Distiller Notes
Cutter is pale yellow in appearance. An initially thick and oily smoke structure reveals a sharper, more medicinal phenolic layer and a piercing burst of fruitiness. Ripe peaches and just a touch of oak. The nose is intense and unforgettable. More ashy, with a slight apple-core bitterness. Leather and spicy vanilla is there too, lingering at the back, accompanied by sharper notes of pink grapefruit and ripe orchard fruits. Elegant and long. A kaleidoscope of spicy and peaty notes that die out with a juicy burst and a loud call for another sip.
The story of the Knockdhu distillery starts with a man of vision (who also had an eye for a good investment). In 1892 an enterprising chap named, John Morrison, bought the Knock estate. The surrounding land was full of peat and barley and the Great North Railway line ran nearby. So when springs of pure, clear water were found, John saw a golden opportunity.
Samples of the water were sent for analysis and soon negotiations were under way with The Distillers Company of Edinburgh to build a distillery.
Knockdhu opened its doors in October 1894. Back then it was regarded as the perfect embodiment of a modern distillery. So it’s perhaps no surprise that we still produce a light, intriguing and thoroughly modern whisky to this day.