“Ice Princess” director Tim Fywell has penned a sweet tribute to the two stars of his beloved 2005 ice skating movie, Hayden Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg, following Panettiere’s death on Sunday at the age of 36. Trachtenberg also passed away in February of last year, at 39 years old.
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After the news of Panettiere’s death, “Ice Princess” started trending on social media as those who grew up with the Disney movie realized that its two young stars are both now gone. The film follows Casey Carlyle (Trachtenberg), a teenager who decides to give up a Harvard scholarship to pursue her dream of becoming a professional figure skater. Along the way, Casey meets skater Gen (Panettiere), and helps her to improve using algorithms generated on her computer. “Ice Princess” also starred Joan Cusack and Kim Cattrall as Casey and Gen’s mothers, respectively.
“It was really upsetting to hear yesterday of the death of Hayden Panettiere at the age of 36,” Fywell said in a statement to Variety. “I remember a brave, sparky, dedicated young actress who lit up the set in rehearsals and then the screen with her vibrant talent. Michelle Trachtenberg, Hayden’s co-star in the movie, and she were an amazing pair.”
The British director remembers the two as having “very different personalities.” Trachtenberg was “kooky, fun, with an infectious laugh and her brilliant sad-funny comic timing,” while Panettiere was “plucky and determined and perfectionist, spending hours practicing her skating and utterly focused on getting every acting take spot-on and truthful. Which she did.”
Fywell continued: “In what was often a tough and technically complicated shoot, and my first Hollywood movie, they were delightful to work with and great to have around. I remember them both with huge affection, how they were 20 odd years ago, at that relatively uncomplicated time of their lives, two shining talents, gone far too soon.”
Others have also remembered Panettiere and Trachtenberg together, including “Spy Kids” star Alexa PenaVega, who wrote on social media that her “heart is heavy” because Panettiere’s death marks the passing of another fellow child star. Vega also mentioned Daveigh Chase, who died at 35 in June.
“Hayden, Michelle, Daveigh… my heart is heavy today,” PenaVega wrote. “These aren’t just names from my childhood. They’re girls I grew up alongside, sharing a world that was exciting and also incredibly hard. We were kids navigating something so big, and not everyone had the foundation or support they deserved.”
She added, “Today, I’m grieving and holding their families close in my prayers and thinking of everyone still fighting battles we can’t see. Hug your people close today.”
Fairphone, the Dutch company known for its sustainable and repair-friendly phones, on Tuesday said its latest smartphone, Fairphone (Gen 6+), is now available in the U.S, starting at $649.
The company previously had a partnership with French open-source operating system maker e/OS to sell a “de-Googled” version of its previous smartphones in the States, but this is the first time people in the U.S. can buy the company’s phones directly without any modifications. The company said the Fairphone 6+ will support T-Mobile and AT&T at launch.
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The Fairpone 6+ is strictly a midrange Android offering, but given the increasing prices of consumer gadgets amid the ongoing component shortages, a repairable device that can be made to last for years may prove a good proposition.
Image Credits: FairphoneImage Credits:Fairphone
“We’re delivering a device built from the ground up to be opened, repaired, and kept alive for many years,” Fairphone CEO Raymond van Eck said.
The Fairphone 6+ runs on Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, and has 12GB of RAM. The phone has a 4,415 maAh battery with support for 30W fast-charging. It features a 6.31 LTPO OLED display with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
As for photography, the phone’s main camera has a 50-megapixel Sony sensor with an f/1.88 aperture, and the secondary camera has a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. The selfie camera on the front is a 32-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture.
Personally, I would have preferred a telephoto camera instead of an ultrawide for a two-camera setup. On paper, these cameras look like they would be good enough to take photos in the daylight, but in low light, expect the performance to dwindle.
The Fairphone’s main selling point, however, are its 12 replaceable parts, which include important components like the battery, cameras, USB-C port, and the display, which can be swapped out using a single screwdriver. The company offers five years of warranty and software support until 2033.
Fairphone claims it also focuses on keeping its manufacturing process sustainable. The company said it was able to reduce the carbon footprint to 30 kg of CO2e for each of the Fairphone 6+ it manufactured.
The Fairphone 6+ is available in Forest Green, Horizon Black, and Cobalt Blue colorways. The company is also selling accessories, like a finger loop, lanyard and card holder, which users can install by removing the back cover.
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Ivan covers global consumer tech developments at TechCrunch. He is based out of India and has previously worked at publications including Huffington Post and The Next Web.
You can contact or verify outreach from Ivan by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at ivan.42 on Signal.
Bardstown Bourbon Company is back this year with another fantastic entry in its Distillery Reserve collection, the Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish. The new release features a blend of 12- to 13-year-old bourbons that are finished for 28 months in Calvados brandy barrels and then moved to toasted oak barrels for another four months. The result is a rich and intense yet velvety sip that carries notes of ripe apple, vanilla, caramel, and spice.
Four Roses Single Barrel OESQ
Four Roses’ Single Barrel Collection got three new releases this year: OESF, OESQ, and OBSK. All of them are as good as bourbon gets, so picking a favorite is highly subjective, but we had a slight preference for the OESQ. This one features a lower-rye mashbill and a floral-forward yeast strain that results in a nose of light vanilla, sugar, and spices, and flavors of honey, oak, cinnamon, and berries. It’s an excellent pour, and at less than $50 (in most markets), it’s also an absolute steal.
Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye
Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye is consistently one of the best bottles of aged rye on the market, and their 2026 release maintains that tradition of excellence. It uses less rye than most, meaning it lands somewhere between a traditional rye and a bourbon. The palate is intense but balanced with notes of spices, green apple, and pepper that are contrasted with molasses and other sweetness. Overall, it’s the kind of rich, complex rye that will likely convert any skeptics or bourbon die-hards.
