Jamesons Bow Street

On my actual birthday it was a treat was a visit to Jamesons Whiskey Bow Street in Dublin. We didn't know much or really like whisky until we visited Scotland and although I have enjoyed a James whiskey I didn't really know much about it.

I didn't realise until our visit is that Jameson Whiskey is actually made at Midleton Distillery in Co. Cork. So what is Bow Street in Dublin?

Bow Street was the original distillery started in 1780 by John Jameson. It was a complete industry including all trades needed in the whiskey production; cooperage, saw mills, engineers, carpenters, smithy were all needed as well as brewers and distillers. 

The barrel men were key to keeping the industry working and in the late 1920s became the symbol of Jameson. Since then there has always been a barrelman embossed on the bottom of each bottle.

Bow Street is now an amazing space that celebrates, informs and shares the love of whiskey. The bar is a huge space with fantastic beams and stone floors, the bottle chandeliers were amazing.

Although not a working distillery Bow Street is a superb experience, very informative led by our knowledgeable guide. Starting with the choice of two cocktails or a neat dram we discovered about how Jameson started, the hard work, the struggles during the famine and how the company survived to become an icon of Irish Whiskey.

The darkened whiskey room was very stylish with displays set up for everyone to have a dedicated learning table. As our guide explained how whiskey is made each section lit up highlighting the ingredients or process. It was a very inclusive way of explaining quite a complex process.

Our final room was the tasting room where each place was set with three whiskey drams. Our guide explained how each whiskey was different and how that is achieved using varying barrels and conditions.

What a superb experience, even if it wasn't in a working distillery. With plenty of time before our dinner reservation we settled into comfy seats in the bar, why wouldn't you!

I really enjoy a Guinness and stout beers and Hubby likes IPA so we chose whiskeys made using those barrels.

Jameson Stout Edition is triple distilled and finished in stout beer barrels giving a nose of fields and apples followed by flavours of orchard fruits with a hint of nutty chocolate on the lovely long finish.

Jameson IPA Edition is also triple distilled and finished in beer barrels but this time using Irish Pale Ale barrels to give a happy finish to the whiskey. There's plenty of citrus, a hint of heroines and a slight woody finish.

We enjoyed both whiskeys but didn't buy either in the Jameson store, simply because they are cheaper here in the UK, maybe the Bow Street prices are good for the American visitors who might not be able to buy at home. We will be buying both these whiskeys once there is space in our drinks cabinet!

A great afternoon on my special day and what better way to finish our experience than an Irish Coffee. I'm a huge coffee fan and really enjoy a well made hot coffee cocktail. This one was pure indulgence made with whiskey, chocolate liqueur, house-made stout liqueur, coffee and smooth cream ... the best Irish Coffee ever.

Thank you Hubby and Jameson Bow Street for a super whiskey experience on my 60th birthday, one to remember ... Sláinte !

Searson's Whiskey Bar

We had great fun in Dublin learning a bit more about Irish whiskeys and no more so than at Searson's, a beautiful whiskey bar just steps away from our hotel.

We called in on our first evening in Dublin, unfortunately we didn't have the chance to visit again but it is high on my revisit list if we ever return to the city.

Everyone was so welcoming, our saying we were interested in trying the whiskey was immediately met with seats at the bar in front of the very impressive whiskey bar. There was so much to see, I loved the small Snug and stills up high on the shelves whoses names matched the whiskey flights.

The bar staff knew all about each whiskey and after much deliberation as there was so much choice we decided on Lisa's Flight: Knappogue Castle, Writers Tears and W. D. O'C°nnell Bill Phil

The Whiskey Menu book was a little overwhelming with so so many choices of varying prices, some very expensive. I was very very honoured when the bar man gave me the huge whiskey bible to read, so much to learn as there are many many more Irish whiskeys than we see on our UK shelves.

Focusing on our Lisa's Flight we studied each whiskey, looking at where it was from as well as it's taste and flavours. It was so so interesting and surprising at how they differed yet had similarities too. 

Knappogue Castle 12 year old - triple distilled in pot stills and aged in bourbon oak for 12 years, 

Writers Tears Cask Strength - 53%alc from bottle 0701 of 2500, maturation in bourbon oak casks from single pot stills gives pear, apple flavours with honey and spice notes

W.D. O'Connell Bill Phil - limited production from County Waterford and County Louth, lightly smokey with citrus and malted biscuit flavours

It was great fun trying such different and new whiskeys, I found the cask strength too strong and surprisingly liked the smokey whiskey best. We studied the whiskey menu a little more and decided to try whiskey that we would maybe bring home, it's super to try expensive whiskey but we would probably never buy them to drink. 

Hubby chose Powers Gold Label made by Midleton Distillery, the same whiskey group as Jameson. Midleton Distillery seemed similar to Macallan with the Searson's bar having Midleton whiskey of each year on their very top shelf. 

I chose Paddy, again made by Midleton Distillery. I really enjoyed this and so we did bring a bottle of Paddy home.

We had a great time at Searson's Whiskey Bar, as I said we wish we had had time to visit again. There's something comforting and quite relaxing about drinking whiskey in a wood lined bar looking at rows and rows of great bottles of the amber liquid, it is certainly a sit back and enjoy spirit ... and we do!

Whisky tasting in Birmingham

We took a trip to Birmingham for a whisky tasting, a Christmas gift from our son and his girlfriend. As usual the train journey was not great, thankfully just under 30 minutes but standing all the way.

