A couple of months ago, I tried my first Ancnoc, the Flaughter. Although somewhat two-dimensional (peat and sweet), it was well balanced and enjoyable. I was looking forward to the Cutter because the peat is turned up a bit. Unfortunately, neither the extra peat nor the dram as a whole worked for me. While the peat is not exactly turned up to 11, it nevertheless has the effect of overwhelming all else. What's left under the peat is a non-descript mix of flavor from which I can't pick out much of anything. And where the peat in the Flaughter is quite pleasant, the Cutter's peat is more of a bitter ash. The Flaughter is a nice whiskey, but I'm not sure who the Cutter's constituency is. If you like balance, nuance and complexity, it's not for you. And for peat lovers, there are far more agreeable and interesting options available.
About this bottle
anCnoc (pronounced ah-nock) is a Highlands based distillery that for the past few decades has been known for it's unpeated Scotch. However, they have a produced a limited edition range of whisky made with peated barley, a throwback to the days in the late 19th century when the distillery made only peated whiskies. Cutter is named for the hand tool used to cut the peat away from the bogs. This whiskey is released with a phenol count of 20.5 ppm.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 21 parsed reviews.
I really enjoy the work that comes out of Knockando. The nose is sweet and peaty, as is the palate. There's not much nuance here in the marriage between peat and sweetness. In other words, the peat feels kind of cut-and-paste for this dram. Maybe that's because I've been spoiled by Islay and the Isles. Salty, spicy, fruity, mossy, with a sprightly finish. I'd have walked away with this bottle tonight if the price wasn't so up-charged ($80, whereas it's around $50 elsewhere). From tasting event, 12/17/16.
Another wonderful peated scotch. This is a tick below the big Islays imo. That being said this still delivers lovely smoke and malt with some bread dough and oak. Finish is where it drops off. Doesn't last all night like most smokies and a little too dry. Im a fan though especially at closeout price of $36
Loads of smoke on the nose, brine, and some light fruit. On the palette it's light fruit, smoke, peat, leather, some mild honey, and brine. The finish is too short, brine, and warm.
At the Bow Bar. H's first Scott ever in March 2011 was AnCnoc but not this one. This is a good, peaty, but not too peaty malt. I'm enjoying it by the fireplace here.
Smoother then I thought it would be. not too complex, but if you wanted to introduce someone to peat this would be a good one to use. had with @silverelizard
15 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
