These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 43rd #BlindDrams evening.
His theme was The Best I Could Do At Short Notice
Dram 1
Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.
Nose: huge fruit bomb: apples, pears, lemon zest, clementine. There's icing sugar, vanilla, digestive biscuit, berries and a slight pine note.
Palate: sweet syrupy arrival: honey, golden syrup, pear drops. A hint of orange marmalade and milk chocolate. There's a lovely cinnamon spice and a little drying icing sugar.
Finish: long dry and fruity with a little cinnamon spice.
Lovely start - I'm guessing a 46% Speysider out of a bourbon cask. Scores a 3 from me.
Other tasters notes found here!
Dram 2
Appearance: pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a hairline crack in the glass, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin oily legs.
Nose: a gentle hint of smoke, shortbread biscuit, lemon zest and some crème brûlée. There's a little salinity, hints of spice and a lovely sour grapefruit note.
Palate: thick and sweet to start, some caramel, vanilla and oak spice point at a single grain? Orchard fruit and tropical fruit come through with a few more sips, there's a lovely dry icing sugar note and then the ginger spice comes back. Yummy!
Finish: lingering lemon zest, icing sugar and cinnamon spice. Yummy.
Single Grain maybe? 50% ABV Scores a 4
Other tasters notes found here!
Dram 3
Appearance: bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line and form beads which fall as slow thick legs.
Nose: dunnage funk, gentle smoke or cask char, salinity and some spice. Sherry soaked dried fruit, dates, figs, black cherries. Some balsamic vinegar and milk chocolate notes. Grilled pineapple (!) and vanilla. There's a little lemon zest here too!
Palate: thick chewy mouth coating arrival followed by a huge bite of spice. Strawberry jam, blueberries, dates & figs on the palate, some chewy set honey. Chewing nuts, stem ginger & a little lemon zest. Then as the liquid disappears a big bite of chilli spice.
Finish: dry and sweet with a little spice and citrus.
Yummy dram, Oloroso cask at 55% ABV Scores a 4
Other tasters notes found here!
Dram 4
Appearance: light gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up and fall as slow thin legs.
Nose: gentle peat smoke, salinity and citrus - yummy! I'm going straight in with Caol Ila here! There's a lovely ashy smoke and a hint of burnt rubber or damp cardboard - Ledaig maybe? There's some lovely tropical fruit hints: pineapple, kiwi, peach & banana.
Palate: thick sweet arrival, juicy, a little salinity, dryness and then a big bite of ginger spice. Sour grapefruit, lemon zest & some runny honey. There's a little vegetal note & some BBQ meats. Ashy smoke as the liquid disappears. Yummy!
Finish: lingering sweetness, spice, salinity and gentle ashy smoke.
I'm going 8yo Caol Ila at 55% Yummy! Scores a 5 from me!
Other tasters notes found here!
Dram 5
Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, quickly forms beads which fall as thick oily legs.
Nose: loads of peat smoke, some berries and a little heather - are we are on Orkney? Brown sugar and tropical fruit suggest sweetness. A little salinity, some chocolate chip shortbread and a little earthiness. Some berry notes suggest a little sherry influence?
Palate: thick sweet arrival, honey, berries and a blanket of heathery peat smoke. Some tropical fruit and citrus. Toffee apple and bacon frazzles. Yummy!
Finish: tropical fruit, citrus and heather smoke. Got to be a Highland Park - probably the Boat Club edition, mid 50s% ABV
Yummy. Scores a 4 from me
Other tasters notes found here!
The drams were:
Dram 1 was Henstone Red Wine Cask Matured
Dram 2 was Royal Brackla 2010 13yo Back in Brack [UWC]
Dram 3 was White Peak Oloroso Finish (BYO)
Dram 4 was Bowmore The Feis Ile Collection 2019
Dram 5 was Ardnahoe Inaugural Release
John's reveal was herehere!
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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