Jameson Crested Ten

This past year (2018) I had lots and lots of plans. Finish my accounting schooling, find a new job in a new career space, figure out where baby racoons come from, and review enough Irish Whiskey to finally hit 100 total reviews.

I’m happy to say I got most of that done, and I now have my rabies vaccine! As for posting them, I may have gotten behind what with learning derivatives and listening to the unholy sounds of trash pandas fucking. So I’m posting them now! Yay!

Jameson Crested Ten was launched in 1963, making it Jameson’s oldest still made whiskey (not as in the oldest whiskey). And if you think the whole NAS thing is a new thing, well I have news for you: This isn’t 10-years-old. It’s mostly 7-8 years, with more of this being made up of pot still than grain than the standard Jameson.

Oh, and you don’t see it outside of Ireland, which is where I bought my tiny little bottle. But how does it taste? Let’s see, shall we?

Price: N/A at the LCBO

Region: Ireland

Abv: 40%

Colour: 5Y 7/8

Nose: Green apple, brown sugar, pastry dough, grassy

Yup, smells like Irish whiskey. Acidic fruit, brown sugar, and raw dough, with some grassiness going on. Very standard. I’d even go so far to say that this is stronger than regular Jameson, but follows the same tracks laid down.

Taste: Peach, cloves, grapefruit, butterscotch

Nice mixture of fruit. Granted it’s still hurt by the lower abv., so regardless of the malt mix I’m left straining for the flavours.

Acidic, spicy, very standard, and sweet. Balanced, easy to sip.

Finish: Brown sugar, lime rind, orange, cereal

With a finish of fruit, acidity, brown sugar, repetition, repetition, and some cereal that’s less harsh than it would normally be.

Conclusion: It’s Jameson. I’m neither going to celebrate this nor dog it. It is very much Jameson changing the ingredients yet making something that most people, myself included, won’t mind over the original just slightly.

Yes, this is easy drinking. Yes, it’s easier to drink than regular Jameson. But that’s about it. Great alternative if you’re an Original fan and want to see how the blenders play with things.

Or if you’re an acidic, brown sugar, and cereal fan.

73/100

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