28 Whisky loving folk blind tasting 5 drams, this session the drams were picked by Sam and Mike, follow buttons to their Twitter accounts are at the bottom of this summary.
The idea is to blind taste all 5 drams, rate them in order of preference, and reveal the drams after we’ve put them in order, so a truly blind tasting. Use #BlindDrams through Tweetdeck to follow along in future or to check out older tasting notes and sessions.

Blind dram #1
Appearance
This whisky is very light in colour, straw/white wine, it beads up on the swirl line and slowly drops medium legs.
Nose
Initially sweet lemons, sponge cake, a touch of cherry. The ABV is good. There is a light meaty note, some menthol, and some earthiness. There are light grain/cereal notes too, a touch of pine needles?
I JUST SAID PINE NEEDLES TOO! 😉#BlindDrams
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) April 24, 2021
Palate
Quite a nice mouthfeel, decent ABV too, quite spicy with ginger and cinnamon, then sweet lemons like the nose, nutmeg, milky coffee, cranberries, a little drying. I’m going lemon Bakewell tarts too, I like this.
Finish
The finish is still spicy, medium length, dark chocolate with dates, chilli’s, cardamom, liquorice, and hot cinnamon kids sweets. I like it, no idea what it is tbh.
My thoughts
Yes i really enjoyed this dram, i was thinking it could have been Dailuaine, it wasn’t. Going on aromas and flavours i would buy this bottle. I put this dram 3rd out of 5 on the evening.
And the dram is!
Dram 1
— YorkshireWhiskyReviews | Sam (@ReviewsWhisky) April 24, 2021
We started tonights roadtrip in the Highland region and at Deanston.
This one was an independent bottle from Rest & Be Thankful. A 10 year old bottle coming in at 57.1%
Available:https://t.co/zwW6eM4VPl
£63.95#BlindDrams pic.twitter.com/SWEGnGsUKC
Blind Dram #2
Appearance
More of a mid gold in colour, it also beads up on the swirl line and covers all the swirled area, then medium legs.
Nose
More intense than #1, definitely a stronger meaty note, almost Smokey, toasted tea cakes, pontificate cakes, it’s dusty, seared pineapple chunks, and a faint menthol too.
I’ll go with herbaceous too 👍#BlindDrams
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) April 24, 2021
Palate
Again spicy, for the first I get a touch of soap, and it’s gone. I’m getting lager shandy here, the colour is really deceiving too. Toast, a little nutty, hazelnuts, Nutella? Lemonade frozen ice lolly sweetness too.
Finish
Quite long sand very spicy, it’s a full on spice monster now, hot cinnamon sweets, hot ginger, chilli’s, espresso, char, dark chocolate orange, that’s some finish.
My thoughts
A belter of a dram for me this one, some much flavour and aromas, absolutely loved it, and i put this 2nd out of the 5 whiskies we tasted. I’d definitely buy a bottle, cracking stuff imho.
And the dram is!
Dram 2
— YorkshireWhiskyReviews | Sam (@ReviewsWhisky) April 24, 2021
We headed to the ferry port and made the short trip over to Arran.
This time it was one from Robbies and was the 3rd version of the Ambassadors dram. An 11 year Moscatel Cask.
Available:https://t.co/fEU1Mx8D5B
£79.99#BlindDrams pic.twitter.com/DNojzmnyr1
Blind Dram #3
Appearance
This is again a light coloured whisky, has a nice thick swirl line and syrupy thick legs.
Nose
Lighter like #1, icing sugar, sweet lemons, cherries, a light meaty note, some linseed oil, yoghurt coated fruit bars, a little herbaceous with a slight perfume note. Reminds me a little of the kyro rye gin Teeling I think it was.
Palate
Very light, lemons, herbaceous, icing sugar, gin, lemon sherbert, green grapes, white pepper.
My thoughts
I have to say that i did struggle a little with this one to be honest. I found it difficult to gain much from the nose, it is very light. The palate is better, but again very light and quite simple. The finish really sweetens up with time, really changes.
