#BTC42 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 42nd #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Patrick @LeaskPatrick

His theme was Palate Excursions

Dram 1

Appearance: dark gold almost bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line before falling as slow thin legs.

Nose: huge sherry bomb: a little dunnage funk, blueberries jam, stewed apples, dark chocolate, cherry cola. There's a slightly artificial sweetener note going on here too.

Palate: thick syrupy arrival, loads of sweetness, berries, cherries and wood polish. The cherry cola from the nose is back along with a dry marzipan note. Lovely!

Finish: dry, fruit and sweet. Yummy dram, great to start to the night. I'm thinking c48% ABV PX dram, I'll score it a 3

Dram 2

Appearance:  again dark gold almost bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and eventually fall as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: huge peat smoke to start, a little salinity, burnt rubber, tar and wet smoky fish. This has got to be a Ledaig? Blackcurrants give some sweetness and there's a hint of ginger spice.

Palate: a little thinner than 1 dotter, but much sweeter - mouthcoating. There's salted blueberries, lemons and stewed pear. The peat is much more subdued than on the nose. The fish note has gone, the spice has been turned up again leaving a tingling tongue.

Finish: lingering spice, black cherry jam and a little icing sugar dryness. Yummy! c55% ABV peated PX. I'll give it a 4.

Dram 3

Appearance: again dark gold, almost bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line, forms large beads which hang before falling as slow thick legs.

Nose: ooh, loads of old wood here - an older dram? Not getting a lot more to be honest - some forest floor or pine notes, green apple?

Palate: a little thin, lower ABV maybe but then the jam hits you - full on black cherry, blueberry & blackcurrant - massive! There's s a little orchard fruit hiding in the corner, a little spice in the other one but this is just liquid alcoholic jam!

Finish: lingering jam with a little more jam and some extra jam. a little spice and some drying oak. Yummy. ABV is down a bit for me 43% ABV Port matured? Scores a 4.

Dram 4

Appearance: the same dark gold, almost bronze here, swirls cling as a thin line which beads up immediately. They hang around for a while and fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: More dunnage funk! Some wood, some berry jam, a little balsamic vinegar drizzled strawberries. There's some marzipan notes here - a lovely almond nuttiness. Dry spice is being suggested - can we dive in?

Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, chewy and sweet with a lovely bite of ginger spice. Loads of jam notes here again: strawberry, blueberry, blackcurrant. The marzipan is back - more sweetness and a dry nutty finish.

Finish: thick berry jam, ginger spice and dry icing sugar. c50% ABV PX casks? Scores a 4 from me!

Dram 5

Appearance: Here we are again with dark gold almost bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up to form an inverted crown and eventually fall as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: a little closed this one - damp wood, marzipan, orange juice and a hint of spice. Werther's Originals and a little minerality or salinity. Are we in Caol Ila here or is this some mainland peat smoke tickling my nostrils?

Palate: thick chewy arrival, thick cut Seville orange marmalade, marzipan, BBQ steak, cherry cola and a little sour grapefruit. Not sure about Caol Ila now...

Finish: peat smoke, berry jam and a little spice. ABV again around 50%, PX cask matured. Still not sure about Caol Ila... Scores a 3 from me.

The drams were:

Dram 1 was Glencadam Reserva PX

Dram 2 was Caol Ila [SMWS] 53.462

Dram 3 was Benrinnes [SMWS] 36.211

Dram 4 was Auchroisk [SMWS] 95.89

Dram 5 was Caol Ila [SMWS] 53.471

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!