Knappogue Castle 12 Year Château Pichon Baron Cask Finish

This is the first release in a series of cask-finished whiskeys from this brand. I previously tried the one finished in Marsala casks, which I found very impressive. This one is finished in French Oak. Keep in mind that all three releases are 12 years old and bottled at 46% ABV. This particular bottle is one of 1100 produced, which is 100 fewer than the Marsala version. Now, onto the tasting. Nose: Ripe strawberry and sweet marshmallow are prominent. Golden raisin with hints of apricot, cranberry, and plum. Notes of cola and plenty of vanilla, toffee, and malt. I detect an Irish soda bread aroma, which I also recall from the Marsala cask, though I couldn't identify it then. And, of course, a significant oak presence. Notably, I don't get the typical green apple aroma associated with this brand. Nevertheless, it's very pleasing. Palate: Fruity and tart. Abundant red berry/fruit flavors are present all day. Cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, red apple, and red/purple grape. Raisin notes are also there. It's sweet and tangy. While somewhat similar to a sherry cask finish, it's distinctly different. It has a more oily texture than velvety. Pear, honey, malt, toffee, vanilla, and a touch of caramel are also present. Almond and walnut notes emerge, along with orange peel. There's also cinnamon and oak spice. Absolutely brilliant. Finish: Raspberry and cranberry tang at the start. This is followed by some orange citrus, then more neutral sweet notes of caramel and toffee. Finally, cinnamon, baking spice, and fine oak carry it to its conclusion, resulting in a medium-long finish. This is absolutely incredible. I'm fortunate to have acquired one before it sold out, yet deeply disappointed that I won't be able to get it again. It's likely the finest Irish whiskey I've ever tasted, and easily ranks among the best whiskies I've encountered. It strikes a balance between being dangerously easy to drink and remarkably complex. It takes an excellent base spirit and matures it in what are clearly top-quality barrels. Rating: 5/5. I'm giving it a slight edge over the Marsala finish, although I still need to conduct a side-by-side comparison. If you happen to find this bottle, purchase it immediately, though it's safe to assume it's all gone by now. I'm looking forward to reviewing the Barolo cask expression to conclude my series on these cask finishes. Truly phenomenal.