Whiskybase

An Cnoc 18-year-old

Overall rating
85.48/100
votes
376
Whiskybase ID
WB63017
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottled
2014
Stated Age
18 years old
Casktype
Bourbon & Sherry Casks
Number of bottles
6000
Strength
46.0 % Vol.
Size
700 ml 750 ml
Bottle code
L14 297 R14/5436
Barcode
5010509880039
Added on
03 jan 2015 9:59 pm by Meulie
UncoloredNon-chillfiltered
An Cnoc 18-year-old
Photo by Whiskybase Shop
An Cnoc 18-year-old
Photo by MK-73
An Cnoc 18-year-old
Photo by KirschImport
An Cnoc 18-year-old
Photo by KirschImport
An Cnoc 18-year-old
Photo by KirschImport
An Cnoc 18-year-old
Photo by KirschImport

Average value

€ 98.05

Found 31 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 79.50
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Whisky Reviews for An Cnoc 18-year-old

79 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 85.48 points

  1. rich_93 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    Takes a very long time to open up. The tasting notes below are based on the bottle being open for over a month, half empty. Before that point, the whisky was very cask-heavy, and took about 30 mins in the glass to open, even then it was too woody and spicy. Oxidises pretty rapidly beyond the half-way point Therefore, you’ll find that this dram has a narrow goldilocks zone where it’s just perfect and behaves like an old cognac. I think it is this capriciousness that kept me returning it - a puzzle in a bottle!
    • Nose
      Nose: A wonderful candied nose of red apple, cognac and cherry compote. Dried pears. Herbal honey and a tinge of sweet mint. A complex spice note, to me mainly clove and cinnamon.
    • Taste
      Palate: Lots of honey, very candied and fruity - the brandy is here again and we like brandy! A bit of walnut and dark chocolate. Clove and cinnamon again. Sometimes, a quite intense medicinal herbal note pops up, spearmint as well. Brandy notes and dried fruits show themselves in the long and spicy finish.

      Both the nose and the palate are real shapeshifters, switching between highlighting different aspects of the whisky.

  2. erwinnlim scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    As far as 18 year old single malts go, this is presented well at 46% and NCF, it's very good value for money too so a definite must try. Value (£65) : 6/10
    • Nose
      Toffee, light brown sugar, orange and lime peels. A slight nip of alcohol along with loads of Spanish oak spice influence. A gentle touch of cinnamon, cloves, ginger and white pepper. Some dried plums and sour red cherries. Crisp green apple. Fragrant citrus oils. Walnuts and some dark chocolate. Earl grey tea. Very light peat smoke as well.
    • Taste
      Silky mouthfeel. Some honey sweetness and vanilla with a distinct waxiness. More green apple. Develops into darker sherried notes as you search, some red berry and juicy plums. Christmas cake. Marzipan and wood chips. More cloves and drying oak tannins. Ginger spice. Candied orange peels and bittersweet dark chocolate or cocoa notes as well. As you take more sips of this dram the spicy character of the European oak mellows slightly and more caramel sweetness shines through.
    • Finish
      A medium-long finish. Again drying and spice felt around the back of the tongue. After some time to pepper spice turns into more of those dried fruits. Chocolate orange. More leather and some peppermint.

  3. Rosebank88 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
      Wonderfully complex. Flowery-fruity tones wrestle with malt and hard toffee for the upper hand. This is followed by a trace of wax, forest honey, pickled fruits, dark bananas, beautiful sherry tones and candied citrus fruits.
      With water: fresher and malty, lots of honey (especially heather honey and forest honey), delicate flowery tones, seasoned walnuts and beautiful European oak. Really very nicely balanced
    • Taste
      88 88
      Soft sherry tones, spicy European oak, nuts, tart herbs, floral accents, beeswax, firm citrus tones and a hint of smoke.
      With water: more floral and fresher. Clear oak and caramel malt.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Long, gentle sherry accompanied by flowery tones.

