More Drams, Less Drama

Domaine des Hautes Glaces Epistémè R15D24

19th January 202618th January 2026Coldorak

We explore how alcohol strength shapes whisky’s sensory profile through three Domaine des Hautes Glaces Epistémè R15D24 rye whiskies. Cereal type, fermentation, distillation, and wood maturation all shape the final dram you drink. But what about ABV? Water drops often transform whisky – sometimes improving it, sometimes not. Domaine des Hautes Glaces, already committed to true terroir expression (unlike Waterford’s cask-heavy chaos), bottled identical spirits from one cask at three strengths to test this. First, we unpack their Epistémè range. Then we taste the three R15D24 ryes to discover ABV’s impact.

Three Clynelish Hunter Laing / Signatory

16th January 202615th January 2026Coldorak

Almost a full year has slipped by since the last Clynelish review, so the time has come to revisit the distillery with a fresh trio. This line‑up brings together three Clynelish from Hunter Laing and Signatory Vintage, offering a neat snapshot across ages and cask approaches. The session opens with the youngster, a 2009 bottled by Hunter Laing, before moving on to compare two 1996 vintages from Signatory, drawn in 2016 and 2023, to show how extra years and different casks reshaped this famously waxy Highlander.

Two Speyburn 15-year-old (Official vs SMWS)

14th January 202613th January 2026Coldorak

Speyburn remains a distillery I know little about, so this review explores its history first. Then it compares two Speyburn 15-year-old expressions: the official bottling against the SMWS single cask. We covered Speyburn once before, back in 2019, with just a quick introduction. This time, a full distillery overview precedes the detailed tasting notes on both whiskies.

Ardbeg Ardbog / Auriverdes / Perpetuum

12th January 202616th January 2026Coldorak

We start a series of reviews of Ardbeg bottlings for Fèis Ìle, with the Ardbeg Ardbog, Auriverdes and Perpetuum. Other and latter releases will appear in upcoming reviews in the coming weeks. Fèis Ìle is Islay’s annual festival of whisky, music, and Gaelic culture, held over about 9–10 days at the end of May. It has grown into one of the world’s most influential whisky events, drawing thousands of visitors and turning the island’s distilleries into a global stage each spring.

Two 20-Something Tormore Boutique-y / Elixir

9th January 202612th January 2026Coldorak

Tormore rarely steals the spotlight, yet these two 20-something Tormore from That Boutique-y Whisky Company and Elixir Distillers make a strong case for paying much closer attention. Together, they sketch a compelling portrait of modern indie Tormore: bright, characterful Speyside spirit, handled with a light enough touch to let the orchard and exotic fruits do the talking. So without further ado, let’s get to our tasting glasses.

Glen Moray Tequila / Berry Bros & Rudd

7th January 20266th January 2026Coldorak

We explore three Glen Moray: two official bottlings and an independent one: the Glen Moray Warehouse 1 Tequila Cask Finish (peated and unpeated), and a 2007 bottled by Berry Bros & Rudd. Glen Moray Warehouse 1 series replaces the previous Cask Curiosity range. On the indy side, Berry Bros & Rudd, founded in 1698, stands as Britain’s oldest family-owned wine and spirits merchant. They operate from their iconic St James’s Street shop in London. The company holds a Royal Warrant and has supplied the British monarchy for centuries, evolving from grocery origins to a focus on fine wines and spirits.

Two 30-Year-Old Bowmore

5th January 20265th January 2026Coldorak

We kick off the year with two 30-year-old Bowmores from Silver Seal and Wemyss Malts – rare drams that languished too long before I seized the perfect moment. We already know Wemyss Malts, and Silver Seal is an independent bottler founded by Luca Gargano, championing unfiltered, cask-strength authenticity from historic casks.

My Recap Of 2025

2nd January 20262nd January 2026Coldorak

2025 shifted the balance in the glass: less whisky, more cognac, more time spent writing, and a touch less actual drinking… or at least that was the intention. The rhythm changed, but the year still brimmed with memorable bottles, tasting sessions, and stories worth revisiting.

Jura Glentauchers Ben Nevis Macbeth act 2 Elixir Distillers

Jura / Glentauchers / Ben Nevis Macbeth Elixir Distillers

31st December 20256th January 2026Coldorak

We explore the Jura 17-year-old, Glentauchers 27-year-old, and Ben Nevis 28-year-old from Elixir Distillers’ Macbeth series Act 2. These drams mark our return to whisky after the twenty-something cognac reviews from the Cognac-Expert 2025 Advent Calendar and the recent Coleburn pair. Elixir Distillers, partnering with Livingstone Rare, crafted the Macbeth series from Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, assigning 42 unique Scotch whiskies to play characters across six thematic groups. Whisky writer Dave Broom composed vivid portraits that tie each spirit to its character’s personality, cask profile, and regional roots, while Sir Quentin Blake supplied striking and fun bespoke label illustrations. Elixir’s team – led by Sukhinder Singh and Oliver Chilton – sources casks from their vast network and Sukhinder’s own stock, prioritising pure distillate character over dominant wood influence.

Two Coleburn Signatory Vintage for Christmas

26th December 202525th December 2025Coldorak

On special days, I like to reach for something special, so I chose two Coleburn whiskies from Signatory Vintage for Christmas. After a lengthy cognac session from the Cognac-Expert 2025 Advent Calendar, I return to whisky. Coleburn has tempted me for ages, especially since my 2019 visit to Murray McDavid at Spirit of Speyside – where they lease the distillery’s warehouses for cask storage, though workers dismantled the site long ago. Sourcing Coleburn proved tough, yet I snagged two samples in days. As always, I’ll start with the distillery history before diving into these festive Signatory pours.