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.

Mason spots an omission in the Dramface archives - there’s never been a review of the Deanston 12yo! In shock, a few of the team pile on to make reparations. Is it still as good as it always was?

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?

A summer penchant for craft beers led Fergus astray. He was tempted into buying himself a Diageo SR from 2022 based on a heavy discount. No one’s immune to a bargain. How did it work out?

Doog’s annual sailing trips to Campbeltown with his sidekick Foosty have taken on different flavours of adventure every time. He shares part 1 at Cadenhead’s & a Spirit of Yorkshire that, in itself, takes him on a journey.

Broddy spots a tall bottle with appealing specs; 16 years and all ex-bourbon. He’s in. Glenmorangie too. Expecting an amplified 12yo, he’s left, not for the first time, rueing unmet expectations.

It’s cocktail Friday - a whisky review and a personal cocktail recipe from one of the team. Gilbert kicks off with a trip to the coast and his take on the Old Fashioned, with a coastal Ardnamurchan AD/ as the base.

Were old blends better? Ainsley snags an old export blend and compares it to five contemporary scotch blends available to him in France. The results are revealing. It does not go well.

The plastic stag of Dalmore 18yo is in the crosshairs as Charlie revisits an old friend, one from a time before he was sullied by ‘informed’ opinions, community ‘consensus’ and, well, possibly much better whiskies.

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.

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.

As close as we get to comedy; Ogilvie shares a nightmare dinner evening with a ‘whiskey’ theme. An event so traumatic, he needed the salve of this Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond to right himself once more.

Charlie finds himself on an exploratory road to uncover teaspoon mysteries. With an immensely distracting Westport from Good Spirits Co. he’s transported to traversing Scotland’s famous Bealach na Bà.

A shipping miscommuniqué sees various Dramface team members end up with whisky they didn’t expect. This time it’s Glasgow’s 1770 Constantia and it means three can join in on the review.

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.

Charlie hops onboard for another circle around the whisky discovery track. This time, he’s recalling his six milestones as he journeys back into blends with a North Star Campbeltown creation.

With three Longrow expressions as company, and in a reflective mood, Drummond looks back on his first days living in Scotland as an ex-pat American. He remembers one of his influential coaches in Scottish life - and whisky.

Faced with a bargain, Fletch returns to a bottle he’s not touched in years. Noticing just how much the prices of supermarket whiskies are being crunched, he picks up Glengoyne’s 10yo to consider why.

Over the years, Earie has taught himself what he likes and likes less. But with a dearth of Signatory Vintage’s 100º Proof Series in Belgium, he picks up a North British 15yo grain, and learns a lesson.

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.