🥃 Jameson
Blended Irish whiskey brand with a history from 1780, made in Midleton, County Cork, by Irish Distillers (Pernod Ricard). Original is a blend of pot still and grain whiskey, 40% ABV (80 proof), no age statement.
Jameson is one of the best-known names in Irish whiskey, and it is a blend, not a single malt. It is 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 (80 proof) 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) |
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 Jameson a single malt whiskey?
No. The Original is a blend of pot still and grain Irish whiskey. A single malt comes from one distillery and malted barley alone.
What does “Irish Whiskey” on an Irish or UK bottle guarantee?
It is a protected geographical indication: distilled and aged on the island of Ireland for at least three years, at 40% ABV or more.
How is the strength shown on a US bottle?
In ABV and often in proof; the Original at 40% ABV is 80 proof.
How is it usually drunk in Ireland and the UK?
Neat, over ice or in cocktails; a rocks glass or a tulip-shaped whiskey glass suits it.
Where is it made now?
In Midleton, County Cork. The Dublin distillery on Bow Street, where the story begins, is now a visitor attraction.
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 vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🍷 Sherry — Protected wine from the Jerez de la Frontera area of Andalusia, aged in oak casks in the solera system; 14 to 22 % alcohol.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
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.
What it includes
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)