Jameson Black Barrel Review

I like Jameson. I buy it, I drink it, I mix with it, I share it with friends, but I can’t say that I’ve actually LOVED a bottle of Jameson… till now. The Jameson Black Barrel is fantastic stuff. It’s not quite as monumental as the Barry Crockett Legacy, but it’s working its way up there and as far as blended Irish whiskey goes it just might be my favorite, readily accessible, blend on the market.

Like the main Jameson releases, and as previously stated, the Black Barrel is a blend, but it’s comprised of a much higher amount of single pot still whiskey which is aged in re-charred bourbon barrels and uses a “rare small batch grain whiskey” for the blending. There’s no real way for me to verify that the grain whiskey used in this is any different than the regular grain whiskey they use, but the quantity of single pot still whiskey is easy enough to verify. Tasted next to the Jameson 12 year it’s very apparent that we’re dealing with a much greater quantity of SPS which makes for a richer tastier whiskey.

Jameson Black Barrel Review

ABV: 40%
Age: NAS
Price: $60*
Distiller: Midleton

EYE
Golden straw

NOSE
Grassy malt, caramel, butterscotch and a light fruit lazily make their way out of the glass followed by some nice lemony citrus and a touch of spice. There is a hint of wood and some coppery undertones from the single pot still. From the nose alone it’s easy to tell that there’s a good amount of single pot still in this whiskey.

PALATE
Caramel, toffee, malt and a pronounced fruit work their way across the palate. Some nice warm woody notes pick up and the spice from the nose morphs into being more cinnamon driven with a tiny bit of vanilla and lemony citrus. Like on the nose some coppery notes come through and it’s easy to taste that wonderful single pot still character.

FINISH
Big malty ending mixed with fruit and wood that goes on and on.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance with a full body and a soft creamy texture.

OVERALL
Wow I love this stuff, but then I’m a big Irish whiskey fan and anytime I get a good strong dose of that wonderful single pot still character it puts a big ole’ grin on my face. I can honestly say that I have finally found MY Jameson. The one that I’ll be stocking in my home bar. From the rich malty caramel nose to the creamy palate and malty finish it’s just plain delicious.

SCORE: 86/100

*Disclosure: This bottle of Jameson Black Barrel was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

More from The Whiskey Jug

Jameson Black Barrel Scoresheet & Review

Jameson Black Barrel is one of those expressions that underwent a slight rebranding pretty recently. What was formerly known as Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel has been simplified to the iteration most of us are bound to find on shelves today. Either way, it’s easy for a more casual drinker to look at this Jameson bottling as something more upscale, thanks to its namesake and presentation. But what actually separates Jameson Black Barrel from its standard, less pricey sibling? Well, let’s just say details are a bit on the scant side.

A quick trip to Jameson’s website merely discloses that this is triple distilled, twice charred, and makes use of bourbon barrels that have gone through an additional charring process “to reveal their untold richness and complexity.” Beyond that, we’re likely left to infer that it shares similar qualities to the standard Jameson bottling, namely it being a mix of pot still and grain whiskeys. How much of a difference does it end up making? Let’s see:

Nose: Soft and lightly buttery. Honey and shortbread with faint vanilla tingles. Still has that metallic essence regular Jameson exudes, but it’s significantly dialed down. Feels like it has more sherry personality. Hints of lemon cookie. Swirling brings out some dried fig or prune notes.

Palate: Soft and a touch buttery (like the nose). Even more buttery, fruit-like essence than regular Jameson which suggests more pot still and sherry cask influence. Buttery pancakes, fig, and apricot. Slightly metallic tannin note lasts for a few seconds on the mid-palate, blemishing an otherwise stellar pour.

Finish: Slight bitterness that gives way to the light maple and shortbread residuals. Surprisingly lengthy for the proof point.

This is quite nice. I’m all but certain there’s more pot still whiskey and sherry oak in the blend for these bottles, considering how softly sweet and borderline dessert-y it is. Where regular Jameson reminds me of a slightly herbal tea thanks to its obvious use of grain whiskey, Black Barrel seems to favor the pot still portion, resulting in a richer and far more enjoyable sipping experience. While the grain whiskey still plays a part, it’s toned down enough to be little more than a mild detractor unless you’re actively critiquing your pour.

Jameson Black Barrel is a classic example of simple but effective whiskey. Compared to more entry-level options like Bushmills, Tullamore Dew, and regular Jameson, it’s a considerable step up for a fairly minimal premium. Anyone whose exposure to Irish whiskey has been limited to said bottlings will definitely notice the difference while drinking this, and likely for the better. Meanwhile, those who are familiar with single pot still offerings the likes of Redbreast will appreciate how close this gets for a fraction of the cost. Consider me a fan.