anCnoc 12 Year Old

Nose: Sweet Malt, delicate citrus and a touch of spice set against a dominant note of red apple. There is smoke also but it is dry...almost like the last embers of a coal fire, not at all peaty. In many ways quintessential Speyside but there is a characterful richness about it that is quite charming.

Feel: Silky and slightly light.

Taste: Intensely sweet, almost syrupy at first with a real hit of barley sugar before that dry smoke from the nose comes through. The smoke never overtakes the sweetness and they seem to sit side by side. The slightly tart apple so prominent on the nose is present but now drifts towards honey soaked pear. A subtle touch of peppery spice adds to the experience.

Finish: Still sweet with a little oak providing a contrast. This is not a long finish but the fruit carries right through.

I must confess that this AnCnoc is a real favourite of mine, when it comes to an easy drinking and very charming malt there are few better. It has all the sweet malty notes you would hope for but there is a subtle and distinctive complexity to it that, for me makes it one of the very best Speysiders. Much underrated.

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