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.
Official vs Indy: Tamdhu
In lining up an official Tamdhu against a Cadenhead’s and a Woodrow’s, Charlie is compelled to ask: has Tamdhu been hiding? Three very different takes on a single distillery.
Classic of Islay
What is a hipflask used for? And where is it appropriate? Kenzie takes us on a wee tour of Scottish waters and answers that question over a light and fresh Classic of Islay from Jack Weibers.
Compass Box Flaming Heart
Broddy thinks back to 2023 when he was sure that it would be the year of the blends. Then, a price drop on Compass Box’s Flaming Heart takes him back farther still. A cracker that he won’t replace. Why?
Aultmore 13yo Whisky Craft
Curious about how a fella from Meta uses AI to source his tea, Ally applies the idea to whisky, only to realise he may never have stumbled onto this lovely teenage Aultmore from Whisky Craft.
Tomatin 11yo Woodrow’s of Edinburgh
Always on the lookout for new flavour experiences, Fletcher visits a Woodrow’s Tomatin bringing buckets of coconut - which happens to be right up his street. Just like the perfect lasagne.
Glenlossie 13yo Infrequent Flyers
A house visitor to Ogilvie’s gathering declares bourbon the only whisky. Some work needs to be done. An Infrequent Flyers Glenlossie and Ogilvie’s wife are the strategies employed to cure boorishness.
Caol Ila 8yo Tawny Port
In his debut piece, we get to know Kenzie a little through his quieter pursuits; walking on rainy days and meeting others who enjoy the same. In his flask today is a Tawny Port Cask Caol Ila from Murray McDavid.
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 it’s all about. A Decadent Drinks is up against an official 21yo Madeira cask.
Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting Blended Malt 17yo
Charlie falls in love with a blended malt. One that he loves so much he’s even tried to make a version of his own at home. With this Cadenhead’s Warehouse special, he’s wondering what’s in the char.
Thompson Bros Mystery Malt Series 6 x2
This time around it’s Charlie’s turn to armour up and attempt a game of whisky guesswork. It’s the Thompson Brothers’ Mystery Malts Series 6 in the glass this time - two of them. How does our Chic do?
Ruadh Mhor (Glenturret) 11yo
Earie is eager to slip into whisky season. Happily, a birthday gift seems to be the perfect fit to assist in bringing the orange and red-tinged seasonal vibes. This time, it’s a peated Glenturret - Ruadh Mhor - from North Star.
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.
Adelphi Summer 2026 Outturn
When times are tougher and the purse strings are pulled tighter on the whisky budget, Drummond is pleased to benefit a little from the Dramface Deflection System. Six from Adelphi in the hopper today!
Glenrothes - Official vs Indy
In Charlie’s 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 Cadenhead’s releases..
Compass Box Nectarosity
In an attempt to get back to basics, Archie rekindles some fun in whisky with the assistance of the playful and bright fruit-punch from Compass Box: their Nectarosity release.
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 it’s 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?
Ben Nevis 7yo Bedford Park
Ogilvie reflects on movements in his life and a future change coming to when he would often share a dram on his back porch of an evening. Embracing an auction purchase of a Bedford Park Ben Nevis acclaimed by Broddy a year before, Broddy joins him in a collab review on this IB release.
Impex Duo - Isle of Raasay & Ardmore
Archie grabs his favourites from a recent Impex Collection outturn, it just so happens both are on the peaty side, but he’s more grateful for a common theme in Dramface recently; the community that exposed them to him.
The Teuchter Batch 2: Clynelish 10yo
Purple flowers and cinnamon bears, Archie takes us on another hike through his local nature. This time, it’s a budget friendly Clynelish in the form of The Teuchter from Decadent Drinks.