The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Ancnoc 18 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotch WhiskyIssue 99

Ancnoc 18 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

AnCnoc · Knockdhu Distillery

92 proof18 YearHighlands, Scotland
Knockdhu remains one of the Highlands' best-kept secrets, and this 18-year expression shows why patience at a small distillery pays dividends. It is refined without being polite — there is genuine complexity here, earned through unhurried maturation. A Highland malt that deserves a wider audience.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honeyed orchard fruit — peach and baked apple — with a clean malt backbone. Soft vanilla and a whisper of floral rosewater emerge with time, grounded by gentle oak.

Palate

Silky and medium-bodied. Waves of honey and buttery pastry give way to dried fruit and a subtle cocoa undertone. A pleasant clove spice note arrives mid-palate, keeping things lively without sharpness.

Finish

Medium-long, with honey, toasted almond, and a dry woody note that closes cleanly. No bitterness, just quiet warmth.

Specifications
Region
Highlands
Cask Type
Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry
Peat Level (PPM)
0
Distillation
Double distilled in copper pot stills with worm-tub condensers
Maturation
Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, minimum 18 years
Chill-Filtered
Non-chill filtered
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Highland Orchard — 2 oz AnCnoc 18 · 0.5 oz honey syrup · 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice · 2 dashes orange bitters · Shake with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a lemon twist.

Food Pairing

Roasted duck breast with stone-fruit chutney

The Story

Nestled in the shadow of Knock Hill in Aberdeenshire, Knockdhu Distillery has been quietly producing spirit since 1894, its small stills and worm-tub condensers shaping a house style that favors elegance over volume.

Train These Aromas
Comments

Be the first to comment.

Leave a comment

0 / 4,000

First-time comments are reviewed before appearing. Be kind, be specific, no spam.

More from Knockdhu Distillery
More Scotch Whisky Reviews
Bowmore 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotch Whisky

Bowmore 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bowmore

Bowmore 12 is the entry point to Islay for anyone wary of peat's aggression. The fire here is managed — kiln-dried barley at moderate peat levels, resulting in a whisky that integrates smoke with fruit and chocolate rather than bulldozing with phenol. It's a study in tempered heat.

80 proof
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old
Scotch Whisky

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old

Glenmorangie

A masterclass in how a secondary wood finish can transform a spirit. Glenmorangie's signature elegance meets the inner skin of port-seasoned casks in a marriage that feels deeply intentional. The 14-year maturation in ex-bourbon barrels builds the framework, but it's the extra-maturation in hand-selected ruby port pipes that paints the portrait — all plum, chocolate, and velvety tannin. For the theme of where wood meets spirit, this bottle is practically a thesis statement.

92 proof
Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotch Whisky

Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenfarclas

Glenfarclas 105 is a sherry-bomb at cask strength that never loses its composure. The heat is substantial but well-integrated, rewarding the patient sipper who adds a few drops of water. For a non-age-statement whisky, the depth of flavor suggests significant maturation.

120 proof
Deanston Virgin Oak Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotch Whisky

Deanston Virgin Oak Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Deanston

By finishing in new American oak rather than used casks, Deanston lets the raw timber speak alongside its signature unpeated malt character. The result is a whisky where the wood's influence is transparent and direct. An excellent illustration of how barrel choice shapes a spirit from the inside out.

92.6 proof