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Straight out of Jacksonville, Florida, Nardo Wick has certainly earned his breakout moment in 2021. The rapper’s brash and confrontational winter 2021 single “Who Wants Smoke?” delivered a brighter spotlight to the young spitter, and since then, he’s done nothing but work to improve his stock in the game. That hustle has proved beneficial and he now returns with a remix of the track with G Herbo, 21 Savage, and Lil Durk. It’s an effort Wick has been teasing for quite a while, and now, fans of the respective rappers can rejoice and dive into new verses from them thanks to the new song.

If Wick’s name looks familiar to you, it could be because of his appearance on the soundtrack for Judas And The Black Messiah. The rapper contributed “I Declare War” to the project in a move that surely helped to boost his popularity to hip-hop fans all over the world.

As for the rappers that joined him on the remix, the new version of “Who Want Smoke?” comes after G Herbo stood beside BIA for her “Besito” single. He also delivered a boastful video for “Stand The Rain (Mad Max).” 21 Savage recently stood beside Young Nudy for their “Child’s Play” video while Lil Durk was spotted in videos for FaZe Kaysan’s “Made A Way” and Rod Wave’s “Already Won.”

You can press play on the track in the video above.

Two of today’s newer hip-hop acts have come together as an unlikely combination for quite the fiery track. Tyla Yaweh and Morray connected for their new single, “Hands Up,” and it’s an effort that sees them take a stance against a high-power that being the police force. The duo’s track is accompanied by a visual that finds them pushing back against the cops after a loved one is taken away from them. Their fight spills into the streets where Yaweh and Morray, thanks to help from some of their friends, bring their resistance to a new level as their friend tries effortlessly to break free from the grasp of the police.

Both Tyla Yaweh and Morray have a single project to their names. Yaweh’s lone effort arrived back in 2019 with Heart Full Of Rage, a body of work that delivered ten songs and guest appearances from French Montana and Pnb Rock. As for Morray, his debut arrived earlier this year with Street Sermons, a 12-track project highlighted by his breakout single “Quicksand.”

As for what’s next, Yaweh is currently preparing his sophomore album, Rager Boy, for release. The project is supported by singles that include “Stuntin On You” and “Tommy Lee.” Morray, on the other hand, just released his “Bad Situations” single and is currently on tour with 21 Savage in support of J. Cole’s The Off-Season Tour.

You can press play on the video for “Hands Up” above.

A survival-thriller series that surprised the world and crashed the Internet, a final installment from a comedian in a streaming partnership, and a group of iconic Muppets. You might not need more than that this weekend, but the good news is this: there’s a lot more on tap from the various services. This week, Netflix takes the top prize in the battle of the streaming services, because they’ve got both quality and quantity happening. This includes the ragingly popular Squid Game and Dave Chappelle’s newest effort, along with leftover Midnight Mass, new Sexy Beasts, and too much more.

Next up, Disney+ (with those muppets), Amazon Prime (with Blumhouse), and Discovery+ (with Eli Roth) bring some early Halloween scares for you to stock up throughout the month with both tricks and treats. Meanwhile, Apple TV, HBO Max, Paramount, and Hulu keep the variety coming with offerings of their own. Here’s the best of the new streaming selections for this weekend.

Netflix

Squid Game: (Netflix series) — This Korean show’s on track to be the streamer’s most-watched show ever and has been topping the charts in 90 countries in counting. It’s not real stuff, but the show tells the story of hundreds of desperate contestants who play a deadly survival game, all to win billions of prize money, at the best of… who? (That aspect is mysterious until you watch.) The consequence of losing the games-within-the-games is certain death, and people truly can’t get enough of the premise or the show’s execution (pun fully intended), along with a blistering critique on capitalism.

The Closer (Netflix comedy special) — Dave Chappelle’s stand-up comedy run with Netflix has been a lucrative one for both parties, and it’s sixth-and-final chapter time. Expect plenty of controversy and line-crossing (he defends J.K. Rowling and DaBaby, for example), as is customary for the man on the mic to deliver. And there’s no telling whether Chappelle and Netflix’s common goodwill (after CEO Ted Sarandos helped him receive The Chappelle Show license back, along with millions of dollars) will result in a re-upping of a deal beyond this installment, but for now, the comedian (with returning, Emmy-award winning director Stan Lathan) is closing things out.

