AnCnoc 12 years old An Cnoc Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40%

Some whiskies want to impress. This one just wants to be good company. Bright, honeyed and without a single hard edge, the kind of bottle you open on a Wednesday evening without feeling you have used something up.

The Expert's Description

anCnoc 12 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% from the Knockdhu distillery in Banffshire. It is the house core expression and the best place to meet the spirit: bright, floral and with a light waxy texture that is the distillery’s clearest signature.

Knockdhu works with a clean, pale spirit, and that puts demands on the casks. Let them get too active and the house style disappears. The 12 year old is therefore built to keep the distillate up front, with the wood as a frame rather than a lead role. The result is often described as a dessert malt, sweet without turning syrupy.

The distillery was built in 1894 by John Morrison near Knock Hill, where barley, spring water and peat were all within reach. It closed in 1983, was taken over by Inver House Distillers in 1988, and since 1993 the whisky has been sold under the anCnoc name.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft and aromatic. Honey and lemon set the tone, with pale flowers and a touch of green apple behind. A fine malty floor runs underneath it all, close to white bread.

Palate

Sweet to begin with honey, vanilla and ripe pear. Then a lightly spiced note arrives along with that characteristic waxiness, which lends more body than 40% would promise. Clean and straightforward the whole way, with no bitterness.

Finish

Short to medium. Honey and malt linger, with a dry citrus note at the close. It disappears neatly.

Specifications

Name: anCnoc 12 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Knockdhu
Bottler: Inver House Distillers
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010509427067

Flavour Profile

Honeyed · Floral · Fruity · Soft · Malty · Light

Did You Know?

Knockdhu was the first distillery Distillers Company Limited ever built from scratch. It was completed in 1894 and so formed part of the great whisky boom of the late nineteenth century, a boom that collapsed a few years later. The distillery survived, though it later closed in 1983 and stood silent for six years before Inver House got it running again.

See our full range of anCnoc

Frequently Asked Questions about anCnoc 12 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 40%

Is anCnoc 12 Years Old a good place to start with single malt?

Yes, one of the best. There is no smoke, no heavy sherry and no sharp alcohol. Honey, citrus and malt are easy to recognise, and the whisky gives you something to hang your impressions on without overwhelming you.

What is the waxy texture people talk about?

It is a mouthfeel more than a flavour, a lightly oily, almost candle-like quality that makes the whisky cling a little to the palate. Knockdhu is known for it, and it is one reason the whisky feels fuller than 40% suggests.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat at room temperature. At 40% there is not much to open up with water, and ice mutes both the honey and the flowers. If you want it cold, it works well in a Highball with soda.

Why does the name sound Gaelic?

Because it is Gaelic. anCnoc means the hill and refers to Knock Hill, where the distillery stands. The name was introduced in 1993 to avoid confusion with another distillery with a similar name.

What characterises Highland whisky?

The region is so large that there is no single style, from light floral malts like this one to powerful smoky whiskies from the coast. anCnoc belongs at the bright end. See the breadth in our range of Highland Whisky.

Does it pair with food?

Try it with white meat, a mild cheese or an apple dessert. It is soft enough not to take charge, and the honeyed sweetness works well against something tart. For heavy smoked food it is too slight.