small Batch Colorado Bourbon Whiskey (Colorado)

ABV: 50.8%

Average Price: $78

The Whiskey:

291 Colorado Whiskey’s Small Batch is a great entry point into the wider world of the crafty brand. The juice isn’t a “straight” bourbon since it’s only aged for one year. That very young whiskey is amped up thanks to Aspen wood staves which are added into the barrels to create a deeper sense of maturation without taking half a decade to achieve those layers.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a push towards cornbread dripping with butter next to hints of berry bushes plus a touch of caramel apples. The taste adds a good dose of cinnamon to the mix as the caramel leans away from apple and towards kettle corn with hints of nougat and maple syrup arriving late. The end holds onto the warmth of the cinnamon and the sweeter edges while a pine-y resinous note sneaks on the short finish, adding a nice nuance to the sip.

Bottom Line:

This is so interesting in that it’s so young while still having an aging/finishing that no one else is doing (it also tastes great for that age). True, Maker’s adds staves to their barrels for finishings, but 291 is adding local Aspen staves from the mountains outside of their distillery. That’s a local terroir vibe that you simply can’t get anywhere else.

14. Breckenridge Rum Cask Finished

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

This whiskey starts off as Breckenridge’s famed and award-winning bourbon. That juice is then re-barreled in Colorado rum barrels that held Breckinridge’s own spiced rum, which was, of course, aged in Breckenridge’s own bourbon casks with a mix of fresh fruits and dark spices right in the barrel.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with a burst of dried tropical fruits next to candied nuts, wintry spices, a hint of sweet oak, and some salty caramel drizzled with dark chocolate sauce. The palate has a banana bread vibe with walnuts baked right in next to stewed apples with plenty of cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla. Rich toffee drives the sweet mid-palate towards a full throttle of spices — allspice, nutmeg, clove, star anise — that warm up the finish with a counterpoint from dried apple and banana chips.

Bottom Line:

This is a great bourbon to buy for any dark rum lover. The big fruit and spice notes really shine through while still holding onto the whiskey feel of the sip. This really rocks in a cocktail too.

13. Elijah Craig Beer Barrel Finish

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $40 for a 200ml bottle (Distillery Only)

The Whiskey:

This very limited edition, distillery-only release from Heaven Hill takes their classic bourbon (78 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and ten percent rye) and finishes it in a beer barrel for about nine months. In this case, Elijah Craig Small Batch barrels were sent to Goose Island Brewery to age their famed Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. Those barrels were then sent back to Kentucky and re-filled with Elijah Craig Small Batch for those aforementioned nine months before proofing and bottling in cool little 200ml bottles.

Tasting Notes:

The stout comes through immediately on the nose with a matrix of chocolate malts, rich and buttery toffee, light eggnog spices, oily vanilla beans, and a hint of beer-soaked wood. The palate lets that chocolate malt shine as chocolate-infused Graham Crackers lead towards an almost creamy vanilla-laden eggnog with plenty of nutmeg and allspice with a hint more of that wet wood. The finish really delivers on the “stout-aged” vibes as the chocolate bitters towards a long end full of subtle dark spices, toffee candies, and sweet oak with a hint of old leather.

Bottom Line:

I really dig this. It delivers what it claims while finding an actual balance between the beer and the whiskey that makes sense. It’s shame it’s such a tiny distillery-only limited release because finding one is a pain unless you happen to be at the distillery on the right day.

12. Joseph A. Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon

ABV: 50.35%

Average Price: $199

The Whiskey:

This sourced bourbon is built from 11 and 18-year-old bourbons. The real star of the show with this whiskey is that those bourbons were finished in Armagnac, Cognac, and sherry casks before vatting and bottling as-is.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with sticky toffee pudding that really amps up the cinnamon and nutmeg next to black-tea-soaked dates next to some stewed prunes wrapped in chili-chocolate-laced tobacco leaves and dripped in honey and then walnuts. A savory fruitiness opens the palate with figs and pumpkin that leads towards an apricot jam with a hint of clove and cinnamon next to light touches of old library leather and funk. A faint hint of dark berries arrives on the mid-palate before the finish luxuriates in burnt toffee, almond shells, more of that leather, and dried-out apricots.

Bottom Line:

This is one of those bottles that are easy to fall in love with. It’s nuanced and deep. It’s really lovely in a glass with a single rock, which will allow some of the deeper flavor notes to pop up.

