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.

You’ve asked we do more of these, despite samples being a hot topic at Dramface. Well this time it’s sample-debutant Charlie’s turn with a set of minis from the Decadent Drinks June outturn. How will he get on?

In a fascinating piece, Aengus returns from his coffee obsession to apply some learnings to whisky. With a tasty Berry Bros Glen Moray in the glass, he tries to uncover what different water brings for flavour.

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.

Is it snobbery to suggest cask-driven flavour isn’t desirable? Or to mention that some whiskies are ‘engineered’? Fergus tracks down a Signatory Glenlivet that is a no-holds-barred unapologetic sherry bomb.

Ainsley considers the seasonal moods of enjoying our drinks and preferring light and fresh sips in summer weather. Only to throw it all out the window for a banger of an oloroso Thompson Bros Dufftown.

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.

Hamish has fallen down a Balmenach rabbit hole, which means he’s discovered a worm tub rabbit hole. Today, he shares four malts in a vertical line up looking into what the worm tub might be about.

After a positive introduction to Benrinnes through the Flora & Fauna in 2022, Ogilvie heads to his check-box auction haul to explore the distillery further. This time with ex-bourbon and Cadenheads.

As Hughie shares one of his ‘finds’ from Thompson Bros & a recent Scotland trip, he’s left to consider all the folks that have helped whisky find him; those who are celebrated and those who are often less so.

Wally decides it’s his turn to try some outturn samples. This time it’s the Decadent Drinks Decadent Drams/Whiskyland April 2025 line up of Spirit of Yorkshire, Inchmurrin, Miltonduff & Imperial.

Following the inevitable arc of whisky discovery, Charlie arrives at the search for affordable bottles of amber history; malts from ghost distilleries. He dives into a vintage Imperial from Signatory.

Nothing in life is free. Murdo has a think about this as he considers who is the ‘product’ in any of our modern whisky day transactions, while sharing another Linkwood banger from Signatory.

Murdo riffs off a recent Ainsley piece where he explored the concept of wax in whisky. After tracking down a bottle of Thompson Bros Dailuaine celebrated for ‘wax’, he feels ready to share.

Fergus makes a case for the occasional entry-level bottle. Accepting his penchant for natural ‘enthusiast’ whiskies he find a comforting spot for an Aberlour 12 Double Cask, while watching 80’s movies, preferably.

Nostalgia remains very much part of whisky enjoyment long-term. In this review of a 1991 official Knockando, Broddy shares his own take on whisky nostalgia, while using a handy bell-curve to send it home.

While Innes gives a run through on some of the late 2024 Watt Whisky releases, Wally chimes in after catching the latest release from Blacksmith & Jones: a docuseries all about Indy Bottlers.

In sipping a curiously challenging Fragrant Drop Glen Grant 21yo, Wally asks an equally curiously challenging question - is malt whisky actually too cheap?

After a ‘day-off’ yesterday, due to our AWOL editor, Innes gets us back into things with a study of five different Glentauchers bottlings over four decades, including one that really shouldn’t exist…

We all have our cask-type and profile preferences, but today Charlie argues the case for keeping your mind open with a Tamdhu Batch Strength and avoid getting caught out restricting yourself.