Midnight Mass (Netflix series) — Get ready, The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor addicts, because creator Mike Flanagan’s back to cause us more horror fits. This happens to be his favorite project so far and revolves around an isolated community that lives on spooky Crockett Island, which gets even spookier due to a charismatic priest’s arrival. Naturally, a whole lot of supernatural shenanigans are afoot, but human nature (as we are currently experiencing in-real-life these days) can often be scarier than the ghosts that people can dream up. It’s dark, real dark.

On My Block: Season 4 (Netflix series) — This coming-of-age comedy, filled with street-savvy teens and Emilio Rivera as Uncle Chivo, takes one final trip around the inner-city block. An unburied secret causes more conflict, but the friends will have to band together and learn not to avoid the past.

Sexy Beasts: Season 2 — Well, no one expected this show to return so soon, so I guess that one could consider it a… force of nature? It’s a nightmare of a concept, and one can’t look away from the trainwrecky aspect of people going into hours of prosthetic work to go on a date. And I’m not sure, really, if these contestants find it more or less hurtful to be rejected without any consideration of looks? That’s either so much better or so much worse than the usual dating hell out there. Yet obviously, someone did this poor rabbit dirty. Will Rob Delaney return as well? Surely, he can’t let the bunny down.

Escape The Undertaker (Netflix interactive special) — Following Bandersnatch, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend, and You Vs. Wild: Out Cold, this new interactive special features WWE Superstars aplenty. Uhhh, The Undertaker’s living in an extreme haunted house and The New Day tag team is simply trying to survive his wrath. I’m not gonna lie, this is awfully perplexing stuff, but let’s go with the spirit of the season as the Costumed Gods would prefer.

Bad Sport: Season 1 (Netflix series) — Sports and crime intersect in this show, which dives into personal accounts from athletes, coaches, and law enforcement. Expect to see the 2002 figure skating scandal (out of Salt Lake City), a weed-smuggling scandal surrounding an Indycar driver, a horse hitman committing insurance fraud, a basketball point-shaving scheme, and more bad boys who fell from grace.

Disney+

Muppets Haunted Mansion (Disney+ special) — After several Muppets-themed Christmas offerings, it’s about time that we’ve received a spooky installment, and let’s face it, more Miss Piggy is always a good thing. Gonzo takes center stage here while attempting to survive the evening in (according to the synopsis) “in the most grim grinning place on Earth.” The special’s actually inspired by all four of the Disney Haunted Mansion attractions that are scattered around the globe, and three original songs (“Rest In Peace,” “Life Hereafter” and “Tie The Knot Tango”) will surface, along with plenty of celebrity cameos along with the all-star Muppets cast.

Among The Stars: Season 1 (Disney+ series) — This show takes space fans behind the a vital NASA mission of fixing the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), a tool that hopes to reveal the universe’s origins, although the job comes with a $2 billion price tag.

LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales (Disney+ special) — The witching hour has arrived for Star Wars characters too, and you know what that means: Luke Skywalker’s heading to the dark side of the Force. This animated is full of haunting moments, including a crime boss that messes with Darth Vadar’s castle, and a misadventure for Poe Dameron and BB-8. There’s an ancient evil threatening to rise, and expect iconic villains from across the vast Star Wars canon to make an appearance.

What If…? (Disney+ series) — We’re in the multiverse, baby. Enjoy this show full of alternate realities that stand separate from the existing canon (thus far), including Agent Carter taking the super-soldier serum, T’Challa materializing as Star Lord, Doctor Strange feeling some real pain, and Black Widow and Nick Fury taking on a murder mystery while Tony Stark eats a donut. Will Tony Stark die again? Probably so.

Amazon Prime

Justin Bieber: Our World (Amazon Prime movie) — Bieber’s New Year’s Eve 2020 concert is ground zero for this documentary, which covers his first performance following a three-year, full-concert hiatus. Given the whole pandemic thing, he only played in front of 240 guests, but now, you can enjoy the show in your own living room, along with taking a trip behind the curtains.

