Slane vs Jameson: Head to Head!

Discover the differences between Slane vs Jameson in this in-depth comparison and decide which Irish Whiskey is better for You!

Slane Irish Whiskey

Nose	Caramel, vanilla, oak
Palate	Caramel, vanilla, oak, ginger
Finish	Sherry, oak spice
Alcohol content	80 proof (40% ABV)
How to drink	Add water
Similar to	Tullamore D.E.W., Proper 12

Slane doesn’t have the traditional flavors of Irish Whiskey, it’s richer in oak as it was aged in three different types of casks: Virgin Oak, Seasoned Oak and Oloroso Sherry.

The nose is light and sweet, with notes of caramel and vanilla at first and oak coming behind. Just a bit of alcohol that fades as you let it breathe.

On the palate, Slane feels somewhat thin lacking in body. Flavor has has some bourbon-like notes of caramel and vanilla up-front, followed by toasty oak. There’s a light ginger spiciness to it making it interesting.

The finish has a decent length, with a sherry note and a light hit of oak spice but nothing too severe.

Adding a drop of water releases a tad of caramel along more oak making it better.

Slane is a nice sip, free of struggle as it has no harsh or complicated notes. A bit thin perhaps as expected from something bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) which is the norm among Irish Whiskeys.

Overall, Slane makes a good alternative to Jameson when in need of change.

There are a few facts worth knowing about Slane Irish Whiskey:

• This is a blend of malt and grain whiskeys.

• Aged for three years.

• Crafted at the Slane Castle in Boyne Valley.

• Slane was launched in 2017 and is owned by U.S.-based Brown-Forman (Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester).

Jameson

Nose	Floral, marmalade, caramel
Palate	Ripe fruit, vanilla
Finish	Medium, caramel, spice
Alcohol content	80 proof (40% ABV)
How to drink	Cocktails
Similar to	Bushmills, Black Barrel

Jameson is the best-selling Irish whiskey across the globe for two reasons: It is smooth and affordable offering good value for the money; solid option for casual drinking or something not too pricey and still decent.

Nose is floral with sweet notes of orange marmalade and caramel with a bit of alcohol coming behind but nothing too severe.

On the palate the Jameson shows a good body, is sweet and fruity, with a high vanilla note. There is a pesky metallic note coming late to the party, not something terrible but weird.

The finish has a medium length, mostly sweet with a dash of black pepper on the tail.

It is a smooth and versatile whiskey that mixes nicely in any cocktail with no bad bite, well rounded and gets better when adding a splash of water, ginger ale or ice.

In fact, Jameson might well be the best whiskey for mixing as it blends incredibly well with everything.

A few drops of water are enough to tune down alcoholic, peppery notes and that annoying metallic note.

There are a few facts worth knowing about Jameson Whiskey:

• Jameson is a blend of malted and unmalted barley aged for at least 4 years in ex-bourbon casks from Kentucky and ex-sherry casks from Spain.

• This whiskey is triple-distilled which is the norm in the Irish whiskey industry. Most spirits are double-distilled but the Irish add a distillation as they like smooth liquors.

• Jameson is distilled at the Old Midleton Distillery in Cork, Ireland.

• Jameson is owned by France-based Pernod Ricard along Glenlivet and Chivas Regal.

Slane vs Jameson: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whiskey	Price
Slane Irish Whiskey	$21
Jameson	$20

Slane vs Jameson: Which is better?

Slane is a nicer sip

Whiskey	Slane	Jameson
Nose	✅	✅
Body		✅
Palate	✅
Finish	✅
Value	✅	✅

• Slane is not your typical Irish Whiskey as it has more oak and some bourbon-like notes.
• A smooth and easy drinker with some nice tasting notes and very little heat providing good value for the money.
• Jameson is still my to-go whiskey to make cocktails. This whiskey mixes incredibly well and is quite versatile as you can use it to mix with Coke, Irish Coffee, ginger ale and you name it.