Reflecting on the rise of modern blends; Fletcher thinks about the incidental rise of the amateur blender, and tries a few of these newer products up against the benchmark; Johnnie Black 12yo.

Weekend sorted: exploring the idea you can't screw up a Caol Ila, Tav earns a gold star by lining up 5 indy bangers and comparing them all to the classic official 12yo.

At Dramface, we're confident we're about to see a LOT more of this available in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, Inness cracks open a rarely seen bottle of indy Tormore.

A very specific whisky is called for as three old friends gather in support of each other. In the face of acute loss, Ogilvie calls upon Balvenie's classic 12yo Doublewood to assist in catharsis.

Some things turn out better than we expect, as Ainsley discovers with the recent Olympics. So, after smuggling some back from a trip, how about this rum finished Cù Bòcan?

Self-declared Tomatin fanboy Broddy has a suspicion that we’re being fleeced; that quality is dropping and folk are being taken advantage of. Today, it’s poor ol’ Tomatin in his sights.

Recognising a new reluctance in the human condition to reach out and connect, Ogilvie decides to start at home, using whisky as the weapon of choice and a Royal Brackla 12yo as ammunition. Does it work?

Tyree returns. We cracked his sarcophagus, dusted him down and set him upon some Campbeltown bottles that were awaiting his attention. As usual, no punches are pulled.

Another continental buddy up today as Earie and Ainsley pour over a trio of different takes on Ardmore while considering the pitfalls of brand loyalty.

Ogilvie reaches for an Inchmurrin, liking it to his favourite comfy sweater, only to discover someone has swapped it out for a polyester t-shirt one size too small.

Ramsay and Fergus buddy up for a wander through the most recent outturn from Watt Whisky. Exploring a grain, a blend, two malts and a Guyana rum, they actually find some consensus!

Swinging in with a quick sequel and an expensive trophy, Nick is so impressed with this batch of Springbank’s 12yo that he’s already (almost) forgotten just how much he handed over for the privilege.

Logan succumbs to his life-long nemesis; FOMO. Having been tempted into sinking a £100 on a bottle of Daftmill, he’s left feeling a little underwhelmed and forced into learning yet another life-lesson.

Shock horror, model son Dougie actually chooses to buy a whisky he knows to be 40%, chill-filtered and probably coloured. And yet, he finds a place where it fits perfectly, and no, it’s not down the sink.

Itching to get his curious whisky face back on, Dougie heads to his local purveyor of whisky dreams. Running on nothing more than excitement and seat-of-his-pants selection, we’d like to tell you he lucked out, but, alas, no.

Curiosity gets the better of Fletch. With Glenlivet marking 200 years, they’ve released a 12yo that looks identical to the standard. Only available through TWE, he dives in to compare the world’s best selling malt.

Dougie encounters a home intruder, only to discover at his new home on the Isle of Skye, it’s ‘the done thing’. And anyway, this intruder brings a surprise mystery bottle of Foursquare finished Blended Malt Whisky from Mossburn.

Drummond dives into another solid Benromach, this time in the Contrasts Series range with their Double Matured Bordeaux. With it, he reaffirms that age isn't everything and even though it is not quite a hole-in-one, its still a worthy addition to the Benromach shelf.

Glenlivet’s ubiquitous 12yo in its slightly more modern ‘Double Oak’ guise is gifted to Ogilvie as he departs for his newly relocated life. Exhaustion has him skip the bottle specs, forcing a blind sip and a surprise.

Enjoying your booze this week? This has been handled gently but it’s no less hard hitting. For some, perhaps not easy to read. As you hear about two legendary Canadian bottlings, awareness is crucial.