Discover the differences between Knappogue Castle 12 vs Jameson in this head to head comparison and decide which Whiskey is better for You!
Knappogue Castle 12
| Nose | Fruit, oak, vanilla, caramel |
| Palate | Fruit, vanilla, malt, oak |
| Finish | Oak, honey, oak spice |
| Alcohol content | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| How to drink | Add water |
| Similar to | Redbreast 12 |
The Knappogue Castle is a triple-distilled Single Malt whiskey which is a bit uncommon for Irish Whiskeys which are normally made by blending malt and grain.
Knappogue Castle (Review) is distilled in copper pot stills, aged in ex-bourbon barrels, and bottled according to the year of distillation.
The nose is light on fruity displaying notes of tangerine, apricot and cherry, followed by vanilla and caramel and just a whiff of oak.
On the palate, it provides a medium body and an overly smooth flavor rich in fruity notes of tangerine, lemon and apricot, along a nice hit of vanilla and a malty touch.
The finish lingers with a pleasing warming note to it, honey sweetness and just a light bitter note coming from the oak spice.
Adding water brings more malt and oak while tuning down the rich fruity notes.
Knappogue is a nice and easy drinker, quite smooth with just a bit of a bite on the finish to remind you that you are drinking whiskey.
It doesn’t reach the heights of a good Single Malt Scotch from Speyside but way better than the average Irish Whiskey at a price that makes it appealing as it’s hard to find a good 12 year old single malt at this price.
There are a few facts worth knowing about the Knappogue:
- Crafted by Castle Brands which is one of the very few independent distillers in Ireland.
- The brand is named after the Knappogue Castle in County Clare, originally built by Clan MacNamara in 1467.
- The castle was restored by American-born Mark Edwin Andrews and his wife back in the 60s.
- Gold – Irish Whiskey Masters 2022 – The Spirits Business.
Jameson
| Nose | Floral, marmalade, caramel |
| Palate | Ripe fruit, vanilla |
| Finish | Medium, caramel, spice |
| Alcohol content | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| How to drink | Cocktails |
| Similar to | Red Label, Glenlivet |
Jameson is the best-selling Irish whiskey across the globe for two reasons: It is smooth and affordable offering good value for the money; solid option for casual drinking or something not too pricey and still decent.
Nose is floral with sweet notes of orange marmalade and caramel with a bit of alcohol coming behind but nothing too severe.
On the palate the Jameson shows a good body, is sweet and fruity, with a high vanilla note. There is a pesky metallic note coming late to the party, not something terrible but weird.
The finish has a medium length, mostly sweet with a dash of black pepper on the tail.
It is a smooth and versatile whiskey that mixes nicely in any cocktail with no bad bite, well rounded and gets better when adding a splash of water, ginger ale or ice.
In fact, Jameson might well be the best whiskey for cocktails as it blends incredibly well with everything.
A few drops of water are enough to tune down alcoholic, peppery notes and that annoying metallic note.
There are a few facts worth knowing about Jameson Whiskey:
- Jameson is a blend of malted and unmalted barley aged for at least 4 years in ex-bourbon casks from Kentucky and ex-sherry casks from Spain.
- This whiskey is triple-distilled which is the norm in the Irish whiskey industry. Most spirits are double-distilled but the Irish add a distillation as they like smooth liquors.
- Jameson is distilled at the Old Midleton Distillery in Cork, Ireland.
- Jameson is owned by France-based Pernod Ricard along Glenlivet and Chivas Regal.
Knappogue vs Jameson: Price comparison
Prices are approximate and stated in USD:
| Whiskey | Price |
| Knappogue Castle 12 | $47 |
| Jameson | $20 |
Knappogue Castle vs Jameson: Which is better?
The Knappogue is a better tasting whiskey
| Whiskey | Knappogue Castle | Jameson |
| Nose | ✅ | ✅ |
| Body | ✅ | ✅ |
| Palate | ✅ | |
| Finish | ✅ | |
| Value | ✅ | ✅ |
- Knappogue is a nice sipping whiskey that serves as an affordable alternative to Single Malt Scotch while the Jameson is basically a handy mixer to make cocktails.
- Knappogue is good, smooth, velvety, with no harsh or weird notes and way better than the average Irish Whiskey.
I am a bar and liquor shop owner in Oaxaca, Mexico where I have tasted hundreds of different spirits; perhaps more than I should!