Knockdhu 2009 9yo (A.D. Rattray)

An A.D. Rattray bottling of Knockdhu, distilled in 2009 and aged 9 years in bourbon casks, then bottled at cask strength without chill filtering.

This is part of a series of blind tastings from the “The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 5th Edition” advent calendar. I do not know what is in the calendar, so every one of these reviews is 100% no prior knowledge.

1. Macduff 2003 14yo (Single Cask Nation)
2. Wemyss Wooden Chest
3. Lost Distillery Company Auchnagie Classic
4. Glen Moray 2008 9yo #5764 (Secret Spirits)
5. Craigellachie 12yo 2006 Cask Strength (Secret Spirits)
6. Exclusive Malts Islay Sherry Cask (Laphroaig)
7. Adelphi Breath of Speyside 2006 (11yo)
8. Balmenach 2004 13yo (Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask)
9. Glen Moray 2007 10yo (A.D. Rattray)
10. Royal Brackla 2006 11yo (Secret Spirits)
11. Wemyss Delicious Burst
12. Lost Distillery Company Stratheden Classic
13. Auchinderom - Peated Glenglassaugh (Malt Whisky Company)
14. Knockdhu 2009 9yo (A.D. Rattray)
15. Caol Ila 2009 9yo (Secret Spirits)
16. Wemyss Nectar Grove
17. Glentauchers 2008 10yo (Secret Spirits)
18. Glenallachie 2009 9yo (Secret Spirits)
19. Williamson (Laphroaig) 2005 13yo (A.D. Rattray)
20. Stones of Stenness Orkney Aged 18yo (Single Cask Nation)
21. Inchgower 1995 21yo (Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask)
22. Towiemore Archivist (Lost Distillery Company)
23. North British 1988 30yo (A.D. Rattray)
24. Inchmurrin 1996 21yo (Secret Spirits)
25. Glen Grant 1988 30yo (A.D. Rattray)

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Distiller: Knockdhu
Bottler: A.D. Rattray
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2018
ABV: 59%
Age: 9yo
Cask type: ex-Bourbon
Source: The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 5th Ed.
Setting: Blind

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Nose: A musty butterscotch in a woodsy forest. green apple candy. a sharp whisper of smoke lurks in the back. Quite a sharp impression of high alcohol content.
Palate: Hot and creamy walnut, sweet caramels and macadamia.
Finish: Clings to your mouth and dries to charred fruit and coconut. That fun macadamia note lingers.
Overall: Very nice indeed. A complex nose of simultaneous woodsy funk, candy-like fruit and smoke do not disappoint, with a wonderful mouthfeel and a particularly interesting central note of macadamia that I really enjoyed. Doesn’t seem particularly old, but it is certainly enjoyable as it is.
Rank: 7