These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 40th #BlindDrams evening.
Their theme was Mid Life Crisis, Life Begins at 40, all the drams had a link with 40.
Dram 1
Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.
Nose: a little musty, a little vinegary even. Banana bread, toffee, icing sugar and some citrus zest.
Palate: lovely sweet arrival: honey, toffee and icing sugar. A little thin, a blend maybe? Tropical fruit notes, dried fruit and some berry hints suggest maybe some sherry in here? It doesn't last long in the mouth - some oak and a little peppery spice. ABV doesn't seem particularly high.
Finish: very short, sweet and a hint of spice.
I'm going a cheap sherry blend at 40%. Nice enough to start the evening but not one I'd buy. Scores a 2.
Dram 2
Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line, beads up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.
Nose: oooh - very weird, a little funky, spice and vanilla - maybe a grain? Maybe it's an old grain - been in the cask too long? There's a sweetness here - some sherry or wine cask influence?
Palate: a thin sweet arrival, lots of tropical fruit and berry notes with a little vanilla. I'm sticking with a sherry matured grain or blend. The ABV is low again - another 40%er? There's some cherry cola notes here too.
Finish: again short and sweet, a little toffee, no spice on this one.
I'm going 40% blend on this one too - some nice sweetness on the palate but the nose and finish let it down.
A 2 from me.
Dram 3
Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a very thin line, take an age to bead up and eventually fall as slow thin oily legs. ABV increase maybe?
Nose: meaty! There's some orchard fruit, hedgerow berries and a little buttered popcorn. Another blend or grain? There's a lot of sweetness on the nose - honey and toffee with a little citrus.
Palate: Thin arrival, sweet toffee, honey and glacier cherries. There's a little dry herbal note. @whiskyodyssey suggested Beer Cask - could be spot on! A little spice and citrus round things off.
Finish: short and sweet, that herbal note is back and some drying icing sugar.
I'll go with Mike's suggestion of a beer cask, c 55% ABV not not to my liking - another 2 from me.
Dram 4
Appearance: pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line in the glass, slowly form beads which fall as slow thin legs.
Nose: Gentle peat smoke, salinity and citrus zest - firmly in Caol Ila territory here! A little tropical fruit, some honey, shortbread and a little tablet. This is much better!
Palate: thick sweet arrival: honey, tropical fruit and a peppery spice. The smoke is quite dry and heathery - maybe Highland rather than Islay? There's a lovely sweet citrus note and some candy floss.
Finish: medium length sweetness, spice and a gentle blanket of dry smoke.
Best of the night so far for me (by a way)
Scores a solid 3.
Dram 5
Appearance: bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a hairline crack in the glass, take an age to form small beads and eventually fall as slow thin legs.
Nose: Huge peat smoke notes, sherried dried fruit, prunes, plums and black cherries. Dark chocolate, black currants and some balsamic suggest a PX cask?
Palate: thick chewy arrival: honey, toffee, blueberries, dried fruit, dark chocolate fudge. The ABV is huge. FF sherry cask obliterating any chance for the distillery character to come through (thanks @glen_scotia) This is rough & ready - dirty cucumber time!
Finish: lingering toffee, burnt BBQ meat and hot Ribena...
Sorry lads not keen on this one.
A 2 from me.
The drams were:
Dram 1 was Scottish Blend Defilement 40yo
Dram 2 was Adelphi Blended Scotch
Dram 3 was Glenfarclas 10yo (MoM)
Dram 4 was Balvenie The Week Of Peat
Dram 5 was Craigellachie 2012 10yo Single Cask #900699 [SV]
The overall scores from our 28 members were:
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More information about the Blind Tasting Consortium and the scores for all of our tastings can be found here!
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