Welcome to the Blumhouse: Madres/The Manor (Blumhouse films on Amazon Prime) — This week’s Hallowee-themed double dose follows a Mexican-American couple (in 1970s California) who are weathering a troubled pregnancy while being besieged by horrific visions, which might be part of a legendary curse. Then, a woman moves into a famous nursing home, where a supernatural force might be controlling all residents. Naturally, she’s unable to escape her confines, and no one believes her. This sounds like hell on earth.

Welcome to the Blumhouse: Black As Night/Bingo Hell (Blumhouse films on Amazon Prime) — Last week’s double feature shines a light on vampires in the Big Easy, who are the next big threat since Hurricane Katrina. Of course, they’re taking up residence in a French Quarter mansion and must be defeated. Speaking of damn funny, a feisty, board-game loving senior citizen arrives to save the day and the lives of her friends, all with the realization that there’s a sinister presence lurking that’s far more dangerous than mere gentrification. Naturally, there’s a whole lot of social conscience at work.

Goliath: Season 4 (Amazon Prime series) — If it’s taken you this long to consider testing out this show, then get with the freaking program. It’s got Billy Bob Thornton smoldering through a hard-boiled character who was once a force to be feared in the courtroom, but nowadays, he’s not such a prestigious attorney. This season, Thornton’s Billy McBride is going up not only against Big Pharma but also J.K. Simmons. That seldom turns out well for characters who aren’t played by J.K. Simmons, and both men have just the right degree of “I’m over this sh*t” to make it feel believable.

Discovery+

Eli Roth Presents: A Ghost Ruined My Life: Season 1 (Discovery+ series) — Eli Roth has so much going on over at Discovery+ this month (following his recent real-life horror/Shark-Week film on the streamer) that one has to wonder… is he running the joint? It’s a valid question, but more to the point, this series present personal accounts on those who have survived feeling like they’re been dragged through hell and fought their way back. One woman suspects that her home’s a portal to hell, and an abandoned asylum appears to be ground central for an evil presence while a demon curse follows a Mexican-American woman who wants the truth about intergenerational hauntings.

House Haunters: Season 1 (Discovery+ series) — Yep, this house is exactly what it sounds like: a play on the long-running House Hunters series. Join up with comedian Anthony Anderson and his mom, Doris, who inject some horror into the housing market by pranking the hell out of prospective buyers and their realtors alike.

The Haunted Museum: Season 1 (Discovery+ series) — More Eli Roth stuff. Here, he’s teaming up with Ghost Adventures host Zak Bagans for this scripted anthology series, in which they illuminate nine of the world’s most cursed artifacts. These relics are actually in display in Bagans’ Vegas museum, but here, you’ll get the historic commentary in addition to having the pants scared off of you.

Apple TV+

Acapulco: Season 1 (Apple TV+ series) — Vacation-based shows are all the rage following The White Lotus and Nine Perfect Strangers, so get your next fix here with the story of a 20-something cabana boy in Acapulco’s most in-demand resort. Naturally, he discovers that the job is not all fun and games, given the demanding clientele and other demanding professional and personal circumstances. Get ready for a bilingual focus, too, with both Spanish and English coming in hot while the main character, Máximo Gallardo, also attempts to avoid temptations.

The Problem With Jon Stewart (Apple TV+ series) — Jon Stewart’s return to TV fast approaches, and it could be argued that he’s never been needed more on TV than this particular moment. The former The Daily Show host will be doing the current-events thing with an episode every two weeks, which isn’t as frequent as fans might prefer, but we’ll trust the process. According to Apple TV+, viewers can expect Stewart to go deep on a single subject per episode with a “solutionary” approach, and yes, there are jokes.

Foundation (Apple TV+ series) — Isaac Asimov’s classic novel gets a heady adaptation starring the always great Jared Harris and Lee Pace. The sci-fi story revolves around exiles who are working to rebuild civilization even as the galaxy falls apart, and surely, there will be plenty of parallels to real-life history here. As one can also see, a great deal of attention has been paid to the epic scale of the show, which Apple TV+ appears to want to be its Game of Thrones.

The Morning Show: Season 2 (Apple TV+ series) — The gang (Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Billy Crudup, at least) is back for a new round of attempting to evade the scandal-plagued nature of their business. This season, we’ll not only see more of Steve Carell but also Hasan Minhaj and Julianna Margulies as everyone’s positioning themselves, and they’re clawing at each other on their way to the top. Things will get intense, as well, with the continued #MeToo theme and also some edging into the systemic racism issue while barbs are thrown, both on-and-off camera.

