DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026 Tasting Panel Champion
There were a few whiskies stood out during the DRAM1 Indie Awards.
SMWS 68.140 Christmas Morning Fiesta was one of those whiskies.
What makes its victory particularly interesting is that nobody knew what they were drinking. The DRAM1 Indie Awards tasting panel assessed all 36 whiskies completely blind, with no information about the distillery, bottler, age, cask type or price. The only thing that mattered was what was in the glass.
When the scores were finally counted, Christmas Morning Fiesta had claimed the highest overall rating of the entire competition, making it the number one individual bottle of the DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026.
Before diving into the notes, it is important to mention that the tasting notes below are not my own. They are a summary of the observations, impressions and comments collected from the DRAM1 Indie Awards tasting panel. Every note was gathered from participants tasting this whisky blind, without any idea what they had in front of them.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the panel and shared their thoughts throughout the competition. And, of course, thank you to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society for submitting this gem. Out of 36 independently bottled whiskies, this was the one that rose to the very top.
Tasting Notes: SMWS 68.140 “Christmas Morning Fiesta”
Stats
- Distillery: Blair Athol
- Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society
- ABV: 58,1% (116,2 Proof)
- Region: Highland
- Flavour Profile: Sherry Velvet
- Chill-Filtration: No
- Colouring: No
Nose
Even before the discussion started, a pattern was emerging on the tasting sheets.
Cherry appeared repeatedly. So did raisins, brown sugar and warming spices. Several panellists immediately headed towards festive territory, with notes resembling Christmas cake, fruit loaf and sweet wine. One participant described a warm tawny port character, while another picked up apple syrup and yellow raisins.
As the whisky opened up, the notes became more intriguing. Leather, cigar box and polished wood began to appear. One participant simply wrote down “guitar polish (very distinct)”, perhaps the most unusual note of the entire awards.
Not everyone approached it from the same direction. A few tasters found tropical fruits hiding beneath the sherry influence, mentioning pineapple alongside possible rum or cognac characteristics. Yet despite these different interpretations, the consensus was clear: this was an intensely aromatic whisky built around rich fruit, sweet sherry and warming spice.
Palate
If the nose suggested a sherry-forward dram, the palate removed any doubt.
Words like “PX”, “sherry bomb” and “red fruit” appeared over and over throughout the panel notes. Cherries, raisins and caramel dominated the discussion, supported by cinnamon, nutmeg, roasted sugars and dark chocolate.
One participant described it as “super delicious tawny port”, while another simply wrote “Excellent! Sherry bomb.”
Despite the richness, the whisky was repeatedly praised for its texture. Terms such as smooth, warm and approachable appeared throughout the feedback, even though the alcohol strength was clearly noticeable. Rather than overwhelming the experience, the strength seemed to amplify the layers of flavour.
What impressed the panel most was how much was happening in the glass. Some found sea salt balancing the sweetness. Others discovered leather and oak emerging beneath the fruit. One taster even wondered whether there was a red wine influence at play.
The result was a whisky that felt both decadent and engaging, rewarding repeated visits to the glass.
Finish
The finish was where many panellists became genuinely enthusiastic.
The sweet red fruits lingered alongside cinnamon, oak spice and dark caramel, creating a long warming aftertaste that several tasters specifically highlighted in their notes.
For some, the finish moved into more mature territory, revealing leather, tobacco box and earthy wood notes. Others found something slightly unusual and difficult to place. One participant described a “rare brandy-like finish”, while another noted that the whisky seemed to evolve continuously long after swallowing.
Not every comment was universally positive. A handful of tasters felt the whisky became slightly less impressive late on, but even those notes were typically followed by praise for the nose and palate.
Overall, the finish reinforced what the whisky had already established: depth, richness and character in abundance.
Verdict
One of the most enjoyable parts of a blind tasting competition is seeing where consensus develops naturally.
With Christmas Morning Fiesta, it happened quickly.
Across dozens of tasting sheets, certain themes appeared again and again. Cherry. Raisins. Cinnamon. Sweet sherry. Christmas cake. Leather. Richness. Warmth.
The panel did not agree on every detail, but they overwhelmingly agreed on one thing: this was a seriously impressive whisky.
What stands out when reading through the notes is how often people reached for festive comparisons. Christmas cake, warming spices, sweet fortified wines and rich dried fruits appeared throughout the session. Looking back after the reveal, the name Christmas Morning Fiesta feels remarkably appropriate.
Most importantly, this whisky achieved something that no marketing campaign or distillery reputation can guarantee. It won over a room full of whisky enthusiasts who had absolutely no idea what they were drinking.
And when the scores were finally revealed, it stood alone at the top of the leaderboard.
DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026 Ranking: #1 Overall Bottle
Final Thoughts
Blind tasting is the great equaliser.
Remove the label, the price tag and the story, and only the whisky remains.
For the DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026 tasting panel, SMWS 68.140 Christmas Morning Fiesta thrived under those conditions. It delivered the kind of rich, sherried experience that sparked conversation throughout the room, while still offering enough complexity to keep experienced tasters searching for new layers.
The tasting sheets tell the story better than any score ever could. Some found port, others found PX. Some discovered tropical fruit beneath the sherry. One found guitar polish. Many found Christmas in a glass.
When all those impressions were combined and the votes counted, this whisky emerged as the favourite of the entire competition.
Out of 36 independently bottled whiskies tasted completely blind, Christmas Morning Fiesta was the bottle the panel remembered most. And in the end, that is probably the highest compliment a whisky can receive.
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