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Bartenders Tell Us The Best Scotch Whiskies For Fans of Citrus And Spice

Newcomers to Scotch whisky might not realize how varied the flavors can be from one bottle to another based on the barley, aging and finishing vessels, and the region it comes from. While Islay whiskies are known for their peaty, smoky, briny flavor and Speyside whiskies are more known for their honey and heather, two flavors seem to find their way into many bottles of Scotch whisky regardless of the region they were created in: orange peels and warming spices.

While vanilla, caramel, and even charred oak seem to get all the press, a bottle with a slight (sometimes much more than slight) hint of candied orange peel can really bring all of the flavors together. This is also true for flavors like cinnamon, cloves, and other spices.

Since these flavors are perfect for fall and winter weather, we decided the time was right to once again check in with our friends who bide their time behind the bar. We asked a handful of notable bartenders to tell us their picks for the best Scotch whiskies for candied orange peels and spice. Keep scrolling to see their picks and click on those prices to try one too.

The Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso

The Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso
The Glenlivet

Mike Fayad, general manager at Hearth and Hill in Park City, Utah

ABV: 60.3%

Average Price: $95

Why This Whisky?

The Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso is my pick. I think it encompasses all of the flavors mentioned above. It has a pronounced spice component and isn’t lacking in its citrus profile. It’s mellow, spicy, and perfect for sipping on a cold fall or winter night.

Glenmorangie The Original 10-Year-Old

Glenmorangie The Original
Glenmorangie

Mohamed Khald, food and beverage manager at The Vinoy Renaissance in St. Petersburg, Florida

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $40

Why This Whisky?

Glenmorangie The Original is the perfect Scotch whisky for those craving orange flavors and warm spices. It’s exceptionally smooth and has delicious fall flavors of butterscotch, caramel toffee, and walnuts, but is still well-balanced with sweet and dry aromas.

Highland Park 10: Viking Scars

Highland Park 10
Highland Park

Ed Watt, bartender at Sabroso + Sorbo at The Notary Hotel in Philadelphia

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $87

Why This Whisky?

I enjoy Highland Park. It’s distributed nationally so you can look for it at your local liquor store. I’ve tried a few of them but do like 10-year-old Viking Scars. It’s filled with flavors of various citrus fruits and spices along with a mild smoky flavor.

The Glenrothes Maker’s Cut

The Glenrothes Maker's Cask
The Glenrothes

Lauren Parton, general manager of Devereaux in Chicago

ABV: 48.8%

Average Price: $79

Why This Whisky?

The Glenrothes Maker’s Cut is aged in sherry casks and is one of the sherry casked aged scotches that probably doesn’t get the attention it deserves. You could use it with your favorite toddy recipe thanks to all the citrus and spicy notes, but I just like it neat.

Pig’s Nose Blended Scotch

Pig's Nose
Pig

Alex Barbatsis, head bartender at The Whistler in Chicago

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $30 for one-liter

Why This Whisky?

Pig’s Nose Blended Scotch whisky is a gentle scotch with nice notes of orange peel made from a blend of different five-year aged Scotch recipes from different regions. It’s nice to sip neat or in a Godfather cocktail with amaretto. Plus, the bottle has a cute pig on its label, so that’s always a plus.

Oban 14

Oban 14
Oban

Jess Collins, beverage director at Toups Meatery in New Orleans

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $95

Why This Whisky?

I love Oban 14 when it comes to citrusy pairings. It has a great orange forward full-bodied flavor. It’s a little malty and honey forward too, which pairs well with baked goods and desserts.

The Balvenie 14-Year Caribbean Cask

The Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask
The Balvenie

Christy Bradley, spirit guide at Virgin Hotels in New Orleans

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $85

Why This Whisky?

The Balvenie 14-Year Caribbean Cask is my selection. It’s finished in rum casks and you get some citrus but mostly honey, spice, and toffee which leaves you with a warming sensation. It’s worth every penny to me.

