THE NC'NEAN BLOG

WHAT IS A CREAM LIQUEUR?
WHAT IS A CREAM LIQUEUR?
A cream liqueur is a smooth, sweet spirit made by blending alcohol with cream or milk and a touch of sugar. It’s rich, velvety, and indulgent and often has notes... Read more...
WHO ARE THE HEWITTS?
WHO ARE THE HEWITTS?
Husband and wife duo, Sarah and Simon Hewitt, are two of our quietly rebellious team members here on the wild west coast of Scotland. In autumn this year, they released... Read more...
CORPORATE GIFTING THE RIGHT WAY
CORPORATE GIFTING THE RIGHT WAY
Corporate gifting is a great way to build relationships and reflect your company’s values. But in a world where we need to be increasingly conscious of environmental impact, the question... Read more...
WHAT IS AN ORGANIC WHISKY?
WHAT IS AN ORGANIC WHISKY?
Whisky may not come top of mind when you think of an organic product. Perhaps because the farming element of whisky production is not thought about as much as that... Read more...
FIVE WAYS TO UPCYCLE YOUR WHISKY BOTTLE
FIVE WAYS TO UPCYCLE YOUR WHISKY BOTTLE
When your bottle of Nc’nean comes to an end, do not completely despair! There are great ways to keep it in use by converting our 100% recycled glass bottle into... Read more...
WHAT IS BOG MYRTLE?
WHAT IS BOG MYRTLE?
Hello, Roberto here with some thoughts on one of our favourite activities here at the distillery - Bog Myrtle picking.  Early August saw Storm Floris hit the west coast, causing... Read more...
WHAT IS CARBON FOOTPRINT AND HOW DO WE MEASURE IT?
WHAT IS CARBON FOOTPRINT AND HOW DO WE MEASURE IT?
Put simply, a carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide) that are released into the atmosphere as a result of human activity. That includes everything... Read more...
WHAT IS A YEAST TRIAL?
WHAT IS A YEAST TRIAL?
In Roberto’s last blog post, we explored how each stage in our production process impacts the character of our whisky. Dozens of factors contribute to our fruit-forward flavour profile, and... Read more...
WHY DON'T WE USE PEAT TO FLAVOUR OUR WHISKY?
WHY DON'T WE USE PEAT TO FLAVOUR OUR WHISKY?
A little known fact is that peatlands cover only 3% of the Earth’s land surface but store 600 gigatons of carbon which is more than all of the world’s forests... Read more...
WILDLIFE ON THE MORVERN PENINSULA
WILDLIFE ON THE MORVERN PENINSULA
Here on the Morvern peninsula, we’re lucky to have stunning views and scenery all year round, and on top of that, there’s lots of amazing wildlife too. This is thanks... Read more...
WHISKY IS THE NEW APERITIVO
WHISKY IS THE NEW APERITIVO
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... Read more...
CAN YOUNGER WHISKY REALLY BE DELICIOUS?
CAN YOUNGER WHISKY REALLY BE DELICIOUS?
Hello, Roberto here, one of the distillers at Nc’nean. As a new pioneering distillery, we’ve only been distilling since 2017, so I’m here to give you a run down on... Read more...
NINE GREAT THINGS TO DO ON THE MORVERN PENINSULA
NINE GREAT THINGS TO DO ON THE MORVERN PENINSULA
Here at the distillery we are very fortunate to be situated on one of the most beautiful peninsulas that the west coast of Scotland has to offer. The Morvern peninsula is... Read more...
THE HUNTRESS SERIES EXPLAINED
THE HUNTRESS SERIES EXPLAINED
What is the Huntress series? The Huntress series is one of our limited edition whisky series that we release each year in the UK springtime (usually in April). This series... Read more...
THE QUIET REBELS SERIES EXPLAINED
THE QUIET REBELS SERIES EXPLAINED
What is the Quiet Rebels series? Well let’s start with The Quiet Rebels. They are our team of eco-conscious drink fanatics on a mission to bring together a new generation... Read more...
HOW TO START YOUR OWN WHISKY DISTILLERY IN FIVE STEPS
HOW TO START YOUR OWN WHISKY DISTILLERY IN FIVE STEPS
This article written by Annabel Thomas was originally published in The Whiskey Wash on the 24th May 2024  Starting a whisky distillery in Scotland is a dream for many whisky... Read more...