This is also where the bottom lines are going to start splitting some serious hairs. Every bourbon from here on out is pretty goddamn great in its own way.

11. Barrell Armida

ABV: 56.05%

Average Price: $90

The Whiskey:

Barrell puts out a lot of whiskeys every year. This edition is a mix of whiskeys finished in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian Amaro casks that are then batched. The juice then goes into the bottle uncut to help highlight the disparate yet similarly cozy flavors given by each of the barrels.

Tasting Notes:

Pear drives the nose with a pear compote or pear butter made with plenty of dark spice and just a hint of dark chocolate and tobacco. The taste is warm but slightly rummy with a clear eggnog note acting as a driving force, leading towards hints of black licorice next to creamy toffee next to hefty chocolate bars filled with nougat and walnuts. A slight black tea bitterness takes over on the end as the nuttiness, spiciness, and sweetness all come together for a big finish, with plenty of warmth and boldness.

Bottom Line:

This is one of those whiskeys that bridges the gap between unique and classic really well. It’s new while feeling comforting. It’s the sort of pour that really draws you in and keeps your attention.

10. Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength

ABV: 55.6%

Average Price: $58

The Whiskey:

This starts off as classic Maker’s 46 — that’s a wheated bourbon made in very small batches that are then finished with French oak staves in the barrel for a final, short maturation. This version takes the honey barrels from that program and releases a limited edition Cask Strength version that doesn’t get cut down with Kentucky’s famous limestone water.

Tasting Notes:

Based on 2021’s release, expect a nose full of classic bourbon notes of cinnamon, Graham crackers, dark chocolate powder, vanilla beans, pine kindling, and a hint of marshmallow that’s just been touched by fire. The palate leans into the hotness of the cinnamon but is tempered by vanilla cream pie filling, Honey Nut Cheerios, a light leather, and more of that dry pine. The end builds with that cinnamon heat towards a crescendo of honey-laced tobacco in a cedar box with a hint of dark chocolate-covered espresso beans.

Bottom Line:

This is an interesting ripple in the special cask finish, in that the “finishing” barrel is broken down and put into the barrel to finish the maturation process from within. It’s deep and those dark flavors come through in this damn tasty yet nuanced bourbon.

9. Rebel Bourbon Finished In Tawny Port Barrels

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $40

The Whiskey:

This four-year-old bourbon from Rebel is made from top to bottom at Lux Row in Bardstown, Kentucky, according to their old-school wheated bourbon recipe. The whiskey was finished in a very small batch (only 6,000 bottles released) in tawny port barrels for six more months. That whiskey was then vatted, cut with local limestone water, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is so soft with hints of candied walnuts, marzipan, a hint of orange blossom water, soft suede, and a touch of caramel. The palate subtly moves from wet wicker furniture and nutshell to vanilla wafers with hints of dried rose, dried orange peels, raisins, prunes, and elderflower syrup. That floral syrup on the mid-palate leads towards an end that’s soft with the slightest hint of green tobacco leaves, hazelnut, and vanilla pod.

Bottom Line:

This is just really nice. The ABVs are low and there is a sense of that on the palate, but the flavors are never washed out by that additional water (which is why it’s ranked higher). This really lingers on the senses and works great as a neat pour.

8. Belle Meade Black Belle

ABV: 54.55%

Average Price: $60 (Distillery Only)

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a collaboration between Blackstone Brewery and Nelson’s Green Brier Distilling, both in Nashville. The juice is a nine-year-old bourbon (from MGP) that spends an additional one year and 11 months in an imperial stout barrel from Blackstone in the Green Brier warehouse. That whiskey is then bottled as-is to highlight the beauty of that process.

Tasting Notes:

This opens up your senses with big notes of peppery rye spice next to orange oils, fresh and oily vanilla husks, and big woody sticks of cinnamon. The palate marries that cinnamon to a dark chocolate note that’s more like ground cacao nibs than a bar of chocolate while hints of brittle toffee, nutmeg, whole black peppercorns, and dried orange rind lurk just under the surface. The finish darkens that cacao towards oily and damn near sour espresso beans as the sip slowly fades back through the spice, sweetness, and citrus towards a warming and comforting finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a really solid bourbon that truly goes somewhere else through that stout finishing. It feels elevated while having distinct flavor markers to remind you where you are. Pour your favorite stout and sip this on the side.

