#BTC48 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 48th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Damian @newdramrising

His theme was Fun With Flags

Dram 1

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

Nose: orchard fruit, fresh cut grass, a little meaty, fishy even? There's honey, toffee and some vanilla.

Palate: thick sweet arrival: loads of honey, lemon bonbons and tropical fruit notes. Dry wood, icing sugar and a hint of bitter chocolate. Not keen on the bitterness from this one.

Finish: huge peppery spice, lemon and tropical fruit.

Not keen on this one a 1 from me. I'm thinking something from Ireland?

Dram 2

Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, beads form slowly and hang around for a while and eventually fall as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: hick heavy sherry influence here: dried fruit, dates figs and a faint mustiness. A little cherry, vanilla and maple syrup. Could point to a Canadian or an American bourbon?

Palate: thick sweet arrival, cherries, cherries and more cherries! Very sweet and also very dry. Some icing sugar, vanilla and burnt toffee. A little peppery spice and dry wood left on the tongue as the liquid disappears. Definitely a Bourbon

Finish: lingering peppery spice, cherries and vanilla.

I'm thinking a bourbon, it's OK, I'll give it a 2.

Dram 3

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

Nose: very prickly - high ABV. Very closed - vanilla and a little honey. A hint of smoke and maybe some berries?

Palate: thick chewy arrival, chewing nuts, strawberry toffos and a lovely hint of cherry. Palate making up for the closed nose! I'm thinking STR cask? A little smoke, liquorice and marzipan.

Finish: ingering peppery spice, a little smoke, a little salinity and some cherry lips.

I'm thinking STR casks which points towards one of the newer distilleries from England or Scotland?

Lovely dram, class above the first 2, I'll score it a 3.

Dram 4

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, take a little time to bead up and then fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: a little smoke, some salinity and some stewed orchard fruit: apples stuffed with raisins? There's some liquorice and citrus.

Palate: thick sweet oily arrival, a little peppery spice and some dryness. There's some red berries, mixed berry jam and wood tannins. A little salinity and minerality. STR cask again?

Finish: dry and tannic with red berries, a little smoke and some salinity.

I'm thinking another STR cask, if the last one was England this one must be Scotland. I'm liking this one, another 3 from me.

Dram 5

Appearance: dark gold, bronze in the glass. Swirls cling as a hairline crack in the glass, take an age to bead up eventually fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: wet cardboard, oil, rubber and some maple syrup. A dirty Ledaig? Some berry notes, vanilla and toffee.

Palate: Sherry to the fore: dried fruit, dates, figs and some berries. A little rye spice and some salinity. Dark chocolate, toffee and a little cinnamon.

Finish: berries, liquorice, spice and dry icing sugar.

Interesting dram, rye finished in a sherry cask? I'll score it a 3 and guess at Canada?

The drams were:

Dram 1 was Shelter Point 2012 9yo [SMWS] 152.1

Dram 2 was Warenghem 2014 8yo [SMWS] 157.1 (Armorik)

Dram 3 was White Peak 2019 4yo Single Cask #19-106 (STR)

Dram 4 was Glen Moray 2012 10yo Single Cask #6019167 (Peated Rioja) BYO

Dram 5 was Balcones 2019 3yo [SMWS] 140.21

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!