Photo of
April 1, 2015

Last week, the 5pm Dining blog sauntered down to Whighams Wine Cellars on Edinburgh’s Hope Street for an anCnoc whisky tasting.

Distilled in 1975.
Distilled in 1975.

The blockbuster whisky of the night was a 1975 vintage anCnoc. One of only 1590 bottles, the whisky came from two American oak, ex-sherry casks and a single, Spanish oak, ex-sherry butt.

‘Chewy, soaked fruits, orange, tobacco’ and ‘spice’ were among the words bandied about to describe the dram.

Less esoteric but just as interesting was the 18 year-old anCnoc. Apparently, stocks of the 16 year-old are exhausted so the 18 is being promoted in its place.

While the 16 was wholly matured in ex-bourbon barrels, the 18 year-old is matured for 16 years in American ex-bourbon and then a further two years in Spanish oak ex-sherry casks.

It’s a fascinating drink. There is pepper and leather on the nose with black fruit and white chocolate on the palate. The finish is spicy turning to sweetness.

Twitter tasting

If reading and comparing tasting notes from different whiskies is your thing then you may want to follow tonight’s anCnoc Twitter tasting.

Starting at 7pm, you can follow the tasting with the hashtag #ModernTradition

The 12 year-old, the 18 year-old and a vintage bottling which was distilled in 2000 will all be sampled.

I’ll be tweeting on @JonathanTrew but fear not, mine will not be the only nose in action. Genuine experts are lined up to share their thoughts.

Tasting box