Organic whisky distillery, Nc’nean, will release the latest limited-edition whisky in their Huntress series, Orchard Cobbler, this month.
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
The Nc'nean Huntress series, which is released each April, is inspired by their namesake - Gaelic goddess Neachneohain, who was known as a huntress and for walking her own path.
This series is centred around that ethos of discovery, and Nc’nean’s passion for hunting for unique flavours in whisky making.
This year’s Nc'nean Huntress release is named Orchard Cobbler, for its deliciously warming and homely flavours of Cherry Bakewell, apricot marmalade and vanilla custard.
This particular Huntress release is incredibly unique, in that the spirit used is only produced once a year when the distillers cross over from one distillation recipe to another.
Nc’nean Orchard Cobbler has been matured in a mix of STR ex-red wine, ex-American whiskey and Oloroso Sherry Certified organic casks.
Nc’nean is widely recognised for pushing the boundaries of conventional Scotch whisky. Unlike most distilleries, they run two different spirit runs each year, one for whisky set to be released at a younger age, and one set to be released after ten plus years.
The spirit matured for Huntress Orchard Cobbler comes from the distillation in the week after this spirit recipe is switched over – a time where cut points are changed and unusually high fruity compounds flood into the spirit. So fruity, that the whisky is named after one of the team’s favourite desserts.
In the UK, Nc’nean’s flagship whisky has recently landed on the supermarket shelves of nearly 250 Waitrose stores and internationally. It is now available in 18 countries, including the US.
In 2021 Nc’nean became the first whisky distillery in the UK to be verified as net zero carbon emissions for scopes 1 and 2.
They are B Corp certified and use only organic Scottish barley in the distillery which is powered entirely by renewable energy. The whisky is bottled in 100% post-consumer-recycled glass, which saves 40% of the carbon compared to using virgin glass.
Nc'neans experimental distilling methods led them to win Craft producer of the year at the 2023 Icons of Whisky Awards and their organic single malt has received several top taste awards, including double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The small female-led distillery was also ranked 21st in Drinks International’s Top 50 Most Admired Whisky brands in the world 2023. Nc’nean was the only new Scotch whisky to make the top 25, putting the fledgling distillery amongst some of the world’s biggest heritage brands.
The Huntress seasonal release is available from 23 April in the UK priced at up to £88.95. Royal Mile Whiskies has it in stock for £84.95 - buy it here.