Fettercairn 28 Year Old
Highland single malt Scotch distillery Fettercairn has more than 200 years of expertise behind its name, but it just recently made the jump to the U.S. market last year. Arguably the best Fettercairn expression that made the journey across the Atlantic was the beloved 28-Year-Old, which has garnered numerous awards and extremely high ratings from some of the whisky world’s most trusted tasters. In our opinion, the Fettercairn 28-Year-Old is worthy all of its acclaim. Aged in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, the liquid delivers Fettercairn’s signature notes of tropical fruit, including pineapple, banana, and melon, alongside syrup, bright citrus, and some subtle coffee.
Johnnie Walker Black Cask
While other Johnnie Walker Black expressions leaned into the smoky side of whisky, its new Black Cask goes the opposite direction toward bourbon sweetness. The whiskies used in Black Cask are aged in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, imparting those vanilla, caramel, and gentle spice notes. However, there’s still a small amount of smoke that acts as a kind of seasoning for the rest of the other flavors. All of this means it’s a whisky that everyone, from bourbon lovers to Scotch enthusiasts, can share and enjoy.
Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Release
Midleton Very Rare is back for its 43rd iteration and sixth vintage under Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman. The new release includes three single pot still styles and two single-grain whiskey styles that are aged between 14 and 36 years. For the 2026 vintage, O’Gorman upped the amount of pot still whiskey. All of this yields one of the most layered drams of the year. You’ll pick up everything from spice and stone fruit to zesty citrus to light floral and herbal notes.
Nikka from the Barrel Extra Marriage
Late last year, lauded Japanese distillery Nikka released one of the best blended whiskies in years: The Nikka From the Barrel Extra Marriage. Just like the standard From the Barrel, Extra Marriage incorporates more than 100 whiskies, but this one gets a marriage period that’s three months longer than the original (hence the name). That means more time to develop a rich smoothness and sweet flavors like honey, beeswax, and chocolate alongside notes of lemongrass, citrus, and toffee.
Star Hill Farm Whisky
Launched last spring, Star Hill Farm Whisky is the first new mash bill from parent company Maker’s Mark since 1953. The new brand swaps out Maker’s usual recipe for soft red winter wheat, hard white wheat, and heirloom hard red varieties. This produces a light, bright liquid that’s a genuine departure from anything else out of Maker’s Mark Distillery. For its 2026 expression, Star Hill blended seven- and eight-year-old barrels and bottled at cask strength, offering something that’s sure to turn anyone’s nose toward the previously niche wheat whiskey category.
Harrison Ford
on which of his characters he’d most like to have a drink with
“I suppose I would say John Book, the character in Witness. I think he might like a nice dram. I did my research [for that character] with the head of the homicide department in Philadelphia, and we did drink Scotch, occasionally in cop bars. So I know he might like it.”
Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie
Harrison Ford
on which of his characters he’d most like to have a drink with
“I suppose I would say John Book, the character in Witness. I think he might like a nice dram. I did my research [for that character] with the head of the homicide department in Philadelphia, and we did drink Scotch, occasionally in cop bars. So I know he might like it.”
Best Gin
Best gin
Another Hendrick’s Gin
Hendrick’s just launched its first permanent expression in nine years, and it reminded us why the Scottish house rules supreme. Another Hendrick’s, as the new expression is called, pairs orange blossom and cacao bean with the ginmaker’s signature rose and cucumber flavors. Another also comes in a white bottle, positioning it as a counterpart to the iconic dark brown apothecary-style bottle that Hendrick’s uses for its flagship expression.
Beefeater Black
A stellar release from a storied gin brand, Beefeater Black proves that the ginaissance is upon us, with a spirit that is at once crisp and commanding. The new bottle adds lemon verbena and thyme to Beefeater’s nine core botanicals, elevating the beloved London Dry gin with citrus and herbal saltiness. It’s a sophisticated twist on our go-to gin that doesn’t lose the classic charm of the original.
Nozawa Onsen Distillery Doso Gin
Created as a tribute to the Dosojin Fire Festival in Nagano, Japan, this Doso Gin from Nozawa Onsen Distillery does things very differently — and it works. The gin uses toasted local buna (beech) wood chips, which are the wood used in the Fire Festival’s ceremonial shrine, imparting a smoky, earthy depth to the gin. This is balanced out with warm notes of hojicha tea, cinnamon, and ginger for a unique, delicious gin with a genuine story and connection to its home.
Brooklyn Gin
Founded in 2010, Brooklyn Gin is based around citrus, specifically Eureka lemon, Persian and Key lime, navel orange, and kumquat, which is paired with hand-cracked juniper, lavender, and cocoa nibs and distilled on a small copper still at Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery in New York. All of that citrus delivers a bright freshness and smooth mouthfeel that doesn’t drown the juniper. It’s distinct, bold, and exciting for both gin newcomers and purists alike.
Quattro Gatti
Italian label Quattro Gatti was first launched in 2022, offering a terroir-driven gin using botanicals found in and around the founding family’s property above Umbria’s Lago Trasimeno. Master distiller Angus Mordant uses fewer than 10 botanicals, including fresh Italian juniper, Mediterranean citrus, golden ginestra flowers, olive leaf, and a whisper of peperoncino. That less-is-more approach has paid off, earning Quattro Gatti high honors at competitions all over the world and a spot in our bar.
