Knockando Richly Matured 15 Years - 2005
Little black hill is roughly the translation of Knockando from the Gaelic. The distillery is located near Tamdhu and Cardhu. However, the geographical proximity has nothing to do with the taste profiles. These are in fact very different.Knockando actually focuses on the production of blended malts. However, there are a few bottlings of their own, such as the 12-years Classic Malt and the 15-years Richly Matured. We have the older of the two in our glass.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Forest floor with a blob of mashed potatoes. With far too much nutmeg and a musty muskiness. Somehow there is also a bit of sherry and oak in there. There are also slight roasted aromas and something fruity hidden somewhere. A very strange combination.
Palate
Spicy and oaky, the Knockando 15 year turns into a fruity but malty sweetness. The fruitiness reminds us a little of baked apple pie. This single malt is not suitable for beginners. A very complex taste experience that gains in sweetness from sip to sip.
Finish
The "Richly Matured" Whisky accompanies us for a long time, sweetly spicy and warming.
Thoughts
Marcel 71/100
Knockando Richly Matured 15 Years is definitely not a gentle, bittersweet caress, but rather a whisky with character that doesn’t reveal itself immediately to everyone. The unusual combination of forest floor and sweet-spicy notes creates an exciting drinking experience that should be enjoyed with a sense of humor and patience.
Sascha 71/100
The Knockando 15 Years displays a complex aroma profile with spicy-oaky and fruity elements that are structurally well balanced, yet the overall impression feels somewhat discordant. For lovers of layered Speyside profiles, it offers an interesting, albeit challenging, tasting experience.
Value for Money: Excellent
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What makes the taste of Knockando Richly Matured 15 Years special?
The whisky is characterized by an unusual combination of forest floor, nutmeg, sherry notes, and light roasted aromas. On the palate, spicy oak tones develop, transitioning into a malty fruit sweetness with hints of baked apple pie.
Why is Knockando 15 Years not suitable for whisky beginners?
The complex and multi-layered flavor profile, featuring unusual notes like mashed potatoes, moss, and intense spices, requires some experience to fully appreciate the aromas. For beginners, this combination can come across as too idiosyncratic or difficult to access.
How does Knockando differ from neighboring distilleries like Tamdhu or Cardhu?
Although Knockando is geographically close to Tamdhu and Cardhu, the flavor profiles differ significantly. Knockando focuses on producing malts for blended whiskies, with its own bottlings often showcasing a distinctive and complex character with unusual notes.