Men's Journal's Blog, page 158
March 28, 2025
The Glenrothes Releases Its Oldest Scotch Whisky Yet
The Glenrothes was built in 1879. Much of the stonework on its original site was likely chiseled and constructed by hand. To drink its oldest whisky to date, which launches this season, you’ll need to put in some work, too—by hammering the bottle out of a stone encasing.
Scotch distilleries are always messing around with elaborate sculptures and artistic presentations for bottles, but The Glenrothes took it to the next level. Every person who buys one of the 100 limited-edition bottles of its oldest whiskey ever, aged 52 years, has to chisel away at a protective column of sustainably-sourced Jesmonite to get to the whisky underneath.
What’s inside is undoubtedly worth tasting. The Glenrothes The 51 is a single malt Scotch whisky crafted from just two refill casks. In comparison to new casks, refill casks impart flavor slowly over time. Often, the flavors are more subtle, similar to how a second cup of tea tastes when it’s made with the same teabag.
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The Glenrothes carefully selected these two casks. One boasted a high proof and floral character, the second a creamy sweetness and velvety texture. Together, they make for a balanced experience. It's a unique whisky, most notably because it comes with a hammer, but also because of the tasting notes.
Buyers have to physically chisel their purchase out of stone.Courtesy Image
The provided notes describe a fresh, fruity summertime whisky, one with aromas of almonds, overripe watermelon, peach, rose oil, and earl grey tea with sandalwood. The palate includes notes of “ripe melon, rose water…a hint of antique oak,” and continuing hints of earl grey and almonds, before a velvety soft and fragrant finish.
“This whisky defies expectations,” says Laura Rampling, master whisky maker for The Glenrothes. "Crafted from just two casks, it offers a singular experience…from soft floral notes to deep complexity, much like the orchids that bloom year after year on our estate.”
A price tag of £37,000, roughly $48,000, might make buyers think twice about how they swing the hammer. But it should be said that the price puts Glenrothes on the lower side of the 50-something-year-old releases announced in the last 12 months, though certainly in line with the trend of thousand-dollar-per-year prices for this age range. Plus, you know, free hammer.
Related: I Tried The Glen Grant's $50,000 New Scotch. Here's My Honest Review
Adidas' 'Lightweight' Running Shirt That's Ideal for Early Morning Jogs Is Just $42 Right Now and Selling Fast
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Spring is here, and that means it’s time to get off the treadmill (or the couch) and take your running routine back outside. Do you have the running gear you need to power through your miles? While a good pair of shoes is always important, you need to be wearing a lightweight running jacket. These non-restrictive layers will help you beat the chill and stay comfortable during springtime runs, and Adidas has a great one on sale for half off right now.
The Adidas Ultimate Hi-Vis Reflective Half Zip Top is on sale for as low as $42, up to a 50% discount from its normal price of $85. This pullover is designed for running—a great pick for chilly morning or evening jogs—and it’s available in two colors, Silver Green and Black, in sizes XS to 2XL. Only the Silver Green colorway is available at the full discount—it has an initial 25% markdown, and you can unlock the full discount by using code DEAL at checkout. The Black colorway has no initial markdown, but you'll still get 30% off with this code. Just use it quickly because the sale disappears on March 31.
Adidas Ultimate Hi-Vis Reflective Half Zip Top in Green, $42 (was $85) at Adidas
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This reflective running jacket is made from a blend of recycled polyester and elastane, which gives it a lightweight feel and good stretchiness so it won’t restrict your movement as you run. The fabric is also designed to trap heat when it’s cold while also venting sweat vapor, so you stay warm without overheating or getting soaked with perspiration. Elastic cuffs create a secure fit around your wrists, and the droptail hem provides extra coverage at the back. Its stand-up collar keeps your neck warm while a unique side zipper boosts ventilation and also makes this pullover easy to get on and off. Finally, reflective detailing at the wrists and chest helps you stay visible in low-light conditions.
It might look like a simple half-zip, but Adidas shoppers report this layer is well-designed, stylish, and feels great when running. One said it “does well for morning outdoor runs.” Another called it “lightweight and very comfortable.”
