On Tuesday it was revealed that Andre Braugher, beloved and award-winning thespian, has died after a short illness. He was 61.
Braugher had a storied and diverse career, spanning stage and screen, both big and small. He’s best known, though, for two cop shows, each very different from the other. The first is Homicide: Life on the Streets, the gritty procedural about the Baltimore Police Department, which catapulted him to fame an Emmy. The other is Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a comedy in which he brought the same level of intensity as he had on Homicide, holding his own with seasoned comics like Andy Samberg, Joe Lo Truglio, and Terry Crews.
A graduate of Stanford and Juilliard, Braugher got his start with a meaty role in 1989’s Civil War drama Glory, in which he played an educated freed slave who joins the Union’s all-black regiment.
It was his turn as Detective Frank Pemberton across seven seasons of Homicide that made him a staple of film and TV. He had always welcome supporting roles in Primal Fear with Richard Gere and Edward Norton, in Spike Lee’s Get on the Bus, in City of Angels and Frequency and Poseidon. His last film was She Said, which documented the New York Times investigation that uncovered the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
On TV he appeared in the WWII movie The Tuskegee Airmen, on the TNT drama Men of a Certain Age, and made appearances on the likes of House, New Girl, BoJack Horseman, and The Good Fight. He reprised Pemberton on Law & Order, as his Homicide costar Richard Belzer did.
That Braugher was on two big cop shows does not mean he was necessarily pro-cop. Brooklyn Nine-Nine headed into its eighth and final season in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, when a comedy about police no longer seemed so funny. Braugher addressed the “new challenge” facing the show, which had to find a way to tell jokes without parroting false ideas.
“It’s a very complicated subject, but I think they have to be portrayed much more realistically, in terms of this: The convention… that police breaking the law is okay because somehow it’s in the service of some greater good, is a myth that needs to be destroyed,” he told Entertainment Weekly at the time.
Braugher left behind a vast body of work that will be studied and shared for time immemorial. We leave you with some of his most beautiful line readings, of too many to count, from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. RIP to a legend.
On Tuesday it was revealed that Andre Braugher, beloved and award-winning thespian, has died after a short illness. He was 61.
Braugher had a storied and diverse career, spanning stage and screen, both big and small. He’s best known, though, for two cop shows, each very different from the other. The first is Homicide: Life on the Streets, the gritty procedural about the Baltimore Police Department, which catapulted him to fame an Emmy. The other is Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a comedy in which he brought the same level of intensity as he had on Homicide, holding his own with seasoned comics like Andy Samberg, Joe Lo Truglio, and Terry Crews.
A graduate of Stanford and Juilliard, Braugher got his start with a meaty role in 1989’s Civil War drama Glory, in which he played an educated freed slave who joins the Union’s all-black regiment.
It was his turn as Detective Frank Pemberton across seven seasons of Homicide that made him a staple of film and TV. He had always welcome supporting roles in Primal Fear with Richard Gere and Edward Norton, in Spike Lee’s Get on the Bus, in City of Angels and Frequency and Poseidon. His last film was She Said, which documented the New York Times investigation that uncovered the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
On TV he appeared in the WWII movie The Tuskegee Airmen, on the TNT drama Men of a Certain Age, and made appearances on the likes of House, New Girl, BoJack Horseman, and The Good Fight. He reprised Pemberton on Law & Order, as his Homicide costar Richard Belzer did.
That Braugher was on two big cop shows does not mean he was necessarily pro-cop. Brooklyn Nine-Nine headed into its eighth and final season in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, when a comedy about police no longer seemed so funny. Braugher addressed the “new challenge” facing the show, which had to find a way to tell jokes without parroting false ideas.
“It’s a very complicated subject, but I think they have to be portrayed much more realistically, in terms of this: The convention… that police breaking the law is okay because somehow it’s in the service of some greater good, is a myth that needs to be destroyed,” he told Entertainment Weekly at the time.
Braugher left behind a vast body of work that will be studied and shared for time immemorial. We leave you with some of his most beautiful line readings, of too many to count, from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. RIP to a legend.
Nikola Jokic has turned into one of the most must-watch athletes in the world. Few athletes in any sport are able to mix Jokic’s size with his total mastery of his game, and whenever he goes into an opposing arena, fans who want to see him lose pay money to watch a genius go to work.
Unfortunately for fans of the Chicago Bulls, their enjoyment of Jokic was cut extremely short on Tuesday night. Jokic and the Denver Nuggets made their way to the Windy City, and late in the second quarter, Jokic took umbrage with a no-call that occurred while he tried to finish through contact from Nikola Vucevic. He expressed his frustrations to the referee, but didn’t really seem to go overboard with it. But despite that, Jokic got a technical foul, and not long after, he was ejected.
As you can hear, the fans in Chicago were pretty upset that their one time getting to see the reigning NBA Finals MVP in their city this year ended so abruptly.
Nikola Jokic has been ejected, and fans at the United Center who paid to see him are NOT happy pic.twitter.com/XXxLrzUa0f
Some credit here definitely goes to Adam Amin and Stacey King, the broadcasters for NBA Sports Chicago who were just as frustrated as anyone in the building that Jokic’s night came to an end. Anyway, I hope any fans in Chicago who paid to watch the officials instead of Jokic on Tuesday night enjoyed getting their money’s worth.
Nikola Jokic has turned into one of the most must-watch athletes in the world. Few athletes in any sport are able to mix Jokic’s size with his total mastery of his game, and whenever he goes into an opposing arena, fans who want to see him lose pay money to watch a genius go to work.
Unfortunately for fans of the Chicago Bulls, their enjoyment of Jokic was cut extremely short on Tuesday night. Jokic and the Denver Nuggets made their way to the Windy City, and late in the second quarter, Jokic took umbrage with a no-call that occurred while he tried to finish through contact from Nikola Vucevic. He expressed his frustrations to the referee, but didn’t really seem to go overboard with it. But despite that, Jokic got a technical foul, and not long after, he was ejected.
As you can hear, the fans in Chicago were pretty upset that their one time getting to see the reigning NBA Finals MVP in their city this year ended so abruptly.
Nikola Jokic has been ejected, and fans at the United Center who paid to see him are NOT happy pic.twitter.com/XXxLrzUa0f
Some credit here definitely goes to Adam Amin and Stacey King, the broadcasters for NBA Sports Chicago who were just as frustrated as anyone in the building that Jokic’s night came to an end. Anyway, I hope any fans in Chicago who paid to watch the officials instead of Jokic on Tuesday night enjoyed getting their money’s worth.
The NBA has cracked down on technical fouls for players hanging on the rim after dunks this season. It’s been a source of frustration for players and fans, because while there have always been rules that are designed to prevent guys from hanging on the rim unless they’re trying to avoid falling in a way that would cause them to get hurt, referees have been quick with T’s this year, even when guys are just trying to be safe.
We got one of those moments on Tuesday night as the Dallas Mavericks played host to the Los Angeles Lakers. Tim Hardaway Jr. dunked in transition, then held onto the rim just a tick too long and got hit with a technical — you can see that there’s a tiny bit of contact from Anthony Davis that looks like it pushed Hardaway forward, and he waited until his momentum brought him backwards before he landed.
