Five single malts | Various ABV

An Emotional Rollercoaster

In recent times there have been many more samples offered to Dramface. We mostly turn them down. We hope we don’t offend when we say no thank you. It’s a resource thing; it needs to be something useful and there needs to be someone willing to take it on. Samples don’t review as well as full bottles.

As an example of the effort involved when reviewing, I’m sitting here on a Wednesday morning, day drinking.

Well, not really, but it does require planning. I’ve cleared the responsibilities for machine operation today; DIY will not be attempted and the car will not be driven. If I get carried away and polish them off, I may not even trust myself to slice a tomato. But seriously, I’m here to get to know the drams and take the photos, leveraging the early-morning palate sensitivity that I’ve recently tapped into.

It’s initial notes only at this stage. But, even if it’s only a single 1cl of each to get a sense of each pour, then that’s 5cl of cask strength whisky and enough to avoid the roads for the day. It’s a big ask. Thereafter, I’ll polish them off over the course of an evening and adjust the tasting notes accordingly, if needed.

As a general Dramface rule, single samples are not really of interest. We hope it is helpful, however, when we can share a flight from a fairly recent outturn and give folk additional insight, or a little more detail in making selections. Or at the very least helping to keep tabs on those indies who are bringing out carefully chosen, reliable, interesting or solid releases. As in this case. At point of writing, all of these remain available and it’s therefore somewhat timely.

Most of the big online resources out there rely on this kind of feedback - sample shares, notes from events or organised tastings; it all goes into the mix. Whiskybase, Whiskyfun and more, all build on the experience of samples. When the good stuff is uncovered we see consensus. This is important, especially when the prices are at the levels of what we’re trying today.

That said, it will always be preferable for Dramface to continue with individual writers sharing their thoughts on the bottles they’ve bought; enthusiasts and whisky botherers speaking to their own. The format is proven and things are ticking along nicely, we’ll always let you know when stuff has been sent. Like the last time I sat with a nice set from Decadent Drinks. Let me share how I sneakily came by these, again, on this occasion:

WhatsApp pings:

DD: Remember we have those samples to send out to you. There are some nice ones!

WMc: Great, thanks. Let me know when and I’ll put a request out to the writers.

Two days later:

WMc: I’ve just received a set of samples from you - these were going to go somewhere else, I already had the last set.

DD: Oh, so sorry. Let’s see if we can make it so that the address can be updated each time.

WMc: Great, that’s perfect. Thanks. I’ll forward these on in the meantime.

Two minutes later (after inspecting the samples in the wee box):

WMc: Ah, you know what, it’s a shame to incur more cost. They’re here now. I’ll cover these.

Clever Wally.

Review 1/5 - Glen Grant 30yo

Glen Grant 30yo, Whiskyland Chapter Fourteen, 46.6% ABV
£435 RRP

From Decadent Drinks:

A small batch, multi-vintage marriage of two refill barrels of Glen Grant, from 1994 and 1995 respectively, bottled at 30 years of age and natural cask strength as Whiskyland Chapter Fourteen. Beautifully natural, refill-matured Glen Grant that balances elegant fruitiness with firmer waxy and mineral tones.

Thirty year old Glen Grant you say?

I’m excited by the specs already and pretty confident I’m in for a treat. I’ve sorted the line up from lightest and lowest ABV upwards, sort of.

Score: 9/10

**Exceptional.**
***TL;DR***
*Only old-school scotch whisky can do this. Amazing*

Nose

A lovely, waxy greeting with gently sweet and tropical fruit. In the way most decent, all refill-matured scotch malt goes after years of being left in peace and quiet. Old school, clean excitement. Some toffee, honeycomb, white chocolate, fresh mango, waxy manuka honey; it’s light, pristine and ethereal. Beautiful.

Palate

I wish I was rich. Confectionary-led but delicately complex and enthralling. Sweet, fruity Jelly Babies arrive at first, before turning waxy and creamy. Some damp sack-cloth or hessian, light pebbles and minerals, softly effervescent, like flat Lilt (remember that?). Super-concentrated pleasure at a natural cask strength of 46.6%.

The finish isn’t really clinging to the palate, instead it’s like a vivid memory. It’s like homoeopathic whisky; it’s somehow still there despite so much time and dilution.

Sorry, I didn’t add any water to this.

The Dregs

A beautiful example of what is usually a very expensive thing to participate in. Transient, ethereal, waxy, sweet and tropical old-school scotch whisky. Thirty years in the making, and gorgeous.

