Knockando 1988 – 2000

A vintage-dated, single-malt expression from the late 20th century, epitomising Knockando's light, gentle, and food-friendly Speyside style.

Historical Context

Knockando Distillery, founded in 1898 in the heart of Speyside, is one of the more quietly consistent producers in the region. The distillery's name comes from the Gaelic Cnoc-an-dhu, meaning "little black hill." Under various ownerships, eventually consolidating within what is now Diageo, Knockando's single malt has consistently adhered to a light, fruity, and highly accessible style, making it particularly popular in Southern European markets, notably France, where it has historically been one of the top-selling single malts.

A key defining feature of Knockando's core releases is its vintage dating, a practice that commenced in the 1970s. Unlike most whiskies, where the bottling date is the only indicator, Knockando explicitly labels its bottles with both the year of Distillation and the year of Bottling. This practice aims to provide the consumer with certainty regarding the batch's origin and to emphasise its production as a limited, single-harvest product, rather than a blend of whiskies of different vintages.

The Knockando 1988 - 2000 bottling is a definitive example of this vintage dating philosophy. The liquid was distilled entirely in 1988, matured for a full 12 years, and bottled in 2000. The 1980s represent a period of high production and quality for Speyside distilleries, and the malt would have been selected from the distillery's sizable stocks, ensuring a reliable, consistent profile that adheres to the 12 Year Old standard. This release sits within the pre-single malt boom era, where the brand maintained its focus on quality, vintage-dated reliability over bold innovation.

Technical Specification & Variant Map

This single malt is distilled from 100% malted barley, using traditional copper pot stills. The style is notably light and elegant, a result of a clean distillation cut and the distillery's preference for refill oak casks.

• Cask Regime: The exclusive use of refill casks (American Oak) is critical to the Knockando profile. Unlike first-fill casks which impart heavy wood, colour, and vanilla quickly, refill casks allow the delicate, fruity distillate to be the main focus, developing subtle complexity over the 12-year period without being overwhelmed by oak tannins.
• Vintage Dating: The 1988-2000 dating is the primary technical identifier, confirming the 12-year-old maturation period, which is the standard minimum age for the core expression.
• ABV: Bottled at 43% ABV, which is slightly higher than the 40% found in some international markets, often signalling a higher-quality UK or premium European bottling.

Documented variants

Knockando's range is small, with variants tied almost exclusively to the age statement and vintage dating.

• Knockando 1988 - 2000 (12 Year Old, 43% ABV): The specific bottling under review.
• Knockando 18 Year Old (Vintage-dated, 43% ABV): A rarer, older expression, also vintage dated.
• Knockando Master Reserve (21 or 25 Year Old, 43% ABV): The highest aged bottling.
• Knockando 12 Year Old (40% ABV): The standard version found widely, especially in French and Italian markets.

Packaging & authenticity checklist

The packaging is simple, with focus on the glass clarity and vintage text.

• Labelling: Both the Distilled year (1988) and Bottled year (2000) must be clearly printed. The 12 Year Old age statement should also be visible.
• Closure: Standard cork and capsule. The fill level is critical for this age of whisky, and should be High Shoulder (HS) or above.
• Glass: Knockando often uses clear glass, allowing the colour of the whisky to be easily inspected, which is typically a light gold or straw colour, reflecting the refill cask maturation.
• Common Pitfalls: Knockando's popularity in France led to high-volume production. Buyers should ensure the bottle is the 43% ABV variant, which is generally considered superior to the 40% export strength

 Regulatory/terminology notes

• Vintage Dating: This is a crucial market differentiator for Knockando, guaranteeing the single malt in the bottle originated from a single production year.
• Chill-filtered/Caramel Colouring: Given the 43% ABV bottling strength and high-volume commercial production, the liquid is assumed to be chill-filtered for clarity and likely contains caramel colouring (E150a) for colour consistency, although these facts are Not stated by the producer.

Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)

The profile is light, delicate, and fruity, with a subtle sweetness and a distinct Speyside cereal note.

Nose: Extremely gentle and refined. Classic Speyside notes of soft orchard fruit (green apple and pear) are dominant, supported by light vanilla, honeyed malt, and a hint of fresh grass or hay.

Palate: Light to medium body, smooth and slightly creamy. The taste is clean and sweet, featuring delicate honey, barley sugar, and continued gentle fruitiness. The refill oak provides subtle spice and warmth without dominating the spirit.

Finish: Medium length, clean, and dry. The finish fades with soft malt and a lingering floral sweetness. The profile is known for being extremely well-balanced and approachable.

With water: Not stated by the producer. At 43% ABV, water is unnecessary. Adding water would risk flattening the malt's already delicate and light character.

Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)

The market for this bottling is stable, driven by collector interest in the vintage date and its status as a discontinued expression.

Original RRP (GBP): Not stated by the producer. Estimated to have been in the £25.00 - £35.00 range upon release in 2000.

Current UK retail range (GBP, incl. VAT): £69.95 - £99.99 (Based on secondary market listings for this specific vintage).

Recent UK/EU auction range (GBP, hammer): £45.00 - £65.00 (Typical hammer price range for vintage-dated 12 Year Old Knockando).

Pricing stratification: Prices are determined by the vintage date and ABV. The 43% ABV version trades higher than the more common 40% ABV version.

FX note: No conversion used.

Liquidity & sourcing note: Liquidity is moderate; bottles appear regularly at auction due to its high outturn. Sourcing is primarily through secondary markets.

Sourcing

Buyers should target bottles with the 43% ABV strength, as this is the most desirable specification. The 1988 vintage is generally considered a good year for Speyside stock.

Avoid bottles where the vintage dates (1988-2000) are illegible or where the fill level is below the high shoulder.

Fill level should be High Shoulder or above.

Margin expectations are low to moderate; while discontinued, the high outturn keeps auction prices competitive.