Ted Lasso: Season 2 (Apple TV+ series) — First thing’s first: Everyone who’s caught a glimpse of this Bill Lawrence co-created and developed series loves it. Fast forward to the fresh hell that was 2020, and the show surfaced as one of the year’s lone bright spots. Ted Lasso is somehow both relentlessly and charmingly cheery, although there’s always the spectre of Led Tasso to consider.

Paramount+

Madame X (Paramount+ movie) — In this concert documentary, Madonna takes viewers on tour with her (from way back in January 2020, so pre-pandemic, obviously) all the way to Lisbon, Portugal. Her set included 48 onstage performers, including other musicians and dancers, and she’s here to share her vision with the rest of the world. Her statement on the film points towards reaching out to fans “at a time when music is so deeply needed to remind us of the sacred bond of our shared humanity.”

HBO Max

The Many Saints of Newark (Warner Bros. film on HBO Max) — David Chase’s The Sopranos prequel movie arrives in theaters and in your living room this weekend. The mob-movie cast (including Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Ray Liotta, and Vera Farmiga) is almost too good. Notably James Gandolfini’s son, Michael, stars as Young Tony. He’s coming of age (and learning to be a mob boss) while rival gang warfare swirls around the family. Our own Mike Ryan enjoyed the film with some qualifiers while calling it both exhilarating and confounding, and Vince Mancini has rounded up the 10 episodes of The Sopranos that will refresh you before the film.

Doom Patrol: Season 3 (HBO Max series) — DC’s struggling misfit superheroes are back for another round. Brendan Fraser has received plenty of raves for his fury-filled Cliff Steele/Robotman, but don’t count out the rest of the crew. There’s Matt Bomer as the bandage-wrapped Negative Man and Diane Guerrero as Crazy Jane, which is actually a role that requires Diane to play dozens of incarnations, including a very timely take on a Karen. This season, the sh*t hits the fan with a time machine.

Scenes From A Marriage (HBO limited series on HBO Max) — It’s season-finale time for this Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain-starring miniseries remakes Ingmar Bergman’s 1970s project original as directed by HBO regular Hagai Levi with a contemporary spin, including all of the love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage, and divorce that one would expect. Considering the Isaac-Chastain chemistry on hand, it’s a remake worth perusing.

Peacock

One of Us Is Lying — The New York Times bestselling novel comes to life when a group of give teens (the brain, the beauty, the jock, the criminal, yes, this sounds like a John Hughes imitation) go to detention, and one of them (the outcast) does not emerge. Hey, it happens. Was the death an accident? Not likely. Naturally, the four remaining students all become suspects, and all of them are looking sketchy. Again, it happens!

Hulu

Jacinta (Hulu documentary) — Intergenerational trauma is real in this real-life story of what happens when a mother and daughter both end up in prison. This is no Orange Is The New Black take, and both women are attempting to battle their own addictions and other demons while doing time at the Maine Correctional Center. It’s bleak, but it’s a valuable watch with director Jessica Earnshaw shooting with a verité approach.

What We Do in the Shadows (FX, 10:00 & 10:30pm) — Well, well, well. Guillermo turned out to be a vampire killer, which sure as heck came as a surprise to Nandor, Nadja, and Laszlo, and Colin. The four Staten Island roommates must figure out how to handle this conundrum, along with tackling the other challenges of this season. Those include dealing with wellness cults and gym culture, along with gargoyles, werewolves who play kickball, casinos, and more.

Baker’s Dozen: Season 1 (Hulu series) — Culinary competition series (very successful on Hulu following Taste The Nation) are so hot right now (yes, like Zoolander‘s Hansel), so watch out, The Great British Bake Off. Actress Tamera Mowry-Housley and chef Bill Yosses (who previously whipped up pastries in the White House) will judge amateurs as they face off with professionals.

Y: The Last Man (FX on Hulu) — The acclaimed graphic novel gets its due as a dystopian TV drama starring Diane Lane as the globe’s de facto president. Her son becomes, as the title suggests, the very last man on Earth following an apocalyptic event that pretty much obliterates the Y chromosome. FX recently made it known that although the Y appears to refer to the chromosome, the show will take a nuanced approach and not operate on a merely gender-binary level.

