#BTC65 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

 These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 65th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Damian @newdramrising

His theme was Grape Expectations, all the drams had a grape influence!

Here are my tasting notes:

Dram 1

Appearance: bronze in the Glencairn, swirls cling as a thin line, form small beads which hang for ages before falling as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: a little dunnage funk, dark chocolate, berries, cherries and a little marzipan. Mixed fruit jam and liquorice.

Palate: thick, sweet arrival, all the berries and cherries from the nose with some caramel, sour citrus and a little orchard fruit. A little drying but not tannic. There’s some oak and a little vegetal note. With water turns all jammy with a strange astringent note.

Finish: lingering dry burnt sugar, citrus and some honey. 

I’m thinking a 10yo 58% ABV STR matured Tullibardine, scored a 3

Dram 2

Appearance: bronze in the Glencairn, swirls cling as a thin line, form small beads which hang for ages before falling as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: Jammy! A little balsamic drizzled strawberry, some liquorice, fresh sawn wood and a hint of smoke.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, cherries, dark chocolate and a bite of wood spice. There’s brown sugar, honey and a little citrus fizz on the tongue leaving the lips tingling as the liquid disappears.

Finish: lingering wood spice, cherries and liquorice.

I’m thinking a 10yo 55% ABV STR matured Glen Moray, scored a 4

Dram 3

Appearance: bronze in the Glencairn with a pink tinge swirls cling as a thin line, form tiny beads which hang for ages before falling as slow thin oily legs.

Nose: thick dark smoke, hedgerow berries and a little liquorice. Dolly Mixtures. Fresh tarmac, burnt rubber and a little honey.

Palate: thick, sweet arrival: honey, caramel, icing sugar and a little brown sugar. Cherries and berries with a ribbon of gentle smoke. Chilli spice left on the tongue as the liquid disappears. Very drying.

Finish: lingering dry spice, berries and cherries and gentle smoke.

I’m thinking a 8yo 55% ABV Wine Cask Ledaig, scored a 4

Dram 4

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

Nose: a little closed this one, some orange oil, dark chocolate and a little smoke.

Palate: sweet chewy arrival: berries, cherries and honey but immediately drying. Tannic. There’s a lot of wood spice, some pepper and a little cinnamon. The orange from the nose is back and a hint of cask char.

Finish: short and spicy with berries and orange peel.

I’m thinking a 14yo 58% ABV Wine cask Glasgow 1770, scored a 3

Dram 5

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

Nose: earthy peat smoke, a little heather and a little honey. Tropical fruit and berries mingle with a little rum & raisin ice cream.

Palate: juicy arrival, tropical fruit, honey and some berries hints. Chocolate chip shortbread, drying icing sugar and a bite of peppery spice. Very different from the previous 4. Tingly lemon zest fizz left on the lips as the liquid disappears.

Finish: dry and spicy with a little smoke. 

I’m thinking a 8yo 46% ABV STR Highland Park, Scored a 2

The drams were: 

Dram 1 was a Glen Moray 2003 22yo Single Cask (Sauternes) 

 

Dram 2 was a Glen Moray 1995 20yo Single Cask #7280 (Sherry)

 

Dram 3 was a Holyrood 2022 4yo Single Cask #386 (Oloroso) 

 

Dram 4 was a Lindores Abbey 2018 4yo Single Cask #180591 

 

Dram 5 was Ardbeg Eureka!

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!