Reflecting on the rise of modern blends; Fletcher thinks about the incidental rise of the amateur blender, and tries a few of these newer products up against the benchmark; Johnnie Black 12yo.

It’s a Fletcher Friday. Upon encountering yet another entry into the indie bottler space; he considers if it’s even possible to bring anything truly ‘different’ today.

Upon discovering Borders’ under-the-radar inaugural release for £35, Fletch gets excited, but is immediately disappointed and takes a moment to offer some ‘feedback’. Oh dear.

Fed up with grey days and bad news, Fletcher cracks open two well-aged blends on a budget to see if they can bring a little lightness. A Glenallachie made NacNair’s 21yo vs a Cadenhead’s 25yo.

A vintage Benriach soothes Fletch as he protests the fleecing of travellers at visitor centres across Scotland, with the story of The Pilgrim. Many of us can relate.

Fletch is trying hard to find a nice, special occasion whisky but, in another fit of disappointment, he’s reminded instead of a childhood movie that still haunts him today.

With a confession that he knows very little about art, Fletch considers the art of whisky over a lesser-spotted indie Pulteney 15yo, and how it’s not always about its creation.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. It’s one of Fletch’s favourites; Deanston. Looking for something that the Tequila cask has imparted, he compares it to a similarly insipid Tequila cask blend.

In a whisky landscape swamped with ratcheted prices and disgruntled malt lovers, Fletcher uncorks what he believes just might be a brilliant antidote. Bravo Signatory Vintage, bravo.

Fletcher finds himself pondering this Blended Malt and, feeling like he’s being forced to make cocktails with it, he stubbornly judges it neat. Redemption? Erm… no.

Considering the role of malt whisky today versus what it was in the very recent past, Fletcher goes looking for something akin to Batman; that which is capable of being more than just one thing.

Drawn to his beloved Ardmore like a moth to a flame, Fletcher believes that, while the official bottling is a pale imitation, indies always deliver Ardmore’s amber light through clumsy darkness. Unless…

Curiosity gets the better of Fletch. With Glenlivet marking 200 years, they’ve released a 12yo that looks identical to the standard. Only available through TWE, he dives in to compare the world’s best selling malt.

Less of a collab; more of a dual review - featuring Fletcher’s debut and seasoned support from Drummond, both enjoying being able to actually celebrate a festival release. How weird!