#BTC58 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 58th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Andy @RoyEasing

His theme was The Mysterious Casks of the 74th Roy Easing Vatting! 74 being the combined age of the 5 drams and Roy Easing Vatting an anagram of Signatory Vintage - the indie bottler which they all came from.

Here are my tasting notes:

Dram 1

Appearance: light gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, immediately bead up, cling for a while and eventually falling as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: vanilla, buttered popcorn, orchard fruit and some acetone. A little honey suggests sweetness.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, tropical fruit and honey, very juicy. There’s some dried fruit influence maybe suggesting sherry? A little icing sugar dry sweetness and a hint of peppery spice as the liquid disappears.

Finish:  Long spicy finish with tropical fruit and drying icing sugar.

I’m thinking a 55% ABV grain (Port Dundas?), either a long time in a bourbon cask or a short sherry cask finish. Scores a 4.

Dram 2

Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, beads up slowly, cling for a while before eventually falling as slow thick legs.

Nose: thick sherry notes: balsamic vinegar, chocolate, almonds, toffee – looking towards oloroso here. There’s some dried fruit, dates and figs.

Palate: thick chewy arrival, all the sherry notes from the nose alongside walnuts, milk chocolate, orange peel and chilli spice. A little black treacle suggests sweetness and a hint of salinity.

Finish:  long sherry soaked dried fruit, spice and honey.

I’m thinking a 58% ABV oloroso cask, yummy, scores a 4.

Dram 3

Appearance: bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, takes a while to bead up, cling for a while before eventually falling as slow thick legs.

Nose: thick bourbon type notes, a little dunnage funk – confusing. Figs, dates and black treacle. Caramel, dark chocolate and coffee.

Palate: Thick chewy spicy arrival: dark fruits, liquorice and a little citrus. Sweetness from treacle, a little peppery spice and some cinnamon. Very dry! Needs a drop of water!

Finish: lingering sweetness, some meatiness and cinnamon spice.

I’m thinking a 58% ABV bourbon. OK, scores a 3.

Dram 4

Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up immediately, before falling as slow thin legs.

Nose: quite closed this one, picking out a little sherried fruit, rum and raisin ice-cream and a little citrus zest.

Palate: a little thin on the palate but mouth coating, sherried dried fruit, figs and dates. Very jammy. Caramel and honey sweetness, a little salted marzipan and some peppery spice. Dry cinnamon spice as the liquid disappears.

Finish:  Lingering cinnamon spice, caramel, dry spice.

I’m thinking a 60% ABV PX cask. Scores a 4

Dram 5

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a very thin line, forms tiny beads which cling for a while before eventually falling as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: fresh laid tarmac, burnt rubber, dried seaweed, sherry soaked dried fruit and a little wet cardboard.

Palate: thick meaty arrival, some sweetness, some spice. There’s hedgerow berries, figs, dates and prunes. A heavily salted BBQ steak and some lime zest.

Finish:  lingering salinity, BBQ smoke and hedgerow berries.

I’m thinking 58% ABV sherried Ledaig. Scores a 4.

The drams were: 

Dram 1 was North British 2009 15yo [SV]

Dram 2 was Blair Athol 2007 17yo [SV]

Dram 3 was Macallan 2005 18yo Single Cask #DRU17 A106 #46 [SV]

Dram 4 was Highland Park 2014 11yo [SV]

Dram 5 was Caol Ila 2014 10yo [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!