Whisky Focus - anCnoc Suggests Your Perfect Half And Half

The PR people promoting whisky these days often try to promote whisky by suggesting pairings with cheese or chocolate in an attempt to give it a 'wine like' image and as enjoyable as some of these pairings can be the fact is that 'Whisky and Beer' have long been considered the ideal pairing by whisky drinkers. Known colloquially as a "Hauf n Hauf" in Scotland (meaning "Half and Half"), this refers to the the fact you are drinking whisky and beer and it can also be said to refer to the measure of whisky and beer, a 1/2 Gill (35ml) of whisky and a 1/2 pint of beer. Also sometimes known as a wee chaser or whisky chaser, whatever you call it in your part of the world there is no doubt that the right whisky and beer make for a very enjoyable pairing.

anCnoc Highland single malt whisky is taking drinkers into the world of the modern maker this year, with a new partnership and event series celebrating some of the UK’s most dedicated craft producers. anCnoc Craft Cast will shine a light on the hidden corners of workshops and studios where the magic of craft production happens – telling stories of the people who share anCnoc’s passion for crafted products, made well.

Perhaps taking inspiration from the traditional "Hauf n Hauf" pairing anCnoc recently kicked off their first partnership with Glasgow’s Overtone Brewing Company. One of Scotland’s most exciting and experimental craft beer producers, their creative brewing team takes inspiration from the culture of music to craft small batches of hop-forward beers for their growing fan base.

On Friday 15th July anCnoc and Overtone hosted an evening to explore craft beer and whisky, with guests enjoying beer and whisky pairings and a unique, after-hours glimpse behind the scenes on Overtone’s small brewery floor.

A mix of makers, media and craft fans savoured drams, sipped on an array of beers and even had a chance to get creative and dive into the world of design, developing new names and labels for future Overtone beer releases.

For anCnoc’s team, these partnerships are a celebration of the values they hold dear as whisky makers: traditional techniques and skills, slow hand-crafted processes and products imbued with the personal care and passion of the people who make them.

Stuart Baxter, Global Whisky Ambassador for anCnoc led the tastings for Craft Cast guests on the night. He said: ‘We hear the word craft a lot these days, and it’s easy to forget what it really means for true craft makers and the products they make. With the Craft Cast we’re on a mission to dig a bit deeper, stepping into the communities of some incredibly skilled craftspeople to explore their world and celebrate the values we have in common over a dram. The brilliant beer makers at Overtone were a natural first partner for us, and it was a pleasure learning more about the creativity, commitment and energy they put into every can of beer, at what was very relaxed and enjoyable evening’.

Kayley Barbour, Head of Overtone’s Brand Marketing added: "We’re very grateful to be working with anCnoc as part of their Craft Cast campaign and the event couldn’t have gone better, the brewery has never felt more alive. The entire campaign is an amazing opportunity for creative businesses to work together, think outside the box and engage customers in different ways."

To accompany the Craft Cast campaign, anCnoc has commissioned long term collaborator, New York based Scottish illustrator Peter Arkle, to create a suite of hand-drawn illustrations to bring anCnoc’s passion for craft to life.

Also, inspired by the Overtone Brewing partnership, anCnoc has created a new microsite which will offer fun tips and help drinkers to find their perfect beer and anCnoc whisky pairing via a short quiz. I took the quiz and apparently my perfect Hauf n Hauf would be a anCnoc 18 Year Old and a Porter beer, I have neither to hand at the moment so I cant say how good the pairing is but knowing the dark roasted malty style of a Porter beer and the sherried oak style of the anCnoc 18 I am sure they would make a great pairing for me. If you want to find your perfect Hauf n Hauf pairing visit: www.ancnoc-untapped.com

If you are looking for some anCnoc whisky to enjoy with your beer you will find the current range available from specialist online whisky retailers such as The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop, Hard To Find Whisky and Master of Malt
 

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