It is, to put it bluntly, one of the worst calls you will ever see. And in the immediate aftermath, Reggie Miller of TNT — who is not the kind of person to really tear into referees on a broadcast — said this was the worst technical foul he’s ever seen for hanging on the rim.
“This is absolutely the worst technical foul I’ve ever seen… Joey Crawford would have ever would have called that.”
Reggie Miller went OFF at the officials after Tim Hardaway Jr. got hit with a tech for hanging on the rim after his dunk pic.twitter.com/9mZwGBc5Sb
Bacardi/Appleton Estate/Ron Del Barrilito/Diplomatico/istock/Uproxx
When it comes to trying something new, especially a spirit like rum, the worst thing you can do is walk into your local liquor store and grab the first bottle that looks appealing. Sure, the flashy label might draw you in and it could even be good but… also maybe not. When getting into a spirit like rum, it’s best to do your homework before you simply dive right in.
Your wallet will thank you.
Nick Jackon, head bartender at The Rum House in New York City has a specific brand he directs novice rum drinkers to. “Any of The Real McCoy Rum range is usually what I go to for those new to the category,” he says. “The Real McCoy is an honest brand that does not add anything to their rums, no sugar or color added. A lot of people have had lower quality rum with too much sugar or flavor added to it and come away thinking they don’t like all rum.”
We asked a handful of well-known bartenders and beverage managers to tell us their picks for the best rums for beginners. Keep scrolling to see all of their picks.
Appleton Estate 12-Year Rare Casks Jamaican Rum is a great choice for beginners. it is a smooth, great-tasting, high-quality rum without any added sugars, flavorings, or adulterants.
Tasting Notes:
It is rich and silky. This sipper entices with caramel and vanilla aromas. The palate opens with deep toffee and caramel and a drying dose of oak, then the finish dazzles with spice: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and black pepper.
The best rum for someone who is just approaching this liquor is Bacardi Reserva Ocho. This sweet and spiced rum is made from a special selection of barrel-aged reserve rums and aged for a minimum of eight years.
Tasting Notes:
This long aging process gives this rum a refined flavor with notes of prune, apricot, nutmeg, and vanilla. It’s nice and smooth.
Plantation 3 Stars
Plantation
Tracy Javier, lead mixologist at VUE Rooftop at Hotel Washington
Plantation 3 Stars is an amazing rum for those trying to break into the spirit. Honestly, a few expressions from Plantation rum will sway a novice to the Caribbean sweet spirit but for a starter rum, this one will do it. Plantation 3 Stars is a blend of the region’s three primary countries: Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you get a bit of brown sugar, subtle coffee beans, and baking spices. Taste-wise, it is light-bodied and creamy. You get a little bit of sarsaparilla and egg cream finishing off a bit grassy. It’s smooth and easy.
Diplomatico Mantuano is a great choice for rum beginners. This complex, blended rum is well-known for its rich, sippable flavor profile. It’s a balanced rum with a dryer finish.
Tasting Notes:
Some rums can be aggressive, but not this one, which is good for someone starting their rum journey. Subtle notes of dried fruit, caramel, and vanilla.
Equiano Light
Equiano
Richie Barrow, general manager of food and beverage at Tribe Hotels Group in Nairobi, Kenya
Thinking back to the paint stripper that was labeled as rum that I first drank with my brother many years ago, I almost feel obliged to share advice I would have loved to have been given: Equiano Light. It makes for a very approachable and light-drinking rum that is a great gateway to more complicated rums.
Tasting Notes:
Bridging two continents, this rum brand uses barrel-aged molasses rum from the Caribbean fused with fresh sugarcane juice from Africa. You’ll find notable aromas of vanilla, dried oak, and tropical fruits, as well as flavors of apples, pears, vanilla, and sugarcane.
The Real McCoy 12-Year
The Real McCoy
Nick Jackon, head bartender at The Rum House in New York City
I would start with The Real McCoy 5 Year or just go straight to The Real McCoy 12 Year if sipping on it neat. Made at the ‘very well known in the rum world’ Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, it is very approachable and surprises a lot of people with its premium, mature, and complex nature converting most people to liking rum again.
Tasting Notes:
With a palate that highlights the 12 years aged in ex-bourbon casks like vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, and other baking spices complemented with slight orange zest and peppery spice notes.
Crafted by hand with the same methods since 1880, Ron del Barrilito Two Stars is a younger rum suited for everyday drinking and use in cocktails while being accessible to those new to the spirit.
Tasting Notes:
It has a light-medium body, and caramelized aromas of plums, almonds, apricot, and vanilla, along with subtle smoky, oaky notes.
Anything Foursquare that’s aged. A great choice is Foursquare Exceptional Cask 2009. Barbados rum is essentially the epitome of what rum is in many ways and sits right in the center between the extremes of things like Clairin/Clement, Hampden, and aged Don Q. It takes some of those elements without being too much in any direction, a perfect balance in many ways.
Tasting Notes:
It keeps a lot of that oak and vanilla softness on the palate that bourbon drinkers love while also bringing forward that signature burnt caramel and spices that rum is known for.
Plantation Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum
Plantation
Alex Barbatsis, bar director at The Whistler in Chicago
A great rum to start with is Plantation Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum. It’s a rum blend that’s been infused and distilled with pineapple. If that’s not a good way to get started in the rum world, I don’t know what is.
Tasting Notes:
It’s soft, sweet, and fruity and the perfect rum for beginners since it has amazing depth, plenty of flavors, and is very approachable. It’s also not very expensive if you’re looking to build up a back bar.
Ron Zacapa No. 23 Centenario
Ron Zacapa
Phil Castello, owner and bartender at The Side Lot in Chicago
Ron Zacapa No. 23 Centenario is a great choice for beginners. This Guatemalan-made expression is a blend of rums between six and 23 years old, matured using the solera system in barrels that previously held wine as well as ex-bourbon barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Zacapa No 23. Loads of flavor on its own but add a little splash of water or a chip of ice and it pops. It’s filled with flavors like apricots, oaky wood, tobacco, vanilla beans, and light spices.
Amy Winehouse‘s story is finally coming to the screen. The singer’s biopic, titled Back To Back, will arrive in theaters next May via Focus Features, Variety is reporting.
Back To Back, named after Winehouse’s breakthrough sophomore album, will reportedly offer fans a look at Winehouse’s rise to fame, along with the process of creating and releasing her Back To Black album. Winehouse will be played by Marisa Abela, from HBO’s Industry. Also starring in Back To Black are Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan, and Lesley Manville.
“Told from Amy’s perspective, the film is an unapologetic look at the woman behind the phenomenon and the relationship that inspired one of the most legendary albums of all time,” read a statement accompanying the film’s announcement.
The film is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, who directed the Fifty Shades Of Grey film series, with a script by Matt Greenhalgh. The two previously collaborated on the movie Nowhere Boy, another biopic — this one with John Lennon as the subject, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
According to Variety, Back To Black was produced with the approval of the Amy Winehouse estate, Universal Music Group and Sony Music Publishing.
Back To Black arrives in US theaters 5/10/2024 via Focus Features.
