These were both tasted on the evening of 1-4-2021.

Nc’Nean Organic Single Malt Batch #4, 46% ABV.

Smooth and elegant, our whisky is easy-going and delicious however you drink it, with flavours of citrus, peach, apricot and spice.  

Our whisky is made from organic Scottish barley whose natural yields and rich soils contribute depth of flavour. Our gentle fermentation and distillation accentuate the delicate, fruity flavours in the spirit. Matured in specially treated red wine and American whiskey barrels to develop our spirit’s signature body and sweetness. 

Our whisky makes a big impression with the smallest footprint. Every bottle is certified organic, made in our 100% renewable energy distillery and bottled in a 100% recycled glass bottle.

Appearance

This whisky is mid gold in colour, a lovely thick swirl line and thick legs.

First Up Is The @Ncnean

Quite Light In Colour #TheWhiskeyChaps pic.twitter.com/AVKsRh4OUp

— RestlessNative (@RockNRolla60) April 1, 2021

Nose

The nose is so inviting, red berries, tropical fruits, a touch of menthol, honey, cereals, weetabix, shreddies, and then wood varnish, cranberries, grapefruit, lemons and cherry Bakewell cakes.

I love the menthol edge! I always equate it to Caraway. Reminds me of spice rye bread!#thewhiskeychaps

— Nc’nean Distillery (@Ncnean) April 1, 2021

Palate

Good mouthfeel here first off, then I didn’t expect that much spice, its a mix of ginger, liquorice, cardamom, anise, dark chocolate, grapefruit/pomelo, dates, figs, cocoa and oak.

SNAP! 👍#thewhiskeychaps

— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) April 1, 2021

I’m sitting with it here and slowly it’s becoming sweeter for me, becoming more like the nose, plus toasted bread, and hazelnuts.#thewhiskeychaps

— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) April 1, 2021

Finish

Long, warming, dark chocolate Orange, sweet sugar coated lemon jelly sweets, then black coffee, espresso, nice and oaky too. I’m adding pencil shavings too, quite evident in the drying glass.

Notes

This whisky is presented in it’s natural colour and non chill filtered.

My thoughts

I have to say that this Nc’nean #4 is a super drop, I’d very happily buy a bottle, and I hope they continue to craft great whisky. Keep an eye out for further releases from Nc’nean, Single cask bottlings may be comimg at some point.

Thanks to

Matt Hastings, brand ambassador for Nc’neans for joining us and answering questions for us.

Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire Cask Strength Batch #1, 57.5%.

Appearance

This whisky is a darker gold in colour, it beads up a little on the swirl line and drops slow medium legs.

Aeons – N – Been open an hour now, christ there's a lot going on. Lemon and golden syrup, oatcakes almost mashpotato, wood / beach bonfire smoke, feint hint of menthol and a heavily smoked cheese, the ones that come like a sausage#thewhiskeychaps

— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) April 1, 2021

Nose

That’s my nose hairs gone, wow. Real meaty, and also very fruity. Bonfire ash, red apples, loads of juicy berries, black cherries, my eyes are watering , slight hint of germoline, bbq bacon, and still loads of fruit behind it.

#thewhiskeychaps Aeons, nose :- immediate caramel toffee and light fruit notes . Medium body sherry , salt , red apples , cream butter soft iodine . Subtle sweet smoke and peat . White pepper

— gordon smith (@gordonsmith63) April 1, 2021

Palate

Wow again, if I had a hairy tongue it would now be as bald as my head, that’s some flavour. Loads of fruits, Opal fruits, starburst, I’m going with seaweed, not as much bonfire ash as the nose but it is there, lovely and warming and salt. Salted caramel with plum and or damson jam as mentioned by @gordonsmith63.

#thewhiskeychaps Aeons palate :- salted caramel , sweet cured barbecue meat .plum jam cranberry juice . Slight oily mouthfeel , modest peat and smoke . Quite like this which is something for me .

— gordon smith (@gordonsmith63) April 1, 2021

Finish

Long side of warming, quite long, gently spicy, oak, dark chocolate, tropical/stoned/red fruits, black pepper, dark chocolate Orange again, ash, and an oily taste, perhaps linseed oil, like boss white pipe jointing compound )for the plumbers).

#thewhiskeychaps Aeons Finish :- peat snd smoke more prominent ashy . Lemon spice almost minty . Warming snd long . Lovely dram and at £49 wow bargain .

— gordon smith (@gordonsmith63) April 1, 2021

My thoughts

Well what a belter of a whisky, and cask strength for £49! There’s loads of fruit here, though it is quite ashy, the fruity is all over it from start to finish too, very nice, and a bargain for the price in my humble opinion. i’d definitely buy a bottle.

Overall thoughts

Both are superb whiskies in my opinion, the 5 of us all agreed to be honest, both are very reasonably priced for what’s in the bottles, and we are all looking forward to future bottlings from both.

Thanks to

Matt Hastings, Gareth, Sean and Gordon – Follow buttons below for Twitter where available.