7. Old Charter Oak Mongolian Oak

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $69 (Distillery Only)

The Whiskey:

This 2018 release from Buffalo Trace’s Old Charter Oak series really ups the ante in aging bourbon in something “unique.” This bourbon spends 10 years aging in oak from Mongolia, Quercus mongolica. The tree is hardcore in that it’s an oak tree that can survive drought, intense sun, and basically grow where other trees cannot.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is strikingly familiar with pecan pie, cedar bark, cinnamon bark, rich and buttery caramel sauce, and a hint of pine kindling. The palate follows in those footsteps, while adding clove and dark chocolate powder with a vanilla oil base, more cedar, and plenty of nutty depth (think Brazil nut meat, hazelnut shells, and almond paste). The mid-palate sweetens with meaty raisins and prunes that lead to a finish full of pecans, cedar, cinnamon tobacco, and a touch of black peppercorns.

Bottom Line:

This extremely rare release is a bit of a wonder. It’s worth tracking down (likely only at a high-end whiskey bar) to give it a try for something wholly different that’s still, well, nostalgic. This really is one of those drams you ponder as you slowly sip.

6. Bomberger’s Declaration 2021

ABV: 54%

Average Price: $90

The Whiskey:

This whiskey heralds back to Michter’s historical roots in the 19th century, before the brand was even called “Michter’s.” The juice in the bottle is rendered from a very small batch of bourbons that were aged in Chinquapin oak (a white oak cousin of sorts) which was air-dried for three years before charring and filling. That bespoke oak barrel is what makes this whiskey really rise above the standard white oak crowd.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with this rich and meaty plum presence next to a hint of buttery toffee and creamy vanilla with a touch of wood lurking in the background. The palate goes full crème brûlée with sticky burnt sugar over the top and a slight touch of allspice and nutmeg next to a dark cacao powder dryness with a touch of smoke salt and light, dry cedar. The mid-palate leans back into the dark stone fruit and sweetness as it only slightly dries out with notes of wicker and cedar humidors.

Bottom Line:

This is a very fine pour of whiskey. It’s also one of those pours where you might have an “ah-ha” moment, thanks to its deep and alluring flavor profile.

5. Barrell Dovetail

ABV: 62.17% (varies by release)

Average Price: $90

The Whiskey:

This is a complex whiskey from one of the country’s best blenderies. Barrell sources a 10-year-old Indiana whiskey that was finished in Dunn Vineyards Cabernet barrels and marries that juice to 11-year-old Tennessee bourbon that was finished in both blackstrap rum casks and port pipes. That blend is then bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

You’re greeted with the port notes of dried raisins and plums, leading towards a touch of licorice next to a really rummy sweetness. There’s a sense of spicy stewed cherries (think clove and anise) that supports a touch of charred marshmallow with a bit of soft oak. The end holds onto the fruit and sweeter notes while going all-in on the warmness of the ABVs with a black pepper spiciness and long yet subtle tobacco buzz.

Bottom Line:

This is one of those whiskeys that’ll make you ride or die for a brand. It’s also one that you’ll want to immediately go back to to find the deeper flavors layered within.

4. Woodinville PX Sherry Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 47.5%

Average Price: $70

The Whiskey:

This whiskey takes Woodinville’s signature (and much-lauded) five-year-old straight bourbon and gives it a new finishing touch. The juice is finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. While there are similarities between this and the much-loved Woodinville Port Cask Finish, this feels like a step up in many small, tough-to-define ways.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is a bouquet of dark spices next to dried orange rinds, soft Christmas cake, and a slight floral underpinning that’s more “damp” than “dried out.” The taste embraces the holiday spice matrix with a creamy veneer of dark chocolate oranges, eggnog spice, and a velvety mouthfeel with a hint of orchard fruit and toffee drizzle. The finish is long but doesn’t overstay its welcome. There’s a sense of the woody spices that’s more akin to cinnamon sticks once stirred in hot apple cider, leaving you with a dry note of spicy tobacco.

Bottom Line:

If you have a bottle of this on your shelf, you already know how great it is. Go and pour one and enjoy it! If not, take the time to seek one out.

