If you love your whisky, are passionate about sustainability, or just a die hard Nc’nean fan, we can offer you the opportunity to own your own cask of whisky.
We only release a very limited number of casks to private individuals each year, with some people purchasing a cask on their own, some as part of a group, or maybe as a gift for that very special friend or family member. We look after everything for you, keeping the cask tucked away safely on the wild west coast. Once the cask is ready, we bottle it into 100% recycled glass bottles for you to drink, share or gift for years to come. We are now opening fillings for 2025. We are always oversubscribed so please email your details to casks@ncnean.com to get your name on the list. Well then send you an order form to secure your spot.
OUR DISTILLERY
Our story began in 2012. During a whisky road trip, Annabel had a lightbulb moment - why do so many distilleries do things the same way they have always been done? Perhaps there are other ways.
Nc’nean is an abbreviation of Neachneohain, the Queen of Spirits in Gaelic legend. Neachneohain was a Huntress and a Quiet Rebel. A fierce protector of nature, she was strong, independent and never afraid to walk her own path. With this in mind, we began forging our own path. With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation we started building our distillery from scratch. Then, five years later, tucked down a quiet single-track road on the beautiful west coast of Scotland, Nc’nean’s stills were turned on for the first time, with our first run of new make spirit flowing in March 2017.
OUR SPIRIT
We use 100% organic Scottish barley and our own pure spring water to produce our spirit in our verified net zero (scopes 1 & 2) distillery. All our energy comes from renewable sources, and we recycle 100% of our cooling water resulting in an exceptionally low water footprint. Our left-over grain feeds the cows on the farm. Nothing is wasted. We’re exploring long mashes and slow ferments, and experimenting with yeasts not always used in distilling. High, narrow cut points help us produce a pure, fruit-forward flavour profile, while our lamp-shaped stills encourage a gentle distillation, creating a lighter spirit. Our distillation and maturation approach were master-minded by the late Dr Jim Swan. A chemist by training and a whisky industry veteran, Jim had an excellent track record in helping distilleries achieve fantastic quality whiskies at a young age.
OUR CASKS
We have three cask varieties you can choose from, each adding their own characteristic to Nc’nean’s light, fruity spirit.
Our ex-bourbon casks come from across the pond, mostly from Kentucky – the home of some of the best American whiskeys. Maturing our spirit in these barrels gives flavours of toffee, vanilla and orchard fruit. If you are happy to tuck your cask away for longer and like those classic Single Malt Scotch Whisky flavours, then this is the cask for you. Nc’nean’s spirit truly shines through.
Our STR red wine casks, sourced from Spain, have been shaved, toasted and re-charred before they make their journey to the UK. This treatment caramelizes the sugars in the residual wine imbued in the wood. Maturing your whisky in an STR cask will give flavours of warming spice and pastries. If you're a fan of richer, spicier single malts, then this is for you. STR casks are great for those who like to drink their whisky young as the colour and flavours develop quickly.
Our Oloroso casks, also from Spain, impart notes of roasted nuts and jam. These casks produce truly decadent whiskies, adding viscosity and intensity, as well as a rich, deep colour. For lovers of fruit-forward single malts, bursting with flavour.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS?
Our casks start from £4,400- £6,200 (depending on your chosen cask type). Then, when your cask has finished its maturation term, you’ll need to pay for bottling, shipping and any duty or taxes in your country of residence. These costs can fluctuate depending on the current rate of taxes, excise and packaging costs but as a guide this is currently about £6,000. For someone in the UK this works out to be around £45 per bottle of your own cask strength whisky.
HOW MANY BOTTLES WILL I HAVE IN THE END?
To put this in perspective, an ex-bourbon cask will hold about 190 bulk litres. After a 5-year maturation period, including the loss in angels’ share, one cask will yield an average of 247 bottles, at cask strength. STR and Oloroso casks are both hogsheads and hold about 250 litres, after the same maturation term, including the loss of angels’ share and bottled at cask strength you will be looking at bottling around 294 bottles. But remember, no one cask is the same and you can choose to bottle your cask at any abv you like, as long as it is above 46% abv.
AND THE BOTTLE ITSELF? WILL I GET TO PERSONALISE MY BOTTLING?
Your whisky will be filled on site at our distillery, into our 70cl private cask whisky bottles with a customised label. These are the trademark Nc’nean whisky bottle shape and made from 100% recycled glass. Your front label will include your chosen name followed by the technical details of your whisky. Along with space for you to add personalised text to make the bottle truly yours.
CAN I FILL MY CASK MYSELF?
We’d be delighted for you to fill your cask yourself! We offer a few filling dates a year fitting into our production schedule. We will share these dates with you with plenty of notice so you can organise your travel and accommodation. Our private cask filling days are a fantastic day out at the distillery. We start our morning off with tea and coffee in the bar. Then, taking it from the top, we share with you the relatively short history of Nc’nean and how we came to be. There will then be time to fill your cask after a full tour of production, before we finish back in the bar for a in depth tasting and a slice of cake from our local bakery!
WHERE WILL MY CASK BE STORED?
Don’t worry, you’re not going to have to re-arrange the furniture. We’ll store your cask in one of our bonded warehouses until it’s ready to be bottled. You’re welcome to visit the distillery whenever we’re open, just let us know you’re coming so we can ensure the team can spend some time with you.
CAN I PERSONALISE MY CASK?
Of course - we will stencil and paint your cask with a name of your choice, and send you a copy of your cask ownership certificate. If you can’t make it on the day, not to worry we will be sure to take photos on the day to send along with your certificate.
CAN I MATURE MY CASK FOR LONGER THAN 5 OR 10 YEARS?
You most certainly can, you’re in complete control how long the whisky is aged for. We charge £100 for each additional year per cask to cover storage and insurance fees.
I'M IN, WHAT'S NEXT?
Simple, if you have any questions or would like to be added to our waiting list, please send us your details to casks@ncnean.com. Remember that we only release a very limited number of casks to private individuals each year, so if you are interested, get in quick!
Blog written by Office Manager, Bec Chadwick