Celebrity Cocktail Books
There’s no shortage of celebrities who have put pen to paper (for better or worse), but what you might not know is that a whole roster of Hollywood’s elite have either written their own cocktail books or inspired books dedicated to their music. There’s a Taylor Swift cocktail book on Amazon called Shake It Up, complete with themed drinks like “New Rum Antics” and “Getaway Sidecar.” Then there’s How to Drink Like a Rock Star, featuring recipes inspired by everyone from the Grateful Dead to Jimi Hendrix, and even Sip Me Baby One More Time, with drinks modeled after some of the world’s most famous female musicians. So, instead of making just another boring drink, put a little rock ’n’ roll soul into your next Mai Tai or Manhattan.
Celebrity Cocktail Books
There’s no shortage of celebrities who have put pen to paper (for better or worse), but what you might not know is that a whole roster of Hollywood’s elite have either written their own cocktail books or inspired books dedicated to their music. There’s a Taylor Swift cocktail book on Amazon called Shake It Up, complete with themed drinks like “New Rum Antics” and “Getaway Sidecar.” Then there’s How to Drink Like a Rock Star, featuring recipes inspired by everyone from the Grateful Dead to Jimi Hendrix, and even Sip Me Baby One More Time, with drinks modeled after some of the world’s most famous female musicians. So, instead of making just another boring drink, put a little rock ’n’ roll soul into your next Mai Tai or Manhattan.
Best Tequila + MeZcal
Best Tequila + Mezcal
Patron 100
Patron 100 is the latest expression from the storied tequila brand, and one that’s refreshingly affordable. It’s made with the kinds of methods you don’t always see from a large label but are thoroughly appreciated here: Think tahona-crushed Blue Weber agave and distilled at 100 proof, with no additional water or additives. Patron 100 marks the first time the label has made a distilled-to-proof release. Rather than a limited release, it’s a permanent expression from Patron, meaning it can be a staple of bar carts for years to come.
Bozal Cempasúchil
Bozal’s Cempasúchil is as celebratory as the not-so-morbid holiday that inspired it. The name comes from the Aztec marigold that’s closely associated with Día de los Muertos, and the spirit carries the floral flavors of its namesake. Flowers are dropped in the bottom of the still, alongside mandarin peels, for a flavor that’s aromatic, citrusy, and complex, rather than just being a smoke bomb. Made from 100 percent Agave Esapdín using Ancestral production methods, Bozal Cempasúchil is a bold sipping mezcal that’s mighty and memorable.
The Lost Explorer Reposado
This reposado is the first aged expression from growing tequila brand The Lost Explorer. What sets it apart is the aging process; the tequila is first aged in wine casks from France, followed by Spanish sherry casks, before finally aging in American bourbon barrels. The result is refined and complex, but the agave still shines through, whether you’re sipping or mixing. Lost Explorer is one agave spirit you’ll be proud to discover.
Casa Dragones 200 Copas
Casa Dragones 200 Copas is a collaboration between singer Karol G and Casa Dragones, and one that continues the brand’s commitment to celebrating women in the often male-dominated world of spirits. Released in 2025, it marked the first cristalino tequila from the rising brand. The 100 percent Blue Weber Agave expression is aged more than a year in custom American oak barrels, bringing notes of oak and roasted agave that are ideal for sipping. Like Karol G, the resulting product is fresh, unexpected, and unrivaled.
Espolon Extra Anejo
Espolon is one of the worst-kept secrets in the world of tequila, bringing bold flavor at an attainable price. Espolon sticks to its affordable price point with its first extra anejo tequila, making for a bang-for-your-buck bottle that deserves a spot on your shelf. It’s aged in two different kinds of casks, spending two-and-a-half years in American oak followed by six months finished in French Chardonnay casks, and packaged in a stylish matte black bottle. Smooth yet complex, it’s suited for cocktails and sipping.
Cachasol Tequila Blanco Epic Strength
Relative newcomer Cachasol made a splash in the world of tequila with its bold celebrations of blanco tequila. So far, the young label has two products: Blanco and Epic Strength blanco, with aged expressions coming soon. The Epic Strength blanco, boasting an ABV of 48 percent, amplifies everything that makes its blanco great. It uses an IPA-inspired ale yeast and Nayarit-grown agave, with non-chill filtration for bold flavor. Consider this an IYKYK tequila for purists and casual sippers alike.
Nock Mezcal joven
There’s something great about second chances. Originally established in 2010, Nock relaunched in 2022 and is back in a big way. It’s rare to see a brand emphasize both tequila and mezcal, but Nock offers both, in expressions ranging from Cristalinos to Mezcal Añejo. Nock’s Mezcal Joven, which picked up Gold at the London Spirits Competition in 2025, is a strong introduction to the still-growing brand, with just the right amount of smoke and agave. This is a welcome return from one of the spirits industry’s most inventive brands.
Zomoz Mezcal
Zomoz focuses on one expression, but does it well. Its Mezcal Artesanal is made using organic Espadin, spring water, and nothing else. With hints of lemon, vanilla, and fresh agave on the palate, Zomoz Mezcal is an inviting introduction to the world of Mezcal. It’s also one that takes great care to celebrate its Mexican roots, from its ownership to its methods, in a time when even agave spirits brands overlook their heritage.
Paquera Cuishe Ancestral
Paquera isn’t afraid of making adventurous choices with its mezcals — see their Espadin made with Wagyu, for one. Their latest risk is Cuishe Ancestral, which skipped the mezcal certification to ease the increasing financial costs on producers, betting that consumers will be able to find it anyway. So while you won’t see the word mezcal on the bottle, you’re still getting the ancestral production methods; it’s hand-mashed with wooden mallets and distilled in clay pots. Call it mezcal or don’t, we’ll call it delicious either way.
House of Rare
House of Rare started as a tequila aging company, working with other brands on the maturing process. But now it’s ready to make a name for itself with its own expressions. Drawing inspiration from Scotch and other whiskies, House of Rare emphasizes the aging process (although it makes a blanco, too). The Extra Añejo, for example, is double distilled and aged for three years in bourbon barrels, before being finished for three months in sherry casks.
