Jameson Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey
80 Proof
Price Point: $20 – $30 for 750 ML
Distiller: The Bow St. Distillery
Background
Step into virtually any bar in the world, and you’ll likely see a bottle of Jameson on the shelf (and likely more in the back).
This is by far the most popular Irish whiskey worldwide. Does that mean that it’s the best Irish whiskey available worldwide? I wouldn’t go that far. But it’s certainly one of the easiest to drink for people whose taste buds aren’t necessarily adapted to whiskey. And it lends itself to cocktails by mixing with anything from soda to a pint of Guinness.
But will Jameson hold up against the other Irish whiskeys I have reviewed thus far? Let’s find out.
Review
Jameson starts out with a classic pot still Irish nose. The nose is very light and grainy (not necessarily a good thing). Jameson is heavier on alcohol than it is pleasant aromas.
This whiskey has a “paper taste” according to my dad, and I don’t disagree. It’s light and sweet, and not much more that that. Grain is the star of the Jameson show, contrary to what the back of the bottle will tell you. I really don’t detect much malt or oak.
There’s not much flavor on the finish, although what do you expect for a triple-distilled whiskey?
Rating & Recommendations
Jameson Irish Whiskey is a staple for bars around the world, but earns a somewhat average rating of 76 out of 100.
If you’re serious about Irish whiskey, do yourself a favor and buy Powers or Connemara. If you still want to give Jameson a chance (and don’t mind spending an arm and a leg), try the 18 Year Old.
-Ryan
3 comments
4 pings
Hello, Ryan.
I more than occasionally frequent a little Irish pub in Bath ME, owned by a retired Navy Master Chief, and notice that many first time visitors order a pint of Guinness and a shot of Jameson’s because they think it’s the right thing to do in an Irish pub. It’s always enjoyable to observe their faces when they down the Jameson’s like a tequila shooter and choke on that first pull of Guinness. Me? I prefer Smithwick’s Irish Ale.
I believe that most bars carry Jameson Irish Whiskey because (1) it’s cheap and (2) casual whskey swillers don’t know another Irish whiskey expression to order, just as many bars in my neck of the woods carry the Glenlivet 12 as their go-to scotch single malt. This is why I’ve tried to stay away from the mass-market expressions, like Jameson, when I was developing my whiskey next-to-try list. Personally, the Redbreast Single Pot Still 12 is still my favorite Irish whiskey to drink neat. I’ve recently purchased a bottle of Bushmill’s Black Bush blended Irish whiskey to drink on those occasions when I want something to mix with ginger ale. The Knappogue Castle 12 single malt and Michael Collins blended expressions round out the next purchases on my next-to-try list. I tried the Michael Collins 10 single malt early on but didn’t care enough about it to keep it on the purchase list.
By the way, aren’t to A. Smith Bowman bourbons considered to be triple distilled?
Best regards,
Chuck
Good review for the beginner (like me).
I don’t drink a lot of Irish Whiskey. When someone else is pouring it usually winds up being Jameson. it is reasonably pleasant and innocuous. I guess I’m easily satisfied. When I have my choice, the would be Bushmills 10 yr old Single Malt. You should try a double dram.
[…] brands are single malt. On the contrary, many of Ireland’s most popular brands, including Jameson, Powers, Paddy, and Kilbeggan, are blends. There are some single malts, but they are few and far […]
[…] is just about what you would expect out of an entry-level Irish whiskey. Fans of Jameson that want a little more bang for their buck may enjoy this […]
[…] nose starts out light and crisp, with odd pot still characteristics surprisingly similar to Jameson Irish Whiskey. There are some subtle sugar cane notes and pine needles. It’s hard to believe that the […]
[…] to Jameson, Bomberger’s starts out with the scent of paper (and maybe a touch of ink). It takes a […]