BTC3 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 3rd #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Mark @Mark_BCWS

Dram 1

Appearance: Pale gold in the glass, swirls cling and fall as slow thin legs

Nose: Speyside orchard fruit - apples, pears, apricots, peaches. A little honey and a hint of spice?

Palate: sweet syrupy arrival, more orchard fruit as per the nose and a little bite of spice. 46% Speysider?

Finish: short fruity note with a small peppery bite. OK

Dram 2

Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: a little orchard fruit, some funky turkish delight and a little brown sugar?

Palate: floral notes, a little milk chocolate and a bite of peppery spice.  It's a little odd.....

Finish: Parma violets with a peppery spice.

Dram 3

Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a hairline crack, slowly bead up and fall as slow thin legs. A sign of a higher ABV?

Nose: orange peel, cocoa powder, icing sugar. Maybe some tropical fruit hints?

Palate: thick syrupy arrival, strawberry jam, dried fruit, a little drying icing sugar and some slightly sour citrus - nice.

Finish: short sweet syrupy, slightly drying.

I'm still thinking Paul John Oloroso 48%

Dram 4

Appearance: Pale gold, swirls cling and fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: dirty smoke - tar, rubber, a little maritime influence - nice!

Palate: thick syrupy arrival, huge ABV kick. Sweet honey, a little milk chocolate and chilli spice - Yummy!

Dram 5

Appearance: Dark gold almost bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a hairline crack, take a while to bead up and eventually fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: huge sherry and smoke notes - are we back on @jwbassman_ Session 2? Rich Strawberry Jam, dried fruit, brown sugar and a blanket of thick highland smoke.

Palate: huge kick from the ABV very spicy - sherry and smoke notes from the nose continue - berries, brown sugar and a little citrus. The peat smoke blankets everything - it's highland, there's no medicinal notes here - YUMMY!

The drams were:

Dram 1 was Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve – 43% ABV – Approx. £64 – NAS – Japan

Dram 2 was Rampur Double Cask - 45% ABV - NAS - India

Dram 3 was Nantou's Omar Sherry Cask - 46% ABV - NAS - Taiwan

 Dram 4 was a Kavalan's Solist Single Cask - 58.6% ABV - Taiwan 

Dram 5 was Cadenhead’s Paul John 7yr Old Bourbon Cask – 55.4% ABV – Approx. £87.50(!) – 7yrs Old – India 

The theme was #ATasteOfTheEast with Mark introducing us to some drams from the Far East.!

More information about the Blind Tasting Consortium can be found here!