Keegan Michael Key & Gabrielle Union
On Party non-negotiables
“You have to have the best tequila there is. In this case, Casamigos. And you have to have the right cocktails.”
–Gabrielle Union
“Plus Mexican food. But it has to be good guac. Sometimes, you can find good store-bought guac, but that’s rare. However, there’s nothing more satisfying than scooping out an avocado when making your own.”
–KEEGAN MICHAEL KEY
Casamigos
Casamigos
Keegan Michael Key & Gabrielle Union
On the non-negotiables when hosting a party
“You have to have the best tequila there is — in this case, Casamigos. You’ve got to have the right tequila, and you have to have the right cocktails.”
–Gabrielle Union
“And Mexican food. But it has to be good guac. Sometimes, you can find good store-bought guac, but that’s rare. However, there’s nothing more satisfying than scooping out an avocado when making your own.”
–KEEGAN MICHAEL KEY
Best Rum
Best Rum
Crossfire Hurricane Reserve
Crossfire Hurricane is the Rolling Stones’ love letter to Jamaica, and Reserve is a refined sipper made from a blend of aged rums. The rum is inspired by the band’s 1972 visit to the island, during which they recorded Goats Head Soup. Never mind the fact that the rum’s name nods to the 1968 song “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” — exact dates don’t need to get in the way of a good story. Bottled at 40 percent ABV with no added sugar, it’s a serious sipping rum.
Palm Republic
Rum for people that don’t like rum is a cliché at this point, as is the celebrity drinks category. But The Rookie actor Eric Winter’s Palm Republic has a good chance of making more than a few converts of tequila and whiskey drinkers, and the relatively young brand has the trophy case to show for it. The silver rum has a subtle sweetness, lending itself well to sipping, and it shines as a swap in whiskey-based cocktails. The statuesque bottle may not be an Emmy, but it deserves a spot on your top shelf all the same.
Foursquare Probitas Green Label
Green Label is Probitas’ latest expression, and a step up from the brand’s classic white label rum. Green Label is blended from two distilleries, Barbados-based Foursquare and Jamaica’s Hampden Estate. Bottled at 114 proof, it’s a strong pour that plays well in cocktails. Swap it for whiskey for a sweeter spin on the classics, or use it to punch up tropical favorites. Either way, it’s a flavorful (and affordable) new rum from a storied maker.
Kakira Gold Rum
While it’s historically associated with the Caribbean, rum, unlike Scotch or tequila, is not required to be produced in a particular country. There’s an exciting world outside of Jamaica and Venezuela, including Uganda’s Kakira, which is made from sugar grown on a farm founded in 1930. Aged in American Bourbon barrels and Spanish Sherry casks, Kakira Gold shines as a sipper, and it’s not so expensive that you’d hesitate to mix it in a cocktail.
Cruzan Island Reserve 13-year-old
Aged in bourbon barrels, Cruzan Island Reserve’s 13-year-old label is an inviting option for rum-curious whiskey drinkers. While it’s listed as a 13-year-old rum, it’s actually blended from a mix of rums aged for 13, 16, and 20 years, giving it a richness and maturity. Cruzan, located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, uses a five-column distillation process for a smoother finished product. The $40 price tag belies the care that goes into this eminently sippable bottle.
Mount Gay Bajan Spiced
The spiced rum is all grown-up thanks to Mount Gay’s new Bajan Spiced rum, which is infused with tropical ginger and grapefruit flavors. It’s a great way to give an extra twist to tropical favorites, and does well in simple highballs like a Dark ‘n’ Stormy. At 35 percent ABV, it’s a lighter alternative to Mount Gay’s mainstay Eclipse rum.
Alambique Serrano
Oaxaca is so synonymous with mezcal, but Alambique Serrano is looking to put the region on the map for rum. The idea is new, but the roots are deep; the rum brand was founded on a farm dating back to the 1930s. The brand has quite a few expressions to choose from, including blends and single cask rums.
The Macallan
James Marsden
On why whiskey is the best way to celebrate a major milestone
“Anytime I booked a big job that I thought was going to be important to my career, I’d find a nice glass of something and commemorate the moment. I did that with one of my biggest jobs back in 1999 or 2000; opening a bottle and letting myself pat myself on the back a little. It was well deserved. I was an Oklahoma kid who moved out here to be an actor, and no one thought that could happen, not even me. And then suddenly, it was happening.”
Zak Krill
T-Pain
On what drink he would buy her in 2026
“Maybe a cream soda. You know, I see people underestimating and really backing away from cream soda, but I think it’s a big deal. It’s a really overlooked soda. Everybody’s got root beer, but nobody’s thinking about the rock star. Everybody surprises me, man. It’s like wine for me, you’ve got to taste different kinds, different ages, different companies. Cream soda is where it’s at.”
The Macallan
James Marsden
On why whiskey is the best way to celebrate a major milestone
“Anytime I booked a big job that I thought was going to be important to my career, I’d find a nice glass of something and commemorate the moment. I did that with one of my biggest jobs back in 1999 or 2000 — opening a bottle and letting myself pat myself on the back a little. It was well deserved. I was an Oklahoma kid who moved out here to be an actor, and no one thought that could happen, not even me. And then suddenly, it was happening.”
Zak Krill
T-Pain
On what drink he would buy her in 2026
“Maybe a cream soda. You know, I see people underestimating and really backing away from cream soda, but I think it’s a big deal. It’s a really overlooked soda. Everybody’s got root beer, but nobody’s thinking about the rock star. Everybody surprises me, man. It’s like wine for me — you’ve got to taste different kinds, different ages, different companies. Cream soda is where it’s at.”
