#BTC39 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 39th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Paul @pswhisky

His theme was Filth Rich or Dirt Poor - all of his drams were peated!

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

Nose: very vegetal to start, a little new makey a little farmyard funk. There's some orchard fruit notes and a little puttered popcorn - a blend or a grain maybe?

Palate: thick sweet arrival, immediately spicy and drying. There's lots of orchard fruit, bitter citrus and a little peat smoke. Some liquorice, honey, toffee and bitter coffee notes finish things off.

Finish: lingering farmyard funk, orchard fruit and citrus. 

Maybe 52%, Speyside ex-bourbon? Not really my cup of tea - scores a 2.

Dram 2

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

Nose: huge bonfire on a beach notes - peat smoke, dried seaweed, maritime breeze - yummy! There's a little tropical fruit, black pepper, plum pudding and a lovely custard note.

Palate: a little thin but sweet and juicy. Honey, caramel, poached pears and a little dry icing sugar as the liquid disappears. There's some tropical fruit notes and some berry hints. Yummy!

Finish: Dry with lingering tropical fruit and a little smoke.

Yummy dram - really enjoyed this one! Guessing 43%, no idea where it's from but it's got a @GlenMorayDist feel? Scores a 4 from me.

Dram 3

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line in the glass, take a while to bead up and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: gentle peat smoke, tropical fruit and citrus - lacks the salinity from the previous dram. A little medicinal, a little sweet. There's some sherry notes: dried fruit, dates and figs. Some honey and toffee to finish things off.

Palate: thick juicy arrival, loads of tropical fruit, dried fruit, berries and toffee. There's a little citrus hint before it goes all dry and smoky. YUMMY!

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

Yummy dram - lovely the juicy note on the palate - jammy even. Southern Islay with some sherry cask influence c55% ABV Scores a 4

Dram 4

Appearance: gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, takes an age to bead up and eventually fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: dry ashy smoke, some grilled sardines, a little salinity and a hint of seaweed. There's some buttered popcorn and vanilla pointing towards a grain or a blend? A little bbq steak and some tropical fruit. Nice.

Palate: a lovely juicy arrival, a little thin but full of flavour. Some juicy tropical fruit, some sweet shop notes and a little citrus. The smoke is here but quite gentle, there's some salinity and a dryness as the liquid disappears. Yummy!

Finish: lingering juicy tropical fruit, dry ashy smoke and a little citrus.

c55% ABV Southern Islay again? Really good but not quite up to 2 and 3 dots. Scores a 3

Dram 5

Appearance: pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a hairline crack in the glass, take an age to bead up and eventually fall as slow thin legs.

Nose:  very closed this one, high ABV hiding things? Very light, a little citrus, some tropical fruit, a hint of peat and some dunnage funk. A hint of parma violets hinting at Bowmore?

Palate: thick sweet arrival, some ashy smoke, tropical fruit and citrus peel. Juicy but not as much as 2 & 4. There's a little dry sawdust, dried seaweed and salted lemons. Yummy!

Finish: Lingering dry smoke, tropical fruit and salted lemons. Yummy.

I'm thinking Bowmore. Scores a 5 from me.

The drams were:

Dram 1 was Highland Park Orkney Rowing Club

Dram 2 was Benriach 18yo Latada (Peated Madeira)

Dram 3 was Laphroaig Cairdeas (Feis Ile 2018) Fino Cask Finish

Dram 4 was Ballechin from Whisky Sponge 2nd secret edition (2021)

Dram 5 was Ardmore 2008 13yo [SMWS] 66.225

The overall scores from our 28 members were:

Interesting that two of the drams had a score range from 0 to 5! Three of the drams scored a 5

More information about the Blind Tasting Consortium and the scores for all of our tastings can be found here!