The distillery was founded in 1893 by John Morrison, who bought the land from the Duke of Fife to produce whisky for Haig's after several springs on the southern slope of Knock Hill were discovered.

[1] The site was also chosen for its proximity to the Knock Station on the Banff branch line of the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR) between Aberdeen and Elgin.

[2] The distillery was built using local eye grey granite, with two coal fired stills, which are now steam heated.

It started production in 1894 and remained in continuous operation until 1931, when it was forced to close for a few years due to the economic depression.

[4] Knockdhu Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is currently bottled under the Gaelic name anCnoc meaning "the hill".