Nc'nea Organic Batch 5 2017/2021
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.
Taste
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.
Thoughts
The Nc'nean Organic Batch 5 is a whisky between potential and reality. The distillery clearly demonstrates its skills - the variety of flavours and the quality of craftsmanship are recognisable. However, this batch still lacks the decisive maturation that turns a good whisky into an outstanding one. We have already tasted the later batches, such as Nc'Nean Organic Batch 20 2019/2023, but the real strength lies in the cask strength bottlings, such as Nc'nean Organic 2019/2024 Cask Strength Batch GD06.
Rating: 71/100 - Very Good (Marcel: 71 | Sascha: 70)
Value for Money: 2/5 - Expensive
Further Information
65% STR Red Wine, 35% Ex-BourbonFAQ: The Most Common Questions
❓ Is the Nc'nean Organic Batch 5 really certified organic?
👉 Yes, the whisky is fully certified organic. Nc'nean only uses organically grown barley and does not use any artificial additives. The entire production process is carried out according to strict organic standards, which is also reflected in the flavour profile - however, "organic" does not automatically mean "better in taste".
❓ Why does the whisky have no age statement?
👉 Nc'nean is a relatively young distillery (founded in 2017), which is why there are not yet any sufficiently matured whiskies available for an age statement. Batch 5 was distilled and matured between 2017 and 2021 - the lack of age statement is therefore due to the distillery's youth, not a deliberate marketing strategy.