Hugh Grant has always been delightfully grumpy, but lately he’s upped the ante. At the Oscars earlier this year he gave a hilariously disinterested interview. He’s on a press tour for Wonka, which reunites him with his Paddington 2 director James King. Grant has not held back, confessing he had a miserable time playing a mostly CGI Oompa Loompa. Another thing he didn’t like? Having to dance.
During a group interview for Entertainment Weekly, Grant’s costars — including Timothée Chalamet, Keegan-Michael Key, and Calah Lane — asked if the dances he did in the film were real, considering most of his performance is CGI.
“I did do it, yes,” Grant admitted.
King chimed in to elaborate. “No animator could dance that angrily,” he said. “It’s the angriest dancing in film history.”
Grant is no fan of dancing onscreen. Last year he admitted he found the frügging he had to do in Love Actually, in which his Prime Minister wilds out to The Pointer Sisters’ “Jump (For My Love),” to be “excruciating.”
“I saw it in the script and I thought, ‘Well, I’ll hate doing that,’” Grant recalled. “I didn’t fancy doing the dance at all, let alone rehearsing it.”
Perhaps King was trying to torture him by making him dance again. In Wonka, Grant’s 18-inch Oompa Loompa not only does some dancing, but he even wields a flute. During the EW sit-down, Grant spoke about the animation team that took footage of him standing around with a helmet into the creature seen onscreen.
“The bit that’s my face is frankly mediocre,” he said, self-deprecatingly.
In a press conference for the film from last week, Grant was more open about disliking his Wonka experience. Per Deadline:
“I made a big fuss about it,” Grant said. “I couldn’t have hated the whole thing more.” Asked if the ends justified the means, he replied: “Not really.”
Grant later joked that it was nothing personal against Wonka and director Paul King. “I slightly hate [making films] but I have lots of children and need money,” he said.
This year’s Uproxx Gift Guides are brought to you by Sirius XM. Check out their site to find all the holiday music and content you need to get into the giving spirit.
How’s the holiday shopping going?
By now you’ve probably picked up some shiny new tech for that fitness lover in your life. You grabbed that record player for the audiophile to spin their Christmas vinyl. You’ve picked up some great bottles of booze and bar tools. Now you have to shop for the pickiest person in your family or friend circle… the sneakerhead.
Sneakerheads are very specific about what type of shoes they want. The brand loyalty is next level, with a almost-religious devotion. Buy an Adidas fan a sneaker with a swoosh on it and watch their faces instantly transform from joy to horror.
We don’t want you in that position so before you hit up our ultimate sneakerhead gift guide for 2023, do a quick scan of their social media posts. If the person you’re shopping for is a true sneakerhead they are guaranteed to have pictures of their shoes. What do you see? Pay attention to the brands and you’ll have some sense of what the sneakerhead in your life cares about.
If you’re still out of ideas, let us help you! Here is a list of great gifts any sneakerhead will be psyched over! This list is a mix of sneaker accessories and dope pairs of shoes. Once you’re done here, be sure and complete the fit and check out our streetwear gift guide. Let’s dive in!
Lace Lab Shoe Laces
Lace Lab
Price: Varies
It seems cheap and almost too obvious to get a sneakerhead laces but you have no idea how much we think about laces! Whether we’re replacing dirty laces for a pristine set or changing up the color scheme of our sneakers by adding some contrast, there is a reason why big sneaker releases come with multiple sets. We’re absolute dorks about laces!
Lace Lab is a great one-stop shop for all things laces, whether you’re looking for flats, ropes, waxed, reflective laces, or replacement laces! Considering laces will run you around $5 give or take, you can buy a whole variety of colors and give the gift of choice!
BUY IT FOR:
Literally any sneakerhead. If they collect shoes, they think about laces to an unhealthy degree.
Traveling with multiple pairs of sneakers is a real headache, but ask any sneakerhead, that’s not going to stop us from wanting to bring multiple pairs no matter how short the trip. If you’ve ever tried to bring a variety of footwear with you on a trip, you’ll be aware of just how much valuable bag real estate sneakers can take up, so rather than trying to shove it all in a bag, the easy fix is a dedicated duffle for sneakers.
I’ve yet to find a bag that serves me better than the Sneaker Duffle by Private Label NYC. The bag features adjustable dividers that allow you to carry up to four pairs of sneakers, inner pickets for extra laces and other gear, side pockets for quick access, an inner compartment that can store a 16” laptop, and a padded shoulder strap.
The bag is TSA compliant, which means the sneakerhead in your life can check their unimportant luggage and bring their coveted sneakers on the plane with them for added piece of mind.
BUY IT FOR:
The sneakerhead who spends a lot of time traveling.
The Container Store — Drop-Front Shoe Translucent Shoe Box
Container Store
Price: $79.99
Once you have even three pairs of sneakers, storage becomes a real issue. Nothing looks worse than having multiple pairs of sneakers strewn around a bedroom floor, so get the sneakerhead in your life some storage so they can protect, store, and display their favorite pairs.
The Container Store has a great six-pair case that features a translucent door and comes in five different colors and three different sizes. The boxes are designed to carry sneakers and boots, so any piece in their collection should be able to fit no problem.
BUY IT FOR:
The sneakerhead who has way too many pairs of shoes.
There are all sorts of different sneaker cleaning kits out there, every sneakerhead needs one but they rarely want to buy a kit because for double the price, they might be able to pick up a pair of sneakers on sale.
So just buy one for the sneakerhead in your life, they’ll be forever thankful. No other kit is as fully featured as the Reshoevn8r signature kit. The kit features three different bristle brushes (soft, medium, or stiff) a pair of shoe trees to help sneakers keep their shape, a microfiber towel for wipe down, a cleaning solution that works on all sneaker fabrics, and a sneaker laundry bag for deep clean situations.
BUY IT FOR:
The sneakerhead who cares to keep their shoes looking as fresh as the day they bought them.
The key to keeping a super crispy pair of sneakers is repel spray. This orderless and colorless spray by Jason Markk will create a breathable barrier around a pair of sneakers that will repel liquids and stains. Cleaning your sneakers is important, but once stains set in it can be hard to remove them, repel spray makes it so that those damaging stains never get a chance to settle into the fabric and cause real damage.
Now the spray is PFOA-free and comes in a refillable bottle, meaning it’s better for the environment than most of the other brands on the market.
BUY IT FOR:
Sneakerheads who like to wear their most collectible pairs in the wild.
When all else fails and you’ve run out of time and ideas a gift card is always appreciated by sneakerheads. Just hit up their favorite brand’s website (or all three) and purchase a physical or e-gift card. It might feel like a lame gift, but everyone loves the power of choice and any sneakerhead is guaranteed to love this one.
BUY IT FOR:
Any sneakerhead, just make sure you get the brand right. Below we’re linking to Adidas, New Balance, and Nike in that order.
Right now Adidas’ most popular silhouette is a sneaker they dropped in the ‘40s. That’s not a knock on the quality of Adidas’ current output, it’s a testament to how strong of a design that Samba is.
The reason for the renewed popularity of the Samba is obvious — the sneaker looks dope, there is a colorway for everyone and a new pair will only run you $100. Sneakers can be expensive and when you spend a lot of money on shoes you start doing weird things like coming up with justifications for why you shouldn’t wear them.
