anCnoc 16yo
Whisky: anCnoc 16yo, 46%
R900 ≈ £72
anCnoc (pronounced a-knock) is a single malt Scotch whisky produced at the Knockdu distillery in Speyside. The name anCnoc was introduced in 1993 to avoid drinkers confusing Knockdu with another similarly named distillery in the same region. In the last several years they have stepped up their marketing efforts and have been releasing some really cool expressions. Definitely a distillery to have on your radar.
Nose: Early citrus, mainly limes, followed by fluffy white bread (the mass produced preservative kind). Soft vanilla with hints of licorice. A fresh, autumn air feel to this with suggestions of dried barley swaying in the breeze.
Taste: Apples and oak combine for a fresh and full bodied spirit that still manages to maintain a delicateness. Notes of toffee with late spices warmly arriving in the form of clove and pepper. Lip tingling.
Finish: A spicy mint (toothpaste reminiscent) leaves a cooling, tingling palette. Long with the apple and vanilla sweetness fading last.
My Score: 82
The spicy mint on the finish almost leaves the same feeling you get after using mouthwash, which to a degree is enjoyable but I do find it slightly too strong. A refreshing experience from a solid dram, unfortunately it’s very expensive locally.
Other Scores: JM’11 90.5
Grant’s 12yo Added to Local SA Range
I’m slightly delayed in posting this little nugget of news, but whisky tidings tend to travel slower in South African and so I hereby inform you of another whisky expression new to our fine-weathered shores. The Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky range consists of six different whiskies, but unfortunately for South Africans only the entry-level, NAS expression, The Family Reserve, has been available in South Africa – for what I’ve been told is “decades”. Now new to the local scene, is it’s older and tastier sibling, Grant’s 12yo.
The Grant’s range is produced by independent, family-owned William Grant & Sons whose origins date back to 1886. If the name sounds familiar, it should. It’s the same William Grant who found the Glenfiddich distillery in 1887. (The company still own Glenfiddich along with The Balvenie.)
Grant’s blended whiskies are made using grain whisky from the Girvan distillery as a base, blended with other grain whiskies and a variety of single malts including, we can assume, Glenfiddich and Balvenie. Interestingly, Grant’s 12yo marries the final vatting for an additional six months in ex-bourbon casks. Such an additional costly step is not only for marketing merits, but should produce a more integrated experience, and depending on the freshness of the casks could impart additional flavour as well.
Grant’s 12yo is already in stores with a retail price of ±R240, which I think is spot on for what it offers and is inline with UK prices for a pleasant change. You can read my review here, but I leave you with the official tasting notes: Vibrant nose with aromas of fruit, with hints of blackcurrants and peaches, balanced with a sweet vanilla maltiness. Sweet and rich palate with a beautiful mix of vanilla honey and spice. A long smooth and warm finish.
Springbank Whiskies Return to SA
Although Campbeltown used to proclaim itself the whisky capital of the world, with nearly 30+ distilleries at one time, those days are sadly long gone. What remains today of this region, one of five officially recognised whisky producing regions in Scotland, is only three lone distilleries. Of the three, Springbank distillery is by far the most prolific and widely known. Founded in 1828 on the site of an illicit distilling operation (as is so common with Scotch distilleries) it is still owned by the very same family, making it the oldest independent distillery in Scotland.
Highly uncommon nowadays, Springbank carries out the entire whisky making process under their own roof, from malting of the barley all the way through to bottling their mature whiskies. In the same uncommon vein, they also produce three distinct single malt brands of various styles: triple distilled Hazelburn, heavily peated Longrow, and the self-labelled Springbank known for it’s complexity.
Although, if you were determined, you may have found the occasional bottle of Springbank on the shelf of a South African retailer, it has not been generally available in the last few years. Any stock in the country was old stock from the last importer that no longer operates. Thankfully, this has now changed, and soon you’ll find the standard range of Springbank at premium liquor stores thanks to the fine folk at Liquidity. The range includes the 10yo at ±R570, newly released 12yo cask strength at ±R690, 15yo at ±R800, and my personal favourite; the 18yo at ±R1000.
For more info you can contact Liquidity on (021) 905-9066 or by email.
Hankey Bannister 21yo
Whisky: Hankey Bannister 21yo Partners Reserve, 43%
± £97 ≈ R1200 (Unavailable in SA)
Hankey Bannister is Inverhouse’s flagship blend containing malt from each of the company’s malt whisky distilleries: Old Pulteney, Balblair, Speyburn and Knockdu (bottled as anCnoc). Exported worldwide it has a major presence in all major European markets with other key markets including SA, Latin America and Australia.
Nose: A vanilla creaminess with notes of freshly baked sweet bread. Reminiscent of a chilled, sweet white wine. A light fruitiness with canned pears. Not obviously a 21yo, could easily be younger in its vibrancy, which I find a good thing.
Taste: Cooling, with the grain slightly firm and sharp. Quite rich with good depth including tones of maltiness and some toffee. Doesn’t take well with water in my opinion; just a few drop diluted it and, apart from the spice, the flavours were lost.
Finish: A balanced oakiness with accompanying spice. Quite long but after sometime a slight bitterness emerges.
My Score: 82
This is good quality blend but for it’s price I feel it falls a bit short on the value-for-money proposition. Strong points include the creamy nose and depth on the palette, but overall I enjoyed the vibrancy of the whisky the most. Although South African is listed as a key market, you’ll only find the Hankey Bannister Original in local stores. (Which is good value-for-money.)
Other Scores: JM’11 93.5
The Macallan and Roja Dove Tasting
Please join me for an exclusive evening with The Macallan presented by brand ambassador Candice Baker. The evening will include a tasting of The Macallan Fine Oak 10yo and 15yo, and world famous sherry oak 12yo and 18yo. The whiskies will be presented along with aromatic oils especially developed by master perfumer Roja Dove for The Macallan to facilitate the discovery of the whiskies flavour notes and nuances. To RSVP please contact me here.
This official video (and a well executed piece of marketing) provides insights to The Macallan and Roja Dove project, and gives you an idea of what you can expect to encounter at the tasting. Hope to see you there.
