Love Jameson Irish Whiskey? – Here are 4 Drams You Simply Must Try
As you probably already know, here at GreatDrams, we don’t like to discriminate, particularly when it comes to whiskey/whisky.
While we may primarily deal in Scotch, don’t think for a single solitary second that I don’t appreciate a different type of dram from somewhere else in the world. During the warmer summer months for example, I love a good Kentucky bourbon. When I’m craving a dram that hits all those wonderful Scotch whisky notes, while offering something different at the same time, I often reach for a Japanese whisky from Suntory or Nikka.
Other than Scotch, though, there’s a whiskey that holds a very special place in my heart and that whiskey comes from the Emerald Isle itself. Yes, it’s Irish whiskey, and when talking about drams from Ireland you simply cannot ignore Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Renowned for that trademark velvet smooth, fruity, triple-distilled character, it’s easy to understand why Jameson is the world’s most popular Irish whiskey. If like me, you’re a fan of the original and fancy something different, here are 4 drams you simply have to try.
When John Jameson opened up a humble distillery in Dublin’s Bow Street in 1780, he surely had no idea that more than two centuries later, Jameson Irish Whiskey would be the world’s most popular Irish whiskey, by such a vast margin. Drams like this are part of the reason for why that is.
Jameson 18 Year Old has won multiple awards over the years, including Gold at the International Spirits Challenge in 2018 as part of the Irish Blends – Super Premium category. As you can tell, this is a special dram.
Made from a blend of two pot-still whiskies combined with just a drop of single grain whiskey it was first aged in a combination of bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, before an additional finishing period in an American oak first-fill ex-bourbon barrel.
On the nose, it’s clear those bourbon barrels did their job. You get strong aromas of burnt sugar, honey, toffee, and vanilla, with a hint of buttery salted popcorn. These scents are then joined by fruitier notes like fresh citrus zest, orange marmalade, and candied peel.
On the palate, more of a sherry note. There’s spicy honey roasted peanuts, sticky plums and grapes, salted caramel, and iced Christmas cake topped with walnuts and icing sugar.
The finish is fresh and medium in length. There are notes of fresh garden herbs, lemon balm, toffee apple, stem ginger, and lightly toasted oak.
Jameson Crested Whiskey is a rebrand of their confusingly named Crested Ten, which was not actually ten years old at all. It was also very difficult to get hold of if you lived outside of Ireland.
Originally launched in 1963, it’s the perfect blend of pot still whiskey combined with sherry cask finished drams. If you enjoy smooth and fruity drops, this is most definitely one which you’ll enjoy. It’s a dram which pays tribute to the very first drops they used to bottle back in Bow Street in the 60s. Before then, their whiskey was largely sold to bonders.
On the nose, you get pungent sherry notes accompanied by honey, vanilla, and treacle tart. Inhale again, and there are subtle citrus notes and a whisper of winter spice.
On the palate, there’s creamy vanilla ice cream, poached pears in syrup, raisins and sultanas, and a healthy note of milk chocolate. These flavours fade and make way for spicier, nuttier notes. Again, that sherry earned its keep.
The finish is lengthy with a wonderfully oily mouthfeel. There’s yet more honey, spicy oak, and sherry, which lingers on the tastebuds long after that final swallow.
Some like to accuse Jameson of playing it safe. While I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that, I would say that they certainly know what they’re doing and like to adhere to the age-old adage of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
With their Distiller’s Batch however, they tore up the rulebook and created one of their most innovative releases so far. Aged at their Midleton Distillery in five, yes, five different types of cask, this is a smooth and complex dram that has picked up a number of rewards over the years.
On the nose, there’s a lot going on here. There are strong aromas of maple syrup, accompanied by salted caramel, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and dried orange peel. These scents are then joined by vanilla, charred oak, and tropical fruits.
On the palate, that 46% ABV really gives you a comforting warmth as it slips down your throat. Take a sip, and you’ll enjoy flavours of chocolate fudge brownie, Jamaican ginger cake, vanilla custard, chocolate coated limes, and sticky toffee pudding served with evaporated milk.
The finish is drawn out and delicate. There are subtle spicy, fruity, lightly nutty notes that linger on the palate long after that final gulp.
And finally, for those of you who really enjoy your smooth whiskies, I present to you, Jameson Triple Triple.
Could this be the world’s first 9 x distilled whiskey? Surely not? Well, no, because that just seems ridiculous. The whiskey gets its name from the fact that, not only is it triple distilled, and matured in three casks, but it is also triple smooth (in Jameson’s own words).
Along with tried and tested casks like bourbon and sherry, to make up the trifecta, Jameson also introduced hand-selected Malaga wine chestnut casks. Now that is something that really piqued my interest.
A travel retail exclusive, this whisky is packed full of silky smooth toffee and caramel notes, with a light chocolatey finish and a gloriously decadent caramel colour.
On the nose, toffee and caramel dominate, along with buttery Scottish shortbread, chocolate nougat, and crisp orchard fruits.
On the palate, there’s a subtle nutty flavour, quickly joined by sweet vanilla fudge, tiramisu, and raspberry sherry trifle topped with toasted almonds and glace cherries.
The finish is another long one and is gloriously smooth, with a stunning, tannic mouthfeel. Fruit and nut milk chocolate notes shine through, accompanied by spicy woody notes and, not surprisingly, sweet roast chestnuts. Lovely stuff.
If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.
With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.
Greg
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