  4. Astrid scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Smooth and almost old school - a nice change from the modern style. For the full review, go here: https://keinehalbendrinks.de/2022/03/19/18-jaehrige-standards-aus-der-zweiter-reihe/
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      86 86

  5. Erik1908 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    AnCnoc; a not that well known distillery. I tasted the 12y as well as the 24y so far. The 12y was not bad but not memorable. The 24y was excellent. Let's see if this 18y old fits in the great list of 18Y OB's from distilleries around Scotland.
    • Nose
      88 88
      The nose gives an excellent start. Elegant; that's the word I was looking for. An overripe fruit basket on a plate of mild sherry and bourbon notes. Hints of raisins, vanilla and milk chocolate.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Wow, what a great continuation of the nose! Not extremely full body, but still very ok on 46% abv. The sweet fruitiness continues, but it is now accompanied by hits of honey and mild pepper spices. Nice oaky notes. All again well balanced.
    • Finish
      87 87
      Medium long finish. Oaky flavors are slightly dominant. Dry in the very end.

      Conclusion: The AnCnoc 18y stands its ground in the lineup of great 18y old expressions such as Ledaig, Springbank and inchmurrin.

  6. MrDvorak scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    The scent is an old leather jacket with milk chocolate and cinnamon. The sweet taste is dominated by cinnamon muffin with marzipan. The finish is medium-long, tart, with chocolate and pastry spices.

    Fruit jam, tannery, very good work with two casks, pleasantly sweet, slightly tart, very flavorful whisky.

    RATING: 86pts - | 83 - 86 (B) → Good | - Not a “must”, but a nice-to-have.

  7. Malzbrenner scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    The An Cnoc 18 is still available at an attractive price in 2020, with its key data it seems to be an exciting whisky. In the glass it also fulfills the expectations placed in it in my opinion, which makes it a potential purchase for me.
    • Nose
      88 88
      At first, a little alcohol is noticeable on the nose, but at the same time ripe fruits and a slightly sour note follow. Pleasant cedar wood, buttery vanilla, ripe strawberries, peach, banana, orange ice cream pour out of the glass.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Full of fruit on the palate with an astonishingly lively acidity, warm notes of sherry, some mint with an invigorating effect. Nuts, spices and chocolate can be found as well as hints of raisins and dates. The whisky has a complex effect with an exciting field of aromas.
    • Finish
      87 87
      In the medium-long finish, the An Cnoc offers fresh mint paired with chocolate aromas and a selection of dark fruits. Slightly astringent towards the end, before vanilla finally closes the door.

  8. SwiftyMcVeigh scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Sherry embossed 18 year old with good value for money. The whisky is on the dry-dry taste scale, which suggests Oloroso Sherry barrels.
    • Nose
      88 88
      Red berries (raspberry, currant, strawberry), raisins, oak flavor, tannins, honey sweetness in the background. Almond oil, dried fruits; Vanilla and some citrus. Cocoa. malt
    • Taste
      87 87
      Oily, first red berries, tart, tannins, then light sweetness, almonds. Malt, herbs and vanilla, dried fruit
    • Finish
      88 88
      Citrus and grapefruit, cocoa and dark chocolate, oak seasoning, becoming dry

  9. checkpointuk scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    https://kaypingers-whiskyblog.de/frontend/fullarticle.php?id=397

    Colour:
    Full gold / slightly reddish
    Nose:
    Sweet fruits, fruit gums, some glue, honey, cotton candy, vanilla flakes and a little chamois, as well as mocha. The nose is slightly acidic.
    Taste:
    Light and spicy on the tongue. Fruit sweetness combined with salt, coarse pepper, a lot of "good" wood, which is paired with notes of dark chocolate, mocha and nuts. The palette is covered with a green and rather unsuitable mint freshness, which we wouldn't have to have here.
    Finish:
    Medium length - minty-fresh and spicy. Unfortunately, the darker notes no longer dominate here - fresh and slightly woody
    86 points
    N: 86P / G: 86P / F: 85P

