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
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