Jameson 18 Year

Sampling something different for St. Patrick's Day: a side-by-side comparison of the 18-year-old and the 18 Bow Street Batch One. 18 Year Old Nose: Sweet fruit, wood, cherry, a bit too much ethanol, perhaps some citrus, and shaving soap. 18 Bow Street Nose: Rich vanilla and caramel, orchard fruit, soft oak, a hint of tropical fruit, butterscotch candy and/or butterscotch bread pudding. 18 Year Old Palate: Caramel, vanilla, sour cherry, baking spice, butterscotch, rounded tropical fruit flavors, peaches and cream, honey. The mouthfeel is a bit thin and watery. 18 Bow Street Palate: Fuller, rounder, richer - tropical fruit, sweet cereal malt, a much more pronounced spice profile, cinnamon, peaches and cream again, some earthiness, some herbs, a hint of pine, a bit of cherry cough syrup, and light coffee notes. 18 Year Old Finish: Smooth, mild, sweet, a touch of that shaving soap, vanilla cream, and floral notes. 18 Bow Street Finish: Long with oak, barrel spice, pot still spice, cinnamon, plenty of heat, cherry, lingering sweetness, a hint of copper, and some tannic bitterness. The connection between both is evident - they are both Jameson. However, would I have identified that blind? Maybe is the best I can say; probably not if I weren't writing tasting notes that I could compare against before deciding. The 80-proof 18-year-old is (as expected) thinner and in some ways less appealing, but it also possesses more delicate notes that are overpowered in the 112-proof Bow Street. Most of the time, the more robust character of the Bow Street is likely preferable, but there are certainly occasions where the lighter proof and profile of the 18-year-old would be better. I have to wonder what a 90 or even 100-proof version of this would taste like. Pretty damn good, I suspect. Final verdict: since I somehow managed to pay less for the cask strength, it's the obvious winner here. Taking value for money out of the equation, it's a closer call, but the Bow Street is richer with a longer finish, more complexity, and a better mouthfeel. Bow Street is the clear winner 9 times out of 10. When comparing to other Irish whiskies of similar age, the unfortunate reality is that neither of these measures up to, for instance, Red Spot (I believe it has a 15-year age statement) or Redbreast 12 or 15. It's not the same category - this is a blend, those are single pot stills - but those cost less and taste better. Whatever the reason, that's how it is. Regarding proof, Blue Spot or Redbreast CS are both superior to the Bow Street. It's hard to justify the price of the Bow Street. It's interesting, the kind of bottle you don't regret purchasing and trying once, but likely won't revisit.

Nose: Sweet wood notes and subtle timber dominate, with toffee and vanilla following. No harshness detected, just a mild, appealing scent that seems refined and mature. Palate: Closely resembles the nose, featuring the same wood, toffee, and vanilla notes. The texture is soft and mature, providing a sweetness that feels natural and well-integrated. Finish: Sweet and mild from beginning to end. No sting, no harshness. The pleasant tastes linger gently, encouraging continued sipping. Overall: A perfected rendition of standard Jameson in both aroma and taste. While it doesn't introduce new dimensions or evolving intricacy, its consistent enjoyment is notable. The more you partake, the better it becomes. I typically dislike regular Jameson, but this one is an effortless and dependable favorite. I would certainly buy it again.

If I were to smell this without knowing what it was, I wouldn't guess Irish whiskey; I'd lean towards a young American whiskey experimental bottling. However, on the palate, it reveals itself as a U.S. whiskey pretender, with malt and grain flavors emerging after some searching, topped with a nutty dusting. The finish lasts about 15 seconds for me, which is shorter than I prefer, but it does include some mint and saltwater taffy. In summary, it was pleasant… but not worth $150.

This is the most intricate Jameson I've ever sampled. The nose offers notes of wood, spice, and toffee, but what truly stands out is the aroma of very sweet, ripe yellow apples and pears. The mouthfeel is equally complex, presenting an oily texture with notes of toffee, spice, nutty fruit juice, wood, vanilla, and a hint of salt. The finish is remarkable, with flavors of wood, spice, ripe fruit, and toffee. An outstanding pour, exceptionally well-crafted!

It begins aromatically with notes of grain, wood, sugared & dried fruits, florals, nuts, herbs & spices; a rich & elegant progression adds hints of Bourbon cookie, Turkish delight, rum-soaked raisins, caramel, honeycomb & Sherry; culminating in a balanced conclusion of moderate duration with notes of citrus peel, unaged barley, roasted wood, cocoa, leafy cilantro, ginger, new hide,

This lightly colored pour presents a honey and vanilla aroma with subtle oak on the edges. It's uncomplicated, just serene and welcoming. The palate continues with more honey and vanilla, reminiscent of sugar cookies, a touch of caramel, and mellow toasted oak. It's dangerously easy to drink considering the price! I'm happy to enjoy this occasionally as a treat; it's a superb example of a pot still whiskey!