Knockdhu

knockdhu_distillery

History The distillery was founded in 1893 by John Morrison, who bought the land from the Duke of Fife to produce whisky for Haig’s after several springs on the southern slope of Knock Hill were discovered. The site was also chosen for its proximity to the Knock Station on the Banff branch line of the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR) between Aberdeen and Elgin. Not only was the new location convenient to the railway but it was also within a few miles of a district noted both for its barley and inexhaustible source of excellent peat. The distillery was built using local eye grey granite, with two steam heated stills. The two pot stills could turn out 2,500 gallons of spirit per week.[citation needed] It was also the first malt distillery built for the Distillers Company Ltd. It started production in 1894 and remained in continuous operation until 1931, when it was forced to close for a few years due to the economic depression. Wartime restrictions on barley forced a second closure from 1940-1945. After the war, with the distillery connected to the national grid, the steam powered engine, which had been used since the its founding, was retired in 1947. Knockdhu was closed in 1983, and was sold to Inver House in 1988, after which production resumed in February 1989. Various bottling ages are available the most popular being 12 years old, there is also an annual vintage bottled around 14–15 years old, a 16-year-old (matured solely in second fill bourbon casks) and a 30-year-old. Previously named Knockdhu after the distillery, the whisky was renamed anCnoc in 1994 to avoid confusion with Knockando.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • anCnoc12YO anCnoc 12 Years Old (2015) - anCnoc 12 Years Old (40%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 40% Cost: £33.34 What they say: anCnoc 12 Years Old The […]
  • anCnoc12YO anCnoc 12 Years Old (2018) - A great all-round whisky that introduces you to anCnoc's range, a lovely mid-weight floral, barley and honeyed fruit, in places more floral, sour and bitter slightly than we last remembered. 84/100
  • anCnoc12YO anCnoc 12 Years Old (2020) - A good & classic anCnoc expression, quite flavourful and rich even presented at 40% ABV with lots of dessert-led fruit and sweetness. 84/100
  • anCnoc-16-year-old-125 anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition (2020) - anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition Whisky Review:  A little underwhelming, spicy with plenty of vanilla on the nose but doesn't really translate into the palate. 80/100
  • anCnoc 18 Years Old (2015) - anCnoc 18 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Official – Inver House Distillers Ltd. ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £79.30 What they say: The […]
  • anCnoc 1975 vintage (2015) - anCnoc 1975 vintage (44.2%, OB, 1590 Bottles, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 44.2% ABV, £300 for 70cl Score: 90/100 What they say: Released in February 2015 this Limited Edition Single Malt […]
  • anCnoc-1999-vintage anCnoc 1999 vintage (2016) - anCnoc 1999 vintage (46%, OB, 2013) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £51.43 What they say: Distilled 1999 anCnoc 1999 has been bottled […]
  • anCnoc 2000 vintage (2015) - anCnoc 2000 vintage (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £55 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: anCnoc Vintage […]
  • anCnoc-Vintage-2001 anCnoc 2001 vintage (2016) - anCnoc 2001 vintage (40%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £54.95 What they say: Distilled 2001 anCnoc Vintage 2001 has matured […]
  • ancnox-2009-666x280-new anCnoc 2009 Vintage (2022) - A delightful vintage expression from anCnoc, full of their classic honey character. The Spanish oak has imparted some leather and chocolate notes too. A worthy addition to anCnoc's fine vintage range. 84/100
  • ancnoc-22-year-old-whisky anCnoc 22 Years Old (2015) - A spicier and slightly smoky dram, much more contemplative this one. Rich and with plenty of body, flavour and character, this really displays wonderful cask maturation on a light honeyed base spirit. A real indulgent pleasure! 86/100
  • anCnoc-Blas anCnoc Blas (2016) - Spicy and challenging at full strength but hints at a good depth, for us this was interesting as presented but much more enjoyable when reduced with water. This takes water well so has the added bonus of stretching out your drinking pleasure (or bottle volume) through dilution. This is reminiscent of a beefed-up version of the anCnoc 12 Years Old expression which we regard quite highly already. The bottle and packaging also sport a very colourful design incorporating lots of elements associated with anCnoc and their whisky production - making this stand out on the shelves. 85/100
  • anCnoc Cutter (2014) - anCnoc Cutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: The latest expression from anCnoc’s collection of limited […]
  • ancnoc-peatheart-whisky anCnoc Peatheart (2017) - anCnoc Peatheart (46%, OB, 2017) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: peatheart 40.0 ppm [parts per million] Throughout the […]
  • Peatheart Batch 2 anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2 (2020) - Another great peated expression, less sweet and floral than the 12 year old but quite mealy and full of oak wood and fruit, wood char, peat smoke and coal-tar soap. 85/100
  • anC Peaty Rutter_Both anCnoc Rutter (2014) - AnCnoc Rutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 46% Cost: £50 What they say: Rutter 11.0 ppm [parts per million] The […]
Independent Bottling