This was our eleventh Whiskey Chaps blind tasting, in which @scotchjak (there is a link to follow Jack on Twitter at the bottom of the page) became our eleventh 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
Dram 1 Appearance: Honey gold, very shiny! Very oily, thick film coats the glass and big thick legs form #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 26, 2021
Appearance notes from @whiskeychap as i was using a cloured Glencairn glass.
Nose
I’m getting a slight meatiness here, cereals, menthol freshness, vanilla, a little vegetal perhaps. 48ish% ABV? #thewhiskeychaps
Palate
There’s the peat, that’ll explain the meatiness, and a good mix of fruit in there too. Red berries, cranberries and raspberries, then blackcurrants, a touch of grapefruit, smoke, yes tobacco leaves, and a touch of sulphur now. #thewhiskeychaps
Finish
Quite long, fruity, spicy and Smokey, dark fruits mainly, mocha, black liquorice, pontefract cakes, nutty? Perhaps some. #thewhiskeychaps
And blind dram #1 is
My thoughts
This dram is definitely a slow burner and takes time to come out of itself. Once the nose opens up it’s a lovely whisky, and the palate is very nice, it’s definitely a dram i’d have in my whisky cupboard.
I will also say that both @whiskeychap and myself got peat in this whisky, and it was quite noticeable, but Jack said it’s unpeated, very odd.
Blind dram #2
Appearance
Sample 2 appearance: white dessert wine/light apple juice. Again, nice and viscous, good film and medium to thick legs #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 26, 2021
Appearance thoughts from @whiskeychap as i was using a coloured Glencairn glass.
Nose
This is initially sweeter for me, stoned fruit, Rich tea biscuits, there’s a hint of tea too. Vanilla, and books #thewhiskeychaps
Palate
Now the palate has a super flavour in it, I need to think about this, but it’s lovely. I can’t think what it is but I’m sure I’ve not tried this before. Super sweet, perhaps mandarin orange, zesty, fresh, this is so good. #thewhiskeychaps. I will add more notes in the future.
Finish
Quite long and lingering spiciness, cinnamon, cardamom, Seville oranges? Cocoa, chillis, liquorice, and that citrus note is so unique and gorgeous, if it’s a blend it’s a bloody good one. #thewhiskeychaps
And blind dram #2 is
My thoughts
Well, iv’e not tasted a Hazelburn before, and i think it’s gorgeous, easily the winner of these 4 blind drams for me, and i was enjoying the palate so much that i didn’t get many palate tasting notes written down, i was thoroughly enjoying the moment. I may have to purchase one of these eventually, what a dram to try in a blind tasting.
Blind dram #3
Appearance
Dram 3 appearance: Amber, Tizer orange. Nice an oily, lots of medium/thick legs #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 26, 2021
Appearance notes from @whiskeychaps, as i was using a coloured Glencairn glass.
Nose
Fruity and peaty, almost port Charlotte-esque, distant bonfire, actually a little foresty, red berries, raspberry ripple ice cream, very faint germoline. Is this a mainland scotch? #thewhiskeychaps
Palate
Now the palate has a rather unusual flavour too, I like it, chocolate and bbq meat, not had that before tbh, and a touch of sulphur too, very faint but it’s there. It’s quite spicy so I’m thinking possibly Sherry, possibly a port. #thewhiskeychaps
Finish
Medium length, toning down to chest warming spicy now, medium long, the cap him caps is becoming stronger, and we have black coffee and chocolate dipped strawberries, anise, and something I can’t remember the name of. #thewhiskeychaps
I still can’t place it tbh mate, I’m still thinking a specific type of orange for some reason, but I love it. #thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) November 26, 2021
And blind dram #3 is
My thoughts
I have tasted this offering previously and thought it was an ok dram, It’s enjoyable, a decent sipper, but not one i personally would purchase.
Blind dram #4
Appearance
Dram 4 appearance: White dessert wine. Many think legs forming and a good viscosity #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 26, 2021
Appearance notes from @whiskeychap as i used a coloured Glencairn glass.
Nose
Initially very evergreen boughs, pineapple, lemon, a little punchy too. It’s quite a nose full tbh, grains, a little botanical, but overall nice and sweet. #thewhiskeychaps
I’m with you there tbh, definitely pineapple and grains. #thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) November 26, 2021
Palate
Yes sweet lemon and pineapple for me, spicy vanilla coming now, dried apricots too, perhaps some orange zest also now, and decent abv i think. #thewhiskeychaps
Is this definitely a blend @scotchjak? lots of flavour, lots of punch, i wouldn’t have said scotch, i’d have said Cotswolds or Lakes in all honesty. #thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) November 26, 2021
Finish
Long side of medium and lingers, much like the palate, still punchy and spicy, with grapefruit and espresso thrown in, certainly does linger for me. #thewhiskeychaps
Blind dram #4 is
My thoughts
I blind tasted that with the Blind tasting consortium and didn’t rate it, this time it’s a whole different animal, i enjoyed it this time, that’s weird. Great drams Jack, and we were poor this evening #thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) November 26, 2021
Well well well, i had blind tasted this very bottling in another blind tasting and didn’t really rate it, this time it had much more of a positive impression on me, and i still can’t explain why, very odd. I’d be tempted into buying a bottle.
Overall tasting thoughts
It’s been another super blind tasting to be honest, and a great selection of drams. The 2 big surprises for me have been,1, i love Hazelburn 10 year old, unique fruity flavours that i’m sure iv’e not tasted in any other whisky, and 2, that blind tasting a dram a 2nd time can be such a different experience.
Our next blind tasting will be with Kenny- @DKenni, on the 1st of December, that’s going to be another great evening.
Follow @scotchjak Follow @DKenni Follow @thewhiskeychaps
