Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Single Malt

One of the best Irish whiskey I tasted: smooth and fruity. I think the price is not expensive for the quality provided.

If you prefer strong, smoky, spicey: this one's not for you. On the other hand, it is perfect to start with it in a whiskey tasting activity or to introduce someone to wiskey world.

7th May 2018

Very smooth. Superb nose. Great wood flavors.

6th January 2018

Dont make me wrong, it is smooth and very gentle sipper. You taste it is a quality product. But...
But for the price you can do much better, Jura for example is more thought provoking dram forcing your palate to more work. This one should be in 40 euro range tops.

25th December 2017

Excellent

28th October 2017

For a 12 year single malt, I expected more. But, for the price, I cannot complain. It does not have a strong smell or taste. The after-taste lingers for a while. After a peg or two, you get used to the underwhelming flavor.

18th October 2017

I'm not sure what all the excitement is about this single malt. The preponderance of oak in both the olfactory examination and on the palette is completely out of balance with everything else. The finish feels like dry tannins produced by the oak barrels. There is no nuance here. No sense of complexity. If you love the taste and smell of oak/vanillin you'll love this whiskey. But if you're looking for something that is a subtle blend of various scents and flavors .... look somewhere else.

13th July 2017

Absolutely great. Smooth---as one would expect from an Irish---but with some added mystery and nuance that can only result from a very fine process.

20th May 2017

One of the best. Smooth and feel good after a peg.

4th March 2017

Very fruity and smooth.
It was given to me in a tasting collection wih different kind of "world"whiskeys. I would not buy a bottle, but for the variety it was nice to taste.

26th December 2016

This is a very nice 'everyday' dram! Citrus, fruity on the nose and arrival, with a nice smooth, tasty finish. I will definitely get another bottle!

17th February 2016

My first thoughts after nosing then tasting Knappogue is "this is smooth whiskey". The aroma is all fruit - baked apples, hints of mint and cinnamon. Taste is the same with a medium to short finish and no burn and some spice. At $35 this is well price, good 12 year Irish. Go for it!

26th January 2016

Got to try this properly over Christmas and although its good, really good, there's nothing that makes it great, nothing that really stands out. it tasted like a very generic malt, to me at least.

Its smooth, not a massive amount of nose, on the tongue is a little fruity and a little biscuit, malt is subtle, and not a particularly long finish.

Wouldn't buy a bottle but wouldn't turn my nose up at a glass if it was given to me.

2nd January 2016

I've been tasting Irish whiskey since my Irish grandfather gave me my first sip in grade school.

In recent years I settled on Red Breast 12 year old as my favorite, and coincidentally it was far more affordable than some more favored by others.

A year or so ago I bought a bottle of Knappogue Castle 12 year old to revisit the maker and found myself replacing bottles since. The whisky is fruity but isn't as fruity for the nose as RB 12 as the glass is tipped to the mouth, instead favoring a breeze of grain similar to a well made ale of real beer; RB 12 tastes vaguely of Oloroso, and I love that, but that isn't better for me than Knappogue as much as it's simply different.

Knappogue carries very smoothly back across the palate like RB 12, and finishes with a malt, distantly dijon and green pepper effect on the roof of the mouth to RB 12's sherry, black pepper burn.

If you're looking for a very nice whiskey that's a change from RB 12, I recommend Knappogue 12 year old Single Malt. Even after I finish it I keep the glass handy for the perfume. You can buy more expensive and different, but whether you can buy better is purely subjective.
Sean Proinsias Mac Giolla Brighde

24th July 2015