Knappogue Castle 12 Year Cognac Cask Finish

The initial wine cask trio from Knappogue Castle's finishing series included three of my all-time favorite Irish whiskies. So, seeing this packaging again made it an essential purchase. This whiskey is aged in a Cognac barrel. My only prior experience was with Glenlivet 14, which was quite disappointing. I'm hoping Knappogue Castle will fare better with theirs. Let's find out. Nose: The characteristic green apple and pear notes of Knappogue Castle are prominent. Plum, date, fig, and raisin are also present, along with green grape. Honey, toffee, caramel, and vanilla add sweetness. There's a hint of shortbread cookie and notes of walnut, almond, and cashew. It has a slightly 'perfumy' aroma, with oak undertones. Palate: Shortbread cookie is dominant, accompanied by honey, toffee, caramel, and vanilla. Green apple and pear are more subdued. I detect golden raisin, with hints of date and fig. Apricot and green grape are present, along with plum and a lot of orange citrus. A mild baking spice and oak spice tingle is noticeable. Finish: Flavors of caramel, vanilla, and toffee. Plum, apple, pear, and apricot notes. Golden raisin, date, and fig are also present. Cashew, walnut, and almond add nuttiness. White pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak contribute to the finish. The finish is moderately long, leaning towards the latter notes. It's a solid pour. It certainly doesn't measure up to the wine cask trio. The Cognac cask doesn't impart the same depth to the Knappogue base spirit as the wine casks did. However, judged on its own merits, I find it very enjoyable. I paid $70 for this. I believe it offers good value at that price. It's definitely a worthwhile purchase and another success from Knappogue Castle. Whatever their sourcing and cask aging practices are, it's a winning combination. Solid product. I rate it 4 out of 5.

Second pour. I purchased this because I was impressed by the Barolo cask finish and it was a favorite Irish spirit. The nose, featuring green apple and pear, is beautiful. The taste is floral, with orange honey and some nutty earthiness. It's spicy and a bit waxy, with a pleasant, long aftertaste. Interesting, but it doesn't quite measure up to previous wine cask finishes.