You read my mind with this one. Had picked up a Dewar’s 12 Double Aged & had a ten dollar coupon so I walked out under 15 USD. One of the quickest fill level drops I can recall in a while. Of course the price has something to do with that but I say there’s a lot to be said for the budget bottle.
I’ve cracked open a bottle of Jamesons Stout edition. It’s a fun whiskey and not a bad dram at all. As you said, price wise Jamesons is hard to beat. I did a tour of Jamesons Distillery in Dublin in 2005. Wasn’t into whisky/whiskey in those days and was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to drink with what they had to taste. It’s such a big brand that I think it’s a staple for many people all over the World.
The classic old Jamesons . I used to drink it in my early 20's with diet coke in my night club days etc haha . Good to see it getting reviewed in 2024 . I was on a cruise ship this year and the drinks package had all the jamesons various cask finishes which I tried . Not something I would ever buy for home of course but was fine in social settings .
Like Jack Daniels, I think all of the variations of Jamesons are a clear step up from the standard bottling. Which seems like an odd way to convert people to your brand!
Good point. It is perfectly acceptable for that purpose and realistically what it's made for. Still... I'd probably go for Bushmills White Label instead.
Good to see these budget drams being reviewed. Great history and info Shane, thanks for this. I do like this classic Jameson. Yeah it's young, yeah it's simple but I enjoy it as a 'breakfast whisky' or a palate calibrator. Cheers!
It serves those purposes well enough. I struggle to get over the drop in quality though. For a cheap Irish my choice would be Bushmills White Label. Cheers 🥃
I'd pretty much agree with your tasting notes. I'd add that that saccharine sweet taste is only noticeable at room temperature. Adding ice really brings out the powdered vanilla sugar. I think it's important to note that over the past few years, the Irish Whiskey industry has gone through a bit of a revolution with the introduction of government binding regulations. Irish legislation now no longer permits added flavour enhancers (including those which are wine based). Interesting. This is very popular at a synagogue kiddush (a casual light meal with cakes and crackers with toppings, eaten after the prayer service to celebrate the Sabbath and Festivals, usually a stand up buffet affair). Both the bottles I bought in Israel for my community synagogue as well as the one I bought in London for a synagogue there, have Kosher Certification printed at the back. I noticed that your one did not. I suppose it depends on the local market even within the UK. The Kosher Certification signifies that there is no Ex-Sherry/Wine/Brandy maturation in this, so it's useful information, even for non-Jews, if they see a Kosher Certificate on the back label. Typical symbols are KLBD (London), MK (Manchester), a U inside an O, OU America. a K inside an O, OK Crown Heights, and many others. This standard Jamesons is matured exclusively in Ex-Bourbon barrels. It is very sweet vanilla forward and is great with ice on a hot day. Most synagogues serve this in little disposable plastic cups and Jamesons is well suited for that. There's nothing objectionable about this and I'd buy it again for any casual "plastic cup" occasion.
I bought a bottle of standard Jamesons early on in my whisky journey. I thought it was just OK. I prefer the Cask Mates Stout and IPA to the standard Jamesons. Cheers!
Hi Shane! Your review pretty much mirrors what I feel about this whiskey. I find it bland with some generic cask influence. I don't buy it but get to taste it every now and then whenever a colleague brings a bottle to the office. As a matter of fact I don't buy any Jameson whiskey for myself, but whenever I want to treat my buddies with something tasty yet light enough, I go for the Black Barrel which I find much, much more flavorful. As a rule of thumb, every year, between October and the end of the year, Black Barrel can be found in the supermarkets in Bulgaria on special sale for the equivalent of 17-18 pounds which makes the choice between Black Barrel and the standard Jameson a no brainer. Cheers!
Black Barrel is much much better than the standard Jamesons. I got one cheap a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised. Review coming soon 🙂 Cheers 🥃
I got a bottle two years ago because it was Christmas and it looks really nice and Christmassy. I thought it a smelt quite nice, tasted of almost nothing, and burnt on the way down. For the RRP, not great, but it would go all right in a whiskey tea of a cold autumn evening
For the price and availability it is actually ok. Tullamore DEW is on the same tier of prices and it is a tiny bit better. They had a 43% special edition unchill filtered that was quite good, yet expensive. Cheers!
