Review #148 Jameson 18yr Bow Street Cask Strength: Irish

Score: 9.4 / 10

Distillery: Wild Turkey Distillery

Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Jameson Distillery has a long and storied history that dates back to 1780 when John Jameson established the distillery in Dublin, Ireland. It has since become one of the most well-known and best whiskey brands in the world. Jameson is a blended whiskey that combines both grain and pot still whiskey. The grain whiskey provides a light and smooth base, while the pot still whiskey adds depth, complexity, and a touch of spice to the final blend.

What was that commercial that was on for a while? Jameson jumped ship to save the whiskey? Well it's not that good. Unless he was trying to get the 18yr cask strength. It's a bit more special than most. Your wallet will remind you of that fact if your wife doesn't.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: An absolute oak bomb, dusting of carpenter's saw dust, rich butterscotch, luscious toffee, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, cereal notes (cinnamon toast crunch), honeycomb, blueberries, sour apple and pear. Deeper in the glass I find a tinge of essential oils with a touch of eucalyptus.

Palate: Massive notes of vanilla, toffee, honeycomb, ramped up cinnamon, oak throughout with a very chewy mouthfeel, crystallized table sugar, English breakfast tea with honey, ethanol spice never gets overbearing even when swishing the whiskey in your mouth. Swishing the whiskey leads to sweet and spicy notes. Nice pepper on the backend that isn't too spicy, there's some lemon lime-esque Sprite flavors with some chocolate and red apple. Lightly effervescent on the second half of the drinking experience.

Finish: Long lingering and fruity, but packed with more oak. Honey shines with toffee, chili powder, touch of blueberry, blackberry, rhubarb pie. The marquee note is Honeysuckle with sweet, floral, and sugary all at the same time bubbling up in the center of the palate.

Score: 9.4

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability? Rare - Jameson 18yr isn't too hard to find. It's pricey and not very sought after. The cask strength is not in this category. It's not very easy to find lots of scotch or Irish varieties at barrel proof. Psh and I thought they could drink.