Knappogue Castle 12

Thanks to /u/Boyd86 for this sample.

What’s more Irish than castles? Well how about the indigenous culture that was there before the castles that was then routed and hurt by them?

Awkward.

None the less, in the past year I’ve started exploring more beyond the DEW and the Jameson and landed upon Knappogue Castle.

Famous for a 50+ year old whiskey that is out, Knappogue Castle actually has others for us mere mortals may try. Look at that, my ego has shrunk enough for me to compare myself to you. You’re welcome.

Knappogue Castle 12 is the only one of the line that is made with ex-bourbon casks alone. And by that I mean the current line, as the year releases may have some non-sherried ones as well. Like other Irish Whiskey, this is triple distilled.

So let’s see how the entry malt that replaced the vintages does, shall we?

Price: $74.95 CAD at the LCBO

Region: Ireland

Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon

Abv: 40%

Colour: 10Y 9/6

Nose: Moss, metallic, cereal, pear, apricot, ginger

Light vegetation. Takes some time to open up. Nice fruit eventually comes out.

You can tell they are nice fruit, because they aren’t too crisp or acidic. Takes awhile though, this is quite light on the nose.

Taste: Peach syrup, cereal, ginger, angel food cake, lemongrass

Quite sweet on the taste. Wait, let me back up.

There’s a lot of sweet on the taste. I like it. You may not. It calms down given time, but know your first couple sips are up there.

Wherever there is.

Finish: Butter, cereal, mace, nectarine, lemon, alcohol

Finish is nice, though there’s some alcohol from the watering down process. It’s rough at the end, which is too bad. Wish it had more spice to go with it, as it’s a nice mixture, however as it stands, it’s mace and not nutmeg.

Oh, and before I have to explain it again: Mace is the outer shell of nutmeg and tastes like nutmeg, but weaker.

Conclusion: For what this is, it’s nice. Not blow your mind or anything, but nice. I think it needs some work. I enjoyed other offerings from Knappogue Castle much more.

The nose was probably my favourite, however in the end too weak. I think they can do better, and I hope the 14 is the nice step up that this needs.

69/100

World Whiskey review #205, Ireland review #34, Whiskey Network reviews #954