In a wonderfully candid and personal piece, Archie shares his transition into trusting independent bottlers and how he decided to start with Murray McDavid. It’s not what you might think.

Broddy gathers seven bottles of SMOS Reserve Cask Small Batch releases in a single mega review. He justifies his scoring for each while dropping a bombshell of heresy about oatcakes.

Charlie continues his deep dive into new distilleries (to him), this time uncovering the two ‘Glens’ of Ord and ‘Dullan, then comparing two Special releases to indies from James Eadie and the Thompson Bros.

On a trek, Archie is tempted into breaking his own rules when he uncovers a gem of a waterfall. It makes the prettiest of backdrops for a gem of a Balmenach from Living Souls.

In a hurry to get to funner places, Wally phoned one in. This time it’s a limited edition Macallan, and there’s nothing - yet somehow everything - wrong with it.

Earie uses some Big Words to describe reviewing decent, earnest whiskies in an independent way. This time it’s another flight of Dram Mòr releases from spring 2026. Including a sneaky malternative.

Murdo heads out into the rain to break a self-imposed bottle ban. So much for future indulgence space making. He’s weak. Aren’t we all? A Glendullan from Chorlton in the glass.

As well as sharing his thoughts on a selection of Decadent Drinks recent outturn, Ainsley also shares his thoughts on his latest visit to the Independent Spirits Festival in Leith.

As an advocate for bottle splits, Earie enjoys a souvenir from a pal - one of the Equinox & Solstice releases from Decadent Drinks - this time an under-the-radar Mannochmore.

A stranger to Glenlossie until 2025, Charlie uncovered one of Diageo’s ‘blend houses’ in a Cadenhead’s tasting. Typically for him, a pleasant experience and a bottle purchase finds him exploring and comparing.

Over time, Ainsley thinks the Scotch whisky landscape builds into a mental whisky bell-curve where favourites lie to one side and lesser malts the other. But what about the in-betweeners, such as this Cadenhead’s Miltonduff?

Facing an ever-expanding stash of samples, Archie decides to get torn into a pack of Tri Carragh samples he was sent last year, most of which are still available, and some of which are belters.

As a lapsed fan of Dungeons & Dragons, Hughie realises he’s using whisky as a way to continually re-write and relearn experiences. An independent duo of Aultmore illustrate a recent side-quest, and they’re tasty.

Many of the Dramface team are overly-affected by branding, none more than Ally. In a space rapidly moving towards homogenised ‘clean’ and ‘modern’, he finds solace in Fragrant Drops. Tasty too.

Three of the team hark back to Christmas vibes as they each, independently, happen upon a Signatory 100º Proof Exceptional Cask Glentauchers. As is typical with Dramface, it divides opinion.

In order to calm the tensions of travel, Archie once enjoyed an airport beer. These days, however, he’s moved up a few levels: Planedrams. In his Plaincairn on this trip he revisits an old faithful Glenfarclas 12yo.

Wally is surprised to see a release form The Cairn so soon. That it’s also only 1,000 bottles and only £50 for 57% ABV, he can’t help but pick it up. It makes him think about time, fairness and also Dramface.

Even in far-flung California, Archie is landing decent indie bottlings. In a follow up to his Woodrows Foursome, we have a Living Souls Trio: Two Smoky Sevens and a Speyside, all crackers.

When aspects of life challenge, Archie has discovered the joy of a walk in the woods. But these are no ordinary woods, and this is tree therapy. He brings along the Glenallachie 10yo Cask Strength.

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.