An Cnoc
This single malt whisky is produced by the Knockdhu distillery , a small, iconic distillery located in the Highlands of Northern Scotland . Founded in 1892 by John Morrison , the distillery owes its location to the discovery of exceptionally high-quality spring water , gushing forth at the foot of Knock Hill .
Seduced by this ideal site, John Morrison quickly signed an agreement with the landowner and launched the construction of a distillery then considered modern and ambitious . The scale of the project was such that it led to the creation of a railway station and a railway line dedicated to the transport of raw materials and casks - now defunct.
However, Knockdhu's history is marked by several periods of closure, due in particular to economic recessions , barley supply restrictions during wars , and then the fall in global demand for whisky which caused a third closure in 1982 .
The distillery was revived in 1988 when it was acquired by Inver House , which restarted production and ensured its continued operation. The name Knockdhu means "black hill" in Gaelic, while the brand name anCnoc translates to "little hill." Until 1993 , the whisky was marketed under the name Knockdhu, but to avoid confusion with other distilleries with similar names, such as Knockando or Cardhu , the anCnoc brand name was permanently adopted.
Despite its modest size—it's the smallest distillery in the Highlands —Knockdhu possesses an undeniable charm. Built from local grey granite , it continues to fascinate visitors more than a century after its creation. Production relies on a single pair of stills , a testament to traditional craftsmanship.
AnCnoc whiskies are aged primarily in bourbon and sherry casks , resulting in balanced aromatic profiles true to the Highland style.
From 2004 onwards, the distillery chose to reconnect with its history by reintroducing the use of peated malt , recalling the style of its early productions.
