[46.0%・18 Years Old・Bottled Circa. 2015-2016・Official Bottling・General Release]
Whisky shows seem to be a good litmus test these days to test out whether new products could cement their places in the market ( i.e. the BenRiach Cask Strength Batch 1).
At Whisky Live Singapore, I got to taste the AnCnoc 18 Years Old, the recently unveiled expression that would replace the dearly departed 16 Years old.
Nose:
On the nose it’s relatively clean sherry with stewed pears and just a touch of minerals, melted toffee with the spices having been balanced rather well here. It’s a very breathable set of appealing aromas indeed.
Palate & Finish:
Full of raisins and sultanas on the palate with a top coating of toffee and peanut sauce. The delivery is a tad flakey, with the oily acidity going up a notch towards the mid-palate. There’s just a hint of dried chilli that comes through.
The oak presents a calming vibe towards the finish but its presence is perhaps a tad too subdued, its subtleness though is paired well with a wee syrup-cured-dried-muscats note.
Thoughts:
In Australia, AnCnoc is traditionally underrated and this one may fly under the radar as well, despite being a solid release in my opinion. The departure of the 16 Years Old has made everyone realise just how much the staple dram means to them; this should make those fans even more vocal about their appreciation towards AnCnoc.
–Nicholas