Nc’nean adds cask strength whisky to its permanent range of organic single malts
The release will be on shelves in the US from June 2025
Pioneering whisky distillery, Nc’nean, is expanding its portfolio in the US, announcing a cask strength whisky as the latest addition to its core range, to meet demand from consumers across America. Nc’nean’s light and fruity flagship organic single malt has been flying off the shelves since its launch into the US in late 2023,, and fans have been asking to see a permanent higher strength edition ever since. Their cask strength edition has already been making waves across the UK and Europe, with high demand coming in from Asia too.
Nc’nean’s signature recipe at cask strength is the organic single malt in its most natural form, giving it a higher ABV than most other expressions in the range (approximately 59%). It is made from organic Scottish barley, whose natural yields and rich soils contribute depth of flavour. Consumers can expect a delicious and slightly more intense notes of spiced rye bread, juicy peaches and tangy lemons, in comparison with their flagship bottling.
The gentle fermentation and distillation process accentuates the delicate and fruity flavours in the spirit. Just like the flagship expression, each bottle has been matured in specially treated red wine and American whisky barrels, alongside a small number of sherry casks, to develop Nc’nean’s unique trademark body and sweetness.
Every bottle is certified organic, suitable for vegans and gluten-free, having been carefully crafted in Nc’nean’s renewable energy powered distillery. Housed in a 100% recycled glass bottle, aligning with the brand’s B Corp status, each is decorated with a striking design in Nc’nean’s signature style, representing the brand’s synergy with nature.
Commenting on the new release, Annabel Thomas, founder of Nc’nean says: “I’m really excited to be adding a cask strength whisky to our flagship range. When this expression was previously bottled exclusively for some of our fans in Germany, we received such an enthusiastic response about the fruitiness and spice that the higher alcohol strength brings to our signature whisky. With this in mind, we decided to roll it out across our other markets. If you’re a fan of cask strength whiskies, then this one is for you!”.
The previously bottled cask strength expression for the German market claimed a Master medal at The Drinks Business and Spirits Business Spring Tasting, with judges calling it “An excellent example of a cask strength Scotch single malt. Incredible depth and complexity, and great integration of high abv.”
Nc’nean Cask Strength will be available in liquor stores in 25 states, as well as online for home delivery to 44 states from ncnean-usa.com. For information on retailers in each state, please email Nc’nean’s importer, ImpEx Beverages, at office@ImpExBev.com.
Details:
Cask Strength Batch MN21
700ml bottle
ABV: cask strength (circa 59%)
Cask mix: 55% STR red wine, 43% American Whiskey, 2% Olorosso Sherry
Yeasts: Anchor and Fermentis
Certified organic, non-chill filtered, natural colour
Vegan friendly, gluten free, B Corp certified
RRP: $99.99
Launch date: Rolling out from June 2025
About Nc’nean:
Nc’nean is an award winning** independent, organic whisky distillery on the west coast of Scotland. Nc’nean began distilling in March 2017 and from inception has strived to do things differently.
In pursuit of new flavours in whisky, Nc’nean pushes the boundaries of innovation, using longer mashing times, slow fermentation (ranging from 65-116 hours), and experiments with unusual yeasts not commonly used within whisky distilling. Nc’nean matures its whisky on site in ex-bourbon, sherry and STR ex-red wine casks, along with many other smaller and more unique cask experiments, including Rum, Tequila, Calvados and Maury. The high, narrow cut on the still helps to produce a purer spirit, creating a lighter spirit that retains its fruity notes.
The Nc’nean ethos of sustainable production is embedded in everything it does. In July 2021 Nc’nean achieved verified net zero status for carbon emissions from its own operations (scopes 1 and 2). It is the UK’s first whisky distillery to be classified as net zero for scopes 1 & 2 and reached its goal 20 years ahead of the industry target. In addition, Nc’nean only uses 100% organic Scottish barley, the only whisky distillery to do so in Scotland, making all its products certified organic. Its whisky bottles are made from 100% recycled glass and it recycles or reuses 99.9% of its waste.
In February 2022 Nc’nean achieved B Corp accreditation, with an extremely high score of 135.6. Major points were received in the environmental impact area, reflecting the brand’s stellar efforts to exist in harmony with the planet. In July 2022, Nc’nean was named a 2022 Best for World B Corp in recognition for the exceptional positive impact in its environmental stewardship. Nc’nean’s B Corp score is the highest of any distillery globally (as of August 2024).
Nc’nean released its first whisky in August 2020 and the charity auction of the first 10 bottles broke the world record for the price paid for a first release from a new distillery (£41,000 for Bottle #1). Since then, the distillery has continued to delight consumers with its flagship expression alongside cask strength bottling, their organic Botanical Spirit, and two seasonal limited releases: Huntress and Quiet Rebels. Huntress, the innovative series, is released annually in spring time and is the product of work on the spirit itself, such as yeast trials and barley variations. Quiet Rebels is released in Autumn; this bottling is selected by and named after one of their team each year. They also release multiple single cask bottlings each year under the Aon series (meaning ‘one’ in Gaelic), often showcasing unique cask experiments in partnership with various distributors and retailers across the globe.
Nc'nean is the first distillery in Scotland to offer its own remote bottle return scheme for website customers saving an estimated 280g of carbon per return. In autumn 2024, Nc'nean released the UK's first ever 100% recycled glass miniature bottles in partnership with the Caledonian Sleeper. Nc’nean has been named in the top 30 whiskies for 2024 by Vinepair and has been named one of the top 10 Scottish distilleries to visit by the Guardian. Nc’nean has also ranked 21st in Drinks International’s Top 50 Most Admired Whisky brands in the world for two years in a row with only older more established distilleries ahead of them - putting the fledgling distillery amongst some of the world’s biggest heritage brands. Consumers in the UK and the US can shop via their website ncnean.com. Nc’nean are also stocked in many independent retailers in the UK and are expanding rapidly across the globe as demand for sustainable whisky increases. They are now distributed widely across Europe, North America, Japan and Dubai.
Awards:
**Icons of Whisky Scotland Sustainable distillery of the Year 2025, Great Taste Gold Star 2024, The Drinks Business and Spirits Business Spring Blind Tasting Master 2024, ranked 21st in Drinks International’s Top 50 Most Admired Whisky brands in the world 2023 and 2024, Double Gold Award SFWSC 2023, Gold USA spirits ratings 2023, The Spirits Business Design and Packaging Masters 2023 Best in Class and Master 2023, Icons of Whisky Scotland Craft Producer 2023, The Spirits Business Distillery Sustainability Award 2022, Double Gold Award SFWSC 2023, Gold Award IWSC 2022, Great Taste Award Gold Star 2021, The Drinks Business and Spirits Business Spring Blind Tasting GOLD 2021, Icons of Whisky Scotland and Icons of Whisky Global Sustainable Distillery of the year 2021.
