Ncn'ean - New Organic Kids on the Block

Hello Folks!

So for my third and final installment from the TWE Whisky Show it's time for something completely different...a brand new distillery!

What was great about the show this year was the large area dedicated to newer distilleries. There is so much exciting innovation in whisky at the moment and it was great to go and find all of this in one place. One exhibitor in particular caught our eye. The wonderful Ncn'ean!

Pronounced "Nc-knee-anne", which according to their Facebook page is "an abbreviation of Neachneohain who was the “Queen of Spirits” in Gaelic legend. Neachneohain was a huntress, strong, independent and never afraid to walk her own path. She was also a fierce protector of nature".

So, who are they?

The brainchild of Annabel Thomas, they are the first certified fully organic Scottish Whisky Distillery. Situated on the Morvern Peninsula of Western Scotland. Whilst they are on the mainland, they sure are out of the way! They are closer to Tobermory than any other town (just across the water) and 2 hours drive from Fort William.You have to really want to visit to get there! I like that about them.

They started distilling in 2017 so obviously have no whisky to show for us just yet as spirit needs to spend 3 years and 1 day in casks to be classed as whisky. However, that didn't stop us getting stuck into some very exciting flavours at the show!

Botanical Spirit


So, this was first up and I genuinely love what they have done here. So many distilleries start off by making gin. This makes complete sense as they can buy in spirit and distill it with botanicals and sell it pretty much straight away. This creates an instant source of income while they wait for the whisky to mature. Ncn'ean turned this whole thing on its head and boy did they hit the jackpot! Instead of using any old spirit in their "gin" they used new make whisky! The un-aged spirit is diluted to 40% then re-distilled with ten botanicals, including wild bog myrtle, sorrel, heather and thyme by the West Coast Gin Distillery. So obvious and yet inspired! What this creates is a very unique drink that is not quite gin and not quite whisky. A "gisky" or even a "win" if you will.

So, onto the tasting notes...

Nose: Warm heather, lavender, freshly mown grass and of course the obligatory juniper

Palate: This is so easy to drink. Wonderful citrussy notes, hints of the sweetness of candy floss and cherry drops then comes a pleasing bitterness akin to liquorice and dill. So much going on here. For me, this is far more rewarding than your average gin!

Finish: Short, sweet and fresh

Overall, this is an exceptional drink. They have got this one spot on. The notes from the new make spirit get through in abundance but are added to perfectly by the botanicals. I love this drink!

Finally, I mustn't forget to mention the price tag too.. At only £30 a bottle this really is a snip. Get out and buy this drink for all your gin-loving friends this Christmas!


New Make Spirit

For a brand new distillery, they sure did have some stuff for us to try. What I love to see here is a distillery so confident in their product that they are not afraid to let you taste their new make. Now that is a bold step indeed, and I was not disappointed! The new make we tried was diluted to 45% (so, close to what they will eventually bottle at) and with nothing else done to it. They just let the spirit do the talking. Here's what it said to me...

Nose: Wet wood, moss and pine cones. Freshly mown grass and flowers. This was all about that smell you get just after it rains in the summer!

Palate: Loads going on here. It was super fresh and clean. I got red liquorice laces, butterscotch and freshly bakes scones. Lovely!

Finish: Medium length. Sweet and buttery with a hint of spiciness.

If this is how good the new make is then it bodes really well for the whisky when it's ready. Sublime

1 Year Old

So, the final sip from Ncn'ean and it's a big one! What we have here is a 1 year old spirit that has spent the whole 12 months in a red wine cask then diluted to 45% for us to try. This is a little sneak peak into what to expect in 2 years time (or whenever the first whisky starts to roll out of the distillery) and oh my...it was goooood!!!

Nose: Again, this was super floral and sweet. I got loads of heather honey in there alongside strawberry chewits and sweet straw.

Palate: Where do we start here!?!? Loads of fruity flavours. Oranges and ripe peaches. Hints of sangria in there too. Then comes the sweetness of drumstick lollies alongside aniseed and liquorice with a big dollop of ginger snaps for good measure!

Finish: Medium length (which is impressive for a 1 year old spirit) with citrus notes and loads of sweet creaminess (think squirty cream).

Overall, what can I say? Just wow! This was amazing. I would have bought a bottle of this right there and then if I could. If the spirit can be this good after just one year then watch out everyone, there is a new whisky in town!

So, as I am sure you can tell by now, I loved what Ncn'ean had to offer. It's great to see a new distillery really pushing some boundaries with what they are doing.  Whether that's with organic or using new make spirit in a "gin" style drink they have been bold and it's paid off big time. I just wish I had a time machine so I could fast-forward two years and get to try their first whiskies. Brilliant!

Until next time, sláinte!