Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Marchesi di Barolo Cask Finish
Knappogue Castle · Undisclosed (sourced Irish single malt)
This Barolo cask finish adds Italian flair to a well-aged Irish single malt, creating something that feels both familiar and novel. The wine cask contributes depth and fruit without overwhelming the whiskey's natural honeyed grain character. A thoughtful marriage of two traditions.
Nose
Red berry compote and toasted almond open the nose, with a layer of milk chocolate and gentle vanilla. A dried fruit richness emerges with time, along with a faint herbaceous note.
Palate
Creamy and well-rounded, with honeyed malt, stewed plum, and a touch of clove spice. The wine cask influence adds a subtle tannic grip that provides structure without bitterness. Notes of hazelnut and cocoa develop mid-palate.
Finish
Medium-long, with dried fruit, gentle oak, and a whisper of dark chocolate.
- Mash Bill
- 100% malted barley
- Distillation
- Triple distilled
- Maturation
- Aged in ex-bourbon barrels, finished in Barolo wine casks from Marchesi di Barolo
- Chill-Filtered
- Chill filtered
Food Pairing
The cocoa and nut notes in the truffles amplify the whiskey's own chocolate and almond character, while the truffle's sweetness plays against the dried fruit finish.
Knappogue Castle takes its name from the fifteenth-century tower house in County Clare, and this expression finishes aged Irish single malt in casks sourced from the Marchesi di Barolo estate in Piedmont, Italy.
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