Sometimes relationships take a little time. But when they gel, you need a back up. We’re speaking about whisky, and dogs, apparently. Broddy shares doggy tales over a 31yo North Star Sirius.

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.

Remember the ‘good ole days’ as kids where we ranged far and wide fearlessly. Memories of those days in playgrounds bring a contrast to the newer playground designs where sharp edges are banned and children protected. Reflecting, Mason finds a tasty Peat Monster from the back of the cupboard which he has a soft spot for.

Even in far-flung California, Archie is landing decent indie bottlings. In a follow up to his Woodrows Foursome, we have a Living Souls Trio: Two Smoky Sevens and a Speyside, all crackers.

After a completely hectic close to the year, Charlie is really hoping for a very quiet January. Perhaps one where he’ll get the time to sit and ponder his nice finds, such as this Watt Whisky blend.

Wally returns to ask why there are so many silly protectionist rules around stating where a whisky is made - and to who’s detriment when it’s so. He does so over a rather lovely Living Souls 19yo ‘Kildalton’.

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.

Ogilvie finds himself feeling anxious at the Doc’s office before a chance mention of Islay brings the conversation to much more jovial things. Such as this overlooked Hunter Laing Islay Journey.

Dramface returns from the summer break with tales from Campbeltown and Dougie’s Whisky Dash 2025. This one reads like a tour of the town itself, with Doog reviewing his own creation.

Charlie finds himself on an exploratory road to uncover teaspoon mysteries. With an immensely distracting Westport from Good Spirits Co. he’s transported to traversing Scotland’s famous Bealach na Bà.

Charlie hops onboard for another circle around the whisky discovery track. This time, he’s recalling his six milestones as he journeys back into blends with a North Star Campbeltown creation.

Broddy tries to break Dramface with an epic assessment of ten banging modern blends. He recruits some local pals and covers them all - blind. Think you’re only into malt? This one’s a cracker.

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.

In evangelising some friends, Hughie encounters all-too-common blend prejudice. To counter, he hunts for a good value, sherry cask sipper to help his pals embrace the B-word. Might this Old Perth be it?

While Innes gives a run through on some of the late 2024 Watt Whisky releases, Wally chimes in after catching the latest release from Blacksmith & Jones: a docuseries all about Indy Bottlers.

Through an auction win, Earie is sucked into the fascinating history and story behind the great Silvano Samaroli, as he realises just how influential he was in the scotch story.

Japanese whiskies are like buses, none and then two at once. Today Charlie picks up what we believe to be Japanese, but this Kamiki Blended Malt is not from oak.

Refining his whisky-sights, a measured gamble on the ever-reliable Thompson Brothers connects Tav with a ‘teaspooned’ bottle he’d have to pay double for to grab the branded version.

Whisky brings solace and escapism in challenging times. After some fatigue, Earie finds his love of whisky geekery sparked once more. A very good indie Islay from Elixir’s Elements helps out.

Cadenhead’s Original Collection and the Enigma Blends are perhaps the most likely of their releases to be found in the wider marketplace. Ainsley dives in to an entire outturn.