Knockando 15 Year

This Scotch is from a Speyside distillery situated near Knockdhu. The 15-year-old single malt is not sold in the U.S. and had to be imported from the U.K. Bottled at 43% ABV, it is chill-filtered and likely contains added colorant, giving it an amber gold appearance. An enjoyable sherry aroma is present, with notes of licorice, nuts, vanilla, and maple. There's a faint mintiness, syrupy sweetness, and more sherry. Orange, melon, and pecan pie notes are detected, along with some chocolate, apricots, a subtle floral character, and hints of black tea. Fruit punch and a touch of light, smooth oak are also present. Spices like cinnamon, mild clove, and ginger appear. The palate is sweet and spicy, with the spiciness coming from the wood rather than heat. Cinnamon and cayenne pepper flavors are noticeable, but without the burn. Sherry, light oak, and dark chocolate are present. Nutty notes of pecans and Brazil nuts emerge, along with orange, apricot, and plum. A trace of raisin might be there. The texture is light-bodied, mouthwatering, and coating. The conclusion is medium in length, featuring sherry, nuts, and bitter chocolate. The lingering bitterness detracts from the ending. While not the ideal spirit for World Whisky Day, it was decent. I had anticipated greater complexity from a 15-year-old, but the flavors are good. The finish's bitterness is a slight drawback, though the nose is excellent. Priced at $48, it offers good monetary value, but this is negated by international shipping costs. A solid 3.5 rating. Thanks to a friend for the sample. Cheers

From a sample swap, here's Knockando 15. The Knockando distillery sits in Speyside, neighboring anCnoc, and began production in 1898. The name Cnoc-an-Dhu translates to little black hill. This place is famous for being the first to use electricity in 1905, thanks to its proximity to the Great Northern Railway linking the highlands and southern cities. Diageo owns it now; only about 10% of its malt becomes single malt, with the rest of its 1.8 million liters annually going into J & B and Spey Royal blends. This pour, at 43% ABV, has a light gold hue and leaves slow, oily legs. I'm quite sure it's chill-filtered and has added coloring. The aroma brings to mind mixed nuts, sherry, some breakfast syrup, and fresh oak. The taste is dominated by wood, feeling quite thin. Oak is the primary note, though I detect almonds and the faintest sherry undertones. The finish is medium-length and warming, leaving behind significant oak tannins and pepper. In summary, it's average and acceptable, but I won't be buying more from this producer. Many thanks to a friend for the sample; we can check this one off and continue our journey. Rating: 2.75-3 stars. Enjoy.

Knockando is quite rare in North America, at least in my area. A serving starts my late evening. A friend acquired this for our whisky group. It was distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2013. Aged in European oak sherry and second-fill bourbon casks, though the duration in each is unclear. On the nose, it's lightly sherried and sweet, with notes of canned mixed nuts, dark chocolate, honey, vanilla, raisins, and cereal (like Raisin Bran). Hints of tropical fruits like honeydew and apricots are present, along with a touch of cinnamon and oak. A quite inviting aroma. The body has a medium weight, starting sweet and becoming spicy. The sweetness presents as light brown sugar, vanilla, and honey, transitioning into spicy notes of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. A balanced interplay of sweet and spice. The finish is long, featuring oak, cloves, cinnamon, and almonds. The palate experiences a soft tingle until the end. A solid start draws you in. The palate, while balanced, feels two-dimensional, leaving you desiring more, and the one-dimensional finish makes you wish for greater complexity. It's a decent drink and easy to consume. For a 15-year spirit, I anticipate a bit more.

A colleague might be the whisky savior of this evening. After trying a couple of drams that didn't deliver the expected flavor, I believe we've found one. The nose presents strawberry pop tarts, roses, cinnamon, and light syrup. The palate offers more cinnamon, but it's well-matched with powdered sugar, vanilla, butter, cream, and a pleasant oily medium mouthfeel. The medium finish allows the butter, cream, and spices to linger slightly. It's not overly complex, but earns a solid 3.5. The sherry and bourbon cask influence is well executed. The theme for this dram should be "Caught in the Balance" by Toto.

Thanks to a friend for this sample. I'll give a quick review, as I'm scheduled to finish round 6 (I've been putting it off). Here we go: pour 2 of 4 this evening. I can still type. It costs about $50. I wouldn't buy it. Would I get a glass at a bar? Nope.

Nose: butter, tart green apples Body: truly rich! Citrus, pepper, spices, curry, cinnamon Finish: medium-short and sweet A very pleasing and flavorful palate