Whisky Reviews
Here you'll find honest opinions, thoughtful analysis and the occasional disagreement, because no two palates are quite the same. We review widely, score reluctantly and remain convinced that whisky is far more interesting than the numbers attached to it.
Agreement is optional; curiosity is encouraged.
Hawaiian Bourbon Duo
Broddy recommends everyone gives in to holiday whisky-souvenir purchases, as he reaches for a summer pour that instantly transports him back in time to family fun in Hawaii.
Official vs Indy: Balvenie
Continuing his series, this time Charlie visits Balvenie. While the outcome might be - for us - expected, it lights his interest in yet another distillate that is usually otherwise obscured from us. A bonus from Kininvie appears too.
Glenrothes - Official vs Indy
In Charlie’s distillery deep-dives and comparisons, the indies have always won out. However, could a naturally coloured official Glenrothes turn that around? He tries two of them alongside two Cadenhead’s releases..
Official vs Indy: Benrinnes
Having never climbed Ben Rinnes, Charlie decides to clamber through three - make that four(ish) - expressions of the Benrinnes spirit to see what it’s all about. Official vs Indy once more!
Macallan Night on Earth: First Light
In a hurry to get to funner places, Wally phoned one in. This time it’s a limited edition Macallan, and there’s nothing - yet somehow everything - wrong with it.
Antique Blends Trio
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.
Official vs Indy: Glenlossie
A stranger to Glenlossie until 2025, Charlie uncovered one of Diageo’s ‘blend houses’ in a Cadenhead’s tasting. Typically for him, a pleasant experience and a bottle purchase finds him exploring and comparing.
Lagavulin 11yo Sweet Peat
Betraying his age as well as his sense of humour and movie preferences, Archie surprises himself with a low-expectations bottling from Lagavulin: their new 11 year old Sweet Peat.
Shieldaig Oloroso Cask
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.
Glenfarclas 12yo Official Bottling
In order to calm the tensions of travel, Archie once enjoyed an airport beer. These days, however, he’s moved up a few levels: Planedrams. In his Plaincairn on this trip he revisits an old faithful Glenfarclas 12yo.
Bowmore 15yo New vs Old
After being challenged with a blind pour, Broddy gives the much misaligned Bowmore 15yo another chance. After gaining a reputation of being poorly handled in official bottles, this could be a rare uptick.
Strathisla 40yo
Wally finally cracks open a bottle that’s been around for so long it became a burden of anxiety. Now that it’s open; how’s he feeling about having a 40yo Strathisla on the shelf?
Highland Park 18yo
Who would’ve thought some dog-sitting would result in the ability to explore a bottle of whisky that you’d never buy yourself? Mason digs into this vintage Highland Park 18yo.
Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition
Continuing our Friday cocktail theme, Murdo bottle swaps to try a take on a somewhat famous whisky mixed drink: the Smokey Cokey with Lagavulin Distilller’s Edition. The whisky’s reviewed too, ‘course.
Glen Garioch 21yo 1990s
Are auctions coming back to the rational drinker? If so, that appeals to Nick who occasionally stumbles upon bonus bargains to assist the shipping costs, like this vintage Glen Garioch gem.
Glenmorangie 16yo The Tribute
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.
Golden Ribbon 1980s Blended Scotch
Were old blends better? Ainsley snags an old export blend and compares it to five contemporary scotch blends available to him in France. The results are revealing. It does not go well.
Dalmore 18yo
The plastic stag of Dalmore 18yo is in the crosshairs as Charlie revisits an old friend, one from a time before he was sullied by ‘informed’ opinions, community ‘consensus’ and, well, possibly much better whiskies.
Bowmore Trio
Charlie asks the all important question - If Bowmore is truly one of Scotch whisky’s legends - why are none of their official releases any good? Brutal. But he explores three to find out.
Four Forgotten Blends
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.