January 2020 – Jameson, Midleton Distillery

For our January 2020 event, Waterford Whiskey Society were delighted to host our one year anniversary at Revolution Waterford. To celebrate with us and take us through the history and current distilling of the Jameson whiskey range, ambassadors Gerard Garland and John Ryan from the Midleton Distillery joined us. The line up was very impressive, ranging from Jameson form the 1970s, 80s, 90s and the newest in the collection.

Using our very own Waterford Whiskey Society glasses, first up was Jameson 15 YO whiskey from the 1970s. An old bottle of aged Jameson’s from the 1970s, this was produced at the Bow Street Distillery before the move to Midleton in 1975.

Next came Jameson 12 YO whiskey from the 1980s and Jameson Distillery Reserve 12 YO whiskey from the 1990s.

After that we tasted the Jameson Black Barrel Cask Strength whiskey, a single malt bottled at 60.2%, a special visitor’s centre bottle that is only available to buy at the old Bow Street Distillery in Dublin.

Next came the Jameson 18 YO 2019 edition 40%, a revamped version of the Jameson 18 Year Old. Unlike the old Limited Reserve his time there is no Port wood ageing and the components are aged in both ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks before being finished off in first fill ex-Bourbon barrels.

Jameson Bow Street 18 YO cask strength 55.3%.This is created using three distillates and is aged in both sherry and bourbon barrels before being sent to Bow St in Dublin for a final finishing of at least 6 months in fresh Bourbon barrels.

Ger surprised us with a Jameson component straight from the barrel at Midleton Distillery. That was delicious!

The favourite of the night seemed to be a draw between the Black Barrell cask strength and the 18 YO cask strength. A great night was had by all and we look forward to the exciting line up of events for the year to come.