Fergus reflects on the solidifying of his whisky exploration through trips and sharing, but also the understanding of new concepts, such as independent bottling, like this month’s Decadent Drinks outturn.

Ogilvie finds himself feeling anxious at the Doc’s office before a chance mention of Islay brings the conversation to much more jovial things. Such as this overlooked Hunter Laing Islay Journey.

Ogilvie and Charlie team up to tackle an omission in the Dramface archives; Laphroaig’s Quarter Cask. Recognising it’s reliable solidity, they use it to celebrate being smart about life & parenting.

Continuing our Friday cocktail theme, Murdo bottle swaps to try a take on a somewhat famous whisky mixed drink: the Smokey Cokey with Lagavulin Distilller’s Edition. The whisky’s reviewed too, ‘course.

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.

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.

Realising whisky’s time capsule proposition while increasingly troubled by potential nostalgia, Ogilvie seeks out a vintage Bunnahabhain 12yo to see if the flavours of his memory can be matched.

Wally sets aside a day to sit with a line up of Decadent Drinks releases. He uncovers some show stoppers and - remarkably - he can even afford one of them.

Hughie reignites an old flame - Kilchoman. Specifically their 100% Islay release. Despite the ‘monogamy’ of a single distillery and even a single expression, he still manages a little promiscuity by enjoying three at once.

Charlie asks the all important question - If Bowmore is truly one of Scotch whisky’s legends - why are none of their official releases any good? Brutal. But he explores three to find out.

Being honest with himself, Earie accepts that he’s paying more per bottle today than ever. Where will this pattern go & did a splurge on this Douglas Laing 18yo Bunnahabhain work out well?

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?

Another Dramface debut! This time it’s a Scot who, due to his ancestry, has a particular passion for Bruichladdich, and this Micro-provenance Single Cask is one of his favourites. And a bit different.

Perhaps with St Valentine’s Day on his mind, Earie wonders what makes us fall in love with certain distilleries. He decides it’s less faff, more flavour and more indies. Some other stuff too.

Whisky brings solace and escapism in challenging times. After some fatigue, Earie finds his love of whisky geekery sparked once more. A very good indie Islay from Elixir’s Elements helps out.

Cadenhead’s Original Collection and the Enigma Blends are perhaps the most likely of their releases to be found in the wider marketplace. Ainsley dives in to an entire outturn.

Wally kicks things off for 2025 with Ardnahoe’s core range Infinite Loch & exclusive Society bottling and hopes that they are harbingers of what could follow in whisky’s New Year.

When is travel retail not actually travel retail? And when should it be everywhere retail? Dougie gets ripped into Bruichladdich’s hidden gem amidst flying angst and acronyms.

We tend to avoid politics at Dramface. Ogie does the same at Chez Shaw in NC, USA. But his politically opposed pals visit him with different ideas. Ogie douses them with Scarabus 10. Good job.

Some new, cracking value, Glasgow 1770 Small Batch releases have dropped. Dougie leads a team up with Drummond and Wally to check out the Madeira and the Islay Cask. Don’t miss these.