anCnoc #LightOnDark Peaty Series Launch

[bifter]

anCnoc have been busy on Twitter for the past week offering whisky fans the chance to win tickets to attend a mysterious event, using the hashtag #LightOnDark. I was the lucky recipient of a pair of these tickets and descended on The Arches, directly underneath Glasgow's Central Station last night (Wednesday, 26th March) for the big reveal. It was my first visit to the venue since my student days and intitially I found myself (among others it should be added) trying to get in to the deserted back entrance, where once I queued to gain access to some now legendary club nights (e.g. Slam). Those days are long behind me now but the venue remains as intimate and atmospheric as ever. Within one of the vaults, there were three stations manned by Inverhouse staff. Each was a showcase for one of three new anCnoc releases, all Bourbon-casked, all 46%, all NAS (but around 8-9 years old) and all peated. The drams being poured were accompanied by delicious complementary and complimentary peat-themed nibbles by caterers Jelly & Gin and there was even a mocked up peat bog courtesy of Edinburgh florist Pyrus.

anCnoc (rebranded from Knockdhu to avoid confusion with Knockando distillery) sometimes suffers from the tag of being a "beginner's dram' and, like Glenkinchie for example, can be overlooked as it is actually decent value and rewarding: light, sweet, citrusy and very inoffensive with no sherry or peat in sight. So this new Peaty series is a departure but also a return to a style that was once common to most Speyside whiskies. Despite the similarities in provenance, the differences between each of the bottlings are striking. They are named after types of peat cutter:



Rutter

The peat rating is stated prominently on every bottle, which in the case of Rutter is 11ppm (parts per million). Being matured in reconditioned Bourbon hogsheads means that the cask influence is somewhat subdued. Additionally, being only lightly peated allows the character of the spirit to assert itself. Peardrops, gummy bears and apples were some of the descriptors that come to mind. The peat is light, fragrant and smoky and there is also a light vanilla influence on the palate from the wood. This was my least favourite expression on the night but such environments are not always the best in which to appreciate subtleties. However it is a style that I am sure some will appreciate and fans of anCnoc will enjoy the ability to savour the idiosyncrasies of the spirit, which are to the fore.

Flaughter

The Flaughter is peated to 14.8ppm and the peat notes are the most prominent feature with a full, smoky reek on the nose. However there is little of the medicinal, phenolic character that one would associate with Islay whiskies so this might be more comparable with, say, Talisker. Beneath the peat, there are stronger vanilla notes than the Rutter and a creamier mouthfeel, reflecting the cask provenance: a mix of hoggies and Bourbon barrels, some second/third fill, some re-charred. The barrels, being smaller, have a higher wood to liquid ratio hence promoting interaction between the two. The pleasingly lengthy finish is mouth-watering and dries quite intensely. I really liked this expression and it is sure to be a hit with peat-heads.

Tushkar

Tushkar is peated to 15ppm but, importantly, has been matured entirely in first fill Bourbon barrels so the cask influence is more pronounced than with the other two expressions. anCnoc's literature also seems to suggest that the peat used has a slower-burning quality that produces a mellower influence on the barley. Either way this is a sweeter, spicier and more full-bodied whisky bursting with notes of citrus zest, vanilla and resinous wood. I thought a little water was beneficial. The smoke still permeates proceedings but plays second fiddle to the influence of the Bourbon casks.

These releases are non-chill filtered and of natural colour (declared on the bottles) and all are light in complexion. There are 300 cases each of the Rutter and the Flaughter destined for the UK market and 700 cases of the Tushkar exclusively for Sweden. anCnoc is popular in Sweden, as are peaty whiskies, so it seems logical from a marketing perspective to target this sector. However, for me personally, it is a shame that the UK will have to miss out on Tushkar as this was probably my favourite expression on the night and with most of those I met who were willing to offer an opinion. Having said that, these events are never the best environments in which to appreciate subtler whiskies or the length of finish, especially when food is being served.

The Peaty series will be released on 1st April and the UK expressions will carry an RRP of £52.

Article cross-posted from WhiskyGirl.nl:
http://whiskygirl.nl/ancnoc-peaty-a-new-range-of-peated-whiskies-from-knockdhu-distillery/
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"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

[albo]

Excellent write up. Sounds like a good event and some excellent whisky by all accounts

[bifter]

Updated the article to reflect the fact these are non-chill filtered and uncoloured. I looked through all the literature and on the Web site where this is usually declared and found nothing but it's actually carried on the bottles themselves - doh!
_________________
"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

[Mark]

William had posted all the info for the 3 peaty anCnocs including the info on colour, filtration etc in the main news section of the site, his tasting notes are there also.

http://www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/ancnocpeaty.htm

Interesting the amount of heavily peated output they now appear to be producing at anCnoc, it does look like anCnoc peaty whisky is here to stay. I ordered a bottle of the Rutter and Flaughter after reading Williams review, hoping it arrives tomorrow for drinking this weekend.

[Drover]

[Craven]

William, I read your tasting notes on the new peaty anCnocs and Flaughter sounds more appealing to me but i have ordered a bottle each of the anCnoc Flaughter and Rutter. I thought it would be interesting to try the 2 expressions together, you sold me with your comment:

[Hodge]

I purchased a bottle of the anCnoc Flaughter last weekend, excellent will be buying more and trying the Rutter

[Genuine Risk]

I thought i would post my views although I don't think I have much to add to Bifters post.

I also won an online competition and went to the wrong door (along with one of the anCnoc guys)

The night was brilliant with good food, whisky and company (Gordon Bruce was a bit of a star)

I dont have much to add to Bifters tasting notes although tasting Rutter again this week it went from being my least favorite to the one I liked most. Tasting it away from the event it gave me a chance to appreciate the subtleties and the complexities that were very hard to pick up on the night.

I have since picked up a bottle of the Rutter.

I stupidly opened up the miniatures i received on the night while one of the guys I was with sold his a bought a full bottle of the Rutter, Flaughter and the 1999 with money left over.
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