After dropping off his Evolution project to the world last year, Joyner Lucas seems ready to deliver a new body of work to the world this year and his recent releases hint that he has something special on the way. For his latest offering to the world, Lucas calls on Ty Dolla Sign for “Late To The Party.” The track is the duo’s first record together and on it, both artists express their desire to be on time and prepared for life’s biggest and most fruitful moments.

The track adds to a growing list of collaborations that Lucas has delivered to fans in 2021. Earlier this year, he connected with Lil Baby on “Ramen & OJ” and shortly after he called on Lil Tjay for “Dreams Unfold.” The follow-up to that saw Lucas receive a huge guest feature as J. Cole joined him for “Your Heart.” Elsewhere in the year for Lucas, he dropped off a music video for “Legend” with Rick Ross and a visual for “Zim Zimma” with Mark Wahlberg, Diddy, and George Lopez.

Another notable moment from Lucas in 2021 came when he accused marketing strategist Karen Civil of stealing $60,000 from him nearly a decade ago. He made the accusations through a series of tweets before he took to Clubhouse to not only double down on his claims, but confront Civil as well.

You can press play on the new song in the video above.

Ty Dolla Sign is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Don Toliver has been able to maintain a consistent level of popularity since his breakout moment in 2018. It came through a guest verse of Travis Scott’s “Can’t Say” from his Astroworld album. Two years later, the Houston native returned in 2020 with his sophomore album Heaven Or Hell, which boosted his stock and proved that he was very capable of making a strong and cohesive body of work. Toliver looks to showcase that once again with his newly-released third album Life Of A Don.

The 16-track effort is spotlight by Toliver and Travis Scott’s reunion on “Flocky Flocky.” The track is carried by woozy synths and a head-bobbing bass that fits right in the pocket the rappers thrive in. It’s the duo’s first track together since “Euphoria” from Toliver’s Heaven Or Hell project. As for the rest of Life Of A Don, the project features the previously released singles “What You Need” and “Drugs N Hella Melodies” along with guest appearances from Kali Uchis, Baby Keem, HVN, and Sofaygo.

Prior to the album’s release, Toliver connected with Skrillex and Justin Bieber for “Don’t Go” and Scott confirmed that he and Kylie Jenner are expecting a second child together

You can listen to “Flocky Flocky” in the video above.

Life Of A Don is out now via Cactus Jack/WeRunIt Entertainment/Atlantic Records. Get it here.

Don Toliver is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

For many baseball observers, Randy Arozarena was not a household name prior to the 2020 MLB Playoffs. The then 25-year-old slugger burst onto the scene with 10 home runs in only 20 games, posting an obscene 1.273 OPS and helping the Rays come within a whisker of winning the World Series. Arozarena followed that up with a very strong 2021 season, hitting 20 home runs with an .815 OPS, and he once again made his presence known in Tampa Bay’s first postseason game on Thursday.

Arozarena grabbed the spotlight in myriad ways, but he stole home in picture-perfect fashion in the seventh inning, and that was the centerpiece of a splendid evening.

As you can see, Arozarena played this perfectly and clearly had a read on Red Sox hurler Josh Taylor. Still, he had to have the explosion and speed to actually pull it off, and this was the first steal of home in the playoffs since 2016.

Earlier in the game, Arozarena blasted his 11th home run in the last two postseasons, and he was a big part of creating Tampa Bay’s lead that only grew with the steal.

With those two plays, Arozarena is the first player in MLB history to hit a home run and steal home in the same postseason game, which is an incredible feat for a variety of reasons.

The Rays aren’t exactly known for individual personalities or star power, largely putting together organizational success by working on the margins and with impressive depth. Arozarena may be an exception, though, and his transformation into an October superstar in 2020 may just be carrying over again in 2021.

The Rolling Stones have embarked on yet another massive world tour, though it will sadly be without their legendary drummer, the late Charlie Watts who passed earlier this year. The band was planning to head out on tour without Watts before his passing, and as they continue to do press in the wake of live shows, attention is slowly turning to other historical elements of the band’s lengthy career.

