Another new release has landed, this time a are thing indeed: a brand new Islay. Loaded with anticipation, Wally digs in to Ardnahoe - the latest peat-bomb to blow up the whisky scene.

When we love whisky so much, it’s hard to be brutal about some of the obvious negatives. Yet sometimes, when things are clearly wrong, we just have to call it out. This decision was not taken lightly.

Wally talks himself in and out of liking this release as he struggles with the cost and the direction of things, all the while realising this is the best Bruichladdich he remembers tasting.

Enjoying a buddy night, Broddy reflects that the takeaway was, once more, price. Inspired to find an antidote for his tasting pals, he discovers this cracking malt form Elixir.

In his debut piece, Frenchman Ainsley tells us how an Ardbeg 10 and visit to an Edinburgh bar with his old man would set life-changing things in motion that are still playing out today.

A wiser-than-her-years daughter encourages Ogie to grab some whisky swag before heading to his new, state-controlled liquor, home. It proves fruitful as he bags himself a lesser-seen Kilchoman dusty.

How can Wally admit to loving a bottle and yet score it 3/10? It’s complex, but in this case he thinks Diageo have made it a big, confusing, opaque and cynical mess - for retailers and punters.

A team review is required around a new take on Elixir’s Port Askaig series and their first Cask Strength Small Batch. Wally leads with a deep dive into why we’re not drinking enough. Apparently.

A sudden gust of luck brings a random Instagram win for Earie. In enjoying a Christmas selection set of Douglas Laing’s Rock Island malts, he finds a way to share his splash of good fortune with us all.

After rekindling his love of scotch Eallair decides to put all the ‘natural’ and ‘integrity’ mantra to test. He selects what may be the two most obvious examples to sip side by side; Laphroaig’s ubiquitous 10yo and the popular Port Charlotte 10. This Friday First is not to be missed.

The appeal of a lesser-seen and budget Islay official single malt is too much for Hamish to resist. His experience of Kilchoman’s core ranges has him excited, but the Loch Gruinart leaves him wanting.

Sharing his future dreams, Tyree gives us a snapshot into why he loves why as he does, and how this will likely define his life trajectory. Oh, and the small issue of a near perfect dram too.

Dire world events draw dark clouds over Ogilvie’s visit to England, yet he find calming solace in whisky environments; light filling the dark. He also happens upon some Springbank and a stop-and-stare Bunnahabhain from Cadenhead’s.

Looks fantastic, tastes fantastic, is fantastic. Spoilers. But it’s a Dougie review and we’re in it for more than just the TL;DR. So, is the £30 premium just to know that the barley came from down the road worth it?

Drummond finally makes his pilgrimage to the whisky island and his favoured distillery therein; Bunnahabhain. Upon returning he reflects upon this new 2023 release of the now highly-anticipated Cask Strength 12yo and how well it represents its source.

Every now and then Tyree is prone to rant. We all are. Every now and then he says pretty much what we all feel too. What’s the rant? It’s the cost of it. Of course it is.

If you’re not going to visit during Islay’s annual Fèis Ìle, can you still pick up the special bottles? If so, for how much and - the big question - are they worth it? Drummond snags a bargain… sort of.

With a scotch industry-standard filling strength of 63.5% ABV, why are there so many that are bottled much higher than that? How? What difference does it make? Broddy dives in with a 12yo Bunna at 66.7% ABV

The changing of the seasons has Ogilvie recalling a trip to the magical Isle of Islay as he declares this entry-level peater one of his favourite ever, and perhaps Kilchoman’s best.

Here we have Tyree’s case for Ardbeg’s Bizarrebq, specifically that despite cheesy ads and contrived ideas, perhaps we have a special release from Ardbeg worthy of it’s price tag.