A CLASSIC BANALITY – 6/10
Success, when too easily attained, can become a subtle form of stagnation. Such is the paradox at the heart of Knockando—a distillery whose early achievements, rather than propelling it toward enduring innovation, appear to have lulled it into a quiet complacency. In the 1960s, Knockando was a trailblazer: among the first in Scotland to automate its distillation process, embracing modernity at a time when tradition reigned supreme. This technical foresight might have charted the course for a dynamic future. Yet fate had another plan.
Around that same time, Knockando was selected as a key component of the J&B Rare blend, one of the most commercially successful Scotch whiskies in the world. This partnership guaranteed financial security and high-volume output—every distillery’s dream, on paper. But this strategic alignment with a global, mass-market blend also diluted its identity as a single malt. No longer dependent on the niche appeal of its own label, the distillery withdrew from the competitive storytelling and stylistic evolution that came to define the single malt renaissance.
Ironically, Knockando was also the first distillery to consistently display the year of distillation on its bottles, a practice that should have earned it admiration from transparency-minded connoisseurs. Yet that pioneering gesture failed to spark the kind of emotional loyalty other Speyside malts would later command. Why? Perhaps because the whisky itself rarely strayed from the safe middle ground—pleasant, yes, but rarely provocative. There has been little in the way of bold experimentation, no daring finishes, few limited editions that might inspire curiosity or devotion.
Tonight’s dram, the 1992 vintage aged in bourbon casks, exemplifies this well-mannered restraint. It offers exactly what one expects and little more: soft layers of honey and vanilla, accompanied by gentle woody undertones that speak to its long rest in oak. A whisper of white pepper arrives mid-palate, adding a fleeting spark to an otherwise predictable profile. This is whisky for those who prefer not to be challenged, a dram that settles politely into the background rather than commanding your attention.
Knockando will not quicken the pulse of seasoned whisky aficionados, nor does it seek to. And yet, in its modesty and clarity, it offers something of value: a gentle introduction to the world of single malts, free from peat smoke, wine finishes, or sherry-drenched theatrics. It is, in the best sense of the word, accessible—an understated invitation to explore further.
