Ancnoc Rudhan

Knockdhu Distillery, found in the village of Knock near Huntly, lies in the heart of Scotland's whisky region, although it's technically classified as a Highland whisky rather than Speyside due to its location just outside the Speyside boundary. Established in 1893 by John Morrison, it was constructed for the Distillers Company Limited (DCL), marking their first venture into building their own distillery. The distillery is renowned for producing anCnoc single malt, which was rebranded in 1993 to avoid confusion with Knockando, another nearby distillery. The name anCnoc, pronounced "a-nock," translates to "the hill" in Gaelic, reflective of the hill that provides the water source for the whisky production. Knockdhu is one of the smaller distilleries, equipped with just one wash still and one spirit still, yet it has managed to carve out a reputation for crafting a fresh, vibrant whisky with citrus notes, thanks to its use of worm tubs for condensation and long fermentation times. While a significant portion of its production goes into blends, the anCnoc range has gained acclaim for both its standard expressions and peated variants, offering a diversity of flavors from sweet and fruity to lightly smoky. The distillery itself embodies a blend of the old and new, with traditional wooden washbacks juxtaposed with modern mash equipment, showcasing a commitment to quality and tradition in the heart of whisky country.The renaming came about in 1993 to avoid confusion with Knockando distillery. The distillery has remained relatively unscathed and still utilises worm tubs to help create its distinctive style. With a single pair of stills running 24/7 for over a decade to meet demand. The tour is well worth taking and gives you a sense of a more traditional style of distillery, and the efforts of the team to retain its original character.