3. Heaven’s Door Redbreast Master Blender’s Edition

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $115

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a collaboration between Heaven’s Door Master Blender Ryan Perry and Redbreast’s legendary Master Blender Billy Leighton. The duo worked long and hard to create multiple whiskey expressions, which Bob Dylan taste tested and granted final approval on. The juice in the bottle is Heaven Door’s low-rye 10-year-old Tennessee bourbon. They take that whiskey and fill it into Redbreast whiskey casks that had previously aged Irish whiskey for 12 years (which spends time in Spanish oak). After 15 months of final maturation, those barrels are vatted and slightly proofed down with soft Tennessee spring water.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with this medley of marzipan, soft leather, prunes and dates, Gala apples, a hint of cedar, and a whisper of ripe red cherry. There’s this body of nutmeg that leads towards a light vanilla pound cake full of candied and dried fruits with a soft marzipan center. That then draws towards subtle pops of orange oils, floral honey, walnuts in buttery brown sugar syrup, and this mild touch of spiced apple tobacco leaf. The end lasts for just the right amount of time and leaves you with a walnut shell dryness, soft warmth, and slight tobacco chew buzz that all circles back towards a raisin sherry sweetness and a final morsel of that vanilla pound cake.

Bottom Line:

This is whiskey is pretty close to perfection.

2. Garrison Brothers Guadalupe

ABV: 53.5%

Average Price: $148

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is hewn from 90 30-gallon barrels of four-year-old bourbon that were transferred into 26 59-gallon Tawny Port casks for a final maturation of nearly two years. That juice was then bottled with a touch of water added.

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this bursts with raspberry, blackberry, redcurrant, and blueberry, all stewed with plenty of holiday spices and folded into a cobbler topped with dense buttery buttermilk biscuits. The palate leans into the spice with a focus on clove, nutmeg, and a very small whisper of anise as the berry turns more towards a fresh strawberry with dark chocolate-covered espresso beans chiming in on the mid-palate. That chocolate-bitter vibe drives towards a finish full of cinnamon-spiked dark chocolate tobacco leaves, stewed plums, and a dollop of floral honey.

Bottom Line:

See the “bottom line” for the last entry.

1. Belle Meade Bourbon Honey Cask Finish

ABV: 53%

Average Price: $175 (Annual Distillery Lottery Only)

The Whiskey:

This whiskey starts off by seasoning used whiskey barrels (from Nelson’s Green Brier’s warehouse) with honey. The distillery sends their barrels to TruBee Honey Farm in Arrington, Tennessee where the barrels are filled with wildflower honey. After the honey has finished its rest, the barrels are emptied and sent back to Nashville. Once they arrive at Nelson’s, they’re filled with Belle Meade’s award-winning bourbon for a six to eight-month rest where the honey makes its mark on the whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

The floral honey notes from that honey really shine through on the nose. It’s supported by a slightly woody, yet sharp cinnamon that’s been stored in a cedar box with a hint of green tea lurking underneath. The palate pushes the cinnamon to the foreground as a light touch of fresh brioche with butter and orange marmalade mingles with soft toffee and almost sticky honey cream, which creates a velvety mouthfeel. That honey and cinnamon combine on the mid-palate and lead towards a light note of vanilla pods and almond butter on the super-soft finish.

Bottom Line:

This whiskey will completely change everything you’ve ever known about “honey” bourbons. This is a stellar bourbon that’s accented beautifully by real honey, adding extra dimensions to the overall experience. That game-changing vibe is why this one wins the day. Well, that and it’s delicious.

Last fall, Jay-Z walked away with a big legal win after Parlux Fragrances claimed that the rapper breached his contract by not promoting the failed “Gold Jay-Z” cologne. Parlux filed the lawsuit back in 2016 and said he “never once personally appeared” to promote the cologne, which Jay denied. A jury agreed with him and ruled that he did not breach his contract and that he was not responsible for the $67.6 million in damages that Parlux sued him for. Now, according to Complex which cites a report from Page Six, Jay-Z earned another court win against Parlux.

According to the report, an appellate court ruled that Jay and his company “are entitled to summary judgment on their royalties counterclaim.” As a result, they ruled that Jay is entitled to $4.5 million in royalties from Parlux. “The record is clear: Parlux sold licensed products after July 31, 2015, but failed to pay royalties on those sales,” Justice John Higgitt wrote in a statement.

Jay’s legal matters are not over yet. This summer, he’ll head to trial to settle a lawsuit between himself and Jonathan Mannion, the photographer who shot the cover for his 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Jay claims that Mannion has been using photos from the shoot for the cover art to make “thousands of dollars” selling prints and merchandise. He adds that when he asked Mannion to stop, the photographer requested “tens of millions of dollars” which sparked the lawsuit. The two attempted to settle things outside of court but failed to come to an agreement.

