Average

AnCnoc Flaughter Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$85
Website

What the Distillery Says:
anCnoc (pronounced a-nock) is a single malt Scotch whisky created using a traditional process that has changed very little over time.

anCnoc is Gaelic for the nearby Knock Hill, and its home distillery is Knockdhu, which means “black hill” in Gaelic. Located on the very edge of Speyside, the Knock estate sits on land rich in peat.

anCnoc Flaughter, one of the first releases from the Limited Edition Peaty Collection, honors the original style of whisky in the region, using natural peat from the land. The peaty range brings the phenol content of the whisky into focus by displaying its PPM (parts per million) level on the bottle. Flaughter is the name of the spade used to remove the top layer of peat, which is richer and more rooty, giving the whisky a heavier, smokier flavor, in this case, with a PPM of 14.8. The 46% ABV allows the house style to shine through.

Tasting Notes
Color anCnoc Flaughter is pale gold in appearance.
Nose Initially smoky and ashy. Underneath, fresh vanilla notes ooze softness and creaminess while a sharper hint of sticky toffee offers a balancing sweetness
Taste A warming and smooth experience; peaty and intense but remarkably rounded, it flickers with hints of fragrant pipe tobacco, orchard fruits, brown sugar sweetness and a slight medicinal overtone. An intensely flavorsome, smoky and smooth finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Dusty and smoky…like an old ashtray but not as unpleasant. Even though the strength is the same, the alcohol comes through much hotter than the Rutter. There is a little of that vanilla cream at the back but it’s hard to find through the soot and alcohol.
Palate: It comes off a little sharp and astringent at first. With time it opens to orange zest and unripened apples.
Finish: Old (used not aged) cigar tobacco, dry, chalky.
Comments: Wow. I could not imagine that the Flaughter and the Rutter could be so different. The Flaughter leaves me wanting to find something else to drink. It’s not awful or anything. It’s more like a song slightly off key. Everything just isn’t jiving with this one. Since they are the same price I would definitely grab the Rutter over the Flaughter.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Amy with The Thomas Collective for sending over samples for review.

Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey 18 Years Old
43% ABV
$90 to $110
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The 18 Years Old is a single malt Scotch whisky of serious distinction. Once it has spent fifteen years maturing in American white oak casks approximately 30% is transferred into Spanish Oloroso casks to spend a further three years maturing. Then, when both elements have reached 18 years, we blend them back together to create a whisky with a rich bouquet and full, rounded flavour.

For a whisky of this age this expression has maintained, thanks to our delicate floral spirit and fine Oloroso casks, an incredible degree of vibrancy where the raisiny sweetness of the sherry has been toned down by the nuttiness of the American oak.

Aroma: Rich, rounded and sweet with dried fruits and a complex floral fragrance.
Taste: The taste is balanced between honey, malt and flowery scents. Dates and figs emerge in the background with a hint of wood smoke.
Finish: The finish is long and enticing with the sweetness of dried fruit and subtle dryness of Oloroso nuttiness.
Colour: Honeyed gold

What Richard Says:
Nose: Dried wood and bouquet garni with bits of sweet dried fruit around the edges.
Palate: Creamy, light, delicate and a little nutty. You need to roll this one around a bit to let it open in the mouth. It’s very coy at first. As it opens you get caramelized onions, more dried wood and light honeysuckle sweetness.
Finish: Dry…like reach for a glass of water dry with a grain-ish woodiness.
Comments: Not my favorite Glenmorangie. This is very much the older patriarch to the 10 year old “Original” but like that expression I’m not bowled over with this one. Glenmorangie seems to make a nice, lightly pleasant base spirit that takes to wood finishing well. However, the base spirit can be a little bland and uninspiring. I find this one to fall into that camp. However, I truly respect that they are keeping (for now) their 18 year old in a (somewhat) reasonable price range while others are charging toward the $150 or $200 mark.
Rating: Average