And the dram is!
Dram 3:
— YorkshireWhiskyReviews | Sam (@ReviewsWhisky) April 24, 2021
We took another ferry this time over to Islay. Something different this time and some Bere Barley as we went for the Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2010.
Available:https://t.co/7sCi86qoDO
£69.99#BlindDrams pic.twitter.com/I6FYIiE5F3
Blind dram #4
Appearance
This is a deeper gold, reasonably thick swirl line, medium/thick legs.
Nose
Wow some ABV fizz. Wood shavings, dustiness, slightly over cooked apple pie, slightly burnt toast, coco pops, dates, black treacle and Twiglets.
Walnuts (or pecans) is a good shout 👍#BlindDrams
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) April 24, 2021
Palate
If it’s a rum cask it’s a good one in my humble opinion. I’m getting the good rum spices, with brown sugar, marmite, Nutella, golden syrup, flapjacks, another spirit iv’e not had often, Brandy?
Finish
Quite long, quite spicy, much like the palate initially, then gets even darker and heavier, dandelion and burdock, brown sugar, black treacle, black coffee, and yet a touch of sweetness stick comes through. I’ll add Christmas cake/pudding too, even Black Forest gateau at a push.
My thoughts
It turns out that i’d not tried anything from this distillery prior to this blind tasting, and in all honesty had read and heard mixed reviews of them. So i nose and taste this and instantly love it, it had so much going on, so many flavours i really like, and had them in spades. I put this dram 1st out of the five drams we tasted, and i’d definitely a bottle, and they are now a distillery i’ll actively look into.
And the dram is!
Dram 4:
— YorkshireWhiskyReviews | Sam (@ReviewsWhisky) April 24, 2021
We then moved back on to the mainland but this time the lowland. It was a close call as to where we placed this one too in the order, but overall we couldn’t say no to the Bladnoch 14 year old on paper.
Available:https://t.co/Bx8VyvFVLD
£99#BlindDrams pic.twitter.com/uNSTKBIX5G
Blind dram #5
Appearance
Burnished copper in colour, sooooo good, a nice thick swirl line, with medium legs.
Nose
Nose fizz straight away, smells spicy, nutty, ginger nuts, Jamaican ginger cake in spades. I do get a wood varnish note, cherries, lemon tea, dates, earthiness and slight dunnage. I’m adding mince pie filling, brown sugar, but lighter fruits too, Opal fruits in old money.
Hard to argue there Mick. 👏🥃
— Geoff Gilmore (@GeoffGilmore1) April 24, 2021
Yummy mate 🤤#BlindDrams
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) April 24, 2021
Palate
Chewy stewed dark fruit cake, got to be Sherry, a touch of sulphur, but I can enjoy this one. I’m getting dates (again), figs, sultanas, mince pie filling, black pepper, dandelion and burdock, cola cubes. There’s maple syrup too.
Finish
Quite spicy, all the dark stewed fruits, with ginger, cardamom, anise, black liquorice, espresso, and that tinge of sulphur.
My thoughts
Everything was going so well with this Dram. The depth and range of flavours are lovely, then sulphur reared it’s ugly head. I can tolerate a very faint whiff of sulphur, but this was just too much for me. I put this dram last of the 5 we tasted, and wouldn’t buy a bottle.
And the dram is!
Dram 5
— YorkshireWhiskyReviews | Sam (@ReviewsWhisky) April 24, 2021
Finally we went up the road to a familiar distillery to many of us. A GlenAllachie 15 Year Old bottled by Douglas Laing’s.
Available:https://t.co/IZvSxDqw6E
£110#BlindDrams pic.twitter.com/64YjajRYij
Overall thoughts
It has been a super tasting to be honest, and it was refreshing not to have a peated dram this month. There were 3 i’d definitely buy, but it was well worth trying them all.
Thanks to – @ReviewsWhisky and @whiskyrover.
Road trip banner courtesy of @jwbassman_.
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