Continuing the theme this week on age statements, and over Highland Park’s new 12yo, Wally shares his thoughts on why age statements don’t matter in 2024, and also why they absolutely do.

Tav and Wally wade in together on a brand new Scapa. Now there’s something we don’t read too often. This one is the affordable 10 year old, and they both agree on something. The fruit!

When the Tobermory Distillery Halo Effect kicks in and Innes bursts out his wallet for a whisky that, in the end, has him asking "When is too much sherry cask influence a problem?"

Celebrating batch variation and reminding us that darker does not mean better, even if it does in this case. Tav tucks in to a crowd pleasing Ledaig 10yo comparison.

Earie places a popular bang-for-buck Ledaig against a very similarly profiled indie release, only to have him wondering why there isn’t an official cask strength from Mull’s in vogue peat monster.

Batch variation is real and as enthusiasts we learn to enjoy it, providing it always meets a baseline minimum quality. Broddy and Aengus team up to see if that’s true of Tobermory’s under-the-radar 12yo.

Finally getting back into his whisky as Dougie unpacks his new life on Skye, he rolls out Raasay’s R-01.2, tries it against his current favourites, inside and out, and decides it’s already consistently good. Of course, there’s a ‘but’…

Like so many, Drummond is a Lockdown whisky geek. To catch up he ventures into Highland Park’s official 10yo to find some of that famous “all-rounder” character, only to discover something of a bargain no-brainer.

It’s a funny thing, whisky. Earie swoops with excitement as a bottle of his long-fabled Arran 14yo suddenly appears at retail, while Hamish revisits his old bottle to wonder what all the fuss is about.

Jura official releases are responsible for kick-starting whisky interest in thousands, even if they can’t hold it. Broddy is just one. He chases an auction win to ignite some Jura nostalgia. What a find!

Full-flavoured, characterful, and impressive even at a young age.

Coastal, dark tobacco toffee vibes. What’s not to like?

An Orkney that needs a dose of water to put out the fire

Do we taste salt in whisky?

Port casks and celebrating those who get it right.

Flashes of fantasia but fails to harmonise.

Brash. Robust. Unapologetic.

A bitter, less robust 10, but that’s not a bad thing.

A springtime dram if ever there was one.

Hit and miss form the famous distillery on Skye