Whisky Dudes Caol Ila 2015 Review
More than 160 tasters went blind into this Whisky Dudes Caol Ila 10. The peat was obvious, the distillery far less so. With smoke, honey, citrus and plenty of divided opinions, it scored 74.15/100.
Single Malt Scotch
Cask Masters Linkwood 12 Review
Tasted completely blind by the DRAM1 Indie Award panel, this 12-year-old Linkwood from Cask Masters divided opinion with its bold Port influence, huge red-fruit character and spicy, drying finish, earning a score of 73.72/100.
The Balvenie Montilla Wine Cask Review
The Balvenie goes exploring with this 12 Year Old Montilla Wine Cask from A Collection of Curious Casks. At 47.3% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered, it delivers gorgeous orchard fruit, malt and spice before taking a decidedly more tannic turn.
Lagg Manzanilla Review
The Lagg Manzanilla Finish is a bold young peated whisky packed with sea spray, bonfire smoke, dark fruit and rich savoury sweetness.
Berry Bros Speyside 16 Review
The DRAM1 Indie Award tasting panel reviews the Berry Bros. & Rudd Speyside 16 Years Old. An elegant but restrained Speyside whisky that impressed more with its finish than its overall character.
Tamnavulin Double Cask Review
Tamnavulin Double Cask may not be the most complex Speyside single malt on the market, but it delivers impressive quality for the price. In this DRAM1 review, I explore its fruity character, gentle sherry influence and whether this affordable Scotch deserves a place on your shelf.
GlenAllachie 16 Bottle Dreams Review
Bottle Dreams’ GlenAllachie 16 was one of the standout whiskies of the DRAM1 Indie Award 2026. Discover why this powerful 16-year-old Oloroso cask matured single malt impressed our blind tasting panel and finished among the competition’s highest-scoring drams.
Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2025 Review
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 Review
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.
Still & Story The Kraken Review
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.