There won’t be many bars in the world where you don’t see a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey in their spirits line up. It’s one of the most recognisable spirit brands in the world. Some countries see this as a premium product while for others it’s merely firewater. That being said Jameson’s core Irish Whiskey product is too big to not review.
Its strength lies in simplicity and accessibility. The nose is very welcoming to those who are new to the world of whiskey. It’s sweet and creamy. There are notes of caramel and vanilla. When you taste it, you pick up the same attributes but as Jameson so famously claim, it’s smooth. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, Jameson triple distill. Double distilling may have a combination of stronger (purer) and weaker spirit but triple distilling increases the percentage volume further to make the overall batch stronger, therefore purer, therefore smoother. Secondly, they use predominantly ex-Bourbon barrels and Sherry butts which adds to that subtle oaky and sweet flavour.
It’s understandable to see why Jameson’s Irish Whiskey is appreciated by so many. It’s good value for money and is a lot cheaper than many other whiskies out there. Even though we’ve given this spirit a mid-level rating, don’t be deterred by that. It’s still a fantastic option out there but it’s clearly made for the mass market with the short maturation period. A simple choice but simplicity has its moments.
Apart from the whiskey itself, if you’re ever in Dublin, do check out the Jameson Distillery. While it’s not a functioning distillery as that moved to Southern Ireland, it’s still a great experience as Pernod Ricard have not held back with the tour from the cinema start, through the full on museum and finishing with tastings (if you choose too).