Sunday 10 March 2024

#BTC40 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 40th #BlindDrams evening.


These drams were picked by Mike @whiskyrover and Sam @ReviewsWhisky

Their theme was Mid Life Crisis, Life Begins at 40, all the drams had a link with 40.



So as usual the other 26 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 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:







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


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