Jameson Blender’s Dog (43%, OB, 2016)

• Category: Blended Pot Still and Grain Irish Whiskey
• Origin: Midleton Distillery
• Bottling: Irish Distillers, Jameson
• ABV: 43%
• Cost: £49.73

What they say:

Jameson Blender’s Dog

The Whiskey Makers Series.

The secret behind our whiskey lies in the passion and dedication of our masterful craftsmen, our Head Distiller, Head Cooper and Head Blender. The Whiskey Makers Series celebrates them and their craft.

We’re not sure if our Head Blender, Billy Leighton, has a musical note in his head but harmony is his main pursuit. The Blender’s Dog is a whiskey that celebrates his craft the art of marrying whiskeys. A superbly balanced, complex whiskey, The Blender’s Dog is a perfect balance of spirit, wood, and time; delivering butterscotch sweetness with a prickle of spice and tannins. Making whiskey requires a fair deal of science, but blending is an art.

‘I wanted to create harmony and complexity, an infusion of flavour that perfectly fills your mouth and nose. My whiskey has a rich creamy mouth feel, with the sweetness of butterscotch, giving way to the prickle of spices and tannins’. – Billy Leighton, Head Blender.

Nose

From light citrus to pineapple, mango and kiwi notes, with the addition of figs and dates. A touch of walnut leads into the contribution of the seasoned American barrels and Spanish butts, vanilla and toasted oak.

Taste

A rich, round, creamy mouthfeel, with the sweetness of butterscotch, giving way to the prickle of the pot still spices. Succulent fruit brings the perfect balance as charred oak with some subtle tannin add to the complexity.

Finish

Exceptionally long, as the luscious fruit is slow to fade.

Introducing The Blender’s Dog

Our Head Blender Billy Leighton is the matchmaker who decides which barrels’ contents will complement each other. Learn more about The Blender’s Dog, a whiskey that celebrates his craft, the art of marrying whiskeys.

What I say:

Jameson Blender’s Dog is one of 3 whiskies that make up Jameson The Whiskey Makers Series, celebrating the craftsmen who are influential in making Jameson Irish Whiskey. Blender’s Dog explores the influence of Master Blender Billy Leighton and the craft of blending whisky. Produced by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery, thanks to Irish Distillers & Richmond Towers for the official sample.

Colour:

Refractive 18ct gold (8/20), quick medium-sized tears leave medium legs

Nose:

Fruity and spiced, orchard fruits; apple, pear and some citrus zest combine with light cereal and honey, more tropical fruit, melon and pineapple, some dried fig and date and a sprinkling of Demerara sugar precede nutty pecan or pecan pie and hints of maple syrup

Taste:

Creamy butterscotch and highland toffee, caramel sauce on vanilla ice cream topped with banana and apple, maple syrup, slightly tannic and leathery, oak wood deepens into woody sugars, treacle and milk chocolate covered cinder toffee

Finish:

Medium, sweet spiced fruits and tannins, more toffee and butterscotch

Overall:

Rich and full, toffee and butterscotch dominate but there is a bag full of fruits in this whiskey and a hint of cereal spices that entertain the palate too. Turned out to be our favourite from The Jameson Whiskey Makers series.

Score: 86/100

Read more about our blending masterclass with Billy here.

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