Knappogue Castle Cask Finish Series Aged in French Oak Casks from The Chateau Pichon Baron Winery
I’m a big fan of wine cask finishes and anytime I get to try something different I jump at the chance. Irish Whiskey brands have deep roots and connections with the French wine industry. But when I heard that Knappogue had plans to collaborate with Chateau Pichon I knew someting special was about to hit the shelves. This is a very limited edition and only 1100 bottles were released. The casks used here are the best of the best, offering flavours of red grapes with a medium body, sweet tannin’s, good acidity and balanced. Nice black cherry fruits, cassis, cedar wood and leathery spices are to be discovered. These strong flavors are complemented to perfection by this premium Single Malt.
Chateau Pichon Baron Longueville – Pauillac
The history of the Pichon family dates back to the Middle Ages. Since then, several family members have made significant contributions to the history of Bordeaux. The Pichon Baron estate’s 73 hectares of very high quality gravelly soil overlook the Latour vineyard. This exceptional land, poor in nutrients and with little excess water, nourishes the old vines sparingly so that grapes produce very low yields. Its second wine Les Tourelles de Longueville, like the top wine quality continues to grow.
Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Bordeaux Cask Irish Whiskey Information:
- Region: Ireland
- Distillers: Knappogue
- Bonder: Castle Brands
- Mashbill: Malted Barley (Single Malt)
- Cask: Ex-bourbon barrels & Chateau Pichon Baron French Oak Casks
- Age: 12 Years Old
- ABV: 46% ABV – 92% Proof
- Filtered: Non-Chill Filtered
Tasting Notes: Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Bordeaux Cask
The Knappogue Castle Cask Finish Series is a range of single malts finished in the finest wine casks. The Chateau Pichon Baron limited release is matured in bourbon barrels for a minimum of 12 years, then further aged in casks from the renowned Bordeaux winery. Made exclusively from malted barley, distilled in copper pot stills, this expression is non-chill filtered and bottled at 92 proof. Available exclusively at The Loop!
Nose
If you have ever tasted a strawberry Cornetto Ice-cream this nose might take you there. Topped with sweet almonds, soft gooey fruit. There is a gentle spice with a hint of clove hiding behind the initial sweetness.
Taste
This is a premium spirit, with complex malt that comes through as sweet, red berry fruit coupled with some red apple. As you let the liquid swirl around your palate the french oak and initial bourbon ageing come into their own. The sweet tannin’s give a rich mouthfeel to this whiskey. Red grapes, red apples, strawberries with a dribble of Irish honey.
Finish
Light hints of vanilla, mocha and spice, finishing out with dry wine oak. A medium finish with light lingering spice. I can just imagine eating this with a Christmas pudding as you let the flavors of the raisins dissipate on your tongue and the brandy butter fades away, take a sip! This is going to be my
Where to drink: Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Marsala Cask
n 1966, Mark Edwin Andrews purchased Knappogue Castle, a 15th century castle in Ireland, which was then in ruins. He and his wife, a prominent architect, then embarked on an ambitious program of restoration, in an effort to return the structure to its original state of glory and grandeur. It was around this time that Andrews began buying casks of fine pot still whiskey from top distilleries in the country. The casks were further aged and bottled under what is now the Knappogue Castle label. His last bottling, a 1951 vintage aged 36 years, is revered by connoisseurs as the oldest and rarest commercially available Irish whiskey on the market. Many years later, his son, Mark Andrews III, would bring Knappogue 1951 and his fathers legacy to the United States and other international markets. Buy the range here.
Every Whiskey Tells a Story, What Will Yours Be?
Sláinte from The Whiskey Trail – by Paul Kavanagh
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