The second Ardnahoe in two weeks at Dramface. Maybe it’s going to be another good year for Islay’s newest malt. Charlie evaluates the Skerryvore XX special limited edition from 2025.

Reading this would make you consider we have a recruitment academy. We don’t, but it’s nice to see enthusiastic learning, such as both Dramface & Ardnahoe Cask Strength inspiring our Archie.

A new year, a new writer. Debutant Archie sips from Long Beach California and for his first Dramface piece he went for four from Woodrow’s. A Balvenie, Laphroaig, Dailuaine and an Ardna. Nice.

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…

Wally returns to ask why there are so many silly protectionist rules around stating where a whisky is made - and to who’s detriment when it’s so. He does so over a rather lovely Living Souls 19yo ‘Kildalton’.

Every once in a while a Dramface writer will lament the poor selection available in one of whisky’s most potent retail spaces - GTR. Charlie uncovers a decent Bunnahabhain but he has an opinion.

Staring at ever more sagging and creaking shelves, Drummond admits he’s been on something of a bottle ban in 2025. But it does allow him to crack some long saved charmers, like this Bunnahabhain 18yo.

After being challenged with a blind pour, Broddy gives the much misaligned Bowmore 15yo another chance. After gaining a reputation of being poorly handled in official bottles, this could be a rare uptick.

Even early in his exploration, Mason has accumulated bottles to tuck away for ‘a special occasion’. Then recent news came along and upended things. Time to crack this 6yo Ardnahoe.

In a short and punchy love letter to whisky and its shared moments of joy, Charlie offers up his find of 2025 - a Bruichladdich 15 year old from a bourbon barrel and a new indie - Ferguson Whisky.

Ogilvie senses impostor syndrome. But he’s made of strong stuff and plods on regardless, doing a great job of sharing his thoughts on the September outturn from Decadent Drams for us all.

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.