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Where Fashion Meets Whisky: Cask Trade x Siobhan Mackenzie
This week, I had the pleasure of attending one of the most unique and inspiring events on the London whisky calendar: the exclusive launch of the Cask Trade x Siobhan Mackenzie collaboration. While fashion and whisky might seem like two entirely different worlds at first glance, they share a deep connection rooted in Scottish heritage, craftsmanship, and storytelling. To celebrate this partnership, Cask Trade teamed up with the award-winning Scottish fashion designer Siobhan Mackenzie to create a bespoke Cask Trade Tartan. To make the occasion even more special, this tartan serves as the backdrop for an exclusive single cask bottling from the innovative Nc'nean Distillery. The highlight of the evening was listening to the entrepreneurial journeys of Siobhan Mackenzie and Annabel Thomas, the visionary founder of Nc'nean. Hearing these two powerhouse women discuss how they broke boundaries, challenged traditions, and brought a modern vision to historically male-dominated industries was incredibly inspiring.
The Liquid: Nc'nean 8 Years Old
After the inspiring talks, it wastime to focus on the liquid itself. Nc'nean is widely recognized as a leader in eco-conscious production, crafting their spirit with 100% organic Scottish barley and operating entirely on renewable energy. To find the perfect match for this partnership, the Cask Trade team—including Myriam Mackenzie, Keira Watkins, and Colin Hampden-White—carefully sampled various casks. They ultimately selected an exceptional 8-Year-Old expression distilled back in 2018. It felt like a perfect twist of fate, as 2018 also marks the exact year Cask Trade was established. Matured in an STR (shaved, toasted, and re-charred) red wine cask and bottled at a powerful cask strength of 54.5% ABV, this single cask yielded a mere 306 bottles. Given its highly exclusive nature, this rare single malt release is a true one-off that will never be replicated.
- Distillery: Nc'nean
- Batch Number: 89
- Distilled: 2018
- Age: 8 Years Old
- Cask Type: STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred)
- ABV: 54.5%
- Number of Bottles: 306
Tasting notes:
Nose: Quite fruity and sweet with vanilla, apricot, apple, honey, hints of red berries, oak and gentle cinnamon.
Palate: Similar with the nose, apple, vanilla, dark honey, with cinnamon and black pepper. Followed by hints of citrus, red berries and sweet oak.
Finish: A medium long finih with oak, honey, black pepper and honey.
Verdict: An exceptionally approachable, fresh and sweet malt with good complexity.