Jameson Round (40%, OB, 2017)

• Category: Blended Pot Still and Grain Irish Whiskey
• Origin: Midleton Distillery
• Bottling: Irish Distillers, Jameson
• ABV: 40%
• Cost: £57.65

What they say:

Jameson Round

The Deconstructed Series is a stripped down study in taste, pulling apart and amplifying Jameson Original’s key characteristics — Pot Still Whiskey, Grain Whiskey and Cask Contribution. Jameson Bold is pot still perfection, Jameson Lively goes with the grain, and Jameson Round gives the barrel the final say. Taste exploration is at the core of this collection, giving Jameson fans the chance to divide and conquer.

Jameson Round gives the barrel the final say. With whiskey matured in a combination of virgin American oak barrels, bourbon barrels and sherry butts, this whiskey is like walking into one of our maturation warehouses. The result is a mellow, balanced mix of leather, dried fruits, ripe fruits and toasted oak emerging from the barrels. For a whiskey that lives up to its name, Jameson Round smoothes the edges.

Nose

A step inside one of our Maturation Warehouses. The combination of American and European Oak brings some robust notes of Leather, Pipe Tobacco and Walnuts. A little Vanilla sweetness shows through giving hints of Coffee Cake.

Taste

Everything in prefect harmony. Sweet Vanilla fuses with Soft Ripe Fruit and, together, combine with the rich Pot Still Spices. All this on a firm foundation of Toasted Oak.

Finish

Exceptionally long, as the richness fades to leave the last word with the Wood.

Introducing Jameson Round

With whiskey matured in a combination of virgin American oak barrels, bourbon barrels and sherry butts, this whiskey is like walking into one of our maturation warehouses. For a whiskey that lives up to its name, Jameson Round smoothes the edges.

What I say:

Originally produced for the Travel Retail market, Jameson Round is one of 3 whiskies that make up Jameson’s Deconstructed series, designed to highlight the differing influences that make up Jameson Original. Round explores the effect of the cask maturation of Jameson Whiskey, with flavours selected in the final blend to highlight the wood influence. Produced by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery, thanks to Irish Distillers & Richmond Towers for the official sample.

Colour:

Dark amber gold (10/20), medium tears leave long fine legs

Nose:

Sweet woody sugars, Demerara and honey, toffee, caramel, fudge, slightly spiced with cinnamon, vanilla, nutty; hazelnut, walnut & almond, dried fruit; raisin, fig and prune plus a little fresh apple, cinder toffee, Crunchie bar; milk chocolate coated, tobacco leaf & tannic leather

Taste:

Toffee apples, honey and cereal are short-lived before nutty hazelnut, almond and walnut are joined by dried fruits such as fig, date and raisin, slightly spiced with ginger and a touch of cinnamon, cigar boxes, vanilla fudge & highland toffee complete this full-bodied and mouth-coating palate

Finish:

Long, rich toffee, nut brittle, brown sugar and toasted oak wood

Overall:

Delicious, full bodied and richly flavoured with toffee, nut and oak wood, the Pot Still and Grain whiskey provides a little fruit and cereal to complement this mass of wood-derived flavour. Deep and complex yet smooth and refined.

Score: 87/100

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