Dram 1: Bang for your buck • Arran 13 years old
The blind tasting competition for this year is off to a great start! We extend a warm welcome to all participants and hope you enjoyed our first dram in this year's competition.
The Pinot Noir influence may have masked the distillery profile, and the presence of peat may have led our participants to guess BenRiach, which would have been a commendable guess. However, Arran's spirit is notably lighter than that of BenRiach. We embraced the chocolate notes in the whisky, and the underlying fruitiness should have provided a clue about the distillery: Arran. It's a bit unconventional for Arran, as it's a touch more peated than most of their offerings on the market.
It's intriguing to explore what Arran can achieve with this Pinot Noir Peaty whisky. Their second distillery, Lagg, is all about peat whisky, and this Arran in our opinion, this one is a great value for your money – reasonably priced, with a decent age, limited release, and housed in an interesting cask.
Dram 2: How do you enjoy your coffee? • Inchgower 14 years old
With a multitude of whisky enthusiasts taking part in our competition, we've opted to introduce some whiskies that may be less familiar to our cherished fans. Today's featured distillery holds a significant historical legacy, established back in 1871, and it's situated in proximity to Banff and GlenGlassaugh.
Our initial plan was to present Parkmore as dram number two, but regrettably, it wasn't available. Nevertheless, we've chosen this delightful alternative. If you happened to discern notes of coffee, sherry, and chocolate, they should have hinted at its distillery identity: Inchgower.
Kudos to those of you who successfully identified it! To the contestants who didn't, please don't be disheartened—keep your spirits high and bear in mind that your first guess often proves to be the most accurate. Best of luck with tomorrow's whisky!
Dram 3: Controversially on a mission • Ledaig 7 years old Murray mc David
During our conversation with Jurgen Vromans, the proprietor of The Whisky Mercenary, he highlighted a special whisky selection from 2022 that had particularly captured his palate. "I have a Ledaig that is exceptional, although I can't officially label it as Ledaig," he mentioned. This posed no issue, as per our own guidelines: if we possess superior information, that takes precedence as the correct identification.
Typically, Ledaig exhibits peat smoke and verdant notes of grass, herbs, and tea, while Tobermory leans more towards a spirited and grainy character. The utilization of PX casks from Spinola imparts an earthy BBQ flavor profile to this exceptional dram.
Dram 4: A walk through the forest in the autumn • Hazelburn 12 years old Oloroso Cask
Certainly, Campbeltown is well-represented in this year's competition, and Hazelburn is paying homage to Campbelltown. Hazelburn's triple-distilled whisky is renowned for being unpeated, but a discerning palate might detect a subtle hint of peat, as the still pipes take weeks to be thoroughly cleansed and are also used for Longrow and Springbank, both of which produce peated whiskies.
While Hazelburn can be a rarity these days due to its high international demand, when it does appear in your glass, it's a delightful treat. The pairing of Hazelburn with Oloroso sherry casks is akin to a match made in heaven, resulting in unmistakable flavors of sherry and red forest fruits. The slight earthy undertones, leather notes, and a touch of orange zest should have guided you toward the correct identification of Hazelburn.
We were pointed out that we had a small error in our system. Unfortunately the whisky was entered with an incorrect alcohol percentage. We have corrected this and the alcohol was the 49.9% on which the points were based. Our apologies for the inconvenience!
Dram 5: Innovative positivity • Glen Keith 9 years Old Carn Mor
As we mentioned before, our aim is to introduce whiskies that might be less familiar to our devoted fans. This is yet another one of those gems. It had its doors closed in 1999, only to re-emerge in 2013.
The spirit featured in today's blind tasting competition was distilled shortly after this revival, and it may not be on everyone's radar just yet. A significant portion of this whisky finds its way into Pernod Ricard's blends. Interestingly, our German contestants are likely more acquainted with Glen Keith compared to enthusiasts from other European countries. The distillery stands out for its innovative approach to distillation, relying on its own yeast strains. We anticipate that this choice will shake up the competition standings. Although the presence of orange notes, sherry hints, smoke, spices, and a touch of earthiness might have steered you toward Campbeltown, remember that this was already the correct answer for yesterday's dram. However, today's selection for the competition should have pointed you in the direction of Glen Keith.
Dram 6: How bizarre? • Ardbeg BizarreBQ
As Bon Jovi once belted out in "Living on a Prayer": "Whoa, we're halfway there" We've officially crossed the midpoint in this year's competition. As we embark on the second half, some may be hoping for more accurate answers moving forward. Remember, in this competition, anything can happen!
Today, I'm pleased to announce that everyone earned points for correctly guessing the age – well done, indeed! This whisky should have been relatively straightforward for most. With its unmistakable profile of peat smoke, tea, oysters (eel), and licorice, it's undoubtedly Ardbeg. If you dissected the influence of experimental BBQ casks correctly, you were right on the mark.
Dram 7:River deep mountain high in the highlands • Ardnamurchan 8 years old Bottled for the Netherlands
Ardnamurchan, renowned and highly coveted, has become a rarity. It's completely sold out, with only remnants available at premium prices in the secondary market. Nowadays, it's one of those brands that enthusiasts actively pursue. This distillery has garnered a substantial following for good reason.
