The oldest Jameson whiskey to date has just been bottled for The Whisky Exchange: Jameson 23 Year Old. It is a follow-up to their previous 22 year-old expression.
This well-aged whiskey consists primarily of pot still spirit of all three styles from Midleton distillery: light, medium, and heavy. Ageing took place in a combination of first-fill and refill bourbon, as well as first-fill Oloroso sherry butts. All of these were brought together in 2018 and re-vatted into first-fill bourbon barrels.
Jameson 23 yo Small Batch (55,1%, OB for The Whisky Exchange 2024, cask #108882-10885)
Nose: a classic mature pot still profile, with vanilla, orchard fruits and light spice. Stewed pears and apples, with almond, shortbread and a little toffee. Then mild hints of pecans and subtle pepper, as well as milk chocolate and candied ginger in the background.
Mouth: now the initial impression is that of a very old Scottish grain whisky, bringing warm waves of vanilla, creamy notes, some raisins and cooked white fruits. Mid-palate spices come out – ginger, nutmeg and light tannins. Subtle bitter drops. Then the nuttiness returns, with walnuts and raw coffee beans. A slight pickle too.
Finish: medium length, on stone fruits, white pepper and a herbal edge.
A nice drop: some fruitiness, a spicy kick and a great balance. The sherry is a little less pronounced than I’d like, but it does allow the pot still character to stand out. Irish whiskey lovers should have this on their watch list. Exclusively available from The Whisky Exchange.