Our tasting was at Grain and Glass who are located in the Jewellery Quarter. Managing to negotiate the lively crowds and parades for Birmingham Pride (we didn't realise the date clash) we walked uphill out of the city centre. 

Needing refreshment, and having plenty of time we enjoyed a beer outside The Jewellers Arms. My Staropramen half pint glass was so cute, not the usual comments for a beer glass but it was. Hubby enjoyed his pint of Black Country Ale.

Needing a bit to eat before our tasting we headed inside The Jewellers Arms where we enjoyed the nicest cheesiest batch I've had in ages. I should really say cheese cob as we were in Birmingham. Whilst we were sitting in the pub Hubby realised he'd been there years ago for a work lunch when visiting a small engineering factory, small world isn't it.

Arriving with plenty of time we settled down in the Grain and Glass with a glass of bubbly, a bag of my favourite Brown Bag Crisps and a wee dram of Antiquary 15 year old (a whisky I rarely see in a bar, I'm on the hunt for Antiquary 12 year old after discovering it in Ayr last year).

The tasting room was very inviting with a large table laid ready with six whisky tastings poured each. The room was light and airy with a relaxing blue and copper colour scheme, I really liked the whisky themed glass panel.

 

Our first tasting was a bourbon, Michter's US*1 Small Batch Bourbon. At 45.7% ABV it was quite a strong drink and not having tasted Bourbon neat before it took a second sip to appreciate the flavours. As expected with bourbon there was a slight sweetness, caramel, but I didn't expect the herby edge.

I enjoyed it but it didn't pull me in and I'm not convinced I like bourbon without a mixer.

Our second tasting and first whiskey was from Ireland, Drumshanbo Single Pot Still. Irish pot still whiskey is made using malted and unmalted barley and can use other grains. I really liked this whiskey with its creamy vanilla nose and rich fruitcake flavours. The whiskey really developed in the mouth revealing chocolate notes and a hint of orange zest.

Moving closer to home our next whisky came from England, White Pesk Wire Works Alter Ego. At 51.5% ABV this was too strong for me, not just in alcohol but it had a strong tropical nose and quite heavy flavours of toasted oats and citrus. It was the only whisky I didn't finish and which gave me heart burn

A completely new experience came with whisky number 4, China Distiller's Reserve from Japan. This was very smooth with plenty of honey flavours leaving an orangey finish. Made by the distillers who make Roku gin this whisky was enjoyed by everyone at the tasting.

Our last two drams were from Scotland and although I still have many whiskies to try ftom many countries I really do like Scottish whisky with Speyside one of my favourite areas. On a holiday a few years ago we stayed in Dufftown and visited Glenfiddich distillery which is the sister distillery of Balvenie, our 5th tasting.

The Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask was delicious, there was certainly a richness from the rum cask with dark sugar flavours. It reminded me of a well spiced apple crumble, in fact that would be a great pairing.

All through the tasting I was apprehensive for the final whisky. I'm not a fan of peated whisky and have tried Laphroaig 10 before, not liking it. I find it hard to get past the Germoline smell and initial medicine taste but our host encouraged us to try a little sip and fully coat our mouths and then take another sip. I won't say I'm a convert but it certainly softened out and the off putting medicinal flavours began to disappear.

We really enjoyed our tasting, it was great to discover new whiskies and to learn more about the World of Whisky.

Thanks to our son & girlfriend for a super gift and thanks to Grain & Glass for a great tasting.

Dram Fest 2023

A few weeks ago we travelled to Leicester with a group of friends to indulge in an evening of whisky. Dram Fest, hosted by Cask 23, returned after a few years break ... and what a fest it was.

With two rooms of whisky brands it was difficult to decide where to begin but a favourite drew us in. We all enjoy Old Pulteney and have fond memories of enjoying a dram or two on holiday in Scotland.

 

Tomatin is another favourite, it was great to try their 18 year old sherry cask. It was full of dried fruit flavours, quite a treat as it's slightly higher priced than our usual buys.

At a slightly higher price was Benromach 21 year old, not quite my style but very smooth. It was interesting to compare two Benromach whiskies, the same spirit but one was casked in an air dried barrel, the other in a kiln dried barrel. The difference was quite surprising with a split liking in our group. It clearly evidenced the importance and influence of the choice of barrelling.

I was very interested to discover about Filey Bay whisky, an English whisky from Yorkshire. All the ingredients are grown on their farm or sourced locally. With grain prices going down a number of years ago they began brewing beer, very successfully. From there they decided to distill whisky, it was lovely and a place on my to visit list next time we're in Yorkshire.

As well as whisky there was also bourbon and rum, I only tried the Elijah Craig which began in 1789. I did however taste my way through the three Tequilas - straight from distilling, aged between 3 months and a year, and aged over a year. The latter was one of only nine bottles in the UK and it was absolutely amazing.

It was a great evening, a little disappointing that my favourite Dalmore were not exhibiting. Everyone's favourite was from Glenmore. There three Whisky Row's had something for everyone's taste: rich and spicy, smooth and sweet or smoke and peaty.

But their Rare Finds Glenallachie 14 year old was the absolute star of the show, even if we struggled to pronounce it, and that was before  wee dram.

A super way to spend a Saturday: a dram (or more) of whisky shared with friends ... Slàinte Mhath