Knockdhu distillery
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2012) |
Region: Speyside | |
---|---|
Location | Knock, Banffshire |
Owner | Inver House |
Founded | 1894 |
Status | Operational |
Water source | Spring water from Knock Hill |
No. of stills | 1 wash still 1 spirit still |
Capacity | 1,700,000 litres per annum |
anCnoc | |
Type | Single malt |
Age(s) | 12 Years 18 Years |
Cask type(s) | American White Oak, Ex-Bourbon Casks (Main) |
ABV | 40% - 50% |
The Knockdhu distillery is a whisky distillery in Knock, Banffshire owned by Inver House Distillers Limited.
The distillery was founded in 1893 by John Morrison, who bought the land from the Duke of Fife[citation needed] to produce whisky for Haig's after several springs on the southern slope of Knock Hill were discovered.[1] The site was also chosen for its proximity to the Knock Station on the Banff branch line of the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR) between Aberdeen and Elgin.[citation needed] Not only was the new location convenient to the railway but it was also within a few miles of a district noted both for its barley and inexhaustible source of excellent peat.[citation needed] The distillery was built using local eye grey granite, with two coal fired stills, now steam heated.[1] The two pot stills could turn out 2,500 gallons of spirit per week.[citation needed] It was also the first malt distillery built for the Distillers Company Ltd. It started production in 1894 and remained in continuous operation until 1931, when it was forced to close for a few years due to the economic depression. Wartime restrictions on barley forced a second closure from 1940-1945.[2]
After the war, with the distillery connected to the national grid, the steam powered engine, which had been used since its founding, was retired in 1947.[citation needed]
Knockdhu was closed in 1983, and was sold to Inver House in 1988,[1] after which production resumed in February 1989. Various bottling ages are available the most popular being 12 years old, there is also an annual vintage bottled around 14–15 years old, a 16-year-old (matured solely in second fill bourbon casks) and a 30-year-old. Previously named Knockdhu after the distillery, the whisky was renamed anCnoc in 1994 to avoid confusion with Knockando.[3]
Knockdhu Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is currently bottled under the Gaelic name anCnoc meaning "the hill".
Awards[]
anCnoc Highland Single Malt Whisky from Knockdhu Distillery is a multi-award-winning whisky. Recent awards include:
World Whiskies Awards 2019
- anCnoc Peatheart – Gold
International Spirits Challenge 2018
- anCnoc Rudhan Travel Retail Exclusive – Silver
- anCnoc Peatheart – Silver
International Wine & Spirits Challenge 2018
- anCnoc 18 Years Old – Gold
- anCnoc 24 Years Old – Silver Outstanding
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Silver
World Whisky Awards 2018
- anCnoc 2002 – Category Winner
- anCnoc Peatheart – Bronze
International Wine and Spirit Competition 2017
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Gold
- anCnoc 18 Years Old – Silver
- anCnoc 24 Years Old – Silver Outstanding
International Spirits Challenge 2017 [4]
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Gold
- anCnoc 18 Years Old – Silver
- anCnoc 24 Years Old – Silver
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2017 [5]
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – 96 points, finalist, Great Value
- anCnoc 18 Years Old – 94 points, finalist
- anCnoc Cutter – 94 points, finalist
New York International Spirits Challenge 2017
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Gold
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Double Gold
IWSC 2016 [6]
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Gold
- anCnoc 18 Years Old – Silver
- anCnoc 24 Years Old – Silver Outstanding
- anCnoc Rascan – Silver
- anCnoc Barrow – Silver
- anCnoc Black Hill Reserve – Silver
International Spirits Challenge 2016 [7]
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Gold
- anCnoc 18 Years Old – Silver
- anCnoc 24 Years Old – Silver
- anCnoc Rascan – Silver
- anCnoc Barrow – Silver
- anCnoc Black Hill Reserve – Silver
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2016 [8]
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – 87 points
- anCnoc Rascan – 95 points
World Whiskies Awards 2016 [9]
- anCnoc 18 Years Old – Gold (Category winner)
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2016 [10]
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Gold
- anCnoc Rascan – Double Gold
New York World Spirits Competition 2016 [11]
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Silver
BTI 2016
- anCnoc 12 Years Old – Gold
See also[]
- List of distilleries in Scotland
- List of whisky brands
- Knock railway station (Banffshire)
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Helen Arthur (2002) [1997]. The single malt companion (in Dutch). Libero. p. 54. ISBN 9057642360.
- ^ Discover anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- ^ MacLean, Charles, "Malt Whisky", p.147
- ^ http://www.internationalspiritschallenge.com/isc2016/2016-results
- ^ http://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ultimate-spirits-challenge-USC/2017-spirits-results/?type=&subtype=&product_name=ancnoc&country=&award=
- ^ https://www.iwsc.net
- ^ http://www.internationalspiritschallenge.com/isc2017/2017-results
- ^ http://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ultimate-spirits-challenge-USC/2016-spirits-results/?product_name=Old+Pulteney&type=&subtype=&product_name=ancnoc&country=&award=
- ^ http://www.worldwhiskiesawards.com/winner/whisky/2016
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-06-27. Retrieved 2017-06-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ http://www.nyworldwineandspiritscompetition.com/d/NYWWSCWinnerlist2016.R7.Spirits.pdf
External links[]
Media related to Knockdhu Distillery at Wikimedia Commons
- anCnoc Single Malt Whisky - Website
- Inver House Distillers Limited - Corporate Website
- 1893 establishments in Scotland
- Scottish malt whisky
- British companies established in 1893
- Food and drink companies established in 1893