Nc'nea Organic Batch 5 (2017/2021)
The Nc'Nean Distillery in Drimnin on the Morvern Peninsula stands for radical sustainability in whisky production. 100% renewable energy, certified organic barley and innovative cask experiments - the concept is well thought out. Organic Batch 5 represents this philosophy as the flagship of the regular bottlings, even if it comes across as a no-age statement.
The panel
Mean 70.5 · spread 1
Value for money 2/5
- Distillery
- Nc'Nean
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Highlands
- Country
- Scotland
- Strength
- 46% ABV
- Character
- delicate
Tasting
Nose
On first nosing, the Nc'Nean Organic Batch 5 reveals a thoroughly appealing aroma. Vanilla and apple dominate the first impression, followed by white pepper and subtle floral notes. The malt sweetness is present without being overpowering. There is an interesting note reminiscent of Federweißer - an indication of the young ageing process. These youthful traits are not negative per se, but clearly show that a whisky has not yet reached its full maturity.
Palate
On the palate, the whisky presents itself with white pepper as the leading flavour, accompanied by light fruity notes and an interesting complexity of spices. Light grape notes and, surprisingly, apple cider vinegar are added - the latter is a critical point that indicates possible immaturity or sub-optimal cask selection. The texture is pleasantly oily, but the balance of flavours is not yet fully mature.
Finish
The short finish is the Achilles heel of this whisky. Youthful dryness and bitter tannins dominate the finish without conveying the more complex aromas from the nose and flavour.
Verdicts
Marcel
A whisky that scores with a lot of heart and a sustainable concept, but doesn’t quite ignite fully – the Nc'Nean Organic Batch 5 shows character, yet lacks the depth and maturity to truly captivate. For fans of fresh, lively Highland drams, it’s definitely worth a try, even though the finish remains somewhat short and dry.
Sascha
The Nc'Nean Organic Batch 5 reveals an interesting aromatic spectrum but falls short in balance and maturation depth. The structural imbalance, especially in the finish, clearly indicates there’s still room for development – a solid, but not yet a fully refined organic whisky.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Nc’nean as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £57 across 75 lots · 2024-08