#BTC44 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 44th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Callum @glen_scotia & Kate @kccjf

Their theme was Callum & Kate's Summer Beach Party

Dram 1

Appearance: very pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line slowly form small beads and fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: stewed orchard fruit: apples, pears, apricots. A little dryness: icing sugar, a little musty note. There's some vanilla and a hint of citrus.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, honey, tropical fruit, some salinity, some vanilla. All the trademarks of an ex-bourbon Glen Scotia. There's an icing sugar dusted pineapple note and a bite of ginger spice to finish - lovely!

Finish: sweet and spicy with a lingering dried pineapple note. Yummy. Scores a solid 3 from me. I'm thinking ex-bourbon Glen Scotia.

Dram 2

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

Nose: a little closed, high ABV maybe? There's some berry notes - wine or STR cask maybe? Milk chocolate, pears, peaches and a little marzipan.

Palate: thick syrupy arrival, pears, red berries, jam. There's a little hint of peat smoke and a touch of salinity. Got to be a White Peak STR cask?

Finish: lingering icing sugar / golden syrup sweetness, peppery spice and some strawberry jam. Scores a 4 

Dram 3

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

Nose: huge peat smoke, salinity and citrus. I'm sure we're on Islay here but which one of the south coast distilleries? Smoky bacon crisps, hospital bandages, tropical fruit and some citrus zest.

Palate: a little thin but very spicy - all the nose notes are back - smoke, salinity, tropical fruit - well integrated. There's drying icing sugar and a little milk chocolate as the liquid disappears.

Finish: lingering salinity, syrup, dried fruit and ginger spice. Smoke has gone. Scores a 3 from me. Laphroaig ex-bourbon?

Dram 4

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

Nose: a little closed this one, especially after 3 dot's peat. Apple, plum and blueberries to start, some balsamic vinegar drizzled strawberry and a little citrus. There's a hint of peat smoke in the background.

Palate: thick sweet arrival: golden syrup and brown sugar. There's a bite of ginger spice and some orchard fruit. Then we have a little young new-make type note and some toasted marzipan.

Finish: short and dry - toffee, dried fruit and spice with a little ashy smoke. Scores a 2 from me. A little young maybe? A Torabhaig with a sherry finish?

Dram 5

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

Nose: wet cardboard, burnt rubber, peat smoke and some chemical salinity - got to be Ledaig?

There's some fresh chopped tropical fruit here hiding under the smoke with lots of citrus zest and a little honey.

Palate: huge salted lemon notes to start, some ginger spice and then a dry salinity. There's some tropical fruit, lemon zest and more dry salinity. Not doing it for me...

Finish: lingering sweet tropical fruit, lemon zest , a little smoke and dry spicy salinity. Scores a 2. Kilchoman maybe?

The drams were:

Dram 1 was Loch Lomond Distillery Edition 5

Dram 2 was Linkwood BNS Whisky Heros - The Awakening

Dram 3 was Caol Ila Whisky Cellar Pintail (Wine)

Dram 4 was Glen Scotia CMF2020 Tawny Port

Dram 5 was Torabhaig Peat Elite club release 5

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!