GlenDronach 12

GlenDronach 12
GlenDronach

Darron Foy, bar manager at The Flatiron Room in New York City

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $65

Why This Whisky?

GlenDronach 12 is a beautiful example of a sherried single malt that highlights citrus and dark yet light spices. It’s aged in a mixture of PX and oloroso casks for a truly decadent whisky. It offers a rich and complex flavor profile that will have you grabbing your glass for a second round.

Aberlour 16

Aberlour 16
Aberlour

Mallory O’Meara, bartender and author of GIRLY DRINKS: A World History of Women and Alcohol

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $95

Why This Whisky?

Aberlour 16 can’t be beaten when you’re looking for a classic whisky known for candied orange peels and spice. It’s filled with intense orange flavors with great spicy notes. It’s a wonderful combination of spicy and sweet that’s perfect any time of year.

Glenmorangie The Lasanta

Glenmorangie Lasanta
Glenmorangie

Lauren Navarro, head bartender at Apothecary 330-A Cocktail Bar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $56

Why This Whisky?

Glenmorangie The Lasanta 12 Year is an excellent choice for notes of spice and orange. It’s finished in sherry casks and has great elements of citrus, walnuts, and butterscotch.

Auchentoshan American Oak

Auchentoshan American Oak
Auchentoshan

Lewis Caputa, lead bartender of Rosina inside The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $50

Why This Whisky?

Auchentoshan American Oak is triple distilled which makes it very smooth to drink. The flavors that burst on the scene are orange peels and tropical fruits with a nice spice warmth.


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

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Jimmy Kimmel Is Getting A Kick Out Of Seeing The QAnon Shaman And Other MAGA Insurrectionists Going To Prison

Though there’s nothing funny about trying to overthrow the government, Jimmy Kimmel can’t help but laugh as, one after one, the most vocal of the QAnon conspiracy theorists who attacked the Capitol Building on January 6th are being hauled off to prison.

Earlier this week, the late night host made it clear that he has zero sympathy for Jenna Ryan, the Texas realtor who boasted that she’d never go to jail because she is “blonde” and “white”… but is going to jail. And now it’s time for the most memorable of that day’s insurrectionists—Jacob Chansley, a.k.a. the QAnon Shaman, a.k.a. the shirtless guy who looked like the drunkest guy at every football game with his horns, fur cap, and red-white-and blue-painted face—to face the consequences of his actions.

“The infamous insurrectionist known as the QAnon Shaman is probably not going to be storming anything anytime soon,” Kimmel said before introducing a series of clips about Chansley’s sentencing, including the fact that in a memo requesting leniency in sentencing, the Shaman’s lawyer included a quote from Forrest Gump (which was misspelled as Forest): “My momma always said, you’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.” But Kimmel thinks “the more appropriate quote from the movie would be ‘Stupid is as stupid does.’” He went on to note:

“I guess he’ll have the chance to put that behind him because prosecutors are recommending 51 months behind bars, after which he will be remanded into the custody of Dancing With the Stars. Weird to think the QAnon Shaman could get four years in prison while the guy who encouraged him to do it could get four more years in the White House.”

After being met with a series of boos for even the mere mention of another Trump presidency, Kimmel changed the subject and asked the most obvious question: “Can we stop calling him a Shaman now? I mean, that would make half the fans at the Buffalo Bills game shamans, too.”

You can watch the full clip above; it starts around the 1:30 mark.

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Phoebe Bridgers Had A Heartwarming Response After Taylor Swift Asked Her To Sing On ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’

Swifties are rejoicing today because Taylor Swift’s latest re-recorded album, Red (Taylor’s Version), is out now. Aside from new versions of the songs that appeared on the original album, there are some previously unheard tracks as well, including the Phoebe Bridgers collaboration “Nothing New.” Swift was on Late Night With Seth Meyers last night, and on the show, she told the host about Bridgers’ heartwarming response after Swift asked her to collaborate.

