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Jameson Distillery Bow St. Awarded “World’s Leading Distillery Tour” For The Third Year In A Row!

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Jameson Distillery Bow St.

Jameson Distillery Bow St. has been named the World’s Leading Distillery Tour at the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the third year in a row!

The awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence in global travel and tourism and the win further strengthens Bow St.’s position as a leader in tourism, globally.

Jameson Distillery Bow St. have been open for over two centuries

The 27th World Travel Awards Grand Final Ceremony took place virtually this year. The ceremony marks the final of the WTA Grand Tour 2020, an annual search for the finest travel and tourism organisations in the world, where the winners of WTA’s six regional ceremonies go head-to-head for the coveted world titles. Having been awarded Europe’s Leading Distillery Tour earlier this month, Jameson Distillery Bow St. competed against an impressive finalist list from around the world that included Macallan, Hennessy, Jack Daniels and Jose Cuervo.

We are extremely honoured to be awarded this very special accolade, which is voted for by travel and tourism professionals, and consumers worldwide. To win three years in a row is incredible and, given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the disruption that the travel and tourism industries have faced globally, this acknowledgement is particularly special this year.

The award honours and recognises our commitment to excellence at the spiritual home of Jameson and is an acknowledgement of the incredible work of our team at Bow St., who provide every visitor with an unforgettable and unique experience – in-person, and now, virtually. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued passion, dedication, hard-work and creativity, especially as we navigate these more difficult times together, as a team.
– Greg Hughes: Managing Director, Jameson Brand Homes at Irish Distillers

Congratulations to Jameson Distillery Bow St. on being named the World’s Leading Distillery Tour at the World Travel Awards, for the third year in a row. It is a truly well-deserved accolade and an acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of the team. In what has been an extremely difficult year for everyone working in travel and tourism, this is some really good news for Irish tourism.

Over the years, Jameson Distillery Bow St. has established itself as an important attraction on the itineraries of international visitors to Dublin. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the team there, in 2021 and beyond, to welcome many more overseas visitors when the time is right, coming to experience all that Jameson Distillery Bow St. and our great city of Dublin have to offer.
– Niall Gibbons: CEO of Tourism Ireland

Greg Hughes, Managing Director, Jameson Brand Homes at Irish Distillers and Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland.

The doors of Jameson Distillery Bow St. have been open for over two centuries, with millions of people crossing the threshold over the years. While in-person distillery tours are closed in line with Government recommendations, Bow St continues to welcome Jameson fans in new and unique ways.

This December, Government guidelines permitting, the home of Jameson will begin offering a range of interactive, fun and immersive virtual experiences from the comfort of home. From cocktail making classes to whiskey tastings perfect for teambuilding or Christmas parties, Jameson provides kits, know-how and of course, whiskey, to create a memorable at-home experience.

In addition, Jameson has a range of Christmas gifting ideas online and in store when retail reopens at Jameson Distillery Bow St, and Jameson Distillery Midleton, from the world’s best loved Irish whiskeys to personalised bottles, cocktail kits, hip flasks and glasses.

Jameson Products are also available to buy from these Merchants:-

Redbreast Whiskey Launches Limited Edition Bird Feeder With BirdLife International!

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The Redbreast Whiskey limited edition bird feeder !

Redbreast Irish Whiskey is today launching a limited-edition copper whiskey casing that neatly transforms into a beautiful bird feeder!

Following the launch of a partnership with BirdLife International earlier this year, €15 for every limited-edition Redbreast 12 Year Old purchased will be donated to support Redbreast’s and BirdLife International’s joint mission to keep common birds common.

Available to pre-order now!
Photo: Eoin Holland – www.eoinholland.com

Available from the Redbreast website for €60 (£50), the intricately designed shell sits around a bottle of Redbreast 12-Year-Old, the world’s bestselling and most awarded single pot still Irish whiskey. Once removed from the bottle, the casing can be filled with bird feed and hung in the garden to keep our feathery friends fed as the weather gets colder, protecting common species from becoming endangered. The bird feeder enables whiskey fans to sit back and enjoy a warming drink in the comfort of their own home while watching nature fly by.