Score: 9/10

Review 2/5 - Glen Scotia 8yo

Glen Scotia 8yo, Campbeltown Malts Festival Edition 2025, ‘Glen Toon’, 57.1% ABV
£95 RRP

From Decadent Drinks:

This is Decadent Drams 'Glen Toon' 8 Year Old. We made it by mixing together a 2014 1st fill hogshead of unpeated Glen Toon with a 2016 1st fill barrel of peated Glen Toon. The resulting multi-vintage small batch was bottled with a few degrees reduction at 57.1%. This is a terrific take on this famous Campbeltown distillate that preserves all of its usual funk and rich charisma, but with a balanced layer of peat and lots of juicy sweetness.

This is ostensibly the follow up to last year’s Glen Toon 2012 release which I enjoyed immensely. It makes sense for them to continue this project, but in trying to share an available cask to do so, it’s unlikely they’ll stray far from the Glen Scotia stable.

No bad thing really.

Score: 6/10

**Good stuff.**
***TL;DR***
*A fine, but pricey, take on a modern, young Scotia*

Nose

Oh wow - I’ve just stuck my beak in a salt and vinegar crisp packet! It subsides to sweetness; orange cordial and red berries, before waves of soft-to-medium smoke. Rock pools, hessian and wet rope.

Palate

Warm spices arrive with thick smoke and malt, dark oranges, red grapefruits and eucalyptus. Lemon zest and salt water on the finish - juicy and ripe.

The Dregs

A decent festival bottling and worthy of investment if you’re a fan of relatively modern Scotia - who isn't these days? - but as with any annual release we’re gonna compare aren't we? And, for this soggy-faced whisky devotee, I can’t help feeling like last year’s Toon was a bit more impactful. And better value.

Still, enjoyed muchly.

Score: 6/10

Review 3/5 - Mannochmore 15yo

Mannochmore 15yo, Loch Do!! Special, 50% ABV
£85 RRP

From Decadent Drinks:

A playful 'homage' (piss take) of the infamous Loch Dhu bottling. Ours also hails from Mannochmore Distillery but we've dubbed it Loch Do! A Decadent Drams special. It is a marriage of whisky from two refill hogsheads filled in 2009 and bottled at 15 years of age and natural cask strength, which just so happened to be bang on 50%. It's a beautifully waxy, rich, fruity example of Mannochmore which shows off this distillate's charismatic richness and weight very well.

It seems this is an ‘homage’ to the infamous ‘black whiskies’, so overly laden with spirit caramel they were as opaque as thick cola and undrinkable to many. Subsequently, they ended up being sought after for their legendary awfulness. The most infamous of these was the much-maligned “Loch Dhu 10yo” which, unfortunately, was ruined Mannochmore distillate.

Fortunately however, for us all, this is not actually an homage, but rather an in-joke. This is the pick of the bunch for affordability versus enjoyability. It’s a peach.

And not a dot of caramel colour in sight.

Score: 8/10

**Something special.**
***TL;DR***
*It’s not often I’ll look at a Decadent Drinks bottle and consider it a bargain*

Nose

Sweet orchard and citrus, but lovely balance and ripeness. Candyfloss and soft bubblegum notes, with a sharp acidity to keep things in harmony. It’s also bright, with a floral spritz. Gorgeous nose.

Palate

Next-level juicy. I thought we had lots of juice stuffed into the Scotia, but this is boss-level juiciness. Lovely sweet pears and mandarins, tinned peaches and mangoes. There’s a pastry and patisserie element too, drizzled with toffee sauce. It’s concentrated, vibrant, moreish and alive.

The Dregs

I am so tempted by this. It’s literally sitting in an online basket. If I’m still in love at the end of the sample bottle this evening, I’ll go for it. It’s a cracker. Every penny of £85 worth it too. Don’t look at that 50% and consider it reduced either, it’s natural cask strength and all the better for it.

Grab this and show off to your whisky pals. This wipes tables.

Update: bought. Love it.

Score: 8/10

Review 4/5 - Springbank 30yo

Springbank 30yo, Whiskyland Chapter Fifteen, 44.8% ABV
£950 RRP

From Decadent Drinks:

Whiskyland Chapter Fifteen is a single refill hogshead of 1994, 30 year old Springbank, bottled at natural cask strength. After a run of mighty sherry casks, this is a really refreshing return to pure refill matured Springbank. This one is totally distillate driven and a spectacular demonstration of raw, pure, mature Springbank distillery character. Evocative, deep, nuanced and complex old Springbank of real beauty.

I’ll admit that I’m shallow and a sucker for a unicorn. Seeing this in the set of samples kicked selfish Wally into gear. I really wanted to try this.

It is everything and nothing I expected.

Score: 9/10

**Exceptional.**
***TL;DR***
*Difficult to comprehend, sensational*

Nose

Smoke. Lots of it. Cigarette smoke specifically, on a damp jacket. With time, soft tropical notes appear in the shape of Fruit Pastilles, alongside creamy cereals. A little sharp vinegar, warm sandstone and stale perfume. If I may go as far to suggest a strong whiff of ‘new make’ too. Yeah, I can read that it’s 30 years old, but it’s there, I tell you.

