Knappogue Castle 1998

[JohnM]

Maybe everyone knows this already, but the Knappogue Castle 1998 is out. A good bit different from the 12 yr old. Apples.

[John]

Hi Apples, (is this a new pseudonym John! )
Is the Knap '98 available locally?
Cheers,
J.

[JohnM]

It's available in the Celtic Whiskey Shop, John.

Regards

Apples

[DavidH]

I didn't know that. Or expect it, since I had the impression that the 12yo was to replace the vintage releases.

Looking at their website I see:

Although our standard offering will be the 12 year old single malt, we will continue to have special bottlings of rare and unique distillations which will most likely bear a vintage date.

So we will still see Knappogue vintages.

Do you have an opinion, Apples, which of the 12yo and 1998 you prefer?

[JohnM]

I preferred the 1998 one. A little dryer. Both are very light whiskeys. Both are the same price too. I presume both are 12 yrs old.

Did I mention they taste of apples?

[DavidH]

Both are very light whiskeys. Both are the same price too. I presume both are 12 yrs old.

Glad they've eliminated the confusion.

We found that some consumers didn't realize how long Knappogue Castle Single Malt was aged, therefore missing a very important part of what we do to make it smooth, bright and spicy. We want to be perfectly clear about the age of Knappogue Castle Single Malt. Now, there's no need to calculate how long it was aged because we're stating it boldly on the front label.

[JohnM]

They taste quite different. I'm not sure it's 12 yrs old. I just subtracted 1998 from 2010. Sure amn't I great?

The bottles look similar too.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

I have a bottle of this and yes it was bottled in 2010 so I think it is reasonable to say it is 12 years old.

Knappogue have confirmed that the 12 Year Old age statement will be the regular release from now on, however they have said they will continue to release vintage dated releases from time to time, so the 1998 will be more collectable and so should hold its value.

I tasted them both before I bought and preferred the vintage 1998 release, hope that helps...

[JohnM]

I think it's gone down in price too, which is good. Was around the 50 mark and is now €43. Still expensive for a 12 yr old single malt...

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I think it's gone down in price too, which is good. Was around the 50 mark and is now €43. Still expensive for a 12 yr old single malt...

Seems to be a trend but as you say prices are still very expensive here and this should not be seen as a te distilleries doing us a favour but a market find a better balance.

Redbreast is in a good bracket now but the likes of Tyrconell 10yo finishes and connemara 12yo and cooley single cask releases are really over priced in the Irish market and it is very frustrating but at least the economic down turn is doing some good

[IainB]

I planned on tasting the 12yo and the 1998 head to head tonight but John M scuppered that on another topic by asking about the closest Scottish distillery to Bushmills and I'm up to my neck here in Auchentoshans Hazelburns Bushmills and Bunnahabhainns. (I take your tasks very seriously John!) I know I could include these two knappogues as part of the research but to be honest things are complicated enough. I'll put it on the list for tomorrow.

On topic, I understand from Ally the the 1998 is definitely a 12yo also. But then, what does he know about whiskey?