Swift spoke about about her process for asking artists to work with her and gave some background about what “Nothing New” means to her, saying:

“I do send a very long text that I’ve crafted over many days, and I’ll send the song because I don’t want them to ever feel pressured to say yes to something creatively if it doesn’t gel with what they want to do. With Phoebe, I reached out and I sent her this song called ‘Nothing New,’ which I wrote when I was 22. It’s really, really special to me because it was the first time I was not a shiny new artist. I was on my fourth album and I felt like… I think this happens to a lot of artists, where they have their breakthrough moment, and the moment after that is really hard for them because they’re just not getting the same… it’s like the first time you walk into a room at a party and everyone’s like, ‘Oh, Kevin’s here!’ […] Then the next time you walk in, they’re like, ”Sup?’ And then the third time you walk in, they’re like, ‘Um, so what do you want to do tomorrow…,’ and they’re just talking. But I’m here, and you used to… so I was dealing with that moment in my life. So that song is really special to me.”

Swift continued, “I sent it to Phoebe and said, ‘It would mean the world to me if you would do this as a duet,’ because I really wanted another female artist who I loved to sing this with me, because I think it has a very female artist perspective, that we go through that experience. And her response was, ‘I’ve been waiting for this text my entire life.’”

Bridgers was probably similarly hyped to hear what Swift said about her before launching into the story of asking her to collab, as she told Meyers, “Phoebe Bridgers is one of my favorite artists in the world. I just think she’s… if she sings it, I will listen to it. I love her voice and I also love that she’s a very funny person.”

Meanwhile, Bridgers shared some thoughts about Red (Taylor’s Version) today, tweeting, “I was 18 when red came out. How is this real.” Bridgers also previously said of working with Swift, “It’s just been a dream. I just am so excited to have people take it at face value the day that it comes out, because I got teary recording it. I just couldn’t be more excited. […] I think that she is an incredible businessperson and an incredible writer. What she’s been able to build just from writing adeptly from a young age is insane.”

Watch Swift talk about Bridgers on Late Night above.

Red (Taylor’s Version) is out now via Republic. Get it here.

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Here’s Everything New On Netflix This Week, Including ‘Red Notice,’ ‘Passing,’ And ‘Gentefied’

How did fall movies and TV progress so swiftly? We’re already officially past Daylight Savings Time, too, so the days are getting shorter, but the longer nights will give you plenty of opportunity to stay inside and stream to your mind’s delight. For that reason (and many more), Netflix pre-games the holiday season with an A-lister-filled movie starring Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds, and The Rock. That’s one of the most anticipated titles on the streamer this year, and when you’re done with that selection, there’s a Sundance-acclaimed movie starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga, so you’ll have the action and festival circuits covered in your living room.

The TV series options are also coming in quite strong this week with the return of Gentefied, which is probably the most heartwarming, funny, and spirited shows that you haven’t watched yet. The animal kingdom gets an immersive new show as well, and there are a few Christmas movies tucked into the premiere list this week, too. In other words, Netflix makes it extra hard for anyone to clear out their queues, but that’s a very good “problem” to have.

Here’s everything else coming to (and leaving) the streaming platform this week.

Red Notice (Netflix film streaming 11/11)

A few years ago, Netflix set the stage for their supposed biggest (and most expensive) movie ever, and a lot of that has to do with the leading cast: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds. Well, we’re finally about to see what hundreds of millions of dollars purchased, so it should be a genuine blockbuster in your living room. Gal plays a notorious crook who mops the floor with Johnson’s FBI agent and Reynolds’ (also notorious) art thief, and yeah, I hope they never catch her. Even though she won’t be wielding the Wonder Woman magic lasso, she’s guaranteed to kick ass.

