An Cnoc 18 years old Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%

The distillery is called Knockdhu. The whisky is called anCnoc. The reason is mundane, another distillery had a name too close to it, but the upshot is that one of the Highlands most quietly capable distilleries has spent decades living under a borrowed name.

The Expert's Description

anCnoc 18 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in second fill Oloroso sherry casks and second fill bourbon casks, bottled at 46%. That both cask types are second fill is a deliberate choice: the wood gives less, but it gives it more slowly, and over 18 years the result is balanced rather than forceful.

The spirit from Knockdhu is bright, floral and lightly waxy, a style easily drowned by aggressive casks. Using second fill wood leaves room for the distillate's own character throughout the maturation. That is why the 18 year old does not taste markedly darker than the 12, it tastes deeper.

Knockdhu was founded in 1894 by John Morrison, who had bought the Knock Estate from the Duke of Fife two years earlier. The distillery stands near Knock Hill in Banffshire and is officially in the Highland region, though it is often mislabelled as a Speyside. It closed in 1983, was bought by Inver House Distillers in 1988, and production resumed in February 1989.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, lemon peel and pale flowers first, very much the house signature. Behind them a light waxy note, candied orange and a trace of dried apricot from the sherry wood. Clean and precise with nothing heavy about it.

Palate

Soft opening with honey and malt, then spice and a drier orange note. There is a fine waxy texture carrying the flavour well, and the 46% gives body without taking over. The sherry sits underneath as depth rather than as fruit.

Finish

Long and clean. Honey, dried fruit and a lightly spiced oak dryness that lets go slowly with no bitterness.

Specifications

Name: anCnoc 18 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Knockdhu
Bottler: Inver House Distillers
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Second fill Oloroso sherry casks and second fill bourbon casks
EAN no.: 5010509880039

Flavour Profile

Honeyed · Floral · Fruity · Waxy · Spiced · Sherry Matured

Did You Know?

The argument over the name concerned Knockando, a Speyside distillery owned by a far larger group. The two names were close enough that Knockdhu had to find an alternative, and from 1993 the whisky was sold as anCnoc, Gaelic for the hill. Independent bottlers, however, still happily use the original name on their labels.

See our full range of anCnoc

Frequently Asked Questions about anCnoc 18 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

Why is the whisky called anCnoc when the distillery is Knockdhu?

To avoid confusion with Knockando, a Speyside distillery under a larger group. From 1993 the whisky was therefore sold as anCnoc, Gaelic for the hill. The distillery has never changed its name, only the bottle has.

Is anCnoc 18 Years Old worth the outlay?

The case rests on the cask choice and on the age. Eighteen years in nothing but second fill casks is a slow, careful maturation that demands patience and good wood rather than heavy cask influence. What you get is a spirit still audible through the oak, which is rarer than you might think.

What does second fill mean?

That the cask has held whisky once before. It gives less colour, less tannin and less sweetness than a first fill cask, but lets the distillate's own character speak more clearly. For long maturations it is often the better option.

Is anCnoc Highland or Speyside?

Officially Highland. The distillery sits in Banffshire close to the Speyside boundary and is therefore often mislabelled as a Speyside. The style also sits closer to the bright Speyside profile than to the robust Highland one. See our full range of Highland Whisky.

How does the 18 differ from the 12?

Not by being darker, but by being deeper. The 12 is bright, honeyed and straightforward. The 18 has the same core character with more wax, more dried fruit and a longer, spicier close. Same distillery, more time.

Is it a good gift for an experienced whisky drinker?

Yes, particularly for someone who values light, elegant malts over heavy sherry bombs. This is a whisky to sit quietly with, and it rewards attention. For anyone who drinks only peated whisky, it is the wrong choice.