Virtual tasting: All Hail The Grain with Duncan Taylor

"Do you fancy another tasting?" seems to be a constant question during this period of lockdown and there seems to be a whole lot more around.

This time around I think it was @TheWhiskyNovice who asked the question, "What are we drinking?" was my reply....

So this time the tasting was organised by @Spirits_Embassy and we were going to be trying five Duncan Taylor Single Grains in a tasting imaginatively called "All Hail The Grain!".

The tasting was hosted on Facebook, of which I'm not a fan, and I thought it would be one way, basically us watching a video and drinking along. Because of that @TheWhiskyNovice, @GaryMills01 and myself planned to use Hangouts to chat and share opinions during the tasting.

As it turned out it wasn't a one way conversation, Sam Peacock from the Spirit Embassy introduced Duncan Taylor's Brand Ambassador Fergus Simpson who took his time passing on loads of information about each dram - this wasn't a hurried tasting! The chat function in Facebook was used to ask questions and Fergus came back with answers. In between each dram Sam came on to mop up any outstanding questions and offer links to those wishing to buy full bottles! In the end it was quite professionally done and I'd be happy to join in again. There were around 50 people on the chat including @McLeodKmcleod2k from Duncan Taylor who helped answer questions. Simon, Gary and myself still hungout and had a laugh as we went along!

You can watch the whole thing here!

Three of the drams were from DT's Octave range, one from Dimensions and one from Rare Auld Grains.

Brief tasting notes:

Girvan 2007 9yo Octave 52.3% ABV: ex-bourbon hogshead finished in 60-70 litre oloroso octave for 9 months giving 78 bottles.

Appearance: Pale gold in the glass, swirls take a long time to bead up then fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: Huge vanilla notes, toffee, orchard fruit and buttery hints.

Palate: Smooth buttery arrival, vanilla, gingerbread, orchard fruit and hints of citrus.

Finish: Warm and spicy - lemon notes.

Invergordon 2007 12yo Octave 53.1% ABV: ex-bourbon hogshead finished in 60-70 litre oloroso octave for 4 months giving 52 bottles.

Appearance: Dark gold, swirls cling and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: Burnt toffee, milk chocolate raisins, toffee apples, weetabix cereal

Palate: Chocolate and coffee, cereals, strawberry jam, spicy pepper - YUMMY!

Finish: Long sweet chocolatey notes, ginger spice.

I thought this one was so good I ordered a bottle before the sample was finished!

North British 1991 22yo Octave 54.8% ABV: ex-bourbon hogshead finished in 60-70 litre oloroso octave for 8 months giving 88 bottles.

Appearance: Pale gold, swirls cling forming an inverted crown of beads which eventually fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: ABV jumps out on this one, toffee, vanilla, oak spice and tropical fruit notes.

Palate: Syrupy arrival, loads of orange, a little strawberry, red berries and chocolate, a little salt on the tongue, icing sugar dryness.

Finish: long lingering red fruit notes.

Strathclyde 1990 23yo Dimensions 54.8% ABV: ex-bourbon hogshead giving 282 bottles.

Appearance: Pale gold, swirls fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: Toffee, cereals, brown sugar, oak sawdust, sweet honey.

Palate: Thick syrupy sweetness, slightly oily, spicy pepper on the tongue, tropical fruit notes - pineapple and sour grapefruit - a little water offered some additional lemon notes.

Finish: long lingering spicy citrus notes.

Dumbarton 1987 31yo Rare Auld Grain 54.8% ABV: refill bourbon hogshead giving 200 bottles.

Appearance: Pale gold, swirls form an inverted crown of beads which eventually fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: Vanilla, malt, salted caramel.

Palate: Sweet syrupy oily arrival, brandy snaps, orchard fruit and a little salt.

Finish: Dry spicy ginger, a little orchard fruit and more salt.

Between the three of us we managed to ask a few questions, but being facebook, it tends to bring up lost memories..... I'm really not sure what Gary was wearing here.....