Jameson 18 vs Bow Street: Irish Whiskey Comparison

Last Updated on: 9th April 2024, 01:21 am

J Highland

J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.

Explore the contrasting characteristics of Jameson 18 and Bow Street in this comprehensive analysis, aiding you in choosing the Whiskey that best suits your preferences!

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Written by: J Highland

Jameson 18 vs Bow Street: Comparison

Jameson 18 Year: Vanilla, cinnamon, caramel on the nose; Crème Brûlée, brown sugar, clove on the palate; long finish with licorice, baking spice. Smooth and refined.

Jameson 18 Bow Street: Red berries, oak on the nose; ripe fruit, cinnamon, honey on the palate; long finish with brown sugar, oak. Cask strength, rich and bold.

Verdict: Jameson 18 Bow Street stands out for its boldness and rich palate, enhanced by its cask strength. While Bow Street commands a higher price, it compensates with its depth and intensity, making it a remarkable choice for those seeking a more robust whiskey experience, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Related: Top Jameson Whiskeys

Jameson 18 Year Old: A Smooth & Sophisticated Irish Blend

Nose: Vanilla, cinnamon, caramel
Palate: Crème Brûlée, brown sugar, clove
Finish: Long, licorice, baking spice
Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
How to drink: Neat
Similar to: Midleton Very Rare

Jameson 18 Year Old presents a delightful upgrade to the classic Jameson experience, offering a smooth and sophisticated taste profile for sipping neat. Here’s what makes it stand out:

Floral & Sweet Aroma: The first impression is an inviting aroma with a delightful floral character, rich in sweet vanilla notes. Hints of cinnamon and a touch of caramel add complexity to the inviting fragrance.

Crème Brûlée Delight: The palate is met with flavors reminiscent of a decadent Crème Brûlée, featuring a gentle touch of brown sugar, clove, and a subtle hint of oak spice.

Long & Warming Finish: The finish is long and satisfying, leaving behind a pleasant warmth and a subtle licorice note, complemented by lingering baking spice.

A Clear Step Up: Compared to previous Jameson offerings, the 18 Year Old expression represents a significant improvement. It’s a delightful choice for sipping neat, thanks to its smooth and enjoyable profile with no harsh or off-putting flavors.

Value Proposition: While priced slightly higher than some popular 18-year-old single malts like Glenlivet 18 or Glenfiddich 18, Jameson 18 remains a good option. It offers a distinct and rewarding experience for whiskey enthusiasts seeking a smooth and flavorful Irish blend.

Facts & Aging:

Jameson 18 Year Old is a blended Irish whiskey, combining malt and grain whiskeys for a rich taste profile.
The aging process involves a combination of selected sherry and bourbon casks for a minimum of 15 years.
To add further complexity, the blend is then re-barreled in first-fill bourbon barrels for an additional 3 years.

Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old: A Premium Irish Gem

Nose: Red berries, oak
Palate: Ripe fruit, cinnamon, honey, oak
Finish: Long, brown sugar, oak
Alcohol content: 110 proof (55% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old offers a delightful surprise for whiskey enthusiasts, combining exceptional taste with a smooth, cask-strength experience. Here’s a closer look:

Fruity & Rich Aroma: The nose is greeted with an inviting aroma of red berries and oak, surprisingly free of the harsh alcohol scents often found in high-proof whiskeys.

Luxuriously Smooth: The first sip reveals a creamy and luxurious mouthfeel, despite the cask strength bottling. This unique characteristic makes it surprisingly easy to drink.

Warm & Spicy: The taste starts with a warm yet smooth wave of ripe fruit flavors, followed by a delightful rush of cinnamon spice. Hints of honey and oak add complexity to the profile.

Lingering Warmth: The finish is long and pleasantly warm, leaving behind subtle notes of brown sugar and oak.

A Drop of Delight: Adding a drop of water helps soften the initial warmth slightly, while enhancing the sweetness of the whiskey, making it an even more enjoyable experience.

Exceptional Value: Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old is a masterfully crafted whiskey with exceptional characteristics. Considering its quality, the price point is quite attractive compared to similar aged whiskeys.

Facts & Uniqueness:

This is a blended Irish whiskey, combining pot still and grain whiskeys for a rich taste profile.
The 18-year aging process starts in bourbon and sherry casks at the Midleton Distillery in Cork.
After initial aging, the blend undergoes an additional 6 to 12 months of maturation in first-fill American oak bourbon barrels at the Jameson Distillery Bow Street in Dublin.
Bottled at cask strength, it is neither diluted nor chill-filtered, offering the full, unadulterated whiskey experience.