A Happy Award Winner!

Jameson Irish Whiskey, produced by Irish Distillers in Midleton Distillery, hosted its global bartender summit in Ireland between the 23rd and 26th of June; Jameson Barrelmen’s Homecoming. Bartenders gathered to connect, collaborate and learn in the final step of a global journey to bring bartenders from across the world together.

Bartenders descended from all four corners of the globe, with 28 countries and over 120 guests in attendance, including from Canada, Korea, UK, and Brazil. The theme for 2019, ‘From Farm to Glass’, challenged bartenders to collaborate with their local communities – and each other – utilising what their local surroundings and the Irish countryside has to offer in order to experiment with Jameson and create new cocktail serves. Alongside the global competition, bartenders took part in workshops and seminars with expert craftsmen to further enhance their bartending skills and careers.

First gathering in Dublin, bartenders were shown how to draw upon even the most urban of environments by Simon O’Donnell, creator of a hydroponically powered urban farm in Dublin 1, using energy from fish to create fresh, locally-grown produce. Next, guests were taught about the effect of glassware on the drinking experience during a design workshop, going from initial concept to design, as well as enjoying a workshop on using clarification and carbonation to create complex, interesting drinks with the simplest of ingredients. Later, DJ Aidan Kelly hosted a “Music in the Mix” workshop, discussing the importance of music in the bar environment and the potential benefits behind a collaboration with a DJ.

Decorum abounds in the global bartender summit!

From Dublin, the group headed to Cork where the educational experience continued, focusing in-depth on Irish whiskey production, with a tour of both the old and new Midleton Distillery discovering the Garden Stillhouse and the maturation warehouses, a cooperage demonstration led by Ger Buckley, 5th generation Master Cooper, and a workshop in the Micro Distillery with Apprentice Distiller Henry Donnelly, learning about all things Irish whiskey and innovation.

Bartenders competing in the cocktail competition first took part in a speed round, which challenged them to create 10 classic Irish cocktails in five minutes. The top 15 then went on to showcase their ‘From Farm to Glass’ cocktails created during the local heats, using ingredients from their communities. The finale of the global Jameson Barrelmen’s Homecoming competition concluded the festivities, with the top five bartenders picking teams made up of bartenders from other countries to join them in creating a cocktail menu – exemplifying the collaborative spirit of the Jameson Barrelmen’s Homecoming, fostering lasting relationships and bringing together different cultures.

Using ingredients from both their local communities and the fresh Irish produce available at Ballymaloe House, the birthplace of modern Irish cuisine, the top five bartenders created three new ‘From Farm to Glass’ serves, with two of the judge’s choice to be tasted.

Ania Kulak representing Norway was crowned champion!

Ania Kulak representing Norway was crowned champion, with her ‘From Farm to Glass’ menu including ‘In The Green’, ‘High on Life’ and ‘Goosebomb!’. Ania embraced the ‘From Farm to Glass’ concept, impressing the judges with her level of commitment to utilising local ingredients in a creative way. She based her menu on the cultures of her teammates (hailing from China and Sweden), combining this with the theme – showing a true spirit of collaboration. As the global winner, she will receive a partnership with Jameson Irish Whiskey to develop a project in support of her local community with funding of up to €20,000.

Bartenders around the world have been key to the success of Jameson. To host this global gathering of bartenders in Ireland has been a real honour and reinforces our commitment to fostering collaboration, innovation and creativity among the globe’s leading mixologists.

As cocktail competitions continue to evolve, we’re incredibly proud to be able to offer a programme that brings together the excitement and interactivity of a global competition, while showing our commitment to supporting bartender education, community and innovation.
– Simon Fay: Business Acceleration Director at Irish Distillers

The Jameson Barrelmen’s Homecoming 2019 celebrated the core Jameson value of facilitating meaningful human connections by inspiring participants to meet, share knowledge and collaborate with local, knowledgeable craftsmen – both in their home countries and Ireland. The judging panel was made up of distinguished figures across the world of drinks, including Will Meredith, Head Bartender at Lyaness, London, Andre Duncan, the 2018 Jameson Barrelmen’s Homecoming Global champion, Angel Ji, award-winning Malaysian bartender, and Billy Leighton, Master Blender at Irish Distillers.

