At Nc’nean we are on a mission to encourage more people to embrace whisky as a delicious and versatile spirit. One way we do this is to try and “bring whisky further up the menu”. We are firm believers that whisky should not just be confined to the end of a menu or meal, but can be enjoyed as an aperitif, as part of a tasting menu or with a dessert.
Our favourite of all of these occasions though is the aperitif. It’s been part of European culture since the 19th century and is inspired by herbal drinks enjoyed in ancient Greece and Rome, their purpose was to aperire (Latin for "open") the appetite. Over time, the aperitif became a popular ritual: a moment to pause at the end of a day and prepare for the meal ahead. A ritual that we think whisky is perfect for.
Uninhibited by tradition, our house style of whisky is elegant and fruity, which we achieve by focusing our time on producing a clean and fruity tasting spirit even before it goes into a cask. Once matured, it produces a style of whisky which works incredibly well as a pre-dinner drink. If you want to find out more about how we make whisky, click here.
And the proof is in the pudding (or perhaps the starter!), as according to our annual consumer survey, there has been a 15% increase between 2021 and 2024 in people enjoying whisky as an early evening serve.
Our favourite way to let our whisky shine as an aperitif is in a very easy to make Whisky and Soda highball, which we call a Whisky Six.
1. WHISKY SIX
Our whisky stands up incredibly well to soda water, due to its silky texture which comes from our use of organic barley. This means it makes for an excellent light, refreshing and almost creamy highball. This cocktail recipe is one we love so much that we have printed it on the side of our bottle.
Ingredients
2 parts Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky (50ml)
4 parts soda water (100ml)
Mint sprig to garnish
Method
Fill a glass with cubed ice and add all the ingredients. Gently stir then garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.
2. NEAT OR ON THE ROCKS
Our flagship Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky is fruity and elegant and perfect as a pre dinner drink neat or over ice. With delicious flavours of lemon posset, peach and apricot and spiced rye bread, It is a firm favourite for new to whisky drinkers and seasoned whisky drinkers love it too.
3. ROB ROY
This cocktail is a delicious balance of sweet, bitter and zest and works exceptionally well with our flagship single malt whisky.
50ml Organic Single Malt Whisky
20ml sweet vermouth
2 dashes bitters (any bitters- Angostura or Peychaud’s are great)
2 dashes orange bitters if you have them
Cocktail cherry garnish
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Method
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass, then fill with cubed ice and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, then garnish with a cocktail cherry.
4. AULD MAID
This refreshing cocktail combines cucumber, mint and lime. It looks elegant and is a perfect palette cleanser.
Ingredients
50ml Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky
20ml lime juice
20ml 1:1 sugar syrup
8 mint leaves
2 cucumber slices
Cucumber spiral to garnish
Method
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, then fill with cubed ice and shake hard for 12 seconds. Strain in a rocks glass filled with cubed ice, then garnish with a cucumber spiral.
5. THE HUNTRESS
And for those of you who are on the cusp of their new whisky journey, but not ready to jump in head first, why not try one of our Botanical Spirit cocktails.
Ingredients
60ml Botanical Spirit
10ml dry white wine, (e.g. Chablis Sauvginon Blanc, Picpoul de Pinet, etc)
10ml elderflower cordial, Lemon twist to garnish
Method
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass, then fill with cubed ice and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, then garnish with lemon twist.
So there you have five different ways to enjoy Nc’nean from the beginning of the evening, not just the end! For more cocktail inspiration for our flagship whisky and Organic Botanical Spirit, click here.