Knappogue Castle 12-year-old Finished in Marchesi di Barolo Wine Cask / 46% / 0.7l

Knappogue Castle whiskey debuted on the American market in 1997 as part of the offering of Great Spirits (later Castle Brands).

Owner Mark Andrews III is the son of the owner of Knappogue Castle in County Clare, Ireland, who was fascinated by Ireland and its whiskey. (Mark Edwin Andrews was a naval officer, Undersecretary of State under President Truman, and an oil investor.) Since the fall of 2019, Castle Brands has operated as a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard. This whiskey is the third in the Knappogue Castle Cask Finish series. After maturing for 12 years in American oak barrels, the whiskey was finished in barrels from Marchesi di Barolo, one of the most respected producers in the region.

Aroma: malty and fruity, strawberries, raspberries, tangerines, toffee, caramel, milk chocolate, cinnamon buns, notes of nutmeg and oak.

Palate: fruity and slightly spicy, red apples, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, toffee, crème brûlée, nutmeg, cinnamon and some oak tannins.

Finish: medium long, with notes of mixed berries, white pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and oak.