After much anticipation, we are extremely excited to launch the beautifully crafted whiskey casing that has been specially designed to double up as a bird feeder. We worked closely with BirdLife International to ensure the bird feeder honours our mission of helping to protect not only Robins, but all common birds, as we move into the colder months and food begins to become scarce.

We are thrilled to provide this at no additional cost to Redbreast fans across the globe and simultaneously further support the work of BirdLife International by donating €15 for each limited edition bottle sold
– Laura Hanratty: Head of Prestige and Speciality Brands at Irish Distillers

With winter fast approaching and at least 40% of all bird species in decline, Redbreast and BirdLife International’s partnership aims to give whiskey lovers the tools they need to help take care of their local birds. The partnership will also raise vital funds to conserve and restore bird habitats and help encourage whiskey-lovers to monitor bird populations so that deeper environmental problems (and successes) can be rapidly identified.

Not only is the whiskey casing beautiful, it will also help support our feathered friends throughout the cold winter by providing them with a valuable source of food. Whether they’re garden birds or migratory birds passing through, all species will benefit from this, not just Robin Redbreasts.

This bird feeder will also spread awareness of the simple, yet important, things we can all do to help protect birds whilst also raising vital funds.
– Patricia Zurita: CEO, BirdLife International

40% of all bird species are in decline

BirdLife International is widely recognised as the world leader in bird conservation, with the charity and its 10 million members and supporters doing all they can to reverse the trend and protect birds. The charity has 100 BirdLife Partners worldwide that strive to conserve birds, habitats and global diversity, as well as working with people and organisations to promote the sustainable use of natural resources.

To find out more about the bird feeder and the partnership between Redbreast Irish Whiskey and BirdLife International, please visit redbreastwhiskey.com or birdlife.org.

The limited edition Redbreast 12 Year Old with copper bird feeder casing is available to pre-order now at the price of €60 (£50) and will ship in December.

About BirdLife International

BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation Partnership. Together we are 116 BirdLife Partners worldwide and growing, with almost 11 million supporters, 7,000 local conservation groups and 7,400 staff. BirdLife is widely recognised as the world leader in bird conservation, a United Nations-recognised civil society observer, and our unique local-to-global approach delivers high impact and long-term conservation for the benefit of nature and people. Find out more at www.birdlife.org   

Sampling ‘Blue Spot’ Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – If I Were You I’d Grab Your Spot!

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Blue Spot!

I was lucky enough to be invited to the online launch of Irish Distillers’ ‘Blue Spot’ Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey yesterday which has reunited the original Spot whiskey family for the first time since the 1960s!

Blue Spot is non-chill filtered & cask strength

The highly anticipated Blue Spot has been reimagined at cask strength, paying homage to the bonding tradition from which it was born and as part of the event launch via ‘Zoom’ I was sent an amazing set of ‘Spot’ Whiskey samples to try!

Blue Spot’s name was derived from the Mitchell’s practice of marking their maturing casks of whiskey with a mark or daub of coloured paint to determine the age potential of the whiskey.

Blue Spot was a 7 year old whiskey, Green Spot (10 year old), Yellow Spot (12 Year Old) and Red Spot (15 year old).

⬤ Blue Spot is a Limited Edition, non-chill filtered, cask strength release that will see ABV varying annually.
(This release has an ABV of 58.7%)
Cask strength releases are a bit unusual for Irish Distillers but the decision was based solely on taste and it was felt that a higher ABV was the best way to represent the dram.

It is now available at the RRP of €80 in Ireland, UK, France, Canada, Northern Ireland and Global Travel Retail, and in the USA from February 2021.

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – ‘Blue Spot’ Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (58.7%)


Nose: Lots of apple, closely followed by pear. Toffee makes an appearance coupled with refreshing tropical fruit flavours that come through a little later. Quite nutty as well.

Palate: Very smooth considering it’s formidable cask strength! Creamy toffee, chocolate and hints of tropical fruit. Cane sweetness tops it all off nicely.