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF YOUR WHISKY
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF YOUR WHISKY
Our founder Annabel sat down with Mark Littler for The Whiskey Wash to chat about sustainability in the whisky industry and why it matters. This article was first published by... Read more...
WHY A NC'NEAN ESPRESSO MARTINI TASTES SO GOOD
WHY A NC'NEAN ESPRESSO MARTINI TASTES SO GOOD
Unlike many of today’s most popular cocktails whose roots can be traced back over a hundred years (like the Negroni), the Espresso Martini was concocted in a bar in London... Read more...
WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT BOTTLING?
WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT BOTTLING?
A very good question indeed and one that is handy to know the answer to - independent bottlings or ’indy bottlings’ are terms that often crop up. An independent bottling... Read more...
DAY IN THE LIFE - DISTILLING
DAY IN THE LIFE - DISTILLING
Hello, Roberto here, giving you a little insight into a day in the life distilling at Nc’nean as a Distillery Operator. The stillhouse is the heart of the whisky distillery.... Read more...
DAY IN THE LIFE - MASHING
DAY IN THE LIFE - MASHING
Hello, Roberto here, giving you the rundown of what goes on at the distillery on a mashing day.  Every whisky starts with a mash. Whether it’s single malt, single grain, bourbon... Read more...
BUYING A CASK: CHOOSING YOUR VERY OWN CASK OF NC’NEAN
BUYING A CASK: CHOOSING YOUR VERY OWN CASK OF NC’NEAN
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... Read more...
THE BEST PLACES TO STAY ON THE MORVERN PENINSULA
THE BEST PLACES TO STAY ON THE MORVERN PENINSULA
If you are planning to embark on a slow and scenic journey through the west highlands to visit us here at the distillery, you can check out some of our... Read more...
AMY STAMMERS ON LIVING A GREENER LIFE
AMY STAMMERS ON LIVING A GREENER LIFE
We sat down with Head of Sustainability, Amy, over a dram of her very own Quiet Rebels release, to chat about her top tips for sustainable living and also her favourite brands across... Read more...
THE BEST NEGRONI YOU'VE (PROBABLY) NEVER TASTED
THE BEST NEGRONI YOU'VE (PROBABLY) NEVER TASTED
We reckon you would be pretty hard pushed trying to find a better Negroni than the one we make with our Botanical Spirit. It’s citrusy, creamy, smooth and not like... Read more...
Food from Kinloch lodge
A FOODIE’S DREAM, A WEEK ON SCOTLAND’S WEST COAST
The western highlands of Scotland are home to many of Scotland’s best hospitality and foodie destinations, and although some are fairly remote, it is well worth the extra few miles... Read more...
WHAT IS A NC’NEAN AON WHISKY?
WHAT IS A NC’NEAN AON WHISKY?
Aon means one in Gaelic and represents our collection of single cask bottlings. Every now and again we release an Aon single cask whisky. We hand pick each one of... Read more...
CAN SPIRITS PACKAGING REALLY BE SUSTAINABLE?
CAN SPIRITS PACKAGING REALLY BE SUSTAINABLE?
Yes, we believe that spirits packaging can have a lower impact on the environment. From the outset, as part of our mission to be a fierce protector of nature, we have... Read more...
DEMYSTIFYING WHISKY TERMINOLOGY
DEMYSTIFYING WHISKY TERMINOLOGY
Welcome whisky enthusiasts, the whisky curious, and those new to this whole thing. Today, we’re delving into the world of whisky terminology and shedding light on some often-misunderstood concepts: single... Read more...
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE BIOMASS
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE BIOMASS
  If a tree falls in the wood and it is used to generate energy, is it good for the environment? Forestry is big business, but how sustainable are the... Read more...
Whisky B Corp
B CORP: WHY DO IT?
Hello everyone. This blog is for all those companies who are thinking of embarking on the B Corp journey. It covers why we think all business should go through the B... Read more...
