At first Ainsley wasn’t too enamoured with the ‘hype’ around Springbank’s Local Barley releases. It took 2025’s 8yo with heritage grain to switch all the lights on. It’s finally found him.

Dougie becomes cynical of super-dark whiskies. Not content with an inability to see the true colour of the Tyndrum Ardnamurchan single cask, he decants first, then reviews.

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.