Knockando 12 Year

Nose: Malt extract, toasted cereal grains, fresh and stewed fruits, orange liqueur, leather, and subtle sweet floral notes and ash (though no peat smoke). The cask influence is perceptible but earthy rather than woody. Palate: Arrives well-balanced and full-bodied. The flavors are subtle and reserved, featuring the same fruit compote from the nose alongside a generous amount of malt. Creamy cereal and citrus notes emerge, akin to brioche with abundant butter and Dundee marmalade. The mildest hint of ginger appears on the later palate, which is sweet and only faintly spicy. The texture is satisfying, possessing both robustness and delicacy. Finish: Medium/short. Reminiscent of trail mix soaked in Cointreau, fading to a slightly bitter aftertaste. A highly enjoyable whisky with a pleasingly old-school malty character. The spirit displays aromas and flavors of malt, walnuts, and oranges in various forms – zest, concentrate, and oil. The cask influence is well-managed with restrained intensity. One might mistakenly believe there's an Oloroso influence, but the distillery exclusively uses ex-bourbon refill hogsheads. The leathery, fruity qualities stem from a particularly cloudy wort fermented in wooden washbacks, and this character carries through the production process into the new-make spirit. This malt bears a surprising resemblance to fine blended whisky, exhibiting the balance and complexity I associate with a skillful blend of malt and grain whiskies, along with the lively lightness of profile typical of a blend. Its aroma is similar to Johnnie Walker, and it's unsurprising that this is a Diageo workhorse distillery, with Knockando almost certainly featuring as a component in JW blends. More than acceptable when sipped neat, and with a splash of water, it becomes sweeter and almost dangerously easy to drink. It also holds up well with ice and in long drinks, and is excellent in a whisky and soda. To top it off, it's remarkably affordable. Highly recommended – the next time you're replenishing your blended scotch supply, consider purchasing this instead of your usual choice. It's priced similarly to an upper-middle shelf blend and offers greater versatility. You won't regret it. However, this shouldn't imply it's a lower-grade single malt – quite the contrary; it would make an estimable session whisky. 'Good': 83/100 (3.5 stars)

September 2024 - Paris - Café Jade Appearance: Pale golden hue Nose: Sweet and honeyed, reminiscent of nectars from the land of the rising sun. First sip: Creamy and full of honey, much like whiskies from Osaka. Then, the alcohol and a spicy element emerge. While not overpowering, they displace the honey, leading to a third sip that is fruity and woody, surprising the palate and delighting the taste buds. Unfortunately, after several glasses, this whisky leaves a slight industrial residue on the palate, though this taste isn't detected in the whisky itself. A whisky for a refined woman who enjoys being surprised by a sudden flight of sparrows in the morning sun. Lacks intensity, overall smoothness emanates from this whisky. Tasted in Paris with a friend, a certain woman, and another very high-quality female companion. The glasses kept coming... Gently, the beginnings of a nocturnal frenzy crept in... 12 euros a glass... And then they wonder why I climb their facades and unleash loud accusations like a wolf... The night promises to be epic, danger lurks, imperceptibly...

I don't know about you, but I really enjoyed this one. It's all about balance, and this one has it. Bottled at 43% ABV, with an old gold color. On the nose and on the palate, it's very straightforward, but it has a lot of balance and 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's very common but so smooth in 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 have to say it's so simple but nice, I give this a 90 out of 100. I might be exaggerating here, but what can I say, I enjoyed it.

This was the first scotch I recall ever purchasing. I bought it impulsively because it was on clearance at a grocery store at the end of 2000, shortly after relocating to San Diego. I couldn't appreciate it then, even mixing it with soda to make it somewhat drinkable. I shudder to think about that now. Fast forward to today, and I find this to be a delightful scotch. It's silky and nutty with notes of mulled wine and baking spices. It has a long, warming finish. Quite nice.

Nose: This is a spirit-forward nose with lemon, nuts, and a cleaning detergent scent (which sounds unpleasant but reminds me of a kitchen cleaner). The palate has floral and fruity notes, citrus, some oak, and marzipan. The finish is light and easygoing but has an unwelcome bitterness. This is a decent dram for a fair price, but it's simply a bit dull 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 is light and easy-going but with an unpleasant bitterness. This is a decent dram with a fair price tag, but it's simply a little boring for me, despite the nutty character. (74/100)