As for the distillery's character, it remains a work in progress, as they continue to experiment and determine their direction. Personally, what stands out in this whisky are its grassy notes, which could mislead one into thinking it hails from the Lowlands. However, the chalky, creamy elements combined with hints of caramel suggest a youthful Highlander origin.
Dram 8: High tea anyone? • Bunnahabhain 15 years old PX Finish
Certainly, the Duchess is part of this year's competition. Bunnahabhain proudly presents itself as the sole non-peated Islay whisky distillery on the island. However, there are exceptions that challenge this claim. Though Bunnahabhain is famous for its non-peated style, with their Moine expression they certainly prove they are more than capable of crafting beautiful peates whiskies.
The peat presence is undeniable, harmonizing with forest fruits and a fruity sweetness. The hint of lapsang tea might have hinted at the direction, and the honey in the finish unquestionably aligns with Bunnahabhain's distillery profile. With that said, we now have four remaining drams as we approach the end of this year's competition. Best of luck tomorrow!
Dram 9: Cille Chiarain, what’s in a name? • Kilkerran 16 years old
When one ponders Campbeltown, the immediate stars that come to mind are Springbank (including Hazelburn and Longrow) and their nearby counterpart, Glen Scotia. However, there's another noteworthy player in Campbeltown that has quietly built a formidable reputation for itself.
Having ventured into the world of 16-year-old releases and catering to a global demand, it's become as elusive as Springbank, making it a rare find. We've chosen to include it in the competition because we want our contestants to savor it, rather than having it merely occupy shelf space in someone's collection.
This whisky somewhat evokes the spirit of old-school Springbank, and mentioning Ben Wyvis as an alternative would be ideal, considering that Kilkerran utilizes the former Ben Wyvis stills. However, those bottles are, for some mysterious reason, unattainable (said with sarcasm, given their steep price tags). It's a remarkably intricate yet harmonious dram, and its gentle peat presence might lead one to consider an Islay whisky. However, Islay's whiskies tend to be bolder and often overwhelming. For me, it's the oils that give away its Campbeltown heritage, a result of using husks during distillation. Along with a subtle kipper note... it's unmistakably Kilkerran!
We eagerly anticipate what the future holds with their 21-year-old expression.
Dram 10: Taking upon arms • Annandale Man O' Sword Fouders Selection
We aimed to stir things up and challenge the status quo, believing that this particular whisky could truly shake up the competition. After all, yesterday's dram brought a unique type of peat, and today's offering follows suit – a peated Lowlander!
It's precisely for this reason that we've included it in this year's competition. As we progress towards the final, there may still be some hurdles on the rocky road ahead before we reach the finish line. Besides, Annandale not only boasts the world's finest brownies in their coffee corner but also crafts exceptional whiskies. They've come a long way since their inception. Much like in the blind tasting competition, this journey is a learning curve.
Man O' Word remains unpeated, while Man O' Sword is peated, albeit not as intensely as Islay whiskies. It's an excellent illustration that peat isn't an exclusive domain of Islay, with notes of smoked bacon, tobacco, almonds, and cherries. It's still too early to define a distinct distillery character. For most, guessing its origin would be a shot in the dark. However, the green undertones, with hints of grassiness and green leaves in its flavor, nod to the region's distinctive traits. Not many Lowlanders produce peated whisky, so kudos if you correctly identified it. And for those who found themselves slipping in the rankings, remember that it's all part of the game.
Best of luck with tomorrow's dram!
Dram 11: Masterpieces • Caol Ila 15 years old The Dutch Dram Masters
We've now reached the second-to-last dram in this year's competition, a whisky that has taken on a character almost as unique as Rembrandt's "Night Watch." While this dram won't cost you a fortune, it has undergone a transformation that's both exceptional and aesthetically pleasing. In homage to Simon & Garfunkel, we might say, "Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again." Dark whiskies are well-received, especially when peated. The marriage of peat smoke and cherry’s, though not universally loved, often offers the best of both worlds.
While some may find it easy to appreciate, it's important to remember that this competition can be quite challenging for many of our contestants. We aim to provide something that even they can confidently choose as their entry.
What stood out for us in this whisky was its "dirty" character, with notes of diesel, ashes, charred wood, and tobacco. Whether you adore it or not, this is a dram that demands your attention. As you work your way through it, you'll find that liquorice emerges prominently in the finish, a characteristic often associated with Caol Ila, although there were subtle hints of it in the taste as well.
Dram 12: When life gives you lemons • Daftmill 12 years old
For our final selection, we've opted for something unprecedented in our competition's history. These bottles have never graced our event before, primarily because they are typically distributed through ballots due to their immense popularity. Procuring these gems was a formidable challenge, but in the end, it proved to be a rewarding endeavor. We take great pride in offering our participants something truly exceptional, as we hold them dear to our hearts. As we bid farewell to this year's competition, we wanted to go out with a resounding finale, and this dram accomplishes just that.
Daftmill, more of a farm than a distillery, serves as a passion project for its owner. It possesses that distinctive young Rosebank essence, making it a perfect complement to this iconic distillery. Our reference to the farm is reflected in the nose, which exudes farmyard notes, reminiscent of haystacks, maltiness, and the freshness of lemons. A subtle hint of grassiness pays homage to Daftmill.