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.
Bowmore Devil’s Cask
Times are tough in whisky, unless you’re buying the stuff. Charlie makes a rare move by purchasing an officially bottled Bowmore - the return of the Devil’s Cask release for 2026 that tempts him in.
Laphroaig 15yo 2026
Earie lost an old flame, 25 years ago he fell for Laphroaig, only for things to inevitable change. Now, with this newly envisioned 15yo, can he renew the spark?
Thompson Bros Mystery Malt Series 6 x2
This time around it’s Charlie’s turn to armour up and attempt a game of whisky guesswork. It’s the Thompson Brothers’ Mystery Malts Series 6 in the glass this time - two of them. How does our Chic do?
Cut Your Wolf Loose Sextet
Six - yes six - from Cut Your Wolf Loose today. In a remarkably candid piece, our LA resident Archie reflects on a tumultuous professional path to date, all to explain his love for art - and independence.
Impex Duo - Isle of Raasay & Ardmore
Archie grabs his favourites from a recent Impex Collection outturn, it just so happens both are on the peaty side, but he’s more grateful for a common theme in Dramface recently; the community that exposed them to him.
Decadent Drinks June 2026 Outturn
Wally ‘forgets’ to forward on the set from Decadent Drams showcasing their June outturn. Luckily, there are some quite spectacular treats inside, including a 52yo Glen Garioch.
Thompson Brothers Mystery Malt x2
It’s Wally’s turn to tackle a brace of the formidable Thompson Brothers Mystery Malt Series 6. As usual, he dives in completely blind, but this time he’s confident. Is it misplaced?
Islay Connection 10yo
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.
7x SMOS Reserve Cask Series
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.
Glen Garioch 12
Dougie discovers, for the first time, brown noise. He shares his thoughts. He also discovers, for the second time, Glen Garioch 12yo. He also shares his thoughts. And his photos? We hope you’re sitting down.
Bowmore 10yo Old Particular
Bowmore’s reputation has been sullied in recent years. Archie grabs a Douglas Laing Old Particular; one of the many new releases from indies. Can it complete an arc of redemption?
SMWS Ardmore 9yo
The hardest questions in whisky? “What’s your favourite?” However, at this moment in time, Hamish has an answer. Today, he shares his all-time favourite whisky! An SMWS Ardmore.
Cadenhead’s Glen Garioch 11yo Fino
Feeling the crunch on his finances, Mason gets introspective. Facing over-accumulation, he naively attempts a slow down and a clear out of languishing bottles & revisits a Cadenhead’s 11yo Garioch.
Four Single Casks from Woodrow’s
A new year, a new writer. Debutant Archie sips from Long Beach California and for his first Dramface piece he went for four from Woodrow’s. A Balvenie, Laphroaig, Dailuaine and an Ardna. Nice.
Decadent Drinks December 2025
It’s Dougie’s turn to step up with a box of the latest outturn from Decadent Drinks. Like this weekend deep-dive read, it’s no small undertaking. But it starts with an Ardnamurchan, so he’s in…
Auchentoshan 20yo Whisky Craft
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.
Glen Garioch 15yo
Hughie is prompted to review his ‘collection’ during a reshuffle. More so when he reads a recent Whisky Magazine article. He chews everything over with a forgotten Glen Garioch 15yo.
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.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Ogilvie and Charlie team up to tackle an omission in the Dramface archives; Laphroaig’s Quarter Cask. Recognising it’s reliable solidity, they use it to celebrate being smart about life & parenting.
Star Hill Farm Inaugural
Murdo considers the gamble each time we purchase a bottle of something new - the gamble of value. Even when he reaches out to a Dramface peer for this Star Hill Farm, he can’t be assured a good deal.