anCnoc Peatheart - 46%
Distillery notes:
Established in 1894, our Distillery Knockdhu, is one of the most enchanting in the Scottish Highlands and belted by a bounty of natural resources perfectly suited to making whisky. Knockdhu sits just under Knock Hill - the home of pure, clear water springs - and sits on the doorstep of a region rich in barley and peat.
Peatiness can be controlled by the amount of peat burnt and the humidity of the barley. The peat smoke generates phenols, and it is the phenol content that allows a whisky's 'peatiness' to be measured. The phenol content is expressed as PPM (parts per million) and to ensure consistency, Peatheart uses barley, specified by our Master Blender, malted to 40 PPM.
Colour: Light gold
Nose: Understated peat smoke and barbecue balanced by ripe pineapples, pears and a dark, rich tone of baked toffee apples. Subtle vanilla and sparks of fresh lemon rind lend lightness and elegance to the composition.
Taste: Structured and full, with rich smoke in balance with juicy gummy bears and the light, fizzy sweetness of spun sugar. Undertones of a hay barn and fudge give it a delicious weight. The finish long and growing, distinctly spicy and sweet with a warming, smoky finale.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Pale straw, forms a thin line which falls as slow, oily legs.
Nose: Soft barbecue smoke, baked orchard fruit and pineapple, lemon meringue pie filling and vanilla ice cream.
Palate: Mouth-coatingly buttery. Sweet barbecue smoke, chocolate stout, poached pears, sweet vanilla, lightly salted caramel, and a little lemon zest. A few drops of water bring more caramel notes and a little tannic oak dryness.
Finish: Long, slightly spicy and lingering. Soft heather peat smoke, a little lemon citrus and ginger.
Summary: An interesting whisky which manages to combine sweet barbecue smoke with chocolate maltiness, orchard fruit and citrus notes. There is an underlying richness and yet it still manages to feel quite light and fresh. Despite the 40ppm it isn’t particularly smoky or peaty, but still provides great balance with the fruitiness without overwhelming.
Current price is just over the £50 mark and, whilst it may be prove to be slightly underwhelming to some of the diehard peatheads out there, this is a whisky which has more than enough in its locker to provide a very enjoyable experience.
If you would like to know more about AnCnoc whiskies, and the Knockdhu distillery, follow the link to the company website.
Transparency: This sample was part of a 5 dram sample set, purchased from The Spirits Embassy. No goods or other incentives were exchanged, offered or requested for this independent review.
