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Continuing our Friday cocktail theme, Murdo bottle swaps to try a take on a somewhat famous whisky mixed drink: the Smokey Cokey with Lagavulin Distilller’s Edition. The whisky’s reviewed too, ‘course.
In a follow up to yesterday’s serendipitous collaborative review, we interrogate the purpose and provenance of Nikka’s Coffey Malt. It’s something of an odd fish that we seem to, oddly, appreciate.
The Colonials try to find a good bottle they can review as a collaboration. This is harder than you might imagine, given regional availability, but they settle on an enigma: Nikka’s Coffey Grain.
Having learned from experience, Hughie checks himself when he realises he may be taking whisky, and its analysis, a little too seriously. The antidote? A Cadenhead’s Kilkerran 13yo thank you very much.
In picking up a Distillery Exclusive from Glasgow Distillery to mark it’s new tour offering, Wally asks why so many other exclusives are so expensive for pilgrims buying direct from the source.
Our cocktail shenanigans continue, but not without reviewing the whisky itself first. Ainsley brings us a Claret Snap, his own take on the Whisky Sour, using the acclaimed Uncle Nearest 100º Proof.
Murdo considers the gamble each time we purchase a bottle of something new - the gamble of value. Even when he reaches out to a Dramface peer for this Star Hill Farm, he can’t be assured a good deal.
Facing challenges of keeping up, Charlie realises it’s all too easy to forget things you’d already discovered. Like how much you like peat, bourbon casks - and Torabhaig Batch Strength & Sound of Sleat
Are auctions coming back to the rational drinker? If so, that appeals to Nick who occasionally stumbles upon bonus bargains to assist the shipping costs, like this vintage Glen Garioch gem.
Dramface returns from the summer break with tales from Campbeltown and Dougie’s Whisky Dash 2025. This one reads like a tour of the town itself, with Doog reviewing his own creation.
We take a break from our summer, erm, break, to bring an epic team Dramface pile-on for the Thompson Brothers’ Mystery Malt Series No.2. Let’s see if we all pay attention to the try-it-blind memo this time.
Mason spots an omission in the Dramface archives - there’s never been a review of the Deanston 12yo! In shock, a few of the team pile on to make reparations. Is it still as good as it always was?
You’ve asked we do more of these, despite samples being a hot topic at Dramface. Well this time it’s sample-debutant Charlie’s turn with a set of minis from the Decadent Drinks June outturn. How will he get on?
A summer penchant for craft beers led Fergus astray. He was tempted into buying himself a Diageo SR from 2022 based on a heavy discount. No one’s immune to a bargain. How did it work out?
Doog’s annual sailing trips to Campbeltown with his sidekick Foosty have taken on different flavours of adventure every time. He shares part 1 at Cadenhead’s & a Spirit of Yorkshire that, in itself, takes him on a journey.
Broddy spots a tall bottle with appealing specs; 16 years and all ex-bourbon. He’s in. Glenmorangie too. Expecting an amplified 12yo, he’s left, not for the first time, rueing unmet expectations.
It’s cocktail Friday - a whisky review and a personal cocktail recipe from one of the team. Gilbert kicks off with a trip to the coast and his take on the Old Fashioned, with a coastal Ardnamurchan AD/ as the base.
Were old blends better? Ainsley snags an old export blend and compares it to five contemporary scotch blends available to him in France. The results are revealing. It does not go well.
The plastic stag of Dalmore 18yo is in the crosshairs as Charlie revisits an old friend, one from a time before he was sullied by ‘informed’ opinions, community ‘consensus’ and, well, possibly much better whiskies.
In a fascinating piece, Aengus returns from his coffee obsession to apply some learnings to whisky. With a tasty Berry Bros Glen Moray in the glass, he tries to uncover what different water brings for flavour.
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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!
With the dynamics of whisky changing fast, and bulk whisky sales and opportunities suddenly on the cards, Fletcher sees some challenges ahead. He shares a few concerns for those tempted.
Arthur shares his fourth salvo in our series with the whisky makers. This time, he discusses whisky creation with our first indie; Euan Campbell of SMWS features in The Blender Files.
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!
Our Dramface hiatus is interrupted as Doog somehow manages to summon the energy to share why many of the team are ghosts after a legendary weekend.
Hailing from Paris and loving whisky AND wine, Ainsley gives us a barnstormer feature we all can benefit from; a deep yet succinct 101 cheat-sheet for all things wine-related in whisky.