That doesn’t happen with a pair of Sambas. You put them on, wear them out, and when they’re done you buy a new pair.
BUY IT FOR:
That Adidas head in your family or friend circle. Or someone who loves shoes but cares more about the rest of their fit. That’s the type of person who will know Sambas are hot right now.
Jae Tips x Saucony Grid Shadow 2 ‘What’s The Occasion? — Wear To The Party’
GOAT
Price: Varies by size
Originally, I wanted to put this sneaker on our Best Sneakers Of 2023 year-end list but it just missed the cut — so I’m using this gift guide as a way to point people in the direction of this fantastic sneaker.
The Grid Shadow 2 is a collaboration between New York rapper Jae Tips and Saucony, a brand that is currently making waves in the sneaker community for offering an alternative to the big brands. The sneaker features an upper composed of double-layer mesh with premium hairy suede overlays, embroidered details throughout, and two sets of laces.
It’s a great pair of shoes that dropped at this year’s ComplexCon and immediately sold out online. Luckily, you can still purchase this sneaker on the aftermarket for a price just above retail.
BUY IT FOR:
The sneakerhead who is looking for something that isn’t Nike, Adidas, or New Balance.
Right now the fashion world is obsessed with Y2K aesthetics, and no single sneaker from Nike’s roster encapsulates that retro-futuristic vibe like the Zoom Vomero 5, which is why right now it’s one of the brand’s most popular silhouettes.
There are all sorts of colorways out there to choose from but you can never go wrong with a classic Triple Black makeup. The sneaker is available in just about every women’s and men’s size.
BUY IT FOR:
That Nike fan who is obsessed with all things early 2000’s.
Jordan fans are by far the pickiest of all sneakerheads and yet, the easiest to shop for. They care very deeply about one type of sneaker — Jordans, and while there are over 20 different models, Jordans 1-12 are pretty much universally loved. Our pick for this gift guide is one of our top 20 sneakers of the year, The Jordan 11 Gratitude.
Here is all you need to know about the Gratitude: it’s a re-release of the Jordan 11’s most famous color scheme. Be prepared for your giftee to shed tears.
Aimé Leon Dore is one of the best menswear brands working right now, combine that brand with New Balance, the only sneaker brand that is capable of coming for Nike’s crown and you have the ultimate cool kid collaboration.
Dropping this week, the ALD x New Balance 997 is a leather sneaker with tumbled leather overlays and an open mesh tongue that is made in the United States of America. We love its minimal yet classic design.
These adidas Skateboarding x DIME collabs are always so freaking cool. In this case, well… check this shoe out, what’s not to love?
The team at DIME clearly knows that pink never goes out of style when it’s soft like this. “Hot pink” is a fad but this softer pink hue is cooler and sharper and feels timeless.
Some of the best details of this shoe aren’t visible in the image. The tongue tag is pink, the soles are pink, and the insoles are two-tone pink. Best of all the silhouette looks great. It’s a relative of the Samba by follows the shape of your foot a little more and looks great with jeans, wide-leg pants, or sweats. Plus it’s a true skate shoe, with a midsole that can stand up to serious wear.
These are my everyday shoes right now and I get a lot of comments.
BUY THEM FOR:
Someone with the confidence to rock soft pink and a lesser-known silhouette with confidence. Maybe yourself!
2023 saw the release of some genuinely fantastic bottles of American whiskey that fell in between the classic styles of bourbon, rye, and American single malt. As a result, American whiskey was one of the most exciting corners of the U.S. whiskey industry in 2023. The beauty of the American whiskey movement is the space allowed distillers and blenders to experiment and play with whiskey as a whole.
It’s exciting! Making it sort of the perfect time to rank the best American whiskeys of 2023.
For this list, I’ve compiled 30 great American whiskeys of 2023 that helped define American whiskey as a category. These whiskeys are often blends of straight bourbon and ryes, wheat whiskeys, malt and bourbon blends, and unique mash bills (recipes). While all of these American whiskeys are high in quality, I did rank them and since this category is so broad, there aren’t as many throughlines as with straight bourbon or American single malt.
The depth and breadth of the flavor profiles are what sets these whiskeys apart from each other. Because truly there is a lot of variation at play. But that just means that there are more options for you to find and enjoy throughout the next year!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
The team from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Rob McElhenny) have released their first permanent mainstream whiskey. This new release is an Irish American whiskey made with American rye and Irish whiskey (a blend of malt and grain whiskeys). The whiskey is batched in the U.S. and proofed down to a very dive-bar-friendly 80-proof.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Hints of dried chilis, old leather, vanilla-laced honey, apple tarts, and caramel candy mingle on the nose.
Palate: The Irishness arrives in spades on the palate with bright apple orchard vibes next to flora honey, a hint of yellow straw, light nutshells, and a moment of sultanas just kissed with caramel.
Finish: The apple swings back around on the finish with a sense of fresh apple cider just kissed with cinnamon and caramel before fading toward leathery malt.
Bottom Line:
This whiskey is built to be a dive bar sipper and highball mixer. It nails that vibe perfectly with a nice and easygoing drinkability.
29. American Hell House Legend American Whiskey Finished With Oak Staves
This new whiskey from Lynyrd Skynyrd celebrates the cabin, Hell House, where the original band came together. The whiskey in the bottles is made and bottled by Bespoke Spirits out in California based on the current band’s multiple tastings and tinkering.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich caramel, boot leather, and allspice drive the nose toward soft raspberry ice cream and a sense of sweet honeydew and maybe even some caramelized watermelon.
Palate: More caramelized fruit leads to woody winter spices, a light sense of dried lavender, rosewater, and almost rich cotton candy just kissed with apple or pear.
Finish: The end is light but does lean into the sweetness of the cotton candy and the dryness of the florals with a slight oakiness and minerality.
Bottom Line:
This is far better than it has the right to be as a celeb-labeled sourced bottle. It’s soft and deep and will make for a good on the rocks sipper while you spin your Skynyrd vinyl.
28. Breckenridge Whiskey Finished in PX Naranja Cask
This is a batch of Breckenridge’s four to six-year-old whiskeys. Once batched, the whiskey is re-barreled into 20-year-old PX sherry casks that were used to macerate Seville oranges for eight months. The whiskey spends about three months finishing in those casks before batching, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Candied peach and apricot lead to bitter chinotto orange with a deep sense of rum raisin and winter spice over lush vanilla.
Palate: That rum raisin really pops on the palate with a rich marmalade over cinnamon toast, fig pudding, and a touch of old spice barks and smudging sage.
Finish: The end leans hard into the chinotto with plenty of marmalade sweetness, winter spice, and cedar cigar humidors.
Bottom Line:
This is a great candidate for old fashioneds thanks to that orange vibe. It’s also bright enough to be a good icy summer sipper.
27. Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series Amaro Nonino A Blend of Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskey Finished in Amara Nonino Barrels
This brand-new release from Bardstown Bourbon Company combines Kentucky and Indiana with Italian amaro. The whiskey is a blend of 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon with two Indiana rye whiskeys. Once batched, that whiskey was re-filled in Amaro Nonino Quintessentia Riserva barrels for a long 17-month rest before batching, a touch of proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this is like a walk through a candy store with rich caramel chews mingling with vanilla cakes, chocolate chews, brandied cherries covered in dark chocolate before dark stewed apples and pears cut with bright orange zest arrive with a whisper of … pumpkin pie.
