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.
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.
Decadent Drinks April 2026
As well as sharing his thoughts on a selection of Decadent Drinks recent outturn, Ainsley also shares his thoughts on his latest visit to the Independent Spirits Festival in Leith.
Orkney Sponge 2005 16yo
Some jobs, such as Ainsley’s, means Christmas is hardly a time of rest; too much work and not enough play. Soon though, a rest and a return to the cabinet finds a Decadent Drinks Old Orkney and a return of the mojo.
Highland Park Cask Strength
In order to admit you might have been wrong about something, you need humility - and time. A sample from the archive stash helps too. Broddy revisits an affordable and over-performing Highland Park.
Highland Park 18yo
Who would’ve thought some dog-sitting would result in the ability to explore a bottle of whisky that you’d never buy yourself? Mason digs into this vintage Highland Park 18yo.
Decadent Drinks June 2025 Outturn
You’ve asked we do more of these, despite samples being a hot topic at Dramface. Well this time it’s sample-debutant Charlie’s turn with a set of minis from the Decadent Drinks June outturn. How will he get on?
The Independent Spirits Festival
Ainsley recounts the splendour of the recent Independent Spirits Festival held in Leith. This is just the kind of recap to make sure we see another year of this, and a perfect Fib Whisky Whitlaw to match up.
Highland Park 12yo 2024
Continuing the theme this week on age statements, and over Highland Park’s new 12yo, Wally shares his thoughts on why age statements don’t matter in 2024, and also why they absolutely do.
An Orkney 11yo SMOS Parcel 11
When some of the Dramface reviews are for limited outturns, mostly from indies, Earie wonders; What’s the point? Then he finds something like this. That’s the point.
Highland Park 10yo
Like so many, Drummond is a Lockdown whisky geek. To catch up he ventures into Highland Park’s official 10yo to find some of that famous “all-rounder” character, only to discover something of a bargain no-brainer.
Highland Park Cask Strength
With winter weather just around the corner for so many of us, we revisit this review of Highland Park’s Cask Strength Batch 001 edition by Broddy. He sought stronger flavours and peat smoke. What he found was potent, dense, and clinging.
Highland Park 13yo & Cask Deep-dive
Very good whisky, and a huge Tyree deep-dive into cask influence
Ardmore 11yo & Orkney 13yo
If these distilleries presented their own core range like this, we’d all be ranting and raving.
Watt Whisky August 2022 Outturn
Five new whiskies from this impressive independent bottler
