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.

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.

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.

Charlie hops onboard for another circle around the whisky discovery track. This time, he’s recalling his six milestones as he journeys back into blends with a North Star Campbeltown creation.

Ainsley considers the seasonal moods of enjoying our drinks and preferring light and fresh sips in summer weather. Only to throw it all out the window for a banger of an oloroso Thompson Bros Dufftown.

Hamish has fallen down a Balmenach rabbit hole, which means he’s discovered a worm tub rabbit hole. Today, he shares four malts in a vertical line up looking into what the worm tub might be about.

After a positive introduction to Benrinnes through the Flora & Fauna in 2022, Ogilvie heads to his check-box auction haul to explore the distillery further. This time with ex-bourbon and Cadenheads.

Three writers buddy up with three blind bottles from the new Mystery Malt concept from Thompson Brothers. Will they all get the same? Will they like them?

As Hughie shares one of his ‘finds’ from Thompson Bros & a recent Scotland trip, he’s left to consider all the folks that have helped whisky find him; those who are celebrated and those who are often less so.

Wally decides it’s his turn to try some outturn samples. This time it’s the Decadent Drinks Decadent Drams/Whiskyland April 2025 line up of Spirit of Yorkshire, Inchmurrin, Miltonduff & Imperial.

Ainsley has tried enough decent Clynelish to know he loves that waxy character it can possess, so he determines to land a bottle. But that’s harder said than done. Did he manage with this 1992 18yo?

A lesser-seen malt, well-presented - and for a very good cause that flies uncomfortably close to all of us - resonates with Charlie. To the point he feels it needn’t be particularly splendid - or complex. It’s already a good ‘thing’.

Refining his whisky-sights, a measured gamble on the ever-reliable Thompson Brothers connects Tav with a ‘teaspooned’ bottle he’d have to pay double for to grab the branded version.

Tyree returns with some deep thoughts on expertise, enthusiasts, ‘Big Whisky’ and black boxes. Fascinating. He finishes off with a flourish and a beautiful 1990s Benrinnes. Welcome back fella.

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.

Weekend sorted: exploring the idea you can't screw up a Caol Ila, Tav earns a gold star by lining up 5 indy bangers and comparing them all to the classic official 12yo.

Ainsley brings a Glen Ord banger to a 90+ points whisky night and ends up contemplating what’s different about ‘older’ whiskies that are, in whisky terms, actually pretty young.

Our Linkwood exploration continues, this time heading back to the 1990s with a Signatory and a Cadenhead’s head-to-head, which also gives Ainsley pause to consider the role of ABV.

Ramsay and Fergus buddy up for a wander through the most recent outturn from Watt Whisky. Exploring a grain, a blend, two malts and a Guyana rum, they actually find some consensus!

We all like intensity and focus, but what about when we just need something functional to ‘get it done’? Drummond makes the case for an under-the-radar Càrn Mòr bottling of Glenburgie he stole at auction.