Nc’Nean Organic batch 1 which is bottled at 46% ABV, it is non chill filtered and has no added colouring. It is just over 3 years old and is matured in a mix of STC (shaved, toasted, charred) wine cask and bourbon, 65% and 35% respectively. I picked this bottle up for £45 which is roughly in line with other new distilleries like Ardnamurchan and Kingsbarns. The Nc’Nean distillery hails from the highland region and has been distilling since 2013. They provide fully organic products and there distillery aims to be as environmentally responsible as possible. With all that in mind, let’s see how the whisky is.
Nose:
A lot of botanical fragrant scents from the get go. Rather floral and almost like walking in a field scattered with flowers. Delicate and light as well. Something comes through that I haven’t really experienced in whisky, Play-Doh (this is a mailable putty that children play with). There is definitely some barley and rolled oats as well as some subdued cranberry. Pleasant enough but it doesn’t come across as whisky, or at least Scotch, almost like a foreign whisky or, dare I say it, gin.
Palate:
Rather fleeting flavours of red berries which is withdrawn and soft. A little bit of a charred element with quite a considerable amount of wood coming through, a little too dominant. A touch of creamy vanilla and then a real young grassy element comes across. Some nuts towards the end.
Finish:
Medium in length which is a surprise as I expected it to be short and withdrawn. More wood. Very wood driven. Possibly some white wine coming through and a little bit of citrus.