Knockando 21 Year Master Reserve (1994)

Nose: Malt, caramel, hints of pencil shavings, a dunnage warehouse floor aroma, dry hay, milk chocolate, coffee grounds, and aged furniture. Over time, it develops a buttered toast scent. Very mellow and sophisticated. [The aroma from the empty glass is rich maple syrup with a touch of vanilla and milk chocolate] Palate: Dark malt extract dissolved in strong, chilled black tea. Marmalade, dark chocolate, black coffee, toasted almonds, tobacco, licorice, and a subtle oak presence emerge as it develops. Some elements of the palate bring to mind porter or stout, though it's not distinctly ale-like, and there's also a hint of walnut bread. The texture is smooth yet dry. Adding water amplifies the background oak too much, disrupting the balance. Finish: Medium length. Dry, but not harsh or astringent. A pleasant warmth and dryness. Nutty and earthy with a final faint sweet note. The aroma is dry, dominated entirely by dark, substantial malt scents. There are no ester-like floral or fruity top notes, no phenolic smoke, and no creosote-like maritime or mineral character. A sherry influence is present but subdued and not overly sweet. The palate is earthy, malty, and possesses many robust flavors such as tobacco and black coffee, yet they are reserved and almost distant initially. This is a very quiet spirit that requires considerable time to open up, and in several aspects, it evokes Glenfarclas. The key distinction is its dark chocolate and coffee character, whereas Glenfarclas offers a fragrant core of sandalwood and honeysuckle. This spirit is akin to a painting rendered solely in earth tones. Initially, I was unsure, but it truly grew on me as I tasted it. In fact, I was so engrossed in exploring it that I nearly forgot to reserve enough for tasting with water. I managed just in time, but honestly, I wish I hadn't. This is far more enjoyable neat. Tasted from a 30ml sample. Would I purchase a bottle of this at the asking price of $165? No, probably not, but I wouldn't refuse a serving, and it has certainly piqued my interest in exploring their other expressions. It possesses character.

Let's start with a consideration: find me a 21-year-old with this pleasantness at this price. Since none exist, the rating is partly based on that. It's a highly complex yet velvety and pleasant spirit, perfect for daily enjoyment at any time. On the nose: sherry, oak, wood, cappuccino, and overwhelmingly, raisins and caramelized sugar. The palate confirms the nose's aromas, with added candied fruit and citrus. Finish: Medium-short, predominantly raisins, with an unpleasantly lingering bitterness that slightly lowers the score. An excellent spirit, but certainly not the bottle I'd take to a desert island..... _______________________________________________________________________________ Let's begin with a thought: find me a 21-year-old of this pleasantness at this price. Given that none exist, the score is also a function of this. It is a spirit of great complexity, but velvety and pleasant, a perfect drink for every day and at all hours. On the nose: sherry, oak, wood, cappuccino, and above all with a great predominance of raisins and caramelized sugar. The aromas of the nose are confirmed on the palate, to which I add candied fruit and candied citrus. Medium-short finish with a predominance of raisins, with a bitterness that remains in the mouth and which is not too pleasant: this lowers the judgment a little. Excellent drink, but certainly not the bottle that I would take to a desert island.....

A lot transpired today. I will omit the specifics. You are likely only interested in the whisky's characteristics, correct? Nose: Some astringent tannins with alcohol, followed by a malty sweetness, with brewer's wort and wood notes in the background. Citrus peel and oils are present, specifically orange, tangerine, and lemon. An oily sensation with very subtle chestnut undertones. Palate: Sweet and malty, but with an unexpected vegetal quality that leads to bitterness and a surprisingly worty sourness. A white pepper heat is noticeable. The malt seems somewhat light with a mineral touch. It's decent, but this profile isn't entirely appealing. There's a good amount happening, yet it lacks the richness of a mature Longmorn or a comparable dram. This is unusual; I even detect notes reminiscent of stewed agave. Finish: The vegetal notes persist but lean more towards herbal. There's a dryness. The sweetness isn't prominent. Not much complexity here either. - Verdict - This is good, but somewhat disorganized. I enjoy it, but I certainly would not have guessed its age of 21 years. My current estimation is a 16, though a 15 is plausible. A 14 seems unlikely, much like a 17. A 13 is out of consideration. This dram leaves me feeling disappointed and perplexed. While I didn't anticipate it to be mind-blowing, I expected a solid expression demonstrating maturity, yet it tastes quite young. Revisiting this, I'm leaning towards a 17, but it still doesn't present as exceptionally mature. It could be a 16. At this moment, I would assign it a 16.

This particular bottling is said to be special due to casks aging in a colder storage, extending maturation. I'm not sure that's the key factor, as the 21 years of aging seems more significant. It has a pleasant viscosity. The flavor is one-dimensional, featuring honey and toffee. It's slightly rough for a 21-year-old, explaining its lower price for its age. In a word, unmemorable. Still, it's acceptable on a cold night. I'll rate it just under 3.5, improving as it sat. It has a faint resemblance to Glenlivet 18. Not the most amazing start to my extensive whiskey journey, but not a bad one either. At least I didn't purchase a bottle.

Aroma: spices and exotic fruit, honey, creamy vanilla, chocolate, and a floral scent. Taste: oily texture that coats the mouth, light and subtle flavors, fruit and honey, hints of oak and tannins, with muted caramel and vanilla. Finish: enduring, fruity and tannic, with moderate warmth.

Viscosity is acceptable. Smells like toffee apple. Tastes like spicy honey. It's pleasant enough and I wouldn't refuse it, but I wouldn't spend that much for a bottle.