Origin: Highlands (Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon, ex sherry and ex-Red Wine STR
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Nc’nean Distillery
Average price: € 75.00
Official website: ncnean.com
Vote: 83/100
When you get a new bottle of Scotch in your hands, you take the cork off and put your nose in, then you lift your head and think ‘Scotland’. That’s the feeling this whisky gives you.
Annabel, founder of the Nc’nean distillery, wanted to change the way the world sees Scotch whisky, so she created a whisky that could exist in harmony with nature.
After leaving her job in London in 2013, she spent four years fundraising and building the distillery from scratch on the west coast of Scotland.
In 2017 began distilling organic whisky, resulting in their first bottle in 2020.
The distillery’s mission is to have as little impact on the planet’s environment and biodiversity as possible, using only organic Scottish barley powered only by renewable energy.
They bottle their whisky in a 100% recycled clear glass bottle and divert 99.97% of their waste from landfills.
In 2021 they became the first whisky distillery in the UK to be verified as having zero net carbon emissions, and are B Corp certified for this.
But now let’s talk about this bottling, Batch KS17, which really made me fall in love. Barrels were filled between January and April 2019, bottled between January and March 2023, 100% organic Scotch barley and not chillfiltered. Matured 43% in ex American whiskey casks, 2% oloroso sherry and 55% ex STR red wine casks.
Only 11,178 bottles were produced.
Tasting notes
The nose immediately releases floral notes like heather and balsamic notes like peppermint, then fruit takes over, peach, apricot and pineapple are quite strong and distinguishable. Next, citrus notes such as lemon and then spices such as ginger and black pepper.
On the palate, fruit dominates, peach, apricot, sultanas, honey, candied citrus, hazelnut, cinnamon, mint and black pepper.
The medium intensity finish leaves notes of spices such as ginger and black pepper.
In conclusion, I think it is a really good whisky, great to enjoy with both sweet and savoury food but on its own it is great as with its floral hints you already have everything you would want to find in a dram.