The Whiskey Chaps

Blind Tasting Consortium Session 10, 24/4/21

Posted on April 25, 2021
btcroadtrip

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 tasting consortium

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?

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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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By Dram It Mick!

Mick Cash

Enjoying being part of the Whisk(e)y community. I’m one half of @thewhiskeychaps. My opinions are mine only.

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