Celebrating batch variation and reminding us that darker does not mean better, even if it does in this case. Tav tucks in to a crowd pleasing Ledaig 10yo comparison.

Broddy steps back to re-evaluate his appreciation of Talisker. This NAS beast brings loads of strawberry and raspberry jam. Along the way he further cements his love for Port finishes.

In his debut piece, Frenchman Ainsley tells us how an Ardbeg 10 and visit to an Edinburgh bar with his old man would set life-changing things in motion that are still playing out today.

A recent trip through Heathrow’s travel retail leaves Drummond uninspired, so he grabs a solid bottle from Deanston he picked up for a song, back when GTR (as it’s known) was a little more interesting.

Wally tackles what he believes to be the most appealing and interesting inaugural release since Daftmill. But there’s a problem, and you already know what it is. Shame, ‘cause this reads like a cracker.

Dougie encounters a home intruder, only to discover at his new home on the Isle of Skye, it’s ‘the done thing’. And anyway, this intruder brings a surprise mystery bottle of Foursquare finished Blended Malt Whisky from Mossburn.

Saving a special bottle for a quiet moment, Ramsay swims in a dusty and now discontinued Glencadam 21yo while wondering if it’s worth reviewing hard-to-find bottles. We must Tav! We must!

A wiser-than-her-years daughter encourages Ogie to grab some whisky swag before heading to his new, state-controlled liquor, home. It proves fruitful as he bags himself a lesser-seen Kilchoman dusty.

Dougie battles from the Highlands to the Lowlands with nervy drives, fallen trees and slippery hills. Upon arrival he’s rewarded with a decent value Tawny Port Glencadam. Was it just rewards?

Our resident Canadians, Aengus and Broddy, get together and get excited over a bottle split of rye whisky. Let’s just say they went Dutch.

How can Wally admit to loving a bottle and yet score it 3/10? It’s complex, but in this case he thinks Diageo have made it a big, confusing, opaque and cynical mess - for retailers and punters.

Broddy heads back to grab a second bottle of an absolute banger, only to discover they’re all sold. Worse, some naughty whisky mules have been smuggling ‘em out of his native home to punt on Scottish auction sites. Cue a Broddy huff.

On the hunt in a neighbouring state for some Springbank goodness, Ogilvie decides not to buy and switches to something completely different. I wonder if you can guess why?

While reviewing those two Aqvavitae Ardnamurchan bottles, somehow, in so many incidental ways, Dougie highlights all of the things to be grateful for exploring whisky. Those high-energy, emotional, glowing, amber-inspired moments we all love to live for.

Not just a review from Broddy, but a confession. A reflection on what he’s buying: how many, how much is open, what producers and - how much he’s actually spent. Sobering indeed.

Dramface takes on a six bottle outturn from Watt Whisky, it’s a team effort. Two single malts, a blended malt, a blend, a single grain and a curious Bas Armagnac. No wonder the images are blurry.

Finding independent bottlers slightly intimidating at first, Hamish get’s hooked on Linkwood during a whisky trip and discovers indy Linkwoods online, at auction and everywhere.

As we swing into boxing day, Doog finds an appropriate dram to utterly switch off with. The fact that he can pick it up for the equivalent of mere buttons, in whiskey terms, sweetens the already sweet deal.

A team review is required around a new take on Elixir’s Port Askaig series and their first Cask Strength Small Batch. Wally leads with a deep dive into why we’re not drinking enough. Apparently.

In something of a follow up to Earie’s Shelter Point piece, we hear about Broddy’s visit to what may be his desert island distillery -The Netherland’s Zuidam, makers of Millstone. Dougie chimes in too.