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Ncn’ean distillery launches botanical spirit

While Ncn’ean waits for its Scotch to fully mature, the Highlands distillery has released its first expression – a botanical spirit drink that’s “not whisky, not gin”.

Ncn’ean Botanical Spirit is triple distilled

Ncn’ean Botanical Spirit is made from the distillery’s new make spirit, which is redistilled with a range of botanicals, including fresh grapefruit, locally foraged herbs such as bog myrtle and heather, coriander and juniper.

To create the expression, the new make malt spirit is distilled twice at Ncn’ean, which is said to be Scotland’s first 100% organic distillery, before it is distilled a third time at west coast gin distillery Beinn an Tuirc.

Bottled at 40% abv, an initial run of 5,000 bottles is available to purchase now through The Whisky Exchange, priced at £27.95 (US$36) per 500ml.

Annabel Thomas, founder of Ncn’ean, said: “Whilst laying down whisky in our warehouses, a lot of people commented that our new make spirit was so good we should bottle it.

“Credit for this must go in part to Dr Jim Swan, one of the legends of our industry, who helped shape our recipe and whole approach to whisky making.

“And it was this, combined with the wild herbs and flowers we find all around the distillery, that inspired us to create this spirit.”

Ncn’ean Botanical Spirit’s signature serve mixes 50ml of the spirit with tonic water, a dash of Angostura bitters, and topped with a grapefruit slice garnish.

Earlier this year, The Spirits Business took a look at the new wave of Scotch distilleries bringing an extra helping of experimentation to the industry – including Ncn’ean.

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