Whisky: Blackadder tasting

 I think this is the first of the Regional Wines tastings we've done this year, the first one didn't have a lot of unique things so we skipped it - with the intention of having our own tasting, which we, as usual, failed spectacularly to organise. 

Blackadder are an independent bottler with their USP being they keep some of the soot/wood/crap from the barrel in when they bottle. So each bottle has some floating bits, for that added authenticity. This we learnt makes it very difficult to pour for samples. 

Blair Athol Blackadder 13yo Raw Cask 2009 Hogshead 3049 51.7%

N: sherry, sweet, glaze, acetone, sulphur, tea, apples

P: spicy, liquorice, woody, orange, savoury

F: warm, spicy, long

8/10 Came 3rd with 8.33

I liked this a lot. Interesting whisky.

Inchgower Blackadder 12yo Raw Cask 2009 58%

N: dry, powdery, sherbets, bourbon, phenol, thyme

P: floral, lemonade, peat(ish), mineral, chardonnay, vanilla

F: med-long

8/10 6th with 7.33

Interesting and unusual in its flavours.

Macduff Blackadder 14yo Raw Cask 2007 59.7%

N: sweet, parma violets, hot, phenol

P: dry, vigorous, coconut

F: very dry, med-long, buttery

8/10 7th with 7.04

Starting with three 8s seemed a good indication of the quality of this tasting. 

Linkwood Blackadder 12yo Raw Cask 172 2010 59.2%

N: sweet, sherry, lovely, woody, blue cheese

P: incr alco, big, 

F: prickly, solvents, short

6/10 4th with 8.14 (people are silly)

Promised much on the nose and failed to deliver. Possibly too much alcohol and may have needed mor time in the barrel?

Glen Spey Blackadder 11yo Raw Cask 2010 61.3%

N: light, phenol, sweet, bourbon, fruit, lemon, balsa wood

P: fruit salad, medicinal, lemon

F: medium, bitter, lemon

8.5/10 This came 5th with 7.34

Obviously I liked this far more than others int he tasting, it seemed very balanced to me.

Mystery: Glendronach NS Cask Batch 11 59.6%

N: brown sugar, molasses, sweet, sherry, old leather, varnish, complex, aged?

P: dry, sherry, tannins, cigars

F: long, dry, massive

9/10 Came 1st with 8.98

This was great, as you'd expect from Glendronach, and it's a little embarrasing that the mystery won the tasting, but it didn't for me, so I'm obviously a better person. But seriously, this is great.

Glentauchers Blackadder 10yo 2012 Raw Cask Butt 900472 64.3%

N: sherry, sweet, rich, incr alc, papaya, spiky, fruit

P: amazing, long hot, sherry, spicy

F: long hot dry

9.5-10/10 Came 2nd with 8.86

I ended up pushing for a 10 on this one, and may have a bottle sitting at home now. It's stunning.