anCnoc 1975 vintage (44.2%, OB, 1590 Bottles, 2015)

• Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• 44.2% ABV, £300 for 70cl
• Score: 90/100

What they say:

Released in February 2015 this Limited Edition Single Malt was drawn from just three casks at our picturesque Knockdhu Distillery in Huntly.  Distinguished by its bronze tone, anCnoc 1975 Vintage is neither chill-filtered nor coloured and is bottled at its natural cask strength of 44.2% ABV.  Matured in Spanish and American oak casks, the whisky is full-bodied, intense and complex with notes of fruit cake, sticky toffee and seasoned leather which leads to a long, sweet finish.

Colour: Dark bronze with mahogany highlights.

Nose: Waves of spicy dried fruit and creamy vanilla sweetness are accentuated by orange peel, green apple freshness and just a hint of cut flowers.

Taste: Full-bodied, intense and complex. Fruit cake, sticky toffee and seasoned leather are followed by signature notes of honey and lemons, leading eventually to a long, mouth-watering finish full of spice and sweetness.

What I say:

Sampled at the anCnoc masterclass in Edinburgh on 25th March 2015. This 1975 vintage expression has been matured for 39 years before bottling. Made from 2 American oak and 1 Spanish oak ex-sherry casks vatted together to produce around 1590 bottles at a combined ABV of 44.2%

Colour:

Dark ruby amber (16/20), heavy/slow tears

Nose:

Cocoa powder and dark chocolate, cinnamon latte coffee, musty dunnage warehouses and gentle spice, molasses, an almost brandy or Cointreau-like aroma, Christmas pudding, orange marmalade and fresh ginger root hints were detected

Taste:

Warming and spiced, Christmas cake, drying old oak wood, pepper, brown toast, leather, cigar box, tobacco leaf and tropical fruits pineapple and papaya

Finish:

Medium long a large slab of gingerbread and spiced coffee with dark chocolate and cigar smoke

Overall: