We take a break from our summer, erm, break, to bring an epic team Dramface pile-on for the Thompson Brothers’ Mystery Malt Series No.2. Let’s see if we all pay attention to the try-it-blind memo this time.

A summer penchant for craft beers led Fergus astray. He was tempted into buying himself a Diageo SR from 2022 based on a heavy discount. No one’s immune to a bargain. How did it work out?

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.

Over the years, Earie has taught himself what he likes and likes less. But with a dearth of Signatory Vintage’s 100º Proof Series in Belgium, he picks up a North British 15yo grain, and learns a lesson.

In discovering a cracking but largely ignored Johnnie Walker Blend, Wally shares why we don’t talk about - or chase - traffic at Dramface. An odd position, but the whisky’s great!

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.

After a positive introduction to Benrinnes through the Flora & Fauna in 2022, Ogilvie heads to his check-box auction haul to explore the distillery further. This time with ex-bourbon and Cadenheads.

Gilbert adds another Johnnie Walker to the collection and asks ‘what’s in a name?’ A lot, apparently, especially when you’re trying really hard to find the right one.

Three writers buddy up with three blind bottles from the new Mystery Malt concept from Thompson Brothers. Will they all get the same? Will they like them?

Necessity is the mother of invention. As Ogilvie’s strict local liquor laws continue to frustrate, he finds different routes to keeping his exploration alive. This time with a Pot Still Birthday Blair Athol.

As Hughie shares one of his ‘finds’ from Thompson Bros & a recent Scotland trip, he’s left to consider all the folks that have helped whisky find him; those who are celebrated and those who are often less so.

Fletcher is certain he doesn’t suffer from FOMO. He doesn’t have floors and shelves covered in bottles and he doesn’t always pick up at least one bottle when out and about. Like this Cadenhead’s Ord he couldn’t pass up.

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.

Nothing in life is free. Murdo has a think about this as he considers who is the ‘product’ in any of our modern whisky day transactions, while sharing another Linkwood banger from Signatory.

Murdo riffs off a recent Ainsley piece where he explored the concept of wax in whisky. After tracking down a bottle of Thompson Bros Dailuaine celebrated for ‘wax’, he feels ready to share.

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?

Nostalgia remains very much part of whisky enjoyment long-term. In this review of a 1991 official Knockando, Broddy shares his own take on whisky nostalgia, while using a handy bell-curve to send it home.

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.

Did our challenging times during Lockdown actually offer us a few silver linings? Murdo offers a few possible examples which endure for him today, including discovering this knockout Cadenhead’s Linkwood.

A favourite Gilbert pastime is chasing blends. Reluctant to splash out on the “Ultimate” scotch blend, Gilbert borrows a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label and gives it a whirl for us all.