This is the second expression in the Peter Arkle range by anCnoc. The partnership, launched in April 2012, revolves around a series of limited anCnoc expressions presented in packaging designed by the artist. This No.2 is made up of 50% Spanish oak sherry butts and 50% American oak bourbon barrels from different vintages, some young and some grown up.
anCnoc ‘Peter Arkle #2”
(46%, OB 2012, bourbon + sherry casks)
anCnoc ‘Peter Arkle #2”Nose: in line with the first expression by Peter Arkle. Still a little rubbery and unfresh impression at first. Lots of sticky toffee. Gradually moves towards figs, milk chocolate and more dried fruits. Honey. Quite a lot of oak too. Not my kind of sherry, but it gets away better than the first release after all.
Mouth: not as punchy as I would have expected. Starts on baked apples with spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, aniseed) and a little caramel / sultana sweetness. After some time it looses the sweetness and trades it for more spices and slightly savoury notes with a light salty toffee twist and liquorice.
Finish: not very long, spicy with some chocolate and a soft herbalness from the oak.
Better, but I’m not the biggest fan of the whisky inside these beautifully designed tubes. The Peter Arkle travel retail version is still my favourite. Around € 60. Available in the UK, USA, Russia and across selected European markets.
Score: 80/100