anCnoc Rascan
46% ABV - Highlands, Scotland
Nose: Heavy grasses, agave, light earthy peat, green peppers, and struck match. Lingering citrus – including lemon, and some unripe green fruits. Almost a metallic note.
Taste: Grasses again – drier now, with light smoke and fruits. There is almost a sour fruit note – it’s either a citrus or something like currant.
Finish: Smoke continues, sweetness increases, then florals and vanilla throughout.
I haven’t tasted many expressions of anCnoc (as of this posting: the 12-Year and a 2005 peated single cask from La Maison du Whisky), so this was quite a blind purchase - especially considering when I picked it up I had not tasted any anCnoc yet! This was purchased in Fall 2016 for the BC Liquor Stores “Spirits Release” - and sadly, it’s not the only bottle that has taken me over two years to open… from that same release! However, I am proud to announce that I have become more disciplined in purchasing; now favouring to buy what I try, and I also now have a much better understanding of my taste preferences. Those bottles purchased more recently are opened much sooner. I count the anCnoc Rascan as an “exploratory purchase.”
Looking at the official tasting notes (posted below)... Wow, I do not get “honey” in this malt – I think that’s where I’m off the charts with my “heavy grasses” and “agave” notes. If this is “supposed to be” honey, then it is fresh, raw, harvested right at the hive, and rush delivered straight to your dram. I tried the anCnoc 12-Year not too soon before opening this bottle, because I thought it would have been odd to only have tasted peated expressions from this distillery. The Rascan is completely different compared to the 12-Year. I’m sure some of the house character is there, but I am just not very acquainted with their flavours. I really dislike the nose on the anCnoc Rascan, but it shines on the development and into the finish. I would like to try an older expression or ex-Sherry matured / finished expression next, but this time by the dram.
Tasting Notes (Official): Nose: An initial honey sweetness followed by green apples and the accents or oranges and lemons so typical of anCnoc. Taste: Sweet and spicy notes of vanilla and honey are carried forward at the first sip. Hints of toffee then push through outlined by subtle spices and a smooth leathery undertone. The finish is floral yet pleasantly smoky.
Details: 11.1 PPM. Non chill-filtered, natural colour.
Tasted 7 July 2019. (Posted 8 July 2019.)
