In the 3rd part of his epic tale of American Single Malt, Eallair invites Bourbon to enter the chat. Fascinating history and insight join a review of New Riff’s Sour Mash Single Malt. Epic stuff!

How’s your Friday? Fancy a vivid trip to the west coast of Scotland on a moonlit night? Doog, literally, takes you there. With a nice SMWS single malt too.

Dougie scoffs a Fragrant Drops North British bottle-split but immediately orders a follow-up bottle and compares it to a 34yo counterpart. He likes, and the prices are remarkable.

An annual treat for Fergie is to splash out on an indulgent treat. Despite a previous false start, he chose Deanston and their 18yo. What did he discover? It’s a Dramface pile on.

A debut piece by our Friday First writer Mason Mack, who introduces us to his digital native generation and slow-living, through a glass of elegant Dailuaine from Fragrant Drops.

Whisky brings solace and escapism in challenging times. After some fatigue, Earie finds his love of whisky geekery sparked once more. A very good indie Islay from Elixir’s Elements helps out.

Cadenhead’s Original Collection and the Enigma Blends are perhaps the most likely of their releases to be found in the wider marketplace. Ainsley dives in to an entire outturn.

As a firm fan of Glenfarclas, Murdo is frustrated by weak and unreliable official bottles - despite good prices. In today’s comparison of two fully natural releases, he makes an enthusiast’s plea.

Ogilvie has the luxury of being able to custom order almost anything from his local liquor store. In these days of next-day delivery, the wait time for the New Riff Single Barrel will shock you.

Never backward about coming forward, Fletcher shares his take on IBs, a popular 100º series as well as Woodrow’s recent reaction to it. All while savouring a cracking James Eadie Mannochmore.

In celebrating a Thompson Brothers creation , Hamish declares his love of Ardmore, a distillery which would be completely ignored if it wasn’t for the Independent Bottlers.

Wally kicks things off for 2025 with Ardnahoe’s core range Infinite Loch & exclusive Society bottling and hopes that they are harbingers of what could follow in whisky’s New Year.

Ogilvie’ quiet time; cosied in an armchair, reflecting on all that whisky has brought along. While he pines for a better scotch selection, he makes do with a tasty Baby Jane Bourbon to usher in the holidays.

When is travel retail not actually travel retail? And when should it be everywhere retail? Dougie gets ripped into Bruichladdich’s hidden gem amidst flying angst and acronyms.

After nine years of serious flavour chasing, Innes discusses the typical flavour-arc of a whisky botherer, and hopes this 45yo Signatory can deliver that apparent holy grail of ‘tropical fruit’.

Innes gets giddy while visiting the hidden gem that is Glen Scotia. Full of the distillery-visit-glow, he snags two single casks to compare with a favourite at home, wondering why it’s still ‘hidden’.

Broddy’s favourite distillery, Millstone, collides with his favourite sherry cask, just as the owner is hosting tastings in his local retailers, but it’s his wife’s birthday. We know what happens, don’t we.

Adding to their Small Batch series, cult upstart Glasgow have found traction with Cask Strength 1770 releases. Hamish, Fergus and Tav buddy up on the latest Peated PX.

Hamish glances back to whisky past, wondering where he’d start today. In picking up the latest Ardnamurchan Cask Strength, he knows where he’d be happy to end up, and tries to explore… why?

Tav and Wally wade in together on a brand new Scapa. Now there’s something we don’t read too often. This one is the affordable 10 year old, and they both agree on something. The fruit!