Nc'Nean Aon White Port (2020/2025)

Nose

The flavour density of this whisky is like a bouquet of flowers put together by a drunken poet - extremely fruity, summery and full of blooming wildflowers. Sounds cheesy? It is. Slightly grassy - as if someone had pressed a meadow into the shape of a bottle. A touch of honey joins in, followed by wet straw (that sounds less appetising than it smells) and a slightly vinous hint that is subtly reminiscent of the white port finish. The best thing: despite the 61.1% alcohol strength, nothing burns unnecessarily in the nose. Nc'Nean has obviously understood how to civilise strong whiskies without robbing them of their personality.

Palate

The first sip inevitably makes you think: "Oily, sweet, perfect!" The whisky covers the tongue like a velvety coat - peach and honey dance the tango, while a real fruit club waits in the background. And yes, we're talking about a kind of 5-fruit cocktail from a can here - but the good kind, not the stuff from the discount store. Green grapes bring a nice acidity into play, which prevents the whole thing from becoming too sweet. The result? Still summery fresh overall - like sitting under an apple tree on a hot day and drinking a glass of perfectly chilled fruit salad. Only with 61% alcohol. The texture is wonderfully oily - the sign of quality. Cheap whiskies feel like flavoured water. This one feels like liquid happiness.

Finish

Medium length is a polite way of saying: "It stays long enough to make an impression, but not so long that it becomes boring." Sticky - what sounds negative at first is actually meant positively here. Like a good summer's day that doesn't want to end. There is also a pleasant woody flavour - the barrels have done a good job here. And then, as if that wasn't enough, white pepper creeps in and reminds us that, despite all the fruitiness, we are dealing with a genuine Scottish single malt.