Knappogue Castle 1994

[bamber]

Got a bottle of this basically because of JM's 95 rating. No tasting notes of yet but it is a really well balanced, fresh malty dram that is very easy to drink a great deal of Reminds me a little of the Bladnoch 10YO ff in terms of its lovely bitter sweet balance. Only about my 10th different bottle of Irish whisky ever. Very exciting to be have a whole new region to try (although I must admit I would never have guessed this was not Scotch).

Anyone else tried this one ?

[Aidan]

I haven't tried it, but, as mentioned on another thread, it is one of Jim Murray's own. I have the 1951, 1991, 1992 and 1993, but I've only tasted the 1992 (out of the modern ones) - I thought it was very good.

Some of them are from Bushmills, some are from Cooley and ones is from the old Tullamore distillery. I think you'd like the '51, bamber, as there are shades of bourbon about it. Unfortunately, you can't pick them up cheap.

[bamber]

I was wondering if you's tried it Aidan. I know the 1992 is also highly thought of, but I've not had the pleasure. I think the 1994 is Bushmills, but I thought it had more power than the other Bushmills I've tried. As for the 1951, I'm going to have to wait for my money tree to grow first Jameson Gold is still my current favourite Irish (not because of the Bourbon notes) but because it is so different to any other whisky I've tried. It is one of my favourite whiskies at the moment.

[Aidan]

Yes, the Jameson Gold is excellent. It's a pitty it isn't a little cheaper. I love the nose, especially. There's lots of pot still in there.

I am collecting the Knappogue range. I'll have to pick up two bottles of '94, one to drink. I think they are a bit pricey over here for what is quite a young whiskey - but I suppose they're worth is if they're good.

By the way, if anyone has a Knappogue Castle 1990 they want to sell... I'd love to have one.

[patrick dicaprio]

this is one of my favorite whiskies, irish or not. it is like sipping an alcoholic vanilla cream soda.

lots of support for Jameson Gold! i will have to try to find it somewhere. any clue as to cost?

Pat

[bamber]

Around £30 in duty free or £40 from specialist shop.

[Frodo]

Bamber/Aiden/anyone who has tried Knappogue Castle 1994:

The LCBO is selling a limited number of Knappogue Castle 1994 in June 2005, and I'm considering getting one. The price point (C$65) is one where I would expect a good quality distillate. I'd appretiate if you could talk a little about what you felt it was like, and how it compares to - say - Bushmills.

I'm not the greatest Bushmills fan, but the NAS single cask (sherry) CS Bushmills I got to try a while back was different than the 10yr OB. Definatly a sibling resemblence, but a lot of subtle flavours asserted themselves in the CS version, where they were non-exsistant in the 10yr OB.

Any thoughts now that you've had the bottle for a bit? Worth it/ not worth it? Similarities to the 10yr OB? New flavours?

BTW, can anyone confirm it's Bushmills?

Curious Frodo

[Aidan]

Hi Frodo

I haven't tried the 1994, but it is a Bushmills. I neither am a fan of Bushmills, but I had a few bottles that were really good - The Bushmills Millennium 1975 and the Bushmills Distillery Reserve. This proves to me that Bushmills does make some really good whiskey.

The Knappogue '94 is deffinately Bushmills.

[bamber]

Frodo,

As Aidan said it is Bushmills, but it's a lot more powerful than the Bushmills 10YO OB (if memory serves me as I've not sampled that for a couple of years). $65 is about £28, which is what I paid for it and I personally feel it is worth that price but I think whisky is cheaper on your side of the pond ?

If I had tasted it blind I would have thought it was a fresh, malty unsherried Speyside. I would not score it JM's 95 but it is a really refreshing well balanced whisky that I can't imagine any Scotch / Irish whisky fan not enjoying.

[lexkraai]

If anyone is interested: my personal tasting notes of almost 30 different Irish malts (including KC 1994) plus several cask samples was published in 'Malt Maniacs' recently: http://www.maltmadness.com/mm13a.html#13-12

Cheers, Lex

[Frodo]

Thanks all. Interesting notes. Going to have to think about this one!

[Frodo]

Weird that the Knappogue Castle which is really Bushmills 10yr old should taste so different than the 10yr OB.

[bamber]

Did a taste of Knappogue Castle 1994 and Bushmills white label side by side and *they do* taste a bit similar. However, the former is more powerful and tastier than the latter.

[patrick dicaprio]

Got a bottle of this basically because of JM's 95 rating. No tasting notes of yet but it is a really well balanced, fresh malty dram that is very easy to drink a great deal of Reminds me a little of the Bladnoch 10YO ff in terms of its lovely bitter sweet balance. Only about my 10th different bottle of Irish whisky ever. Very exciting to be have a whole new region to try (although I must admit I would never have guessed this was not Scotch).