Finish: Spicy, fiery pepper (that is reduced with the addition of water.) Well balanced by creamy toffee and fruit.

Overall: This dram is really lovely!

Very drinkable, even at cask strength and I certainly agree with the decision that cask strength presents this dram at it’s best!

It’s a limited edition so I doubt it’ll be available for long – so if I were you I’d grab your spot!

And the future?
I asked as there are still a few more colours left in the rainbow, would they broaden the range in the future? Orange spot? Indigo spot maybe?!
The answer:
“Well they would be new releases but you can never say never.”

So … watch this spot!

Many thanks to spotwhiskey.com (Instagram: @GreenSpotIrishWhiskey) for the invite & the chance to try such an amazing set of drams!
Slainte!

⬤ Green Spot is available to buy from these Merchants:-

⬤ Yellow Spot is available to buy from these Merchants:-

⬤ Red Spot is available to buy from these Merchants:-

About Blue Spot

Blue Spot was originally produced by the Mitchell family who commenced trading in 1805 at 10 Grafton Street in the heart of Dublin city as purveyors of fine wine and confectionery. Seven generations later, the company is still in the wine and spirits business under the stewardship of Jonathan Mitchell and his son Robert.

The Mitchell family expanded into the whiskey bonding business in the early 1900s, whereby they sent empty wine and fortified wine casks via horse and cart to the local Jameson Distillery which were then filled with new Pot Still spirit and returned to the Mitchell’s maturation cellars. There, the whiskeys matured for many years under bond until they were ready to be bottled and sold.

Irish Distillers Releases ‘Blue Spot’ Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – The Palette Is Complete!

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Blue Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey!

Irish Distillers has once again joined forces with the Mitchell family to unveil its reimagined Blue Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey!

With the most recent existing record of Blue Spot dating back to 1964, the launch will signal the end of a 56-year wait among the global whiskey community for the re-introduction of Blue Spot, reuniting the historic Spot Family for the first time in over half a century.

The story of the legendary Spot Irish whiskey range began in the early 1900s when celebrated wine and spirits merchants, Mitchell & Son, began maturing whiskey from the local Jameson Distillery in Bow Street in their underground cellars in Dublin City Centre.

Blue Spot is available from this month at the RRP of €80

Blue Spot takes its name from the blue daubs or ‘spots’ of paint that the Mitchells used to mark the barrels to signify that the whiskey in those casks were to be matured for a minimum of seven years.

Building on the foundation of bourbon and sherry casks, the reimagined Blue Spot includes whiskey aged in Madeira casks, inspired by the historical inventory of Mitchell & Son and typical of the Spot style of whiskey.

The Midleton masters, in collaboration with the Mitchell family, were influenced by archive documents dating back to 1935 showing Madeira wine casks imported to Ireland which, once emptied, would have been used to mature whiskey.

The team at Irish Distillers’ Midleton Distillery have been sourcing Madeira wine seasoned casks for over 20 years. These casks are carefully handcrafted in a cooperage in the north of Portugal and then sent to the island of Madeira.

Once seasoned, the casks are shipped back to Midleton and filled with pot still distillate and left to mature, allowing the Madeira wine influence to impart wonderful flavours of stewed apples, hazelnuts and sweet spices.

These Madeira casks, along with ex-Bourbon and ex-sherry casks are then hand selected and married together to achieve the perfect flavour balance. Bottled at cask strength, the result is a luxuriously rich and characterful whiskey.

It is with absolute pleasure that we reintroduce Blue Spot and bring a piece of Dublin’s rich whiskey history back to life.

Over the years I have had the honour of collaborating with the Mitchell family, who for generations have celebrated the influence of fine wines on Irish whiskey, as we have reintroduced expressions to the beloved Spot range.

I am incredibly proud to celebrate with Jonathan and Robert Mitchell on this historic day as Blue Spot takes its place alongside Green, Yellow and Red Spot, reuniting the whole family once again.
– Kevin O’Gorman: Master Distiller at Irish Distillers

“As the full Spot range comes back to life, we find ourselves bursting with pride for the role our family played in the creation of this treasured range of whiskeys.”

