BTC5 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

 These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 5th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Simon @TheWhiskyNovice

Dram 1

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

Nose: Syrup / honey sweetness and loads of orchard fruit - apples, pears, apricots. A little air and some swirling offers pineapple and citrus.

Palate: sweet arrival, zingy citrus, orchard fruit (apples, pears) / tropical fruit (pineapple, mango) and spicy ginger. Ex-bourbon Speysider 46%

Finish: long lingering sweetness and orchard fruit.

Dram 2

Appearance: a little darker gold, swirls cling, again take a while to bead up and fall a slow thin legs.

Nose: herby minty notes, menthol, some sugary citrus and oak.

Palate: berry fruit, a little stewed apple and a huge drying icing sugar note. Wine finish? The ABV is quite high again - 50-55%

Finish: lemon fizz left on the tongue then the liquid disappears quickly with a sweet gingery spice finish. Nice.

Dram 3

Appearance: dark brown in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, take ages to bead up and then fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: thick treacle, dry icing sugar, soapy notes. Dark chocolate and walnuts

Palate: thin arrival KFC Gravy? Oaky but the ABV is way up again. This is a strange one - colour promises but nose and palate let it down.... there are some fruit notes and a dryness - maybe a wine finish again?

Finish - earthy, sherry strawberry jam notes - maybe an octave finish to give the colour but not impressed with the initial spirit - sorry,

Dram 4

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

Nose: bonfire on a beach - peat smoke, salty maritime breeze and a hint of seaweed. Pine needle notes with a big kick of citrus.

Palate: a little thin but nicely oily, peat smoke and a honey sweetness.

Finish: short, gentle smoke and a hint of citrus.

Dram 5

Appearance: another pale gold in the glass, swirls form a hairline crack on the glass, beads eventually form and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: medicinal peat smoke, bbq meat, hints of seaweed, tropical fruit and citrus. Caol Ila or maybe Laphroaig?

Palate:

The drams were:

Dram 1 was Deanston's Pinot Noir Finish - 50% ABV - Cost £98.10

Dram 2 was a James Eadie bottled 12yo Glen Spey Palo Cortado finish at 60% - cost £61.95 

Dram 3 was The Whisky Shop exclusive GlenAllachie  Single PX cask. 51.8% - cost £89.95

 Dram 4 was a James Eadie bottled 9yo Ardmore

 Dram 5 was BenRiach's Peated Rum Cask - 52.6% - £98.99

The theme was #TrickOrTreat with Simon serving up some interesting drams!

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