Since I just reviewed Bushmills Irish Whiskey it is only fitting that I should head into "Catholic Country" and review Jameson Irish Whiskey. After all, Jameson and Bushmills seem to be the main competitors for the Irish Whiskey market, locked in a perpetual bare-knuckle Irish boxing match. There are many more excellent options out there though, some of which you will see in my 'Strictly Irish' reviews in the week leading up to Saint Patrick's Day.
The Jameson Distillery was founded in 1780 by John Jameson, a name you may be familiar with from the current Jameson ad campaign which depicts John Jameson a bit as a superhero, rescuing whiskey and women from beasts, etc. The original recipe is the same used today, one that calls for triple distillation in pot stills (I have some ideas that I eventually want to share about distillation,
to include a lesson on how to distill your own, and at that point I will address the different still designs). The end result of this triple-distillation process is the famous Jameson Whiskey. Not all Irish Whiskey is distilled in pot stills, and not all is triple distilled, but this particular process delivers exactly what Jameson promises - and exceptionally smooth whiskey.
The nose of Jameson was very subtle and very smooth. I could hardly detect the scent of the alcohol, there was no burn in my nostrils at all. I must have smelled this whiskey six times due to my disbelief that it could really, truly be that smooth of a scent. Swirling it in my glass to inspect the legs I found that the whiskey appeared rather light, the legs were numerous and flowed relatively quickly, indicating to me that the whiskey was not an exceptionally thick one.
Happy to take the next step forward after such a pleasant nosing I took my first sip and held it with my tongue. The mouth-feel of the whiskey proved to me that it was indeed a lighter whiskey; I could tell from the viscosity of the liquid as I moved it around my mouth that it was light in consistency. The first taste was crisp and sweet, absolutely no bite to it at all, no burn either. That first taste of a whiskey holds a lot of weight with me and with Jameson I was not disappointed in the least. The sweetness should not be overstated though, it was not so sweet that it would dissuade you from a second glass, it was just sweet enough to grab your attention and encourage you to continue your stay in Irish territory. The aftertaste was pleasant and a bit spicy but far too short-lived in my opinion - really this was the only shortcoming; within fifteen minutes the taste had all but disappeared. I suppose this was my cue to order another glass...
Score: 4 out of a possible 5 casks
Reason: Delicious whiskey with a pleasant nose, taste, and aftertaste. All around, Jameson is a great call. I reserve a 5 cask rating for a whiskey that really knocks my socks off and Jameson lost a few points only because I could not enjoy it longer, the (delicious and spicy) aftertaste left my palate far too quickly. Luckily, a glass of Jameson will run you a meager $5-$6, and a bottle averages around $30, this enables you to re-live the experience rather easily. I have known many men and women to enjoy Jameson, this is a good whiskey choice for a mixed crowd. Definitely a great whiskey to begin with if you fit into that category, but also a great whiskey to enjoy for the long-term whiskey drinker.
Cheers,
Charles
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