Jameson

This was the fancy stuff back in college. This and Crown Royal were the pinnacle of luxury when I was studying and supporting myself with a part-time shoe store gig. That was years ago, but I still have fond memories of Jameson. Let’s come back to it.

Nose: Pears, honey, vinegar, metal, barley, and a grainy scent that’s reminiscent of a Canadian whisky. All pretty high-pitched stuff. Maybe not the most enticing nose, but pleasant enough.

Palate: Mild arrival. This is dangerously smooth. Fruitier and sweeter than the nose suggested. Honey, lavender, apple cider, licorice, barley, grain, and some gentle baking spices.

Finish: Spices like nutmeg and cinnamon give a very gentle prickle. Red licorice, honey, apple cider, grain, and barley. There’s a soft oak note hiding just behind the barley. Very much a continuation of the palate. Short and easy.

It had been years since I’d tried Jameson. Usually I have to rethink my stance on a whisky after so much time has passed, but this is the same stuff it’s always been. But perhaps I do need to rethink my definition of luxury.

It’s not very interesting. But really there’s nothing here to criticize, either. There’s little in the way of richness or body, so it’s a bit boring for a whisky snob like myself. But they aren’t making this for the snobs, are they? Smooth and easy is just fine for most consumers.

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