Knockando 12 Year

Nose: Malt extract, toasted cereal grains, fresh and stewed fruits, orange liqueur, leather and hints of sweet floral aromas and ash (but no peat smoke). You sense the cask presence but it is earthy rather than woody. Palate: Well-balanced and full-bodied arrival. The flavours are mild and reserved, featuring the same fruity compote that is in the nose together with a generous helping of malt. Creamy cereal and citrus flavours appear, like brioche with lashings of butter and Dundee marmalade. The mildest possible ginger note shows up on the later palate which is sweet and just faintly spicy in character. The texture is satisfying, being both robust and delicate. Finish: Medium/short. Trail mix soaked in Cointreau, fading to a slightly bitter aftertaste. A most enjoyable whisky with a pleasantly old-school malty character. The distillate shows aromas and flavours of malt, walnuts and oranges in several forms – zest, concentrate and oil - and the cask influence is well handled with a restrained intensity. You could be forgiven for thinking there is an oloroso influence on this whisky but the distillery uses only ex-bourbon refill hogsheads. The leathery, fruity qualities come from a particularly cloudy wort that is fermented in wooden washbacks, and its character travels through the production process into the new-make spirit. This malt is surprisingly reminiscent of good blended whisky. It has the same balance and complexity I associate with a skillful blend of malt and grain whiskies and there is the sprightly lightness of profile I also usually get from a blend. There is a similarity of nose to Johnnie Walker and it comes as no surprise that this is a Diagio workhorse distillery, and Knockando almost certainly features as a component in JW blends. More than acceptable as a neat sipping whisky, and with a dash of water it becomes sweeter and almost dangerously easy to quaff. It also stands up to ice and dilution in long drinks and is excellent in a whisky & soda. To cap it all, it is almost embarrassingly affordable. Highly recommended – the next time you are replacing a bottle of blended scotch in the bar take a tip and buy this instead of your usual suspect. It is about the same price as an upper-middle shelf blend and more versatile. You will not regret the choice. However don't take that as an inference that this is a lower-grade of single malt - nothing could be further from the truth and it would be an estimable session whisky. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)

Septembre 2024 - Paris - Café Jade Robe dorée claire Nez sucré mielleux, il a l'odeur des nectars du pays du soleil levant. Première bouche onctueuse et pleine de miel à l'image des whisky d'Osaka .. puis l'alcool et l'aspect pimenté apparaissent , sans être trop fort en bouche ils chassent néanmoins le miel pour laisser place à une 3ème bouche fruitée et boisée qui surprend le palais et ravis les papilles. Hélas après 5 ou 6 verres, ce whisky laisse un léger dépôt industriel sur les papilles alors qu'on ne décèle pas ce goût dans le whisky en lui même. Un whisky pour femme raffinée qui aime à être surprise par une envolée soudaine de moineaux dans un soleil matinal. Peu de coffre, une douceur globale se dégage de ce whisky. Dégusté à Paris en compagnie d'un ami, d'une gourgandine et d'une femelle fort qualitative. Les verres s'enchainent ... Délicatement, les prémisses d'une frénésie nocturne s'immiscent ... 12 euros le verre ... Et après s'ils s'étonnent que j'escalade leurs façades et que je leur prodigue de grands cris de loups accusateurs... La nuit s'annonce épique, le danger rôde, imperceptible ...

I dont know about you but i really enjoyed this one. Its all about balance and this one has it. Bottled at 43%abv, with and old gold color. On the nose and on the palate is very straightforward, but it has a lot of balance and it is so delicious because of that. On the nose main notes are: grapes, champagne, peat, salt, ginger, honey and milk chocolate. On the palate, it is very common but so smooth on every aspect, starting with a caramel note, turning into a spicy peppery note to end in a hot but delicate aftertaste full of allspice. I got to say it is so simple but nice, i give this a 90 over 100. I might be exaggerating on this one, but what can i say, i enjoyed it.

This is the first scotch whiskey I remember ever buying. I bought it in a whim because it was a red tag clearance item at I found at Von’s at the end of 2000, shortly after moving to San Diego. I couldn’t appreciate it then, I mixed it with Mountain Dew to make it somewhat palatable. I cringe when I say that now. Fast forward to today and I find this to be a delightful Scotch whiskey. Silky and nutty with mulled wine and baking spices. Long warming finish. Pretty nice.

Nose: this is a spirit driven nose with lemon, nuts and cleaning detergent (I know that sounds horrible but the nose reminds me of something I used for cleaning my kitchen). On the palate you find floral and fruity notes, citrus, some oak and marzipan. The finish a light and easy going but with a unpleasant bitterness. This a decent dram with a fair prize tag but it is simply a little boring for me, despite the nutty character. (74/100)

Nose: this is a spirit driven nose with lemon, nuts and cleaning detergent (I know that sounds horrible but the nose reminds me of something I used for cleaning my kitchen). On the palate you find floral and fruity notes, citrus, some oak and marzipan. The finish a light and easy going but with a unpleasant bitterness. This a decent dram with a fair prize tag but it is simply a little boring for me, despite the nutty character. (74/100)