anCnoc 24 Year

Review #082 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Comments: aged 24 years, matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Treacle color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Apples and cinnamon are most prevalent, accompanied by more subtle scents of milk chocolate, brown sugar, and mango. And just a whiff of something like wood polish? Palate: 36/40 Nice creamy mouthfeel. Good balance of sweet caramel, vanilla, and berry jam with bitter black tea, some oak spice, and black pepper. Finish: 35/40 Medium-long finish. It’s got some light honey sweetness throughout, with hints of ripe pears and zesty lemon. Gradually it becomes drier, eventually ending on a very dry note with mildly bitter tea tannins. With Water: A couple drops of water introduces some honey to the nose and very mild baked bread flavor to the palate. Total: 88/100 Final thoughts: This was a well-balanced and tasty dram. It certainly hints at the sweeter end of the flavor spectrum, but the spicy and peppery flavors help to keep that in check and make it a bit more dynamic and complex. I don’t know that I’d go as far as seeking this out, but I’d definitely buy a bottle if I stumbled across it at the right price. Thanks to my brother @Mark-Watson2 for the sample. Price: gifted sample Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Nose: exceptional, without a doubt the best part. Raisins, sherry, marsala, honey, hazelnuts, nutella, custard. Very sweet. Palate: pungent sherry, marsala, wood. Whisky exactly as you would expect a hard and pure whisky: the slightly rough palate does not match the sweetness of the nose, but creates a very pleasant contrast. Final: medium-long, sherry, slightly bitter. Ultimately a great product with an attractive price. Rating 4.25 _________________________________________________________________ Naso: eccezionale, senza dubbio la parte migliore. Uvetta, sherry, marsala, miele, nocciole, nutella, crema pasticcera. Molto dolce. Palato: sherry pungente, marsala, legno. Whisky esattamente come ti aspetteresti un whisky duro e puro: il palato un po’ rude non corrisponde alla dolcezza del naso, ma crea un contrasto molto piacevole. Finale: medio lungo, sherriato, leggermente amarognolo. In definitiva un ottimo prodotto dal prezzo allettante. Voto 4,25

Been wanting to try this forever. Nose - funky fruity chewy chocolate, brandy oaked raisen, dusty leather, vanilla chews, yellow sour fruit, dusty oak, sandal wood, slight vegital stew note, and light caramel drizzle with a hint of sea salt. Almost an extra fruity and malt forward older bourbon in a way. Taste - While sherry was unmistakable on the nose, it was not nearly the sherry bomb I get on the pallet. The rich fruit malt however is what makes this special. It's this full body and rich fruit orchard fruit forward and sour fruit. Then oak and sherry bring it right back into a perfect balance. A rich powerful and exceptional pour for 46%. I'll give this 3.75. It's a sample review. Subject to some change. Could go 4 star could go 3.5. A lovely whisky that has me regretting never picking one up when they were available for reasonable prices.

Nose - Dark honey, sweet red berries, caramel, ripe pears & apples, raisins, hint of orange zest Taste - Gentle ginger spice/heat/tingle, sweet red berries, ripe pear, light chocolate, light tannic/bitter black tea, hint of orange zest, dark honey Finish - Lingering gentle ginger spice, fruity honey, sweet pear, light red berries, light tannic black tea Score - 90/100 Final Thoughts - This is quite a nice dram. Great nose, nice balance on the tongue, great from start to finish. The tannic over steeped black tea notes are a bit distracting, but otherwise quite tasty. Good light sherry influence to add some red berries to a great honey/pear backdrop. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes

A very fruity whisky, filling the nostrils with pineapple, mango, peach and orange. Milk chocolate, marzipan, coffee powder and the heat of the malt complete and round the nose, enveloping and sinuous. Over time, a freshest and more balsamic note is perceived, with a lemon zest. Malt and wood welcome the palate, very waxy and sherried, with liqueur raisins, hazelnuts, cinnamon, tropical fruit, candied orange, vanilla. Consistent with the nose, including the balsamic note on the background. Fairly long and dry finish, made of wood, malt, orange and hazelnut. Softly elegant and sober, a peaceful whisky, able to balance the influence of sherry, getting the best out of it without being overwhelmed.

My first encounter with this distillery suggests it’s another candidate for the value-for-money club. Two dozen years of maturation have yielded a classic Highlands malt with some well integrated sherry influence. There’s buttered toast on the nose and warm malty bread on the palate, accompanied all along by a well-tuned harmony of rich sherry flavors - spices, fruit cake and marmalade. The medium-long finish starts pleasantly sweet before turning a little dry. For as little as $135 a bottle, it’s a steal for the age, especially when your local bar isn’t marking up the cost of a 2oz pour.