  10. peatbogger scored this whisky 88 points Specialist

    This was a sample from karloff.
    I really like the gentle nature of the 12YO, which I've earlier refered to as my "Sunday breakfast whisky".
    This is a lot darker, so I'm expecting a lot more sherry influence and something quite different from the gentle 12YO.
    At the current price, would I buy one? If I only could find it I would buy several.
    • Nose
      90 90
      Oh yes, this is heavy on sherry, very nice and clean sherry.
      Plums, chocolate, walnuts, strawberries. Norwegian strawberries, the ones that are grown in fields and are maroon red and juicy all the way through, not the pale Belgian greenhouse type that are hard and white in the middle.
      Soft quality sherry oak.
      Love the nose of this one. I only got a sample and I find myself not wanting to finish it, just keep nosing.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Texture on arrival initially feels a little thin, but it quickly catches up as there's a rapid arrival of spice.
      Dominated by sherry notes, dark chocolate, black coffee and licorice.
      Quite a bit of wood spice giving volume and some bite to the body.
      Lovely stuff. If the 12YO is the Sunday breakfast whisky I would like to make this my Sunday night cap.
    • Finish
      85 85
      This stays a while.
      Maybe a tiny bit too dry.
      I find it actually has a pinch of saltyness, which does no harm, just makes it more interesting.

  11. Horror_Vacui scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Nose:
    A very nice and round nose with strawberries, red apples, grated orange peel, hazelnut dark chocolate, some caramel, honey. Cherries.

    Mouth:
    Fruit compote, cherries and chocolate again - Black Forest cake! Fresh grated nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. Orange marmalade and also some tobacco. Dark forest honey. Everything accompanied by a nice mouthfeel, not too watery, the alcohol is well integrated and the alcohol strength is very well chosen.

    Finish:
    Here he loses something, only short to medium. Very balanced between sweetness and a hint of bitterness, like something too cold coffee.

    For the invoked price a great malt. Not overwhelming, but not boring, complex enough to spend time with him. But the finish should be a bit longer.

  12. whiskyfacile scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    for full review go to https://whiskyfacile.com/2017/03/16/ancnoc-18-yo-2016-ob-46/
    • Nose
      N: naso molto espressivo e pieno, rivela un bel carattere e mostra una certa stratificazione aromatica. La quota di botti sherry è ben presente, con frutta rossa in composta (fragole lampone ciliegia) e anche qualche sfumatura tra il cacao e il caffè, delicati e bene integrati. Ma quel che davvero colpisce è il lato dolciario, tra la tarte tatin, delle pesche sciroppate e arancia glassata (o marmellata, insomma, ci intendiamo).
    • Taste
      P: non è un whisky ‘esplosivo’ ma ha senz’altro una grande intensità, che rimane costante; ha un bel muro di frutta dolce (sia rossa che gialla, pesche sciroppate, marmellata d’arancia), sa farsi anche un po’ cremoso (toffee e pasticcino alla frutta) e poi si chiude con un poco di tannino, tra spezie (noce moscata, forse caffè, zenzero candito) ed una inconfondibile nocciola.
    • Finish
      F: molto pieno, con tanta frutta secca, chiodi di garofano e un po’ di frutta generica, sia rossa che no.

  13. TP_Wtr scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Fruit notes with peach, grapes, oranges, spicy notes, nut, coconut, forest honey, slightly creamy and sweet. No alcoholic notes whatsoever, neither in the aroma nor in the taste, the 46% suits it well. Medium to long, slightly sweet and spicy finish.

    What I can say for myself after a 5cl sample, it is a very pleasing and drinkable malt without rough edges, some might find it too pleasing.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  14. holborndrinker scored this whisky 81 points Connoisseur

    Quotidian - middle of the road - nice.
    • Nose
      81 81
      Grapes, raisins, black tea.
    • Taste
      83 83
      Woody notes, curls up at the edges, fruit pie, some cinnamon or nutmeg.
    • Finish
      80 80
      Fairly short but pleasant.

  15. lincolnimp scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    White fruits and pepper spice on the nose, nothing too exciting but nothing wrong with it either.
    The palate is a little thin and a little bitter a first and time in the glass does it does sweeten up a little but in truth this is a little bland at times, but still worth trying.
    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      82 82

  16. YD84 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    A touch of vegetal sulphur, followed by burnt sugar, caramel, rich toffee, butter, leather, mustiness, wood smoke, cinnamon. A little astringent. Water tones down the sulphur. The mouthfeel is lighter than I expected. The finish is long and lingering, but drying. There are one or two elements that don't particularly cater to my personal taste but this is a complex, challenging and enjoyable whisky.
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      87 87