It’s been a privilege to shed light on the history of whiskey bonding in Ireland and the role our family had to play in it as we relaunch Blue Spot.

The inclusion of whiskey aged in Madeira casks adds flavours that would have been originally introduced into Irish whiskey by the Mitchell family.

As the full Spot range comes back to life, we find ourselves bursting with pride for the role our family played in the creation of this treasured range of whiskeys.
– Jonathan Mitchell: Managing Director at Mitchell & Son

⬤ Blue Spot is a non-chill filtered, cask strength release that will see ABV varying annually.
This release has an ABV of 58.7%
It is available from this month at the RRP of €80 in Ireland, UK, France, Canada, Northern Ireland and Global Travel Retail, and in the USA from February 2021.

Distillery Tasting notes:

Nose: A light mix of pineapple, kiwi, green banana and lime zest followed by Pot Still spices, baked apple, hazelnut and toasted wood.
Taste: A smooth mouthfeel with a subtle mix of fruit, a hint of clove oil and cracked black pepper corns. Sweet spices, vanilla and cinnamon add to the wood’s nutty contribution.
Finish: A lasting and distinctly palatable balance of exotic fruits and spices.

⬤ Green Spot is available to buy from these Merchants:-

⬤ Yellow Spot is available to buy from these Merchants:-

⬤ Red Spot is available to buy from these Merchants:-

Sampling Two Waterford Whiskey Editions – Tasty With AND Without Water!

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Waterford’s Ballymorgan: Edition 1.2 & Sheestown: Edition 1.2!

Waterford Distillery has a very different way of doing things and I’ve blogged about them on numerous occasions since their inception:-

So it was great to receive some samples to try – courtesy of Waterford Distillery – Cheers!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Waterford Irish Single Malt Whiskey – Single Farm – Ballymorgan: Edition 1.2 (50%)

Approx. 4 years old with barley grown by Robert Milne in Co. Wexford. Matured in a combination of French and American oak casks.



Nose: Popcorn, fruity toffee. Aromas of dusky pannelled rooms. Later on there’s thick creamy caramel.

Palate: Sweet popcorn, crisp apples, orange coupled with toffee caramel and creamy chocolate.

Finish: Great spice and pepper hit with some salt at the end.

Water brings out a lot more with this dram reaviling more of the above, especially more chocolate.

Overall: This is a very mature, dignified dram – despite being pretty young. A few drops of water works very well in optimising it’s flavours – making for a tasty dram indeed!

Tasting Notes – Waterford Irish Single Malt Whiskey – Single Farm – Sheestown: Edition 1.2 (50%)

Approx. 5.6 yrs old with barley grown by Phil O’Brien of Kilkenny. Matured in a combination of French and American oak casks.



Nose: Shades of tropical fruits with creamy vanilla toffee.

Palate: Toffee, tropical fruits, creamy biscuit, chocolate.

Finish: Smooth, peppery finish with some creamy toffee to go with it.

Overall: Again, addition of water (just a few drops) really releases the flavours of this dram – to good effect!

Many thanks to waterfordwhisky.com (@WaterfordWhisky) for sending me the samples!

Waterford is available to buy from these Merchants:-

Sampling Midleton Very Rare 2020: Irish Whiskey At It’s Finest!

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Midleton Very Rare 2020!

Irish Distillers has unveiled the eagerly awaited Midleton Very Rare 2020, a unique parting gift from former Master Distiller Brian Nation!

This is the 37th edition in the world-renowned range!

In his final days as Master Distiller, Brian continued the long-standing tradition of hand-selecting whiskeys reserved for this coveted annual expression from Midleton Distillery’s exceptional inventory for the last time.

The result heralds the 37th edition in the world-renowned range.

Chosen from the most outstanding quality single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys laid down over the past four decades in Midleton, Co Cork, Midleton Very Rare 2020 showcases an expression of whiskeys aged from 13 to 35 years in lightly charred ex-bourbon American oak barrels.

“This dram is like nostalgia in a glass – I’m getting very wistful!”

