Nc’nean Tasting

Nc’nean Organic, put in a recyclable sachet at 46 % abv 

First things first: Probably the funniest and weirdest sample I have ever got. A sachet filled with single malt whisky! See me struggle with it on my Instagram. This is a package of the Nc’nean Organic, made from 100 % Scottish barley, and according to my source this is similar to batch 1 of the 2020 release, so this whisky matured in 65% STR Red Wine casks, 35% Ex-Bourbon casks. 

Upon Sipping: This used to be a benchmark, but I understand there has been more oloroso casks in recent batches. This Nc’nean opens on whiffs of ozone, glue from the arts & crafts classroom at high school, and – most importantly – fruit orchard. Dark purple cherries, overripe strawberry, slight vanilla notes. But then, after some breathing outside the wrapper, we pick up some honeyed notes, mixed with candy pastilles to suck on. Very bright and open, not shy to show the goods. The palate is covered with a surprisingly thin spread, an oily entrée that picks up on some sour notes the longer we keep it on the tongue. The finish brings the suspected tannins, with a dry sendoff on those cherries again. Well-rounded, balanced, but you have to like the wine influence. On the other hand, this is young spirit and it seems to be fruity, so maybe it helps lift each other up. The fruitiness almost screams in Irish dialect to me, almost like this youngster. But where that Irish also had the barley at its core, with this Nc’nean Organic I am missing the core product. The wine casks dictate the look and feel of this expression. 

Nc’nean 2019 Quiet Rebels – Gordon, bottled at 48,5 % abv

Nc’nean 2020 Quiet Rebels – Amy, bottled at 48,5 % abv

First things first: Two expressions in the Quiet Rebels series by Nc’nean. More or less the same maturation time, 4 years old, but different cask makeup. “Gordon” is a composition of STR red wine, ex-Sherry, ex-Rivesaltes producing 8688 bottles, and “Amy” is composed of 63% STR, 19% ex-Maury (French fortified wine), 18% ex-Bourbon producing 10132 bottles. We taste them head-to-head for comparison. The names both refer to Nc’nean staff.

Upon Sipping: Interestingly, for the Gordon there were no bourbon casks used, and this leaves a more dirty footprint on the aroma, a slightly more farmy note compared to Amy. For what remains, these Quiet Rebels do smell more or less the same, with abundant orchard fruits, Mirabelle on wet grass freshly fallen from the branches. Every time I return to the Gordon glass, it becomes slight more deviant, a naughty boy so to say. The bourbon wood makes Amy feel more balanced and vibrant. Let’s taste! The Gordon is surprisingly woody and full with bitter notes. The wood might have been too active here. Nc’nean shows with this expression that it does not want to be like anyone else. The wine influence is way too heavy for my preference, but it does go all in on the flavour profile. Brazen whisky indeed! Amy plays more nice with a traditional Scottish style, but the exotic casks do leave a mark on the whole. Sour fruit on the taste, less bitter all round, but the tannins…

Nc’nean 2019 Huntress – Orchard Cobbler, bottled at 48,5 % abv

Nc’nean 2019 Huntress – Lemon Meadow, bottled at 48,5 % abv

First things first: Two expressions in the Huntress series by Nc’nean. There is a difference here. Both are from 2019 stock, both the Lemon Meadow expression matured one year longer and was actually bottled in March 2025. The former Orchard Cobbler was bottled in March 2024. Cask makeup is the same: 66% STR red wine, 31% ex-Bourbon,3% ex-Sherry (oloroso). Around 6.000 bottles for each batch released. Tasted head-to-head to see the difference between a 4 and a 5 year old. The name Huntress is derived from the goddess after which the distillery is named: “Neacheohain. The Queen of Spirits in ancient Gaelic legend, a goddess of wild animals, the hills the rivers and the moon. A huntress.”

Upon Sipping: We should be able to test our theory here, because the Huntress bottlings use a bigger amount of bourbon casks. The Orchard opens promising indeed, with a more fruity character that takes me to France every time I nose a Nc’nean. Did these wine casks come from France perhaps? We can notice a difference between the former and the latter, in that the Lemon Meadow has that same ozone as the Organic has. The Lemon brings not only sour fruits, but also apricot and white peaches, and some honey. It takes the lead in this head-to-head. Taking a sip from the first, it is already a world of difference with the (not so) Quiet Rebels.

Nc’nean 2018 Aon for Craft Spirits Company, bottled at 60,4 % abv

First things first: Distilled on 18 May 2018 and bottled on 21 April 2025, after receiving a rum finish. Guessing the initial maturation was in a bourbon cask then? Anyway, a 6 years old Nc’nean from cask #18-227 for the Dutch company Craft Spirits in cooperation with three retailers. Bottling series is Aon (= One, so a special series for single casks). 

Upon Sipping: New day, new session. Indeed, we did not drink all these samples in one day. This Nc’nean opens with a yellow brightness that reminds me of banana and sunflower oil, before the distinct rum note enters the stage. Some scents of vanilla and lemon complete the experience, but that is where we stop. The high abv needs to be tamed, but first a sip undiluted. Despite some alcohol hotness, this is quite doable. The finish is overpowered by it, but I do pick up some welcome warm croissant notes, and finally (finally!) we are rid of these dry tannins that will forever colour the early days of Nc’nean’s output. This is so much better, right from the start. The rum is not too overpowering or outstaying its welcome. Good stuff. Now, let’s drop some H20 in it! Well, it brings the rum to the foreground, but vanilla scents are tagging along nicely. Interesting spices add some complexity, along with sunflower oil. The taste has become sweeter, oilier too, but mostly in a sugary way. Here is where you feel the rum cask the best, but it really serves the whisky instead of dominating it. A good wood note on the finish, just bitter enough to make us feel this is indeed a Nc’nean that has some years under the belt. Almost 7, when I check the label again.

Nc’nean 2020, bottled at 59 % abv

First things first: Bottled under the same label as the one we started this session with, so Organic, but the big difference is of course that this is a cask strength expression. Fitting to end our marathon with. The whisky was distilled in June 2020 and bottled exactly 4 years later in 2024. The cask makeup is 43% ex-Am Whiskey, 55% STR RW, 2% Oloroso. This is batch CS / MN21 producing 5021 bottles for the thirsty masses. 

Upon Sipping: The wine casks are now almost reduced to a 50-50 divide with other sorts of casks. After the fresher rum cask from before, this one returns to the by now quintessential red fruits from wine infused Nc’nean. This time, I pick up some delicate wood smoke, some copper coins, Earl Grey tea, leaning to sulphury notes. Wow, taking a sip, this is a classic cask strength beast indeed. Now it all works. The wine casks provide enough backbone to let other elements of this Nc’nean shine. Pumpernickel bread with fat butter on the palate, with some apricot marmalade. Yes, this works like a charm. We add water sparsely, because I think this expression does not need it. It does not wreak havoc, luckily, but actually brings out some nice Asian spices. Did someone throw some Sichuan peppercorns in the cask perhaps? The finish suffers just a little from an overly tannin infused hint, but nothing near what we have seen in previous bottlings. There is actually a red fruitiness lingering there.

Word to the Wise: Well, well, well, what do you know, this is Nc’nean that finally manages to perfectly incorporate the wine casks into an ensemble that is more than the sum of its parts. A fitting end to our marathon. We will return to Speyside classics next week!

Score: 85 points.