“Great looking and moves with you during exercise,” said a third shopper, who added that the half-zip is “form-fitting, breathable, and lightweight.” Others commended the zipper detail: “I love the side zipper that gives it a different look, and the overall weather protection is great.”
Need a grab-n-go layer to help you ease into cold or wet runs this season? The Ultimate Hi-Vis Reflective Half Zip Top is it. Lightweight, breathable, and warm, it’ll be a great companion through springtime runs and beyond. And at just $42, it’s a steal compared to most other running-focused outerwear options. Grab yours ASAP because this great deal disappears on March 31.
Michigan Cheerleader Flexes Abs Before Sweet 16
In just a few hours the Michigan Wolverines will face off against No. 1 overall seed Auburn in a battle of teams looking to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight.
Ahead of the contest, Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl heaped praise on Michigan's two biggest stars, Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf, comparing the two to Boston Celtics legends.
"I haven't seen this since I watched [Kevin McHale] and [Robert Parish], right?" Pearl said before the two teams face off in the Sweet 16 on March 28. "These two guys are special. Goldin, in the Big Ten, he was the best player on the floor almost every single night."
Wolf received the highest praise from the opposing coach, though.
"Wolf, there is not another 7-footer in college basketball that resembles him," Pearl said. "He's got Larry Bird-type ballhandling, passing, feel. He's just a gifted, gifted player. Obviously, they work beautifully together."
While Wolf will star on the court tonight, it's a different member of the Michigan athletics department turning heads this week. Cheerleader Ava Axelrood took to social media earlier this week to share a few images from the Wolverines' win over Texas A&M that got the team into the Sweet 16.
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In addition to being a cheerleader, she's also a licensed personal trainer - with the abs to show for it. She showed off her ripped physique in a recent video ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
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Michigan and Auburn tip off at 9:39 p.m. EDT on CBS. The Tigers enter Friday night's game as 8.5-point favorites.
Related: McNeese State Cheerleaders Turn Heads With Outfit Choice Amid Clemson Upset
Ole Miss Cheerleader Turns Heads With Vacation Photos Before Sweet 16
Just last weekend the Ole Miss Rebels advanced to the Sweet 16 with an impressive 91-78 victory over the favored Iowa State Cyclones.
The No. 6 seed upset the No. 3 seed to set up a date with No. 2 seed Michigan State, which dispatched New Mexico in the second round. Ole Miss advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 2001 and became the seventh SEC team to reach the Sweet 16, setting a tournament record.
"We set the objective really high," Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard said. "We want to go in the tournament. We want to have a good seed. We want to be one of those teams that has a chance to win the tournament. And Ole Miss winning the tournament, I don't know, probable? No. Possible? Absolutely."
Ahead of Friday night's game against the Spartans, one Ole Miss cheerleader is turning heads. Mary-Grace Kirkpatrick took some time away from the court to enjoy a spring break trip with her friends.
"Back to reality ☀️," she said in the caption of the post.
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Her friends and followers rushed to the comments section to share their responses.
"Perfect, angelic, all the good things," one person said.
"You look so incredible!!!" offered another.
"Sooo cute Missin ya," added a third.
Ole Miss enters Friday night's game as a 3.5-point underdog against Michigan State, which has lost just one of its last 11 games. The Rebels and Spartans tip off at 7:09 p.m. EDT on CBS.
Related: McNeese State Cheerleaders Turn Heads With Outfit Choice Amid Clemson Upset
This Common Habit Could Be Increasing Your Risk of Depression
Sticking to a consistent bedtime isn't always easy. Nights out with friends and binge-worthy TV shows are incredibly tempting, and usually worth losing a little shuteye for, if we're being honest. But if you make a habit of staying up late, it could impact how you feel more than you might realize. New research suggests that regularly burning the midnight oil could wreak havoc on your mental health.
The study, from the University of Surrey, found that night owls, or “evening chronotypes,” tend to experience more depressive symptoms compared to early birds, also known as “morning chronotypes.”
“A late chronotype—also known as ‘eveningness’ or being a ‘night owl’—is a biological tendency to prefer to be active in the evening, and sleep and wake up later,” lead researcher and cognitive neuroscience lecturer Simon Evans, PhD, told BBC Science Focus. “Chronotype has a genetic basis, so being a night owl is a natural biological tendency.”