Anyone else tried this one ?

most of the knappogue castle i have had have all been excellent. i just cracked a new bottle. what better whisky to drink during a hot summer?

Pat

[bamber]

Sunny here today - I'll take up your advice tonight

[BigMac]

The Knappogue 92 is fra Cooleys and is to my knowledge around 7-8years old

The 93 & 94 is both from Bushmills.
The 94 being around 10years old and the 93 slightly younger.

Regards

Claus

[les taylor]

Hi Guys had a look around the internet where do you buy Knappogue Castle from?

[irishwhiskeychaser]

WhiskyExchange.com have Knap '92

CelticWhiskeyshop.com Knap '94


Knappogue 1991 Cooley Distilled 1991 Bottled 1998

Knappogue 1992 Cooley Distilled 1992 Bottled 1999

Knappogue 1993 Bushmills Distilled 1993 Bottled 2001

Knappogue 1994 Bushmills Distilled 1994 Bottled 2004 & 2005 (2 releases no 1995 release)

[les taylor]

Thanks IWC I will check it out. Les.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Les I forgot to say, if you are in a postion to purchase a couple bottles of Whisk(e)y it sometimes is better value to try German and Dutch sites. I do this regular.

[les taylor]

Thanks IWC do you have the websites as its an avenue i've not explored.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Germany

http://www.spirituosen-superbillig.de/

http://www.whiskyversand.de/

http://www.whiskyworld.de/

http://www.whisky.de/celtic/indoor/shop/shop.asp

Netherlands

http://www.whiskykoning.nl/index.htm


I have personally bought from all these sites but there are others. All good to deal with but the sites may not be in English so just send them a mail with your questions. Plenty of pictures though However you need to compare prices to those at home. I find the Irish whiskey is so much cheaper. Check out Redbreast 15yo.

I don't know if Scotch may not be as good value but if you do your research you will find some cheaper.

[Virginia Gentleman]

I so love this whiskey. I am able to find it for $30 in my area so I try to keep several bottles on hand.

[Mad Mac]

I bought a bottle of the 94 based primarily on JM's involvement and fine words. Turns out it's just not my style - I'll take Powers, Redbreast, Jameson 12, or Black Bush any day.

Isn't it great that there is such a wide range of tastes and textures? We all get to drink what we like!



Mac

[Aidan]

Yes, Black Bush is better, in my opinion, and cheaper too. I'd also much prefer the others you mentioned, but they're a different animal alltogether.

[whiskeyman5]

Regarding JM, he seems to always make a point of promoting unpopular whiskies. I guess that makes you a "maverick" in the world of hucksterism that is whisky promotion. Like, for the last few years we've been told that we must purchase bourbon (George T. Stagg for 100+ pounds in the UK, can you believe it?). We've also been told that the fabled "potstill" is OK. Now you ain't doing anything right unless you're drinking Islay.

Anyway, my thoughts on Irish:

Blackbush: people only "like" this whiskey because its dark and has an aesthetically pleasing bottle.

The difference between Powers and Jameson is negligible.

Everything by Cooley is disgusting gimmick Whiskey. Sigh, all Irish whiskey has a sickly sweet taste. If isn't the sherry, it's the grain.

Redbreast is ... overrated. If you want your whiskey to taste like a sugar cookie, go ahead... buy a crate.

The only worthwhile bottle of whiskey in all of Ireland is Knappogue. Its pure bushmills malt with none of the crap in it. Its better than any of their special or aged malt bottlings. Yeah its "light," but its a non-peated single malt. Its better than any non-peated-ish malt made in scotland (Glenmorangie, Arran, etc.).

The bottom line is: you can't really sit back with a double Lagavulin 16 and ever expect to enjoy Irish whiskey again. You just end up reaching for the ginger ale and frankly bourbon makes a better mixer. Canadian is cheaper.

Fancy Irish Whiskey is basically regular Irish Whiskey with an "18" slapped on the front to impress (and elicit money from) people who are in touch with their Irish roots.

[suffolkwhisky]

Well I am rather assuming that you are trying to be controversial here but welcome with your first post. (If you are trying to go for the record of posts that are deleted you have a long way to go: the vast majority of mine have been.)

I do rather like the contadictory way you start and finish by the way, but to respond to some of the specific points you make:

Blackbush - this remains one of the best blends of all time. I am not that keen on the bottle nor do I always look at it when I drink it. (It follows a pint of Guinness really well.)

There is a significant difference between Jameson and Powers - and the difference is even more pronounced that it was 10 years ago. Perhaps this says more about you.


Knappogue expressions: firstly they are not always Bushmills; secondly some of the Bushmills own bottlings are far superior. The claim that is better than any Scottish non-peated(ish) whisky is non-sensical unless you have tried the 1,000+ expression that that applies to.

I am also slightly curious as to why Bushmills would add an "18" to anything.

Happy drinking.

