AnCnoc 12 yo is a fun single malt to review because I think it comes off deceptively simplistic. Also, it’s kind of quirky (to me at least): its marketed as a Highland whisky (although you can make a case for them residing within the limits of Speyside); it’s non-sherried (a non-sherried Speyside?!); the distillery has changed their name in an attempt to be less confusing (is it really less confusing now?); and their process uses a mixture of modern and traditional equipment (e.g., new steel & copper mashtun vs wooden worm tubs). It’s also kind of a wonder to me that this relatively small distillery is still around. Back to the bottle: sometimes you find the 12 yo as 40%, sometimes 43%. I’m not an expert on the global distribution differences of Knockdhu’s range, but I can say that my bottle for this review is 43% and non-chill filtered. (Distiller’s review lists 40%) The nose is crisp and fruity: vanilla, peach, biscuits, and honey. There’s also a shifty quality to the aroma: sometimes I get oak like dried leaves, other times it’s more like book pages. Another nice part is the ex-bourbon barrels allow more of the malt character to show through (same for taste). On the palate, I get more vanilla, cinnamon, green apple, oak, malt, and some gentle spice and caramel smoke. The first couple times I sat with this whisky, I was pondering how best to describe the sweetness of this dram. I was settling to call it more of an amber honey, but that wasn’t right and then it hit me - raisins seems most apt to me. It’s medium-bodied treat with a malty core, acidity to balance, and enough complexity to keep me interested. The medium-length finish brings more oak and spice forward, with a nuanced, warming effect. At $40, I think anCnoc 12 yo is a solid VFM bottle if you feel like a summertime experiment with a distillery that doesn’t come up as often in conversation. I think the smoke element makes it appropriate for transitioning to autumn too. It’s not something I need to replace as soon as I run out, but at the very least it’s staying on the short list to rotate back in. This one’s right on the edge of 3.75+ because of the value factor so I will split the difference with a 3.75 and “very good” recommendation. 3.75 ~ 86 ~ Very Good