Origin: Cork (Ireland)
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
Strength: 40%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: Yes
Added coloring: Yes
Owner: Pernod Ricard
Average price: € 50.00
Official website: www.jamesonwhiskey.com
Vote: 84/100
In the midst of a whirlwind of change for Midleton, with the divestment of well-known brands such as Tullamore D.E.W. and Paddy, even an established label like Jameson could not remain immune to the need for renewal that was already beginning to shake up the Irish whiskey world in 2016.
And so, in addition to a rethink in the design of the entire core range, that year saw the release of a series designed for the travel retail market, in litre format, which was intended to emphasise the characteristics of the famous blended, split into three versions, each focusing on a single element, under the name of Deconstructed Series.
Let’s start with the most overbearing and courageous one, as its name implies, in which in the classic Jameson recipe ample space has been given to the pot still component, thus bringing it closer to the “true” soul of Irish whiskey but always remaining at the minimum alcohol content, lest we become too bold.
Tasting notes
On the nose, cereal and herbaceous notes chase each other between the nostrils, infused in a mellow sweetness of pear, white peach, almond paste, propolis and a light but definite vein of nutmeg. The background is slightly metallic and mineral, at times traversed by an impression of muscovado sugar. The preponderance of pot still is crearly present, the nose is (indeed) full-bodied.
A nice (and unexpected) creaminess greets the palate, where fruit and cereals continue to go hand in hand, titillated by a rather jaunty piquant note, while the sweeter components tend to take a back seat, lashed by herbaceous notes that demolish any desire to dominate. In fact, it is a certain bitterness that prevails over length, pushing the herbaceous and sour soul to the podium.
The finish is not very long and angular, alternating a sweeter and fruitier part (with touches of honey) with a dry, sour and spicy one.
An experiment that may not be exactly successful, but certainly doesn’t leave you indifferent: despite the unfortunate minimum alcohol content, it manages to stand out with a biting and original personality, at times even pressing, certainly far from simple and accommodating. It deserves more than a taste.