To collect their data, researchers invited 546 university students to complete a questionnaire. The questions covered everything from participants' alcohol use and sleep patterns to mindfulness and levels of anxiety and depression.
The study established that the individuals with later sleep habits not only got worse sleep but were also at higher risk of developing depression.
This isn’t the first time night owls have been linked to a higher risk of depression. A 2012 study led by a Johns Hopkins biologist found that staying up late could contribute to both depression and learning difficulties. Researchers discovered that exposure to bright light at night—whether from screens or artificial lighting—disrupts sleep and negatively impacts mental health.
"Basically, what we found is that chronic exposure to bright light—even the kind of light you experience in your own living room at home or in the workplace at night if you are a shift worker—elevates levels of a certain stress hormone in the body, which results in depression and lowers cognitive function," Samer Hattar, PhD, an investigator in the biology department at Johns Hopkins University, said in a statement.
If you want to mitigate the symptoms of depression, Evans suggests focusing on improving your sleep quality. This could include reducing light before bed, meditating, or sticking to the same sleep schedule every night.
Amazon Is Selling an Above-Ground Swimming Pool for Just $150 Right Now, and Shoppers Say It's Absolutely 'Solid'
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Even if you’ve already kitted out your backyard with a storage shed or new furniture, your backyard isn’t reaching its full potential without a swimming pool. Luckily, Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is on now, mere weeks before temperatures get hot enough to swim, and it includes a superb deal on an above-ground pool from one of the most trusted brands in the category.
The 12-foot-wide version of Intex's Above-Ground Swimming Pool with Filter Pump is just $150 right now, 25% off its normal $199 asking price. While the idea of ordering a pool from the internet might give you pause, allow Amazon shoppers to change your mind. More than 4,000 have given this pool a five-star rating, calling it “sturdy, well-designed,” and “a great pool for the price,” and over 400 have been purchased in the last month alone.
Intex Above-Ground Swimming Pool with Filter Pump, 12-Foot, $150 (was $199) at Amazon
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Reading the instructions and reviews, you'll find that locating a pool-sized patch of level ground is key for setup. From there, it’s simple: Just lay out the ground cloth and 3-ply wall liner, piece together the metal frame (no tools required), connect the filter, and fill it up with 1,718 gallons of water, enough for 2 feet of depth inside the 30-inch-tall pool. The included pump can circulate and filter 530 gallons of water per hour, which is great for water clarity and overall cleanliness.
One reviewer wrote that “the quality is very good” and has withstood the kicks of their 5- and 7-year-olds. Having the pool in their backyard has been “so low maintenance” and incredibly worth it. “The pool has given a new purpose to my backyard. It doesn’t matter how hot it is outside. [My kids] can go outside and jump in.” We know plenty of kids (and kids at heart) who’d feel the same way with an inviting pool instead of a patch of grass in their backyard.
Another customer wrote that after buying inflatable pools every year that would eventually fail before the end of the summer, they decided to take a chance on this pool. “It’s been worth the money,” they wrote. “The structure itself seems solid for the price. After a week of solid use by not only our kids but the neighbors' kids, it shows no signs of problems.” At the end of the day, this pool is so “easy to put together and maintain” that “anyone looking for a summer pool should definitely consider this one.”
Even experienced DIYers might have some trepidation when considering installing a pool in their backyard. The real-world experiences of those who’ve bought the Intex Above-Ground Swimming Pool with Filter Pump are enough to allay a lot of those fears, and with a price like this, it’s easy to imagine lots of people taking the plunge before this sale ends on Mar. 31.
This 5-Minute Workout Hack Improves Your Body and Mind in Minutes
It's hard to squeeze workouts in. The good news is you don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn or do some crazy at-home workout to get in shape. In fact, according to new research, as little as five minutes of eccentric bodyweight exercise daily may greatly improve your mental and physical health.
The study, originally published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, examined the use of eccentric exercises on both mental and physical health. Researchers explored whether brief bodyweight exercises could enhance well-being, strength, and key health indicators like handgrip strength, sit-and-reach flexibility, and more.
Eccentric exercises focus on the lengthening phase of muscle movements, such as lowering yourself to the ground during a pushup or squat. In comparison to concentric moves, eccentric training has been shown to increase both muscle mass and muscle girth.
