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You are currently viewing the Whisky category or one of its subcategories. If you aren't clear as to what Whisky actually is, perhaps you should read a definition (Though you may want to brush up on your Scots before you do, in which case Whisky will be very helpful anyway). If you would like to see more reviews, I suggest you start here. I tend to grow excited and wax lyrical when I talk about Whisky (as you might have concluded yourself from the reviews below), so I will limit myself to saying that I believe it to be one of the most special and wonderful drinks in the world, and that I'm quite sure that, if there is indeed a God, Whisky must be the last thing he made before resting. Friday, January 20 2006
The first time I was introduced to Jameson was the first time I was ever introduced to Whisky. About three years ago now--- oh dear, how time flies--- I was suddenly possessed with the desire to try Whisky and discover for myself whether it was as good as the poets (and most especially my good friend Rabby Burns) claimed. With this purpose in mind, I set forth to the SAQ, being what the liquor stores are called in Montreal, and looked at the myriads of bottles with labels either more evocative or cheesier than the next. Being in an Irish mood, I asked, "Do you have any Irish Whisky?' Sure they did, they had, well, Jameson, which is what I bought. The choice of Whiskies in Montreal, as I was destined to find out subsequently, isn't the most impressive, particularly where Irish Whisky is concerned. In any case, it is difficult for me to crack open a bottle of Jameson without feeling a certain nostalgia seize me, and for me to remember how horrible a time I had, trying to mix the stuff with water or ice, figuring that was the way to drink it… Revisiting this Whisky today, I find it quite disappointing: its smell is very harsh, rendered only slightly more interesting by a certain meatiness. The taste is somewhat better, with a very slight hint of the Irish fruitiness in the nose and some flowers at the back of the tongue along with a little bit of malt and plenty of oak. The taste isn't so bad, but two points are sticky: the first is the harshness on the tongue, which keeps reminding you that this was most likely blended with plenty of grain spirits, and the sweetness at the end, somewhat reminiscent of caramel (could they be using a bit of sugar for colouring?), which lingers a little too long for comfort. This said, it isn't as horrible as all that: I myself have enjoyed several bottles of this and liked it quite a bit; it also has its place for mixes, I think, especially boiler makers. The problem with Jameson is that there are several good alternatives in the same price bracket--- Tullamore Dew, Powers, and most especially Paddy's, come to mind. If I could take a time jump and advise myself in matters of Whiskies, I certainly would direct myself to something a little lighter for a Well, Jameson can't be that bad, since it did not turn me away from Whiskies, but only made me more curious: I went from this to scotch and have never stopped since. So, if you offer me a dram of Jameson some time, don't expect me to turn it down, but expect me to go misty-eyed, perhaps, as I think back to that fateful day in my life when I became a Whisky-lover, and a shameless one at that. [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link |
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