Suntory Ao brings together whiskies from five different countries into one remarkably balanced world blend. But does this ambitious Japanese release justify its premium price, or is Ichiro’s Malt & Grain still the better buy? Here’s my honest take.
I’ve had the rare privilege of following Hogshead Indie since before its very first release. From conversations over a dram in Nijmegen to tasting many of its bottlings over the years, this spotlight explores how Toon van Rooij built one of the Netherlands’ most distinctive independent whisky bottlers—one cask, and one philosophy, at a time.
Kilchoman Loch Gorm was one of the whiskies that helped spark my journey into the whisky industry. In this review, I revisit the 2025 edition to see whether this annual sherried Islay favourite still lives up to the exceptionally high standard previous releases have set.
Fragrant Drops’ Secret Speyside 13 was one of the quiet achievers of the DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026. Finished in a fresh Madeira barrique and judged completely blind by nearly 160 whisky enthusiasts, it impressed with fresh orchard fruit, floral elegance and subtle complexity, helping Fragrant Drops secure fourth place in the overall Bottler of the Year rankings.
Proper No. Twelve is one of the most talked-about Irish whiskeys of recent years, but does it deserve its polarising reputation? I put the celebrity aside and judged it purely on what’s in the glass to find out.
Amrut Distillery helped change the way the world thinks about Indian whisky. Discover the remarkable story behind India’s pioneering single malt producer, from its bold launch in Scotland to the tropical maturation that continues to shape some of the most distinctive whiskies on the market today.
Taiwan stole the show at the International Whisky Competition 2026, but the real story goes far beyond Kavalan’s Whisky of the Year title. Here’s what this year’s results reveal about the future of Scotch, world whisky and the trends likely to shape the industry over the coming years.
Copper Dog may not receive the same attention as Monkey Shoulder, but after trying it at a whisky festival, I came away pleasantly surprised. In this Copper Dog Review, I explore whether this affordable Speyside blended malt deserves a place on your shelf and whether it’s one of the best entry-level whiskies available today.
Dam Dranken MacRothes 11 Year Old Review | DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026 Some whiskies sell themselves with a story. This one certainly does. Dam Dranken MacRothes is a blended malt bringing together Macallan and Glenrothes before receiving its finishing period
Some whiskies tell a story long after the bottle is empty. With Still & Story, the story begins before the first dram is poured. In this special feature, I introduce The Kraken, an 8-year-old Staoisha matured in a second-fill Oloroso cask and the very first release from the independent bottling company I co-founded with Peter Linting.
