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.
English whisky has gone from an overlooked curiosity to one of the most exciting categories in the whisky world. In this in-depth feature, I explore the history behind its remarkable revival, the distilleries leading the charge and why producers like Bimber, Fielden, White Peak, The Lakes and Cotswolds are proving England is no longer living in Scotland’s shadow.
This Cadenhead’s Ben Nevis 13 isn’t a bottle most people will ever get the chance to buy, but that’s exactly why it’s worth talking about. Bottled straight from the cask during the Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting in Campbeltown, this rich Oloroso-matured Ben Nevis delivers far more than its thirteen years suggest. More importantly, it carries the memories of an unforgettable Fèis Ìle trip and a thoughtful gift from friends who made the week one I’ll never forget.
Turntable Bittersweet Symphony divided opinion during the DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026. Blind tasters discovered everything from raisins, prunes and European oak to lavender sweets, strawberries and grapefruit, creating one of the most debated drams of Set 1. While some panellists praised its rich sherry character and full-bodied texture, others felt its sweetness overshadowed the complexity beneath. The result was a memorable whisky that earned 72.80 points and proved far more difficult to define than its name might suggest.
