Knockdhu – 2012 11 Years (A.D. Rattray) (70cl, 57%)

This is a single cask Knockdhu, distilled on 16 April 2012 and matured for seven years in an ex-bourbon hogshead. It then spent a little over four years in a sherry cask that had been emptied for the Cask Islay Sherry Edition. A.D. Rattray bottled it on 5 December 2023 at a cask strength of 57% ABV, non-chill-filtered and of natural colour. The sherry maturation adds subtle stone fruit, and Islay malt brings a faint coastal smoke. The nose has Manuka honey, sliced apricot and cool ash. The palate brings grilled passion fruit, strong ale and ground clove. The finish is long and intense, with citrus, butterscotch, smoked walnut and lemon.