Whether you're commemorating a momentous occasion, buying a gift for someone special or simply restocking your bar cart, a bottle of good whiskey never goes amiss. And Jameson is indisputably good whiskey. The best-selling and most highly awarded Irish whiskey in the world, it is the work of generations' worth of expertise, dedication and innovation. With its latest release, Jameson Remixed Caribbean Beats, the brand pairs the spirit that Irish playwright and poet George Bernard Shaw called "liquid sunshine" with the actual sunshine of the Caribbean.
A rare and exclusive spirit, Jameson Remixed Caribbean Beats is a 21-year-old blended Irish whiskey laid down entirely in rum casks for the duration of its maturation journey. An homage to both Irish and Caribbean craftsmanship, it is the latest release in the Jameson Anthology – a series of limited-edition whiskeys drawing inspiration from the brand's rich heritage of craft and experimentation. It follows on from the sought-after first release, the Jameson 15 Year Old Single Pot Still, and is set to prove just as prestigious.
Jameson Remixed Caribbean Beats is a unique, rare whiskey that combines the brand's proud Irish heritage and whiskey-making traditions with the soul of the Caribbean, where rum distilling is held in similar esteem. A blend of single pot still and single-grain Irish whiskeys initially laid down in rum casks from Barbados more than two decades ago, it was then aged for a further three years in Selección de Maestros Havana Club casks for an even richer flavour contribution. "Excited by a 2001 trial with Caribbean rum casks, through innovation and careful craft we worked to marry two traditional spirits together – Irish whiskey and rum," says master distiller, Kevin O’Gorman. “In doing so, we found the sweet spot where the rhythm of the Caribbean meets the beat of the Irish drum.”
Each of the whiskeys used in this latest edition has taken on a new and distinctive flavour from the ageing process. Hints of sweetness from brown sugar and vanilla come through in the grain whiskey, while the pot still brings bright, fruity notes of orange zest and mango.
On the nose it’s warming and spicy, with aromas of figs, coconut shavings and toasted almonds. The rum influence adds cacao nibs and tobacco leaves, while accentuating the pot still spices with notes of ginger and candied fruit that complement the floral notes of the grain whiskey.
Its initial sweet taste, which brings chocolate-dipped honeycomb into the mix, gives way to a herbal earthiness that works in balance with a slight intensity from spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and white pepper, creating further complexity. Throughout, there's a vibrant, zesty edge – a tangible reminder of the grain whiskey’s many years in rum-seasoned casks. A long and lingering finish ensures this is a whiskey not easily forgotten.
It may be influenced by the flair and flavour of the islands, but Jameson Remixed Caribbean Beats is still deliciously and recognisably a Jameson whiskey, due to its unmistakable smoothness and exceptional balance – not to mention the spirit of innovation that led to its creation in the first place. With just under 3,000 bottles of this 21-year-old available to purchase, it's as exclusive as it is enticing. This is a truly one-of-a-kind spirit that every connoisseur will be vying to add to their collection.
Available to purchase at Jamesonwhiskey.com.
Please drink responsibly.