Single
Cask Nation is an American independent bottling
company that was founded in 2011 by friends Jason Johnston-Yellin
and Joshua Hatton. Initially, it was a social club whose goal was to
find and share single cask whiskies. Currently, Single Cask Nation is “a unique
global community of whisky geeks that counts more than 10,000 members.” Apparently,
Single Cask Nation knows what it is doing because in 2024, it was named the Icons
of Whiskey’s Independent Bottler of the Year.
Single
Cask Nation has a new slate of whiskies available each year. They’re mostly
Scotches, but occasionally, another country is represented. While Single Cask
Nation is headquartered in Connecticut, it does have a USA-exclusive distribution
agreement with ImpEx
Beverages.
ImpEx
Beverages was kind enough to send me three samples of bottlings from Single
Cask Nation in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest reviews, which we’ll
get into momentarily.
For
each whisky, I used a fresh Glencairn glass and explored them neat. Each rested
about 15 minutes before I approached them. Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover what
they’re all about!
Knockdhu
9yo Cask #170350 (2014)
 |
| courtesy of ImpEx Beverages |
- Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
- Region: Highland
- Distiller: Knockdhu Distillery
- Age: 9 years
- Mashbill: 100% malted barley
- Cooperage: First-fill Spanish Oak Oloroso Hogshead
- Alcohol Content: 58.4% ABV (116.8°)
- Price per 700mL: $130.00
- 264 bottle yield
Knockdhu
was founded in 1893 by John
Morrison and operated continuously until 1931,
when it temporarily closed due to the poor economy. It closed again from 1942
to 1947 because of World War II. Its next run ended in 1983; it was then sold
to Inver House in 1988, allowing for production to resume in 1989.
You may not recognize the name Knockdhu; its whiskies have been bottled under
the AnCnoc brand since 1994.
Appearance: The
bright, yellow-gold whisky formed a fragile, jagged rim with fat, tightly
packed, slow tears.
Nose: The
very first thing I smelled was smoky peat, which cloaked an aroma of roasted
vegetables, lemon zest, brine, nuts, and oak. The air in my mouth tasted of
creamy vanilla.
Palate: Knockdhu’s texture was silky, yet almost
weightless. Smoke, vanilla, and lemon zest rolled across the front. I
considered that the smoke might be palate shock; however, it remained with
subsequent sips. The middle offered pineapples, strawberries, and honey.
Flavors of hazelnuts, oak, and clove were on the back of my palate.
Finish: I found
the finish complex; it included smoke and pepper combined with fruits and
honey. Spice rolled in first, then it became sweet, and returned to spicy
notes. Oak spice outlasted everything. The duration ran a whopping 2:29, making
it very long.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Single
Cask Nation’s Knockdhu Cask #170350 drank far below its stated proof. Were I
sipping this blind, I’d assume it was closer to 94° or 96°. I loved how smoky
the peat was; it could easily be mistaken for an Islay Scotch. That finish was
crazy in a great way.
Surprisingly, I found only a
few of the expected influences from a first-fill Oloroso cask, yet I wasn’t
disappointed. It is, overall, a fantastic pour well worth the price of
admission, and earns my Bottle rating.
◊◊◊◊◊
Glen Moray 12yo Cask #180754 (2012)
 |
| courtesy of ImpEx Beverages |
- Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
- Region: Speyside
- Distiller: Glen Moray Distillery
- Age: 12 years
- Mashbill: 100% unpeated malted barley
- Cooperage: First-fill Bourbon Cask
- Alcohol Content: 59.7% ABV (119.4°)
- Price per 700mL: $125.00
- 204 bottle yield
Glen
Moray was founded as a brewery owned by Robert Thorne & Sons,
and in 1897, it began distilling whisky. The distillery went silent in 1910 and
was purchased by The Glenmorangie in the 1920s. In 1958, it doubled its
capacity, and in 2004, it was sold to LVMH, which, in turn, sold it to La Martiniquaise in 2008.
Appearance: Cask 180754’s
color was dull gold. It created a thick rim that jettisoned a wavy curtain of
tears.
