🥃 Jameson
A blended Irish whiskey brand tracing its history to 1780; made in Midleton (County Cork); owned by Pernod Ricard; the standard bottling is 40% ABV.
Jameson is a blended Irish whiskey brand made by Irish Distillers, part of the French group Pernod Ricard. The brand's history is traced to a distillery on Bow Street in Dublin founded in 1780, but today all the whiskey is made in Midleton, County Cork. The standard bottling is 40% ABV and carries no age statement.
History. According to the sources, the Bow Street distillery was started in 1780 by John Stein of Kennetpans, while John Jameson, his relative by marriage, ran it from the 1780s and became its owner in 1805; sources differ on the details. In 1966 Jameson merged with Power and Cork Distilleries to form Irish Distillers. Production moved to Midleton in 1975 (some sources say 1976), and in 1988 Irish Distillers was acquired by Pernod Ricard.
How it is made. According to Difford's Guide, the whiskey is a blend of pot still and grain whiskey. The pot still whiskey is distilled three times from malted and unmalted barley, and the malt is dried in closed kilns, so it has no smoky taste. Grain whiskey is made from corn and barley in column stills. It is aged in ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks; according to the same source, the pot still component matures for 5–6 years in ex-bourbon casks.
Range. Besides Original there is Black Barrel (twice-charred casks), the Caskmates series with casks that previously held beer, and the Legends series.
Why this matters to you. "Irish Whiskey" is a protected geographical indication: the whiskey must be distilled and aged for at least 3 years on the island of Ireland, at 40% ABV or more. Jameson is a blend, not a single malt, even though the words "pot still" appear in the names of some versions. Look at the full name and the strength. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1780, Bow Street, Dublin; John Jameson owner from 1805 (details of the founder differ in the sources) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | "Irish Whiskey" geographical indication (Technical File; Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | barley (malted and unmalted), corn; water |
| Distillation method | pot still — three times, in copper stills; grain whiskey — column stills; Midleton |
| Cask type | ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in wooden casks under the GI rules; Original carries no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (Original) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Pernod Ricard
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Irish Grain Whiskey, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Blended Irish Whiskey
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Bushmills, 🥃 Bushmills, 🥃 Tullamore Dew, 🥃 Tullamore Dew, 🥃 Redbreast, 🥃 Bushmills Original, 🥃 Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve, 🥃 Tullamore Dew Original, 🥃 Paddy
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Jameson is a single malt whiskey?
No. Jameson Original is a blend of pot still and grain Irish whiskey. A single malt is whiskey from one distillery made only from malted barley, whereas this is a mixture of different types.
Where is Jameson made?
In Midleton, County Cork. The Dublin distillery on Bow Street, where the brand's history begins, closed long ago and is now a visitor attraction.
Who owns Jameson?
Irish Distillers, which has belonged to Pernod Ricard since 1988.
How many times is Jameson distilled?
The pot still component is distilled three times in copper stills; the grain whiskey is made in column stills.
What casks is Jameson aged in?
In ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. Some versions, such as Black Barrel or Caskmates, have additional cask features.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
Similar
🥃 Tullamore Dew · 🥃 Bushmills · 🥃 Powers · 🥃 Midleton Very Rare · 🥃 Cooley · 🥃 Redbreast
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Jameson Irish Whiskey (Midleton; pot still + grain; triple distilled pot still; bourbon and oloroso casks; 40 %; Pernod Ricard)
- The Whiskey Wash: Jameson Irish Whiskey, the complete guide (1780, Bow Street, move to Midleton 1975, triple distillation, range)
- Revenue (Ireland): Geographical Indication for Irish Whiskey and Irish Poteen/Poitin (GI verification, Tax and Duty Manual)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I, category 2 (whisky/whiskey)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)