5 Irish Whiskeys beyond “Regular” Jameson
Photos via Jameson
I recently had the chance to visit Ireland’s famous Midleton Distillery, located just outside of Cork, a few days before St. Patrick’s Day courtesy of Jameson Irish Whiskey. Jameson is, of course, distilled there, along with the majority of name-brand Irish whiskeys – Paddy, Powers, Redbreast, Green Spot, Yellow Spot, and more. As a category, Irish whiskey has been holding its own along with bourbon, rye, and scotch, as Irish brands expand their catalogue and develop new expressions focusing on specific characteristics like barrel finishing. The Midleton Distillery, under the auspices of its parent company Pernod Ricard, is a truly impressive operation, producing whiskey on a scale that dwarfs many others. The distillery produces two types of whiskey, triple-distilled pot still made from malted and unmalted barley, and grain whiskey. Some, like Jameson, are carefully formulated blends of the two, while others, like Redbreast, are single pot still whiskeys that leave out the grain component. A visit to the compound is highly recommended, as whiskey production is such an important and integral part of Ireland’s history. The distillery is currently a mix of the old and new; many of the historical buildings remain for visitors to walk through and get a sense of how things used to be, while the real production occurs in a massive and thoroughly modern operation. Here is a list of some of the best whiskey currently being produced at the Midleton Distillery. Slainte.
Jameson Select Reserve Cask Strength Black Barrel
Black Barrel is by far my favorite Jameson expression. It’s the most bourbon-like of the lot, no doubt due to the double-charred bourbon barrels that it’s aged in, in addition to the sherry casks. There is also more pot still whiskey in this blend than in regular Jameson, and it’s a bit older. Try this in an Old Fashioned and you won’t be disappointed. But if you make it to the distillery, be sure to pick up a bottle of the cask strength version. Buying it is kind of fun – you get to pour it into a bottle from the barrel yourself. The flavor is bigger and the proof higher – the bottle I got was a hefty 59.2% ABV – so be sure to sip this one with a little water, and take your time.