“I Can’t Go For That (Knockando)”
Whisky Review # 1019
Region: Speyside
Brand: Knockando - Master Reserve Series
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks and Sherry Casks
Chill Filtration: Yes
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks and Sherry Casks
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price range: US$ 80-110 (May 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay I guess. A 21 Years old Single Malt can't be cheaper.
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay I guess. A 21 Years old Single Malt can't be cheaper.
Buying Advice: 👎 Not really bad but too plain for a 21 Year old Single Malt.
Color:
Dark Golden (Artificially Colored)
Nose:
Nose:
Please avoid to nose in the middle of your glass to avoid the initial wafts of edgy Alcohol. The nose is quite Buttery and Waxy and presents Sweet and Sour Dusty notes of Fruits, Honey and Nuts. The Sherry cask influence is not overwhelming. It's not bad but I can see why historically most of the Spirit disappeared in Blends.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Honey, Caramel, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apricots & Apple, Wax, Dark Berries & Currants, Mixed Nuts, Orange, Dried Coconut Flakes, Marzipan, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Vanilla, Toffee, Golden Syrup, Tangerine, Puff Pastry filled with Mango Cream, Milk Chocolate, Grass and Straw, Dusty Road, Unlit Cigars, Floral Spray, Dried Herbs, Ginger and Lemon-Grass. A hint of Leather perhaps.
Vanilla, Toffee, Golden Syrup, Tangerine, Puff Pastry filled with Mango Cream, Milk Chocolate, Grass and Straw, Dusty Road, Unlit Cigars, Floral Spray, Dried Herbs, Ginger and Lemon-Grass. A hint of Leather perhaps.
Palate:
Rather Thin. Bitter, Sweet, Sour, Dusty and Hot elements are fighting it out. It's not really bad but it is rather dull. You don't have to wake me up for this.
Main Flavours:
Rather Thin. Bitter, Sweet, Sour, Dusty and Hot elements are fighting it out. It's not really bad but it is rather dull. You don't have to wake me up for this.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Caramel, Honey, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apples & Apricots, Dark Berries and Currants, Mixed Nuts with lots of Almonds, Orange, Dusty Charred Oak, Wax, Pepper, Cinnamon, Licorice and Mint.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Vanilla, Toffee, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Lemon, Milk Chocolate, Dry Earth, Herbal Tea, Nougat, Salt, Nutmeg, Ginger and Cloves. A hint of Varnish
Finish:
A Medium-Dry and slightly Hot mix of Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. The ABV of only 43% leaves it a bit on the Thin side. Lots of Licorice, Aniseed & Mint/Menthol towards the end. I also find Sweet Barley, Honey, Caramel, Vanilla, Dark Berries and Currants, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apples and Apricots, Sour Grapes, Orange, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Milk Chocolate, Nuts, Dusty Oak, Nougat, Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon and a bit of Nutmeg and Ginger.
A Medium-Dry and slightly Hot mix of Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. The ABV of only 43% leaves it a bit on the Thin side. Lots of Licorice, Aniseed & Mint/Menthol towards the end. I also find Sweet Barley, Honey, Caramel, Vanilla, Dark Berries and Currants, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apples and Apricots, Sour Grapes, Orange, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Milk Chocolate, Nuts, Dusty Oak, Nougat, Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon and a bit of Nutmeg and Ginger.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water kills this Knockando. Enjoy it neat.
Added Water kills this Knockando. Enjoy it neat.
Rating: 7 (*******)
Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is 8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good but boring.
Conclusion:
Knockando is a relatively small distillery in Morayshire that was founded in 1898 by John Thompson. For many years it was the Single Malt Heart of the J&B Blend. It became part of Diageo in 1997 and was closed for refurbishing in 2017. Quite surprisingly actually Diageo has re-opened various closed distilleries like Brora and Port Ellen. Knockando followed in 2023. The core range consists of the 12 year old only.
Knockando is a relatively small distillery in Morayshire that was founded in 1898 by John Thompson. For many years it was the Single Malt Heart of the J&B Blend. It became part of Diageo in 1997 and was closed for refurbishing in 2017. Quite surprisingly actually Diageo has re-opened various closed distilleries like Brora and Port Ellen. Knockando followed in 2023. The core range consists of the 12 year old only.
I'm really disappointed by this Knockando. It's not really bad but I expect so much more of a 21 Year old Single Malt. It's quite clear that the distillery focused more on Blended Whisky, at least in the past. This Knockando suffers from the low ABV but at the same time the Alcohol is noticeable all the time & not at all integrated. I never experienced that this much in a 21 Years old Malt. The Flavor and Aroma are rather dull with mostly (Dried) Fruit and Nuts. I strongly suspect that only 2nd and 3rd Re-fill casks were used. Considering its age the pricing of this Malt is okay but I can't really recommend the contents of the bottle. I'm yawning while I write this conclusion!
Cheers 🥃
No comments:
Post a Comment