One subject, in particular, is their song “Brown Sugar,” which sounds quite a bit different in 2021 than it might’ve back when the band wrote it. Some of their members have recognized this and made adjustments, others… have not. In an interview with pop critic Mikael Wood of The Los Angeles Times spoke with the band about the subject. Woods brings up the fact that the band hasn’t been playing the tune, noting the opening line “Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields.”

Here’s Keith Richard’s response: “You picked up on that, huh? I don’t know. I’m trying to figure out with the sisters quite where the beef is. Didn’t they understand this was a song about the horrors of slavery? But they’re trying to bury it. At the moment I don’t want to get into conflicts with all of this sh*t. But I’m hoping that we’ll be able to resurrect the babe in her glory somewhere along the track.

Mick Jagger, though, takes a slightly different tack on the subject, skipping over any racial elements. “We’ve played ‘Brown Sugar’ every night since 1970, so sometimes you think, ‘We’ll take that one out for now and see how it goes. We might put it back in. The set list in a stadium show, it’s kind of a tough one. We did ‘Let It Bleed’ last night, which I managed to play on 12-string guitar.”

There’s a screenshot below if you can’t get past the paywall:

Michael Dickson is one of the best punters in the NFL, as he regularly helps the Seahawks win the field position battle as one of the few punters capable of sending massive distance punts and dancing the ball down around the goal line with precision and touch.

Dickson is one of the latest in a long line of punters to come over from Australia, as the pipeline from Aussie Rules Football to punting in major college football and the NFL has grown bigger and bigger. That experience in Aussie Rules paid dividends on Thursday night against the Rams when Dickson pulled off the rare feat of a successful double punt that led to an awful lot of confusion before, ultimately, everyone kind of threw their hands up and let it stand.

Dickson’s first attempt gets blocked clean, but the ball stays behind the line of scrimmage so he scoops it with one hand and darts upfield. However, he recognizes that he’s not likely to pick up the first down, as he is a punter running the football and many much larger and faster men are chasing him, even if he has blockers, so he pulls up and boots it again, this time getting a friendly roll to pin the Rams back deep.

The one-handed scoop is, without a doubt, the most impressive part of this play, and the second kick is pretty spectacular given the circumstance. As for the legality of it all, there was some confusion on the field, as they threw a flag initially but picked it up, and also in the booth where Mike Pereira seemed insistent he couldn’t do that but then noted if he stayed behind the line of scrimmage he could. That is, in fact, the rule now.

That last part is a bit contentious as he is right on the line as he sends it, but the Rams didn’t challenge it and, because it was incredibly cool, no one outside of L.A. is going to be too upset that they allowed it to stand.

It’s tough to articulate why celebrities starting alcohol companies cans seem irksome, but the fact remains: it often feels that way. One part of it is that famous people have the clout to leapfrog many of the industry’s gatekeepers. Another is that there have been enough celeb cash grabs to make us feel wary. But to call them all trash or appropriative or unnecessary? That discounts the hard work being done by some famous faces who really put passion into their booze brands.

Today, we’re looking at whiskey brands launched by household names. But to remove some of the label-stigma, we’re tasting them blind. This is really about ranking these bottles based on the criteria that truly counts — what’s inside — more than the name attached.

Part 1: The Taste

Each whiskey we’re tasting today is either owned, created, or endorsed by a famous person (or people), even more reason to run this test blind. Not that a connection to The Vampire Diaries would be likely to sway me. Still, by blindly nosing and tasting them I can judge which are worth trying and which you should avoid like a CW spin-off series.

Our lineup:

• Virginia Black Whiskey
• Brother’s Bond Bourbon
• Mulholland American Whiskey
• Wolf Moon Bourbon
• Blackened American Whiskey
• Heaven’s Door Bourbon
• Sweetens Cove Bourbon
• Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon

Let’s dive into these celebrity-centric whiskey expressions!

Taste #1:

Tasting Notes:

The nose is surprisingly sweet with a ton of vanilla, caramel, toffee, and candied pecans. The palate is much more refined and nuanced — with caramel, dried fruits, a healthy hit of oak and wood char, and a nice gentle kiss of wood smoke. The finish is filled with warming heat, caramelized sugar, and just a wisp of barbecue smoke.

