The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Emma Briones
Rating: B+
Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old Cask Strength
(Credit: Richard Thomas)
In 2018, Jameson wanted to honor their old Bow Street Distillery, now a tourist destination, with their first cask strength release, and of their classic 18 Year Old expression at that. That special whiskey that returned this summer. Moreover, Jameson Bow Street 18 is the only Jameson expression that is finished in the Old Jameson Distillery in Bow Street (Dublin).
The whiskeys used to make the blend age for 18 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry barrels in the Midleton facilities in Cork. Billy Leighton, Midleton’s Master Blender, leads the marrying of both casks, that will later be re-casked in ex-bourbon, first-fill American oak barrels. For at least 6 months more, the spirit will continue to age in these barrels and in a completely different location: the small warehouse in the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin.This 2nd Bow Street batch has been bottled at 55.1% abv (110 proof), just a little bit lower than the first batch, and again without chill filtration. It comes in a beautiful bottle with 18 faces (as many as aged years) and boxed in an engraved wood box with a copper coin.
The Whiskey
Once in the the glass, the whiskey is gold. On the nose is quite intense and fruity. Pear and green apple fragrances are accompanied by banana, coconut and peach notes. There are also some raisins and plums and a citrus touch.It is quite spicy, with some cinnamon, pepper and ginger notes. Towards the end, a touch of vanilla and oak. If we add a bit of water, it becomes fresher, with mango and watermelon notes.
This strong, old Jameson has a nice body, and feels warm on the palate. It starts with apple and oak notes, like a touch of cider. It is followed by a dry & spicy touch, a little bit astringent. Like the first batch, it is a sweet and mellow whiskey, with vanilla, toffee and powdered sugar. When you add some water, you can discover a fruitier side that enhances peach and oak notes. There are some intense white pepper, ginger and clove notes.
The finish is medium, sweet and spicy. It has some intense cinnamon notes.Barrels and temperature are a curious thing.
Just some small changes from year to year can make a difference in a whiskey. Jameson Bow Street 18 2nd batch keeps the sherry and spicy notes from the first batch, though it is a fruitier whiskey. It is still complex and interesting whiskey, though. A couple of water drops help it to really explode on the palate. A nice dram if you have some money you want to spend.
The Price
Jameson Bow Street 18 (2019) will be available in Europe, USA and Asia on August 2019. It will be retailing at 240€.
