Caskmates Series is the result of a collaboration with our neighbours at Eight D Brewing. They borrow our casks to age their fine Irish stout and we then finish our signature whiskey in these stout seasoned oak barrels. The result? The classic smoothness of Jameson with notes of coffee, chocolate and butterscotch. “ Currently, Midleton Distillery produces Jameson, Tullamore Dew, Powers, Paddy, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, Green Spot, and Yellow Spot. Jameson & Son Jameson Caskmates Stout Finish has blown me away. I can’t believe how much the addition of the stout casks have enhanced and enriched the typical Jameson Irish Whiskey. I know it’s a common theme from me this month to talk about non-chill filtering and higher proof, but I can’t help thinking this would go from a good whiskey to an excellent whiskey if it was at least 92 proof and non-chill filtered – I truly think it would soar.

In the world of wine, beer, and spirits, there are two things that Dublin is primarily known for: Jameson Irish Whisky and dark beer. (Specifically a dark beer produced by a competing spirits company which we won’t name, but you can probably guess). Which makes a collaboration between Jameson and a local craft stout beer distillery a no brainer, and the Jameson Caskmates Stout edition is the result. Regular Jameson is a perfectly serviceable whiskey. Being an Irish whisky, it’s made with a combination of malted and un-malted barley. This yields, generally, a lighter whisky with flavors of citrus, vanilla, caramel, sweet grass, even some baking chocolate. A stout beer tends to often have a similar flavor profile, albeit on the darker end of the spectrum, showing things like a coffee bean, licorice, dark chocolate, and more. Palate: Orchard fruits, great mouthfeel but the vanilla cream is less prominent, it's more fragrant (hoppy?) and floral on the palate with a touch of bitterness. Nose: There's still cut grass and some fruit alongside delicious oily pot still character, but things are different here too. Is it sweeter? A different sweetness perhaps, more wood spice plus chocolate liqueur. A shift of emphasis. Aromas of coffee, malt, cocoa, candied citrus, toffee and a rye like spice accompanied by light notes of honey, dried fruit, oatmeal-like grain and brown sugar. All-in-all a nice nose indeed.Christian: I love stout beers, they are my go to in all seasons that are not summer. As such, I was really excited to try this one when I first saw it on the shelf. Jameson Stout Edition would also be my first introduction into Irish Whiskey. Damn, did I like it! Reminds me of a decadent dessert in a glass. Caramel syrup, honey, chocolate syrup, and coffee. Great flavor combinations that brought happy memories of ice cream sundaes minus the ice cream. Personally, I felt like adding water to this pour took away from its profile and would much rather enjoy it neat. It is so smooth and approachable without a cube or added water. Bottom line: I would buy this again and again for my home bar. Excellent neat pour and fun to share and experience with good friends. The original Bow Street distillery was renovated in 2016 and now serves as a tourist attraction designed to increase interest in Irish whiskey tastings. Product Hot chocolate season is upon us, and that means marshmallows. Soft and pillowy, bouncy and sweet, tender, chewy marshmallows. Maybe it's just us, but even with the summertime s'more craze, winter seems to be the true marshmallow season. There's just something delightfully wintery about a marshmallow's pure white sweetness, perfectly complimenting so many warm and cozy treats.

Now, though there are not many recipes that are specifically using Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition, the whiskies in all of these recipes can be switched out for the Stout Edition for even further depth of flavor. Well-trod quibble aside, this is indeed a good whiskey. It’s fun to drink and carries a compliment of unique and interesting flavors layered on top of the typical Jameson fare. It’s a dark breath of fresh air in a category that’s seen relatively little innovation and I can’t wait for the next release in this series! Thirty-One Whiskey is a blog devoted to the appreciation of good whiskey, fine cigars, and the value of a hard day’s work in the wood shop. The Balsa Wood brings strong flavors with distinct ingredients. It starts by making a balsamic syrup with balsamic vinegar and demerara sugar. Then to a glass with ice cubes, add your Jameson Stout Edition, balsamic syrup, a couple of dashes of orange bitters, and orange zest. Christian: A nosing of this whiskey in the bottle has a pronounced aroma of stout beer. Once in the Glencairn glass, the whiskey really becomes sweet, aromatic, and buttery. Heavy caramel syrup and clove honey are present. A deeper inhale brings on chocolate syrup and light vanilla extract. Water tones down the notes of chocolate and bring forward more caramel syrup and butterscotch.

