Jameson Select Reserve (New)

[Michael Foggarty]

At the whisky exchange whisky show on Friday IDL unveiled another Jameson, unfortunately all the sampling took is toll on me and i cant remember its name (Jameson Special Reserve??). All i can remember is that it was trialled in South Africa and was made from a "small batch" grain and some sps. It tasted very grainy but not in a bad. But anyone else know the name? I think it is to be priced between the regular and the 12 yo so i dont know what that means for Crested Ten.

[DavidH]

Jameson Select Reserve. I've written about it on my blog:
http://www.irishwhiskeynotes.com/2011/0 ... serve.html

I like it. I also gave samples to a few people but I haven't heard any feedback yet. Anyone?

[JohnM]

I think it's lovely, although I might have tasted it at cask strength. Quite unlike the other Jamesons, I thought.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Haven't had the pleasure but great news and looking forward to getting a bottle.

[rathbeggan]

David H kindly gave me a sample, which I tried the other night.

I enjoyed it but didn't take any notes I must confess. Perhaps I've been a little spoiled with the new pot still whiskeys this year but I didn't like it as much as I like them.

[matt]

The small batch that was released in south Africa was bottled at 43% (750ml)

Wondering if that will be the same hear

If you check the current Jameson 18 y.o. box, on the back side it say`s

700 ml 40% vol Europe, Asia, Russia
750 ml 43% alc/vol B374 South Africa
750 ml 40% alc/vol USA

the south Africa one is also higher....

[DavidH]

The small batch that was released in south Africa was bottled at 43% (750ml)

Wondering if that will be the same here

No, it will be 40% here. 43% is the legal minimum in South Africa, introduced to discourage imports and protect local brandy makers.

[rathbeggan]

43% is the legal minimum in South Africa, introduced to discourage imports and protect local brandy makers.

I'm not sure that's the reason for 43% being the minimum strength in South Africa. I think 75 degrees proof/ 43% abv was the minimum in the UK and Ireland until World War II, when it was reduced to 70 degrees proof in the UK and presumably Ireland reduced the legal minimum in line. (Less barley or other grain would have been needed to make whisk(e)y at 70 degrees proof rather than 75 degrees proof.) (Relying on Philip Morrice's Schweppes Guide to Scotch for this.) There wouldn't have been a compelling reason to make a similar reduction in South Africa during the war (I doubt there was any rationing.)

I have a bottle of KWV 10 year old South African brandy (not bad for brandy) which is 38% abv, so presumably the 43% abv legal minimum only applies to whisk(e)y. It seems to apply to all the South African whiskies listed in Whisky Bible 2011.

[DavidH]

43% is the legal minimum in South Africa, introduced to discourage imports and protect local brandy makers.

I'm not sure that's the reason for 43% being the minimum strength in South Africa.

Well, I got that directly from a South African working in the spirits business in South Africa so I was taking his word for it.

[rathbeggan]

I got that directly from a South African working in the spirits business in South Africa so I was taking his word for it.

He could be right, but it may be that they've kept the legal minimum ABV for whisk(e)y at 43% in order to protect the local industry, rather than having introduced it to protect them. Sometimes rules or laws are introduced for one reason and are used or justified for other ends.

[DavidH]

Indeed. And there was likely a period during sanctions when there was not much pressure to update rules for imported products.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Yes indeed 43% was pretty much standard for a long time.Prior to that, Off the top of my head, one of the main standards was 15UP or 15under proof which equated to 70% imperial proof 85% US proof or 42.5% abv. I know all very confusing with the Imperial score. I presume to make life easier they adjusted to 86% proof or 43% abv and Imperial was just dropped altogether.

You'll find that alot of the stuff destined for Germany, Italy and the US was all 43% (or 86 proof) up till the 80's.

[matt]

OH YAH

First shop to spot http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-15235.aspx

Looking forward to get my hands on a bottle ore two. If i am lucky i will get a bottle from SA soon.

It will be interesting to taste the 40% side by side with the 43%.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Nice price too

[matt]

Patience is all what we need

I think to get it at a price of 28-30 euro

[bredman]

I saw it on the Sainsbury shelf at £33+ but figured i'd add it to my upcoming TWE order. I should have grabbed one.