The anCnoc 24 Year Old is among the older age-stated expressions released under the brand, drawn from Knockdhu Distillery stocks laid down in the early 1990s. It is matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill-filtered and without added colour.
Knockdhu, built in 1894 beside Knock Hill in Aberdeenshire, has always been a small Highland distillery whose output fed the blending trade, chiefly Haig. Under Inver House ownership since 1988, older parcels of Knockdhu spirit have been released progressively as the anCnoc range has matured. The 24 sits at the senior end of the standard age-stated line and appears in limited quantity.
The additional years in wood show themselves clearly. The nose is waxier and more layered than the 18, with beeswax, dried apricot, candied orange peel, soft leather and old oak. The sherry influence is present but restrained — still recognisably the anCnoc house style, which favours clarity over weight.
On the palate the whisky is rich but not heavy, offering honey, dark marmalade, fig, walnut and a slow, spreading warmth. A thread of aged oak runs through it, balanced by the distillery's characteristic citrus lift. The finish is very long, turning drier as it fades, with dark honey and a faint herbal bitterness.
It is a patient, grown-up Highland whisky from a distillery that has always let its spirit speak quietly.
