This was our seventh Whiskey Chaps blind tasting, in which @WhiskeyWizard31 (there is a link to follow Tristan on Twitter at the bottom of the page) became our seventh 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. We were also joined by Matt from the Amateur Dram Addicts, and this is my summary of my tasting notes.
Blind sample A
Appearance
Burnished copper/chestnut in colour, it beads up on the swirl line, has quite a thick swirl line too, and syrupy thick legs, it’s so viscous.
Nose
Lots of heavy dark notes, with bananas, strawberries, heavily toasted bread, tea cakes with raisins. Cola cubes as Matt suggested, tobacco leaves, mocha coffee, slight menthol, definitely nuts in there too. Could this be an indie?
Very fruity, loads of banana! Not particularly strong on the ethanol front. Thinking a lower ABV, 40's #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) June 11, 2021
Palate
super syrupy mouthfeel, and sooooo spicy, @gordonsmith63 you might want to know what this is if you haven’t had it mate.
Royal icing, sweet but not icing sugar sweet. cranberries, a little drying, anise, aniseed, coffee grinds, liquorice, pontefract cakes, hot ginger and lots of oak, Virgin oak cask in here somewhere?
That’s a slap across the face alright 🤣 #TheWhiskeyChaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) June 11, 2021
Finish
Fruit cake for me, Irish whiskey loaf kind of stuff, and I’m getting brown sugar, caramel and golden syrup too.
And the sample is
Dram A is this @SpiritYorkshire Single Cask, PX Sherry Cask 680.
— Wrestling With Whisky (@WhiskyWizard31) June 11, 2021
Ive been a huge fan of theirs for some time and I got this, on release, for £70.#TheWhiskeyChaps pic.twitter.com/Z0kIuMOzrz
My thoughts
What a belter of a dram this is, absolutely gorgeous. As the Whiskey Chaps we have done a tasting with Spirit of Yorkshire whiskies, and were suitably impressed, especially the Yorkshire Day 2020 release. This is another cracker from them, and to be honest i would never have guessed it was Spirit of Yorkshire. If you like spicy whisky this is a really good one in my opinion.
Blind sample B
Appearance
This is white wine in colour, very thick swirl line and medium thick legs.
Nose
Red berries and lemon meringue pie, cereals and grains, a little foresty, candy floss too. Reminds me of a Single grain and a Single malt that i have.
Palate
Quite a nice mouthfeel here, green grapes, white pepper, lemon meringue, sweet lemon sugar coated lemon jelly sweets. Definitely getting cereals/grains too.
I am getting the lemon meringue.
— #AmateurDramAddicts (@ADramaddicts) June 11, 2021
Finish
Quite long, citrus sweet, grapefruit and pomelo, icing sugar, a little milky coffee. Jeez I’m torn here mate.
And the sample is
Dram B is this 9 year old #GlenElgin bottling by @BoutiqueyWhisky at 48.1%
— Wrestling With Whisky (@WhiskyWizard31) June 11, 2021
When I started the #AmateurDramAddicts @BoutiqueyDave was a huge support in giving me some direction and I always have a few #TBWC bottles on the shelf.#TheWhiskeyChaps pic.twitter.com/xn1lK0Rud5
My thoughts
I have very limited experience with GlenElgin, iv’e only tried one before. This bottling is very light, in both colour, and flavour, and during the tasting i did consider whether it was a grain whisky as it reminded me of an Invergordon that i have, but them also reminded of a Speyburn Single malt that i have too, a very tricky one to guess.
I did enjoy this sample, and i’m so pleased that Tristan picked it, it was the most intriguing to be honest as it is so light and elegant, makes me think more about the aromas and flavours. I’d happily have a bottle of it, though it’s not for peat or spice bomb lovers.
Blind sample C
Appearance
Dark amber with a pinkish hue this one, beads up on the swirl line, syrupy slow thick legs.
Nose
High ABV, 55% ish, I’m getting red apple skins, cooked meat, strawberries again, quite fruity tbh. Definitely bonfire ash, lots of cooked meat, bbq style, bbq sauce, not medicinal, the strawberries keep coming through too. Something like Ardmore or Glenturret?
I’m loving this nose tbh, it’s ashy, Smokey and sauce thick of you know what I mean, it’s making me salivate.
Palate
This is good, so punchy, sticky, ashy Smokey, bbq sauce, and a hint of medicinal notes on the palate.
BBQ sauce is the perfect description.
— #AmateurDramAddicts (@ADramaddicts) June 11, 2021
Finish
Long side of medium in length, with figs, dates, smokey chocolate, germoline cream, ash and wood varnish.
And the sample is
Dram C is this #CarnMor bottling from #CaolIla.
— Wrestling With Whisky (@WhiskyWizard31) June 11, 2021
It's 8 years old, weighing in at 47.5% and has sat in oloroso sherry butts.#TheWhiskeyChaps pic.twitter.com/iQJ7NHJnlb
My thoughts
I kicked myself for not saying this could be Caol ila as i had been thinking it, the problem is the Oloroso can hide some of the Caol ila characteristics, though i have to say it’s not lacking character. There’s loads of ash, smoke, bbq notes, sticky ribs and medicinal tones, again it’s another i’d gladly have myself.
Overall tasting thoughts
What a super blind tasting, three super drams, great range between them all and i thoroughly enjoyed them, and thanks again to Tristan for his generosity in sending these blind samples to us.
Our next blind tasting will be with Gareth – @jenkaloid, on the 8th of July, that’s bound to be another great evening.
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