Proselytizing the way of the malt
Raise a glass of Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s, Midleton’s, Jameson, Bushmills, Redbreast, Power’s, Paddy’s, or anything from Cooley’s and wash down that corned beef and cabbage!
Have a merry, yet responsible St. Patrick’s Day.
Your Whisk(e)y Apostles,
Matt & Richard
Jameson Gold Reserve Irish Whiskey
40% ABV/80 Proof
$55 to $65
Widely available
What the Distillery Says:
Up until recently Jameson Gold Reserve has been the elusive family member that could only be found in airport shopping outlets. Since its creation in 1996, Jameson Gold Reserve – a marvelously rich pot still character whiskey – has been the toast of whiskey critics. Such praise is rare, as indeed was the whiskey itself. Jameson Gold can now be found worldwide but is still as precious as ever.
Jameson Gold Reserve is a creative blend of three whiskeys of advanced years, one of which is uniquely matured in virgin oak barrels. It’s the inspired choice of this virgin oak, coupled with the bourbon barrels and sherry casks, that account for the whiskey’s satisfying complexity and honey toasted sweetness.
Nose: Fragrant wood, rich pot still with a touch of sherry sweetness.
Taste: All the creaminess and honey sweetness come together to create a taste sensation of spicy character.
Finish: A very long finish with a pleasantly peppery finale.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Herbal and grassy but very mellow. There are really just hints of a nose to the whiskey.
Palate: Initially it’s sweet with a mild oak flavor. With time it develops into cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla. It really kind of reminds me of snickerdoodle cookies.
Finish: Woody with a surprising heat, very surprising given the proof.
Comments: This definitely stands out among the crowd of Irish blends. However, to me it’s more of a different take of Jameson rather than a bridge between the 12 Year and the 18 Year. I personally prefer the 12 year Old Special Reserve over the Gold Reserve. I don’t find any reason to pay the extra $10 to $20 more unless you just want a little different take of Jameson.
Rating: Stands Out
Jameson Special Reserve 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey
40% ABV
$40 to $50
Widely Available
What the Distillery Says:
Jameson 12 Year Old Special Reserve, with its full-bodied flavour, is like a friendly handshake welcoming you into the world of aged whiskeys. With its pot still whiskeys infused with sherry casks, it’s the best known and most popular of the aged Jameson whiskeys. Exuding great character, its complex yet superbly mellow flavours of toasted wood, spice and sherry and its exquisite taste are a celebration of the enduring heritage of great Jameson whiskeys which began in 1780.
NOSE – Warm, spicy, assertively complex.
TASTE – Sherry richness, nutty flavour, mild woody undertones.
FINISH – Rich and lasting.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Light like fresh grass with fruity notes and a bit of char.
Palate: Creamy and malty with honey and cereal grains coming through. You definitely pick up the sherry casks. The more time you spend with this the sweeter and creamier it gets.
Finish: More oak and wood than on the nose or the palate. A little spice at the tail end of the finish.
Comments: If you like Jameson then kick it up a notch and give this a try. If Jameson is a little too bland for you, still give it a try. There’s a lot more flavor here that may just appeal to you.
Rating: Stands Out
March is the month of St. Patrick’s Day so we’re doing Irish whiskey as our theme this month. We will kick it off with Jameson 12 Year Old Special Reserve tomorrow and finish the month out with Jameson Gold, Jameson 18 Year, and Redbreast 15 Year. I’ve also got reviews samples from Collingwood Canadian Whisky, Dalmore, Templeton, Isle of Jura, Balblair and others so it should be a busy month. Stay tuned!
Richard
One of the best things about Atlanta is how easy it is to get to great vacation destinations from here. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is arguable the busiest in the country and you can fly to almost anywhere from here. Another attraction is the central location in the south. I took advantage of this last weekend and drove over to Charleston, South Carolina with my wife and friends, Sam and Sandra.
My wife’s mother is from Charleston and our friends have been there many times, however it was my first visit. Charleston is a wonderful old southern town. It’s beautiful. The people are friendly. There are plenty of great things to see, do, and eat. We did all of those and packed as much fun into a three day weekend as we could. But what about drinking?
For a beer lover there’s plenty to enjoy. Irish pubs populate a number of streets in Charleston with good selections. The locally made Palmetto Amber is a nice one if you want to go local. Whiskey can be a bit more fickle. There are a lot of 4J bars around the city but there is hope. We found a few bastions of whiskey in the arid sea of beer and cocktails!
First, there are those with small but well chosen selections. These tended to be in the bars of restaurants. High Cotton on East Bay Street and Pearlz Oyster Bar jumped first to mind. Both have great food (High Cotton was hands down the best meal I had in Charleston) and they have a small but well selected whiskey menu.
Second, there is the multitude of Irish pubs all over Charleston. Most are big on beer, light on whiskey. When you go into Tommy Condon’s over on Church St. it looks much the same. However, the secret is to ask what they’ve got behind the bar. Tommy Condon’s has a very respectable selection of Irish whiskey but you can’t see it. It includes favorites from Powers, Paddy’s, Jameson, and even Redbreast. Just ask your server or bartender.
Lastly, if you want to seriously get your drink on there are only two places I found. There is Club Havana on Meeting St. and Husk on Queen St. Husk has a fantastic selection of bourbon, rye, and American whiskey but you will pay for it. They have far and away the highest markup on their liquor. You’ve been warned. For everything else there’s Club Havana. They have a very nice selection of scotch, bourbon, and rums at not astronomical prices. They sit above a Tinder Box and you can bring up the cigars you buy downstairs and smoke up in the bar and lounge. Colleen at the bar was a great bartender and if you want to adventure out beyond the whiskey, give their rum flight a try. It’s a really cool place I wish we had in Atlanta.
That’s my Charleston report. I had a great time and if you go you probably will too.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard