#BTC62 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 62nd #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Me @MaltMusings

My theme was Any Port In A Storm, all the drams were matured or finished in Port Casks!

Here are my tasting notes:

Dram 1

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

Nose: a little dunnage funk, red berries, black cherries and dark chocolate. A little minerality, some salinity but no peat! There are some orchard fruit hints and a little ginger spice.

Palate: thick juicy arrival, berry jam, dried fruit and preserved ginger. Very drying. Strawberries left on the tongue as the liquid disappears.

Finish: : lingering dry berry jam.

Scores a solid 3

Dram 2

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

Nose: salted glacier cherries, a little minerality, milk chocolate and some golden syrup.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, immediately drying. There’s hedgerow berries: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants and a lovely black cherry note. Dry salinity between each sip. Tinned fruit syrup and some honey to finish.

Finish: lingering salinity, red berries and fruit syrup.

Scores a 3

Dram 3

Appearance: bronze in the Glencairn, swirls cling as a thin line, take a while to bead up and eventually fall as slow thick oily legs.

Nose: thick dunnage funk, musty, treacle toffee and balsamic vinegar drizzled strawberries. 

Palate: surprisingly thin arrival but mouth coating. Sweet concentrated jam notes, orange marmalade and some honey. Lots of berry and cherry hints with a lingering cinnamon spice.

Finish: berry, cherry and spice notes linger forever.

Scores a solid 4

Dram 4

Appearance: bronze in the Glencairn, swirls cling as a thin line, take forever to bead up and fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: Cherries to start but then a hint of vegetal decay or sulphur. There’s some marzipan notes and a little salted caramel chocolate.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, the salted caramel chocolate and cherry notes from the nose carry through. Blackberries and almond notes follow. Some orange marmalade notes and a peppery spice as the liquid disappears.

Finish: lingering spice, berries and a little citrus zest.

Scores a solid 3

Dram 5

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

Nose: berries and cherries jam, marzipaned Christmas Cake and some treacle toffee. Blood orange and salted nuts.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, a little drying, berries and cherries from the nose with honey, toffee and a little milk chocolate.

Finish: lingering berry notes, dry tannins and a little salinity.

Scores a solid 4

The drams were: 

Dram 1 was Arran Port Cask Finish

Dram 2 was Glen Scotia 2015 10yo Single Cask (4yr Tawny Port) [PST]

Dram 3 was Bushmills 2000 20yo Ruby Port Causeway

Dram 4 was Bunnahabhain 2009 14yo (3yr Ruby Port Finish) Fèis Ìle 2024

Dram 5 was Lindores Abbey 2018 5yo Single Cask #180625 (Ruby Port)

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!