Best Vodka
Best Vodka
ALB VODKA
It’s hard to walk down the block these days without spotting an ALB Vodka ad, but unlike plenty of overhyped bottles, this one actually delivers. At around $20, it’s smooth, easy to drink, and punches well above its price point. It’s the bottle we keep reaching for, whether we’re mixing up a cocktail or ripping a shot without bracing for the burn.
REYKA VODKA
If your vodka of choice is destined for a martini, Moscow Mule, or Cosmopolitan, make it Reyka. Distilled in a tiny Icelandic town, it has an incredibly crisp profile that plays well with just about every cocktail imaginable. There’s almost no bite here, just an effortlessly smooth vodka that lets your favorite drink taste even better.
SUNTORY HAKU VODKA
Most vodkas are meant to fade into a cocktail. Suntory Haku is one of the rare exceptions. Crafted from Japanese white rice instead of potatoes or wheat, it has a lighter finish that’s made for sipping over ice.
PRAIRIE ORGANIC
Prairie Organic Vodka has been quietly making one of the best bottles on the market for years, and it’s finally getting the flowers it deserves. Distilled in Minnesota from organic corn, it delivers premium quality without the premium price tag, coming in at under $25 a bottle. It’s the kind of vodka that reminds you the best spirits aren’t always the ones hiding on the highest shelf.
Absolut Tabasco
Absolut Vodka is having a moment, thanks to a timely collab with Madonna, and a spot on the bar at seemingly every big event in town. But the biggest news of all may be their collaboration with Tabasco, which infuses Absolut Vodka with an “essence” created from the aged red pepper mash used to make the iconic hot sauce. Sweet, spicy, and savory, consider this your new starting point for Bloody Marys and Micheladas, and a conversation starter for your next brunch or party too.
Belvedere 10
Belvedere Vodka’s latest luxury expression makes an impression right out of the box, with a striking, sculpted bottle begging for a prime spot on your bar cart. The single-estate liquid is equally as impressive, at once creamy and delicate, and inspired by the production process used in 1910 when the first Belvedere distillery was established. The diamondlike facets on the bottle nod to the Diamond Rye base, while a gold “crown” topper befits this gold standard of vodka.
Best Bar Accessories
Making sure you have all the right ingredients for your cocktails is a must. Do you have the proper amount of bitters? What about the exact number of beans you need for an espresso martini? But just as important is having the right bar tools to pull off the drink. We recommend starting with the essentials: A bar spoon, mixing glass, cocktail shaker, and an assortment of proper glassware — martini glasses, whiskey glasses, beer glasses — and, of course, a muddler for those mojitos. Some of our favorite places to shop for these bar-cart essentials include places like Williams-Sonoma and Amazon. You don’t have to break the bank to stock your bar either: Just check this list, and you’ll be ready to throw the kind of party your people actually deserve.
Best Bar Accessories
Making sure you have all the right ingredients for your cocktails is a must. Do you have the proper amount of bitters? What about the exact number of beans you need for an espresso martini? But just as important is having the right bar tools to pull off the drink. We recommend starting with the essentials: A bar spoon, mixing glass, cocktail shaker, and an assortment of proper glassware — martini glasses, whiskey glasses, beer glasses — and, of course, a muddler for those mojitos. Some of our favorite places to shop for these bar-cart essentials include places like Williams-Sonoma and Amazon. You don’t have to break the bank to stock your bar either: Just check this list, and you’ll be ready to throw the kind of party your people actually deserve.
Best Sake + Wines
Best Sake + Wines
SILVER OAK SAUVIGNON BLANC
Silver Oak in Napa might be new to the white wine game, but sometimes your first try is all it takes to understand the assignment. The brand’s Sauvignon Blanc hits every note it should: Crisp without being too sour, gentle enough to complement your favorite dish, and with just the right amount of zing to wake up your taste buds. If this is what beginner’s luck tastes like, we’ll gladly pour another glass.
SANTA MARGHERITA ROSÉ
Santa Margherita has long been one of our favorite wine brands, and judging by the number of famous faces spotted with a glass, Hollywood seems to agree. This year, the brand stepped into a cultural crossover with its LoveShackFancy collaboration, proving rosé can have just as much style as substance.
BEAULIEU VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR
Taking a sip of Beaulieu Vineyards Pinot Noir feels like revisiting your favorite memory: It gives you that same warm, fuzzy feeling. Founded by French immigrants who brought their winemaking expertise to California, it gets impressively close to the elegance of a classic French Pinot without requiring a passport or a trans-Atlantic flight.
BELAIRE GOLD
Belaire Gold drinks like a much more expensive sparkling wine than it actually is. Maybe it’s the dripped-out gold bottle, maybe it’s the bright, celebratory bubbles that hit the second you pop the cork; regardless, it proves its worth more than its sticker price. At under $30 a bottle, it’s the perfect gift for someone special … though we’d recommend keeping this one for yourself.
SOMATO SAKE
Sake should be a celebration, and Somato knows exactly how to make every sip feel like one. Refreshing, lightly sweet (without ever becoming overpowering), and smoother than you’d expect, it somehow goes down easier with every pour. Drink it on its own or shake it into a cocktail — either way, you’ll probably be ordering another bottle before you’ve finished the first one.
YOSHI MATCHA
Matcha has been one of the biggest drink trends of the past few years, so it was only a matter of time before someone bottled it into a liqueur. Yoshi didn’t just rise to the challenge; they absolutely nailed it. The vibrant green color makes you want to pour a glass immediately, and the taste lands somewhere between the best dessert you’ve ever had and the perfect matcha latte from your favorite café. Plenty of brands will try to recreate the magic, but everyone remembers who got there first.