  17. Francishomola scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    14/4/22 neck pour is overtly woody, little dry fruits,too shy, needs open up,
    • Nose
      86 86
      14/4/22 shy, woody, 82
      8/5/22 more fruit, still woody, raisins, 86
    • Taste
      83 83
      nice maturity, salty,citric,
    • Finish
      84 84
      little bitter, lot of wood,oak tannins, spice, dried fruit, long cinnamon aftertaste,

  18. glen efze scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Knockdhu Distillery in the Highlands is part of Inver House and names its single malts anCnoc to avoid confusion with Knockando Distillery. These single malts have been appearing since 2003, this one is 18 years old, undyed, not chill-filtered. The color is golden yellow.

    www.glen-efze.de
    • Nose
      Knockdhu produces a lot of whisky for blends. The single malt smells like a fruity, classic whisky. It combines the fruitiness of the sherry cask with the vanilla of the bourbon, has some wood but remains mild. Ripe pears, some mango and a dash of tart grapefruit, with sweet vanilla sauce. Alcohol is not felt.
    • Taste
      Fruit and custard are carried on the palate by powerful wood that complements and completes the flavors at the end. However, the wood is not dominant, but underlines the age of the whisky and gives it a certain depth to the fruitiness. The sherry is not dominating either, but fits into the spectrum of aromas of a balanced, fruity-strong whisky. In between there are chocolate cups with peanut butter without salt.
    • Finish
      The aftertaste is normal, some vanilla, volatile wood remains.

      The whisky is unspectacular, a whisky that you can drink and enjoy without looking for special highlights. But it is not boring, but offers a nice potpourri of aromas with fruits, chocolate and pleasant oak. Nice whisky.

  19. claymore84 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Blind tasted on 03-02-2022.

  20. Igitor scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  21. kestrell83 scored this whisky 88 points Member Senior

    Anconc 18: At first I felt very fruity. An unexpected sweet came to my nose. It is a positive surprise how sweet and complex. Tasted not at all tolerant, very rounded whisky. Almost not even feel the 46%. After tasting, the delicious pleasant line of honey continued. There was quite a lot of wood and a little chocolate too. Very delicious. It was much sweeter, both smelled and the pleasantly soft taste was surprisingly long for the aftertaste. I like this smokeless mixed maturation. Lots of plus !!

  22. 11insomnium scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Nice and harmonious fruitiness.
    • Nose
      Floral fruitiness with honey sweetness, spice and oak, with more time full and brown sugar
    • Taste
      Fruity sweetness with spice and oak, slightly floral
    • Finish
      Sweetness with light fruits remains along with slight bitterness

  23. Whiskyisfordrinking did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    N: gentle smoke, honey, something earthy, but delicate and round.

    G: spicier, a little dry, then rounder and a malty sweetness.

    A: woody, salty, warming, round and beautiful.

    Good as a beginner and daily dram.

  24. sarthur71 scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      82 82

  25. Funtik scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

  26. marcusjang scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    At first it felt like it was not as pronounced as some other malts, but since then it grew on me. Quite forward on warming spices, like cinnamon, cardamom, maybe some cloves...

    The Sherry used feels a bit on the younger side with not many oxidative flavours, so if that's what you are looking for you won't find it here. Still fairly complex and well-balanced.
    • Nose
      Floral, honey, dried apples, matchsticks, vanilla syrup, walnuts, slightly waxy, caramel, young Oloroso
    • Taste
      Orange zest, plums, cinnamon & cardamom, spices, mulled wine, white peppers, honey, slightly oily texture, walnuts, hint of mint
    • Finish
      Young Oloroso, drier, hint of brine, spices, minty, moderately long

  27. gaboruso scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  28. OldStyle scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    16yo vs 18yo looks like neighbour, but reality is far of it.
    Younger sister is in white bourbon oak only matured, so light colour, clear grassy and vanilla character, soft taste without spice.
    Older sister is matured in european oak and sherry effluence is combinated with bourbon attack in very balanced way, colour is darker and spice hits are easy recognized. Fruity, soft toffee notes. In finish peppery and drying effect is winning, some leather, sherry notes is failed to remember.