Jazmine Sullivan’s Heaux Tales Tour got started last week, but it’s gotten off to a bumpy start. While the first show in Vancouver was cancelled because of local COVID safety measures, Sullivan played at Portland and Seattle stops, before laboring through a show in Oakland on Tuesday when she began to feel not so great. She cancelled last night’s show in Sacramento despite testing negative for COVID, because she was “feeling extremely under the weather,” saying on Twitter that she didn’t want to “give a subpar performance.”

Credit to Sullivan, who felt symptoms and started playing it safely from there. Because today, the “Pick Up Your Feelings” singer tweeted that she has indeed tested positive for COVID and is canceling tour dates for at least the next week. “I’m truly sad to have to cancel more shows but health and safety come first for myself, my team, and all of you,” she said.

This means that tomorrow’s show in LA, plus next week’s shows in Phoenix and Denver are likely canceled and perhaps more from there while she recovers. Sullivan said that ticket holders would be contacted via email about rescheduling. You can read her statement in full below and we wish her a speedy recovery.

You can read her statement in full below:

“Hi Everyone,

My Doctor confirmed that I’m positive with COVID. I am taking every precaution to isolate myself. I’m truly sad to have to cancel more shows but health and safety come first for myself, my team, and all of you.

LA’s show tomorrow will unfortunately be cancelled and we are likely cancelling show for the next week based on my condition and the condition of my crew. We will let you know when the tour will resume once we have made that decision.

As soon as we have in regards to tickets and rescheduling, ticket holders will be notified via email.

Thank you so much for understanding and support and I’ll be seeing you very soon.

Jaz <3”

Ted Cruz always appears to be doing something sketchy while war breaks out. Last year, he filmed himself in crumbling house (as seen above) on Memorial Day, where he literally inserted himself into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. That was about as ridiculous as when he posted video of himself hanging out in the bushes at the U.S.-Mexico border, but Ted’s also been up to no good amid Russia’s declaration of war upon Ukraine.

Cancun Cruz is spending time at CPAC, where he decided to take a swing at White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. First, he acted disappointed when he mentioned her name, and people didn’t respond negatively enough for him. Then he proudly declared, “Peppermint Patty deserves some love!”

Psaki probably would have never noticed this happening, given that there are incredibly pressing matters of global conflict at hand, but yeah, someone totally brought this up during Thursday’s White House press conference. So, Psaki had to answer a question about Ted Cruz ridiculously insulting her at CPAC. It’s very silly, but of course, she handled the distraction like a pro.

“Don’t tell him I like Peppermint Patty,” Psaki responded. “I won’t take it too offensively. Sen. Cruz, I like Peppermint Patty. I am a little bit tougher than that, but there you go.”

There are definitely worse things than being insulted with the name of a Peanuts character. Ted really needs to stop trying to show off his pop-culture (non-)knowledge. It never ends well for him.

It’s hard not to feel like we’re surrounded by zombies at concerts these days and Mitski is here to drop some knowledge about it all. Heck, it’s hard not to feel like a zombie yourself sometimes. We all like taking pictures and snapping the occasional 15-second clip of the show to post to our Instagram stories. But people also tend to film an entire song, or stop and upload what they just captured in the middle of the show. Mitski — who is as powerful of a performer as they come — just shared some candid words on how important she feels being in the moment at a concert is.

“Sometimes when I see people filming entire songs or whole sets, it makes me feel as though we are not here together,” she said in a tweet thread. Her take is an honest one from not just a performer, but a fan as well and here’s hoping it inspires us all to be in the moment. Check out her full statement below:

A note from Mitski:

Hello! I wanted to speak with you about phones at shows. They’re part of our reality, I have mine on me all the time, and I’m not against taking photos at shows (Though please no flash lol). But sometimes when I see people filming entire songs or whole sets, it makes me feel as though we are not here together. This goes for both when I’m on stage, and when I’m an audience member at shows. I love shows for the feeling of connection, of sharing a dream, and remembering that we have a brief miraculous moment of being alive at the same time, before we part ways. I feel I’m part of something bigger. When I’m on stage and look to you but you are gazing into a screen, it makes me feel as though those of us on stage are being taken from and consumed as content, instead of getting to share a moment with you. Ultimately it’s your night, and I want you to enjoy it as you like. I don’t want to be greedy, I’m fortunate to get to play! Just putting out there that sometimes, if we’re lucky, we can experience magic at a show. But only if we’re there to catch it. Thank you for reading my woo-woo thoughts about shows lol – I just love and believe in them so much, and I want to share them fully with you! Thanks.

