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Jameson Irish Whiskey
About Jameson Irish Whiskey
I’ve been really excited to revisit Jameson Irish Whiskey, because it was the first whiskey I ever tasted back when I turned 21. And now that I’ve had more experience with different whiskies, I wondered if my opinion on this affordable Irish whiskey had changed at all.
Jameson Irish Whiskey was established in 1780 by it’s namesake, John Jameson. Despite the ups and downs of the Irish whiskey industry, it remains one of the biggest Irish whiskey brands today. In the 1960’s, it merged with other Irish distilleries to create Irish Distillers. They consolidated whiskey production at a single facility in Midleton, Where Jameson is currently produced along side Redbreast 12 and Green Spot.
Jameson is a blended Irish whiskey that’s a mix of of pot still and grain whiskies. The blend is then triple distilled and aged in oak casks for a minimum of 4 years.
Bottle Specs
❖ Spirit: Blended Irish Whiskey
❖ Distillery: Midleton Distillery
❖ ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
❖ Aged Minimum of 4 Years
❖ Low Price
Tasting Notes
❖ Color: Pale Honey
❖ Nose: Fruit, Honey, Grain, Slight Spice
❖ Taste: Pear, Spice, Honey, Slight Heat
❖ Finish: Long, Fruit, Vanilla
Cocktail
Jameson Apple Spritz
1 Part Irish Whiskey
2 Parts Ginger Ale
3 Parts Sparkling Apple Juice
❖ Add all ingredients to a tall glass filled ice
❖ Gently stir to combine and garnish with a lemon wedge
I love discovering cocktail recipes that use unexpected ingredients that complement a certain spirit. That’s exactly how I felt when I came across the recipe for a Jameson Apple Spritz, which calls for sparkling apple juice along with Jameson Irish Whiskey. I was immediately intrigued by the combination and wanted to try it, especially since I tend to ignore cocktails that contain a lot of soda.
Although I don’t regret trying to make this Jameson Apple Spritz, as it was quite refreshing, I must admit that it was the least exciting cocktail I’ve had in a long time. The apple cider was by far the most dominant flavor, probably because it was supported by the fruit notes in Jameson. I wish I had used a more flavorful ginger ale as I could barely taste it except for a faint spice note. But I was pleased with the whiskey and apple cider combo so at least I have something new to experiment with in the future.
Bottom Line
RATING: 3/5
After all these years, I glad that Jameson Irish Whiskey is just as pleasant as I remember. I’ve always been drawn to whiskies with strong fruit flavors, and Jameson is effective at emphasizing these notes. It also adds some sweet notes, like vanilla and honey, along with some spice for a bit of depth.
However, there is nowhere near as much complexity in the flavor as other whiskies from the Midleton Distillery like Redbreast 12 or Green Spot so I think I might be tempted to save up my money for one of those bottles instead of Jameson. But if you are looking for a great affordable entry into Irish whisky that works well in cocktails, Jameson Irish Whiskey is a great choice.
As always, drink responsibly.
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