  29. MLE scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  30. STL scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  31. 2ndSip scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Tip: give it enough time to breathe, the aromas vary greatly with more air, which becomes more and more complex the more time you spend with it.
    fruity, sweet, floral, spicy; everything is there - but you have to concentrate on the individual aromas.
    Then again quite complex in taste. But then somehow I miss the floral component from the nose ... in the finish it decreases a lot.
    This is not a bad whisky, but there are too many "inharmonious" differences between nose and taste that rule out a higher score.
    From my point of view, the sherry portion is only available in homeopathic doses.
    You should "break down" the whisky into its components yourself in a quiet minute, which is a shame in the company of sipping away.
    [86 - 82 = good whisky -> get a second bottle? Maybe...]
    • Nose
      88 88
      Alcohol stings a bit in the nose, but is not too extreme and then subsides quite quickly.
      Light and dark fruits; the sherry comes through, but does not appear: sour cherries, dried plums / dried fruit along with fruity apples, pears and oranges.
      Sugar sweetness, toffees / caramel notes and a slight acidity (orange and lemon notes).
      Spicy aromas of cinnamon and cloves are added as well as herbaceous-floral notes of heather (but tend to stay in the background); so strong that I thought of Highland Park first.
      Nut flavors of hazelnut and walnut can also be heard somewhat hidden, but you have to concentrate very much on them.
    • Taste
      85 85
      fruity and spicy in the beginning, becoming creamy and oily; Orange oil, again fruity, but rather light-fruity.
      In the taste I only have nuances of the sherry tones, the bourbon character comes through to me stronger, although the sherry is somehow tangible.
      Second sip: more sweetness, more spice from cinnamon, cloves, becoming drier and still creamy.
      Tart notes of dark chocolate.
    • Finish
      81 81
      Oak tannins cover the tongue; Nut flavors of hazelnut and walnut reappear; slightly malty / hoppy in the last third.
      The fruit components are gone very quickly; here the barrel character contributes more to the general profile.
      A "green" moment of fresh wood comes through for me - but I find it somehow out of place for an 18-year-old. The dark chocolate moment swings in a more distinct bitterness (walnut skin).
      Medium to long finish.

  32. yfalkov scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Quite sharp, bourbon notes - pickles, vanilla, some sulphur, sour, salty caramel
    • Taste
      Very fruity, dry, bakery, dried fruits
    • Finish
      Medium, spicy, dry

  33. Tastingbros scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Full review here:
    https://tastingbros.com/2021/03/17/cnoc-cnoc-whos-there/
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  34. ThinLizzy scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  35. Dre73 scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Had this one in a mini-lineup with the 12 and 24 yo.
    Funny to experience kind of 'line of development' in these drams:
    12yo is the lightest, with fruits and vegetal notes and a spicy edge.
    18yo already heavier nose, more spice and darker vegetal notes towards wood
    24yo pretty heavy on dark vegetal/wood notes and very spicy.
    This heavier vegetal and spicy comes along with a smoke-like edge to it.
    The same goes for the taste of them, they're all smooth, round, pretty full bodied and thick.
    Whereas the 18- and 24yo have some more power and longer finishes, also because of the higher Abv (46% vs 40%).
    As for this 18yo: a solid whisky, nice mixture of fruits and spices, pretty some power but still pretty smooth and drinkable. Very pleasant.
    • Nose
      86 86
      Fruity, orange, some honey, vegetal notes, forest, wood. Some spicy note, with a little smoky note.
    • Taste
      85 85
      Pretty some power, fruity and spicy, some orange and peach, some pepper, vegetal notes, full body.
    • Finish
      86 86
      Still some power, spicy, pepper, fruity, peach but also some cherry-like taste, like Haribo cherries. Pretty long finish.

  36. Sjaak92 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  37. Mapl scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  38. Willum scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  39. Gilles_V scored this whisky 85 points Expert Junior

    A whisky at a crossroads. He has a little bit of everything. Not easy to describe or write a note but interesting, easy to drink while remaining sufficiently complex.
    • Nose
      86 86
      Lots of red cereal fruit (light side of Speyside - bourbon casks) and a little salty.
      But also at the same time quite sherry (heavy side of Speyside) and marzipan.
      Very slightly sulfur (the worm tubes?)
    • Taste
      86 86
      Complex as on the nose. A bit peppery also
    • Finish
      83 83
      Rather short, especially on cereals.

