Whisky Advocate – Whisky Reviews: Nc’nean Begins To Deliver on Its Promise ______________________________
Whiskey Network – Annabel Thomas, Whisky Her Way
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Inside Hook – Annabel Thomas Wants to Spread the Word of Modern Scotch
Nc’nean is an independent, organic whisky distillery that exists to create experimental spirits and pioneer sustainable production
Annabel Thomas started Nc’nean to change the way the world thinks about whisky from Scotland. Her mission was to create a whisky which could exist in harmony with this planet we call home. After leaving her job in London in 2013, she spent four years raising funds and building the distillery from the ground up on the West Coast of Scotland.
In 2017, Nc’nean started distilling their very own organic whisky, and in 2020 their first bottle was born. An organic Single Malt Scotch whisky making a big impression with the smallest footprint.
Sustainability runs in their veins. Nc’nean believes it is their responsibility to constantly improve their impact on this earth in terms of carbon footprint, pollution, and biodiversity.
B Corp certified, Nc’nean use only organic Scottish barley in their distillery powered only by renewable energy. Nc’nean bottles their whisky in a 100% recycled clear glass bottle (a first in Scotch whisky, Nc’nean thinks), and Nc’nean diverts 99.97% of their waste from landfill. As of 2021, Nc’nean became the first whisky distillery in the UK to be verified as net zero carbon emissions for scopes 1 and 2.
The inspiration for Nc’nean’s name, Neachneohain, was an ancient Gaelic goddess. She was known as the Queen of Spirits and a fierce protector of nature. Strong and independent, she was never afraid to walk her own path. Nc’nean tries to follow her ethos in everything they do.
Nc’nean Organic Single Malt
Smooth and elegant, Nc’nean Organic Single Malt is easy-going and delicious however you drink it, with flavors of citrus, peach, apricot and spice.
Made from organic Scottish barley whose natural yields and rich soils contribute depth of flavor, the gentle fermentation and distillation accentuate the delicate, fruity flavors in the spirit.
Matured in specially treated red wine and American whiskey barrels, alongside a small amount of Sherry casks, to develop Nc’nean’s signature body and sweetness.
Nc’nean Organic Single Malt makes a big impression with the smallest footprint. Every bottle is certified organic, made in a verified net zero distillery (scopes 1 and 2), and bottled in a 100% recycled glass bottle.
46% abv / 700ml.
Non-chill filtered. No color added.
2023 Drinks Internatonal – World’s Most Admired Single Malts
2022 & 2023 IWSC – 95 pts.
2022 & 2023 San Francisco World Spriits Compeition – Double Gold
2021 & 2022 Drinks Business Spring Tasting – Gold
2021 Great Taste Award
Nc’nean Cask Strength
This spirit is the cask strength expression of our signature recipe, our organic Single
Malt in its most natural form. Our whisky is made from organic Scottish barley
whose natural yields and rich soils contribute depth of flavor. Our gentle
fermentation and distillation accentuate the delicate, fruity flavors in the spirit.
Matured in specially treated red wine and American whiskey barrels alongside a
small amount of Sherry casks to develop our trademark body and sweetness.
Details:
700 ml bottle
59% abv
Cask Mix: 55% STR Red Wine, 43% ex-American Whiskey, 2% Oloroso Sherry
Yeasts: Anchor and Fermentis
Certified Organic, Non-chill filtered, No Color Added
Vegan friendly, Gluten Free B-Corp Certified
Fresh and complex, our cask strength whisky still heroes our smooth and elegant
taste profile of our unpeated organic Single Malt, whilst packing just a little more
punch. We find we can taste spiced rye bread, juicy peaches and tangy lemons.
Nc’nean Quiet Rebels
We’re thrilled to announce the fifth release in the Quiet Rebels series, which is all about celebrating the people who make Nc’nean what it is. This year, it’s one of
our distillers, Simon, at the helm. Simon is a beer fanatic, so for his release we’ve partnered with Scottish beer heroes Innis & Gunn to create a buttery, chocolatey stout-cask finished whisky with a hint of baking spices.
The whisky in this bottle was initially aged in shaved, toasted and re-charred red wine casks before being finished in stout casks from our friends at Innis & Gunn.
And you’ve guessed it, those Innis & Gunn stout barrels also originally held Nc’nean! A delicious full circle.
- 700 ml bottle
- 48.5% abv.
- Cask Mix: STR red wine, finished in Innis & Gunn Stout cask
- Yeasts: Anchor and Fermentis
- 6,894 bottles worldwide, 630 for the US
- Certified Organic, non-chill filtered, no color added
- Vegan friendly, Gluten-Free, B Corp Certified
Tasting notes: Chocolate brioche, coffee fudge cake, cherry jam.
The fourth release in our Quiet Rebels series, which is all about celebrating the people who make Nc’nean what it is. This year, it’s our Head of Sustainability, Amy, who has picked her favorite combination of casks to curate a fruity and jammy whisky with a hint of toasted spices.
Organic principles are integral to Amy’s philosophy, so her release includes whisky finished in ex-Maury casks from a small organic vineyard in France who produce a fortified wine that is made in a similar way to Port, alongside STR red wine and ex-Bourbon barrels.
- 700 ml bottle
- 48.5% abv.
- Cask Mix: 63% STR red wine, 19% ex-Maury, 18% ex-Bourbon
- Yeasts: Anchor and Fermentis
- 10,132 bottles worldwide, 630 for the US
- Certified Organic, non-chill filtered, no color added
- Vegan friendly, Gluten-Free, B Corp Certified
Tasting notes: Lemon custard, damson jam, brown butter muffins.
