Month: May 2026

Posted on

Jack Daniel’s & McLaren Racing Launch Ultra-Premium Halo MK1 Whiskey

(Jack Daniel’s Halo MK1 Tennessee Whiskey)

Jack Daniel’s is serving up an upscale addition to the F1-inspired collectibles launched ahead of the Miami Grand Prix with the Halo MK1 Tennessee Whiskey, a limited-edition collaboration with the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team.

Retailing at $599.99, the whiskey is the “most premium and limited global release in Jack Daniel’s history,” according to a statement by the brand, which noted the shared commitment to engineering and craftsmanship between the Tennessee distiller and the British racing team.

The bottle is housed in a structure that reimagines the Halo safety system of a McLaren Formula 1 car. The packaging incorporates materials used in race car construction, including alloy metal, micro-suede, and carbon fiber prints, topped with a hand-finished cork and custom medallions.

Mark Bacon, senior vice president and global managing director for Jack Daniel’s, said the bottle was designed to be a collector’s item that embodies the shared values of innovation and ambition between the two brands. “Halo MK1 Tennessee Whiskey embodies our shared values of innovation, excellence and ambition,” he said.

The whiskey begins with the traditional Jack Daniel’s grain bill of 80% corn, 8% rye and 12% malted barley. After undergoing the signature charcoal mellowing process, the spirit was aged in handcrafted new American white oak barrels. The staves for these barrels were aged in the open air for an extended period to soften wood tannins, a process the distillery said results in a smoother palate and bolder color.

The spirit collaboration is bottled at 117.4 proof, or 58.7% alcohol by volume. That specific proof is meant to be a subtle tribute to Bruce McLaren, whose first race car was an Austin 7 Ulster that carried the number 58.

Master Distiller Chris Fletcher described the whiskey as having a nose of sweet maple and toasted oak; a palate featuring caramel, chocolate, pipe tobacco, and baking spice; and a finish characterized by lingering notes of barrel spice and brown sugar. Jack Daniel’s Halo MK1 is available now while supplies last through the whiskey brand’s site and select retailers.

Go to Source
Author: Frank Tanner

Posted on

More Than 259,000 People Named Notorious B.I.G. the Best Rap Artist of All Time

It’s a tall order to choose the best rapper of all time. There are so many beloved artists to choose from. But one late artist was the choice of more than 259,000 people.

The wildly popular poll was posted by Ranker. The site ranked the top 250th rappers of all time. And one musician was ranked at the top. The number one slot was held by the Notorious B.I.G. According to Ranker, he was known for his “powerful storytelling and unparalleled flow,” and “changed the landscape of East Coast hip-hop in the ’90s.”

Who Were the Top 5 Top Ranked Rappers of All Time?

Who came next? The Notorious B.I.G.’s West Coast rival, Tupac Shakur. Both men, of course, met early deaths after being shot. The site noted Tupac’s “profound lyrics.”

Kendrick Lamar clocked in at number three on the list. Eminem was fourth. The fifth-place rapper was Nas.

You can read the full list on Ranker. Other lists have placed Notorious B.I.G. lower. For example, a list of the best rappers by Billboard has Jay-Z in the top spot, and Notorious B.I.G. is sixth. “Building a reputation for delivering gritty tales in a laid-back style, accented by deep-toned, rumbling vocals and a signature dark sense of humor, Biggie went on to score 16 Hot 100 hits,” that site wrote.

A list on IMDb has Shakur in the top spot. Notorious B.I.G. places second on that list. “A contender for best rapper of all time and a gifted East Coast storyteller whose gritty, objective realism won him enormous respect and credibility,” All Music wrote of him.

Biggie Smalls AKA Notorious B.I.G. Was Only 24 Years Old When He Died

Rappers Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. aka Biggie Smalls (Christoper Wallace) and Puff Daddy (sean Combes) perform onstage at the Palladium.

(Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

It’s fairly astonishing to realize that Notorious B.I.G. was only 24 when he died, given his influential impact on the genre.

Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls and the Notorious B.I.G., “lived a short life. He was 24 years old when he was gunned down in 1997 in Los Angeles, a murder that has never been solved,” according to Biography.com.

“Smalls was from New York and had almost single-handedly reinvented East Coast hip hop — overtaken in the early 1990s by the West Coast ‘g-funk’ sound of Dr. Dre and Death Row Records,” that site reports. His death may be caught up in that rivalry.

“With his clear, powerful baritone, effortless flow on the mic and willingness to address the vulnerability, as well as the harshness, of the hustler lifestyle, Smalls swung the spotlight back towards New York and his label home, Bad Boy Records,” Biography.com reported.

“In just a few short years, the Notorious B.I.G. went from a Brooklyn street hustler to the savior of East Coast hip-hop to a tragic victim of the culture of violence he depicted so realistically on his records,” noted All Music. After his death, he “became a symbol of the senseless violence that plagued inner-city America in the waning years of the 20th century,” All Music wrote, noting that Notorious B.I.G.’s life and death were both a product of his time.

Related:

Go to Source
Author: Jessica McBride

Posted on

Maxim Cover Girl Competition Spotlight: Kenna Wilson, Marian Zerpa, Sofia N., Victoria F., & Stevie

The stakes are high, the cameras are ready, and the 2026 Maxim Cover Girl search is reaching a fever pitch. We’ve already seen a wave of top-tier talent move past the public voting stages and into the interview rounds, but the throne is still up for grabs. For the bold and beautiful who believe they belong on the cover of Maxim, there’s still time to throw your hat in the ring. Before you sign up, get familiar with some of the frontrunners currently leading the pack.

Victoria F. (@vtoria___ic)

(Victoria F.)

Hailing from a serene village in the heart of Austria, Victoria is proof that still waters run deep. But don’t let the quiet upbringing fool you—the tranquility of her hometown only cultivated ambition. She’s traded Alpine vistas for the high-stakes world of modeling, fueled by a relentless drive to turn “small-town dreams” into a global reality.

Kenna Wilson (@kennagwilson)

(Kenna Wilson)

Now calling the concrete canyons of New York City home, Kenna Wilson isn’t just an actor—she’s a force of nature. With a creative compass pointed toward raw, human storytelling and a passion for collaborating with female visionaries, Wilson brings exceptional depth to artful images.

Marian Zerpa (@soymarian_)

(Marian Zerpa)

Whether she’s carving through fresh powder on the slopes or catching the sunset from a white-sand beach, Marian Zerpa’s life is best lived outdoors. A true citizen of the world, Zerpa’s DNA is woven with a passion for avant-garde fashion and the pulse of live music.

Stevie (@steviesss81)

(Stevie)

A proud mother of three with the discipline of an elite athlete, Stevie is “doing it all” with style. She thrives while grinding a high-intensity workout but knows exactly how to master the art of the slow-down when Sunday rolls around.

Sofia N. (@sofia_n22)

(Sofia N.)

Confident, spirited, and undeniably electric, Sofia is a masterclass in positive energy. She lives life at the intersection of wellness and pure fun, always carrying a smile that commands the room and eyes that tell a story.

Go to Source
Author: Maxim Staff