This year, Brian Nation selected a higher pot still inclusion when compared to previous vintages, while also increasing the use of refill barrels amongst his choice of casks. The result is a luxurious and balanced whiskey with rich pot still notes and elegant grain distillates that take centre stage thanks to the inclusion of refill casks – a fitting legacy from one of Irish whiskey’s great Master Distillers.

As a colleague and friend to Brian for many years, I could not be prouder to present his final Midleton Very Rare vintage and his legacy as Irish Distillers’ Master Distiller, to consumers across the globe.

Selected each year with passion and precision, this expression offers an initial burst of tangy fruity sweetness on the palate, with pot still spices building over time to add a mild prickle of chili oil.

Indeed, Brian’s love of a single pot still is reflected in this exceptional whiskey, while preserving the balance and beauty for which Midleton Very Rare is renowned.
– Kevin O’Gorman: Master Distiller at Irish Distillers

Former Master Distiller Brian Nation and Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman

In a break from tradition and in response to consumer demand for the annual vintage to be made available earlier in the year in question, newly appointed Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman will reveal Midleton Very Rare 2021 in spring next year, honouring a rare changing of the guard at the iconic Midleton Distillery.

Only the third Master Distiller to influence one of the world’s most sought-after whiskey collections, the unveiling of Midleton Very Rare 2021 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the world of Irish whiskey.

Bottled at 40% ABV, Midleton Very Rare 2020 is available online and in Ireland now, and will hit shelves in the UK, USA, Global Travel Retail, Australia, Germany and Canada in the coming months at the RRP of €180.

The Midleton Family!

I was lucky enough to be invited to an online sampling of this years Midleton Very Rare. Many thanks to midletonveryrare.com (Instagram: @midletonveryrare) for the invite – the beautiful sample and glass set & the chance to try such an amazing dram!
Slainte!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Midleton Very Rare 2020 (40%)

For those who are curious, keeping the brand at 40% ABV (rather than have cask-strength versions) is designed to keep the balance of the whiskey just right and to maintain consistency over the yearly releases.


Colour: Golden sherry!

Nose: Gorgeous orange, tangerine and honeyed, vanilla toffee – delightful! There’s orchard fruits – mainly apples and heavy shades of dusky rooms, furniture polish and plasticine – love it!

Palate: Similar to the nose with increased lemon and orange citrus. The vanilla caramel combines well with delicate tropical fruit.

Finish: Incredibly smooth finish with a soft, spicy pepper.

Overall: This dram is like nostalgia in a glass – I’m getting very wistful!

Too be honest, it’s TOO drinkable, so restraint is required, unless you want to gaze upon an empty bottle in double-quick time!

I also Love the bespoke glasses which are very swish! They’ll be going on my display shelf for sure!

The beautiful Midleton Very Rare sample and glass set I was sent!

About Midleton Very Rare

Midleton Very Rare is the ultimate expression of craftsmanship from Irish Distillers’ Midleton Distillery. Released once a year, Irish Distillers’ Master Distiller hand-selects the finest and rarest whiskeys from the inventory of Midleton Distillery before blending them to create a true whiskey masterpiece, often referred to as the ‘pinnacle of Irish whiskey’.

Created in 1984 by Master Distiller Emeritus Barry Crockett, to date only two Master Distillers, Barry Crocket and Brian Nation, have had the privilege of preserving its legacy.

Midleton is also available to buy from these Merchants:-

Waterford Distillery Releases ORGANIC: GAIA 1.1 – Ireland’s First Organic Whiskey In Modern Times!

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ORGANIC: GAIA 1.1

Waterford Distillery, the barley-forward, terroir-driven Irish distiller, has released Ireland’s very first organic whiskey in the modern age.

ORGANIC: GAIA 1.1 was distilled in 2016 from organic Irish barley grown by a small, dedicated band of organic farmers. The single malt whisky is certified by the Organic Trust.

Organic Farmer Jason Stanley

John Mallick, Paddy Tobin, Alan Jackson, Pat and Denis Booth, Jason Stanley and Trevor Harris rose to the challenge laid down by Waterford Distillery to produce the first Irish-grown organic malting barley.

