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.
Thompson Brothers Mystery Malt x2
Finding himself battling DIY and anxiety, two Mystery Malts arrive at Doog Towers for some fun relief. A welcome arrival as he’d had a twitching eye on a bottle for himself. Now he’s got two. How’d he do? Did he win?
LBD Drookit Dug Batch 3
In true Gen X style, Ogilvie disconnects from the electronics, and the significant others, to set up a temporary escape with a pal and a LBD Drookit Dug for company.
Decadent Drinks December 2025
It’s Dougie’s turn to step up with a box of the latest outturn from Decadent Drinks. Like this weekend deep-dive read, it’s no small undertaking. But it starts with an Ardnamurchan, so he’s in…
Glen Garioch 13yo Fragrant Drops
After Dougie’s whirlwind November, he finally has time to sit with his Fragrant Drops 13yo Glen Garioch. Since it’s rainy, he also uncorks his all-time Geery pinnacle bottle for a side-by-side.
North British 34yo
Doog’s love for an Edinburgh single grain knows no bounds, especially when he can follow a story and reconnect with an old pal. Unkiltered’s 34yo North British in the glass.
Ardnamurchan Quartet
Covering four Ardnamurchans in one sitting, Dougie eventually discovers something he’s been searching for in whisky - that mysterious ‘effervescence’. Perfect that it comes from his beloved Ardna.
Spirit of Yorkshire 6yo Madeira
Doog’s annual sailing trips to Campbeltown with his sidekick Foosty have taken on different flavours of adventure every time. He shares part 1 at Cadenhead’s & a Spirit of Yorkshire that, in itself, takes him on a journey.
Murray McDavid Strathdearn
Doog tops up an online order with something he’s never tried before, and this Murray McDavid Strathdearn (Tomatin) serendipitously opens up a conversation to reveal a ‘secret’ about its presentation.
Adelphi Ardnamurchan 5yo
Something got in the way of Doog’s enjoyment of what’s become ‘his whisky’. Fortunately for all, he worked out what it was, and faced it down. He bring us a MacLean & Bruce 5yo Ardnamurchan to share all.
Woven Homemade
Dougie needs to bump an order for free shipping and is drawn to a reasonably priced Woven Homemade Blend, which causes him to reflect on how his perspectives have altered immeasurably since the dark days.
Dalry Milk
Dougie recalls a weekend trip to Auld Reekie and reviews a whisky from there too. One which gathered viral attention from whisky folk & chocolate makers too, unfortunately - Master of Malt’s Dalry Milk.
Leith Legacy 10yo
Can a £28 blend satisfy the ever-curious Doog? Well, after scrutinising the packaging and sharing some interesting British supermarket nostalgia, this Leith Legacy leaves him truly surprised.
SMWS Skooshy Stroopwafel
How’s your Friday? Fancy a vivid trip to the west coast of Scotland on a moonlit night? Doog, literally, takes you there. With a nice SMWS single malt too.
North British 15yo & 34yo
Dougie scoffs a Fragrant Drops North British bottle-split but immediately orders a follow-up bottle and compares it to a 34yo counterpart. He likes, and the prices are remarkable.
SV Speyside (M) 2011
It’s not like our Doog to forget his decorum, but a new year’s faux pas leaves him reeling with shame; has he become a whisky snob? He makes good with a Signatory 100 Proof Maybe-Macallan.
Table Whisky
A man struck by strong branding and potent design, Dougie spots something that isn’t whisky - as he knows it. But it is £32.50, so he fires in to explore Port of Leith’s ‘Table Whisky’.
Ferg & Harris Speyside 12yo
It’s a Fletcher Friday. Upon encountering yet another entry into the indie bottler space; he considers if it’s even possible to bring anything truly ‘different’ today.
Glen Garioch 11yo Amontillado
After we were treated to Dougie’s Campbeltown trips in our feature section, he reviews one of the Cadenhead’s Warehouse bottles he snagged. Yep, it’s a Garioch and he’s in love.
Cadenhead’s Creations
The Dougie Crystal Blend. A meticulous, carefully crafted plan to create the best possible blend, was quickly tossed out the window as the giddiness of eight cask strength bangers took hold.
Glen Garioch 12yo White Port
Dougie remains committed to mining the rich purple seam of Glen Garioch. This time it’s a Cadehead’s 12yo . A 20cl bottle that, on first sip, sends him back for a full 70cl. Maybe two.