Jameson Select Reserve

Nose: Cinnamon, vanilla (light), and stewed soft fruits - mainly pear, white peaches, some apricot, and sweet melon. Red apple and some real banana* are out there in a creamy base. Rich and soft pie crust. It's light and creamy, and lots of finesse.

Palate: Soft and light on entry. We get some sweet wood, and it's a good thing. The fruit stew and pears return, but there's more brown spice, which is also more prominent than it was on the nose. Cinnamon, cardamom, and all-spice: the spices of sweet baking, and it's no wonder because this is like a light and creamy apple and pear crumble, having almost just cooled off, with a dollop of rich whipped cream on it. Yeah, it's got a sort of delicious thing going on here.

Finish: A bit short, but thoroughly enjoyable. Mainly the wood, vanilla, and pear remain. Some spice remains, but it's very subdued. On the whole, the triple distillation lends a certain finesse, but also takes out some of the heft and length. B+ 87/88

*- Generally, I don't like banana flavors or aromas in my spirits because they are always closer to banana flavoring, that artificial creation that I can't stand and don't enjoy in any food stuff (ask about banana flavored milk). Here, though, it's soft and subtle ripe banana - not the artificial stuff - and it works so well.

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