Taste #2:

Tasting Notes:

The nose is surprisingly light in aromas. There are the usual suspects of vanilla and sweet corn, but not much else. It’s pretty bland. Taking a sip, I found an overly sweet, almost cloying flavor with a ton of corn, vanilla, and a slight hint of orange peels.

From my notes: “Sugary and sweet without much substance.”

Taste #3:

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on with this whiskey’s nose. I noticed the aromas of toffee, candied orange peels, and wood char right away. This was followed by vanilla beans and slight spice. Candied fruits, a nutty sweetness, dried orange peels, and vanilla beans highlight the palate. The finish is sweet and slightly dry.

Taste #4:

Tasting Notes:

A complex nose of maple candy, caramel corn, toasted vanilla beans, honey, and cinnamon greeted my senses. This was followed by a palate of oaky wood, dried cherries, candied pecans, peppery rye, and caramelized sugar. The finish is slightly spicy and filled with warming toffee and oak.

Taste #5:

Tasting Notes:

I was greeted by aromas of charred oak, clover honey, candied orange peel, vanilla, and candied pecans on the nose. Sipping this dram brought forth baking spices, dried cherries, vanilla beans, and more oaky wood. It all ends with a nice, warming, sweet finish.

Taste #6:

Tasting Notes:

The nose is loaded with delicate aromas of candy apples, caramel, charred oak, and vanilla beans. Sipping it offered up notes of dried cherries, sweet pecans, maple syrup, vanilla, oaky wood, and just a hint of peppery spice at the finish.

Taste #7:

Tasting Notes:

While light in appearance, this whiskey has a surprisingly complex nose of cinnamon, pipe tobacco, and caramel. The palate was loaded with clove, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, and more caramel. It’s a nice mix of sweet and spicy. Though… not overly complex.

Taste #8:

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, I found heavy vanilla, caramel, and slight oak. Otherwise, the nose was fairly muted. The palate was nutty with caramel corn, slightly spiced, and a ton of sugary flavor.

Not the worst whiskey I’ve ever tasted, but definitely nowhere near the best.

Part 2: The Ranking

Of all the alcohol-based stories I write for Uproxx, none are as fun and exciting as blind taste tests. This is especially true when the spirit is whiskey. I love whiskey. Keep reading to see how it all turned out.

8) Wolf Moon Bourbon – Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean (Taste 2)

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $26

The Story:

If you’re a fan of country music, you’ve probably heard of Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean. Wolf Moon Bourbon is a collaboration between the two musical acts to pay homage to their time touring together. Aged for four years in new, charred American oak barrels, it’s touted as having a mellow subtle flavor.

Bottom Line:

To be blunt, this isn’t a very good whiskey. If you prefer your whiskeys to taste like corn and sugar, this is the drink for you. Everyone else, stay away.

7) Virginia Black Whiskey – Drake (Taste 8)

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $37

The Story:

Drake collaborated with beverage entrepreneur Brent Hocking (founder of DeLeon Tequila) to create Virginia Black Whiskey. Launched in 2016, it’s a blend of two, three, and four-year-old high-rye bourbons. It’s 80 proof and comes in one of the sleekest bottles on the market.

Bottom Line:

This is a fairly unexciting whiskey. It has all of the usual whiskey flavors, but doesn’t really have much depth and is a little too sweet to enjoy for an extended amount of time.

6) Brother’s Bond Bourbon – Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley (Taste 7)

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $39.99

The Story:

If you’re a fan of CW vampire-filled teen angst-centric shows, you’re likely a fan of Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. Otherwise, they might be completely unknown to you. Either way, their bond, forged while playing brothers on the show The Vampire Diaries, led to the creation of the aptly named Brother’s Bond Bourbon.

Bottom Line:

This is not a bad whiskey. It’s filled with caramel, brown sugar, and various spices. It’s sweet and spicy but it just doesn’t have much else going on.

5) Heaven’s Door Bourbon – Bob Dylan (Taste 3)

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $49.99

The Story:

We all know Bob Dylan as a singer, but until a few years ago we didn’t know him as a whiskey maker. His Heaven’s Door brand makes a variety of expressions, but one of the best is the baseline Heaven’s Door Bourbon (though we rave about the rye far more often).

This award-winning whiskey was distilled in Tennessee and aged for at least six years in new, charred American oak casks.

