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Knappogue Castle 12 years

malty fresh
3.8
(3)€58Ireland, Single Malt

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Knappogue Castle takes its name from a 15th-century tower house in County Clare. The whisky inside is triple distilled and non-chill filtered, the old Irish way. This single malt spends at least twelve years in ex-bourbon barrels. Then it rests in Marsala casks from Marco De Bartoli, a respected winery in Sicily. That wine finish is where things get interesting. You get ripe banana and nectarine, a lick of honey and cream, then warm cinnamon and black pepper. The fruit stays bright while the spice rolls in slowly. It is light on its feet yet full of character. A gentle pour to sip slowly and neat.

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About the distillery

Distillery

Knappogue Castle

In County Clare, Ireland, stands a fifteenth century fortress built by Clan MacNamara in 1467. It sat in ruins for centuries until Mark Edwin Andrews bought it in 1966, and his wife Lavone, an architect, restored it stone by stone. Andrews did not stop at the building. He began collecting casks of Irish pot still whisky and aging them under the Knappogue Castle name. That hobby grew into a full brand. Today it continues through single malt whisky sourced from Cooley Distillery, giving a lighter, fruitier style than many blended Irish whiskies. His boldest bottling was Knappogue Castle 1951, whisky distilled at the long closed B. Daly Distillery and left to mature in sherry casks for thirty six years before release in 1987. It remains one of the oldest Irish whiskies ever sold commercially.

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11Whiskies on Distilld

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About the Knappogue Castle 12 years

Knappogue Castle 12 years is a single malt Irish whisky from Ireland, made by the Knappogue Castle brand. It belongs to the Cask Finish Series, a run of limited bottlings finished in fine wine casks. This expression is triple distilled and non-chill filtered. The spirit matures for at least twelve years in ex-bourbon barrels first. After that it moves into Marsala casks sourced from Marco De Bartoli, a celebrated winery in Sicily. That second cask gives the whisky its signature twist. The wine influence brings depth without burying the malt underneath. The single malt pours light and fruity, true to its Irish roots. Expect ripe banana, juicy peach and a touch of nectarine on the nose. Honey and vanilla follow, soft and rounded. Then cinnamon and black pepper add a gentle spice. There is a creamy malty body underneath, with a flicker of floral freshness. The finish stays fresh and dry, leaving caramel and warm pepper behind. Knappogue Castle has long been linked to single malt aged purely from malted barley. The brand built its name on clean, elegant Irish whisky rather than heavy smoke. This 12 year old shows that house style at its best. The Marsala finish simply adds another layer to enjoy. Best enjoyed neat in a glass, with a little time to open up. Knappogue Castle 12 years rewards slow sipping. A measure neat lets the orchard fruit and gentle spice show fully. It suits both newcomers and seasoned single malt drinkers. Few Irish whisky bottlings carry a wine finish this distinctive.