AnCnoc has always occupied an interesting corner of the Highland map. The distillery — known formally as Knockdhu — sits in the eastern Highlands, a region not typically associated with peat-forward whisky. That's precisely what makes the AnCnoc Peated Sherry expression such a compelling proposition. It takes two flavour profiles that have each, independently, dominated the single malt conversation for the past decade — peat smoke and sherry cask influence — and layers them together in a Highland context. The result is a whisky that feels both fashionable and grounded.
Style & Character
This is a no-age-statement release, which at 40% ABV and a price point just under £45 positions it squarely as an accessible everyday dram rather than a collector's piece. I want to be straightforward about that. The ABV is the legal minimum for Scotch, and I'd have liked to see this bottled at 43% or even 46% to give the peated sherry combination more room to breathe. That said, AnCnoc has historically produced a clean, fruity spirit — light on its feet for a Highland malt — and that house style lends itself well to absorbing both peat and sherry influence without becoming muddy or overwrought.
What you should expect here is a whisky that balances sweetness against smoke. The sherry cask maturation will bring dried fruit richness, toffee, and warmth, while the peated malt introduces a savoury, gently ashy backbone. These aren't competing forces so much as complementary ones, and when a distillery gets the ratio right, the effect is something like a campfire lit beside an orchard in autumn. AnCnoc's lighter distillate typically allows cask character to come through with real clarity, so even at 40%, I'd wager the sherry and peat have genuine presence rather than sitting as faint suggestions.
The Verdict
At £44.95, the AnCnoc Peated Sherry represents solid value in a market where peated or sherried single malts — let alone both — routinely command £60 or more. It won't rewrite your understanding of Highland whisky, nor is it trying to. What it does is offer a well-conceived flavour combination from a distillery with genuine pedigree, at a price that doesn't punish curiosity. The 40% ABV is the only real concession, and for many drinkers it simply won't matter.
I'm scoring this 7.8 out of 10. It's a genuinely enjoyable whisky that punches cleanly at its price point, and the peated sherry concept is executed with enough conviction to stand apart from the growing crowd of NAS Highland malts. If AnCnoc were to release a cask-strength version of this same profile, I suspect we'd be talking about something exceptional. As it stands, this is a smart, well-made dram that earns its place on the shelf.
Best Served
Pour it neat in a Glencairn and give it five minutes to open. If the peat feels shy, add a few drops of water — that often coaxes smoke forward while softening the sherry sweetness into something more integrated. This would also make a surprisingly good base for a Rob Roy if you're feeling adventurous, though I'd drink it straight at least twice before mixing. On a cold evening, neat is the way.