The standard Jameson whiskey starts with a blend of malted and un-malted Irish barley that is sourced from within fifty miles of the distillery. The grains are dried using natural gas kilns (unlike the peat fired kilns used in Scotland), fermented, and then distilled three times in batches within their small pot stills.

In 1786, Jameson would be invited to move to Dublin, Ireland and manage the operation of Stein’s Distillery, as a favor to the Haig family. He would later go on to manage the distillery for 19 years before taking ownership of the operation in 1805. John Jameson and his son, John Jameson II, would lead the successful business into a new era in 1810 by renaming it the John Jameson and Son Distillery. Notes of hazelnut, cinnamon, citrus, roasted malt, cocoa, spice, honey waltz on through followed by lighter notes of fruit, brown sugar and coffee with cream. Amazing what cask finishes can bring out; I’m floored this is an 80 proof chill-filtered whiskey. The Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition is very much worth trying out. As we head into cooler days and longer nights, this style of spirit is all the more appealing. And at its current price point, it’s easily one of the best of the bunch. It is often asked how Irish whiskey differs from bourbon? Outside of the obvious, which is that it is not made in the United States, Irish whiskey has several differences. To be deemed Irish whiskey, the distillation and aging of the whiskey must occur in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Irish whiskey must be distilled using a yeast-fermented mash of cereal grains and can be no higher than 94.8% alcohol by volume. Irish whiskey must be aged for a minimum of three years in wooden casks no larger than 700 liters (185 US gallons). Labeling must clearly state that the whiskey is blended, if done so for bottling ( Source: Angels Envy).In this case, the stout beer flavors remained strong and present despite the addition of a bit of ice and water. They still make themselves easily known, but there’s a little more of a bite on that dark chocolate flavor than before. It could use a bit of sweetening up if I’m honest.

Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition is a remix of the original triple-distilled Jameson Irish whiskey. So what makes it the Stout Edition? That rich complexity carries over in the taste, where it’s like I just had a gulp of a dark beer and then took a shot of Jameson. There’s the rich dark chocolatey tones of the stout beer and some pleasant malty flavors coming into the mix, and interacting quite well actually with the bright cheerfulness of the Jameson whiskey. It’s just the right balance to make for a deliciously drinkable spirit all by its own. On Ice Jameson Caskmates is an intriguing release. Having sent some of their casks to the local craft stout brewers at Franciscan Well, the casks were returned to Midleton where they were subsequently used to give a stout finish to Jameson! The Midleton Distillery, as it is known today, was established in 1975. The distillery was the result of a 1966 merger between John Jameson & Son, The Cork Distillery Company and John Power & Son Distillery. This group of distillers would later become known as the Irish Distillers Group. In an effort to create a strategic advantage, the three distilleries agreed to close all of their current distilleries and move into the New Midleton Distillery, which was next door to the home of Jameson & Son’s Old Midleton Distillery. In 1988, the Irish Distiller Group would be taken over by French spirits conglomerate Pernod Ricard ( Source).A swapping of whiskey and beer barrels soon after, resulted in Jameson Stout Edition - triple-distilled, blended Irish Whiskey that has been patiently finished in Irish craft beer-seasoned barrels. Mike: Very smooth finish that is medium to short.There is no burn, just a soothing warmness as it passes down the throat with a residual light roast coffee undertone left in the mouth. Mike: This is an easy drinking whiskey.A very simple pour that is not overly complex, which is welcoming.At 80 proof, it is an effortless and refreshing sip.No flavors are overtly pronounced but it is not flavorless.If you visualize drinking bourbon neat as a beverage to warm you up on a cold winter night, this pour is a snap of late spring sunrise brightening your morning. Usually, with a bit of ice, the more delicate flavors tend to drop out of the race. And in those instances where the barrel finishing process has done the bulk of the work imparting flavors into the spirit, those barrel notes are usually the ones that get the axe.