Laphroaig is one of those distilleries that divides opinion like few others. You either love the intensely medicinal, peaty character or you don't go near it. There's rarely much middle ground. The standard 10 year old is their flagship expression, a whisky that's introduced countless people to Islay peat. But this cask strength version takes everything up several notches. Bottled at full strength without chill-filtration, it's Laphroaig in its most powerful, uncompromising form. I've been curious about how the extra ABV would amplify that distinctive character. Let's see what it's like...

Special releases seem to come thick and fast these days, but Fèis Ìle bottlings still hold a particular appeal for me. For those unfamiliar, Fèis Ìle is Islay's annual whisky festival where each distillery releases exclusive expressions that often showcase something different from their core range. This 2024 release from Bunnahabhain is a 14 year old from 2009, finished in ruby port casks. It's an intriguing combination: Bunnahabhain's unpeated Islay character meeting the rich, fruity influence of port wine casks. When I had the chance to try it, I couldn't resist. Let's see what it's like...

Oban occupies an interesting position in the whisky world. Sitting in the Highlands but with coastal influence from the town's position on the west coast, it's often described as a bridge between the gentler Highland malts and the more assertive island styles. The 14 year old is their flagship expression, part of Diageo's Classic Malts series, and it's been a fixture in the whisky world for decades. It's one I've been keen to explore properly and see whether it justifies its position as a classic dram...

Ardbeg is a name that commands respect amongst whisky enthusiasts. This Islay distillery has built a devoted following around its intensely peated, uncompromising style. The Uigeadail (pronounced "Oog-a-dal") takes its name from the loch that supplies the distillery's water, and it's often cited as one of the finest expressions in their core range. Where the standard 10 year old showcases youthful peat and smoke, this NAS bottling brings sherry cask maturation into the mix, promising something richer and more complex. I've been curious about this one for ages. Let's see if it lives up to its reputation...

Six decades of unrelenting crisis test whisky's survival. We navigate American Prohibition's rum-running trade, endure the Great Depression's poverty, and witness World War II's restrictions empty warehouses of precious aged stock. Through it all, blended whisky dominates whilst single malts fade into obscurity. Then in 1963, Glenfiddich makes a revolutionary decision to market single malt whisky, planting seeds for an unlikely renaissance. We'll discover how whisky endured its longest darkness, emerging battered but alive into the 1980s.

The golden age ends in catastrophe. We witness the devastating Pattison fraud of 1898 that bankrupted distilleries across Scotland, explore how corporate giants rose by absorbing struggling independents, and discover the unexpected boost from French brandy's collapse. Then came World War I, bringing government restrictions, distillery closures, and hostile politicians who saw whisky as wasteful. We'll see how the industry emerged from war battered and diminished, entering the 1920s fighting simply to survive.

The golden age arrives as Scottish whisky conquers the world. We discover how railways revolutionised distribution, connecting remote Highland distilleries to global markets in days rather than weeks. We'll explore Speyside's emergence as whisky's heartland, witness the blending houses like Johnnie Walker and Chivas Brothers transform whisky into a mass-market phenomenon, and see how British imperial expansion carried Scottish spirits across the globe. This was whisky's moment of triumph, but clouds were gathering on the horizon.

Campbeltown whisky has always intrigued me. Once the whisky capital of Scotland with over 30 distilleries, the region now boasts just three, and Glen Scotia is one of them. The 15 year old sits in the middle of their core range, and it's been on my radar for a while. There's something about Campbeltown malts that feels different — a distinct character that sets them apart from the mainstream Speyside and Highland expressions. Let's see if my first foray here lives up to the hype...

There's something quietly rebellious about Bunnahabhain. While most of Islay shouts about peat and smoke, this distillery on the island's remote northeastern shore takes a different path entirely. The 12 year old is their flagship expression, an unpeated single malt that lets sherry casks and coastal character take centre stage. I've been curious about this one for a while, particularly after reading so much about how it divides opinion amongst Islay purists. Let's see what all the fuss is about...

Aberlour returns to familiar territory, but this time with a twist. The A'bunadh Alba ditches the distillery's signature sherry casks for first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, showcasing a brighter, fruitier side of their spirit. At cask strength and naturally coloured, it's an interesting experiment that proves Aberlour can stand without the sherry blanket. But at more than £80, does this bourbon-forward expression justify the price, or does the youth show through too much?

