#BTC54 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 54th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Patrick @whiskypatrick.bsky.social

His theme was Up'n Doon the Glen picking distilleries along the fault line of the Great Glen!

Here are my tasting notes:

Dram 1

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, which forms tiny beads which cling for a while before eventually falling as slow thin legs.

Nose: orange marmalade, honey and a strange damp towel note. Dried fruit, berries and a hint of liquorice.

Palate: thick, sweet, arrival: honey, orange zest, dried fruit, almonds and a chewy caramel. Mouth coating with a bite of peppery spice left on the tongue as the liquid disappears.

Finish: short and sweet with a weird sour plum note. I’m guessing sherry cask matured at 54% ABV. Scores a 3

Dram 2

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, which forms tiny beads eventually falling as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: huge milk chocolate notes, cinder toffee and a little honey. There’s some dates, plums and prunes – lots of sherry influence again!

Palate: lovely thick arrival, mouth coating oiliness offering dried fruit, dates and a little honey, a bite of chilli spice as the first sip disappears. A few more offer drying sour grapefruit, dried pineapple and a little forest floor.

Finish: lingering chilli milk chocolate and dried fruit. Again I’m thinking sherry cask with a higher ABV of 58% ABV. Scores a 4

Dram 3

Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, which forms tiny beads eventually falling as slow thin legs.

Nose: dirty smoke, engine oil, damp cardboard, seaweed and rubber glue. Walnuts and dried fruit appear with a little time and air. There’s some faint tropical fruit notes and a little citrus.

Palate: sweet, oily arrival, toffee, lemon zest and sweet peanut hints. Milk chocolate, hedgerow berries and dry oak tannins suggest a wine cask? No smoke as I got on the nose. Some spearmint, pine and dry hay notes.

Finish: Lingering dry spice, tannins and sour citrus. Strange one this, maybe a wine cask, 55% ABV. Scores a 3

Dram 4

Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, which form small beads which fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: orange zest, sherbet, dried fruit and a little pine needle forest floor note.

Palate: thick sweet juicy arrival. Lots of orange notes which start off sweet and then develops a zingy zesty note. Very drying with a little peppery spice. Hedgerow berries develop with a few more sips.

Finish: long and spicy with orange and toffee. Another wine cask? Around 55% ABV, scores a 3.

Dram 5

Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, beads hang in the glass before falling as slow thick oily legs.

Nose: gentle maritime smoke to start, some dunnage funk and a little grapefruit. There’s tropical fruit notes, berries and a little dried fruit.

Palate: smoky and sweet to start: honey, caramel and sour citrus. Very drying and spicy, a little salinity. Chewing nuts notes, lemon zest and a little dried pineapple.

Finish: short and spicy, smoked citrus and a little milk chocolate. Another wine cask maybe? 55% ABV, scores a 3.

Dram 1 was a Clynelish 2012 12yo [SMWS] 26.225

Dram 2 was a Auchroisk 2010 14yo [SMWS] 95.109

Dram 3 was a Bunnahabhain 2013 11yo [SMWS] 10.284

Dram 4 was a Royal Brackla 2009 13yo [SMWS] 55.79

Dram 5 was a Caol Ila 2008 14yo [SMWS] 53 Rare Release

The overall scores from our 28 members were:

More information about the Blind Tasting Consortium and the scores for all of our tastings can be found here!