In a move away from vintages, Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old is a delicious triple distilled single malt Irish whiskey bottling, having spent its days in bourbon casks.
Vanilla shortbread, a crack of black pepper and chewy malt.
Gentle oak spice and vanilla custard, with hints of cut grass.
Orchard fruit on a lingering finish.
Very smooth. Superb nose. Great wood flavors.
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.
Excellent
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.
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.