Shake the Jameson Original and both syrups with ice, strain and pour into the glass, top with the gooseberry foam then garnish with the forget-me-not to serve.

Jameson Whiskey is available to buy from these Merchants:-

• Master of Malt
• The Whisky Exchange

‘The Bartenders’ Gathering’

Jameson Irish Whiskey, which is produced by Irish Distillers in Midleton Distillery, has unveiled the next instalment of its successful advertising platform, ‘Taste, That’s Why’. The new campaign, titled ‘The Bartenders’ Gathering’, launches across television, digital and social media in Germany from April 2019, ahead of a wider global roll-out later this year.

In line with the recent ‘Scully Was to Blame’, ‘Coopers’ and the ‘The Case of the most Unusual Case’ creatives in the series, the new television film is inspired by another true story about Jameson. ‘The Bartenders’ Gathering’ has been created by TBWA Dublin under the helm of John Kane, Executive Creative Director, produced in Ireland and directed by Stink Films’ Anthony Mandler, whose recent portfolio includes work for Apple, Nike and Adidas.

Set in modern Dublin in 2016, the commercial tells the true story of the 200 bartenders from around the world that gather in Dublin each year for the Jameson Bartenders’ Gathering; a three-day immersive and educational summit for bartenders to hone their skills, learn about Jameson and the history of Irish whiskey, and explore the rich culture of modern Ireland. This commercial retraces the memorable experiences that the group had and the connections they made, with an unexpected twist in the story.

Jameson invited 50 real bartenders from Ireland and around the world to star in the film to add authenticity to the creative. The TV spot is supported by an integrated social campaign that tells documentary-style true stories of the three bartenders who stayed behind and also delves further into stories of bartenders from places such as Spain, Germany and South Africa.

Last year, we put the unique, smooth taste of the Jameson family center-stage through our ‘Taste, That’s Why’ campaign and the feedback that we have received from bartenders, whiskey lovers and premium spirits drinkers alike has been exceptional.

As we unveil the next chapter in the ‘Taste, That’s Why’ story, we wanted to highlight Jameson’s revered position among bartenders as they have been instrumental to our success in the USA and around the world over the past 29 years.

The new spot conveys the true spirit of the annual Bartenders’ Gathering in a high octane but light-hearted manner with a twist of Irish humour – it’s exactly what you’d expect from Jameson, and will help us to further build the profile and personality of the brand supporting equity growth into the future.
– Simon Fay: International Marketing Director at Irish Distillers

We discovered this story after a fateful meeting with a bartender from Cameroon. It was almost too good to be true… it’s definitely true to the Jameson brand’s core purpose of connecting people.

The Bartenders’ Gathering’ will be unveiled in Germany in April, ahead of its introduction to other key Irish whiskey markets throughout 2019 and beyond.
– John Kane: Executive Creative Director TBWA

The new campaign launches across television, digital and social media in Germany from April 2019

Jameson is available to buy from these Whisky Merchants:-

• Master of Malt
• The Whisky Exchange
• Edencroft Fine Wine & Spirit Specialists
• Abbey Whisky
• The Whisky Barrel
• The Green Welly Stop
• Whisky Online

Jameson & Huskie!

This year, Jameson searched the globe for Jameson fans who always celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and rewarded them with a trip of a lifetime!

To show it’s not about where you are, but about who you’re with, the group travelled to the most northerly inhabited area on the globe, Svalbard, Norway to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Not many places to get a Jameson round here!

It’s marked by the co-ordinates 17° longitude 80° latitude, a tribute to the year John Jameson set up his Dublin distillery.

The friends, from Ireland, India and Argentina, trekked over frozen terrain, overcoming obstacles along the way, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the most unexpected way.

In-between the snowmobile races, husky rides and ice cave climbing, the Jameson fans cemented their new friendships in the freezing Arctic conditions – bringing new meaning to Jameson on ice.

The group’s off-the-grid adventure was a success, arriving at their final destination, as close as humanly possible to 17° (longitude) 80° (latitude), where they raised a glass and toasted St. Patrick’s Day together (link to video).

Jameson is available to buy from these Whisky Merchants:-

• Master of Malt
• The Whisky Exchange
• Edencroft Fine Wine & Spirit Specialists
• Abbey Whisky
• The Whisky Barrel
• The Green Welly Stop
• Whisky Online