Knockando 15 Year

Tasted on 11/14/18 at Whisky House San Diego Like the other reviews said, the flavor is nice, but it is not overly complex by any means.

Knockando, most uncommon here is the North America (or at least in my region). A pour starts my late evening. I purchased via proxy from @LeeEvolved for our whisky group. This was distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2013. Aged in European oak sherry and refilled bourbon casks, but for how long in each, I am unsure. It arrives on the nose lightly sherried and sweet. Canned mixed nuts, dark chocolate, honey, vanilla, raisins and cereal (Raisin Bran). Some tropical fruits of honeydew and apricots. A pinch of cinnamon and oak are sprinkled about. A rather inviting nose. The body is medium in weight that arrives sweet and turns spicy. The sweetness is light brown sugar, vanilla and honey. This sweetness segues to the spicy notes of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. A ying/yang balance of sweet and spice. It finishes, long, of oak, cloves, cinnamon and almonds. The tongue rides out a soft tingle to completion. A solid opening draws you in. The palate, however balanced, is two dimensional and you find yourself wishing for a bit more and the one dimensional finish wishes for a more two dimensional finish. It’s a good pour and easily drinkable. For a 15 year, I do expect a bit more. [$48][84/100][Tasted: 7/6/18]

Thanks to @Scott_E for this sample. I’m gonna do a quick review on this, since I’m lined up to finish round 6 (been dragging my feet this round). Here it goes: pour 2 of 4 for this evening. I can still type. This is about $50. I’d not buy it. Would I get a pour at the bar? Nope.

Back to another sample from our little trading group: Knockando 15. The Knockando distillery is located in Speyside, right beside the anCnoc distillery and began distilling way back in 1898. The Gaelic translation of Cnoc-an-Dhu is little black hill. This distillery’s claim to fame is that it was the first one to use electricity back in 1905. It acquired it because it was directly beside the Great Northern Railway that connected the highlands to the larger cities in the south. It’s currently owned by Diageo and approximately 10% of its malt is used for single malts, the rest of its 1.8 million liters per year go into J & B and Spey Royal blends. This one is bottled at 43% and is a light gold in the taster and produces slow running, oily legs. I’m sure it’s chill filtered and has added color. The nose is mixed nuts and sherry with some breakfast syrup and fresh oak. The palate is heavily wood forward while coming across as very thin. There’s more oak than anything else, but I do get almonds and the faintest sherry notes. The finish is medium length and warming, while leaving behind lots of oak tannins and pepper. Overall, it’s average and serviceable, but I doubt I’d buy anything else from these guys. Thanks to @Scott_E for the pour- we can tick this one off and keep on moving towards the finish line. 2.75-3 stars. Cheers.