Knockando

Introduction:

Knockando distillery stands out with its annual release of new vintages and the unique practice of not coloring its whisky. The distillery offers a range of expressions, including 12 – year – old, 15 – year – old, 18 – year – old, 21 – year – old, and 25 – year – old whiskies. Independent bottlings from Knockando are extremely rare, with only one 9 – year – old bottling by Douglas Laing known to exist. Most of Knockando’s production is used in blended whiskies like J&B and Spey Royal, where it plays a significant role. While relatively unknown in the UK and the US, Knockando Single Malt is highly popular in France and Spain, ranking as Diageo’s fifth top seller.

Production:

Knockando has a modest production capacity of 1.3 million liters, smaller compared to other Speyside distilleries. The distillery sources water from the Cardnach Spring and holds the distinction of being the first Speyside distillery to use electricity for production.

Pot Stills:

The distillery operates four pot stills: two wash stills and two spirit stills. The wash stills have a capacity of 10,800 liters and feature a constricting piece in the intermediate section, promoting increased reflux. The two spirit stills have a capacity of 7,000 liters and also include a constricting piece. The pot stills have a unique shape with wide spherical lids surging into narrow conical necks, deviating slightly from the traditional ‘Speyside’ style.

Maltings:

Knockando uses slightly peated malts. In the past, the distillery grew its own barley and had floor maltings until 1968 when they were decommissioned. Currently, the malts are sourced from Diageo’s central maltings and made to order.

Warehouses:

Knockando has a combination of dunnage and racked warehouses on-site. The distillery utilizes Sherry and oak casks but strictly avoids adding any coloring to the spirit. Careful consideration is given to the proportion of Sherry and oak casks to ensure a balanced taste. Casks are selected at their peak to make the best contribution to the flavor profile.

History:

Knockando distillery was established in 1898 by John Thompson and the Knockando-Glenlivet Distillery Company. The site was designed by renowned whisky architect Charles Doig. The distillery’s name derives from the Gaelic term meaning little black hill, likely referencing the surrounding hills. Production started in 1899 but was halted just ten months later. In 1904, W & A Gilby purchased the distillery, resuming production that same year. Knockando enjoyed commercial success under W & A Gilby and underwent various mergers and acquisitions until ultimately being owned by Diageo in 1997.

Visitor’s Centre:

Regrettably, Knockando distillery is not open to the public.

Visitor information:

Knockando Distillery
Knockando
Morayshire
AB38 7RT
Tel: +44 (0)1340-882001