#BTC37 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

 These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 37th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by John @jwbassman_

His theme was Prime Time - everything associated with Prime Numbers: The date, the number of drams, the age of the drams etc!

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

Dram 1

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

Nose: loads of orchard fruit: apples, pears and apricots. Fresh cut grass, vanilla and shortbread. There's some citrus hints and maybe some spice here too.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, honey, caramel, icing sugar. The fruit has turned all tropical: pineapple, mango, banana, kiwi. There's a lovely bite of ginger spice on the tongue as the liquid disappears.

Finish: Sweet and spicy with a little orange zest.

Nice starter! I'd think a young 7yo ish ex-bourbon Speysider at about 46% ABV. Scores a 3 from me!

Dram 2

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

Nose: a little farmyard funk, salinity, Ovaltine and dried pineapple. Seems very 'dry' on the nose. There's a lot of citrus here - orange, lime and maybe some grapefruit?

Palate: thick sweet arrival, again loads of tropical fruit, some salinity - shouts @GlenScotiaMalts to me! The tropical fruit included icing sugar coated dried pineapple and crystallised ginger, the mouth is left dry and spicy as the liquid disappears. Yummy!

Finish: lingering salinity, sweetness and spice - all nicely balanced. Is there a hint of smoke there too?

I'm thinking a young ex-bourbon  @GlenScotiaMalts  5yo 55% ABV? Scores a 4 from me!

Dram 3

Appearance: light gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, form small beads as an inverted crown and eventually fall as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: a little closed this one, a little musty 2nd hand bookshop, sour citrus, salinity, pine needles and some marzipan.

Palate: Thick sweet arrival: huge lemon notes - bonbons, drizzle cake, marmalade. There's some honey, tropical fruit, a little salinity and a little toffee. This is another @GlenScotiaMalts isn't it @jwbassman_? A few more sips and the spice starts to come through - ginger and lemon pepper - yummy! The ABV seems really high here - 60%? But I don't feel the need for any dilution.

Finish: lingering spice and sweetness, loads of lemon again and a little salinity.

Yummy dram! I'm thinking @GlenScotiaMalts again here - a little older maybe 11yo ex-bourbon 60% ABV. Scores a 4 from me!

Dram 4

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

Nose: ooh this one is a bit weird... lots of smoke, a little salinity, TCP, smoky bacon crisps - we're firmly in South Islay here!

Palate: sweet honey, lemon & tropical fruit (pineapple, mango & apricot) to start layered with salinity, smoke & ginger spice. There's a dryness as the liquid disappears. It's a little dirty this one - some burnt rubber notes but this isn't in Ledaig territory

Finish: lingering salted lemons and  wood ash. Yummy.

I'm thinking this is a 11yo @Laphroaig  from ex-bourbon at around 55% ABV. Scores a 4 from me!

Dram 5

Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a line of large beads and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: again a little closed, some gentle peat smoke, sherried dried fruit and some citrus. There's some dry grass, strawberry jam, blueberries and a hint of marzipan.

Palate: loads of hedgerow berries - strawberries, blackberries, redcurrants, raspberries - this has got to be a wine finish. It's quite thick and chewy - a perfect dram for a cold night. Some honey sweetness, a little chocolate and a bite of peppery spice. Nice

Finish: long spicy and fruity - load of berries - Yummy!

Could be from anywhere but I'd guess on 7yo red wine cask finish at 55% ABV. I'll give it a 3.

The drams were:

Dram 1 was Speyside 1999 S13 Man With The Hat

Dram 2 was Wolfburn Peated 7yo Cask Strength

Dram 3 was Highland Park 2005 17yo Single Cask #17 [TDW]

Dram 4 was Octomore Edition 13.1 / 137.3 PPM

Dram 5 was Caol Ila 2011 11yo Single Cask #367731 [JE] (Palo Cortado)

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!