Dram1 Awards 2025

Peaty winner at the first Dram1 Awards 2025 

A brand new and consumer driven Whisky Award was announced somewhere mid-September and I thought it would be fun to partake in this. So, when the package arrived on the first day of October, I could not wait to get started. The rules are simple and laid out by organiser Dram1 in cooperation with WhiskySite.nl. Dutch Brand Ambassadors selected 16 core range whiskies that cost no more than the maximum price of 100 euro. Nice concept, and totally honest, since all participants got to taste the samples without any knowledge beforehand. I made notes of what I tasted and added my own gamble of what I think was in the glass, but kept it fairly based in Scotland. Nice to compare afterwards, my gambles gave me an idea! The results were announced at an official Award Show on Monday 1 December 2025. 

Before we head over to the winner, here are my impressions. At the reveal, I post the average score given by all tasters, so this also compares to mine. 

Sample 4:
Description: Dusty attic, sawdust, earthen floor. All this, before a more red fruit nose comes through. This one needs time to breathe. The taste is rounded and sweet, with a bitter finish. There is an edge to this dram that brings something extra. 

Score: 80 points.
Gamble: Tamnavulin sherry cask
Actually: Singleton 15 – 73 Points

Sample 5:
Description: Nice dark colour. Slightly leathery nose, some oranges and varnish. Strong stuff. It appears light and fruity but it actually carries a good punch. Nice sherried expression. Nutty finish. With water a pleasant fruity character is released. Very likeable dram, this one! 

Score: 83 points.
Gamble: Timorous Beastie
Actually: Aberfeldy 16 – 76 Points

Sample 6:
Description: Very bright and fruity, with hints of tropical specimens. Some pear eau de vie too. This continues on the palate, which makes me think I got something from Loch Lomond Distillery in the glass. 

Score: 85 points.
Gamble: Inchmurrin 12 years old
Actually: Clonakilty Pot Still – 76 Points

Sample 7:
Description: Cigar leaves mixed with oranges and overripe tangerines. A good highlander, by the smell of it. The taste continues down the same path, with a rather leathery dry finish. 

Score: 85 points.
Gamble: Glenturret, maybe Glenfiddich
Actually: Stauning Rye – 76 Points

Sample 8:
Description: Cinnamon, ginger cookie, slight hint of ashes. Quite a heavy taste with a big imprint from the sherry wood that was probably used. The finish carries a grainy style, as if the producer was better equipped to make Genever. Quite hot, very decent.

Score: 82 points.
Gamble: Filliers or Millstone
Actually: Thy Caramel Malt – 76 Points

Sample 12:
Description: Beautiful, creamy nose, with hints of fresh fruit and sherry. The taste is bone dry, like dust on a smoky piece of wood. Cigarette ashes.

Score: 85 points.
Gamble: Craigellachie
Actually: Chivas Regal 18 – 76 Points

Sample 13:
Description: Waxy profile, lots of vanilla, mixed with fruit like peaches and white grapes. Some sunflower oil. Equally fruity and elegant on the tongue, where the waxes remain prominent. I would have thought of a Clynelish but the colour seems too light. Going with a bright island style. More barley towards the finish.

Score: 87 points.
Gamble: Arran or Ardnamurchan
Actually: Le Breuil Golden Promise – 79 Points

Sample 14:
Description: Layers of ozone and oranges. Light peat perhaps, hints of dirt, the farm in the distance. I love the palate, very thick and coating, with a rather fierce finish. More perfumed on the nose after some water. Thick brine and sticky chocolate. Lovely.

Score: 86 points.
Gamble: Bunnahabhain CS
Actually: Ardnamurchan Madeira Cask – 80 Points

Sample 15:
Description: Dark in colour but not yet very talkative on the nose. Strong PX perhaps? Very much on the wood when taking a sip, and quite dry. Lots of chocolate. The cask(s) do all the talking, a bit too much for my taste. With water it comes alive. Caramel and fudge. This one for sherry masochists.

Score: 83 points.
Gamble: Dalmore, doubts about Highland Park
Actually: Glendronach Ode to the Dark – 81 Points

Tasted this one just recently here.

Sample 16:
Description: The final sample, I made it! This is a beautiful peaty beast, which leaves no doubt we end on a high note. Lots of liquorice, tar, sea spray, I would be surprised if this is anything else as grand as the Lagavulin 16 years old, but who knows! The peat power on this dram is tremendous. Keeps developing on the nose, with some farmy notes as well.

Score: 89 points.
Gamble: Lagavulin 16
Actually: Smoky Scot PX – 82 Points

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The second half of the samples had a very strong run in diversity and quality, where sample 13 turned out to be my most liked whisky. This was the Le Breuil Golden Promise, a Normandie whisky. Considering the vibes it gave me, this is one to watch! 

The winner out of these 16 samples turned out to be the last one, the Smoky Scot PX.. To me, this really invoked the Lagavulin vibes, so high praise. At only 8 years old, it seems the combination with the heavy sherry wood created something wonderful. Nice product by Aceo Limited. 

Were there big surprises? Well, I think the Glengoyne 12 was very underperforming, judging by its reputation as a very decent single malt. Quite surprised how that turned out. The Clonakilty Pot Still Whiskey was a nice discovery and the one bottle I might get after this experience. Same goes for the Stauning Rye. Rather pleased with myself I managed to pick out at least one Regional Malt done by Douglas Laing, again proving this is a very high-quality series. 

Compliments for organising this, and for the brave ambassadors putting their products on the spot. Blind tastings are brutally honest, but in general there were no real stinkers, only some modest whisky. We can easily say, as whisky enthusiasts, we have it good!