Yesterday the first Blind Tasting Competition by the Usquebaugh Society was kicked off. The first sample labeled ‘1’ was tasting by about 30 people throughout the Netherlands and  the results were filled in before 11 PM, then the big reveal was done. Of course, I was as wrong as I could be, apart from the ABV (only 0.1% off there).

Nose:
Thin at first, watery, but with quite some pepper to it. Very sweet with some white oak influence. The sweetness reminds me of some curries, spices, coconut and sugar. Also some green malt and later a bit of vanilla. Very young.

Taste:
Very sharp and young, fierce and peppery. Again, somewhat thin but a little greasy as well. Not much is happening apart from the sweetness and slight hint of vanilla.

Finish:
Sweet, vanilla and maybe some caramel. It fades quickly but does build up some pepper.

My guess was a Bladnoch 10, at 55%. That’s what it reminded me of, but I was as wrong as I could be. The final result:

Glen Grant 16, 05-1995 – 07-2011, 54.9%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld.

So, wrong about the region, the distillery, the cask type, the age. Off to a good start. But nice to have reviewed such a dram. Not my kind of whisky, it tasted like a rather inactive cask with a grainy sweetness and not much wood or anything fruity. Nice to be put on the wrong track so soon!