Hogshead Inchmurrin 11 Year Old Review | DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026 The second whisky of a blind tasting often faces a different challenge from the first. By the time sample number two is poured, the panel already has a reference […]
Port Charlotte PC5 Redux is more than a celebration of Bruichladdich’s 25th anniversary. After bringing this bottle home from Fèis Ìle 2026, following a memorable walk through Port Charlotte along the Loch Indaal Way, I discovered a whisky that captures not only the spirit of Islay but the memories that make the island so special.
What happens when an 85.29-point Whiskybase whisky is stripped of its label and tasted completely blind? The DRAM1 Indie Awards 2026 panel put this James Eadie Teaninich 11 Year Old to the test, uncovering layers of orchard fruit, honey and vanilla while awarding it 68.72 points. Here’s what the panel discovered when reputation was removed and only the whisky remained.
Craigellachie 13 is one of the most distinctive single malts in Speyside. Bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered, and free from added colouring, it delivers tropical fruit, warming spice, citrus oils, and a wonderfully waxy texture wrapped around the slightly industrial character that has become the distillery’s trademark. While many Speyside whiskies aim for elegance and easy-going charm, Craigellachie feels more interested in personality.
Laphroaig Càirdeas 2026 French Oak came home with me from an unforgettable week at Fèis Ìle aboard the Thalassa. Combining classic medicinal peat with notes of tar, seaweed crisps, Rockefeller oysters and dark fruit, this year’s festival release offers a fascinating new perspective on one of Islay’s most iconic distilleries. Here’s why it became one of my standout whiskies of Fèis Ìle 2026.
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.
I sailed to Rock’ndaal 2026 aboard Tall Ship Thalassa and returned home with one of Bruichladdich’s most legendary whiskies. In this Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine Review, I explore the story behind the cult bottling, its fascinating history and whether the 2026 release lives up to the legend
Ardbeg Corryvreckan is one of the wildest whiskies in Ardbeg’s core range, combining immense peat smoke, black pepper spice, dark fruit, and maritime intensity in a dram inspired by the famous Hebridean whirlpool off the coast of Jura.
This Macallan 12 review compares the Double Cask and Sherry Oak side by side, exploring why modern Macallan divides whisky enthusiasts while continuing to dominate the luxury whisky world. From flavour and texture to pricing, prestige, and the distillery’s evolving identity, this is a deeper look at two of Speyside’s most talked-about single malts.
Our Springbank 18 Review explores the 2026 release in depth, covering tasting notes, batch variation, pricing frustrations and why Springbank whisky continues to command enormous hype despite this batch feeling slightly more restrained than the very best older releases.
