Ainsley recounts the splendour of the recent Independent Spirits Festival held in Leith. This is just the kind of recap to make sure we see another year of this, and a perfect Fib Whisky Whitlaw to match up.

Nostalgia remains very much part of whisky enjoyment long-term. In this review of a 1991 official Knockando, Broddy shares his own take on whisky nostalgia, while using a handy bell-curve to send it home.

While Innes gives a run through on some of the late 2024 Watt Whisky releases, Wally chimes in after catching the latest release from Blacksmith & Jones: a docuseries all about Indy Bottlers.

In sipping a curiously challenging Fragrant Drop Glen Grant 21yo, Wally asks an equally curiously challenging question - is malt whisky actually too cheap?

After a ‘day-off’ yesterday, due to our AWOL editor, Innes gets us back into things with a study of five different Glentauchers bottlings over four decades, including one that really shouldn’t exist…

To realise that today’s review is not whisky and not read it would be a mistake. Broddy is emphatically excited about this Anokha and, on theme recently, he’s asking us to look twice at this spirit.

Through an auction win, Earie is sucked into the fascinating history and story behind the great Silvano Samaroli, as he realises just how influential he was in the scotch story.

In grabbing an anticipated Batch 2 of Ardnamurchan’s Madeira Cask release, Wally decides to compare it to something that you might not expect. Building Lego. Specifically; post-2004 Lego.

Prompted by lifestyle, environs and a recent piece by the youngest of the Dramface crew, Nick goes offline and takes time to appreciate life’s more contemplative pleasures; like Longrow Red.

Wally manages to comfortably pick up a bottle of the latest Kilkerran Cask Strength; in ex-bourbs too. But what’s this? Does he actually miss the madness of the old bottle-chasing days?

Some days are tougher than others; even for a suit in a courtroom. Our resident lawyer sits with his concerned neighbour after a tough day and leans on a generous Old Forester 1910 for his catharsis.

In the 3rd part of his epic tale of American Single Malt, Eallair invites Bourbon to enter the chat. Fascinating history and insight join a review of New Riff’s Sour Mash Single Malt. Epic stuff!

How’s your Friday? Fancy a vivid trip to the west coast of Scotland on a moonlit night? Doog, literally, takes you there. With a nice SMWS single malt too.

Dougie scoffs a Fragrant Drops North British bottle-split but immediately orders a follow-up bottle and compares it to a 34yo counterpart. He likes, and the prices are remarkable.

An annual treat for Fergie is to splash out on an indulgent treat. Despite a previous false start, he chose Deanston and their 18yo. What did he discover? It’s a Dramface pile on.

A debut piece by our Friday First writer Mason Mack, who introduces us to his digital native generation and slow-living, through a glass of elegant Dailuaine from Fragrant Drops.

Whisky brings solace and escapism in challenging times. After some fatigue, Earie finds his love of whisky geekery sparked once more. A very good indie Islay from Elixir’s Elements helps out.

Cadenhead’s Original Collection and the Enigma Blends are perhaps the most likely of their releases to be found in the wider marketplace. Ainsley dives in to an entire outturn.

As a firm fan of Glenfarclas, Murdo is frustrated by weak and unreliable official bottles - despite good prices. In today’s comparison of two fully natural releases, he makes an enthusiast’s plea.

Ogilvie has the luxury of being able to custom order almost anything from his local liquor store. In these days of next-day delivery, the wait time for the New Riff Single Barrel will shock you.