It forms part of Waterford’s ARCADIAN SERIES, which celebrates radical growers and alternative philosophies, including heritage grains and unusual growing methods.

Waterford’s ORGANIC: GAIA 1.1 is matured in a spectrum of fresh, super-premium oak: 42% first-fill US oak, 17% virgin US oak, 23% premium French oak and 18% Vin Doux Naturel – sweet fortified wine casks. It is bottled at 50% ABV without colouring, chill-filtration or any additives whatsoever – totally natural.

It beggars belief that much of the industry treats with indifference the primary source of single malt whisky’s extraordinary flavour: barley. We have placed barley – where and how it is grown – at the heart of what we do, curious about where the real whisky flavour may be found.

A natural progression of this philosophy is to see what not only single farm origins can accomplish but what organically grown barley can do when it is given the right platform. Compliance for organic status is not straight forward by any means – there’ s a shed load of hoops to jump through, deep cleaning regimens, audits and assessments to undergo.

So, is it worth it? We certainly think so, what we lose in yield and hair pulling we gain in purity and definition of flavour.

We’re not playing at it; we lay down 400 to 600 casks of organic spirit a year, we buy all the Irish grown organic malting barley that can get our hands on. Waterford Organic will be a main player in our ongoing portfolio for the discerning whisky drinker.
– Mark Reynier: Waterford Distillery Founder and CEO

18,000 bottles will be released throughout Europe and Asia, with a further 6,000 bottles in the USA

ORGANIC: GAIA 1.1 is priced at approximately £80 / €80-86 / US $110 and will be available from specialist retailers in over 20 markets from October 12th worldwide.

18,000 bottles will be released throughout Europe and Asia, with a further 6,000 bottles in the USA.

Waterford Whiskey is available to buy from these Merchants:-

Meet ‘Robin Redbreast’ – Celebrating The World Famous Irish Whiskey That Takes His Name!

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Robin Redbreast!

Redbreast Irish Whiskey has unveiled Robin Redbreast, an engaging evolution of its iconic character to inspire a new generation of whiskey lovers!

Elevating Robin Redbreast from the icon of the brand to the voice of the brand, Robin is a plucky yet charming character, with a dry wit and Irish sense of humour that reflects Ireland and the home of Redbreast in Midleton, Co Cork.
He is voiced by sketch comedian Ty who brought Robin to life with his fantastic Cork accent and adding his own personality to the project.

The star himself!

Evoking the quality and craftsmanship of Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Robin Redbreast’s new look is carved from wood, paying homage to the wood casks that help to make Redbreast Irish Whiskey so uniquely special.

Redbreast is also launching a global partnership with leading bird conservation charity, BirdLife International, to support the organisation on its mission to keep the common bird common.

Redbreast Irish Whiskey will raise funds, help to conserve and restore bird habitats and support BirdLife International in its quest to monitor bird populations so that deeper environmental problems (and successes) can be rapidly identified.

With the Robin being one of the world’s most recognisable birds, Redbreast Irish Whiskey is delighted to take the opportunity of the launch of its new character to announce its commitment to supporting BirdLife International and the welfare of not only Robins but all birds.
– Laura Hanratty: Head of Prestige and Speciality Brands at Irish Distillers

Robin Redbreast shows us around!

We welcome this partnership with the iconic Redbreast Irish Whiskey which promises support for our conservation work in Ireland and globally.

With the new Robin Redbreast ambassador launched, we’re looking forward to working with the Redbreast team as they join us in our mission to keep common birds, and not so common birds, common.
– Patricia Zurita: CEO, BirdLife International

The ongoing partnership between Redbreast and BirdLife International will aim to educate consumers on how to protect the common birds, and will see the first limited-edition Value-Added Pack launching later next month.

Redbreast is the world’s bestselling single pot still Irish whiskey, a style of whiskey which is historically unique to Ireland. First referenced in 1912, “Redbreast” was a nickname given to the whiskey by the chairman of Dublin whiskey bonders Gilbeys, who was an avid birdwatcher. The robin symbol has been synonymous with the brand’s growing reputation ever since.

