A quartet of Nc’Nean matured in active casks


August 27, 2025

A quartet of Nc’Nean matured in active casks

I always find it a bit surprising when a distillery makes a point of using local or organic ingredients, proudly highlighting the regional terroir and going almost fully eco-conscious in its approach—only to then use the most eclectic and conceptually, and geographically, distant casks imaginable. Amarone, anyone? But you'll tell me it's the end result that matters, and I couldn't really argue with that... In any case, we've already enjoyed some excellent Nc’Nean.

Nc'Nean 'Huntress 2025 Lemon Meadow' (48.5%, OB, 5,729 bottles, 2025)

The operation brought together STR casks, American oak and a touch of oloroso. It would appear they've used champagne yeast, which is frightfully efficient, it could probably ferment pebbles! That's what I used myself when distilling mead, for example, honey not being easy to let ferment… Colour: light gold. Nose: lovely, on sponge cake and ale, banana bread, very ripe apples and a nice little lemon meringue tart. Pleasing malted freshness throughout. Mouth: a sweet and sour style, white beer, clearly some slightly green wood, then green walnuts and a twist of grapefruit zest. I find this good and not overly ‘STR’-ish, which is always appreciated. Finish: medium in length, quite fermentary indeed, though I doubt that's down to the champagne yeast. A touch of dark nougat lingers on the aftertaste. Comments: I find this really good, even if I remain partial to malts that stay closer to the distillate (I do repeat myself).
SGP:561 - 82 points.

Nc’Nean 6 yo 2018/2024 (57.1%, Watt Whisky, STR cask, 282 bottles)

More STR again, but in any case it’s always an encouraging sign when respected independents like the Watt chaps take an interest in your distillery. Colour: gold. Nose: more modern, more ‘American craft’ if I may say so, with rye bread, fir wood, eucalyptus, citrus peel, turmeric and cumin. Speculoos biscuits. With water: the candied peels take the lead. Mouth (neat): gentle but very spicy, heavily marked by the cask, full of ginger, lemon peel, cinnamon, ginger again… One is clearly a good distance from the distillate here, but it so happens that I also enjoy this sort of style. If one’s going to go cask-driven, may as well go all in, no? With water: indeed this is very good, although more west-coast USA than west-coast Scotland. Finish: rather long, with touches of elderflower liqueur. Ready for a Hugo spritz! Comments: no doubt a little polarising, but I really do like it.
SGP:561 - 85 points.

Nc’Nean 2020/2025 ‘AON Amarone’ (59.3%, OB, Kirsch Import, cask # 20-676, 486 bottles)

One might reasonably ask what on earth the connection is between the west coast terroir and Valpolicella, no? Colour: partridge eye. Nose: very lovely, clean, close to barley and grist, a low-tide beach, a full bowl of oatcakes… With water: likely refill wood, as balance seems to have been preserved, we’re far from any cherry or strawberry jam. I rather enjoy this fresh bread angle too, alongside damp earth and a whiff of soggy cardboard… Mouth (neat): strong but good. Nothing to do with Amarone, we’re firmly in the realm of taut citrus, pink grapefruit, citron… Very fine sharpness. With water: tiny flecks of menthol and bergamot. Finish: rather long, slightly saline, still close to the barley. Comments: ma dov’è amarone? Perhaps best not to mention it at all, it only led us astray at the start… Excellent.
SGP:551 - 87 points.

Nc’Nean 2017/2025 ‘AON Calvados’ (60.1%, OB, Kirsch Import, cask # 17-520, 343 bottles)

I imagine there’s no more link between the west coast of Scotland and calvados than there is with Amarone, but never mind, we said we’d keep an open mind, didn’t we? Colour: pale gold. Nose: the previous cask’s contents are far more assertive here, with marked notes of banana and coconut—piña colada style. A family-sized bag of Haribo’s finest, though beware, high strength tends to flatten things a bit… With water: the proverbial pacifying lemon meringue pie. They ought to send some to Moscow, Washington and Tel Aviv. Mouth (neat): liquid sweeties, led by pear and lemon. The worst part is, I rather like it, it must be the inner child surfacing. With water: yes, very good. The apple does emerge a little, with elegance and restraint. Finish: same again. Comments: the previous one had a touch more of those positive edges, but this ‘calva’ is also very, very good in my humble view.
SGP:641 - 86 points.

Check the index of all Nc'Nean we've tasted