Knappogue Castle is an Irish single malt whiskey brand named after a 15th-century castle located in County Clare, western Ireland. The story begins in 1966, when Mark Edwin Andrews purchased the historic castle and began bottling single malt whiskeys at a time when blended whiskey dominated the Irish market. The brand was formally launched in 1998, when Andrews founded Castle Brands — originally under the name Great Spirits LLC — contributing his family-owned Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey to the company. Today, Knappogue Castle is part of the Irish Distillers portfolio, which includes products produced at the renowned Midleton Distillery. Knappogue Castle specialises in triple-distilled single malt Irish whiskey, crafted from a combination of malted and unmalted barley in copper pot stills. The brand is known for offering rare, hand-selected expressions with careful cask maturation, including aging in oloroso sherry casks. The portfolio includes age-stated releases such as the 12 Year Old, as well as highly sought-after vintage bottlings. One of the most legendary expressions is the Knappogue Castle 1951, distilled in that year and aged in oloroso sherry casks — a testament to the brand's commitment to exceptional quality and heritage.