ECO-FRIENDLY SIPPING: 4 SUSTAINABLE COCKTAILS FOR SUMMER
ECO-FRIENDLY SIPPING: 4 SUSTAINABLE COCKTAILS FOR SUMMER
Historically speaking, cocktails have never been great for the environment. From shipping fresh produce around the globe to power hungry ice creation, there’s a whole host of associated issues silently... Read more...
THE ECO LOVE-TRIANGLE: BIODIVERSITY vs CLIMATE CHANGE vs POLLUTION
THE ECO LOVE-TRIANGLE: BIODIVERSITY vs CLIMATE CHANGE vs POLLUTION
In a world where we are always looking for the ‘better’ choice for our planet, it can be easy to get in a muddle over what the best option is.... Read more...
MYTH BUSTER #2: DOES WHISKY GO WITH FOOD?
MYTH BUSTER #2: DOES WHISKY GO WITH FOOD?
"The ‘perfect marriage’ of food and wine should allow for infidelity." - Roy Andries De Groot I’m not going to argue against pairing food with wine. It’s delicious. It works. And... Read more...
Do women drink whisky?
DO WOMEN DRINK WHISKY?
“Do you even drink whisky?” “How did you end up at a distillery?” At Nc’nean, we are a gender balanced team, and these are just a couple of the questions... Read more...
What is a Botanical Spirit?
MYTH BUSTER #1: WHAT IS BOTANICAL SPIRIT? ISN'T IT JUST A GIN?
Our Botanical Spirit. Herbal, floral, perfect with tonic. Much like a gin in many ways, but quite different in others. More malty, earthy, and made from our unaged whisky spirit... Read more...
WHY IS MY WHISKY THAT COLOUR?
WHY IS MY WHISKY THAT COLOUR?
There’s a lot of variety in the world of whisky colours, and an even longer list of evocative, descriptive terms for the amber liquid. But what does colour actually mean... Read more...
Still House Nc'nean Distillery
WHAT MAKES WHISKY TASTE LIKE WHISKY?
Taste is subjective. That’s why in the wonderful world of whisky you’ll hear many people talk about the different ‘tasting notes’ they get from the same whisky. We know that... Read more...
PACKAGING: THE TRUTH ABOUT GLASS
PACKAGING: THE TRUTH ABOUT GLASS
Glass: often deemed the more ‘sustainable’ option for being nontoxic and infinitely recyclable, but it’s not all good news. From carbon impact to recycled content, glass’s impact on the planet... Read more...
OUR WORLD RECORD BREAKING AUCTION: A TIME FOR GIVING BACK
OUR WORLD RECORD BREAKING AUCTION: A TIME FOR GIVING BACK
You might have heard that back in August we partnered with our friends over at Whisky Auctioneer to auction off the first 10 bottles of Ainnir, our first ever whisky bottling at... Read more...
Whisky six
WHISKY AND SODA: A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
The humble whisky soda, you don’t need to go too far back in pub history to find a room filled with effervescing tumblers of the stuff. A delightfully simple combination... Read more...
Sustainable spirits
BOTANICAL SPIRIT: HOW WE MADE IT
The story of our Botanical Spirit: read on to find out where the idea came from, why it took six months of development to get the recipe right and just... Read more...
BUYING A BARREL: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CASK
BUYING A BARREL: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CASK
Well, before we start with the casks themselves, let’s look at the distillery. Every distillery has its own story and its own distillation and maturation methods, so it’s good to... Read more...
ORGANIC FARMING: THE PROS AND CONS
ORGANIC FARMING: THE PROS AND CONS
There are so many reasons to love organic farming, but giving tours to farmers who visit the distillery often throws up interesting questions or comments. ‘Surely it is more prone to... Read more...
AM I ALLOWED TO ADD WATER TO MY WHISKY?
AM I ALLOWED TO ADD WATER TO MY WHISKY?
Firstly, let’s start by welcoming you to the wonderful world of internet whisky debates. There’s many of them, and they can get, unexpectedly, a little heated. So, we’re here to... Read more...
DO I HAVE TO BE A WHISKY GEEK TO BUY A WHOLE CASK?
DO I HAVE TO BE A WHISKY GEEK TO BUY A WHOLE CASK?
Buy a cask of whisky. We realise that sentence can sound a little daunting, and that you might need to know a lot about whisky to even think about delving... Read more...