Excellent review ! I tasted it and it was awful to me the acetone taste and nose. Although, I love the Stout Edition ! which price is not so different than the basic Jameson in France. More expensive than both, I tasted the black barrel that is amazing for me. I would to taste another Jameson like Crested, Triple Triple and of course the black barrel proof (but it's expensive...)
As I grew into a better connoisseur of whiskey, watching yours and some other whisky channels (Ralfy, Gwhisky, First Phil Whiskey,...), I usually only buy whiskeys non-chill filtered, without colouring and with an alcohol content above 48 ABV. These are whiskeys for me and my friends. But, Jamesons whiskey is for my wife, for the neighbors and for those who find my other whiskeys too strong.
Never got along with Irish whiskey, especially the lower end. I am sure it is fine for mixing however. A few quid more gets age stated scotch single malt.
I always used to have a couple of bottles of Irish on the go but the problem is the price/quality. 95% of all Irish whisky is made at 40% and it's not craft. The good stuff is too expensive compared to quality Scotch. I last had a glass of Jamesons in a pub in Wales when there was hardly any choice. It just doesn't have anything going for it if you like flavour. It might be cheap but I think it's a waste of money.
Exactly that. If you look very hard you can find some quality Irish. But it's VERY difficult to find good value. Which makes it tough to argue for Irish over Scotch or even other World Whisky other than a few acceptable ultra budget offerings.
@@WhiskyLock Absolutely; and those budget options do nothing to sell the greater Irish whisky profile. They're just budget whisky like any budget whisky.
It's a municipal workers whiskey, pretty terrible stuff built for shots. Any el cheapo bourbon has more character and would be preferable to a skilled drinker who wants to take it slow ✌️
I probably moved onto Monkey Shoulder and had a similar experience after I gave up with Jamesons. In hind sight we should've all stocked up in the glory days!
@@WhiskyLock Tbh Shane, I've gone off a lot scotches, Irish & Bourbons at present. Really enjoying Aussie whisky atm ( my home land) , so different & mostly cask strength with a lot more flavour, never ncf or coloured. I wish you could get it ( & I'm not referring to the Starwards, Archie Roses or Larks & Sullivans Cove) i'm talking craft stuff. Hopefully one day.....
That's really great to hear. A key benefit of craft world whisky does seem to be better presentations and distilleries just trying harder than the mass produced stuff coming out of Scotland Ireland and US. I hope to find some quality AUS whisky soon 🥃
You read my mind with this one. Had picked up a Dewar’s 12 Double Aged & had a ten dollar coupon so I walked out under 15 USD. One of the quickest fill level drops I can recall in a while. Of course the price has something to do with that but I say there’s a lot to be said for the budget bottle.
I’ve cracked open a bottle of Jamesons Stout edition.
It’s a fun whiskey and not a bad dram at all.
As you said, price wise Jamesons is hard to beat.
I did a tour of Jamesons Distillery in Dublin in 2005.
Wasn’t into whisky/whiskey in those days and was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to drink with what they had to taste.
It’s such a big brand that I think it’s a staple for many people all over the World.
I bought a bottle of Cask Mates Stout Edition last week. Far far better than the standard NAS 👍
@@WhiskyLock Is the ABV 40% or is it higher on your bottle?
The bottle I’ve got is 40% but still pretty tasty.
@@seanzealony9499 same here. 40% but very nice indeed.
Thanks for reviewing Shane.
Been a long time since I tasted (let alone bought) this one. Too smooth to my liking.
Slàinte mhath
The classic old Jamesons . I used to drink it in my early 20's with diet coke in my night club days etc haha . Good to see it getting reviewed in 2024 . I was on a cruise ship this year and the drinks package had all the jamesons various cask finishes which I tried . Not something I would ever buy for home of course but was fine in social settings .
