In A Word...
...holyf***ingshit!
That vulgarly inarticulate expression was my spontaneous initial description of my first taste of Knappogue Castle 1951. Without regard to its price or reputation (both quite considerable), I was amazed by the experience of this unqiue whiskey. Bejeez, this stuff is beautiful and, frankly, well worth a cost that's usually between $500 and $1200 per bottle depending on where you find it.
This truly is a very special whiskey. From nose to taste to what pleasantly felt like a years-long finish, my eyes opened wide, my brow raised, and an almost involuntary smile spread across my face as I first sampled it. I tried no more for a couple of weeks until one of my brothers was visiting. The initial experience was affirmed and enhanced by sharing it and by watching and hearing similar reactions from him. He, however, stuck with a repeated "Wow!" for his verbal expression. It's not that I'm gratuitously potty-mouthed (ok, maybe a little), rather, I like to employ the full range of language and vocabulary available to me.
More Words
Part of the difficulty of finding the right descriptive words stems from the nature of this 36-year-old whiskey itself. You get flashes of apple, vanilla, oak, honey, cocoa, rose petals and as many other sensations as they are tastebuds. And I'm not usually one to wax over squishy-squashy tasting note descriptions. It goes off in multiple directions seemingly all at once. Just when you think you're picking out a flavor it zips you off to another place and sensation. Wild. Sensuous. Beguiling. Tantalizing. Sublime. Wow.
I've bought expensive bottles of whiskey before and almost always try to justify the purchase with the promise of saving the bottle for special occasions. The definition of "special" tends to become increasingly liberal over time, especially when friends and family are around. Then I slowly re-start the mindgame of preparing to buy another bottle of it. Ya wouldn't want to run out now, would ya?
But this really is a whiskey for special occasions and special company. If you have or get a bottle of it, you could save it. But I think it's better -- when it really does feel "special" -- to savor it mindfully, deliberately and fully with kindred spirits who will appreciate the beauty contained in the bottle.
That vulgarly inarticulate expression was my spontaneous initial description of my first taste of Knappogue Castle 1951. Without regard to its price or reputation (both quite considerable), I was amazed by the experience of this unqiue whiskey. Bejeez, this stuff is beautiful and, frankly, well worth a cost that's usually between $500 and $1200 per bottle depending on where you find it.
This truly is a very special whiskey. From nose to taste to what pleasantly felt like a years-long finish, my eyes opened wide, my brow raised, and an almost involuntary smile spread across my face as I first sampled it. I tried no more for a couple of weeks until one of my brothers was visiting. The initial experience was affirmed and enhanced by sharing it and by watching and hearing similar reactions from him. He, however, stuck with a repeated "Wow!" for his verbal expression. It's not that I'm gratuitously potty-mouthed (ok, maybe a little), rather, I like to employ the full range of language and vocabulary available to me.
More Words
Part of the difficulty of finding the right descriptive words stems from the nature of this 36-year-old whiskey itself. You get flashes of apple, vanilla, oak, honey, cocoa, rose petals and as many other sensations as they are tastebuds. And I'm not usually one to wax over squishy-squashy tasting note descriptions. It goes off in multiple directions seemingly all at once. Just when you think you're picking out a flavor it zips you off to another place and sensation. Wild. Sensuous. Beguiling. Tantalizing. Sublime. Wow.
I've bought expensive bottles of whiskey before and almost always try to justify the purchase with the promise of saving the bottle for special occasions. The definition of "special" tends to become increasingly liberal over time, especially when friends and family are around. Then I slowly re-start the mindgame of preparing to buy another bottle of it. Ya wouldn't want to run out now, would ya?
But this really is a whiskey for special occasions and special company. If you have or get a bottle of it, you could save it. But I think it's better -- when it really does feel "special" -- to savor it mindfully, deliberately and fully with kindred spirits who will appreciate the beauty contained in the bottle.
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