Bottom Line:

I really enjoyed this whiskey. It began with a bold nose and worked its way into a mellow, easy to drink, flavorful palate, and eventually a nice, warming finish. Definitely a whiskey I’ll keep in my rotation.

4) Blackened American Whiskey – Metallica (Taste 5)

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $49

The Story:

A few years ago, when Blackened American Whiskey was first released, it seemed like a gimmicky money grab. But this collaboration between the rock band and the late master distiller Dave Pickerell is more than that. It’s a whiskey made by blending bourbon and rye that’s at least eight years old that’s finished in brandy cask while being pummeled by Metallica’s music.

Bottom Line:

This whiskey was a great example of how mixing sweet flavors and spicy flavors can truly work in unison. It was loaded with caramel, oak, and vanilla that were perfectly tempered with slight rye spice and cinnamon.

3) Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon – Matthew McConaughey (Taste 1)

ABV: 43%
Average Price: $39.99

The Story:

This is a little different than the other whiskeys on this list. Matthew McConaughey isn’t an owner of this brand. He’s simply the “Creative Director” — though that surely comes with some nice financial perks. But you won’t find many celebrities celebrating an expression more than McConaughey. There’s a reason for that and it’s spelled T-E-X-A-S. This wildly popular bourbon is small-batch eight-year-old bourbon that gets its flavor from Texas mesquite and oak charcoals and was crafted to represent the actor’s beloved home state.

Bottom Line:

This whiskey is sweet, loaded with caramel flavors, slight spice, and features a nice hint of smoke at the finish. It’s a very unique and memorable whiskey that deserves another try.

2) Sweetens Cove Bourbon – Peyton Manning and Andy Roddick (Taste 6)

ABV: 51.4%
Average Price: $210

The Story:

Peyton Manning, Andy Roddick, and Jim Nantz are co-owners of a Tennessee golf course called Sweetens Cove. The golf course gives out free shots of whiskey on the first hole. To pay homage to this unique tradition, crafting Sweetens Cove Bourbon only made sense. This blend of sourced 13-year-old Tennessee bourbons is the result.

Bottom Line:

This is a complex, flavorful whiskey. You can tell it has a high corn content based on the sweetness, but it’s not overly sugary. There’s a great deal of oak and spice as well. A really nice dram from three names that don’t really seem to fit together.

1) Mulholland American Whiskey – Walton Goggins (Taste 4)

ABV: 50%
Average Price: $29.99

The Story:

If you’re a fan of the FX show Justified you’ve been acquainted with Walton Goggins for years. Otherwise, you’ve probably seen this talented character actor on CBS’s The Unicorn or HBO’s Vice Principals or in one of Uproxx writer Brian Grubb’s many odes to the man.

Well, guess what? Uncle Baby Billy also makes a damn good hooch, called Mulholland American Whiskey. This 94% corn, 4% rye, 2% malted barley 200 proof expression has racked up awards since its introduction a few years ago and is deserving of those accolades.

Bottom Line:

I find it very hard to believe that this is a “celebrity brand” whiskey. It’s complex, rich, and loaded with nutty, sweet, slightly spicy flavors that all work together like the ensemble cast of your favorite SOON TO RETURN comedy.

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

The Seahawks are the rare NFL team to have a live mascot, as their seahawk flies around the stadium prior to games to the roar of the crowd. However, as is the case with any live animal, no matter how well trained, sometimes they decide to do their own thing and when that happens in a stadium of 60,000 people, it can be a bit of an adventure.

That is what happened on Thursday night when the Seahawks hosted the Rams in Seattle for an important divisional matchup in the hotly contested NFC West, when the bird decided that it wasn’t going to return to its handler but, instead, would find a comfy landing spot on top of some poor gentleman’s head in the stands. Fox got a slow-motion shot of the hawk clawing at the guy’s head as it tried to gain sure footing, with Joe Buck giving a pretty great call of the action.

I hope the Seahawks take care of that man, because that looks extremely uncomfortable. It was a good job by him to not freak out and start flailing his arms at the bird and make matters worse, but there’s no way this wasn’t at least a bit painful. All parties seemed to be alright afterwards, but Seattle probably should cover that man’s tickets the rest of the season.