Knockdhu distillery
An Cnoc is produced at Knochdhu distillery. Inver House has this label so this whisky isn't confused with Knockando, a speyside distillery owned by Diageo
I have to admit I have a soft spot for An Cnoc. They make simple classic whisky without any tempering, somewhat a trademark of other Inver House distilleries as well!. I also had a very nice event there during Spirit of Speyside 2010, a very releaxed and informal tour and tasting with the manager, his daughters and staff of the distillery. One of those days that justifies doing your 100 something distillery visit :-)
Apart from the 12yo, An Cnoc is bottled at 46% and unchillfiltered..something I appreciate.
Nose : classic whisky, lightly spiced and slightly on the sweet side
Palate : A nice mix of maltiness, citrus, sweetness and a tiny bit of vanilla
Finish : medium
Rating 84
Comment : An Cnoc is one of the secret gems of Speyside! or Highland if you prefer to locate it there :-)
2. Glencadam 25yo OB 1983-2008 46%
Vatting facility at Glencadam
Vatting tanks
Glencadam warehouse
Glencadam is (another) underrated overlooked distillery. It's located in Brechin on Scotlands east coast, and a lot of their produce is going to a range of various young supermarket blends. If you haven't tried whisky from their standard range, a 10yo and 15yo you missed something!
Nose : Heavy sherry, leather
Palate : Sweet sherry, slight burnt sugars, dried - but not that dried - fruits, sligth rubber (not sulphur but latex), licorise, but the classic whisky characteristics do emerge from below the sherry. Some maltiness and vanilla can be detected.
Finish : Medium-long and in the end I get grapefruits off all things!
Comment : A heavily sherried whisky with underlaying layers revealing characterics of a whisky there isn't totally disguised by the very influental sherry cask
Rating 88
Thanks to Lukas and Jørn for the samples
he has not changed his car yet ah? ;)
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