Nc'nean 2017 (Bottled 2023) (Cask 198) Collective #1: The Pioneers

About The Brand: nc'nean

A Scotch whiskey distillery called Nc'nean is located near Drimnin on the Morvern peninsula in Scotland's Highlands. The distillery is situated across from the Isle of Mull, close to the Sound of Mull. The distillery's name, Nc'nean, is derived from the Gaelic tale 'Neachneohain,' which means 'the Queen of Spirits' (it is pronounced Nc-ne-an). The distillery's main goal is to produce an organic spirit with little harm to the neighborhood environment. The distillery achieved net zero carbon emissions during whiskey production first in the UK. The distillery employs 100% recycled glass for its bottles and offsets emissions by planting new forests. Unpeated whisky is used. Annabel Thomas established the distillery, which started producing in 2017. Family, friends, loans, seed investors under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, and a £600,000 grant from the EU through the Scottish Government provided the distillery with its initial finance. Jeremy Paxman, a well-known investor, has a 0.6% interest. The master distiller Jim Swan passed away unexpectedly just before the first distillation of 2017 took place. Gordon Wood, the current master distiller, had worked for Diageo. The distillery raised £1.7 million in March 2020 to support growth. The distillery sold its first bottle of single malt Scotch whiskey at auction in August 2020, collecting £41,004 for a good cause. Nc'nean received its certification as a B Corp in February 2022.