The Whiskey Chaps

WHISKEY CHAPS BLIND TASTING #12, 01/12/2021

Posted on December 3, 2021
whisky blind tasting

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

Blind dram #1 is

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

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

Finish

Loads of salinity, a slight copper coin thing now, and i’m thinking it was a sherry cask. #TheWhiskeyChaps

Blind dram #2 is

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

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

Blind dram #3 is

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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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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