January 23, 2015

Two official AnCnoc

There’s a new AnCnoc (Knockdhu) 18 years old, let’s try it. As a sparring partner, we’ll have one of the NAS peaters that I hadn’t tried yet.

AnCnoc 18 yo (46%, OB, 2014)

A combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry cask, the latter also being ex-European oak. Colour: deep gold. Nose: starts with quite some butterscotch, honey-glazed pastries and toffee. Goes on with more marmalade and a touch of clove, coffee beans (torrefaction), a dash of nutmeg powder and a little cocoa powder. I find rather subtle and elegant, despite these rather heavy notes of butterscotch. But who doesn’t love butterscotch? Mouth: starts rather malty and chocolaty, before more notes of marmalade break through. A touch of ginger and nutmeg from the oak, some sappy honey, hints of walnut skin, as well as not-too-sweet raisins. Solid body, the strength is perfect. Finish: rather long, a tad greener this time, with notes of leather and a touch of mustard. From the European oak? Greenish malt in the aftertaste. Comments: a very pleasant dram that stayed rather close to plain malt throughout the years. I also like the spiciness that may come from European oak. Really reminds me of the 16, with more spices and punch. SGP:451 - 85 points.

AnCnoc 'Cutter' (46%, OB, 2014)

After Rutter (11ppm, WF 84), Flaughter (14.8ppm, WF 87) and Tushkar (15ppm, WF 86), this Cutter offers 20.5ppm peat, which already means ‘very peaty’. Colour: pale white wine. Nose: yeah, this is very smoky and ashy. Putting your head into a coal stove (that’s not working, eh), smelling cigar ashes, then rather linseed and graphite oils, some damp chalk, soot, a little metal polish… There’s also a wee medicinal side (antiseptic) and only minor fruity notes, such as green plums, perhaps. Mouth: it’s not really multidimensional but it’s got a lot of peat again – reminds me Bunnahabhain Moine – an obvious ashy side, notes of cider apples, lime, a touch of salt that may be triggered by the smoke, all that with a rather oily texture. It’s quite dry globally. Finish: quite long, with interesting yeasty touches, and just like in the 18, notes of fresh walnuts. The aftertaste is unexpectedly coastal, very fresh. Some lemon as well. Comments: certainly an excellent peater, firm and clean, a tad more coastal and medicinal than other peaty offerings from Scotland’s mainland. I really like it a lot. SGP:346 - 86 points.

Check the index of all AnCnoc I've tasted so far