Like a band that has sold out, Fergus felt abandoned by his favourite distillery. He took a long time to give Balblair another chance. But here it is. A head-to-head. Rebrand vs previous livery.

Very much enjoying the new release from Strathearn, Wally reflects upon the producers and stewards in scotch whisky who actually care about the product and its legacy.

Upon discovering this bottle received a near-perfect 99 points at the IWSC, Nick dives in to see what all the fuss was about. You know what he discovered, don’t you?

The say distance makes the heart go fonder. Dougie returns to Ardnamurchan’s fair whisky shores after a long break and discovers what’s inside this 5 year old Unpeated Golden Promise Barley expression.

On a trapse to the Big Smoke to explore some whisky in his favourite bar, Doog catches the lurgy. But not before he discovers a belter of a Ben Nevis form Woodrows - and the concept of a bloodtub.

Paisley, so inspired by her experiences with recent Glenglassaugh releases, decides to go visit. Then immediately decides not to. She shares why.

Before pitching two big-hitting, and not inexpensive, Glen Garioch bottlings against each other, Doog decides to wait for his bad mood to pass.

Hamish manages to (almost) avoid a smattering of golfing analogies as he uncorks Loch Lomond’s 2024, “The Open” release. It’s on the Chardonnay theme too; but not the yeast this time.

Despite promising himself some restraint, our Hamish has been stealing from the auctions again. This time he’s snagged two young Ardmore indies; a favourite catch.

In trying to understand why Ben Nevis is such a ‘connoisseur’s malt’ Ainsley assembles a trio of indies and pours them alongside each other for a cosy night hiding from the Parisian rain.

Our Dramface debutant today shares his passion for music with an appropriate release form Turntable; their malt-heavy and affordable Paradise Funk. It’s Fergus’ call as to whether it’s killer, filler or grower.

When we love whisky so much, it’s hard to be brutal about some of the obvious negatives. Yet sometimes, when things are clearly wrong, we just have to call it out. This decision was not taken lightly.

With a confession that he knows very little about art, Fletch considers the art of whisky over a lesser-spotted indie Pulteney 15yo, and how it’s not always about its creation.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. It’s one of Fletch’s favourites; Deanston. Looking for something that the Tequila cask has imparted, he compares it to a similarly insipid Tequila cask blend.

Dove-tailing Doog’s review of the mass-market Aberfeldy 12yo, Ainsley finds an all-too-rare alternative, one more tailored for those of a geeky bent. Inexpensive too!

After a brand ambassador recommendation, Doog tucks into Pulteney’s Huddart, hoping for a coastal hit. He puts it up against an SMWS single cask for a bonus compo review too.

An occasional visit from Gilbert to ask us for our trust. He’s finding it difficult not to like a bottle that’s almost universally ignored, or even disliked. He digs beyond the tacky to work out why.

In a whisky landscape swamped with ratcheted prices and disgruntled malt lovers, Fletcher uncorks what he believes just might be a brilliant antidote. Bravo Signatory Vintage, bravo.

Shock horror, model son Dougie actually chooses to buy a whisky he knows to be 40%, chill-filtered and probably coloured. And yet, he finds a place where it fits perfectly, and no, it’s not down the sink.

Considering the role of malt whisky today versus what it was in the very recent past, Fletcher goes looking for something akin to Batman; that which is capable of being more than just one thing.