  40. Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Nice 18er OA, has everything in it, looks a bit out of round in my mouth, but fits well overall and is very tasty without calling out the final storms of enthusiasm. A positively solid whisky.
    • Nose
      Sweet, honey, vanilla, nutty sherry flavors, strong oak, spices, licorice, maybe a few yellow fruits, classic Speyside nose.
    • Taste
      surprisingly restless, after the nose. Strong, sparkling, a few fears, a little sherry, but otherwise a lot of tart oak, a little pepper.
    • Finish
      Liquorice, oak, vanilla, a little sherry, even more oak, bitter-sweet.

  41. Kensay scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    The nose is calm, honey wax, vanilla, wild herbs, a little wormwood, malt, yeast dough
    Taste Young wood, lemon juice, green apple
    Aftertaste Green fruit, wood, unripe grapefruit, some spices

  42. ezioaudit scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

  43. Numwierum scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    I have pleasant sherry notes in my nose, raisins, plums, a nut aroma and some licorice root.
    It is spicy but not heavy in the mouth. Raisins and other dried fruits can be tasted, milk chocolate and a little liquorice are added. In the finish, a moderate spice of wood appears again.
    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      81 81
    • Finish
      83 83

  44. Koromich scored this whisky 85 points Newbie

  45. claymore84 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Tasted on May 6th, 2019 in the Knockdhu Distillery during the Spirit of Speyside Festival.
    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      90 90

  46. diamond2000 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Junior

    Aroma: open, delicate, sherry derivatives immediately noticeable - berry jam, dried fruit mix, fruit tree resin, honey. The second wave - vanilla, toffee, a bun with powder, chocolate muffin, floral motifs. Very fresh, light, without excesses in the sherry side, perfect balance, very good!

    Taste: honey-sweet, oatmeal, caramel, toffee, delicate spice, ginger, a little red pepper, quite tangibly sweet orange liquor, spicy, slightly bitter orange peel.

    Finish: longer than average, although not very intense, warming, pinching ginger, honey sweetness, sweet orange, zest, delicate wood tannins.

    Rating: 88

    Bottom line: a very cool 18 came from Knockdhu, perfectly balanced, delicate in aroma, and at the same time, everything is dense and rich. For me, the blending master here worked very well on the selection of barrels. Two heads above their base 12-year-olds, although the style is the same.

  47. thijs100 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    A very good whisky that deserves a bigger audience. Go out there and give anCnoc a chance!
    • Nose
      Earthy at first, highlighted by a subtle mushroom aroma, but also hints of polished leather, followed by honey-glazed almonds and smoked paprika powder. There's a touch of banana custard and menthol as well.
    • Taste
      Lovely stuff and very well-rounded. There's a hint of dark caramel, honey and chocolate, accompanied by soft spices. Some dried apricots and dates as well. Impressive.
    • Finish
      Notes of charred oak and a whisper of smoke. Medium in length.

  48. YosemiteSam scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    A beautiful An Cnoc. Certainly more depth than his 12-year-old sister.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Sweet, honey and blood orange
    • Taste
      86 86
      Honey and spicy, figs, vanilla, lime.
    • Finish
      86 86
      Long finish, sherry.

  49. alex..w..fan scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    20 20 20 20 80

  50. Indianerhäuptling scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  51. Totoro scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Pretty nose, but the palate leaves something to be desired.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Pretty nice actually, especially after some air has gone into the bottle. Very earthy and leathery, with warm wood tones and plenty of herbal aspects, but also enough sprightly ex-bourbon character to keep it from becoming fusty.
    • Taste
      84 84
      More zingy and fresh than the nose would have you suspect, almost a bit punchy. Bristling tannins and juicy acidity throughout, and one can't help but wish that the mouthfeel would be thicker or oilier. Feels somewhat thin / watery. Lemon, fennel, soy sauce / umami, red berries: there are some nice and pretty clear-cut flavors in here. Perhaps it's just that the whole feels less impressive and singular than the nose.
    • Finish
      85 85
      Wood and lime, with a tinge of leathery sherry. Nice enough.

