See what we’re up to!

Search
Close this search box.

See what we’re up to!

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Jameson: A Rich Irish History

Jameson Whiskey has been a popular Irish Whiskey for a long time. Learn about the who, what, where, when, and how of Jameson Irish Whiskey. We bet that the next time you’re enjoying this smooth Irish whiskey, you’ll appreciate it for more than its smooth taste.

Jameson’s Whiskey: A Long, Proud History in Ireland

In 1786 after stepping off a boat landing in Ireland, John Jameson, a Scotsman, became General Manager of The Steins Family Bow Street Distillery located on Bow Street in Dublin’s Smithfield area. The distillery opened for business in 1780, and by 1805 Jameson wholly owned and then expanded the distillery. In 1810, the whiskey’s name was changed to The John Jameson and Sons Irish Whiskey Company, or for short, Jameson’s Irish Whiskey.

Jameson’s, One of the Biggest Distilleries in the World, Falls on Hard Times

By the 19th century, Jameson’s became Ireland’s biggest distillery and one of the world’s largest. However, hard times fell on the distiller during the 20th century after Ireland’s independence from Britain was declared. Increased tariffs during the trade war with Britain made exporting to one of the distillery’s biggest markets costly. Additionally, Jameson’s largest market, America, was cut off because of prohibition. On the bright side, Scotland’s Whiskey boom surged because of low-cost exports to Canada, which opened the door to smuggling whiskey to America.

Four Factors That Make Irish Whiskey Different

Check out these factors that make Irish whiskey unique.

Its history. While confirmation is impossible, the story is that the distillation process was introduced to Ireland by St. Patrick. Additionally, around 1000 AD, after returning to Ireland from traveling the Mediterranean, monks acquired the knowledge of perfume distillation, and they brought it with them.

It’s popularly assumed that whiskey had its start during the middle ages, either in Ireland or Scotland and the first whiskey distillery allowed in the British Isles was Bushmills in 1608. And by the 1890s, Ireland had over 30 influential distilleries producing Irish whiskey.

The Way It’s Spelled. Near the end of the 19th century, convention dictated that Irish (and Americans) produced “whiskey” while the Scots (and Canadians) manufactured “whisky.” According to John Ayto, author of the Gluttons Dictionary, the spelling distinction was more market-driven than linguistic.

Additionally, whiskey is a derivative of the Irish word meaning “water of life.”

Aging, Alcohol Volume, Grain Mix, and Location. The standards for Irish whiskey are high.

Irish whiskey must:

  • Be aged for three years, at least.
  • Contain minimum alcohol by volume (ABV) of 40%.
  • Grain must be 50% barley, at least, with the remainder being wheat, rye, or regular barley.
  • Must be distilled and aged on the Isle of Ireland, as per the Whiskey Conservancy.

The Specialized Production Process of Irish Whiskey. Here’s a highlighted overview of the extensive process of distilling Irish whiskey.

  • Malting and Fermentation.
  • Washing and Distillation.
  • Aroma (perfume) created by storage barrels.

Also, before entering the barrels to age, Irish whiskey is distilled three times, while Scotch whiskey is distilled only twice before being barreled.

If you’re ready to try some Irish whiskey, consider one (or all) of these four types of Irish whiskeys:

  1. Single Malt Irish Whiskey
  2. Pot Still Irish Whiskey
  3. Grain Irish Whiskey
  4. Blended Irish Whiskey

10 Need to Try Irish Whiskey Cocktails

While the smoothness of Irish whiskey makes it perfect for sipping neat, don’t overlook it as the ideal whiskey for mixing a delicious drink.

Experience the versatility of Irish whiskey by trying these drinks.

  • McGlashan
  • Good Cork
  • Psycho Killer
  • Brotherhood
  • The Nose to Cocktail
  • Irish Blonde
  • Irish Coffee
  • Irish Old Fashioned
  • Dubliner
  • Emerald

You can get the recipes for these Irish Whiskey drinks and more by visiting this article: 20 Irish Whiskey Cocktails to Try Right Now.

Can’t wait to try them? Pre-order and pick up the ingredients from our store!

Sources:

https://www.whiskyflavour.com/blog/what-makes-irish-whiskey-different/

https://www.liquor.com/slideshows/irish-whiskey-cocktails/