Nose: As I
sniffed what was in my glass, what stood out was Granny Smith apples. I detected
honey, lemon peel, malt, and oak. When I drew the vapor through my lips, I
encountered thick caramel.
Palate: Glen
Moray’s mouthfeel was dense and creamy. It coated the entirety of my mouth. Fennel
created an unexpected palate shock. On the front of my palate, I found honey,
brown sugar, and clove. Notes of barley, Granny Smith apples, and lemons came
next. The back consisted of fennel, dried oak, and a kiss of methol.
Finish: Fennel,
that menthol kiss, lemon peel, apples, and sweet caramel remained. It was a level,
quick finish that lasted only 0:51.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’ve
had a handful of whiskies from Glen Moray; however, they were all entry-level.
It was a treat to try something more seasoned from the distillery.
If you’ve been a long-time
reader, you know there are a few notes I find off-putting: fennel, anise, and
black licorice. Mixed with lemon and menthol, it was just strange and didn’t
work for me. However, I could well imagine that this was an attractive cask to
Single Cask Nation because it was so unusual. There’s a ton of quality here, though
I’m not a fan, so my Bar rating is appropriate.
◊◊◊◊◊
Mannochmore
17yo Cask #173445 (2007)
 |
| courtesy of ImpEx Beverages |
- Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
- Region: Speyside
- Distiller: Mannochmore Distillery
- Age: 17 years
- Mashbill: 100% malted barley
- Cooperage: Refill Recharred Red Wine Barrique (3.5yrs)
- Alcohol Content: 53% ABV (106°)
- Price per 700mL: $175.00
- 214 bottle yield
The
Mannochmore Distillery was founded in 1971 by John Haig & Co.
The distillery was shuttered from 1985 to 1989, and again in 1995 for a shorter
duration. The interesting thing about Mannochmore is that it only runs every
other year; it shares staff with the Glenlossie Distillery!
Today, it is owned by Diageo.
Appearance: Deep
and dark, the whisky had a brown topaz hue. A bold rim seemed glued to the
glass. Only after a minute or so did I witness a wavy curtain fall at a sloth’s
pace.
Nose: The
amount of berry fruit on the nose was astounding. Strawberries and blueberries
were unmistakable. Then came the apples and pears, along with floral notes. I
also smelled almond cookies and a hint of oak. Pulling the vapors through my
lips brought a flavor of strawberry preserves.
Palate: The
first sip revealed a thin, oily texture that glued to my tongue. I experienced
no palate shock. The front included strawberries, rhubarb, and caramel. Midway
through, I tasted raw honey, molasses, and barrel char. The back featured black
cherries, sweet tobacco, and leather.
Finish: Strawberries.
Black cherries. Caramel. Molasses. Leather. These were the makings of a medium-long,
even-keeled, slightly dry finish that left me begging for more. The duration was
1:42.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Never
having heard of Mannochmore Distillery,
I went into this review without a clue of what to expect, short of “It’s a Speyside,”
which, bluntly, doesn’t mean what it used to. Monnochmore’s Cask[JS1] #173445 seemed more like a Speyside/Lowland blend,
with plenty of fruit, honey, and floral notes.
I
relished what was in my glass. The caramel and molasses were thick and commanded
my attention. While large and in charge, they didn’t overwhelm the other
flavors, which I found pleasant. It drank at right about its stated proof, and
that finish; my gosh, it seemed to run forever!
Is
Mannochmore 17yo Cask #173445 worth the
investment? Without a doubt. It is exceptional. If you see it, don’t hesitate –
grab a Bottle for yourself. Meanwhile, I need to find more
whiskies from this distillery!
◊◊◊◊◊
Final Thoughts: Today was my first foray into what Single Cask
Nation has to offer. While I didn’t appreciate the Glen Moray expression, I’m
impressed with the quality of these cask picks. It is clear that Jason and Joshua
know what they’re doing, and I look forward to future tasting opportunities. Cheers!
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit,
but begs you to do so responsibly.
Comments
Post a Comment
As we should drink in moderation, all comments are subject to it. Cheers!