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 Devilβs Cask
Times are tough in whisky, unless youβre buying the stuff. Charlie makes a rare move by purchasing an officially bottled Bowmore - the return of the Devilβs Cask release for 2026 that tempts him in.
Macallan Harmony Collection Edition 6
Somehow, Charlie ends up buying a bottle of Macallanβs Harmony Collection. As a Dramface regular, he should know better, but the story of why is an interesting one; we can all relate.
Clydeside 8yo Small Batch Oloroso
After travelling with a only few select picks, Charlie quickly became frustrated that he didnβt have his usual selection. He realises he needs the thrill of choice. Clydesideβs brand new 8yo in the glass. Wally joins in too.
Official vs Indy: Aberfeldy
Vanilla. Some distilleries are just a bit like that. Charlie continues his Official vs Indy series with Aberfeldy and struggles to define what itβs all about. A Decadent Drinks is up against an official 21yo Madeira cask.
Cadenheadβs Warehouse Tasting Blended Malt 17yo
Charlie falls in love with a blended malt. One that he loves so much heβs even tried to make a version of his own at home. With this Cadenheadβs Warehouse special, heβs wondering whatβs in the char.
Thompson Bros Mystery Malt Series 6 x2
This time around itβs Charlieβs turn to armour up and attempt a game of whisky guesswork. Itβs the Thompson Brothersβ Mystery Malts Series 6 in the glass this time - two of them. How does our Chic do?
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 Charlieβs 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 Cadenheadβs 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 itβs all about. Official vs Indy once more!
Official vs Indy: Cardhu
Charlie continues his dive into official releases versus indies. In exploring Cardhu, he places two official bottles against a James Eadie - can we already guess which is best?
Glentauchers Duo
In his continued pursuit of everything heβs not yet tried, Charlie lands upon Glentauchers. In the absence of an interesting - or available - official release, he compares two indies from auction.
Ben Nevis Duo
After ignoring a distillery he once thought had long closed, Charlie dives in to a duo comparison on Ben Nevis. Both from Decadent Drinks, both 12yo - sherry vs bourbon. Fight!
Official vs Indy: Royal Lochnagar
In another of Charlies series, he looks at the exact opposite of Diageoβs so-called βworkhorseβ distilleries. This time itβs the tiny Royal Lochnagar, a rare thing indeed, and finding an indy proves tricky.
Little Brown Dog Duo
Charlie manages to attend only the very last day of this yearβs Campbeltown Malts Festival, but still feels like it was very worth while - especially after picking up two Little Brown Dog bangers!
Ben Nevis 11yo Tartan Army π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Wally and Charlie are at it again; wallowing in their gleeful states simply because their team have made the World Cup finals for the first time in a generation. The SV Ben Nevis Tartan Army release in the glass this time.
Clydeside 2026 Limited Edition π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Charlie and Wally are nervous. Scotland appear at their first World Cup finals since 1998 this weekend. Will Clydesideβs unofficial/official distillery limited edition release be the one to pour if thereβs something to celebrate?
Torabhaig Taigh
Kindred spirits Archie and Charlie collab on one of their favourites: Torabhaig. This time itβs all about their new Taigh core release and the meaning of home, with summery pics of California and Scotland.
Official vs Indy: The Singletons
Charlie continues his deep dive into new distilleries (to him), this time uncovering the two βGlensβ of Ord and βDullan, then comparing two Special releases to indies from James Eadie and the Thompson Bros.
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: Dalmore
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.