#MiniTasting with a Super-Secret Mystery dram!

A normal run of the mill drample swap resulting in an unidentified bottle being delivered, discussions ensued and it turned out the @WhiskynStuff had sent this dram to a few of his recent drample swapers. An idea was hatched do do a simultaneous tasting and thus #MiniTasting was organised. 'Organised' might not be the right word.... thrown together might be better! We only sorted out the sample order 5 minutes before the start!.

First up was Super Secret Mystery Dram or SSMD for short!

Appearance: Brown in colour, very thick in the glass, gravity defying swirls with little in the way of legs for an awfully long time! Initial nose is TOFFEE

Nose: I'm split between a bourbon and a sherry bomb, there's elements of each - vanilla, toffee, dunnage warehouse, strawberry jam. There's also some dark fruit and oakiness in there too.

Palate: Thin and oily initially but tongue coating, loads of dark fruit - plums, prunes, black cherries. There's a huge sherry influence - strawberry jam, molasses. Loads of wood influence too - maybe been in a cask a long while? ABV c46% Last few sips giving a dryness in the mouth and a little spice. To me this is an oldish sherry cask Speysider?

Finish: Finish: medium length, warming, drying, a little spice but dominated by the woody sherry. Very nice dram!

Thoughts: A really impressive dram that turned out to William Cadenhead's 20yo Blend, loads of flavour buts many other blends to shame.

Other people's thoughts:

And it was in fact William Cadenhead's 20yo Blend

We knew the next dram in advance it was was the SMWS 70.31 Balblair 11yo @ 59.9%

Appearance: A lovely gold colour in the glass, more gravity defying swirls which bead up
immediately. Initial nose dried pineapple!

Nose: Loads of tropical fruit - pineapple, mango etc but also some citrus juice. There's a dryness to it - icing sugar or biscuit like some of the others have been saying. The ABV hits you straight away - I've lost a few nasal hairs!

Palate: Thick, tongue coating honey with a citrus note. ABV isn't really hitting as expected - don't think this will need any water, maybe only to re-moisturise my mouth from the dryness! Icing sugar and milk chocolate dominate with hints of strawberry jam. Mouth is totally devoid of moisture now! It's tingling slightly but the whisky is leaving lots of lovely flavours behind: the tropical notes from the nose are coming though now in the milk chocolate and strawberry jam - yummy!

Finish: medium length, slightly spicy but lead by the chocolate and jam. Drying effect now working on my throat too! Need to re-hydrate before the last dram but don't want these flavours to go away!

Other people's thoughts:

We also knew the final dram in advance it was was the Darkness! Loch Lomond 20yo Single Grain matured in ex-sherry cask.

Appearance: Lovely gold colour in the glass, thick & oily - swirls turn immediately to beads.
Initial nose: Dunnage Warehouse.

Nose: Dunnage warehouse, old musty bookshop, strawberry jam but with a big hit of orange oil. There's some oak here too along with a hint of vanilla

Palate: Sherry bomb, drying, toffee, thick honey, spicy cinnamon. The Loch Lomond is a complex dram - the oily palate gives some sweetness then as it rolls down your throat the spice comes out to play! Love it!

Finish: High abv gives a dryness but there's a big spicy orange marmalade note which just goes on forever.... will probably be having it on my toast for breakfast tomorrow!

Other people's thoughts:

Our final verdicts:

Many thanks to @WhiskynStuff for the drams and @WessexWhisky, @SpiritAndWood & @jwbassman_ for a great night of whisky tasting!