Gentefied: Season 2 (Netflix series streaming 11/10)

If you haven’t had the pleasure of binging this heartwarming dramedy yet, it’s time. Glorious character actor Joaquín Cosío (Narcos: Mexico) is up for deportation, and the siblings must work to save his ass while continuing to explore their own Mexican-American identity, save their taco shop, and generally be the coolest while wrapping their arms around the American Dream. That dream, of course, might be a double-edged sword because success also threatens the communities and values that the family’s hoping to help preserve. It’s a charming series full of authentic characters, and they must rescue Pops.

Passing (Netflix film streaming 11/10)

Ahead of a theatrical release, you can watch this Sundance-acclaimed black-and-white movie that follows opposite stances of the New York 1929 color line. Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga portray two Black women (and childhood friends) who can pass as white, and they decide to take different routes during the Harlem Renaissance. They later have a chance encounter and soon find themselves deeply intwined in each other’s lives, which transforms the action into a story about obsession and repression while also exploring racial identity, along with sexuality and femininity.

Happiness Ever After (Netflix film streaming 11/10)

This Happiness is a Four-Letter Word sequel picks up with the gang four years later, while they’re seeking more self-discovery amid life’s latest challenges. Come for the rom-com vibe and stay for the thoughtful treatment of life’s issues, which many of us must also tackle.

Animal: Season 1 (Netflix series streaming 11/10)

Eight charismatic families of the animal kingdom (lions, wild dogs, kangaroos, and octopuses among them) take the stage for an emotional and immersive ride across planet Earth. The vast wildernesses will visually astound while the cameras highlight these creatures’ surprisingly human qualities.

Your Life Is a Joke: Season 1 (Netflix series 11/9)

Oliver Polak, a German stand-up comedian, welcomes weekly guests, who will receive the roasting of a lifetime. Then he’ll roast them on his social media accounts, which sounds like an interactive an long-lasting nightmare for those involved.

Here’s a full list of what’s been added in the last week:

Avail. 11/7
Father Christmas is Back

Avail. 11/9
Swap Shop
Your Life Is a Joke

Avail. 11/10
Animal
Gentefied
: Season 2
Passing

Avail. 11/11
Love Never Lies
Red Notice

Avail. 11/12
Legacies: Season 3

Avail. 11/3
Arcane

Avail. 11/14
Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You

Avail. 11/15
America’s Next Top Model: Season 21
America’s Next Top Model: Season 22
Kuroko’s Basketball: Last Game
Lies and Deceit
Snowbound for Christmas
Survivor
: Season 16
Survivor: Season 37

And here’s what’s leaving next week, so it’s your last chance:

Leaving 11/14
America’s Next Top Model: Season 19
America’s Next Top Model: Season 20
K-on! the movie
K-On!
: Seasons 1-2
Survivor: Season 20: Heroes vs Villains
Survivor: Season 28: Cagayan

Leaving 11/15
Safe House

Leaving 11/17
Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List

Leaving 11/19
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World

Leaving 11/21
Beverly Hills Ninja
Machete Kills

Leaving 11/26
Broadchurch: Seasons 1-3

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Rick Ross, Jazmine Sullivan, And 21 Savage Are Luxurious ‘Outlawz’ On Their New Collab

When it comes to Rick Ross, it’s guaranteed that listeners will receive a heavy dose of braggadocious and luxury raps from the Florida rapper. It’s an expectation that Ross has fulfilled from the start of his career with 2006’s Port Of Miami which he released a sequel for in 2019. Through the years, Ross has delivered quality project after quality project and he’s prepared to offer another one to the world with his upcoming album, Richer Than I Ever Been. The project is already locked in for a release next month, and now Ross begins its campaign with a beautiful new single.

Ross kicks things off for Richer Than I Ever Been with “Outlawz” featuring Jazmine Sullivan and 21 Savage. The song is carried by soulful production supplied by producer AraabMuzik. Hard-hitting drums and soaring vocals sit under Ross and 21 Savage slick raps and Sullivans show-stealing hook. It’s a strong single that promises something great with Ross’ Richer Than I Ever Been.

