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Ainsley rejoices in the friends and like-minded companionship can bring, yet selects a special and mature Cadenhead’s Glen Grant to put forward the case for sipping, contemplatively, alone.
Charlie is on the hunt for whiskies that can engage both the purist and the pragmatist, without costing the earth. He finds one and, as is often the case, it was on his door step. The Clydeside Napier.
Earie admits he’s become something of a fanboy of the oh-so-recently unheard of Piccadilly single malt releases. This time it’s a peated affair in the shape of the Indri Agneya.
It takes a trip far away, with too little whisky, to make Charlie reflect on how lucky he is to live so close to the source. With a Johnnie Walker Double Black, he sees that Scotland is, actually, a great place.
Doog’s love for an Edinburgh single grain knows no bounds, especially when he can follow a story and reconnect with an old pal. Unkiltered’s 34yo North British in the glass.
As part of a recent fondness for both his Campbeltown faves and a penchant for auction hunting, Charlie snags a classic Springbank legend. But there’s always a risk, isn’t there?
In order to admit you might have been wrong about something, you need humility - and time. A sample from the archive stash helps too. Broddy revisits an affordable and over-performing Highland Park.
With knowledge of his locally produced Italian specialities, Hughie is skeptical when he picks up a discounted bottle of Glen Scotia’s 14yo The Dragon - from Barolo casks. Was he right to be nervous?
Dougie has been out injured. All his own doing, of course. He’s now medicating in a bath of Sauternes-flavoured Ardnamurchan. Four of them, actually. He’s been missed.
Given that Broddy is Canadian, living in Alberta, he’s remarkably quiet about Canadian whiskies. Unless it’s Anohka, he’s not quiet about this. And it’s not even whisky yet.
Hamish has been waiting patiently for this milestone. As a fan of the ethics & approach of Dingle, he’s finally been rewarded with a ten year old Irish Single Malt. Does he love it?
With a rare glimpse into Murdo’s home life, he shares a tale with a bottle that has become something of a domestic icon for him. A vintage Glendronach 21yo(?) from 2021.
Fergie wonders about his whisky personality; is he a hoarder, a collector or a rabbit-holer? A gifted whisky map from his dad confirms the latter and this Cadenhead’s Glenburgie offers up another.
In recent months Hamish has taken a step back from whisky and is viewing things from a little further back. As he returns to a 33yo bargain-banger from the Thompson Brothers, has he missed it?
In far flung places, it can be costly to sate the desires of a whisky chaser, shipping trans-global style. But when Abbey dropped a North Star Ardnamurchan, Nick and Calder both went for it.
Ainsley is full of excuses: Brexit, holidays, distractions, work, being French. Eventually, he gets around to sharing some beauties from Decadent Drinks. The good news; they’re belters & mostly still about.
Murdo’s review of a Thompson Bros Mystery Malt Series 2 Clynelish is actually more a tale of sharing, generosity and community. With a little critical thought about the concept thrown in.
With a difficult-to-ignore desire to study more, Ally asks where his motivations lie in seeking whisky qualifications that will never be used. A classic Glasgow Small Batch is the subject of study for today.
On his 3rd attempt, Felix manages to snag a Meikle Tòir - The Turbo; an annual peat bomb that has always intrigued him. However, with time to interrogate, it gives him the toughest of scoring quandaries.
A mid-life crisis may be looming, but it gives Fletch the inspiration to return to some serious whisky sharing. So, does this brand-new Kingsbarns 10yo inspire him to get some pals over?
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We share our thoughts and insight into whisky, its larger landscape as well as the Dramface environment.
Ainsley is back with another cracking ‘Malternatives’ guide for whisky fans, this time he’s sharing Cognac and Armagnac with three recommendations and a review with Serge. Fascinating stuff!
Innes spends a little time learning what makes the breathless Thompson Brothers tick, with a Q&A on Dornoch, Indy bottling, Struie and their new Mystery Malt project.
After his epic Whisky & Wine 101 masterpiece, Ainsley swings in with the first chapter of his follow up on Malternatives: this is a whisky-lovers guide to rum!
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The team gather to put forward their stand-out whiskies of 2024 & it seems like they’ve covered most of the spectrum. Very personal, very individual, very fun and very typically Dramface. Happy Christmas!
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