Palate: Roasting herbs pop on the palate with hints of absinth and caraway-encrusted rye bread before pancake syrup leads back to caramel and honey sweetness with a hint of vanilla pound cake.
Finish: The end circles back around to the botanicals and herbs with a deep sense of oily rosemary thyme next to star anise, allspice, and clove over this whisper of dried lavender and chamomile.
Bottom Line:
This is probably the most “acquired taste” whiskey on the list. That said, this will work wonders in a Sazerac or boulevardier thanks to that deep and botanical amaro vibe.
26. Keeper’s Heart Whiskey Irish + American Single Barrel Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels
This new release from Keeper’s Heart up in Minnesota blends Irish whiskey with American Rye. Once batched, that whiskey was re-barreled into a maple syrup barrel for another rest. Once that barrel hit the right notes, it was bottled as-is with a hint of proofing water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich vanilla custard with a hint of cotton candy drives the nose toward pecan waffles with salted butter and real maple syrup next to hints of apple fritters, nutty fruit cake, and a touch of leathery tobacco.
Palate: The taste opens with creme brûlée swimming in more maple syrup as deep and rich vanilla tobacco leads to softer notes of almond, malted chocolate, and a hint of winter spice mixes.
Finish: The vanilla creaminess and spices meld on the finish with a touch of spiced warm apple cider, soft almond, and mincemeat pies all grounded by rich and real maple syrup sweetness that nearly takes on a rock candy vibe.
Bottom Line:
This is dessert in a glass. Pour one over a big rock or into your favorite cocktail after a big holiday meal.
25. Wyoming Whiskey Outryder American Straight Whiskey
This whiskey from Wymonig is a blend of an “almost” straight rye whiskey with a Wyoming Whiskey’s high-rye bourbon. That whiskey is just touched with local water before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich sourdough rye bread with a hint of caraway and dill leads to beeswax and orange rinds with a whisper of Black Forest cake on the nose.
Palate: The chocolate from that cake drives the palate as a whisper of taco seasoning leads to brown butter and this fleeting sense of orange creamsicle.
Finish: Pecan waffles, butter, and maple syrup drive the finish toward more dark spice and a touch of apple fritter with that creamy orange lurking beneath it all.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the best releases from Wyoming Whiskey. The orange creamsicle vibe is very reminiscent of youthful summers with a nice rye kick, making this one perfect for whiskey-forward cocktails all summer long.
This new release from Chicken Cock (yes, yes, get your laughs out) is a new mix. The blend in the bottle is a mix of eight-year-old Kentucky whiskeys that have been double-barreled, meaning that they were aged in new American oak for a spell and then were re-barreled in new new American oak barrels. This adds an extra layer of fresh and vibrant wood sugars to the mix, really amping up the flavor profile of the wood.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dark caramel opens the nose before diving into creamy espresso, dark chocolate-dipped cherry and raspberry, and a mild sense of really fancy Almond Joy.
Palate: Whiskey-soaked red berries and vanilla beans drive the palate before ice cream waffle cones, cherry ice cream, and holiday cakes full of winter spice, roasted nuts, and toasted coconut thrive on the taste.
Finish: The creaminess amps up the finish with a sense of toffee pudding and cinnamon ice cream with a sense of berry compote spiked with allspice and clove over a mild sense of pipe tobacco and cedar bark.
Bottom Line:
This is a bourbon-adjacent pour that has deep and lush creaminess. It’s perfect for mixing whiskey-forward cocktails any ol’ time of year.
The second edition of Bernheim Wheat Whiskey Barrel Proof is made with a mash bill of 51% winter wheat, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley. That whiskey was then left to age for seven to nine years before prime barrels were chosen for batching. Once batched, the whiskey went into the bottle 100% as-is at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Fresh loaves of whole grain bread vibe with rich oaky winter pieces on the nose before soft vanilla cake, hints of dry grass, old leather tobacco pouches, and a touch of dried orange round things out.
Palate: Rich buttery toffee drives the palate toward clove-laced honey next to dry orange oils, salted caramel, rum raisin, and hints of cedar bark braided with smudging sage and dry tobacco.
Finish: Piney honey and salted caramel attach to the tobacco as dry straw and back porch wicker lead to a sense of dry winter spice and soft caramel candy corn.
Bottom Line:
This is an earthy and sharp whiskey that flutters toward bourbon throughout the profile, making this a great choice for when you want to change up your bourbon routine.
22. Old Elk Cigar Cut Island Blend Straight Whiskies Finished in Port, Sauternes, Sherry, and Rum Barrels
This new blend from Old Elk mixes their six-year-old high-malt bourbon with six-year-old Old Elk rye and six-year-old Old Elk wheat whiskey. That straight whiskey was then finished in a combination of port, sauternes, sherry, and rum barrels before batching and then bottling as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Honey cut with cinnamon sticks and clove buds drives the nose towards bruised peaches and pureed apricot over a hint of orange that’s just kissed with salt and black pepper.
Palate: Some more honey touches the tip of your tongue as a sense of tangerines and honeydew leads to more of that black pepper with a light sense of woody winter spice and vanilla oils.
Finish: A dash of fresh dragonfruit arrives late and accents the black pepper sharpness with a deep but fresh fruitness cut with more dark winter spice and a touch of rummy funkiness.
Bottom Line:
This is a fruit bomb that’ll work wonderfully with citrus-forward cocktails. It also works as a sipper over rocks if you’re looking for deep fruitiness in your whiskey.
21. Three Chord Cask-Finished Bourbon & Corn Whiskey Finished in Honey & Toasted Barrels
This is from a wide-ranging whiskey brand created by Neil Giraldo (Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame guitarist and producer behind Pat Bantar and Rick Springfield’s biggest hits). The whiskey in this expression is hewn from a high-rye five-year-old MGP bourbon, a standard six-year-old MGP bourbon, and an eight-year-old Kentucky corn whiskey. Those barrels are batched and the whiskey is re-barrelled into toasted barrels from ISC and Speyside cooperages for three months. Then those barrels are batched and that whiskey is then re-barreled once more into Fern Valley Farms honey casks for one final month of mellowing.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This has a nice spiciness to the nose that leans into cedar and smudging sage with a hint of nasturtiums, creamy honey, and gingerbread cookies.
Palate: The mouthfeel is lush with a nice layering of corncake with honey, vanilla malt with a cherry on top, and bold winter spice barks and botanicals with a hint of burnt orange and red chili pepper.
Finish: The spice ramps up on the end with a good Kentucky hug (more a buzz than a burn) next to light white grits cut with butter, honey, and caramel with a hint of orchard fruit lurking behind it all.
Bottom Line:
This is classically woody and spicy with a nice balance of soft creaminess. Overall, this is an everyday sipper over ice that works in any cocktail application.
This new whiskey is from country star Eric Chruch. The whiskey in the bottle is a blend of American whiskeys. 70% is a corn-fueled Indiana bourbon that’s at least eight years old. 21% is a Canadian rye that’s 20 years old. And 9% is an American single malt that’s four years old.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a hint of old dried roses on the nose that leads to caramel-crusted doughnuts dusted with cinnamon next to a whisper of dried cranberry and turkey roasting herbs.
