Bang on to a new set of four distilleries in the new wave (The Newbies, Part I; The Newbies, Pt. II).
Eden Mill was founded in 2012 (production started 2014) in St Andrews and runs both brewing and distilling operations. It’s a small independent distillery with 100’000 L yearly capacity (that’s one 150th that of a giant like Macallan!).
Nc’Nean was founded by Annabel Thomas in 2017. Her vision of environmental sustainability has driven the company (and its marketing) and indeed they were the first distillery to run entirely off of renewable energy from 2021. They also only use organic Scottish barely and have a very flowery, some might say feminine design to their bottles, which is a welcome disruption in a business that is very male dominated on both the production and consumer ends.
Isle of Raasay is located on the Isle of Raasay (duh) just east if Isle of Skye. Founded in 2017, they have a 50/50 production of peated and unpeated malt.
Glasgow distillery became the first new distillery to open in Glasgow in modern times (2015). A bit bigger than the other distilleries on todays roster (365’000 L) but also independently owned.
Nuff with the fact dropping, and let’s get to the cork popping.
Eden Mill | NAS | 46.0% | Official
🌐
Scotch single malt
🪵
finished in 1st fill European oak oloroso & PX casks
🔆
unchillfiltered & natural color
💲
£55 / €70
Small sample review
⚡Experience
Lots of toffee and cola on the nose. Some waxy oranges, sour cherries. Dusting of cinnamon, cocoa nibs, and a light dunnage note. A modern sherry profile, but well balanced. The palate delivers a creamy texture, and sweet (but not over the top) sherry notes, that are well supported by a malty base. Baking spices and citrus in the immediate finish.
💡Thoughts
I was expecting something quite generically sherried, and that’s in a sense what I get, but it would be unfair not to acknowledge that this is a solid take on the profile in question, with balance of toffee sweetness, malt, and spices. Not hot despite the youth. And off the top of my head, I’d say would definitely stand it’s ground against a GlenAllachie or Glenfarclas in the 10-12yo range, despite its lesser age. In fact, off the top of my head, I’d say it would win.
Rewarding
✔️
Nc’Nean “Huntress – Woodland Candy”| 4yo (2018) | 48.5% | Official
🌐
Scotch single malt
🪵
35% ex-Bourbon, 65% STR red wine
🔆
unchillfiltered & natural color
💲
£80 in the UK
Small sample review
⚡Experience
On the nose: vanilla, lemon zest, foam bananas, various floral impressions. There’s also light minerality and wood. Palate: medium-sweet and sour in a lovely way. Awesome spirit character, quite muscular but not that hot despite the young age. Some apple flavour, plenty of vanilla, and grape skins. Residual barley sweetness in the finish.
💡Thoughts
It’s young, but the spirit is so great that I’m finding myself really enjoying the dram as is. I can really see this spirit accomplishing great feats in the future. This is one I’d love to try at 15yo, and I think it would sit well between Linkwood and Benrinnes.
Rewarding
✔️
Isle of Raasay | 3yo | 46.4% | Official
🌐
Scotch single malt
🪵
rye whiskey, chinquapin oak, Bordeaux red wine
🔆
unchillfiltered & natural color
💲
€50
🔗
whiskybase (or comparable batch)
Small sample review
⚡Experience
Sweetness of grilled lemon and smoked bacon greets the nose. In addition, melon, vanilla, grass and dried herbs (oregano), and a little oak. Palate: a light and very agreeable peat, balanced by maltiness and citrus.
💡Thoughts
I don’t have much to say: Simple, and does the job. Not much of the coastal, phenolic, medicial notes that make the Islay malt so interesting. But it doesn’t have to emulate that style, of course.
Rewarding
✔️
Glasgow distillery “1770 Fresh and Fruity” | bott. 2023 | 61.3% | Official
🌐
Scotch single malt
🪵
first fill ex-bourbon, virgin oak finished
🔆
unchillfiltered & natural color
💲
£65 / €80
Small sample review
⚡Experience
The nose hits with red fruits but also something slightly farmy or autumnal. Oak, some vanilla, and wood workshop. Palate: drying, oaky, muscular, has the sense of evaporating off the tongue, even when diluted. Bourbon-y, gluey, woodsy.
💡Thoughts
It’s not often talked about, but this is the “oak bomb” counterpart to a “sherry bomb”. It will get boring fast (and might eventually), but because one doesn’t get it so often it’s kind of interesting, and falls into the “rewarding” class for now. But what’s the spirit like? Who knows – this is young, powerful oak juice.
Rewarding
✔️
No big letdowns here, and one pleasant surprise. That Nc’Nean is delicious. Hefty to charge nearly €100 for a 4yo whisky from a relatively new distillery, though. I shall bide my time.
DuckDrams 
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