"The results highlighted that eccentric exercises are very effective in improving fitness," lead researcher professor Ken Nosaka at ECU's School of Medical and Health Sciences said in a statement. "This type of exercise is also more accessible to most people, as it makes use of body weight and eliminates the need to go to a gym. The eccentric exercises can also be spread out during the day, which makes it more achievable to those who are time poor."
For four weeks, 22 sedentary but healthy adults ages 32 to 69 performed a series of eccentric bodyweight exercises for five minutes a day. Exercises included 10 repetitions of chair squats, chair reclines, wall pushups, and heel drops, with exercise progression as needed.
Before and after the four-week period was over, the researchers took into account the participants' mood, physical performance markers via self-reported questionnaires, and physiological assessments.
Related: The 21 Best Bodyweight Exercises to Lose Weight and Burn Fat
Although no significant changes were observed in some aspects, such as body composition, resting heart rate, and blood pressure, researchers saw an improvement in several other critical indicators of health.
"We saw significant improvements in muscle strength, flexibility, strength endurance, and mental health, suggesting that even small amounts of daily exercise can provide sustainable and detectable benefits in sedentary individuals," Nosaka said.
Walmart Is Selling a $619 Portable Inverter for $319, and Shoppers Say It's 'Amazingly Quiet' for Its Size
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
With camping season coming in hot, now is the best time to check up on your gear collection. Whether you need a new roof rack for your car, a comfy cot for your tent, or want to invest in a portable grill to make cooking easier, Walmart is the first spot you should look. The retailer is in the thick of a mega spring sale that features deep discounts on all kinds of outdoor gear, and one that's turning tons of heads is this nearly half-off deal on a portable inverter that has reviewers raving about it.
The PowerSmart 2500W Portable Inverter is on sale at Walmart for $319, a huge 48% discount on its normal price of $619. This powerful generator has earned 600 five-star reviews from shoppers who have used it and say it has "consistently delivered reliable performance" when they need power.
PowerSmart 2500W Portable Inverter, $319 (was $619) at Walmart
The PowerSmart 2500W Portable Inverter.
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This portable gas inverter spins up plenty of juice for camping and backyard projects or as a backup when the electricity goes out at home, pumping out up to 2500 watts of startup power and 1900 watts of continuous power. It includes two 120-volt AC outlets, two five-volt USB-A ports, and one 12-volt DC port—perfect for charging laptops, running an electric camp cooler, or powering other small devices in an emergency. Thanks to its compact 79 cc engine and 1.05-gallon fuel tank, it’s also efficient: At a quarter load, it can run for over 10 hours. But its best feature might be its portability. This generator weighs just 40.3 pounds, so you can easily bring it car camping, and its tidy size (19.1-by-13.4-by-20.1 inches) helps it slot easily into a closet or garage when not in use.
Whether used as a backup generator at home, when tailgating, or camping in the backcountry, shoppers have been thrilled with the PowerSmart’s performance. “This generator is exactly what I needed for my camp trailer,” a shopper said. “It's a one-pull-start, amazingly quiet, easy-to-operate generator.”
Another shopper compared it to their similarly-sized Honda generator and found the PowerSmart to be an equal match. “This generator does everything that the Honda does,” they said, “but it is so much cheaper.”
Portable power when and where you need it—that’s the promise of this handy PowerSmart generator. It’ll help you stay prepared for emergencies and stay comfortable and connected when you’re off the grid, and at just $319, it’s a fraction of the cost of similar power units. Act fast, though, because this deal won't last much longer.
Review: 'MobLand' Gives Tom Hardy His Best Role Yet
We all love Tom Hardy. From big roles like Bane and Mad Max, to some you might not remember as well, like Rikki Tarr in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hardy is at his best when his characters are trapped by contradictions. Bane was scary, but he was also kinda goofy. Max is a badass, but he's also sorta sweet. And, we all know why the Venom movies work. Hardy is our best Jekyll and Hyde actor, a guy who somehow embodies various extremes at all times.
And for this reason, the new series MobLand has given us the ultimate Tom Hardy character, Harry Da Souza, go-to "fixer" man for the fictional mob family known as the Harrigans. The entire cast of MobLand is stacked, and near-perfect. But, it's Hardy's Harry that makes the whole thing click. And that's partly because, on some level, his mob enforcer's complicated life and hectic schedule feel deeply relatable. No spoilers ahead.
Created by Ronan Bennett, MobLand is also produced by Guy Ritchie, which means that if you think you're in for a kind of late-90s/early aughts crime show full of stylized violence, you are correct. If you squint, watching MobLand will make you think that this is the project Ritchie worked on right after Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. In this crime drama action world, the beats from The Prodigy still pump just as hard as they did back in 1997. (Seriously, the first two episodes feature back-to-back needle drops from that iconic electronic punk band.) In this way, the sound and feeling of the show is less Sopranos, and more Trainspotting, but, in this version, the criminals have their shit together.
Well, almost. Part of why MobLand is so compelling is watching Hardy's character juggle all of his various tasks for the Harrigan family. He has his head on straight, but almost nobody else does. Can he appease the unstable patriarch, Conrad (Pierce Brosnan)? Can he deal with the wayward grandson, Eddie (Anson Boon)? And, in the show's best touch, can he fix his on-the-rocks marriage with his wife, Jan (Joanne Froggatt)?
There's a very serious menace to this show, and Brosnan is nearly unrecognizable in his role as mob boss Conrad Harrigan, not because of the way he looks, but the way he behaves. If there's anyone out there who believes that Brosnan can only do James Bond, this character will dispel that notion. While Hardy is sort of playing toward type, Brosnan is playing against type, and that tension is just one part of what makes the show so surprising.
Related: Guy Ritchie’s ‘MobLand’ Promises Blood and Guns Galore With Tom Hardy in New Trailer
But, there's a larger tapestry here, too. This is, ultimately, a big mobster family drama, and so, the cast—including Helen Mirren, Paddy Considine, Lara Pulver, and Mandeep Dhillon—is incredible, and their interwoven stories, secrets, and schemes are the central ingredients to the series. There's a good set of mysteries too, all of which are kicked off right in the first episode as questions of loyalty collide with good-old self-preservation.
Still, MobLand is a show that lives and dies by Harry's choices. And it's here that the series really is a vehicle for Tom Hardy to show off. Yes, he gets to be an utter badass, but he's also playing with some deeper layers. We don't all have a to-do list that is exactly like Harry's, nor would we want one. But his struggle feels real. And for all the over-the-top violence and backstabbing, MobLand delivers the best kind of crime show because it remembers to follow one great rule of fiction: A villain only depends on your point of view.
MobLand hits Paramount+ on March 30.Related: 'MobLand' Has a Stacked Cast, Killer Premise, and a Fast-Approaching Release Date
March 27, 2025
Sports Legend Calls Taylor Swift 'The Greatest Performer of All Time'
New York Yankees legend Alex Rodriguez knows a superstar when he sees one, as one of the biggest superstars ever to play in Major League Baseball. And in pop sensation Taylor Swift, Rodriguez sees one of the biggest superstars of all time.
During a recent interview with Parade, Alex Rodriguez had some high praise for both Taylor Swift and her football star boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
A-Rod went as far as to call Taylor "the greatest performer of all time."
"I'm a big fan of both of them. My daughters absolutely adore and love her as a performer and everything she stands for," Rodriguez told Parade. "I wish him well, and I'm interested to see how he closes his last few years of his career because she might be the greatest performer of all time, and he may be the greatest titan of all time. So it's fun to watch."
Rodriguez also had some high praise for Travis and Jason Kelce, who have built successful media and business careers on top of their legendary NFL performances.
He was asked what sort of advice he would have for the Kelce brothers, and he said that he actually thinks the brothers should be the ones giving him advice instead.
"They have built a wonderful media business. I think Jason (and) his wife do great work [and make] great content," Rodriguez said. "[Travis] is a natural. He really is a natural-born leader and a great advocate, and they're both Hall of Fame [worthy] players. They have it all working. I think they don't need any advice from me. I may reverse it and ask them for some advice."
Clearly, Rodriguez is quite impressed with everything that Swift and her boyfriend have accomplished in recent years, even as one of the most accomplished individuals in his own field.
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