anCnoc 16 Year Old

Very well melded flavours and aromas, exquisite malt in this bourbon cask style. Packs more of a punch than its younger (12 year old) brother largely due to the percentage I fear than the bourbon casks it was aged in, although it is nice to see the cask type printed on the bottle.

Nose: Nutty and toasty notes some fruit too, melon and orange zest. Taste: Zesty flavours dominant, but nutty again with some spice. A viscous mouth coating body helps deliver the rich flavours. Finish: The finish continues the themes but is long and fulfilling, again helped by the full body.

Having just reviewed the An Cnoc 12, it makes sense to follow up with the 16. In a sense, the 16 is very much an older sibling to the 12. But while they do share much of the same DNA, as it were, they also seem to have a completely different approach in terms of delivery and pace. A few more years in the barrel and a higher abv have made quite an impact here. Here’s my take on the 16:

Nose: Grass, hay, star anise, oak, woodspice, honey, lemon lozenges, ginseng, mustard, fennel, and salted butter. Like the 12, this is herbal and vegetal with some exotic spices worked in.

Palate: Light-to-medium bodied. Crisp and fresh. Vanilla, cream, BIG grass, lemongrass, lemon zest, licorice, white pepper, oak, and butter.

Finish: Grass, licorice, curdled milk, faint cumin, fennel, honey, white pepper, woodspice, Frosted Flakes, vanilla ice cream, and faint smoke. At the tail end some more of those exotic Indian spices reappear.

I’m a fan of this one. It’s got some very distinctive flavours and a nice edginess to it. There’s a licorice/grass note here that I could almost align with a Longmorn. In keeping with the An Cnoc style, there are also some lovely, exotic spices in here. It’s got a fun, complex, interesting kind of heat; never rough. It comes together as a rounded, complex dram with some serious character.

In comparison with the 12, the 16 is decidedly more approachable and stable. We have the herbal, vegetal, spicy notes that are present in the 12. But we also have a fuller, richer body and a more tangible, paced arrival. There are also stronger notes of vanilla and cream, and an oaky, more drying finish. Where the 12 is bizarre and elusive, the 16 is easier to grasp. In a sense, it’s more conventional (for An Cnoc, that is). And I mean that in a good way. It delivers some of those exotic flavours that I love so much in the 12 with more refinement and less noise. However it also doesn’t deliver the same amount of “adventure” as the 12. But this one is hardly dull, either. Recommended.

A lovely bottle of Whisky.

Nose. Honey, vanilla, pear drops, aniseed, citrus with a slightly herbal woody edge

Palate. Smooth, honey and summer fruits. Oak and pepper.

A good finish which is medium long. Warming, spices, peppery and honey sweet.

Verdict... A clever bottle, well put together. Nice smooth mouth feel, well balanced and rounded flavours.

Complex steady warm arrival develops a balanced spicy herbal / vegetable long slow finish.

An Cnoc has to be pronounced with a couple of silent letters, I remember being told that at Pure Festival last year and it does highlight this on the bottle too, however now I’ve typed that I realise that wont really matter as your reading rather that saying this review!

It’s a very pale whisky, you could say it looks a lot younger than the 16yrs it has behind it I guess. A pale yellow, like the afternoon daylight. The yellow theme for me carried over into the nose, with lemon peel, lemon zest and a general citrusy aroma coming through. There was a sweetness about it too though.

This really all stayed in my sense as I tasted the whisky, there was a sharpness to it, I think the citrus kinda made that one happen! The finish was long and lingering, remaining sharp till the dying embers faded!

This dram certainly leaves an impression on you, but not in a “I’m very special” kinda way, more a “I’m just above average” kinda way. Worth a try though without a doubt.

The anCnoc brand of Scotch whisky is the product of the Kockdhu distillery, so called to avoid confusion with whisky produced by the Knockando distillery. Situated in the highlands (near Huntley, in Aberdeenshire), Inver House bought the distillery in 1988, five years after it had been mothballed by United Distillers, and resumed production in 1989. The range consists of a 12 year-old (reviewed here: connosr.com/reviews/an-cnoc/…) and a 16 year-old (reviewed below), as well as the occasional vintage release.

The anCnoc 16 year-old is light and refreshing. On the nose, there are wisps of smoke, tangy lemon, figs, and a touch of sweat. More fleeting notes of vanilla, mild detergent, lavender, and marzipan appear periodically. It is sweet and fruity, though not quite as forwardly so as the 12 year-old.

The palate will be familiar to those having tasted the 12 year-old. It has lemon, vanilla, and a bit of mellon, but it is drier than the 12 year-old, with a slightly bitter, vegetal finish reminiscent of lettuce.

This is a nice whisky, but I prefer its younger sibling. Though it has its finer points, it admittedly misses the generous consistency of the 12 year-old.

anCnoc 16 yo (46%, OB 2010)

Nose: malty and fruity, quite aromatic in a way that reminds me more of fruit tea rather than the actual fruits. Maybe that’s also because of the distinct camomile notes. Citrus, peach, pear, strawberry. Some vanilla and toffee, as well as light grassy elements. Nice.

Mouth: again a particularly tea-like flavour palette (due to the herbal / grassy notes maybe), with dashes of honey and glazed apples. Zesty citrus. Oak shavings with some tannins. A bit light in comparison with the nose maybe.

Finish: medium length, with sweet cereals, some mint and vanilla.

This anCnoc 16 Years old is aromatic with young fruits and freshly cut oak. More of a summer whisky, I think.

The 16-year-old is the only anCnoc available which has been fully matured in American oak casks.

Nose: malty and fruity, quite aromatic in a way that reminds me more of fruit tea rather than the actual fruits. Maybe that’s also because of the distinct camomile notes. Citrus, peach, pear, strawberry. Some vanilla and toffee, as well as light grassy elements. Nice.

Mouth: again a particularly tea-like flavour palette (due to the herbal / grassy notes maybe), with dashes of honey and glazed apples. Zesty citrus. Oak shavings with some tannins. A bit light in comparison with the nose maybe.

Finish: medium length, with sweet cereals, some mint and vanilla.

This anCnoc 16 Years old is aromatic with young fruits and freshly cut oak. More of a summer whisky, I think.

Nose: Lovely mix of citrus, anise, apples and vanilla drops. quite fresh and zesty.

Palate: Peppery , woody, some vanilla, spices and toffee. I didn’t expect the pepper, i must admit it. turns a bit bitter towards the end. the citrus is almost gone now.

Finish : spicy,bitter wood.

All in all, i prefer the 12 which is lighter, more summery.

bottom line :

I find this older AnCnoc not as good and enjoyable as it’s younger 12 year old brother. Especially the bitter finish. I was totally not expecting pepper on this one. It’s not bad, don’t get me wrong, but if i had to choose between this and the cheaper 12, i would not hesitate.