Nc'nean 2018

Overall rating
87.78/100
votes
12
Whiskybase ID
WB226701
Category
Single Malt
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Aon
Vintage
07.2018
Bottled
11.2022
Casktype
STR ex-Red-Wine Cask
Casknumber
18-294
Number of bottles
309
Strength
57.1 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Bottled for
Kirsch Import
Market
Germany Germany
Added on
14 feb 2023 3:26 pm by Malzbrenner
UncoloredNon-chillfilteredCask StrengthSingle Cask Whisky

Average value

€ 239.48

22 × in wishlist

12 × member ratings

70 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Nc'nean 2018

5 users have left 6 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 87.78 points.

  1. JoshNRW scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    A precision landing at 88 points. The maturity is lacking for more, but fewer points wouldn't be fair either due to the great quality and limited complexity. Whether someone wants to spend 200 euros for a good 88 point whisky, everyone has to decide for themselves. I would spend almost 100 euros for such a whisky.
    • Nose
      A beautiful nose with light red wine notes, but the distillate in the foreground. That has been very successful. Red fruits, dry barrel wood, malt sweetness and fried bacon.
      A solid 88 points due to the complexity and depth.
    • Taste
      87.5
      Here the red wine barrel takes over slightly in barrique style. There's still red fruit and a luscious sweetness. Everything is still harmonious and doesn't look so young. Solid 87 and 88 points. I give 88 points because the nose and dismount also get 88 points.
    • Finish
      The mouthfeel is very good, but you know that from Nc'nean. The finish of medium length.

  2. Create a free Whiskybase account to read all 6 reviews for this whisky
    Create free account
  3. ThorstenH scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Very round and soft for 57% ABV. The wine barrel can be felt well, but leaves a lot of traces. Sweet red fruits. Some Haribo gum. The alcohol is felt a little too much in the mouth (2nd dram better).
    86-90 – Wow, really good one, need a bottle
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      88 88

  4. 2ndSip scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Only the malt is rated here (5cl sample); I try to ignore the whole thing with astronomical prices etc. as far as possible and first set the RRP issue price of around 90 euros for myself.
    The STR worked well, the focus is clearly on the red wine with its fruit components. The - to me - core DNA of Nc'Nean is downregulated but still there when you focus on it.

    First tip: give the malt enough time to breathe, the fruits only come into their own with sufficient air contact. This makes nosing more fun because there is more to discover - so take your time with the malt and not just 5 or 10 minutes.
    A drop or two of water brings a certain freshness with it, making it even sweeter and flowerier on the nose. The red wine stands out even more.
    And yes, the alcohol sometimes stings the nose, but it is basically well integrated; the more air contact, the less it stings the nose.
    The taste is not as sweet as the nose, but the red fruits are present. The red wine is also clearly visible here.
    Well, you don't need to say much about the exit, it's almost non-existent - but that's to be expected with a four-year-old. The one with 10 years - that would be a grenade.

    So, now to the price discussion and the knowledge of the malt content - I can't help myself:
    For the estimated 90 euros a top whisky with a good cask; if you want to go up to 120 euros, that's ok too.
    With quite !!!MUCH!!! Goodwill, eyes-closed-and-through-principle and enough on the high edge, I'll still do 150/160 euros - and I don't accept this "everything will be more expensive": the RRP was 90 euros.
    Anything over 160 euros makes no sense. There is more speculation here than on the stock exchange - that's kind of sad and "destroys" the passion for a certain distillery.
    [91 - 87 = extremely tasty -> applies to RRP!]
    • Nose
      90 90
      Red fruits, raisins, plums, red grapes, juicy strawberries and forest fruits/wild berries, red (rather sweet) currants.
      Over time, a red wine aroma becomes stronger and stronger (type: dry red wine, Shiraz/Syrah), appears dry. Milk chocolate, light honey sweetness, caramel, marzipan.
      The sweet components (honey, caramel and marzipan) are becoming stronger and more prominent. However, the fresh wine aromas also remain in focus; So he can't deny the STR.
      But what I don't have are the typical Nc'Nean herbs and the light grapes that you know from the core batches (which is probably more likely to come from the bourbon barrels) - only if you concentrate on them can you see them in the background perceive.
      That's when you first notice what STR barrels can do and what red wine aromas can bring with them.
      With quite a delay and even more air contact, the flowery aromas emerge (especially the scent of violets), I also get a slightly sweet orange/blood orange/navelate note.
      With drops of water: it becomes even sweeter and more floral.
      With 'The Nose' glass: here I find a juicy red (roasted) apple, but also an artificial note of glue, fresh red berries, which also come across a bit more sour than in normal Glencairn. He also seems "restless". So the choice of glass/shape can make a real difference here.
      Diluted with lots of water: fresh red fruit, caramel sweetness, hay/straw moments, lots more herbs; Nc'Nean DNA is now more prominent.
    • Taste
      87 87
      dark, fruity aromas, the red wine aroma is back in full swing. It becomes spicier, drier, more tannin-heavy, the tongue seems coated; it slowly transitions into a harsher note. The milk chocolate in the nose is now more of a dark chocolate.
      One could have expected something sweet from the nosing, but the taste is actually not at all.
      2nd Sip: Spicy, red wine aroma, creamy and viscous, the alcohol continues to dance on the tongue, but does not burn, honey sweetness and caramel are spreading. Undefinable spices can be felt in the background, and somehow I also think of the Nc'Nean herb garden...
      But it quickly becomes bitter again, with more tannins at the end; so he can't deny the red wine.
      With drops of water: significantly more sweetness, more blossom honey. The fruits even keep a little longer now than without water - interesting. But here, too, the tart note of dark chocolate sets in again.
    • Finish
      83 83
      Oak tannins from the STR stick to the tongue.
      And here, as in all batches and other barrels, the short finish due to its youth is noticeable: it is gone quite quickly. With a little delay you can feel a hint of hazelnut, that's it.
      It gets drier until it's all gone.

  5. malty_hb did not rate this whisky Member Senior

    The fault here lies with Kirsch Import, which does not do the work to keep the market clean. The main thing is that the goods are sold, what happens afterwards - it doesn't matter. Understandable in this case, when the prices go up (it would be different if goods are sold at a bargain price), after all this promotes brand value. On the other hand, no serious business conduct on the part of the dealers.

  6. madmurf scored this whisky 92 points Member Senior

    (RRP €89.90)
    Outrageous what prices are being asked for by the German dealers.
    NC'NEAN should charge 300 euros for a bottle of the AON series!!!!

  7. 2ndSip scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Wow, Nc'Nean did it! A 4-year-old Single Cask (RRP €89.90) is priced like a 21-year-old Highland Park or a 25-year-old Bunnahabhain....

Tastingtags

Add tasting tags by clicking the flavours you recognized in this whisky.

Whiskybase

Whiskybase is founded in 2007 with the goal to create the biggest resource of whisky information in the world. A community driven website built by and for whisky enthusiasts.  




Whiskybase B.V. 
Zwaanshals 530 
3035 KS Rotterdam 
The Netherlands 

KVK: 60207205
VAT: NL853809112B01

Copyright © 2023


Forgot your password?

Login