Ainsley has a few passions: whisky and music, sure, but he’s also a big fan of rugby. He chooses an opposing nation’s whisky output to mark the 6 Nations finale - a White Peak from Thompson Bros.

Sad to see the end of Waterford, Ainsley shares his personal ideas on where things went wrong. Ultimately, with the Good Vibrations Micro Cuvée in the glass, he thinks the ‘novelties’ wore off.

After discussions orbiting around the fact people actually read Dramface, Ainsley is forced to recognise it’s more than a pet project. He dials in on an under-the-radar peat alternative that’s everywhere for £45.

Some jobs, such as Ainsley’s, means Christmas is hardly a time of rest; too much work and not enough play. Soon though, a rest and a return to the cabinet finds a Decadent Drinks Old Orkney and a return of the mojo.

Once more we visit the ultimate humbling - blind tasting whisky. This time around Ainsley considers what the minimal details are required to legally sell whisky with a Thompson Bros Mystery Malt Series 3.

Our resident Parisian Ainsley is still unpacking the madness that was Glasgow’s Whisky Festival in 2025. With some distance, he also unpacks a lesser seen indie Auchentoshan from newcomers Whisky Craft.

Ainsley had a forced whisky hiatus, but he rekindled his love for music while away. Over a tasty Cadenhead’s Tomatin 18yo, he realises keeping the passion might take a little thought and effort.

After a mini-gathering at Whisky Live Paris, Hughie and Ainsley buddy up for a short resumé of events over a Cadenhead’s Ledaig 14yo, as well as a campaign for us all to join them in Paris in future.

Ainsley rejoices in the friends and like-minded companionship can bring, yet selects a special and mature Cadenhead’s Glen Grant to put forward the case for sipping, contemplatively, alone.

Ainsley is full of excuses: Brexit, holidays, distractions, work, being French. Eventually, he gets around to sharing some beauties from Decadent Drinks. The good news; they’re belters & mostly still about.

Ainsley’s world spins in whisky. Through this amber life, he’s met a few friends. Some of these friends come armed with whisky. Lots of it. Like this Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt.

Through adventures of European culture, Ainsley gives us an insight into taking a break from the intensity of Paris and whisky, before returning to some tasty Holyrood from Fragrant Drops.

Our cocktail shenanigans continue, but not without reviewing the whisky itself first. Ainsley brings us a Claret Snap, his own take on the Whisky Sour, using the acclaimed Uncle Nearest 100º Proof.

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.

In another call for support of independent specialist retailers, Ainsley and Ramsay team up to celebrate a Caol Ila released by Adelphi to mark Arthur Motley’s 20 years at Royal Mile Whiskies.

Ainsley considers the seasonal moods of enjoying our drinks and preferring light and fresh sips in summer weather. Only to throw it all out the window for a banger of an oloroso Thompson Bros Dufftown.

Today we learn the swap for yesterday’s review. Ainsley pushes the boat out for a pricey 18 year old and splits it with Dramface Jackie in a celebration of what whisky is all about - sharing. Hughie chips in too!

While in Scotland & lamenting the things he can’t easily get a hold of, Ainsley strikes a deal. In return for oor Jackie sourcing him some of this tasty Loch Lomond Distillery Edition 6, he offers a swap.

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.

Ainsley has tried enough decent Clynelish to know he loves that waxy character it can possess, so he determines to land a bottle. But that’s harder said than done. Did he manage with this 1992 18yo?