Sunday, August 28, 2011

Cleaning out my samples - part 4 of 5

1. An Cnoc 16yo 46%

Knockdhu distillery

An Cnoc is produced at Knochdhu distillery. Inver House has this label so this whisky isn't confused with Knockando, a speyside distillery owned by Diageo

I have to admit I have a soft spot for An Cnoc. They make simple classic whisky without any tempering, somewhat a trademark of other Inver House distilleries as well!. I also had a very nice event there during Spirit of Speyside 2010, a very releaxed and informal tour and tasting with the manager, his daughters and staff of the distillery. One of those days that justifies doing your 100 something distillery visit :-)

Apart from the 12yo, An Cnoc is bottled at 46% and unchillfiltered..something I appreciate.

Nose : classic whisky, lightly spiced and slightly on the sweet side

Palate : A nice mix of maltiness, citrus, sweetness and a tiny bit of vanilla

Finish : medium

Rating 84

Comment : An Cnoc is one of the secret gems of Speyside! or Highland if you prefer to locate it there :-)

2. Glencadam 25yo OB 1983-2008 46%

Vatting facility at Glencadam

Vatting tanks

Glencadam warehouse

Glencadam is (another) underrated overlooked distillery. It's located in Brechin on Scotlands east coast, and a lot of their produce is going to a range of various young supermarket blends. If you haven't tried whisky from their standard range, a 10yo and 15yo you missed something!

Nose : Heavy sherry, leather 

Palate : Sweet sherry, slight burnt sugars, dried - but not that dried - fruits, sligth rubber (not sulphur but latex), licorise, but the classic whisky characteristics do emerge from below the sherry. Some maltiness and vanilla can be detected.

Finish : Medium-long and in the end I get grapefruits off all things!

Comment : A heavily sherried whisky with underlaying layers revealing characterics of a whisky there isn't totally disguised by the very influental sherry cask

Rating 88

Thanks to Lukas and Jørn for the samples




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