AnCnoc Distillery

The Knockdhu Distillery, nestled in Knock, Banffshire, Scotland, was established in 1894 by John Morrison. Drawn by the area's abundant barley fields, rich peat sources, and pure spring water from Knock Hill, Morrison capitalized on the proximity to the Great North of Scotland Railway to create a distillery that combined natural resources with logistical convenience.

Constructed using local grey granite, Knockdhu quickly gained recognition for producing high-quality whisky. However, the distillery faced challenges, closing in 1931 due to the economic depression and again during World War II from 1940 to 1945 because of barley shortages. Post-war, the distillery modernized its operations, connecting to the national grid in 1947 and retiring its steam engine. In 1983, Knockdhu ceased operations amid industry-wide downturns. It was revitalized in 1988 when Inver House Distillers acquired it, resuming production in 1989. To distinguish its single malt from the similarly named Knockando, the whisky was rebranded as anCnoc (pronounced "a-nock") in 1994, meaning "the hill" in Gaelic.  Today, anCnoc is celebrated for its light, modern character, achieved through traditional methods. The distillery maintains its original copper pot stills and utilizes wooden washbacks, aging the whisky in American and Spanish oak casks. Under the stewardship of Inver House, now part of International Beverage Holdings, anCnoc continues to honor its heritage while appealing to contemporary whisky enthusiasts.