This was our fourteenth Whiskey Chaps blind tasting, in which @newdramrising (there is a link to follow Damian on Twitter at the bottom of the page) became our fourteenth 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
Light gold in colour, damp straw like, syrupy thick swirl line and legs. #thewhiskeychaps
Nose
I don’t think I’ve had this before, it’s… different I’m thinking. Lowish abv, dusty, faint tropical aromas, white pepper, cereals, gin like with botanicals, slightly floral? Quite light on the nose. #thewhiskeychaps
Getting some more floral notes now, along with some new-make berry freshness #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) February 10, 2022
Palate
The palate offers more, nice and warming with a nice mouthfeel. Tropical fruits and sweet lemon, guava, like a fizzy drink. Weetabix, apricot crown pastries, cinnamon and ginger slowly arriving, it’s a grower that’s for sure. #TheWhiskeyChaps
Finish
The finish is medium long, a mix of sweetness and bitterness by this point, there’s tropical fruits but now they’re joined by cocoa powder, espresso, black liquorice, char, cigar leaves and cloves. #thewhiskeychaps
Yes #thewhiskeychaps
— Damian (@newdramrising) February 10, 2022
And blind dram #1 is
So your reveal for sample 1 this evening.
— Damian (@newdramrising) February 10, 2022
Dalwhinnie Distillery Only Edition release 48%ABV #thewhiskeychaps pic.twitter.com/oxwSyWmuuk
My thoughts
It’s been a good while since iv’e tried anything from Dalwhinnie, not because i don’t like it, i’m just trying to taste something from everyone else, tough job (he giggles). I hadn’t tasted this one before, i knew i hadn’t, but it is a very nice dram. I’m sure the couple i’d tasted previously weren’t as high in ABV as this bottling, and that definitely has some impact on the experience, i’d happily have a bottle tbh. There was no searching for aromas and flavours, they are readily available, and i’m so pleased i got to taste it.
Blind dram #2
Appearance
This is more of a mid gold colour, medium thick swirl like that beads up straight away, and slow thick legs. #thewhiskeychaps
Sample 2 Appearance: Honey gold, very summery in appearance. A hariline swirl mark and a pleasingly oily corrugated coating around the glass. #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) February 10, 2022
Nose
This is higher ABV for me, and a damp forest walk all day. Evergreen boughs, damp earth, overt toasted tea cakes, a little nutty, oily, and wood varnish #TheWhiskeyChaps
Palate
Nice mouthfeel again, and spicy. Chest warming with darker fruits, more mince pie filling for me, or Xmas pudding with lots of Sherry in it. Figs, dates, black pepper, cumin and cinnamon, cigar leaves, ponefract cakes, brown sugar, molasses #thewhiskeychaps
That’s closer to the money #thewhiskeychaps
— Damian (@newdramrising) February 10, 2022
Finish
Quite long for me, chillis, raisins, blood oranges, more cigar leaves, some dunnage, and yet red berries hang around. #thewhiskeychaps
And blind dram #2 is
The second is an @SMWSUK 77.45 More layers than Shrek. 13 year old 59.6% Ex bourbon hogsheads finished in a virgin oak hogshead. #thewhiskeychaps pic.twitter.com/LySsgTLqEB
— Damian (@newdramrising) February 10, 2022
Distilled 17th April 2003 #thewhiskeychaps
— Damian (@newdramrising) February 10, 2022
My thoughts
Iv’e tasted a few Glen Ord whiskies now, all have been Ex-Bourbon casks, and i have to say that iv’e rather enjoyed them. I will say that the experience can vary though, for me the lower abv bottlings are quite easy going, flavourful but quite light. Cask strength bottlings are a totally different event, with loads of spices, a big palate in general, i hope to try more i the future, and i’d love a bottle of this one.
Blind dram #3
Appearance
Back to light gold again, again nice thick swirl line with thick legs and teardrops. #thewhiskeychaps
Nose
WOW, lots of fruity peat for me, standing close to an outdoor bbq fire, cooked meats and lots of fruit sweetness. Red berries, not overly medicinal, and just got a whiff of cap gun caps? Perhaps a touch of germoline now but no tcp. #thewhiskeychaps
Palate
Man this is good, lots of peat, mixed with a real fruit laden platter. Red berries, tropical fruits, then white pepper, it must be up close to 60% abv, reminding me again of Port Charlotte with the fruit. #thewhiskeychaps
Lovely. Such a pleasing delivery! Butter smooth, those smokey/meaty and chocolate notes continue on the palate, which is satisfying #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) February 10, 2022
Finish
Long finish, so much peat and fruit still for me, I’m going Bruichladdich in one form or another, cask strength too. My mouth is anaesthetised. #TheWhiskeyChaps
Octomore? #TheWhiskeyChaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) February 10, 2022
And blind dram #3 is
So your final sample of the evening was indeed an Octomore. 6.1. 57% 5 years old #thewhiskeychaps pic.twitter.com/qWBBiLzCvX
— Damian (@newdramrising) February 10, 2022
My thoughts
We both felt this was an Islay dram, and for me specifically Bruichladdich, the Port Charlotte’s and Octomore’s i have tasted so far both have high levels of peat and lashings of fruit sweetness too, which i love to be honest. I know these bottles are going up in price, which is a nuisance, but it is what it is it seems, and i would make a budget exception now and then to try and get a bottle from either range, just delicious whiskies in my humble opinion.
Overall tasting thoughts
Well another banger of a tasting, Damian picked three super drams, and iv’e got to say i thoroughly enjoyed all three of them 🥰
Follow @newdramrising Follow @thewhiskeychaps