When I reviewed GlenAllachie 12 as part of my journey toward whisky centurion status, I was impressed by Billy Walker's vision for this distillery. Since acquiring GlenAllachie in 2017, Walker has transformed it from a quiet producer of blending stock into a single malt brand with a genuine cult following. The 12 year old showed promise, but I've been curious about the 15 Walker's own favourite from the core range, which he describes as "the perfect representation of the distillery's DNA." That's quite a claim. Let's see if it holds up.

Sometimes a whisky takes you by surprise. I thought I knew what to expect from Speyside — the sweet, fruit-forward drams that have defined the region for decades. But Benromach has other ideas. This 10 year old sits somewhere altogether different, a throwback to an older style of Speyside that's become increasingly rare. I've been curious about this distillery for years, ever since I visited on that road trip through Scotland mentioned on my about page. Let's see if it lives up to the memory...

Everything changed in 1823. In this episode, we witness the dramatic transformation from outlaws to entrepreneurs. We'll follow George Smith's brave decision to take the first legal licence despite death threats, explore how railways and blending revolutionised the industry, and see how Scottish whisky evolved from illicit craft into the legitimate business that would conquer global markets.

The 18th century transformed whisky-making into an act of rebellion. In this episode, we journey through the golden age of smuggling, meeting legendary figures like Magnus Eunson who outwitted Excise officers with extraordinary cunning. We'll explore how Culloden intensified resistance, why the 1784 Wash Act backfired spectacularly, and discover how entire communities united against enforcement - setting the stage for inevitable change.

Before legal distilleries existed, Scottish whisky was born in mystery and tradition. In this episode, we explore how medieval monks brought distillation knowledge from Ireland, transforming medicinal spirits into cultural cornerstone. We'll discover how this craft spread through Highland communities, with each region developing distinctive character. Finally, we examine the 1644 tax that ignited a conflict defining Scotland for centuries - the battle for its spirit had begun.

Scottish whisky has one of the most dramatic origin stories in the world of spirits. Monks and smugglers, rebellions and revolutions, outlaws who became entrepreneurs, and a spirit that survived everything from government oppression to global catastrophe. It's an epic tale spanning centuries, filled with larger-than-life characters and transformative moments that shaped not just an industry but Scottish culture itself.

I really like the Fettercairn brand - they manage to carefully tread the delicate line between desirable, classy whisky and price pretty well. I was lucky enough to attend Whisky Live in London earlier this year and one of the stands with the biggest crowds was inevitably the Fettercairn stand. They had a lovely selection of whiskies, including the 16 year old which is now part of their core range. This version, however, is from a few years earlier when it was being released in limited batches, let’s see what it is like.

Sometimes I feel like Aberlour is my Achilles’ heel. I know their whisky isn’t the most complex, and yet something keeps drawing me back. I can never quite put my finger on it. Deep down, I know I could do better… and still I return. Today we’re looking at one of the older (and pricier) expressions in their core range - the 16 year old. Last year I tried the 14 year old and came away a little underwhelmed. Let’s see if this one fares any better.

Benriach is one of the few Speyside distilleries that produces both peated and unpeated versions of their entry levels spirit. I’m keen to investigate their peated versions soon but for now we’re focussing on the twelve year old expression from their core range. Located just south of Elgin the Benriach name is loudly emblazoned on the side of the warehouse facing the A941 - it must be one the hardest distilleries to miss when driving past! Let’s see if the whisky lives up to this brash signage…

Glenfiddich may well be the most famous name in single malt Scottish whisky. Only The Glenlivet comes close in terms of output, but Glenfiddich pairs its vast production with marketing and presentation that’s often a cut above the rest, whether it’s to your taste or not. Just take a look at their website or the stunning artwork on the presentation box for this 15 Year Old and you’ll see what I mean.

A few weeks ago I tried one of the bottlings from their experimental series: Project XX. It was genuinely interesting and made me want to revisit the dram that arguably sits at the heart of their core offering - the 15 year old. Let’s see what it’s like.