#BTC24 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

 These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 24th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Mike @WhiskyWings

His theme was The Big 40!

So as usual the other 27 of us worked our way through the 5 blind drams, sharing our thoughts and giving a score out of 5 before they were all revealed at the end.

Dram 1

Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: orchard fruit, honey, toffee. A little earthiness and some spice.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, loads of orange, honey and a little toffee. Immediately drying. There's some hints of berry fruit and jam with a little water - wine cask maybe? There's a peppery spice as the liquid disappears, Nice!

Finish: lingering dry spice and a little orange.

I'd have a bottle for a good price. Solid 3 from me - good start!

Dram 2

Appearance: pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: a little Campbeltown funk? Salinity, tropical fruit and a little citrus. Am I in the right group but the wrong distillery here? Chardonnay Wine Yeast maybe?

Palate: tropical fruit, citrus, efflorescent fizz. This does remind me a lot of a LL CWY but where did Mike get 2 bottles from?

Finish: lingering citrus effervescence and peppery spice - drying.

Got to be a LL CWY - Yummy! A 4 from me!

Dram 3

Appearance: another pale gold dram, swirls cling as a thick line, beads form as inverted crown and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: A prickle off the ABV, 55%+ here. Citrus and vanilla to start then some tropical fruit, caramel and some berry hints,

Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, tinned fruit, chilli spice and caramel to start. There's some blueberry jam, honey and ginger to continue before a lingering spicy dryness hits the tongue as the liquid disappears, Nice!

Finish: lingering fruit and dry spice.

For me this one needs water, I'd still have a bottle, solid 3

Dram 4

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line bead up quickly and fall as fast thick legs.

Nose: peat smoke here but in a dirty way - Ledaig rubber, engine oil and BBQ steak. Hints of tropical fruit and citrus.

Palate: thin sweet arrival, a little salinity, a little peat smoke, not as dirty as the nose suggested. Tropical fruit, spice and honey on the tongue before an icing sugar dryness left as the liquid disappears, Nice.

Finish: short dry and spicy with a little smoke and salinity.

Nice enough - another 3 from me.

Dram 5

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line, form large beads and fall as quick thick legs.

Nose: maritime peat smoke, citrus zest and a little medicinal note. Firmly on Islay here.

Palate: thick dry arrival sweetness is taken over by smoke and a little salinity. Tropical fruit, citrus and a bite of ginger spice - nice!

Finish: lingering dry smoke, spice and a little tropical fruit.

Nice enough - another 3 from me.

The drams were:

Dram 1 was a Craigellachie 17 Year Old @ 46% ABV

Dram 2 was a Arran Mystery Cask @ 58.6% ABV

Dram 3 was a Tomintoul 2007 12yo @ 65.7% ABV

Dram 4 was a Old Ballantruan @ 50% ABV

Dram 5 was a Bunnahabhain Plum Tobacco Coopers Choice Tempranillo Wine Cask #4451 @ 50% ABV

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!