Irish Whiskey

Jameson Distillery Reserve

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Jameson Old Irish Whiskey
The Old Jameson Distilery Reserve, Aged 12 Years

40% ABV/80 Proof
$50 to $55 depending on exchange rate
Only available at The Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin or The Old Midleton Distillery in Cork

What the Distillery Says:

John Jameson would be justly proud of this exclusive Distillery Reserve Whiskey that commemorates his famous Old Dublin Distillery.

What Richard Says:

Nose: There are little wisps of sulfur right out of the bottle but they fade quickly after pouring. From there it transitions into honey, cream, fresh cut grass, and pine cones.
Palate: Creamy with lots of butterscotch and dried straw. There’s also something in there that reminds me of honey drizzled unripened pears.
Finish: The finish here is surprisingly woody. It’s also a little hotter than I expected. Deep into the finish there’s an aftertaste reminiscent of canned pineapple juice. I’m talking about the cheap stuff they use to make pina coladas with in San Juan.
Comments: I’m a little underwhelmed with this. I wanted something more or something special. What this really tastes like is an older version of standard Jameson. For the money I would tell you to pick up the Special Reserve if you want a 12 year old Jameson. I guess the Distillery Reserve is “special” if you get a bottle personalized at the distillery but then again you have to pay extra for that.

Rating: Average

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Whiskey Shopping in Ireland (2012)

/ / Irish Whiskey, Richard's Blog

(Note – this was originally posted in 2012, so prices may have changed; but the gist still holds true)

As those of you who follow the Whisk(e)y Apostle Twitter feed know I recently went to Ireland with my wife for vacation. Among all the castles, Mesolithic burial mounds, and endless natural beauty I also tried to do a little whiskey tourism too. I know, go figure. I have plenty of great things to share with you but I thought I’d start off with shopping. No, I’m not talking about the couture shops in Dublin or that perfect Irish wool sweater. I’m talking about whiskey shopping. If I could put it into one sentence it would be this. Don’t buy Irish whiskey in Ireland.

Did that surprise some of you? Well, it surprised the hell out of me too. Let me elaborate. Given the variety of Irish whiskeys available in the U.S. and through other outlets you’re hard pressed to find too many Ireland only bottles. For the rest of the selection you’ll easily find better prices elsewhere. Taxes on Ireland’s native spirit are astronomical compared to what you’ll pay here. Let’s use a regular bottle of Jameson (750ml US/700ml International), the standard bearer for Irish whiskey.

• Jameson in the U.S. is around $20 a bottle. (Binny’s Chicago/Total Wine Atlanta)
• Jameson in Ireland (Dublin, Galway Killarney) is €24.50 or $30.64 VAT included.

Ouch! That’s about 50% more a bottle of plain old Jameson. It doesn’t get any better when you’re buying up to a bottle of Midleton Very Rare either. Even when you cut out the VAT (about $4) you’re still better off buying U.S. for any bottle of Irish whiskey you kind find here. There is a little relief buying Ireland than the U.K. but it’s still way more than buying stateside.

If you are going to buy Irish whiskey in Ireland and you’re not planning to drink it there my one piece of advice is this…duty free. That does limit you a bit. U.S. travelers are limited to one liter of duty free spirit per traveler when returning to the U.S. However, there are two key things you need to know about that. First, it’s irrespective of age. So if your kids are traveling with you too then you can use their liter allowance too. Second, in a lot of instances the paying duty is actually cheaper than pay VAT in Ireland.

Some of you might wonder about selection. There’s a lot of Irish whiskey in Ireland. You might not even realize how much the selection of Irish whiskey has expanded in recent years until you’re in a shop confronted by all of it. However, as most of these selections are available in the U.S. or online you might want to focus on the few you can’t here. Green Spot, Yellow Spot, Powers John Lane, and Midleton Barry Crocket are a few examples. Also, if you’re visiting distilleries they all tend to have a distillery only bottle that for obvious reasons you can’t get anywhere else. Be warned that the bottle offered at Kilbeggan can also be purchased for a LOT cheaper duty free. 😉 The distillery bottles really are the only “Ireland Only” bottles left out there. Everything else you should be able to get your hands on one way or another.

So if I had to sum it for you I’d say this. First, if you can get it here don’t try to buy it there. Second, the distillery exclusives are worth a look. Third, anything else should be purchased duty free at the airport on your way out. The Loop operates The Irish Whiskey Collection right after departure security in Dublin’s airport. They have everything you can get anywhere else in Ireland except that one bottle of Bushmills and one bottle of Jameson. The Irish Whiskey Collection is also the cheapest place in the Emerald Isle to buy the stuff. They also have a number of private bottlings of Cooley’s various whiskies that you can only get from them.