The Autumnal excitement is rising as we prepare for our third Quiet Rebels release.
A series of whiskies born out of our team spirit, out of our growing team of intrepid adventurers who make Nc’nean what it is. This time, it’s our distillery manager
Gordon waved goodbye to one of Scotland’s whisky giants back in 2017, and made his way even further up the West Coast to Morvern to lead our whisky production.
Since then Gordon has been passing on his years of experience to our growing team of distillers, helping shape our team and our spirit as we know it today.
Gordon believes that a great whisky should leave your mouth looking for more, and this delicious combination of STR red wine, ex-Sherry, and ex-Rivesaltes casks certainly does just that. It’s velvety, rich, and creamy.
700 ml bottle
48.5% abv
8,688 bottles worldwide, 630 for the US
Cask mix: 74% STR red wine, 19% ex-Sherry, 7% ex-Rivesaltes
Certified organic, non-chill filtered, no color added
Tasting Notes: Crème Brûlée, Spiced Plum Jam, Candied Orange Peel
2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – Gold, 91 points
Nc’nean Huntress
The fourth release in our experimental Huntress series, inspired by the Gaelic 9oddess Neachneohain, our namesake and guiding star who was known as a huntress and for walking her own path. This series is all about that ethos, about discovery, innovation and our ongoing pursuit of unique flavors in whisky making. This release, Lemon Meadow, heroes our passion for fermentation experiments. The buttery, citrusy, biscuity notes come from our use of a yeast derived from French sparkling wine production. When matured in our house style casks, the result is a creamy, delicious, and slightly floral whisky.
Details:
700 ml bottle
ABV 48.5%, Non chill-filtered, no color added
Cask Mix: 56% STR Red wine, 42% ex-Bourbon, and 2% Oloroso Sherry casks. Distilled 2017-2019.
Total production: 5,640 bottles globally; 630 for the US
Yeast: Anchor, Fermentis, and a yeast derived from Champagne prodution.
Certified Organic, Vegan friendly, gluten-free, and B-Corp Certified
Tasting notes: Lemon sorbet, fresh chamomile, butter shortbread
Our first seasonal release of 2024!
The Huntress series is inspired by the Gaelic goddess Neachneohain, our namesake and guiding star who was known as a huntress and for walking her own path. This series is all about that ethos, about discovery, innovation and our ongoing pursuit of unique flavors in whisky making.
We are spirit nuts. Maturation is critical, but our passion is really for the spirit which comes straight off the still.
This spirit is unique, in that it only gets produced once a year when we crossover from one distillation recipe to another. It brings incredibly jammy flavors, reminiscent of one of our favorite fruit puddings.
700 ml bottle
48.5% abv
6, 100 bottles Woldwide, 630 for the US
Cask mix: 66% STR ex-red wine, 31% ex-American whiskey, 3% Oloroso Sherry
Certified organic, non-chill filtered, no added color.
This delicious limited release, Orchard Cobbler, is warming and homely. Flavors of Cherry Bakewell, apricot marmalade, and vanilla custard; with a side of peppermint tea.
Whisketfellow – Bottle (Buy It!) Rating
Nc’nean AON ex-Amarone Single Cask 20-674
Aon means one in Gaelic and represents our collection of Single Cask bottlings. Each cask has been handpicked because it is delicious, unique, and unrepeatable.
This is the first ever ex-Amarone Single Cask released in the US. Bottled exclusively for ImpEx Beverages, the Amarone cask has added chocolatey, nutty, and fragrant flavors to Nc’nean’s signature elegant and fruity spirit.
Details:
- 700ml bottle
- 57.1% abv (cask strength)
- 491 bottles
- Cask: Originally two first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, married and finished in a single ex-Amarone cask.
- Age: 5 years
- Yeasts: Anchor and Fermentis
- Certified organic, non-chill filtered, no color added
- Vegan friendly, Gluten-free, and B Corp Certified
Honey roasted cashews, milk chocolate, cinnamon swirls
Nc’nean AON STR Single Cask 18-405
Aon means one in Gaelic and represents our collection of Single Cask bottlings. Each cask has been handpicked because it is delicious, unique, and unrepeatable.
This outstanding creamy shaved, toasted, and re-charred (STR) red wine cask has been bottled exclusively for ImpEx Beverages. A forward thinking premium and rare Spirits Importer specializing in the most delicious beverages the world has to offer.
Details:
- 700ml bottle
- 59% abv (cask strength)
- 300 bottles
- Cask: STR Red Wine
- Yeasts: Anchor and Fermentis
- Certified organic, non-chill filtered, no color added
- Vegan friendly, Gluten-free, and B Corp Certified
This Cask Strength Single Cask whisky has flavors of fig jam, candied pineapple, sweet lemons, and a dollop of whipping cream.
Nc’nean AON ex-Bourbon Single Cask 18-642
To celebrate our official launch into the US, we are excited to bring you Aon 18-642. A deliciously creamy ex-Bourbon cask filled in 2018 during our second year of distilling, and bottled at cask strength.
Aon means one in Gaelic and represents our collection of Single Cask bottlings. Each cask has been handpicked because it is delicious, unique, and unrepeatable.
This particular cask brings flavors reminiscent of a classic afternoon tea. We find we can taste clotted cream, apricot jam, and candied lemons alongside freshly baked cinnamon rolls. We can’t wait for you to try it.
- 700ml bottle
- 60.4% abv (cask strength)
- 244 bottles
- Cask: first fill ex-Bourbon
- Certified organic, non-chill filtered, no color added
Tasting notes: Clotted cream, apricot jam, candied lemons