Martijn van Opstal

SMWS 68.140 “Christmas Morning Fiësta” Review

Whisky Reviews, Single Malt Scotch

SMWS 68.160 “Christmas Morning Fiesta” achieved something few whiskies ever do: it became the highest-rated bottle of the DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026. Tasted completely blind alongside 35 other independently bottled whiskies, this Scotch Malt Whisky Society release captivated the panel with layers of cherry, raisins, Christmas spices, leather and rich sherry sweetness. These tasting notes are drawn entirely from the DRAM1 tasting panel, offering a unique look at how experienced whisky enthusiasts reacted to the whisky without knowing what was in the glass.

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Lot No. 40 Canadian Rye Whisky bottle displayed on a wooden bar with a Canadian flag backdrop.

Lot No. 40 Rye Review

Whisky Reviews, World Whisky

Lot No. 40 is the bottle that changed my perception of Canadian whisky. First introduced to me by Michael at Café Zilt, this 100% rye whisky delivers far more character than many drinkers expect from the category. With notes of rye bread, cracked pepper, herbs, cedar wood and citrus, it remains one of the most distinctive and influential Canadian whiskies available today. In this Lot No. 40 Rye Review, I revisit a bottle that continues to prove just how exciting Canadian rye can be.

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Watercolour illustration in an Escher-inspired style showing a whisky price graph rising and falling across impossible staircases, with whisky barrels, a distillery and the headline "Is The Whisky Boom Officially Over?"

Is The Whisky Boom Officially Over?

Drambling on

A few years ago, finding a bottle of Lagavulin 16 below €100 felt increasingly unlikely. Today, prices have fallen, older Diageo Special Releases are appearing at more attractive levels and distilleries across Scotland are adjusting to softer demand. After more than a decade of relentless growth, the whisky industry appears to be entering a new chapter. The question is no longer whether the market has changed, but what that change means for drinkers, collectors and the distilleries shaping whisky’s future.

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DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Results logo in gold on a black background with golden bokeh lights, featuring a whisky glass emblem and laurel branches.

DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Results

Must Read, DRAM1 Whisky Awards

The DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Results are in. After three blind tasting sets, 36 whiskies and hundreds of individual scores, the winners have been decided. Discover the full rankings, detailed bottler results, the story behind SMWS being named DRAM1 Indie Bottler of the Year 2026, and why Christmas Morning Fiësta claimed the title of DRAM1 Independent Whisky of the Year 2026. From established names to rising independent bottlers, these results reveal what happened when labels disappeared and only the whisky remained.

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The Macallan Romantica Collection featuring three 1986 vintage single malt whiskies alongside artist-designed presentation cases by Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami and Michael Dillon.

Macallan Romantica Collection

Whisky News

The Macallan Romantica Collection is one of the most ambitious whisky releases of 2026. Celebrating 100 years since the legendary Macallan 1926, the collection combines a stunning 39-year-old single cask whisky with original artwork from Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami and Michael Dillon. The whisky sounds exceptional, the presentation is breathtaking, but at $105,000 for a three-bottle set, it also raises a fascinating question: when does a whisky become a work of art?

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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon bottle in a cinematic bootlegging-inspired river scene during foggy nighttime conditions

Old Forester 1920 Review

Whisky Reviews, Bourbon & Rye

In this Old Forester 1920 Review, we explore one of bourbon’s boldest modern classics. From rich dark cherry and chocolate notes to heavy oak spice and Prohibition-era heritage, Old Forester 1920 remains a whiskey that continues to captivate bourbon enthusiasts worldwide. Discover the story behind the bottle, detailed tasting notes and why this powerful Kentucky bourbon still stands out in today’s crowded whiskey market.

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