Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve (40%, OB, 2017)

• Category: Blended Pot Still and Grain Irish Whiskey
• Origin: Midleton Distillery
• Bottling: Irish Distillers, Jameson
• ABV: 40%
• Cost: £84.95

What they say:

Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve

Matured for 18 years in hand-selected oak casks from Europe and America, this rare whiskey is finished in first-fill bourbon barrels. This rite of passage introduces subtle traces of vanilla to an exceptionally balanced, mellow whiskey with a lingering finale of wood, spice and toffee. An elder statesman of our portfolio, each bottle of this unique whiskey is individually numbered.

Nose:

Aromatic oils with a touch of wood and spicy toffee.

Taste:

Wonderfully mellow and smooth, a mouthful of complex flavour – fudge, toffee, spice, hints of wood and leather, vanilla and a gentle sherry nuttiness.

Finish:

A long, lingering finish carries the theme of the wood, spice and toffee right through to the end.

What I say:

The final dram in our Jamesons exploration is this rare & premium 18 Year Old Limited Reserve. Batch produced by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery and released in numbered bottles, thanks to Irish Distillers & Richmond Towers for the official sample.

Colour:

Dark copper/bronze (13/20), fine tears leave long fine legs

Nose:

Rich toffee, butterscotch and woody spices, polished antique wood, nutty walnut, cigar boxes, a stroll through an antiques store, some dried fruits like fig and date

Taste:

Rich and buttery, medium-bodied, this is redolent with toffee and butterscotch, fig, date, walnut (nut and wood), chestnut (again), oak wood, caramel, demerara sugar, hints of leather, slightly spiced with cinnamon and ginger

Finish:

Long, smooth, toffee and oak wood

Overall:

Thick and rich, this is well aged and very refined, a sipping whisky, a lovely sense of aged oak and deep well-developed flavours in this – not overly complex but than that is part of the beauty of it. I have read reviews from the highest praise to bemoaning money spent on this blend but sampling alongside the other Jameson expression reveals its true qualities and the mastery over the construction and presentation of this whiskey. I love it and in comparison to similar aged Scotch blends would happily suggest this is far better value for money!

Score: 89/100

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