Palate: The cranberry leans toward dried cherry dipped in chocolate with a dash of woody baking spices over honey-dipped kindling with a dash of fresh pipe tobacco.
Finish: That pipe tobacco takes in the tart red cherries and woody spice as a lush vanilla base with rich caramel and soft nuttiness slowly warms your palate with sharp winter spice barks and burnt orange.
Bottom Line:
This is a very dialed whiskey with super succinct flavor notes that shine, especially over a big ice cube. The cherry spice and woody tobacco with a hint of chocolate make this a great candidate for old fashioneds or Manhattans.
19. J. Rieger & Co. 2023 Monogram Whiskey Kansas City Whiskey Solera Reserve
This whiskey is made with Rieger’s classic Kansas City blended whiskey, which is a mix of straight bourbon, straight rye, and light corn whiskey. Once batched, that whiskey is re-barreled into 10 huge Oloroso sherry butts that held 15-year-old Oloroso Especial and were 50 to 100 years old when shipped to Kansas.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: French toast leads to rich maple syrup on the nose before veering into candied orange, grilled peach, old cedar bark, and rich pipe tobacco with a sense of salted buttercream.
Palate: Pecan pies and cream soda drive the palate toward Black Forest cake, spiced winter nut cakes, rum raisin, and vanilla cookies with a hint of almond oil and fig.
Finish: The end leans into the winter cake of it all with tons of spice, brandy-soaked fruits, and nuts next to old cedar and tobacco braided together in an old leather pouch.
Bottom Line:
This is just good damn whiskey with a nice dessert vibe. Pour one of these after a big holiday meal and you’ll be all set.
18. The Beverly Reserve Barrel Strength American Whiskey Batch 001
This new release from The Beverly is a limited edition small batch at barrel strength. The blend in the bottle is 60% straight bourbon from Iowa and 40% Indiana rye. Those barrels were batched and bottled at Cedar Ridge in Iown for The Beverly, yielding only 550 bottles.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Pecan waffles with plenty of butter, vanilla, and caramel open the nose toward maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, red chili pepper, and toasted marshmallows.
Palate: The pecans take on a cookie vibe on the palate as brown butter and rum raisin mingle with cinnamon syrup cut with orange and a whisper of chocolate.
Finish: That cinnamon and orange get buttery and lush with a sense of nut cake covered in caramel drizzle with a flake of salt and tobacco before a warming sense of chili arrives on the very end.
Bottom Line:
This feels like Christmas in a glass with a great depth for sippability (especially over a big rock). But don’t sleep on this one as a cocktail base. Use it in your favorite whiskey-forward cocktails, especially during the winter months.
17. Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series Carter Cellars A Blend of American Straight Whiskies Finished in Carter Cellars Napa Cabernet Barrels
This new release from Bardstown Bourbon Company is a custom blend of bourbon (one 17-year-old and one 12-year-old) and rye. Once batched, that whiskey was then re-barreled into 10 Carter Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet barrels and left to mellow for 14 more months. Those barrels were then batched and the whiskey was bottled 100% as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Blackberry crumble cut with plenty of cinnamon and allspice leads the nose toward dark and well-worn leather over pecan shells, vanilla malts, and hints of lavender flowers.
Palate: That blackberry and pecan vibe amp up the palate as rich and luscious vanilla buttercream makes space for old oak staves and dry espresso bean-laced tobacco rolled with cedar bark.
Finish: The end leans into the wood with a hint of mulled wine and Christmas spice cakes before the tobacco and cedar rise on the very end.
Bottom Line:
This is a bright and beautiful whiskey that works wonderfully as a food-pairing pour with a big meal with big flavors.
16. Chattanooga Whiskey Founder’s 11th Anniversary Blend A Blend of Straight Whiskeys
This very limited edition whiskey is made from a blend of Chattanooga’s own whiskey blended with classic whiskey from MGP of Indiana. All the barrels are over two years old (young by a lot of people’s “standards”) and barrelled in toasted and charred oak. Those barrels were batched (using nine to 11 barrels at a time) and that whiskey was then added to Chattanooga’s solera vat (where whiskey is always added before the old wooden vat is fully emptied). That whiskey was then lightly proofed and bottled as-is otherwise.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dark chocolate and nutty holiday cakes dance on the palate with a sense of spiced plum jam next to soft vanilla pudding that slowly morphs into fancy cream soda.
Palate: A hint of waffle cone and walnut salted caramel ice cream drives the palate a soft sense of oak and holiday spice barks with a hint of stewed apple/pear in the background.
Finish: The orchard fruit layers into spiced chewy tobacco with a sense of plumminess that’s part holiday cake and part creamy pudding.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for the perfect pour to wash down that mincemeat pie this holiday season, this is the whiskey to pour.
15. Middle West Double Cask Collection Oloroso Wheat Whiskey
This limited edition release from Ohio’s Middle West is all about the locally-grown red winter wheat in the mash bill (recipe). That wheaty beer is distilled and then loaded into new American oak where it rests for five years. Those barrels are batched and that whiskey goes into Spanish Oloroso sherry casks before batching and proofing.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Classic bourbon notes of rich vanilla and spiced oak lead the nose toward rich and creamy eggnog with plenty of allspice and nutmeg next to cinnamon sticks dipped in warm apple cider.
Palate: Lush marzipan dipped in salted dark chocolate and rolled in dried dark cherries vibe with brandy-soaked prunes and dates next to subtle hints of burnt orange and old oak.
Finish: Those brandy-soaked raisins drive the finish toward an end brimming with dark chocolate, dark cherry, and dark spice vibes.
Bottom Line:
This is just nice and so easygoing while delivering deep and wintry flavor notes. It feels like a warm blanket next to a crackling fire.
The new Distillery Series from Woodford Reserve just dropped. This year’s release is a blend of Woodford’s rye, bourbon, wheat, and malt whiskeys. Once batched, that blend was re-barreled in brand-new toasted oak barrels for another rest.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich butterscotch is countered by moist marzipan on the nose with a sense of cedar kindling, fresh tobacco, and rich honeycomb with. a sense of almost earthy brown sugar.
Palate: Cinnamon bark and clove buds drive the palate toward toffee and maple syrup with a sense of crisp apples and dark cherries next to light touches of orange, espresso, and grassy orchards.
Finish: The end leans into fresh firewood with a nice sense of sweet caramel sauce, fresh marzipan, and cinnamon holiday cakes with a hint of eggnog on the back end.
Bottom Line:
This balances dark winter spice and bright summer sweetness so well. It’s a fun ride that works however and whenever you want to sip it.
13. Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Blend of Straight Whiskeys Cask Strength
This California whiskey is a blend of two whiskeys that range from three to 12 years old. The base is a rye mash of 94% rye, 5% malted barley, and a mere 1% wheat mixed with a bourbon mash of 74% corn, 20% raw rye, 4.5% malted barley, and 1.5% wheat. Once blended, that whiskey goes into the bottle at cask strength with no fussing whatsoever.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a bold nose full of old boot leather, dried chanterelles, cedar bark, a whisper of cumin and chili powder, and creamy yet sharp mint chocolate ice cream.
