Spirits
Vintage assessments, comparative spirits reviews, and the bottles that define their categories. Wines and spirits are tasted blind in flights of six to eight.
18.5/20 Spirits Dom Pérignon 2013 vs Cristal 2015 
18.5/20 Spirits Krug Grande Cuvée 
18.0/20 Spirits Lagavulin 16: The Islay Benchmark, Scored 
18.0/20 Spirits Redbreast 21: Single Pot Still at Its Apex, Scored 
18.0/20 Spirits Dom Pérignon 2013 
17.5/20 Spirits Yamazaki 18: Suntory's Mizunara Showpiece, Scored 
17.5/20 Spirits Talisker 18: The Skye Malt That Rewards Patience 
17.5/20 Spirits Hine Antique XO: The Connoisseur's Cognac, Scored Glenfiddich 21 Gran Reserva
A 21-year Speyside single malt finished in Caribbean rum casks — a divisive idea executed with real polish. We scored Glenfiddich 21 against the Premium…
Sazerac 18 Rye: The Antique Collection's Quiet Star
An 18-year aged rye from Buffalo Trace's storied Antique Collection — refined where most ryes are aggressive. We scored Sazerac 18 against the Premium…
Yamazaki 18: Suntory's Mizunara Showpiece, Scored
The bottle that did more than any other to establish Japanese single malt as a trophy category. We scored Yamazaki 18 against the Premium Standard — liquid…
The Bordeaux 2024 Vintage
Following our annual en primeur tastings across both Banks, our reviewer assesses the 2024 Bordeaux vintage and the wines that justify allocation buyers'…
Michter's 10 Single Barrel Bourbon, Scored
A barrel-strength-adjacent, decade-aged single barrel bourbon with a cult following and a punishing secondary market.
Lagavulin 16: The Islay Benchmark, Scored
The most quietly authoritative bottle on the Islay shelf. We scored Lagavulin 16 against the Premium Standard to see whether the legend still earns its place.
Dom Pérignon 2013 vs Cristal 2015
The two most famous prestige cuvées in Champagne, tasted blind side by side. We scored Dom Pérignon 2013 against Louis Roederer Cristal 2015 on the Premium…
Redbreast 21: Single Pot Still at Its Apex, Scored
The flagship of Ireland's single pot still revival, and one of the finest whiskeys the style produces. We scored Redbreast 21 against the Premium Standard.
Hennessy Paradis
A blend of over 100 eaux-de-vie, some more than a century old, in an iconic decanter. We scored Hennessy Paradis against the Premium Standard — the liquid…
Krug Grande Cuvée
A multi-vintage blend of over 120 wines, aged seven years on lees — Champagne's most ambitious 'non-vintage'. We scored Krug Grande Cuvée against the Premium…
Nikka From the Barrel
A blended Japanese whisky at cask-ish strength for around £40 — and one that out-punches bottles at three times the price.
Dom Pérignon 2013
The most famous prestige cuvée in the world, in a cool, structured vintage that rewards patience. We scored Dom Pérignon 2013 against the Premium Standard.
Macallan Sherry Oak 25 vs Springbank 25
Two of the most consequential Scotch single malts at the 25-year mark, blind-tasted side by side. Our reviewer assesses which justifies its allocation price.
Talisker 18: The Skye Malt That Rewards Patience
Two extra years over the famous 10 turn Talisker from a vigorous coastal dram into something considerably more complete.
Hine Antique XO: The Connoisseur's Cognac, Scored
A single-cru Grande Champagne XO with a fraction of the marketing budget of its rivals and arguably more in the glass.