anCnoc Rascan

An acceptable but typical expression. Of the peated anCnocs, the Rascan is the most like the original 12 year old. It's clearly younger, showing a bold, audacious, and sharp character, yet the core of this malt remains true to its sweet coconut and vanilla notes, with smoke-dried meat and a slight hint of smoke and peat. Honestly, there's no real peat on the nose or palate. It's a strong mix of saltwater and sugar, which is a bit odd compared to other peated anCnocs. There's also some raw barley and malt, a bit of wood, and leather, plus spice. It feels fresh, striking, and heavy all at once. The nose also has some unripe, lively green apples. However, I have no reason to call it a bad attempt or a bad whisky. I enjoyed it, but I'm not entirely fond of the Rascan. The main issue is the peat level – it should have been either more or less peaty if it were up to me. The finish is sharp, smoky, and malty again. The aftertaste is genuinely pleasant as the flavor fades evenly, and so does the intensity.

One of the more challenging names to pronounce among whiskeys, though it's simply 'anok', with a closed 'a'. While it takes its time revealing its aroma, the distinct saltiness of cured pork fat joins earthy spices and green apple. Its color is a restrained pale gold, and this honesty suits it well: it's uncolored! On the palate, it doesn't hold back on the alcohol, but it's not offensively strong, offering a long-lasting finish where the sip lingers. The smoke is present throughout, at a roughly light-to-medium strength. The finish is floral, yet pleasantly smoky. (For context, a 'rascan' is a tool used to break up the top layer of rough soil and prepare it for peat harvesting: it clears the heather turf to expose the peat used in whiskey production for further extraction.)

I'm sampling various AnCnoc peated versions to find one I had previously at a bar. The scent has ample sweet barbecue spices, dry peat, smoky barbecue fumes, and toasted marshmallows. The mouthfeel is dry yet possesses the gentle, silky texture typical of Ancnoc. Key flavors include vanilla malt and powdered chocolate. The conclusion offers dry peat smoke and earthy spices. I enjoyed the sweet and savory aroma of this whisky, but it's not the one from that other evening.

Wow! A real favorite! Very well balanced between citrus, peat, and smoke flavors. It's a shame it's a limited edition, but it makes me want to explore the rest of this distillery's products! Bottle opened in 2020-08.

The aroma is intensely smoky, like a barbecue. The taste is also very smoky and charred with a pleasant lingering spiciness. The finish is quite smooth, with a nice warmth that goes down into the stomach.

Nose of twigs, charcoal, iodine, and gentle sweet peat. Light and clean initially. A gritty warmth in the finish. Notes of lemon pith, pineapple rind, and chalky, unsweetened candies. Delicate peat. An easy drinker. Good, but I prefer the unpeated version.