Like Jack Daniels, I think all of the variations of Jamesons are a clear step up from the standard bottling. Which seems like an odd way to convert people to your brand!
I like it in Irish coffee, which I'm reluctant to do with my Ledaig.
Good point. It is perfectly acceptable for that purpose and realistically what it's made for. Still... I'd probably go for Bushmills White Label instead.
Good to see these budget drams being reviewed. Great history and info Shane, thanks for this. I do like this classic Jameson. Yeah it's young, yeah it's simple but I enjoy it as a 'breakfast whisky' or a palate calibrator. Cheers!
It serves those purposes well enough. I struggle to get over the drop in quality though. For a cheap Irish my choice would be Bushmills White Label. Cheers 🥃
I'd pretty much agree with your tasting notes. I'd add that that saccharine sweet taste is only noticeable at room temperature. Adding ice really brings out the powdered vanilla sugar.
I think it's important to note that over the past few years, the Irish Whiskey industry has gone through a bit of a revolution with the introduction of government binding regulations. Irish legislation now no longer permits added flavour enhancers (including those which are wine based).
Interesting. This is very popular at a synagogue kiddush (a casual light meal with cakes and crackers with toppings, eaten after the prayer service to celebrate the Sabbath and Festivals, usually a stand up buffet affair). Both the bottles I bought in Israel for my community synagogue as well as the one I bought in London for a synagogue there, have Kosher Certification printed at the back. I noticed that your one did not. I suppose it depends on the local market even within the UK. The Kosher Certification signifies that there is no Ex-Sherry/Wine/Brandy maturation in this, so it's useful information, even for non-Jews, if they see a Kosher Certificate on the back label. Typical symbols are KLBD (London), MK (Manchester), a U inside an O, OU America. a K inside an O, OK Crown Heights, and many others.
This standard Jamesons is matured exclusively in Ex-Bourbon barrels. It is very sweet vanilla forward and is great with ice on a hot day. Most synagogues serve this in little disposable plastic cups and Jamesons is well suited for that. There's nothing objectionable about this and I'd buy it again for any casual "plastic cup" occasion.
Great and informative comment as always. Ultimately the 'plastic cup occasion' is what resonates.
@@welshtoro3256 Thanks my friend. You are of course invited to the next Plastic cup occasion.
Great info Reb. FYI my bottle was bought in a UK supermarket within the last year. Not sure why it wouldn't have the markings. Cheers 🥃
I bought a bottle of standard Jamesons early on in my whisky journey. I thought it was just OK. I prefer the Cask Mates Stout and IPA to the standard Jamesons. Cheers!
Cask Mates Stout Edition is a great one. Anyone considering buying Jamesons NAS should just get the Stout one instead 👍
Hi Shane! Your review pretty much mirrors what I feel about this whiskey. I find it bland with some generic cask influence. I don't buy it but get to taste it every now and then whenever a colleague brings a bottle to the office. As a matter of fact I don't buy any Jameson whiskey for myself, but whenever I want to treat my buddies with something tasty yet light enough, I go for the Black Barrel which I find much, much more flavorful. As a rule of thumb, every year, between October and the end of the year, Black Barrel can be found in the supermarkets in Bulgaria on special sale for the equivalent of 17-18 pounds which makes the choice between Black Barrel and the standard Jameson a no brainer.
Cheers!
Black Barrel is much much better than the standard Jamesons. I got one cheap a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised. Review coming soon 🙂 Cheers 🥃
Jamey's, the go to whisk(e)y in Victoria, BC CANADA. I usually drink it with a chaser such as Phillips Blue Buck ale.
What do you make of Irish blends claiming to be triple distilled when most of the contents is presumably column still grain?
This is solidly in the "it's not absolutely horrendous but I've only got one liver" category for me.
😂
Great review of this ubiquitous whisky. I like having some basic Irish whiskey on hand, and lately Powers Gold label fits the bill well. Cheers!
