🥃 Knockando

Knockando is a distillery and brand of single malt Scotch whisky in the village of the same name, on the River Spey in Speyside. It was founded by John Thompson in 1898, and distilling began in 1899. The whisky is light, with nutty and malty notes, and most of the spirit goes into the J&B blend. The owner is Diageo.

History. The building was designed by Charles Doig, a well-known distillery architect. Like many distilleries of that boom, Knockando had difficulties and in 1904 passed to the London company W & A Gilbey. In 1962 it was acquired by IDV, which passed the licence to its division Justerini & Brooks; since then Knockando has been the home of the J&B blend. Later owners were Grand Metropolitan and, from 1997, Diageo.

How it is made. According to Whiskypedia, there are four stills and eight wooden washbacks, and the water is taken from the Cardnach spring. Quick mashing, a short fermentation and fast distillation give a light nutty and malty style.

Range. The core expression is 12 years old. For a long time Knockando stood out for putting the season and year of distillation on the label. Special releases include a 25-year-old distilled in 1985, matured in European oak sherry casks, at 43% ABV.

Why this matters to you. Knockando is a single malt, but most of its spirit you have probably drunk in the J&B blend. Do not confuse it with the Knockdhu distillery, whose whisky is sold as anCnoc. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.