This was our twelfth Whiskey Chaps blind tasting, in which @DKenni (there is a link to follow Kenny on Twitter at the bottom of the page) became our twelfth volunteer to send us three blind whisk(e)y samples to nose and taste, and to see if we could guess anything about each of them, in return we send samples back.
Blind dram #1
Appearance
Just a touch darker than mid gold in colour, quite a thick swirl line and syrupy thick legs. #TheWhiskeyChaps
Nose
Initially this dram is quite foresty for me, evergreen boughs, a little earthy and damp leaf litter, wood varnish, perhaps black cherries slowly coming through now.There’s lovely cream soda and vanilla coming through now, pastry’s too, and it’s becoming a little dusty too.#TheWhiskeyChaps
Palate
Nice mouthfeel, and high ABV, with lots of spice, I’m going ginger root, cardamom, hot cinnamon, black pepper, dark chocolate, then dried apricots, vanilla custard, espresso, cumin too, it’s a hell of a palate #thewhiskeychaps
Finish
Leaning ever so slightly into bitter notes, bitter lemon, high cocoa content dark chocolate, more espresso, and I’d say dates and raisins too. It’s quite long in length for me too. #thewhiskeychaps
Blimey, I’m going with £90, but I feel it could be more tbh, if it’s cheaper it’s a bargain, and yes I’d have a bottle mate #TheWhiskeyChaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 1, 2021
Blind dram #1 is
Well, dram 1 tonight was the @Redbreast_US 10 yo. Limited edition. Interstingly though made in homage to the old style Redbreasts which could be leading you that direction #thewhiskeychaps
— WHISKEnnY (@DKenni) December 1, 2021
#thewhiskeychaps pic.twitter.com/WtfLAZUFS6
— WHISKEnnY (@DKenni) December 1, 2021
My thoughts
As a fan of Irish whiskey i’d seen this bottling a lot on social media, and had wondered what it was like, as iv’e enjoyed other Redbreast bottlings in the past. I have to say that it didn’t let me down, it’s a solid whiskey, loads of flavour, quite a range of them too tbh, and i thought it was older than 10 years old, i guessed 12-15 years old. Yep it’s a banging Single Pot Still whiskey that is sadly no longer available, and it’s one i’d definitely have in my cupboard.
Blind dram #2
Appearance
Chestnut with an orange tinge here, medium thick swirl line that beads up straight away, dropping lovely thick slow legs. #TheWhiskeyChaps
Am I that predictable? 😂
— WHISKEnnY (@DKenni) December 1, 2021
Yes, we’re CS again. Care to zero in on abv? #TheWhiskeyChaps
Nose
Big ABV I suspect, fragrant wood shavings, raw linseed, old leather wraps, wood polish, perhaps a salt and vinegar fish shaped nibbles aroma, cigar leaves, quite bold and yet rounded too. #TheWhiskeyChaps
Palate
Again lovely mouthfeel, quite syrupy, quite spicy again, stewed dark fruits, mince pie filling with a bit more oomph. Black Forest gateau, black cherries, I’m getting to know what you like Kenny, good taste tbh. #TheWhiskeyChaps
My sweet tooth coming through mate? 😂
— WHISKEnnY (@DKenni) December 1, 2021
I have lots of lighter stuff I really enjoy, Kingsbarns for example but these are my ‘experience’ drams! #thewhiskeychaps
Finish
Loads of salinity, a slight copper coin thing now, and i’m thinking it was a sherry cask. #TheWhiskeyChaps
Blind dram #2 is
So #TheWhiskeyChaps , the 3rd dram of the night was the brilliant, intense, Chesterfield suite, coke and Mr Sheen in a blender @jeadiewhisky Cambus Single Grain 24 yo! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/lwVm69ztkf
— WHISKEnnY (@DKenni) December 1, 2021
My thoughts
Iv’e found Grain whisky is a touchy subject to some, and even though it definitely is whisky some just don’t have a thing for it, and to some degree i can see why. Generally they were put into tired casks to mature for blended whisky, the poor cousin of Single Malt whisky, and it generally takes many years for them to really gain any influence from them cask. Older aged Grain whisky can be rather good, and in my opinion this Cambus is firmly in that camp. There’s lots going on here, and i struggled to guess it as it’s not quite like any distillery Single Malts i’d tasted before, perhaps it leans towards Talisker but the salinity element is much stronger here. Yes i really enjoyed this and i’d definitely have a bottle.
Blind dram #3
Appearance
This one is more chestnut in colour, so deep, medium thick swirl line and slow medium thick legs. #TheWhiskeyChaps
A slight rose blush too I think #TheWhiskeyChaps
— WHISKEnnY (@DKenni) December 1, 2021
Nose
There’s more sweetness initially here, lychee, good ABV, dandelion and burdock, slightly floral and perfumed, and rose water or rose Turkish delight chunks. It’s also slightly dusty. #TheWhiskeyChaps
Palate
Again another lovely spicy dram, nice mouthfeel, cherryade sweetness, very bourbon like I agree @whiskeychap, I’d say a wine or Sherry cask is involved again. Prunes, dates, figs, vanilla, black liquorice, really quite bourbonesque. #TheWhiskeyChaps
Finish
Spice is calming down to chest warming from atomic cinnamon, black liquorice, star anise, lots of unsweetened espresso, cask char, cherryade, almost a little meaty, the liquorice torpedo sweets and pontefract cakes. #TheWhiskeyChaps
Lovely stuff that mate 👌 #thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 1, 2021
Blind dram #3 is
Ok, the reveal. This is one of my absolute favourites, bought on a whim from a German Auction. It’s @MakersMark Private Select! And we’re bang in the £90 area again…if you can find this or another version. #TheWhiskeyChaps pic.twitter.com/zzgU5d786F
— WHISKEnnY (@DKenni) December 1, 2021
My thoughts
Wow, that’s a punchy Bourbon, with so many dark fruit notes i thought it could have been a sherry cask dram. It has a lovely mouthfeel, with loads of spices all the way through, definitely one for a cold winters evening, and rather christmasy to be honest. Kenny bought this in an auction, and iv’e no idea about it’s availability now, but i’d have one, a great Bourbon.
Overall tasting thoughts
This was another really enjoyable blind tasting, and the different types of whiskies were definitely a challenge, but great fun too. I honestly believe blind tasting is the best way to get to know whisk(e)y, really makes you think and use the senses more, thanks again to kenny for being our volunteer for December 2021.
Our next blind tasting will be with Peter- @uk_whisky, on the 10th of January 2022, and we’ll be joined by a special guest for that tasting, who’ll be tasting and guessing along with us, definitely going to be a fun couple of hours.
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