Blending Jameson Whiskey
Born from the depths of its birthplace in Ireland, Jameson Whiskey is truly something special. It’s a unique blend of craftsmanship, tradition, and skill that keeps its flavor original and distinguished. This timeless Irish whiskey is created through a unique process that takes full advantage of its heritage in blending the finest grain and malt whiskeys. Together they come together in perfect harmony to form a smooth, deep, flavorful whiskey that truly captured the heart of the Irish people.
From the blending of its malts, to the aging and distilling process, Jameson Whiskey truly stands apart from the crowd. Throughout its time-honored journey, through the intensity of the distillery, and until it is served up in your favorite glass, this authentic Irish whiskey is no ordinary blend. It is designed to combine a perfect mix of taste, complexity, and richness to give each sip an unforgettable flavor that can only be found in Jameson.
The First Steps in Blending Jameson Whiskey: The Grains
At the heart of the perfect blend of Jameson Irish Whiskey lies its starting ingredients. Using carefully weighed proportions of the three blends of grain, each taste is formed with the utmost precision. To create perfect copies of each blend, Jameson’s master distillers take extra care to ensure they are using the finest grains. From the unmalted barley to the blend of malted and un-malted barley, every grain is selected for its special flavor.
To ensure the grain blends are accurately proportioned, Jameson’s master distillers take special care in selecting each batch of oats, wheat, barley, or rye. Exacting proportions are measured in the warmth and humidity of the kiln chamber to create an airy, delicious blend of toasted grain. This creates a stunningly unique, alluring grain flavor that Jameson is known for.
Steeping the Grains: Mashing and Fermenting
Once the grain blends have been weighed and mixed, the process of mashing and fermenting begins. To continue developing the John Jameson style of whiskey, the measurement of the mash bill in the mash tun is carefully monitored. This ensures that the richness of the grain is able to bring together the perfect flavor for Jameson.
Once the mashing process is complete, the mash is pumped into the fermentation tanks and then combined with fresh yeast that is preferred by the Jameson master distillers. The fermentation process takes place in stainless steel tanks now, with copper drums being a more traditional method. This process is integral, as the yeast slowly releases alcohol from the chemical reaction with the grain. This step contributes to the eventual distillation that will make up the taste of the whiskey.
The Jameson Distillation
Once fermentation is complete, the master distillers take the newly-made whiskey and begin the distillation process. With the help of copper stills, the whiskey is heated up to separate alcohol from the water. In this way, the final product is a deliciously smooth blend of grain and alcohol.
At Jameson, there are three individual distillations, each creating intriguing layers of flavor. The first, ‘low-wine’, consists of undeveloped alcohol that must meet a strict taste standard before it can even enter the second distillation. This is the part of the process where the real flavor comes alive and Jameson’s distillers taste the whiskey to identify any inconsistencies.
Next, the ‘faint-wine’ is distilled, an entirely different flavor than the previous distillations. This one brings forth a signature flavor of malt and toast, and true to its name, it is a light and subtle flavor. This distillation is considered the final stage of whiskey-making before it enters the final distillation.
From Grain to Bottle: The Final Stage and Charring
The final stage of whiskey-making is the blending of the whiskey and the charring of the oak barrels. After all of the distillations are complete, the whiskey is carefully blended together before it is put into oak barrels. These barrels are charred to release specific natural flavors that bring together the perfect depth and complexity of Jameson.
At Jameson, the charring process is done with extreme precision. The master distillers use both American oak and Spanish oak barrels, both of which have unique characteristics that meld together for the ultimate flavor profile. Each batch is then aged for the optimal amount of time, with each barrel carefully monitored by the master distillers.
Once the whiskey meets the master distillers’ standards, it is finally ready for the bottle. This is the perfect Jameson blend, crafted directly from its birthplace in Ireland. From the distilling, to the charring, and finally to the bottle, Jameson’s whiskey is truly one of a kind.