  52. djmaxliving scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    Good value for the age and competes better with some more recognised expression of 18 years old on the market. Will have to give the 24yr old a try soon.
    • Nose
      88 88
      Ripen fruit, soft pear and a little peach note, sugar, plums, baked apple, sweet, spice and vanilla.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Apple, spice, sweet, red candy canes, oak, bitter and light chocolate hint.
    • Finish
      85 85
      Medium length - spice and bitterness.

  53. checkpointrk scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  54. craide scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  55. karloff scored this whisky 83 points Specialist

    Always been a fan of this distillery so I was looking forward to cracking it open. I must say I was expecting something more but finishing the bottle, I still quite enjoyed it. Plus it was a great price for an 18 year old which is rare these days.
    • Nose
      84 84
      Strawberries and cream, glazed cherries, red toffee apple, fruit summer pudding, dark plums or even tinned prunes. Coming in late are honey and sarsaparilla.
    • Taste
      85 85
      Those dark fruit notes are tamed down somewhat which allows the spice to come through. The 46% is just about right, any higher would have killed it. I am getting more of the sarsaparilla but this time in the boiled sweet version and more of the red toffee apple. Those natural fruits are just not there.
    • Finish
      80 80
      A medium finish that is quite hot and spicey and just about smothers everything else. Some dryness on the death.

  56. Christian Wagner scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  57. PunxsutawneyPhil scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Tasted a blind sample on day one of the US Blind Tasting Competition 2018.
    A decent sample, but somewhat dull.
    My guess was a Glenfiddich (Speyside), 18-yo @ 46%.
    • Nose
      88 88
      Tropical fruit, banana, grapes, pear candy, minty, vanilla, honey, oak
    • Taste
      86 86
      Sweet, yellow fruit, hay vanilla, mint
    • Finish
      86 86
      Medium long, slightly bitter, quite drying. Minty hay fades away.

  58. KayMeertens scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Blind tasting of a sample. An obvious OB with a mix of sherry and bourbon influences, but not a recognisable distillery for me.
    • Nose
      Starts off with honey, almond, soft malt, a little banana and a floral touch. Then shifting towards the sherry influence: Caramel and pecan nut.
    • Taste
      Honey, almond, malt, caramel, milk chocolate, cranberry and light smoke.
    • Finish
      More of that soft maltiness. Almond, caramel and peanut. Chocolate and a little honey.

  59. Alex Fridays scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Colour: amber
    Nose: sweet, dried fruits, berries, pepper, red apples, caramel, vanilla and light oak notes.
    Mouth: spices, dried fruits, pepper and caramel.
    Finish: middle, spices, caramel, dried fruits, oak.
    anCnoc 18YO is a good balanced, smooth, but very simple whisky for 18 years maturation. I expected more from it.

  60. Shane_IL scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Lovely whisky. This is really a Goldilocks whisky, well balanced and flavorful. The whisky is also easy to drink but with no sacrifice in complexity, and at a low price to boot.Reviewed in my blog:

    iwriteaboutstuffilike.com/2017/11/18/ancnoc-and-balblair-tasting/
    • Nose
      Strawberry shortcake. Brown glue. Cinnamon. Cashew. Maple. New leather.
    • Taste
      Woodspice. Candied orange peel. Salty toffee. Plums. Tobacco. Milk chocolate.
    • Finish
      Long. Spicy. Honey. Candied ginger. Leather.

  61. jankes scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  62. RL_whisky scored this whisky 81 points Connoisseur

    Full on the nose, hint of bitterness behind the sweetness. Nice indeed.
    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      78 78
    • Finish
      79 79

  63. Andytka3 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    N- Citrus zest, fresh juicy small stone fruits (lychee, longan) comes in abundance, perfectly sits on the layer of chocolate, cardboard notes that derived from the old wood. Solid on nose and balanced.

    P- Sherries, good strength, plenty of boiled fruits with sweet spices. Get jammy and marmalade overtimes with a touch of curious salts, no harm done, interestingly complex with a lot going on.