Palate: The palate opens with a cherry bomb that’s tempered by mild ABV warmth and buzzing before spiced apricot jam arrives with a soft scone, creamed butter, and bright Turkish Delights on the mid-palate.
Finish: Those soft and fruity candies give way to meaty dates and rum-soaked raisins with a hint of vanilla candy, apple cider tobacco, and a flutter of white pepper.
Bottom Line:
This year’s Redwood Empire batch dialed in this whiskey even more, giving it a lovely sipability over rocks and gorgeous mixability into your favorite whiskey-forward cocktails.
12. High West The Prisoner’s Share A Blend of Straight Whiskeys
This is blended whiskey made from straight whiskeys (mostly ryes and bourbons) that are sent out to Utah for batching. Once blended, those whiskeys are then re-barreled into The Prisoner Red Blend wine barrels for a final, high-altitude rest. Finally, the barrels are batched, just kissed with water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This has a fruity nose that’s bright and tart with black currants, pomegranate, and sour cherry next to darker dried fruits — prunes, dates, figs — over fermented honey, gingerbread, and a hint of dried roses and maybe some cherry blossom before cedar pops in.
Palate: The palate leans into the honey and dark dried fruits before veering into apricot jams, scones, and dark orange slices that are damn near juicy with a hint of black pepper.
Finish: The end has a coconut cream pie vibe that’s countered by oaky tobacco with a twinge of burnt orange.
Bottom Line:
This year’s Prisoner’s Batch is another must-have if you’re a fan of High West. The whiskey is nuanced and approachable while offering a deep profile that will reward patience as a slow sipper. Take your time to add water and return to the nose and palate more than once to find all the hidden notes of this one.
This release takes Michter’s signature Kentucky Sour Mash — which doesn’t have enough corn or rye to be either bourbon or rye whiskey — and finishes it in toasted barrels. In this case, those barrels are first air-dried for 18 months and then lightly toasted barrel before the whiskey is filled in. Finally, the booze is batched and bottled with a good dose of that Kentucky water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a soft sense of a pile of firewood cut from an old fruit orchard next to dark chocolate oranges with a flake of salt and a drop of honey with a hint of vanilla cake frosted with apple cinnamon butter frosting.
Palate: The palate has a lightly smoked cherry vibe next to clove and allspice with a sense of lush and creamy eggnog and vanilla-cherry tobacco stuffed in a slightly pitchy pine box.
Finish: The end leans into the cherry tobacco with a layer of mild chili spice and more soft and sweet orchard firewood.
Bottom Line:
This year’s Toasted Sour Mash is another “acquired taste” whiskey that balances dark and deep woodiness with soft and lush stewed fruits and creamy orange/vanilla. Think of roasting marshmallows next to a backyard campfire and then smashing those marshmallows into a cherry pie and… you’ll get the gist.
10. Blackened Cask Strength A Blend of Straight Whiskeys Finished in Black Brandy Casks
This new line from Metallica’s Blackened is all about the cask-strength versions of their now-classic “sonically-enhanced” blend of straight whiskeys. In this case, the blend is a mix of bourbon and rye that are batched and re-barrelled in black brandy casks that are blasted with, you guessed, Metallica tunes during the finishing maturation. Finally, those barrels are batched and bottled as-is at barrel strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Hints of back porch wicker on a sunny day under a cedar tree mingles with dark chocolate with a hint of salt layered with dried cherry and toasted coconut next to salted caramel lattes.
Palate: Rich bourbon vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone leads to a sugary berry syrup with a hint of cinnamon and clove on the light palate.
Finish: Cinnamon-spiced vanilla tobacco rounds out the finish with a nice balance of berry ice cream and spiced pancakes with a touch of cedar sneaking back in.
Bottom Line:
Throw on your favorite Metallica album, turn it up to 11, and sip on this one as you bang your head.
This unique release from Penelope is “light” in the sense of aging, not like a “light” beer. This is all about the barrel having no char which is classified as “light whiskey.” Anyway, this expression is a blend of MGP whiskeys (pretty much the only distillery making light whiskey) that’s left at a very high proof before bottling as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This is a wild card with familiar notes of pancake batter with plenty of vanilla, caramel corn balls, sweet apple tarts, and a mild dose of very soft yet resinous pine.
Palate: The palate moves from creamy vanilla pie toward apple crumble with plenty of butter and brown sugar, cinnamon, and tartness before a layer of soft floral citrus arrives.
Finish: The finish feels like vanilla cupcakes frosted with an eggnog frosting with plenty of powdered sugar everywhere next to a woody yet subtle spice mix.
Bottom Line:
This new version of Penelope’s Light Whiskey is a beautiful example of a style we rarely get to see. There’s a nice familiarity at play that then leads down new paths that feel fresh and unique. Add a little ice or water to let this bloom in the glass, you’ll be rewarded with a super-deep flavor profile.
This new single-barrel release from Barrell Craft Spirits via ReserveBar is a blend of bourbon and rye whiskeys. Once batched, that whiskey went into a single barrel from Islay that held peated single malt whisky over in Scotland for years. That barrel was then selected by the team at ReserveBar and bottled 100% as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose leans into smoked black pepper with a hint of salted caramel next to coconut nut clusters, demerara syrup, and a twinge of dried smoked cherry.
Palate: There’s an earthiness to the palate that’s almost mossy in a dry way next to more smoked cherry and wet brown sugar with a twinge of marzipan just kissed with dark orange.
Finish: The nuttiness drives the dry finish toward very thin whisps of smoked dark fruit and winter spice barks.
Bottom Line:
Islay and American whiskey never tasted so good. If you’re a fan of peated malt and want to sneak some into your American whiskey, then this is a must-have. It’ll be exactly what you want on the front and then take you on a wildly fun journey through the rest of the profile.
7. Whiskey War Double Double A Blend of Straight Whiskeys
This Ohio whiskey is hewn from a rye-heavy mash bill. That spicy juice is then rested in new American oak for a spell before being vatted and re-barreled into another brand-new American oak barrel, all adding up to five years of mellowing. Those barrels are then batched and bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a sweet sense of salted caramel on the nose that gives way to dried chili pepper, old wet leather sheets, pink peppercorns, and a hint of burnt orange rinds over cider-soaked cinnamon bark and raw waffle batter with a whisper of pecan.
Palate: The palate hits that burnt orange and caramel note harder as minor keys of winter spice, fruit cake, and rum raisin darken the taste.
Finish: The end has a sense of pitchy firewood and sweet oak next to smudging sage and spearmint-chocolate tobacco just dusted with lemon pepper from the 90s.
Bottom Line:
This whiskey gets better and better every year (and it started pretty damn awesome). Drink this however you like to drink your whiskey, folks.
6. Bardstown Bourbon Company Chateau Doisy Daene A Blend Of Straight Whiskeys Finished In Sauternes Barrels And Toasted Oak Barrels
This collab is a blend of 10-year-old Kentucky bourbon with six-year-old Indiana rye (with a high-corn mash bill). Those whiskeys were batched and then re-barreled into Chateau Doisy Daene Sauternes barrels for another seven months of aging before another batching session. Then that whiskey was re-barreled again into a new toasted oak barrel for a final four months before batching and bottling as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rum raisin and black-tea-soaked dates drive the nose toward bitter marmalade, brandy-soaked marzipan, cinnamon-laced apple cider, and creamed honey with a fleeting sense of white wildflowers in the summer.