Palate

System reboot. I just drop the pen and listen to this.

Firstly, there’s the shock of so much smoke, if this is Springbank they were taking their time in the kiln with this malt. There are a bunch of minerals; take it any direction you like: the sea, the sand, the slate, the rocks; you know the theme. Then, there’s a lovely ‘old’ floral element built from that stale perfume note: it's nostalgic and comforting and tearful.

More details emerge as I realise I’m numb to all else.

This happens at 10am and again at 10pm; so much from a tiny glass. Some precision emerges; acidity and a mouthful of malt floor. A little limoncello, wet moss and orange pips. I could go on. A true privilege. And not a cask-derived note in sight.

The Dregs

I can’t afford it. But if I could I would. If you can, do.

Almost every other Springbank I’ve ever tried at this age is a story of the cask with the spirit fighting its way out. How this utterly spirit-first example comes to even exist at this age is a story that needs to be told.

Thank goodness there are bottlers who understand the potency of this.

Score: 9/10

Review 5/5 - Caol Ila 13yo

Caol Ila 13yo, First-fill sherry, 53.1% ABV
£135 RRP

From Decadent Drinks:

Scottish peat and Jerez sherry influences are expressed nowhere more vividly than in the ancient art of Flamencooo dancing.

This wonderful Decadent Drams single cask Caol Ila 13 year old, matured fully in a 1st fill sherry hogshead and bottled at natural cask strength, celebrates these two potent influences and pays tribute to the Cooonicorn and its exotic, naughty, hypnotising, rhythmic hoof-pounding.

I kept the Caol Ila for last because, you know, peat. But also because of the colour and the strength. But how to follow that Springer? I don’t.

I slide the Springbank off to the side and reset a little to focus on this teenager.

There was a spell where the market was a little drenched in Caol Ila - cooked every which way you can. These days, I’m glad to say, things have settled a bit. It remains a favourite of mine. Here we have a first-fill sherry arrangement in the shape of a hoggie.

Score: 7/10

**Very good indeed.**
***TL;DR***
*Despite the 1st fill specs, lots of poise and balance, a very good, sherried Caol Ila*

Nose

There’s an immediate savoury edge here. Sweetness too, yes, but a meaty gravy distracts. Soon I settle into salted prunes, cough syrup, strawberries sprinkled with black pepper, some Dr Pepper too and while there’s smoke, it’s far less pronounced to me than the Springbank incident.

Still, a good, bright ‘red’ nose.

Palate

Dried fruits; prunes, but mangoes and pineapples too. There’s an oaky edge, a little tannic, the meatiness is attenuated with lots of cask richness coming in swirls. In fact it starts to play ‘clean’, with peach, Dr Pepper once more and a little nutmeg spice on the finish. Despite these notes, this isn’t all about the cask, there’s lots to enjoy here. An excellent, complex sherry-forward Caol Ila.

The Dregs

You’d think with this distillery and this cask type, the notes just write themselves, but no. This has poise. I look up the price. £135. Ouch. That’s salty.

So why am I still looking at it, hovering? It’s got more than just the flamenco Heilan coo. With a unicorn horn.

Score: 7/10

The Final Dregs

What a flight of whiskies.

I’m afraid it’s a story of you-get-what-you-pay-for. All of these are selected in a way that you know isn’t typical. These are all extremely excellent examples of their style and all remarkable in very unique ways. I suppose that costs money.

It only takes a cask sample for people to realise they have something special and that immediately affects the price, most of the time. There is an exception here, I’ll get back to that. But for the others, it is what it is.

I resolve to find a way to earn more money, but it seems my skills and talents lie in areas of mediocre earning. Still, occasionally - like today - I get a glimpse of how the other half live, and it’s pretty attractive. That said, there’s affordability here; accessibility too. Not everyday drinking prices, perhaps, but who wants to drink every day?

The first dram settled me, the second intrigued, the third lit me up, the fourth reminded me of a lost parent. And so, the last dram soothed and salved like medicine. What a ride. It was vivid in the morning, but this evening it is joyful. I bought that bottle.

The £85 Mannochmore is winging its way to me as we speak and I look forward to sharing it, it will be surprising to everyone that tries it, I guarantee. So juicy. At this point, you may wonder why it’s scored lower than two others.

But of course, it’s all about means.

Even if I had the money, there are whiskies out there that are just so expensive that stretching to afford them would bring other issues. Owning them would be amazing, but I’m after variety and contrasts and sharing and everything whisky can bring. If I had that Glen Grant or - especially - that Springbank on my shelf, how could I ever bring myself to reach for anything else?

Thanks To Decadent Drinks for an exceptional line up of treats, this one was literally emotional.

Tried these? Share your thoughts in the comments below. WMc

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