More Drams, Less Drama - Coldorak's Whisky Blog.

Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve, 12- and 18-year-old

25th September 202624th September 2026Coldorak

We reviewed Hakushu 25 Year Old almost two years ago, but what about the rest of the distillery’s core range? Today, I’m filling in that gap with four bottlings: the Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve, the 12 Year Old, and two versions of the classic 18 Year Old. Together, they should provide a useful overview of Hakushu’s house style across different age statements—from the fresher, younger profile of the Distiller’s Reserve through to the more mature, fruit-led and gently smoky character of the 18 Year Old. And since we’ve never properly introduced Hakushu Distillery, we’ll begin with some history.

Tullibardine Sovereign & 2004 The Whisky Agency

23rd September 202622nd September 2026Coldorak

After the two large French whisky reviews from Friday and Monday, we turn back to Scotland with a shorter review as well. We take a look at Tullibardine with quite opposite bottlings: an ex-bourbon non-age-statement official bottling with the Tullibardine Sovereign, and a 22-year-old Ruby port matured Tullibardine from the independent bottler The Whisky Agency. But first, as it is usual when we introduce a distillery on More Drams, let’s have a short look at the distillery itself.

7 Peated French Whiskies: Naguelann / Fontagard / Vilanova / Kornog…

21st September 202621st September 2026Coldorak

After the seven unpeated French single malt whiskies reviewed on Friday, we continue exploring French whisky, but this time with seven peated French whiskies. On the menu, the Naguelann Start, bottled for the Malt in France French whisky show 2025, Fontagard TORB 9121-1, La Piautre d’Eire et d’Alba, the Kornog Single Malt and Santez Erwann 2025, the Vilanova Shed Signature #1 and the Armorik Yeun Elez Jobic single malt.

7 French Single Malts: Armorik / Fontagard / Glann Ar Mor / Arlett / Cormeil / Vilanova

18th September 202618th September 2026Coldorak

Over the past few years, I’ve built up a small collection of French whisky bottles, having been fortunate enough to taste a wide range of releases—mostly across the three editions of Malt in France, the French-whisky-focused show held in Rennes on the first weekend of April since 2024.
My original plan was to gather them all into one large review. However, as the number of bottles kept growing, it made more sense to keep tasting and split the feature into two parts. This first instalment focuses on unpeated French whiskies from distilleries across the country; Monday’s review will turn to the peated side of French whisky.

Ardmore 2009 Whisky Agency / 40yo Whiskyland

16th September 202615th September 2026Coldorak

Today, I’m looking at two independently bottled Ardmores from very different points in the distillery’s history. The first is a 2009 vintage bottled by The Whisky Agency in 2026 after 16 years in a Port cask, while the second is a 40-year-old 1985 Ardmore from Whiskyland / Decadent Drinks, drawn from a marriage of two refill hogsheads and bottled in 2025. On paper, it looks like an uneven contest: a relatively young, wine-cask-driven Ardmore against a much older whisky shaped by comparatively gentle refill wood. Age alone, however, rarely decides the outcome. The question is whether the younger bottling’s energy and cask influence can match the depth and maturity of the 40-year-old.

Strathmill 14yo Le Gus’t / 38yo The Whisky Agency

14th September 202613th September 2026Coldorak

I could almost copy/paste last Wednesday’s intro for today’s review, as we’re exploring another distillery that wasn’t covered on More Drams until today: Strathmill. And to do that… we’ll rely on independent bottlers, as official releases are scarce. We’ll start with a 2009 Strathmill bottled by Le Gus’t, then a 1988 Strathmill, 38 years old, bottled by The Whisky Agency.

Two Secret Islay ‘A Dream Of Scotland’

11th September 202610th September 2026Coldorak

We explore a couple of secret Islay whiskies, both bottled by German bottler Brüler Whiskyhaus, in its ‘A Dream of Scotland’ range. Both feature what looks like a marking finish: one in a German red wine quarter cask, the other in a Cream sherry quarter cask. Let’s see how the German bottler handled these finishes and if there is something left of the secret Islay distilleries.

Craigellachie 13 / 17 / Boutique-y / Elixir

Craigellachie 13yo / 17 / Boutique-y / Elixir

9th September 20268th September 2026Coldorak

Six years into More Drams Less Drama, there are still plenty of distilleries we have encountered only in passing – through blends, comparisons, or a single isolated bottle – without ever properly putting them in the spotlight. Craigellachie is one of those omissions (we’ve only reviewed one bottling during an SMWS tasting), which feels particularly strange for a distillery with such a recognisable, idiosyncratic style and such an important place in the Dewar’s blending universe. So today, we are finally putting that right.

The line-up combines two official core-range releases with two independent bottlings, from That Boutique-y Whisky Company and Elixir Distillers. It is a compact way to approach Craigellachie from both sides: first through the distillery’s own carefully calibrated presentation, then through the more individual interpretations selected by independent bottlers. Four whiskies are not enough to settle every question about a distillery, of course, but they should be enough to establish a proper first chapter – and to see whether Craigellachie’s sturdy, distinctive personality translates consistently across different ages, casks and bottling philosophies.

Glen Grant 28-year-old Whisky Botker and 30-year-old Signatory Vintage

Glen Grant 28-Year-Old Whisky Broker / 30yo Signatory

7th September 20266th September 2026Coldorak

Back in February, I reviewed a very enjoyable pair of Glen Grant bottlings (especially the Whisky Agency one), so it is time to return to the distillery with another duo of mature independent releases. This time, the lineup brings together a 28-year-old Glen Grant distilled in 1991 and bottled by Whisky Broker at 52.7% ABV, alongside a 30-year-old 1995 from Signatory Vintage’s Symington’s Choice series.

Seven Ben Nevis 1996

4th September 20264th September 2026Coldorak

After Monday’s and Wednesday’s reviews, we are staying with Ben Nevis for one final deep dive – and this time the focus narrows to a single, particularly compelling vintage: 1996. Seven whiskies are on the table, including one official bottling and six independent interpretations from Celtic Whisky Distillerie for Le Comptoir Irlandais, Hunter Laing, Caora, Thompson Bros., The Whisky Jury and Milroy’s.

A shared distillation year does not mean seven identical whiskies. Quite the opposite: this is a chance to see how different casks, bottling dates and independent selection philosophies have shaped the same Ben Nevis spirit over time. With official and independent bottlings side by side, the line-up should offer a useful snapshot of why 1996 Ben Nevis has become such a sought-after vintage – and just how many different directions this muscular, idiosyncratic Highland malt can take when left in the hands of different bottlers. We’ll go from the lowest to the highest ABV.