Two Friends
On the drink that best vibes with their music
“Smirnoff Ice SMASH … it’s all about bold energy. You know, bold flavors, double the flavor, double the fun. We’re a duo, we bring the high energy, and we’re double the fun.”
Smirnoff
Smirnoff
Two Friends
On the drink that best vibes with their music
“Smirnoff Ice SMASH — it’s all about bold energy. You know, bold flavors, double the flavor, double the fun. We’re a duo, we bring the high energy, and we’re double the fun.”
Best Beer + Canned Cocktails
Best Beer + Canned Cocktails
NUTRL
NUTRL has been around for a few years now, and they’re proof that sometimes the best thing is something that’s already been around the block. These hard seltzers are easy to sip and come in a sleek, sexy little can — and the brand is still innovating and reinventing itself with new flavors like blueberry. It’s the first thing we reach for when we want a hard seltzer that scratches the itch, every single time.
CASAMIGOS CANNED COCKTAIL
Famed tequila brand Casamigos rolled out its canned cocktails last year, and they did not skimp on the details. The vessel may be aluminum instead of glass, but it still captures the great taste of its tequila without ever feeling synthetic. It’s the ideal solution for anyone who wants their margarita not just on the rocks, but on the move.
ON THE ROCKS
We’ve tried nearly every On The Rocks offering and have never been disappointed, but its rum selections stand out from the rest. The brand runs the gamut from a piña colada to a mojito, and each sip transports you to a luxury vacation destination without ever leaving the function. Best of all, the setup is dead simple: Pour it over a few ice cubes for a perfect cocktail every time (or drink it as the brand intended … in the can).
LUCKY ONE
We love Lucky One’s canned cocktails for a lot of reasons. Not only is the taste some of the best and most authentic we’ve experienced, but the brand also gives back to animal shelters. Created in collaboration with Barstool’s Big Cat, Dave Portnoy, and his dog Miss Peaches, it’s one of those rare occasions where you feel just as good sipping it as you do buying it.
DEWAR’S LEMON WEDGE
Another lemon-based drink, but this time it’s lemon mixed with whiskey … one of the best ways to enjoy that spirit, in our humble opinion. Created by Dewar’s, you know, the guys responsible for some of the most iconic drink mashups poured everywhere from your local dive to the U.S. Open golf clubhouse, this canned cocktail tastes like the real deal, which is why we hold it in the highest regard.
BOMBAY GIN & TONIC CANS
When we first tried the Bombay Gin & Tonic cans, we were on a boat in Ibiza — naturally — and we did a double take with each sip because it’s that close to an actual gin and tonic your favorite bartender would whip up. It strikes the perfect ingredient ratio, drinks refreshingly light, and, like all things Bombay, tastes best beachside.
Archer Roose
Archer Roose cans are instantly recognizable, moose emblem and all, and the taste is just as iconic. Available in a multitude of varietals, it doesn’t skimp on quality; instead, it delivers a balanced sip for when you need your wine to crack open, not cork.
Woodchuck Hard Cider
Finding a great hard cider is trickier than it sounds; you want something that isn’t obnoxiously sweet while still delivering real fruit flavor. Woodchuck nails both. This is what coastal New England fall tastes like, and the rebrand, courtesy of the geniuses at Boston’s Sprout Studios, is just as sharp. You’ll want it front and center in your fridge, that is, if you don’t drink them all first.
Lagunitas x Iron Maiden
Lagunitas keeps impressing us, and not just when it comes to flavor, it’s their fearlessness and willingness to think outside the can. Case in point: The brand’s latest collab, teaming up with Iron Maiden to launch Trooper West Coast IPA. It’s floral, full-flavored, and infused with just the right amount of rock-and-roll heat.
Dale’s Pale Ale
Dale’s is about as classic as it gets — and that’s exactly how we like it. Closing in on 25 years of production, the brand has mastered what a no-frills brewski should taste like. Bonus: It clocks in at 6.5 percent ABV, so you get a little extra buzz for your buck.
The Alchemist — Heady Topper … Err, No Name Stout
The Alchemist, out of Stowe, Vermont, has a cult following, and we’re proud to count ourselves among the converted. The branding alone deserves an award, but the stout itself has won over everyone from master brewers to casual beer lovers. Consider yourself warned: It might just ruin every other stout for you.
Aeronaut Robot Crush
Aeronaut is a Massachusetts brewery that might be one of the Bay State’s best-kept secrets. Every flavor they touch feels more inventive than the last, and Robot Crush is no exception — it wakes up your taste buds with every sip and goes down dangerously easy.
Dogfish Head x Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead is one of our all-time favorite bands, so it’s no surprise their beer collab with Dogfish Head is one of our all-time favorite brews. It’s got true Deadhead branding, a 5.3 percent ABV, and a taste as upbeat as some of the band’s most famous songs.
Garage Beer
Jason and Travis Kelce know a thing or two about having a good time and that’s exactly what they bring to Garage Beer, the lager brand they join in 2024 and took to new heights (pun intended) this year. While the Kelce brothers have that easygoing “everyman” quality, their beer is anything but average, delivering a crisp, crushable sip with a hint of hops and a touch of citrus. From branding to bottling, Garage Beer is refreshing in all the right ways and yes, a total touchdown.
Rick Ross
On Rosé as a Workout Beverage
“When I work out, I smoke with a joint, and I sip Luc Belaire with the alcohol. That’s just me, you know what I mean? I get it. But you need the NA? We got you.”
Paras Griffin
Paras Griffin
Rick Ross
On Rosé as a Workout Beverage
“When I work out, I smoke with a joint, and I sip Luc Belaire with the alcohol. That’s just me, you know what I mean? I get it. But you need the NA [Luc Belaire]? We got you.”
Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Crazy Mountain
After mining tequila for liquid gold, Casamigos co-founders Rande Gerber, George Clooney and Mike Meldman have done it again with Crazy Mountain, their new non-alcoholic beer brand. The crisp, easy-drinking lager is one of the best non-alc beers to reach for; bright and refreshing on the palate with a hint of hops and citrus. In the same way that Casamigos became a go-to tequila for nights out, Crazy Mountain is a social tonic destined to fill coolers at campsites and Coachella alike.
Paragraph Wine
A sophisticated sip, Paragraph Wine elevates its category by focusing on heritage over hype. Drawing on the rich history of Spanish winemaking, Paragraph produces a complex, full-bodied Tempranillo-style wine, with alcohol gently removed. Fruit-forward yet dry and approachable, the wine has an elegant finish and pairs well with savory dishes and desserts alike. This is a bottle you’d be proud to serve at dinner parties, allowing guests both fun and fastidious to raise a glass without the guilt.
Almave Humo
F1 champion Lewis Hamilton is making moves in the spirits industry, thanks to Almave, his agave-based non-alcoholic spirit, and the driver’s Almave Humo takes our checkered flag as a superb substitute for mezcal. Made from espadin agave, Humo is pit-roasted in an oven with volcanic stones, emulating the traditional mezcal production process. With earthy and peppery notes, it delivers a similar taste to the smoky agave spirit too. With Almave Humo, Hamilton has once again delivered a winner.
Ritual Zero Proof
Ritual has long been a leader in the non-alc space, with zero-proof alternatives for everything from tequila and whiskey to an aperitif. The brand’s new canned cocktails make it even easier to get a buoyant buzz on, with zero-proof margarita, G&T, and spritz options that are bright, bubbly, and full of bite — only unlike alcoholic drinks, they won’t bite back. And while hard seltzer has fizzled out, these grab-and-go cans prove there are new ways to channel your creative spirits … pun intended.
HopKind
Founded in 2026, HopKind was created with one goal in mind: To give those embracing a non-alcoholic lifestyle a good old-fashioned beer—minus the booze, of course. The brand currently has two options to choose from: A lager and an IPA, and both are made to taste like the real deal. But Hopkind’s brews come with a little something extra, too: They’re infused with special, health-boosting ingredients that add some much-needed goodness to your gut while you enjoy your foamy sip.
METHODOLOGY
Every year, Rolling Stone editors taste our way through hundreds of new spirit releases to find the ones worth sipping. From smoky whiskies aged across the pond to beers brewed with rock ‘n’ roll DNA and gins that could win over the toughest critics, we’re looking for products with a pulse — drinks that deliver not only delicious flavor but character and innovation. Of all the spirits we sample, only a select few earned our ultimate seal of approval: A spot in the Rolling Stone 2026 Spirit Awards. %!s()
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: President Randy Levine of the New York Yankees looks on during a news conference introducing Masahiro Tanaka (not to the media on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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New York Yankees president Randy Levine has spent decades operating at the intersection of professional sports, politics and business. His latest role has put him in the middle of another contentious debate, this time over the future of college athletics and the increasingly complicated relationship between sports and public policy.
Levine was tapped by President Donald Trump to help lead the administration's effort to reshape college sports earlier this year, as the landscape undergoes dramatic change amid the surge in Name, Image and Likeliness (NIL) payments, sports betting and more.
“New York Yankees president Randy Levine will serve as vice chair of Trump’s new Saving College Sports Roundtable, a group of some two dozen executives and athletes from the college and professional levels, to fix the financial side of college sports, including the insane money grab known by its acronym, NIL,” Charles Gasparino reported for the New York Post. “A longtime college sports fan, Trump sees what has happened to a system where athletes used to spend four years playing for one school, receiving an athletic scholarship for free tuition.”
While Levine had been tapped to help carry out Trump’s ideas for reform among college sports, he has now offered his most detailed public call for change to the landscape, taking particular issue with the stances taken by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as well as the Congressional Black Caucus.
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In a recent Sports Business Journal article outlining his calls for changes to college sports, Levine argued that federal action is necessary to bring greater stability to an increasingly fractured system.
“The current system is unsustainable,” Levine wrote. “Universities are spending themselves into financial distress. Non-revenue, women’s and Olympic sports are disappearing. Smaller institutions are struggling to compete. Student athletes are caught in a system of constantly changing rules, litigation, transfers, NIL uncertainty, and inconsistent standards.”
While many groups seem to agree that college sports is in need of reform and government intervention as student-athlete compensation changes rapidly, Levine also used the article to call out the arguments against the Trump-endorsed “Protect College Sports Act.”
The NAACP has argued that this piece of legislation would reward academic institutions that should be doing more to champion Black voting representation, a stance that Levine refuted directly in his article.
“Equally unpersuasive is the argument advanced by the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus that a boycott of college sports will force universities — particularly Southern universities — to pressure their elected representatives to overturn the Supreme Court’s recent decision concerning redistricting and voting rights,” Levine wrote. “The time has come to move beyond the politics, the litigation, and the competing special interests.”
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The dispute between Levine and other proponents of the proposal and representatives of the African-American community illustrates how the college-sports debate has expanded well beyond NIL compensation and conference realignment. Questions involving athletes, universities, federal legislation, voting rights and civil-rights organizations are increasingly overlapping.
And ultimately, given Levine’s role with the Yankees organization, some fans of the team will take notice of who supports the proposed legislation and who opposes it. Though Levine might feel like his involvement in the issue is non-partisan, there are surely some fans of his team who would disagree. %!s()
If, before 19 July, few people in Italy beyond his family and friends knew who Abderrahim Fakir was, by the late afternoon of that day the final moments of his life were being watched across the country.