PS I have no Irish roots and I do like George T Stagg

[JCSkinner]

Regarding JM, he seems to always make a point of promoting unpopular whiskies. I guess that makes you a "maverick" in the world of hucksterism that is whisky promotion. Like, for the last few years we've been told that we must purchase bourbon (George T. Stagg for 100+ pounds in the UK, can you believe it?). We've also been told that the fabled "potstill" is OK. Now you ain't doing anything right unless you're drinking Islay.

Anyway, my thoughts on Irish:

Blackbush: people only "like" this whiskey because its dark and has an aesthetically pleasing bottle.

The difference between Powers and Jameson is negligible.

Everything by Cooley is disgusting gimmick Whiskey. Sigh, all Irish whiskey has a sickly sweet taste. If isn't the sherry, it's the grain.

Redbreast is ... overrated. If you want your whiskey to taste like a sugar cookie, go ahead... buy a crate.

The only worthwhile bottle of whiskey in all of Ireland is Knappogue. Its pure bushmills malt with none of the crap in it. Its better than any of their special or aged malt bottlings. Yeah its "light," but its a non-peated single malt. Its better than any non-peated-ish malt made in scotland (Glenmorangie, Arran, etc.).

The bottom line is: you can't really sit back with a double Lagavulin 16 and ever expect to enjoy Irish whiskey again. You just end up reaching for the ginger ale and frankly bourbon makes a better mixer. Canadian is cheaper.

Fancy Irish Whiskey is basically regular Irish Whiskey with an "18" slapped on the front to impress (and elicit money from) people who are in touch with their Irish roots.

Utter nonsense from start to finish.
Congratulations on posting the most bollocks I've ever read in one place on the internet.

[Aidan]

The difference between Powers and Jameson is negligible.[/i]

You're a maverick, telling it like it is. How could I have been so wrong?

[cathach]

I bought a bottle of the 94 based primarily on JM's involvement and fine words. Turns out it's just not my style - I'll take Powers, Redbreast, Jameson 12, or Black Bush any day.

Isn't it great that there is such a wide range of tastes and textures? We all get to drink what we like!



Mac

True enough, but beware the bottle you bought nay not have had any relation to JM at all as there were two 2004 releases, the latter one being L6 on the bottle (bottled 2006) and therefore a 12yo. A very fresh almost 'grassy' malt. If I remember correctly I described it as a white wine of a whiskey in my notes

[IainB]

The difference between Powers and Jameson is negligible.[/i]

You're a maverick, telling it like it is. How could I have been so wrong?

Whiskeyman5 is right Aidan. We Irish haven't a clue what we're talking about. I suggest we all pack up and move somewhere where they make good whisky. Like Wales, or India. (No offence meant to residents of these countries).

[bamber]

Maybe we can put a positive spin on this stuff:

Blackbush: people only "like" this whiskey because its dark and has an aesthetically pleasing bottle.

In other words: if it had a normal bottle they would not just like it but love it (I am not Kevin Keegan)

The difference between Powers and Jameson is negligible.

They are both, quite clearly, the best low priced blends on the market.

Everything by Cooley is disgusting gimmick Whiskey. Sigh, all Irish whiskey has a sickly sweet taste. If isn't the sherry, it's the grain.

errr .... This was meant ironically.

Redbreast is ... overrated. If you want your whiskey to taste like a sugar cookie, go ahead... buy a crate.

pass.

[DavidH]

Redbreast is ... overrated. If you want your whiskey to taste like a sugar cookie, go ahead... buy a crate.

pass.

Seems clear to me. The poor guy can't spell (his grammar is shaky too) so what he meant was that Redbreast has been 'over 8-ed' by various connoisseurs, implying a 9 or 10 rating.

The rest just means if you want your whiskey to have a taste, in the same way that a 'sugar cookie' (whatever that is) has taste, then go for Redbreast.

[bamber]

Redbreast is ... overrated. If you want your whiskey to taste like a sugar cookie, go ahead... buy a crate.

pass.

Seems clear to me. The poor guy can't spell (his grammar is shaky too) so what he meant was that Redbreast has been 'over 8-ed' by various connoisseurs, implying a 9 or 10 rating.

The rest just means if you want your whiskey to have a taste, in the same way that a 'sugar cookie' (whatever that is) has taste, then go for Redbreast.

Gotcha - just needs a little extra punctuation

I Googled sugar cookies and I want one.

[KenBeau]

I see there were some topics discussed that I missed out on here
I loved LOVED the 1992 Knappogue when I first got to taste it at my first Whisky Expo in San Francisco way-back-when (2001?), and have had the 1993, 1994 and the 1951 (the latter in 2007 while in Las Vegas, 9 Fine Irishmen at NYNY).

Jim Murray told me in 2006 that the 1994 bottling was even better than the 1992, but I had to disagree with him on my own preference.