Knappogue Castle 12 yr (Sherlock’s Private Selection)
46% ABV
$40
Website
What the Bottler Says
BOURBON CASK MATURED
Knappogue Castle 12 year old, our signature expression, is an exceptional single malt made exclusively from malted barley. Triple distilled one batch at a time in traditional, onion-shaped copper pot stills, the whiskey is then aged in bourbon oak casks for twelve years. The delicate distillation process, along with the moist and temperate climate, yields the distinctive flavor of this remarkable Irish single malt.
AROMA: Rich and biscuity with notes of peppery spice.
TASTE: Mellow and well-balanced with a bright, elegant fruitiness and mild spice flavors.
FINISH: Medium, clean, and smooth.
What Gary Says
Nose: Light, sweet malty cereal notes, sour dough bread with subtle oak.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, a bit thicker than avg, sea air, sweet dried peach and pear, orange marmalade, sour oak and spicy.
Finish: Moderately long and wet, with pepper notes.
Comments: I’ll admit it – Irish isn’t my favorite category of whisky. Most nights, I find it too crisp and clean for my liking. This private barrel pick isn’t, which for me is a big plus (as well as a fine example of where a private selection can stand a cut above the standard label; I’ll share more thoughts on that later this week). I find it has much more character than the retail Knappogue Castle 12 yr. This selection was aged in Four Roses bourbon casks, and is bottled at 46% versus 40% – another positive in my book. It doesn’t state on the label or hang-tag that it is non-chill filtered, but it’s my opinion that this is likely the case based on the mouthfeel. This is a delightful dram, and while one private selection isn’t a guarantee how others will fare, if the others are bottled at this same proof and NCF – I would anticipate them to be similarly delicious.
Rating: Must Try; Great Value