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Video footage widely shared online showed him being handcuffed and forcibly restrained by police on a street in Pilastro, a neighbourhood in the north-east of Bologna.
Fakir, a 42-year-old small business owner born in Morocco but who had lived in Italy since he was a child, was pinned to the ground by two police officers as emergency health workers looked on. He repeatedly begged for help before his body stopped moving.
Fakir was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is still being established, although an initial postmortem indicated lung compression.
Outrage over Fakir’s death spilled well beyond Pilastro, prompting protests in Bologna and Rome and fuelling a tense national debate over the far-right government’s approach to policing and immigration. It also put a wide-ranging security bill enacted by Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition under renewed scrutiny.
Fakir’s is the first case in which a new legal shield giving public officials greater protection from prosecution if it can be demonstrated they acted in self-defence or within the line of duty, has been invoked.
As a result, although prosecutors in Bologna are investigating the two officers and four healthcare workers in connection to an inquiry into involuntary manslaughter, they will not be formally registered as criminal suspects unless authorities determine the use of restraint was unjustified.
The legal team for the two officers – who returned to work on Monday – strongly deny excessive force was used, maintaining they fully complied with official protocol. Lawyers for the healthcare workers, meanwhile, said they acted in strict accordance with emergency medical guidelines.
Critics of the legal shield have condemned the measure as giving too much power to the police, making it harder to hold them accountable.
Fabio Anselmo, the Fakir family lawyer, claimed it potentially risked “sabotaging” the investigation. “In this case, this is a rule that could effectively create impunity,” he said.
In Pilastro, a working-class neighbourhood with a population of about 7,000, of whom 25% are immigrants, family and friends of Fakir are also worried that politics will tamper with justice.
A banner tied to railings on the corner of Via Italo Svevo, the street where he died, reads: “Truth and justice for Fakir – the state kills.” Similar messages are scrawled on bus stops.
Fakir lived in another area of Bologna but often returned to Pilastro to see his brother, Mohamed, and friends from his childhood, including fellow Moroccan national Mike El Canas.
El Canas said Fakir was with a group of friends, who described him as being in good spirits, on the night before his death and stayed in Pilastro overnight.
“He was a good person, so kind and full of life,” said El Canas. “He had plenty of friends among the Moroccan community, but also Italians.”
It is unclear what happened in the hours before he died.
Police said they responded to concerns from residents about a man behaving erratically and aggressively. They called the health services, telling staff he was “having a psychiatric episode”. Other videos filmed by residents before police intervened showed Fakir in a state of extreme agitation and confusion. It later emerged he had been referred for mental health treatment in June.
In a letter published by La Repubblica, Barbara Spinelli, a lawyer who was assisting Fakir in renewing his residence permit, wrote that he feared being deported owing to the EU’s “return hubs” migration pact, despite her reassurances, and felt sorry about having to lay people off because of a slowdown in business.
Speaking to the Guardian from Casablanca, where family members in Italy had travelled to be with relatives as they await the repatriation of his body for burial alongside his late mother, Fakir’s sister Khadija said he had confided in her about relationship difficulties, but was otherwise always thinking of others.
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Exacerbating the family’s grief is the way in which some far-right politicians and factions of Italy’s rightwing press dehumanised Fakir, seizing on drugs convictions in his youth and portraying him as just another immigrant causing trouble.
“Abderrahim helped those in need and was friendly and joked with everyone. This was Abderrahim,” said Khadija.
Khadija said she couldn’t bring herself to watch the videos but a witness told her Fakir was agitated and asking for help. “They could have calmed him down with something. Why did he have to end up in the hands of the police like that?”
Fakir’s sister Khadija (right) with his niece Yossra, showing a photo of him with family members. Photograph: Michele Lapini/Reuters
After setting up a crowdfunding page to help cover legal costs, she said her family was hit with a deluge of online comments accusing them of trying to make money. “I would pay €3m to have my brother back,” she said. “All we want is truth and justice from the Italian state. Whoever acted wrongfully must pay.”
People living in Pilastro are familiar with being disparaged. The neighbourhood came under the political spotlight during a regional election campaign in early 2020 when Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right League and the current deputy prime minister, rang the bell of a Tunisian family’s home to ask them over the intercom if they were drug dealers. Salvini, who in the past has posed in police uniform, has defended the police over Fakir’s death.
Pilastro has also felt the brunt of a measure in the security bill cracking down on peaceful dissent after 33 people racked up thousands of euros in fines between them during a protest earlier this year against the construction of a museum that would swallow up a significant portion of the area’s only park. One person was detained for a couple of days for climbing a tree.
However, many are too afraid to speak out, even more so after Fakir’s death. “The police have the power, a uniform that protects them, and we are nobodies,” said El Canas. “But we must speak up, as otherwise, where will us ordinary citizens end up?”
Anselmo said that while the majority of Italy’s police officers were good, there were those who “inevitably absorb the political climate in which they operate”.
With Meloni striving to secure a second mandate in next year’s general election, while fending off a new far-right rival, Roberto Vannacci, the climate is only expected to become more divisive as she promotes her main political offerings – security and immigration, with the latter evident in her response to the mass migrant crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
“The Fakir story illustrates how words and these kinds of bills actually play out on the ground,” said Cecilia Sottilotta, an associate politics professor at the Università per Stranieri in Perugia. “But these security measures have long been in the plans of Italy’s far right, who have always insisted that the police should have a free rein. Now, the big picture is very important. Migration has been weaponised. Again, this is not new, but we will see more of it with elections coming up.” %!s()
