Douglas Laing Knockando Tasting Notes

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Knockando 1994 (17 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2104/ DL7762

Dist: Aug 1994 Btl: Oct 2011/ Tasted: Nov 2011

A beautiful, full and aromatic nose. Redolent of luscious, sweet, natural runny honey with beeswax notes and a hint of crisp citrus. Wonderfully balanced!

Full and soft on the palate with a thread of gentle spice running through it. A wonderful mouthful of honey and oak with a piquant, brusque, plate cleansing middle. Superb length with the honey lingering. Seriously succulent and more-ish with a late citrus and grassy finish.

Knockando Distillery Bottlings Tasting Notes

Knockando 1990 (12 year old) 40%

Dist: 1990 Btl: 2002/ Tasted Jan 2003

A pleasant, surprisingly complex nose. Light, fruity and oily with hints of vanilla, caramel, salt and a touch of peat.

The palate is however rather straightforward and possibly a little insubstantial with a soft, smooth fruity character along with a touch of salt in the finish.

Knockando 1995 (12 year old) 43%

Dist: 1995 Btl: 2007/ Tasted: May 2009

A crisp, youthful nose of cereal/ barley along with hints of perfumed orange, peat and brine. It seems younger than the last time I tasted this whisky, which was I think the 1992 distillation.

The palate is soft, yet quiet dry and again young and cerealy. A bit high toned with crisp barley and slightly honeyed fruit. Good length with a touch of spice in the finish. I think the palate is not as full as I remember it.

Knockando 2000 (12 year old) 40%

Dist: 2000 Btl: 2015/ Tasted: Feb 2015

The nose seems to have put more weight on, with plenty of herbal honey and barley. Mellow and deep with hints of violet and heather.

The palate is full of soft barley, malt, apricot and lightly oiled honey. The oak is fairly robust but unassuming adding hints of toffee, vanilla and coffee. Lovely length with a light citrus and mineral finish.

Knockando 2003 (12 year old) 43%

Bourbon/ Dist: 2003 Btl: 2015/ Tasted: Feb 2017

Over the years the Knockando 12 year old has been putting on weight and this bottling is no exception. However it seems very mature for its age with a distinct straw-like demeanor and plenty of dense honey, apricot and barley. Hints of citrus add a freshening note.

The palate mirrors the nose with apricot and straw-like notes. Hints of honey, barley and subtle vanilla oak, which becomes pleasantly toffee’d on the middle. Long, citric and slightly mineral on the finish.