Jameson Irish Whiskey Review

Jameson Irish Whiskey’s Robe

• Hue: Polished Brass
• Clarity: Mostly Clear
• Viscosity: Moderate

We’re looking at an overall sort of pale gold, maybe even brass-coloured liquid. It doesn’t produce any whirls when you add water because it’s chill-filtered. We have thin and fast legs, so it hasn’t been aged that much, it’s going to be a youthful spirit with only moderate viscosity. In terms of clarity, there is some haziness when you cast it against the light.

Jameson Irish Whiskey’s Nose

• Notes: Pear, Cereal, Honeysuckle, Mirabelle
• Nosefeel: Peppery

Overall, the nose is quite delicate and there is some complexity in there. There are some diverse families of fragrances, but otherwise, it’s not incredibly intense. Its nosefeel can be described as peppery as it prickles the nostrils.

It overtly delivers a nice dose of pear fruit and cereal as well as some honeysuckle. The honeysuckle has a floral characteristic, but it’s also producing a slight honey note. Finally, we have Mirabelle plume, which adds to the orchard fruitiness in the bouquet.

Jameson Irish Whiskey’s Palate & Mouthfeel

• Primary Taste: Sweet
• Mouthfeel: Creamy
• Opening:  Almond, Heather, Grapefruit
• Heart: Vanilla, Banana, Caramel
• Finish: Short [Peardrop, Marmalade, Fudge]

Jameson is characterised by a sweet primary flavour with a creamy mouthfeel. It envelops the palate with opening notes of almond, a hint of leather, and grapefruit, which produces a bitter citrus zest. Its heart reveals vanilla softness that takes the edge away from the citrus. Meanwhile, ripe banana and caramel contribute to its sweetness.

So far, the texture is velvety and creamy, but light on the palate. Despite its youthfulness, it does offer decent complexity thanks to a diverse bouquet of notes.

As its finish is quite short, it’s particularly moreish. The fleeting experience makes it approachable and will have you often reaching for another sip as it doesn’t dominate the palate too long. That being said, the finish does have some flavour.

Expect pear drops, which have solvency reminiscent of the nose earlier. The citrus makes a comeback with marmalade, but this time it’s sweeter. Finally, a hint of fudge just lingers long enough to curb the acidity of the citrus.

How To Drink Jameson Irish Whiskey

As we often state in our reviews, the best way to drink a beverage is the way that you enjoy it the most. Nevertheless, we will permit ourselves to provide a few serving suggestions.

As you can see in the image above, this particular bottle was supplied in a gift box with two free cocktail glasses. Indeed, its light and playful flavour make it an ideal whiskey for cocktails. You can certainly consider it as an alternative to Bourbon for an Old Fashioned. Meanwhile, it marries well with ingredients like lime and ginger ale.

Otherwise, Jameson is quite enjoyable neat. You can certainly enjoy it at room temperature or chilled on the rocks. If that’s the case, consider drinking it in a Glencairn glass or similar.

Best Pairings With Jameson Irish Whiskey

Consider pairing Jameson with a dessert such as a fruit tart. I would suggest a pear tart primarily but any type of fruit, such as plums, would be great as well. You could also have it with some toffee.

Otherwise, consider amaretti or amaretto, if you prefer the singular, which are little Italian almond biscotti. Since the whiskey features almond notes, the biscuits would bring out and extend those flavours.

Of course, we love cigars at Bespoke Unit. Therefore, why not pair it with an Oliva Connecticut Reserve? These creamy and mild-bodied cigars would really help complement the whiskey’s creaminess.

Overall Experience & Value For Money

Jameson has a classic and recognisable bottle. The label’s beige background is offset by gold details. Typically, it doesn’t come with packaging. However, as mentioned above, it was part of a gift set with two stylish cocktail glasses.

These were free and came at no extra cost. The whole thing came to around 19€ here in Europe. In the USA, expect to pay around $30, which is quite a typical price difference. Overall, though, it does offer excellent value even without the glasses.

Finally, it’s not a particularly formal drink. It’s best suited to casual occasions. Furthermore, it’s a great whiskey for beginners who aren’t comfortable with more full-bodied spirits. Indeed, it’s an excellent introduction.

Nevertheless, it’s a great mixer to have on-hand for more lavish occasions. While not particularly luxurious as a neat option, it’s a suitable cocktail ingredient at even high-brow events.

Closing Thoughts

As mentioned above, Jameson is a great whiskey to try if you’re not familiar with the whiskey – whether from Ireland or Scotland. It’s a refreshing and light introductory beverage, which will ease you into understanding the sort of experience that it can offer.

However, even for more seasoned enthusiasts, it’s a pleasant and light drink that can be used in many versatile ways.

Further Reading

Once you’ve finished reading our review, feel free to peruse our wide range of related content such as the following resources:

• More Whisky Reviews
• Other Liquor Reviews
• Best Barware For Your Home
• Bespoke Unit Spirit & Liquor Homepage
• Bespoke Unit Wine Homepage