Today Redbreast is considered the definitive expression of single pot still Irish whiskey and features a range of expressions from 12-Year-Old through to 15, 21 and now 27-Year-Old – as well as Redbreast Lustau Edition and the brand’s eagerly anticipated annual Dream Cask bottling of the rarest casks in the Redbreast inventory.

Redbreast is launching a global partnership with BirdLife International on its mission to keep the common bird common

The brand has built a global reputation for excellence by marrying a combination of the world’s finest aged pot still whiskeys, created at the world-famous Midleton Distillery in Cork, and finishing them in a combination of the very best bourbon, sherry and port casks.

With ambitious growth plans for Redbreast, which was also recently named in IMPACT’s top five-selling Irish whiskeys in the US, the introduction of Robin Redbreast has been designed to drive discovery with more whiskey fans, broadening its audience by creating a distinctive and memorable character for the beloved range.

Robin Redbreast will feature in a series of digital creatives, flying in to share brand news and celebrate occasions with whiskey lovers across the globe. Shot on location at Midleton Distillery, fans can also expect cameos from Irish Distillers’ expert whiskey blenders Billy Leighton and Dave McCabe.

Check out their amusing videos here:-

Introducing Robin Redbreast

Robin Redbreast Blushing

How to Enjoy Redbreast -With Robin Redbreast

Who introduced you to Redbreast – With Robin Redbreast

How did Redbreast get its name? – With Robin Redbreast

We know that the Redbreast audience is driven by curiosity and that they discover new brands that they can engage with online.

As we seek to widen the audience for the brand, it is a natural next step to introduce a modern-day digital evolution of our revered Robin that encapsulates the essence of the brand and the people who make it.
– Laura Hanratty

Robin Redbreast has been created by The Public House with CGI development produced by Jelly London and will be rolling out across global marketing channels from 1 October.

Redbreast Whiskey is available to buy from these online Merchants:-

Sampling Jameson ‘Crested’ – Finished In Stout Barrels – Beyond Morish!

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Jameson Crested Finished in Black Ball Metric Stout Barrels!

I reported earlier this month that Irish Distillers had joined forces with Eight Degrees Brewing to create a unique edition of their beloved Jameson Crested.

Well, I’ve been fortunate to get hold of a sample from Jamesons (thanks!) and you’ll find my sampling notes below.

A limited-edition release of fewer than 10,000 bottles globally

Jameson Crested Finished in Black Ball Metric Stout Barrels is the next step in an exciting collaboration between Irish Distillers and its Co. Cork neighbour, Eight Degrees, who last year celebrated eight years of adventurous craft beer brewing by releasing a uniquely dark Black Ball Metric Stout finished in Jameson barrels as the last iteration of their Rack ‘em Up Series.

Always seeking an opportunity to innovate, Jameson returned the compliment by selecting a special whiskey to mature in the stout soaked barrels. The result is a stunning evolution of Jameson Crested, with a rich stout influence married with a luscious creamy texture and lingering finish of pot still spices and malt.

A limited-edition release of fewer than 10,000 bottles globally, Jameson Crested Finished in Black Ball Metric Stout Barrels is available from Jameson’s brand home outlets at Bow Street, Dublin, and Midleton, Cork.
It is also available through Jameson’s online shop at jamesonwhiskey.com, priced at €45 (70cl)

From mid-October, it will also be available to air passengers vising the new Dublin Airport shop in Terminal 2.

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Jameson Crested Finished in Black Ball Metric Stout Barrels (40%)


Nose: Creamy stout, sweet, soaked raisins, crisp apples, chocolate and vanilla. After a while there’s woody aromas with hints of furniture polish and a dusty air!

Palate: Creamy mouthful, sweet chocolate, Christmasy fruits and pleasant shades of orange.

Finish: Smooth mild spice, creamy sweetness with a nice long peppery finish.

Overall: Beyond morish!

– If you’re a Jameson fan (and if not, why not?!) you must try this. If you don’t, you will regret it!

Remember – when-its-gone-its-gone!

Beyond morish – if you’re a Jameson fan (and if not, why not?!) you must try this!

Many thanks to the team at (@RxTLondon) for sending me the sample and, of course, jamesonwhiskey.com (@jamesonwhiskey) without whom!

Also, check out eightdegrees.ie (@8degreesbrewing) to see their wares!

Serving Suggestions:

Enjoy neat to get the best of this liquid or pair with a craft stout (Black Ball Metric Stout the best suiter).

For something mixed try:

Eight Degrees Stout & Spiced

Ingredients: 40ml Crested x Eight Degrees, 100ml Fever Tree Spiced, Orange Ginger Ale, 3 dashes chocolate bitters.

To Make: Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in whiskey, bitters and top with spiced ginger ale. Garnish with an orange wedge.

Jameson Products are also available to buy from these Merchants:-

Introducing Jameson Crested X Eight Degrees Brewing!

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Introducing Jameson Crested X Eight Degrees Brewing!

Irish Distillers has joined forces with Eight Degrees Brewing for a unique edition of the beloved Jameson Crested.

Launching this month, Jameson Crested Finished in Black Ball Metric Stout Barrels is the next step in an exciting collaboration between Irish Distillers and its Co. Cork neighbour, Eight Degrees, who last year celebrated eight years of adventurous craft beer brewing by releasing a uniquely dark Black Ball Metric Stout finished in Jameson barrels as the last iteration of their Rack ‘em Up Series.

Always seeking an opportunity to innovate, Jameson returned the compliment by selecting a special whiskey to mature in the stout soaked barrels. The result is a stunning evolution of Jameson Crested, with a rich stout influence married with a luscious creamy texture and lingering finish of pot still spices and malt.

This is a limited-edition release of fewer than 10,000 bottles globally

We were delighted when the opportunity arose to create a truly special whiskey.

When we were selecting a whiskey to mature in these barrels, Jameson Crested became the obvious choice. It’s higher pot still component and sherry cask inclusion allowed the whiskey to meet the impact of the stout head on, creating a balanced reaction.

We filled the casks in November last year and carefully monitored the whiskey’s progress. After about four months of ageing we felt it was just right. The stout influence is prevalent in the taste, complementing the whiskey beautifully.

It’s a truly unique liquid, perfect when enjoyed neat, paired with a craft stout, or as part of a spiced cocktail.
– Dave McCabe: Irish Distillers’ Blender

It was an honour to be given the opportunity to create our special 8th anniversary stout using barrels from Jameson, the world’s most popular Irish whiskey.

Today we are delighted to have made our mark on Jameson Crested, an icon of Irish whiskey, through the release of this special edition.
– Derek Neville: Head Cellarman at Eight Degrees Brewing

A limited-edition release of fewer than 10,000 bottles globally, Jameson Crested Finished in Black Ball Metric Stout Barrels will launch in Jameson’s brand home outlets at Bow Street, Dublin, and Midleton, Cork, this month, and will be available through Jameson’s online shop at jamesonwhiskey.com, priced at €45 (70cl)

It will also be available to air passengers vising the new Dublin Airport shop in Terminal 2 from mid-October.

Tasting Notes: Jameson Crested Finished in Black Ball Metric Stout Barrels – by Dave McCabe, Blender, Midleton Distillery

Nose: Rich stout influence; malt and vanilla chocolate. Jameson Crested pot still spices and dried fruits.

Taste: Luscious creamy texture, mild spice, roasted coffee beans and chocolate.

Finish: Sweet notes fade, pot still spices and malt lingers.

How to Drink:

Enjoy neat to get the best of this liquid or pair with a craft stout (Black Ball Metric Stout the best suiter).

For something mixed try:

Eight Degrees Stout & Spiced

Ingredients: 40ml Crested x Eight Degrees, 100ml Fever Tree Spiced, Orange Ginger Ale, 3 dashes chocolate bitters.

To Make: Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in whiskey, bitters and top with spiced ginger ale. Garnish with an orange wedge.

Jameson is available to buy from these Merchants:-

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