AnCnoc 32 Year (SMWS 115.29 "A Vision of the Basque Country")

 

I've been holding off on publishing this for a month, because I've had such a difficult time classifying this whisky ... it's an odd bird for sure. But I think it's more or less settled down, so it's time to alert the world. 

AnCnoc ("an-nock," also called Knockdu) is a Speyside/Eastern Highland distillery that is outrageously rare to find from an independent bottler. I've seen maybe one independent Knockdu (the distillery seems to use the names interchangeably, although the most recent rebrand leans heavily on AnCnoc) in all my years of drinking scotch. Even that, I may be misremembering.

anCnoc Cutter (NAS)

 

According to my blog history, I haven't had anCnoc since ... 2014! Seven years, too long for this Highland single malt. Pronounced "an-nock" (I feel every lead-in for this distillery must start with that wild name, right?), this is a discontinued part of their peated line. The current expression, I think, is called "Peatheart," which is pretty good. I really want to try the also-discontinued Flaughter, but can't find it near me for a decent price. This however, I got for a steal. Peated to 20.5 ppm, non-chill filtered, uncolored, appears to be ex-bourbon, and bottled at 46%. Here we go: 

anCnoc 12 Year

Before you ask, it's pronounced "a-nock," and comes from the Knockdhu distillery ("nock-DOO") in the village of Knock, somewhere in Aberdeenshire. This makes it a Highland Scotch, generally known for sweet, richly honeyed whiskies.