Macallan 18 Sherry Oak Review (2025)
The Macallan 18 Sherry Oak is one of Scotch whisky’s most recognisable names. This review looks beyond the prestige to assess flavour, balance, and whether the 2025 release still earns its reputation.
How to Store Whisky
Knowing how to store whisky properly is the difference between a bottle that survives decades and one that quietly fades away. Once bottled, whisky no longer matures, but poor storage can still ruin it. From upright storage and light exposure to cork health and opened bottles, this Dram1 Academy guide cuts through the myths and explains how to keep your whisky tasting exactly as intended—whether you plan to drink it soon or save it for years to come.
Compass Box Brûlée Royale Review
Compass Box Brûlée Royale is a dessert-inspired blended malt built on transparency rather than gimmicks. This review explores its full recipe, flavour profile, and why sweetness, spice, and structure are so well balanced.
Four Roses Distillery Spotlight
Four Roses Distillery is one of bourbon’s most quietly influential producers. With ten distinct recipes, proprietary yeast strains, and a focus on balance over hype, this Kentucky distillery helped define my own journey into bourbon—starting with a single glass of Four Roses Single Barrel.
Fèis Ìle 2025 Caol Ila 8 vs Lagavulin 15
Ahead of my trip to Fèis Ìle 2026, I opened two standout festival releases to get a taste of what Islay does best. This Caol Ila 8 Fèis Ìle 2025 review vs Lagavulin 15 Fèis Ìle 2025 review explores two very different interpretations of coastal peat, smoke, sweetness, and oak — offering a sneak preview of festival whisky at its most expressive.
Lagavulin Sweet Peat Announced
Lagavulin Sweet Peat marks one of the most intriguing Islay releases in years. A new 11-year-old core expression from the legendary distillery, it promises to balance signature Lagavulin smoke with a sweeter, bourbon-cask influence. As anticipation builds, this could be the whisky that reshapes how drinkers experience peat — and I can’t wait to try it when it finally hits the shelves.
Monkey Shoulder Review
This Monkey Shoulder review looks at why this blended malt has become one of the most recognisable modern Scotch whiskies. Smooth, sweet, and deliberately approachable, Monkey Shoulder is designed for versatility rather than complexity — working just as comfortably neat as it does in cocktails. A reliable Speyside-style whisky that knows exactly who it’s for and why it exists.
Luss Distillery Opens
The opening of Luss Distillery marks a quiet but important shift for whisky lovers. While the site will primarily produce gin, it also houses the long-awaited Loch Lomond Visitor Centre, finally giving fans a place to explore one of Scotland’s most technically fascinating whisky producers — something that, until now, was only possible if you had an insider connection.
Whisky Price Explained
Why does whisky price vary so dramatically from bottle to bottle?
The cost of a whisky isn’t decided at bottling — it’s shaped years earlier by choices around ageing, cask sourcing, production scale, climate, and global demand. From the rising cost of quality oak to evaporation losses and export logistics, whisky price reflects far more than what’s in the glass. Understanding those factors helps you look past the label and decide where real value lies.
Springbank 100 Proof Review
Springbank 100 Proof is a bold, comfort-driven Campbeltown single malt bottled at traditional British proof. Thick with caramel, malted barley, savoury warmth, and gentle coastal notes, this high-strength whisky delivers weight and texture rather than finesse. A hearty, food-like dram that showcases Springbank’s character with the volume turned up.