Richer Than I Ever Been may not be the only project Ross has in store for the future. He and Drake have teased a joint album, one Ross spoke about back in June. “We may have spoken within the last 48 hours,” he said at the time. “But it’s only so much I can say other than: this is the closest or the realest he’s ever been. He’s wrapping up his project and I’m in the same space. So the timing and everything is aligning.” With Certified Lover Boy out now and Richer Than I Ever Been on the way, it seems like this joint album could become a reality.

Listen to “Outlawz” above.

Richer Than I Ever Been is out 12/10 via Maybach/Epic.

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This New Rye Whiskey From Ireland Is A Must-Try

We’ve been talking a lot about rye whiskey lately. The gist is rye is taking the world by storm right now with expressions popping up all over, especially outside of the U.S. One of the newest additions to the rye style is coming from Ireland.

Irish Distillers created a micro-distillery that operates within their huge Midleton campus down in County Cork. Midleton is renowned for making the lion’s share of Irish whiskey with names like Powers, Redbreast, Paddy, and Jameson under their roof. Their micro-distillery focuses on one brand though, Method and Madness, which operates as a sort of Irish whiskey lab for unique mash bills, maturations, and blends.

Their latest release, Method and Madness Rye and Malt, embraces both the current trend of unique Irish whiskey drops and the world’s love of rye whiskey. We were lucky enough to get our hands on a bottle recently so let’s get into what’s in that bottle.

Method and Madness Rye & Malt

Method & Madness
Pernod Ricard

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $105

The Whiskey:

Distiller Katherine Condon created this whiskey using a mash bill of 60 percent rye and 40 percent malted barley. That spirit then spent several years chilling out in ex-bourbon casks before it was proofed and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

There’s this juxtaposition of lemon pepper and a rush of lavender on the nose that’s so pronounced it’s almost impossible to get anything else. The palate veers away from that towards a cedar box stuffed with spicy, dry tobacco leaves dusted with white pepper, cloves, and a dark chocolate powder cut with ground-up dried chili flakes. The mid-palate sweetens slightly with a touch of dates soaked in black tea next to ginger snap cookies.

The Bottle:

Method and Madness’ bottles are cool on their own. The glass has a great art-deco vibe with a label that invokes Alfons Mucha. It’s hefty, eye-catching, and feels totally unique.

Bottom Line:

This was an interesting entry in the rye pantheon. It felt very familiar while having a lightness that ringed very Irish, which was a good thing. It’s balanced and nuanced. But, in the end, it feels more like a really solid cocktail whiskey that you only grab as a sipper in a pinch.

Ranking:

89/100 — This was a solid, albeit light rye. It’ll be way too light for some fans of the powerhouse, high ABV ryes coming out of Kentucky. But as an easy-sipper and cocktail base, it shines.

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Here’s What Jack Antonoff Had To Say About Producing The Ten Minute Version Of ‘All Too Well’

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then the knowledge that Taylor Swift is slowly but steadily re-recording and re-releasing her back catalogue has probably made its way to your brain. But all the weird time lapses and crossovers that are going to result from this probably hasn’t sunk in yet. Like, for example, with the re-release of Red as Taylor’s Version, the fact that though Taylor and Jack Antonoff didn’t start working together until 1989, on this new version of Red, Antonoff would absolutely be present because he’s now become one of Taylor’s go-to producers.

For his part, Antonoff was as humble and deferential to Taylor and her brilliance as he always is, excitedly tweeting along with fans and fellow Swifties about his excitement over the new music. He had quite high praise for the ten minute version of “All Too Well,” too, which has already been deemed heavenly by Taylor Nation. “Honor of a lifetime to produce the 10 minute version of ‘all too well,’” he wrote. Following that up with a few more tweets: “As well as ‘babe’ and ‘forever winter’ …. but ATW needed it’s [sic] own tweet. Love you taylor and love these beautiful re records – go listen to REDtv.”

