#BTC61 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 61st #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Cliff @CliffMann

We started by raising a dram to missing family and pets - we'd lost Gail and Molly since our last tasting.

Cliff's theme was Pardonnez Mon Francais as all of the drams had been matured in French casks!

Here are my tasting notes:

Dram 1

Appearance: pale gold in the Glencairn, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: orchard fruit, golden syrup and a little icing sugar. A little time and air offers poached pears, citrus peel and a little banana.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, slightly drying, berries to the fore now rather than the orchard fruit, there’s a farmyard hint here too - a little sherry influence maybe? There’s some minerality and a lovely bite of peppery spice as the liquid disappears.

Finish: dry icing sugar, citrus and a little poached pear.

I’m thinking an 8yo Glentauchers FF bourbon at 50% ABV, scores a solid 3

Dram 2

Appearance: pale gold in the Glencairn, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: berries and cherries to start, some vanilla, honey and fresh cut grass.

Palate: another thick sweet arrival, mouth coating. There’s orchard fruit, berries and a lingering dryness.

Finish: berries, vanilla and a little spice.

I’m thinking a 5yo RF wine cask at 54% ABV, scores a 3

Dram 3

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

Nose: dunnage funk, dry oak and some soapy floral notes. There’s some underlying green apple, plum skin and some distant cask char.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, golden syrup and honey coat the mouth. There’s more of the soap from the nose, a little citrus zest and some chalk. A little dry spice left as the liquid disappears.

Finish: dry and spicy with lemon zest and honey.

I’m thinking a 10yo RF bourbon at 50% ABV, scores a 2

Dram 4

Appearance: light gold in the Glencairn, swirls leave a thin line which take an age to bead up and eventually fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: sherried dried fruit, burnt rubber, fresh tar and a little smoky bacon. There’s some red berries, plums and a little pear.

Palate: thick spicy arrival with a huge kick of ABV. Berries and cherries, dried fruit, smoky bacon crisps. There’s an unusual spicy orange marmalade note and some peppery spice.

Finish: smoke, orange marmalade and a little smoke.

I’m thinking a 8yo FF sherried Ledaig at 59% ABV, scores a solid 4

Dram 5

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

Nose: smoke, salinity, berries and cherries and a little dried pineapple.

Palate: thick smoky arrival, some berries and cherries, dried fruit and some tropical notes. Medicinal smoke pointing to south Islay?

Finish: dry and fruity with a little spice and smoke.

I’m thinking a 10yo FF sherry Laphroaig at 55% ABV, scores a solid 3

The drams were: 

Dram 1 was Epicurean Calvados [DL]

Dram 2 was Lindores Abbey Thiron 2024

Dram 3 was Dailuaine Cognac [JE]

Dram 4 was Balblair Sauternes [FrDr]

Dram 5 was Port Charlotte PMC:01 2013

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!