    F- Long, liquorice, dried fig, hawthorn (has been a while since I last got this), Full and pleasantly spicy with pinch of bitters at the tail. However, would rather end without it the returns of plain sugary taste. — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.
    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      87 87

  64. ctu scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Very pleasant sweet / spicy effects.
    • Nose
      Creamy vanilla, flowers, spicy oak and fruit basket. Very nice.
    • Taste
      Powerful. Spicy oak, fruits, pepper, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon and anise
    • Finish
      Medium length, spicy and fruity

  65. Avdboom scored this whisky 88 points Member Senior

    Tasted in row with 

    Arran 18

    Balblair 1990

    Glendronach 21

    In terms of quality on the same level as all of those exept for the dronach, but that was a all sherry monster and not a Bourbon/Sherry blended expression.

    The An Cnoc is more on the forest fruits side. Recommended!

  66. MM-Speyside scored this whisky 66 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      75 75
    • Taste
      74 74
    • Finish
      35 35

  67. sapecosta scored this whisky 86 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      87 87

  68. Hvdree scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      82 82

  69. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Take 2

    C: Excellent stuff really, only today it’s overshadowed by the 22yo WB. So in direct comparison, it has almost exactly the same profile but with everything appears turned down a notch. Depends on your tolerance to wood i would imagine. I found this as good as before.

    Scores a B

  70. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    A showdown between Colin Dunn vs Joe Clark. Three drams each, blind. Colin's no.#3
    N: For me, a little like the Singleton 18yo WB but with more raisins, fruitier,.. and stronger. A little peat? Maybe not.
    T: Ooh, check that mouthfeel, and taste - just fine thank you very much. Like a naked, aged single cask [bourbon 2nd refill] Dalmore [found at the SMWS].
    F: So dry, jeez! - but there's a small yet lovely sweet spot too.
    C: The magic of Ancnoc is it has a secret heart which hits the spot most subtly. For me the best of the bunch so far but can Joe snatch it at the last? WB

    Scores a B

  71. JacobaEd scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  72. recursiewhisky scored this whisky 81 points Expert Senior

    A nice dram with a good balance between the sweet and spicy aromas. it takes some time to really open up this whisky and a wee drop of water can help you here. But be careful with adding water as it tends to accentuate the bitter tones on the palate as well as the finish.
    All in all a very pleasant dram.
    • Nose
      A rich, spicy and creamy whisky with aromas of oak, cedar wood, caramel, vanilla, coumarin, honey cinnamon, angelica root, sackcloth, licorice root, butterscotch, fennel seeds, dried apple, star anise, nutmeg, hint of mint, subtle tone of camphor, licorice, unripe mango, old books, gooseberries, subtle chocolate and creamy oak.
    • Taste
      A full, rich, oily and balanced whisky with aromas of star anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, honey, ginger, vanilla, bitter caramel, unripe pears, applesauce, hint of licorice, cedar wood, subtle tannins, damp cellar, hint of leather, hint of cocoa powder, marmalade, hint of dried fruits, malt and creamy oak.
    • Finish
      A medium to long and slightly drying finish with aromas of backing spices, malt, tannins, grains, old books, honey, caramel, butterscotch and spicy oak.

  73. Opeth83 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Proper sherry influence and complex whisky
    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      82 82

  74. maltaholic scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    Pretty dark in the color, very appetizing. Also smells great, fruity, but also slightly spicy, almost chocolaty. A nice classic malt, but I have to admit, the 16er I liked even better ...

  75. LukeFive scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    Single dram note
    • Nose
      Caramel, oak, dark chocolate, vanilla ice cream, stone fruits, chocolate sauce, touch of spices, cinnamon stick, full nose
    • Taste
      Fresh arrival, fruits, chocolate, vanilla, spicy, white pepper, creme brulle, tannins
    • Finish
      long, spicy, salty fudge, dark chocolate

  76. cfosterk did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    It's official anCnoc 18yo has been crowned World’s Best Highland Single Malt in the 13 – 20 Years category in this year's World Whiskies Awards.

  77. Achany scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      81 81

  78. Georges scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      83 83

  79. Georges scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Fresh, fruity (apples), sherry, honey, nutty
    • Taste
      Spicy, fruity, honey, vanilla 
    • Finish
      Medium long, vanilla, fresh, only a liitle bit of oakness

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