A Dramface first - a donation from the community! Also a first for Ally Mann; reviewing an English single malt. He admits to a short hiatus from whisky too, and remarks on the positives of taking a break.

Archie takes us back to his life as a musician as he reflects on the pre-digital era and missed connections. He’s helped along by a Connections release from North Star Spirits, this time the Islay edition.

Hoping for the best, but fearing the worst, Archie picks up a high-volume bottle for the masses - a Kirkland Highland Malt Whisky 15yo at 46% . On the face of it great value. But, is it?

Broddy gathers seven bottles of SMOS Reserve Cask Small Batch releases in a single mega review. He justifies his scoring for each while dropping a bombshell of heresy about oatcakes.

Charlie picks up three blends from the past - his own past - and dips in to see what he was missing. A Chivas Regal 12yo from the 1970s alongside an old Johnnie Walker Swing and a 1980s Teachers.

The gateway dram for Charlie was a Dalmore 18 year old. We all start somewhere. In this instalment of his indy vs official series he tackles Dalmore once more. Four of them.

Through chasing whatever whiskies he can explore, Ogilvie notices a lost-in-translation scenario between bourbon and malt. He wonders why this lauded Penelope Wheated is so… simple.

In a particularly fun and relatable piece, Ally shares the challenges at home of juggling the transition away from his over-accumulation and the onset of Storage Wars. A Wolfburn No.270 is in the glass.

Archie happens upon a ‘distillery’ he’s never heard of. This ‘Shieldaig’ turns out to be a branded malt, which is fine. It has a purpose. Just like Dramface, which he also wants to discuss a little.

Drummond returns from a short hiatus with an insight into a trait that he’s come to accept; the need to pause and make time for self-care. A trio of Cadenhead’s Bunnahabhain helps of course.

Once more, Wally’s weary brain is faced with a whisky he doesn’t understand. In the end he wonders if the odd presentation of The Borders’ Right As Rain release is all to do with it being too cheap.

Ogilvie senses impostor syndrome. But he’s made of strong stuff and plods on regardless, doing a great job of sharing his thoughts on the September outturn from Decadent Drams for us all.

It takes a trip far away, with too little whisky, to make Charlie reflect on how lucky he is to live so close to the source. With a Johnnie Walker Double Black, he sees that Scotland is, actually, a great place.

In a follow up to yesterday’s serendipitous collaborative review, we interrogate the purpose and provenance of Nikka’s Coffey Malt. It’s something of an odd fish that we seem to, oddly, appreciate.

The Colonials try to find a good bottle they can review as a collaboration. This is harder than you might imagine, given regional availability, but they settle on an enigma: Nikka’s Coffey Grain.

Broddy spots a tall bottle with appealing specs; 16 years and all ex-bourbon. He’s in. Glenmorangie too. Expecting an amplified 12yo, he’s left, not for the first time, rueing unmet expectations.

A shipping miscommuniqué sees various Dramface team members end up with whisky they didn’t expect. This time it’s Glasgow’s 1770 Constantia and it means three can join in on the review.

Charlie digs out four somewhat forgotten blends from his cupboard to revisit them, all the while realising they all have a story - and a good reason for being there.

A memorable label was etched into Ogilvie’s mind & one day he finally found a St George’s Baller; an American ode to Japanese whisky. Therein he discovers one of his most challenging pours he’s ever tried.

Broddy discovers a nearby Canadian distillery doing everything all the right way, with local ingredients and an ingenious still set up. He dives in with both feet, buying four bottles at once. How does he fare?