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

This week, Lucky Daye leads the way with “NWA,” his new single featuring Lil Durk. The track is the latest offering from the singer’s upcoming sophomore album Candy Drip. PJ Morton and JoJo joined forces for their new collaboration, “My Peace,” which also features Mr. Talkbox. Months removed from his seventh album On Earth, And In Heaven, Robin Thicke recruits Rapsody for “Day One Friend.”

Lucky Daye — “NWA” Feat. Lil Durk

In just a few weeks, Lucky Daye will release his sophomore album Candy Drip. It arrives almost three years after his debut album Painted and a year after is most recent project, Table For Two. So far, Lucky has released the title track from the project, but he follows that up with “NWA” alongside Lil Durk. The duo arrives as a confident and flirtatious duo ready to woo a special woman into their arms.

PJ Morton & JoJo — “My Peace” Feat. Mr. Talkbox

After dropping The Piano Album back in 2020, PJ Morton has been fairly active in recent months. His latest offering finds him beside JoJo and Mr. Talkbox on “My Peace.” The track sees the trio preaching about focusing on themselves and improving their well-being so that they can be the best for their partner. The song is also carried by triumphant production and a nice sample of Outkast’s “SpottieOttieDopaliscious.”

Robin Thicke & Rapsody — “Day One Friend”

In 2021, Robin Thicke released his seventh album On Earth, And In Heaven. It marks his first full-length effort in seven years. Thankfully, things don’t seem to be slowing down for the singer as he returned with “Day On Friend.” The new release features Rapsody as the two sing about the ideal friendships they have in their lives. Robin and Rapsody take a warm trip down memory lane on the song which will surely remind you of the good friendships in your life.

Teedra Moses — “Make Me” Feat. Eric Bellinger & Currensy

Last spring, Teedra Moses arrived with her sultry single “Make Me,” which originally featured Brody and Uncle Chucc. Now, almost a year after the song’s release, she returns with a new remix featuring Eric Bellinger and Currensy. Bellinger adds to the song’s alluring mood with a verse of his own which momentarily features a duet between him and Moses. Finally, Currensy closes things out with a slick-talking verse that helps to perfect the remix.

Leven Kali — “EEK”

Back in 2020, Leven Kali dropped one of that year’s better R&B projects with Hightide. It was an upbeat follow-up to his 2019 debut project Lowtide. Now, the hope is the West Coast singer is working on his new body of work. Whether that’s the case remains to be seen, but until then we can enjoy his latest single, “EEK.” Kali’s new drop is a fun and lively single that preaches about enjoying the moment and letting go of life’s worries.

Gemaine & Charlie Heat — “Lay It Down”

Last month, singer-producer duo Gemaine and Charlie Heat joined forces for their new single, “No Questions.” The project song arrived with the announcement that the two would be pairing up for a new project titled New Jack City. There’s no release date for the project yet, but for those who are excited about its release, there is a new single for you to enjoy. Germaine and Charlie return with “Lay It Down,” which strikes a seductive number that sees Gemaine aiming to be as passionate as possible with his partner while they make love to each other.

PxRRY — “More Than A Little Bit”

Connecticut singer PxRRY is making his splash in the R&B world. After dropping his Enough Said EP last year, which featured a highlight appearance from Eric Bellinger, PxRRY is back to work in 2022. He returns with “More Than A Little Bit” which strikes as an endearing promise to a lover to also do more than the bare minimum for them.

Marzz — “KMS”

In late 2020, Marzz inked a record deal with RCA’s Keep Cool imprint which is also the home of Lucky Daye, VanJess, Normani, and more. The following year, she released her debut EP Love Letterz, and after keeping cool for the rest of the year, she’s back in action with new music. Marzz arrives with “KMS,” which stands for “Killing Me Slowly,” and on it, she speaks of the unsatisfying nature of her relationship which has left her weary and deep in her feelings.

Amaria BB — What’s Done In The Dark

Jamaican-English singer Amaria BB kicks off her 2022 campaign with her rhythmic and lively EP, What’s Done In The Dark. It presents six songs with no guest features and an ear-pleasing blend of R&B and dancehall that makes the project quite enjoyable to listen to. Highlights from the project include “Cheaters” and “Secrets.”

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