On February 22 The Wine & Cheese Place in Clayton (MO) hosted an open tasting of Irish whiskey. That is to say that this was not a formal presentation. Representatives from both the store and Jameson were on hand to dole out the drams and discuss the products. Richard (RCWS member #8) and I attended. The following is a list of their offerings and our tasting notes:
Jameson 18 yr old ($79) – This one was aged in sherry casks and finished in bourbon casks. Generally you find just the opposite. It had a medium golden color and a very even, simple taste.
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve ($210) – The nose on this was warm and the taste, as well as the follow through, was as smooth as any I have ever tried. The only drawback was that it lacked the complexity you would expect from a super-premium whiskey.
Midelton Very Rare Irish Whiskey ($115) – By far the best of the lot. It had a deep, golden color and a great taste of caramel. And the finish had just a little hint of a bite that lets you know you are drinking whiskey.
Paddys Irish ($28-Ltr) – This one came in a liter bottle* rather than the 750 ml we are accustomed to. This whiskey has a basic “whiskey taste” and a little more bite than I would like. There is not a lot of flavor but is priced about right.
Redbreast 12 yr old ($40) – The nose is filled with spices. It is a good example of Irish Whiskey, which I have always felt falls right between bourbon and scotch. It has the deep, rich flavor of a good scotch and the sweetness of a bourbon or a Tennessee whiskey.
Jameson 12 yr old ($31) – We did not try this, opting instead to go after as much Midleton as possible (Duh).
*Actually, The Wine & Cheese Place is going to start carrying the liter bottles of products when the liter price is cheaper per ounce than the 750 ml price.