The Quiet Rebellion of Nc’Nean Scotch Whisky

I am back at Jackie for the last of my residency here. And it has been amazing. So grateful to Dmitri Chekaldin and his team for the tremendous hospitality! Now today’s show — You all know I love a great story — especially when it’s poured into a glass.Today’s guest brings us not just a story of Scotch whisky, but one of rebellion & innovation, — all bottled up on the rugged west coast of Scotland. Joining me is Chris Maybin, Nc’nean Distillery’s Head of Commercial and self-proclaimed Quiet Rebel — which, if you know Scotch, sounds a lot like a revolution in a Glencairn glass.So what exactly is Scotch whisky? At its core, Scotch whisky is a distilled spirit made exclusively in Scotland from malted barley (and potentially other grains), aged in oak casks for at least three years, and bottled at a minimum of 40% alcohol by volume.But Nc’nean (that’s “Nick-knee-an” if you’re practicing your Gaelic) is rewriting that tradition — crafting organic, sustainable, and seriously sippable spirits that are as much about preserving the planet as they are about flavor.It is a net-zero carbon emissions distillery & it’s also proudly female-founded, driven by Annabel Thomas, and powered entirely by renewable energy.So pour yourself something neat, and we talk about what happens when you mix innovation with intention — and a little Scottish spirit — and then I catch up with Dmitri Chekaldin about what is happening here at Jackie.Chapters:00:00 Food & Drink Media Highlights04:33 "Journey to Hebrides via Sound"07:44 Rethinking Traditional Whiskey Aging10:12 Whisky Innovation and Relevance13:46 First Fill Bourbon Cask Explained16:11 Islay Distilleries' Unique Character20:33 Organic Barley in Whisky Production25:13 Collective Leadership in Sustainability28:27 "Costly Initiatives in Distillery Setup"31:36 "Crafting Young Whiskey Quickly"32:20 "Enhanced Whiskey Aging Technique"38:03 Whiskey Journey & McNeane Values38:55 Whiskey's Generational Comeback Concern41:52 Whiskey Cask Selection47:39 Art Collection Discussion On Show49:31 Art Inspired by Euronymous Bach51:25 "Painting's Journey to Museum"Key Takeaways:Overview of Scotch Whisky and Mc’Nean DistilleryOrigin and Founding Story of Mc’NeanWhisky TraditionsCore Traditions in Scotch ProductionMc’Nean’s InnovationsProduction Approach and TastingSustainability in DepthConnect with Chris MaybinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrismaybin/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/ncnean/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ncneanWebsite: https://ncnean.com/Twitter: https://x.com/NcneanConnect with Dmitri ChekaldinLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitri-chekaldin-83095457/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JackieRestaurant/Website: https://www.jackiedc.com/Twitter: https://x.com/DineAtJackieDCFeaturing Nycci Nellishttps://www.instagram.com/nyccinellis/https://www.thelistareyouonit.com/Produced by Heartcast Mediahttp://www.heartcastmedia.com