That about says it all! Check out the ten minute version of “All Too Well” up top — and don’t miss Taylor performing it on SNL this weekend, either.

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Taylor Swift Will Be Performing The New Ten Minute Version Of ‘All Too Well’ On ‘SNL’ This Weekend

Those who call themselves Swifties will never be the same. Tonight, Taylor Swift re-released a brand new version of her most beloved album as Red (Taylor’s Version), and the highlight of the release by far is the new, ten minute version of her fan-favorite track “All Too Well.” While most fans are hard-pressed to pick and all out favorite song from Swift, for many, this song is the one. So to get a brand new version that’s almost twice as long as the original is pretty overwhelming. What’s even more overwhelming? That despite the lack of announced tours (ahem, where is it Tay??) fans will still get to hear Taylor do the new ten minute version live.

We all already knew that Taylor would be performing on Saturday Night Live this weekend in support of the new version of her album, but what we didn’t know is what songs she would be doing. That is, until she went on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and gave the kind of hint that’s actually just the information needed. “What if, it wasn’t two songs as much as it was one song that is the length of three songs?” she asked, quite rhetorically.

Make sure to tune in on Saturday night, this one is going to be a doozy. Also is it wrong that I still hope she gets to do two songs, including the lengthy “All Too Well”?? Can someone ask Pete Davidson to cut a sketch or two, just for this weekend, so we can see more Taylor? Sorry not sorry, get Pete the message. If you haven’t heard it yet, check out the ten minute version of “All Too Well” above.

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The Ten Minute Version Of Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’ Is Here And The Swifties Think It’s Heavenly

Yes, there’s now a short film accompanying “All Too Well.” premiering tomorrow afternoon. Yes, there’s now a ten-minute version of the song thanks to Taylor Swift constantly listening to what her fans love best about her music and knowing how to double down on it. For Red (Taylor’s Version), Ms. Swift made it clear from the start that she was going to do more than just re-release a re-recorded version of her fan-favorite record, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest albums of the last few decades. Instead of simply re-doing what she’d done before, Taylor has been adding new songs, like her new collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers on “Nothing New,” and a whole host of gems unearthed from the vault.

Just like when she re-recorded and re-released Fearless, she’s also done a careful job of restoring the album that was there before, but this is still Red like you’ve never heard it. And the fans? Well, they’re kind of losing their minds. Since the song is long-rumored to be about Taylor’s relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal, there’s lots of reactions on that front, too. For anyone who has spent the last decade and a half revering one of the greatest songwriters on the planet, tonight is nothing short of a holiday. Check out some of the most excited reactions to the new album — and the extended version of “All Too Well” in particular — below.

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Polo G Is Up To No Good On His Michael Jackson-Sampling Single, ‘Bad Man (Smooth Criminal)’

Polo G earned his first No. 1 album earlier this year with Hall Of Fame. The 20-track project saw him swing for the fences thanks to contributions from Nicki Minaj, Lil Durk, The Kid Laroi, Roddy Rich, Young Thug, DaBaby, and more. The project was a heavily promoted one that also saw a No. 1 single thanks to “Rapstar” as well as numerous videos. While some might have thought the rapper would close the chapter on Hall Of Fame, he’s not ready to do so yet as he recently announced a deluxe reissue for it would arrive next month. Polo G begins the rollout for Hall Of Fame 2.0 with his brand new single, “Bad Man (Smooth Criminal).”

The track samples Michael Jackson’s hit song for what proves to be a mischievous effort from the Chicago rapper. The song was first previewed in a trailer for Hall Of Fame 2.0 that Polo G released earlier this week. “Hall Of Fame…That was me beating my chest, really coming into my own as an artist and showing I’m gonna stay,” he says at the beginning of the video. “But before I just close out this chapter, I feel like we should turn up this one more time.”

Hall Of Fame 2.0 is out on 12/03 via Columbia. Pre-order it here.

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