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Everything you need to know about Knockando Distillery
Most popular bottles from the distillery
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Knockando 1987 Speyside Pure Single Malt Whisky£169.99 Inc VAT -
Knockando 14 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 1982£249.96 Inc VAT -
Knockando 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 1993£119.99 Inc VAT
A brief History
Knockando, Speyside Region, Scotland. Founded in 1898.
Knockando is Speyside at a slower pace. Tucked away above the River Spey, the distillery dates back to 1898 and has always done things quietly. No big visitor crowds. No constant new releases. Just steady production and patient maturation.
For much of its life, Knockando’s malt went straight into blends — particularly J&B — which explains its restrained, balanced style. When official single malts do appear, they’re often vintage-dated, reflecting the year of distillation rather than a fixed recipe. That alone tells you something about the philosophy here: let the spirit and the cask speak for themselves.
Knockando isn’t flashy Speyside. It’s clean, composed, and dependable. The kind of whisky you come back to when you want clarity rather than fireworks.
Taste Profile
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Sweet |
Fruity | Malty / Cereal |
Knockando’s style is light and precise. Orchard fruit leads — apple and pear — followed by honeyed sweetness and gentle vanilla from American oak. The malt character is clean and biscuity, with oak providing structure rather than spice.
There’s no peat emphasis here. The finish is smooth, dry, and quietly sweet. It’s a whisky that rewards calm sipping and doesn’t demand attention.
Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients
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Apple / Pear |
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Vanilla |
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Honey |
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Malt / Biscuit / Toast |
Most Popular Bottles
Knockando 12 Year Old
Fresh, fruit-led, and approachable. A clear example of the house style.
Knockando 18 Year Old
More rounded with extra oak influence and deeper sweetness.
Knockando Vintage Releases
Bottled by year of distillation. Subtle variations depending on cask and season.
Availability can vary, especially for older or vintage-labelled releases.
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The Distillery
The Distiller: Knockando Distillery
Address: Knockando, Aberlour, Moray, AB38 7RP, Scotland
 Open in maps |
 Unavailable |
 +44 (0)1340 810235 |
Visitor Centre & Opening Times
Knockando is not regularly open to the public and does not operate a standard visitor centre. Access is limited and typically by special arrangement rather than daily tours.
Ownership History
Current Owner
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Diageo
Historic Ownership
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Founded in 1898
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Integrated into Distillers Company Limited (DCL)
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Now part of Diageo’s Speyside portfolio
Distillery Facts
Overview & History
Knockando Distillery is located on the banks of the River Spey in Speyside and was founded in 1898 by John Thomson. Unlike many Speyside distilleries, Knockando has historically operated at a relatively modest scale, prioritising consistency over volume.
The distillery is known for releasing vintage-dated bottlings rather than age-stated expressions, a practice that emphasises production year and character rather than time in cask. Today, Knockando is owned by Diageo.
Production
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Spirit Type: Single malt Scotch whisky
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Stills: Copper pot stills designed to produce a light, elegant spirit
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Water Source: Cardnach Spring
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Cask Policy: Predominantly ex-bourbon, with limited sherry influence
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Production Scale: Small to mid-sized by Speyside standards
Knockando’s production is deliberately restrained, supporting a clean new-make spirit intended for long, steady maturation.
Whisky Style
Knockando is typically:
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Light-bodied and refined
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Soft malt sweetness
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Green apple and pear notes
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Almond and gentle nutty tones
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Minimal peat influence
The style is subtle and understated, sitting at the lighter end of the Speyside spectrum.
Key Expressions
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Knockando 12 Year Old – Fresh, approachable Speyside malt
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Knockando 18 Year Old – Increased depth with nutty and dried fruit notes
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Knockando Vintage Releases – Bottled by distillation year (e.g. 1995, 1998)
Vintage bottlings are a defining feature of the brand.
Significance
Knockando occupies a quiet but respected position within Speyside. Its vintage-dated philosophy sets it apart from most Scotch producers and appeals to drinkers interested in production character rather than branding or intensity.
While not heavily marketed, Knockando remains an important contributor to both the single malt category and Diageo’s broader blending stocks, valued for its elegance and reliability.
Knockando Whisky to Buy
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