Meet me at the Hill of the Kiss darling ๐
We got some romance up in here on a Friday! Today for my date with a dram, I am heading over to Ireland to meet my suitor at the hill of the kiss.
Wait a second. Itโs 2020 though. Do people still kiss on first dates (let alone shake/hold hands)? Do you wear a mask or no? How do you even meet someone IRL? How do I get to Ireland? But I digressโฆ
Today I want to introduce you to Knappogue Castle 12 Year. The word โKnappogueโ (pronounced: NAH-POE-[G]) *think hard G* means โhill of the kissโ in Gaelic. You can tell that this is a romantic one, who also happens to be โAll Tea, No Shade.โ
Swipe โก๏ธ for their Dating Profile
They remind me of: A Pear Cobbler (think biscuit, honey & apple/pear).
Some quick notes about Knappogue Castle 12:
1๏ธโฃ While Ireland is known for their blends (think #Jameson + #TullamoreDEW), they also have an excellent selection of single malt whiskies.
2๏ธโฃ What makes them different from single malt Scotches beside having the โeโ in whiskey, is that they will often be triple distilled (vs. double distilled in Scotland). Each distillation will purify the liquid + remove more congeners, thus resulting in a lighter (and arguably more approachable) whisky.
3๏ธโฃ Have you ever had a whiskey that possesses intense pear/apple notes? Well there are these things called โestersโ that are chemical compounds present in all whiskies that create those fruity notes. One ester in particular is called โ๐๐ฅ๐๐ช๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐โ. This can be present in whiskies + also found in high quantities in apples, Bartlett pears & quince, hence we associate that chemical smell with these fruits.
Final Note: Iโll have to say that Knappogue Castle 12 is one of the better 12 year old single malts that Iโve encountered in recent years. By โbetterโ I mean it is very well integrated, smooth, and full of a bouquet of countless tasting notes (I had to pair it down substantially). It is something that would be my go-to daily dram if it was easier to find here in BC and Iโd definitely consider it a โLife of the Partyโ whisky if it was more ubiquitous.
Have you dated this Single Malt Irish Whiskey? Let me know below!