I hope this helps in your shopping preparation if you’re planning a trip to Ireland. It’s a lovely country with amazing people. You shouldn’t go without making the native spirit part of the fun!

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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Jameson Signature Reserve

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Jameson Signature Reserve Irish Whiskey

40% ABV/80 Proof
$45-$55/Liter
Website

What the Distiller Says

What’s in a Signature? Well, over the centuries the Jameson signature has been recognised as a stamp of authenticity and assured quality, and has played its part in building Jameson’s worldwide reputation. Long before distilleries began bottling their own whiskey, Jameson insisted that their own labels, each bearing the John Jameson & Son signature, accompany every delivery of casks to the whiskey bonders. And so it was that the Jameson signature became synonymous with the characteristic taste and superb quality of Jameson.

Jameson Signature Reserve celebrates this fine tradition, with its high pot still content and a significant taste contribution from oloroso sherry casks. Aged in the best quality American bourbon barrels and Spanish oloroso sherry casks, this is a whiskey as sophisticated as it is well-balanced.

Available when you are on your travels in airport shopping outlets only, this Jameson family member is sure to become a favorite for people on the move.
Tasting characteristics

NOSE – Sweet, floral, light perfume notes are followed by underlying spice. Some nuttiness, apples and dried fruits.
TASTE – Initial impression is a mouth coating of heather honey sweetness. This is closely followed by the some smooth spicy notes. Additional complexity is added with cedar wood and vanilla notes from the American Oak. There is a touch of citrus and rich dried fruits.
FINISH – A long, warm, sweet finish.

What Richard Says:

Nose: Apples, pears, southern ambrosia lay the groundwork then are followed by a light sherry character.
Palate: Sweetness reminiscent of orange blossom honey flowing into classic Jameson with a little extra sherry kick.
Finish: There is more oak than usual for Jameson. It mellows into fresh straw and apple extract.
Comments: I would not consider this a “better” Jameson. Rather, it’s like a riff on the Jameson foundation. The Jameson songbook played in a different key. I picked up three new Jamesons on my travels to Ireland and this is my least favorite of the three. Their website still says this is travel retail only but you can also get it at The Whisky Exchange and The Celtic Whiskey Shop.

Rating: Average

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Midleton Very Rare

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskey
Bottle No. 013881, Bottled in 2009
40% ABV/80 Proof
$125 to $140
No current website

What the Distillery Says:
Nothing really. For a brand that’s been around for 25+ years you’d think they would have a web presence or include a little promotional information in their packaging. From the best of my recollection they only release about 50 cask of this special blend each year. It’s a mixture of Bourbon and Sherry casks in the range of 12 to 25 years old. Master Distiller Barry Crockett strives for consistency but there may be some variance year to year.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Major floral notes, honey and canned pears.
Palate: Easily one of the smoothest things I’ve ever drank. Fresh cream, buttery toffee, and amaretto.
Finish: Light, creamy, and moderately long.
Comments: I first heard about Midleton’s long before I was a drinker of Irish whiskey. It came on my radar as the bottle of whiskey Bono brought Frank Sinatra back in 1993 while recording Duets. I thought it was cool at the time but it didn’t really register. Fast forward 10 years and I got my first sip at The Vortex in Atlanta. I was hooked from then on. This is a great Irish blend that is sinfully drinkable. I’d put it in my stable with Macallan 18 Year Old as something I try to always have. It ain’t cheap but it’s mighty tasty.
Rating: Must Try

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Bushmills Black Bush Special Old Irish Whiskey

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Bushmills Black Bush Special Old Irish Whiskey
43% ABV/86 Proof
$35 to $40
Website

What the Distillery Says:
With an intriguing flavor and a name to match, this is our special blend. It combines a uniquely high proportion of malt whiskey matured in former Oloroso Sherry casks with a sweet, batch-distilled grain whiskey. This unique recipe gives Black Bush its rich fruity notes and deep intense character, balanced by a unique smoothness.

Nose: Big, full, rich fruitcake aroma, intense Sherry sweetness developing into dried fruit/raisen/Christmas cake notes
Palate: Soft, silky texture with a nutty character
Finish: Lingering sweetness. Remarkable balance between the poier from Sherry-seasoned casks and the smoothness of the spirit.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose is very rich. It reminds me of sherry drizzled warm apple pie.
Palate: It’s more delicate and viscous than I would’ve expected. It’s also a little nutty too.
Finish: This is my least favorite part. It’s a little like licking an empty sherry barrel.
Comments: In my lowly personal opinion this is probably the best value in the Bushmills range. At around $35 it swings well above classic Bushmills and the 10 year old single malt version.
Rating: Stands Out

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