| Knockando
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Knockando Distillery
Knockando, Morayshire
AB38 7RY Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1340 882001
Viewer's Comments about Knockando
Foremost
among the distilleries along the banks of the chill, clear
waters of the Spey stands Knockando. Built by John Thompson
in 1898 the Knockando distillery lies in the village of
the same name, derived from the Gaelic ‘Cnoc-an-dhu,’
meaning ‘little black hill.’
In 1904 Knockando Distillery was purchased by W & A
Gilbey's - the well known gin producers from London. Today
Knockando is part of Diageo's Classic Malts Selection.
Only natural ingredients are used - malted barley, yeast
and crystal clear spring water from the Cardnach spring,
which lies in the hills above the distillery. The quantity
of peat used in malting the barley is carefully controlled
so as not to overbalance the taste of the final product
and the proportion of sherry casks used is restricted so
as to not dominate the taste of the whisky. The pale, golden
colour of Knockando is entirely natural. It is derived solely
from the casks in which it has matured – casks held
together without nails or glue. No colouring is ever added
– it is for this reason that the depth of the colour
in successive bottlings may vary.
Time is another key element, as gentle maturation in oak
casks slowly reveal the subtle aromas: delicate with a distinctive
fresh almond note in its younger versions, it gains weight
and depth of flavour over the years. The final result is
a subtle, fruity single malt which bears all the hall marks
of the finest Speyside malts.
Although distillation continues throughout the year, each
year of production is still referred to as a Season at Knockando
distillery. In each bottle you will only ever find the produce
of one single Season - a practice which continues to distinguish
Knockando™ from almost all other single malts. Thus,
when the young spirit is brought to the warehouse, the Season
of distillation is marked on the end of the cask. And when
it is ready to be bottled, it is duly inscribed on the bottle
and the gift box together with the year of bottling.
Knockando Distillery Stills |
"We tend to choose casks that are at their peak. On
occasion this means that one bottle will differ subtly from
another – but the distillery character remains the
same". Innes Shaw, Manager, Knockando Distillery. Knockando
also contributes to several malts, especially the Justerini
and Brooks J&B blends.
Food suggestion: Why not try Knockando™ poured over
traditional Scottish haggis? Taste style: Smooth. Smooth
malts are likely to hold more sweetness than saltiness and
tend to be more creamy than dry.
Courtesy of Diageo's Classic Malts Selection |
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KNOCKANDO 12 YEAR OLD
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY Smooth, complex
layers of flowery, nutty, slightly smoky notes.
Strength: 40% ABV
Appearance: Pale
gold.
Nose: Sweet and
aromatic, with light nutty notes.
Body: Light and
smooth - a little "creamy".
Palate: Delicate,
soft and fruity with a hint of almonds.
Finish: Smooth,
toffee and creamy notes, becoming dryer.
Tasting Notes Courtesy of the Classic
Malts Selection
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KNOCKANDO 18 YEAR OLD
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY Matured slowly
in sherry casks, it's accessible in both aroma and
flavour; easy to drink, young at heart for an 18
year old.
Strength: 43% ABV
Appearance: Pale
amber.
Body: Mouth filling.
Palate: Pleasant
to drink straight - sweet, with deeper almond notes,
hints of sherry and light oak, some malty flavours.
With a little water (not too much) still sweet and
mouth-filling; some digestive biscuits.
Finish: Medium length.
Smooth.
Tasting Notes Courtesy of the Classic Malts Selection
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Knockando
Whisky Distillery
It is a place of magic. The pagoda-shaped
roof, almost hidden by trees, broods above a lonely bend
in the river. But Thompson did not choose to site the distillery
at Knockando for its romantic position. Instead, he wisely
chose it for the remarkable waters of the Cardnach spring
– created by rain and melted snow, absorbed deep into
the peat and rocky earth, bubbling pure from underground
and tapped before they reach the Spey.
At the same time that he built his distillery,
Thompson acquired the sole water rights to the spring. No
other distillery has access to them. Knockando™ owes
its special delicacy and fragrance to the purity of the
water drawn from the spring.
Knockando has always been a community. Today a village of
around 200 people, the stone houses cluster around two centers
– the placid parish church and the distillery.
Although almost a century old, Knockando distillery
was considered to be one of the most advanced in all Scotland
at the time of its construction. It was in fact the first
distillery to be built with electric lighting.
A railway siding into the distillery was built in 1905
linking it to the Great North of Scotland Railway and enabling
Knockando™ malt whisky to be transported throughout
Great Britain.
Cottages were built for the distillery workers and today
they are inhabited by their modern day counterparts. The
largest, most imposing house was built for the Customs and
Excise Officer, an ever-present figure at all distilleries.
Today the house is occupied by Innes Shaw – the distillery
manager since 1978.
So, for almost a century, Knockando distillery
has continued to produce fine malt whisky with only the
briefest of breaks during the two World Wars, when most
Scottish distilleries were forced to close.
Distillery Manager
Innes Shaw
Contact Us
Knockando Distillery
Knockando, Morayshire
AB38 7RY Scotland
Telephone: +44 (0)1340 882001
The Knockando Distillery not open to the public. |
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