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.
Bowmore Devil’s Cask
Times are tough in whisky, unless you’re buying the stuff. Charlie makes a rare move by purchasing an officially bottled Bowmore - the return of the Devil’s Cask release for 2026 that tempts him in.
Ardnahoe 6yo Chairman’s Selection
Due to recent fortunes, Archie has struggled to breathe. His work needs attention and whisky has suffered. It takes something as big and punchy as this Ardnahoe Chairman’s Selection to bring him up for air.
Laphroaig 15yo 2026
Earie lost an old flame, 25 years ago he fell for Laphroaig, only for things to inevitable change. Now, with this newly envisioned 15yo, can he renew the spark?
Glasgow 1770 8yo Peated Bourbon Cask
Mason isn’t a cat-lover. Nor, it seems, is he ready to be seduced by this young Glasgow 1770 8yo Peated. Maybe, however, with a little time, anyone’s mind can be changed.
Kilchoman Islay Series - The Vineyard
Ogilvie conducts a social experiment while visiting Martha’s Vineyard - how many polite Good Mornings are returned on his walkabout? He picks up his Vineyard exclusive Kilchoman too.
Arran Signature Series Trio
Broddy has been squirrelling the releases from Arran in the Signature Series - so far. With a fourth edition imminent, he brings us his thoughts on the first three, and there’s a clear favourite.
Croftengea 8yo Red Cask
As Dramface slows to its summer cadence, Archie reflects on the perspectives afforded to us via a slower pace to things. He chooses a bruiser of a Loch Lomond Croftengea to help.
Isle of Raasay Duo
Archie feels there’s a fairly newborn distillery that deserves a little light shone on them and apologises for an almost three-year hiatus from Dramface. He makes up for it with a duo review.
Longrow 18yo
It’s a popular bottle, the Longrow 18. So much so, it generates one of our famous Dramface pile-ons, with Earie, Mike, Drummond and Murdo all reviewing their own annual editions. Perfect.
Glen Scotia Malts Festival 2026
None of us realised how tenacious Gilbert was, until he went all out to get the best out of his 2026 Malts Festival Glen Scotia; with a food and sip diary. Too much information? We say not enough!
Lagavulin 11yo Sweet Peat
Betraying his age as well as his sense of humour and movie preferences, Archie surprises himself with a low-expectations bottling from Lagavulin: their new 11 year old Sweet Peat.
Thompson Bros White Peak 2018
Ainsley has a few passions: whisky and music, sure, but he’s also a big fan of rugby. He chooses an opposing nation’s whisky output to mark the 6 Nations finale - a White Peak from Thompson Bros.
Ballechin 10yo
After discussions orbiting around the fact people actually read Dramface, Ainsley is forced to recognise it’s more than a pet project. He dials in on an under-the-radar peat alternative that’s everywhere for £45.
Annandale Man O’Swords Fino Cask
After nearly smashing this bottle of Annandale before the photo shoot, Fletcher recalls the times he’s lost whiskies through packing fails and baggage handling fails. He also wants to know why this malt is such a positioning fail.
Tomatin Cù Bòcan Creation #7
Hamish reflects on his 2025 whisky moments. Whilst settling on the Glasgow Whisky Festival as the highlight, he shares a Cù Bòcan Creation that surprised him, almost as much as the people he meets.
Living Souls Kildalton 19yo
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’.
Ardara Irish Single Malt 2025
Once in a while along comes a flavour profile that stretches our frame of reference in whisky enjoyment. Enter Hughie and his astonishment over a bottle of Ardara Irish Single Malt. He’s intrigued.
Glasgow 1770 8yo Bourbon Cask Lightly Peated
Fergus tries Glasgow malt at Glasgow whisky festival, only to ask it to live up to the experience when he has it back home. He also makes some observations about openness and transparency, and the humility of cities.
Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhòna
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.
Indri Agneya
Earie admits he’s become something of a fanboy of the oh-so-recently unheard of Piccadilly single malt releases. This time it’s a peated affair in the shape of the Indri Agneya.