I haven't had Powers for a while. I remember it being better than this. I shall have to look for a bottle. Cheers 🥃
I got a bottle two years ago because it was Christmas and it looks really nice and Christmassy. I thought it a smelt quite nice, tasted of almost nothing, and burnt on the way down. For the RRP, not great, but it would go all right in a whiskey tea of a cold autumn evening
For the price and availability it is actually ok. Tullamore DEW is on the same tier of prices and it is a tiny bit better. They had a 43% special edition unchill filtered that was quite good, yet expensive. Cheers!
Why spend money on 'okay' though? I think that's a waste of money.
@@welshtoro3256 to be reminded about how good whisky tastes. Its important not to lose the sense of the entire spectrum of quality. Cheers!
@@davidelourenco2537 I learned about the bottom end a long time ago. I don't go there any more.
Have you had the powers Irish rye. It is great value for £34
Never had Powers Rye. I'll keep an eye out. Cheers 🥃
Excellent review !
I tasted it and it was awful to me the acetone taste and nose.
Although, I love the Stout Edition ! which price is not so different than the basic Jameson in France.
More expensive than both, I tasted the black barrel that is amazing for me.
I would to taste another Jameson like Crested, Triple Triple and of course the black barrel proof (but it's expensive...)
Stout Edition and Black Barrel are lovely and leagues ahead of the standard NAS. Reviews coming soon! Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock Looking forward to seeing them !
I've been enjoying my 750ml bottle.
That free 50 ml makes all the difference 😉
@@WhiskyLock Yes!
As I grew into a better connoisseur of whiskey, watching yours and some other whisky channels (Ralfy, Gwhisky, First Phil Whiskey,...), I usually only buy whiskeys non-chill filtered, without colouring and with an alcohol content above 48 ABV. These are whiskeys for me and my friends. But, Jamesons whiskey is for my wife, for the neighbors and for those who find my other whiskeys too strong.
Never got along with Irish whiskey, especially the lower end. I am sure it is fine for mixing however. A few quid more gets age stated scotch single malt.
The narrow price difference between mediocre Irish and decent Scotch is a problem for Irish Whiskey indeed.
👍🥃☺️
I always used to have a couple of bottles of Irish on the go but the problem is the price/quality. 95% of all Irish whisky is made at 40% and it's not craft. The good stuff is too expensive compared to quality Scotch. I last had a glass of Jamesons in a pub in Wales when there was hardly any choice. It just doesn't have anything going for it if you like flavour. It might be cheap but I think it's a waste of money.
Middleton took over so much of it
Exactly that. If you look very hard you can find some quality Irish. But it's VERY difficult to find good value. Which makes it tough to argue for Irish over Scotch or even other World Whisky other than a few acceptable ultra budget offerings.
@@WhiskyLock Absolutely; and those budget options do nothing to sell the greater Irish whisky profile. They're just budget whisky like any budget whisky.
im not a fan of jameson across all there ranges, i find it very harsh!
It's a municipal workers whiskey, pretty terrible stuff built for shots. Any el cheapo bourbon has more character and would be preferable to a skilled drinker who wants to take it slow ✌️
Agree Christopher.
@@welshtoro3256 I figure you would Mr. Toro ✌️
It's a shame because I do believe it used to be better than this. At least its not quite as bad as Proper 12...
@@WhiskyLock 💯
Your Jamesons was my Monkey Shoulder. Not a fan of Jamesons either tbh ( ive just never connected)).
I probably moved onto Monkey Shoulder and had a similar experience after I gave up with Jamesons. In hind sight we should've all stocked up in the glory days!
@@WhiskyLock Tbh Shane, I've gone off a lot scotches, Irish & Bourbons at present. Really enjoying Aussie whisky atm ( my home land) , so different & mostly cask strength with a lot more flavour, never ncf or coloured. I wish you could get it ( & I'm not referring to the Starwards, Archie Roses or Larks & Sullivans Cove) i'm talking craft stuff. Hopefully one day.....
That's really great to hear. A key benefit of craft world whisky does seem to be better presentations and distilleries just trying harder than the mass produced stuff coming out of Scotland Ireland and US. I hope to find some quality AUS whisky soon 🥃