Jameson Crested (40%, OB, 2016)

• Category: Blended Pot Still and Grain Irish Whiskey
• Origin: Midleton Distillery
• Bottling: Irish Distillers, Jameson
• ABV: 40%
• Cost: £27.83

What they say:

Jameson Crested

Back in the day it was common practise to sell whiskey to bonders by the cask and leave the bottling to them. In theory, this arrangement suited all parties. In practice, a handful of greedy bonders increased their margin by watering down our precious whiskey, and in doing so risked tarnishing Jameson’s long-standing reputation for quality

In 1963, we took full control from grain to glass, and Jameson Crested is a celebration of those first drops bottled in Bow Street. True to our mark of triple distilled smoothness, Jameson Crested – a vivid blend of Pot Still and grain whiskeys – stands tall with unmistakable sherry undertones and understated notes of fruit, spice, and chocolate. Putting your name to something implies confidence, but a family crest speaks volumes.

Triple Distilled, Crested for Quality

Nose

Vivid Sherry Pot Still Aroma

Taste

Delicate Sherry Undertones & Toasted Wood, With Fruit, Spice & Chocolate notes.

Finish

Warm lingering Sherry

What I say:

Produced by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery, this Jameson expression is reported to contain a high proportion of Pot Still Whiskey and a strong representation of sherry cask maturation in the final blend to make it worthy of being named after the Jameson family crest . Thanks to Irish Distillers & Richmond Towers for the official sample.

Colour:

Copper gold with a ruby hue (8/20), quick medium-fine tears leave long legs

Nose:

Rich sherry and oak wood, highland toffee, dark roast coffee, wood spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, quite dry, milk chocolate, hazelnut and walnut, slightly solventy, polished oak wood and cedar wood, hints of cigar boxes and tobacco leaf

Taste:

Incredibly smooth, rich toffee, woody oak and nutty walnut, dried fruits including red berries, damson, cherry and raisin, wood spices include cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise, milk chocolate and tanned leather complete the sherry influences

Finish:

Medium length, sweet dried fruits and toffee persist

Overall:

Leaning towards the Sherry-influenced maturation, this Jameson blend is well-balanced and has subtle hints of sherry balanced against a core of pot still Irish Whiskey, their is likely malt in there and definitely spice but it was hard to distinguish which were spirit and which were wood influences so well constructed as it is.

Score: 84/100