Palate: Semi-fermented raisins fresh off the vine open the palate toward caramel candies cut with freshly ground cinnamon and nutmeg next to soft vanilla pound cake drizzled with toffee cut with orange and salt.
Finish: The finish leans gently toward old oak staves in a sunny grape orchard with a light sense of orange blossom, Earl Grey tea, and fresh honeycomb with a nice vanilla lush underbelly.
Bottom Line:
Okay, this is where we get into truly amazing whiskeys. This pour is outstanding, unique, and takes you places you’d never expect (in the best possible way). This is a slow sipper that deserves your time and patience as you sip and nose and find all those hidden crooks and crannies.
5. Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 2nd Edition Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey Aged 20 Years
The 2nd edition of Heaven Hill’s Heritage Collection asks what budget brand Mellow Corn would taste like when left alone for 20 years and treated like an elite whiskey. The results from the mash of 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye ended up in 110 barrels back in October 2002. After 20 long years in Heaven Hill’s famed Rickhouse 1K, they were batched and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a mix of sweet white grits cut with salted caramel and old oak on the nose next to a slight nuttiness with a hint of sweetgrass dipped in Caro Syrup.
Palate: That dry grassy nature continues on the palate as burnt orange and dry nuts balance out next to sweet dry white hominy and a hint of vanilla pods.
Finish: The end leans into the burnt orange and nuttiness with a creamy edge and a mild sense of powdered winter spices.
Bottom Line:
Few of us thought we’d ever get a 20-year-old version of Heaven Hill’s budget Mellow Corn whiskey. Here we are and it’s great. This is a pour that exceeds all expectations of corn whiskey and delivers truly one of the most nuanced sipping experiences of the year.
This whiskey is made with a fair amount of rye whiskey over a bit of bourbon in a traditional sour mash style. 2023’s release varied with the use of malted rye in the mash bill, adding an extra layer of malty depth. The whiskey was then aged in specially made toasted French oak that spent 24 months seasoning in France before they were made with barrels that spent 18 months air-drying in Kentucky before they were coppered. The barrels were all batched and bottled with just a touch of Kentucky limestone water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Soft boot leather, dried and candied orange, spiced Christmas cake, fresh vanilla beans, sultanas, and a hint of fresh firewood round out the nose with a hint of almost sweet oak char and simmering molasses cut with almond kissed with dark citrus oils.
Palate: The palate has a nice sweet spiciness like a box of Red Hots next to allspice, clove, and orange with rummy raisins, nutmeg-heavy eggnog, and a whisper of oily espresso bean sneaking in late before a bold yet measured winter spice bark sharpness arrives.
Finish: The end marries the orange oils to soft cedar notes with a woody spiciness next to soft notes of sweet cinnamon, stewed plums, minced meat pies, and brandied cherries layered with chewy tobacco leaves over a lush and creamy finish.
Bottom Line:
This is probably the best overall sipper on the list. It’s also probably the best cocktail base too. It’s versatile but so dialed that you can play dealer’s choice with it.
You know it’s fall whiskey season when Freddie Noe drops a new Little Book. Chapter 7 is a big blend of mostly bourbon and rye barrels with a single malt (finished in applewood smoked barrels) thrown in for good measure. The bourbons in the batch are four to 18 years old while the ryes are four to 10 years old. The final batch is bottled 100% as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Clove-studded oranges open the nose with a bold sense of salted caramel, dark chocolate sauce, floral honey, and old vanilla cookies just kissed with almond oils and confectioner’s sugar before hitting light notes of old earthy cellars full of old firewood and leather boots.
Palate: That floral honey opens the palate with a soft vanilla cake covered in rich buttercream amped with marzipan and salted toffee before chili-laced chocolate tobacco drives the whole taste back toward earthiness and whiskey-worn oak.
Finish: The end has a soft warmth that slowly builds with winter spice barks, clove-spiked mulled wine, black-tea-soaked dates, rum raisin, and candied orange peels and cherries with a touch of malted chocolate cookies and vanilla tobacco rolled with smudging sage and dry cedar bark.
Bottom Line:
This might be the best Little Book from Beam to date. It’s a deeply satisfying pour of whiskey that keeps giving you more every time you return to it. Plus, it’s delicious.
The fourth ever Michter’s Celebration release — and the first one since 2019 — is finally here. The bottle was slightly delayed, making it a February 2023 release this time around. This American whiskey is a collaboration between Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson. The duo chose seven whiskeys for this special blend that ranged from twelve to thirty-plus years old. Those barrels were batched and bottled without any cutting with water, creating only 328 bottles for the whole world.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose subtly opens with a sense of dark chocolate cut with brown butter, Saigon cinnamon bark, and a light note of crème brûlée made with just a drop of cognac.
Palate: That boozy vanilla opens the luxurious palate toward a dusting of winter spices — clove, anise, nutmeg — next to stewed peached and burnt orange over singed marshmallows, old smoldering hickory, and orchards full of falling leaves next to whisper of creamy black cherry and candied pecans.
Finish: Those pecans meld with woody maple syrup, more cinnamon bark, orange-studded cloves, and a sense of bushels of orchard fruits mixed with nuts and dried fruits in an old wooden basket and wrapped with thick old twine and leather next to a spiced chocolate cherry tobacco leaf dropped in the middle of it all.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent — albeit agonizingly fleeting — pour of American whiskey. This is the ultimate sipper that pulls off that magic trick of being easygoing and incredibly deep at the same time. The finish on this one just keeps going and going, making you want to start all over again — like a little kid running back to the back of the line for the rollercoaster to ride it for the umpteenth time.
1. Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series Foursquare Blend of Straight Whiskies Finished in Foursquare Rum Barrels
This is a much-sought-after blend from Kentucky darling Bardstown Bourbon Company. The blend in this case is a mix of seven-year-old Indiana straight rye with a mash bill of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley blended with a 17-year-old Tennessee straight bourbon with a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. Once those barrels are batched, the whiskey is re-barreled in Foursquare rum barrels for an additional 23-month rest.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Woody banana and rich marzipan pop on the nose with a deep and sharp clove, anise, and cinnamon vibe next to peanut butter clusters dusted with toasted coconut, burnt orange zest, and sea salt with this whisper of rum-soaked raisins and old oak in the background.
Palate: The rye funkiness drives the rummy oak tannins towards a soft sticky toffee pudding with rich toffee, mild vanilla oils, and a sense of spiced mincemeat pie.
Finish: The finish is lush and silken with a sense of fresh and warm vanilla pods over warm grog with a handful of dark and woody winter spices countered by luxurious and buttery salted caramel with a fleeting hint of smoldering marshmallow.
Bottom Line:
This is a whiskey that’ll make you say, “WOW!” from the moment its essence hits your senses. This is a masterpiece sipper and a highwater mark for Bardstown Bourbon Company’s team, making this one of the best whiskeys of 2023.
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