I love Irish Whiskey. I enjoy a good Marsala. Conceptually the Knappogue Castle 12 Marsala Finish sounds like a great idea. It’s easy to see how the flavors in each could compliment the other. We’ll find out in the Irish whiskey review below, but first, a little about Marco De Bartoli Marsala whose casks they used.

As a young man Marco worked on his family’s vines and farm, but left to be a race car driver. When he quit racing he returned to his mother’s land to start a new career. He revamped and revitalized the land, planting Grillo grapes, and began making Marsala. Decades have passed, as Marco did too in 2011, but his children have continued what he started.

The Marsala from Marco De Bartoli is among the most admired in the category; it’s easy to see why Knappogue enlisted their barrels for this limited edition. Their whiskey is already delicious, so these casks have a lot to live up to in their attempt to enhance it.

Knappogue Castle 12 Marsala Finish Review: Details and Tasting Notes

In Knappogue Castle’s Words:

The Knappogue Castle Cask Finish Series is a range of single malts finished in the finest wine casks. The Marco De Bartoli limited release is matured in bourbon barrels for a minimum of 12 years, then further aged in casks from the renowned Marsala Winery. Made exclusively from malted barley, distilled in copper pot stills, this expression is non-chill filtered and bottled at 92 proof.

Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Ireland

Distiller: Cooley
Bottler: Knappogue Castle
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Marsala
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 46%

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Batch: Marco De Bartoli

Price: $100

Tasting Notes

EYE
Golden amber

NOSE
Caramelized banana, dried orchard fruit, yellow raisins, malty sweetness, spice and some tangerine-like citrus and some vanilla.

PALATE
Honied banana, orchard fruit, malt, sweet marsala, nuts and some metallic notes.

FINISH
Med -> Sweet heavy marsala, banana and copper.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Decent balance, medium body and a soft light feel.

Knappogue Castle 12 Marsala Finish Review: Overall and Score

I like the Knappogue 14 more, but this is far from shabby. The Aroma is elegant, interesting, richly fruity and my favorite part of the whiskey; Palate is complex and fruity sweet but the marsala goes from supporting cast to a leading role as it opens; Finish is overly sweet and leaves a light metallic note behind – my least favorite part of the whiskey.

Though, even with the metallic finish I’d drink this any day of the week. It’s a solid whiskey worthy of a spot on the shelf.

SCORE: 86/100 (B)

*Disclosure: This Knappogue Castle 12 Marsala Finish sample was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

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