Gilbey’s Redbreast 12 yo , John Jameson & Son Liqueur Whiskey vs Jameson 15 yo Limited Millenium Edition 1984 / 2000 vs Daly’s Tullamore Distillery 38 yo 1952 -1991 Cadenhead 68.9%

Some old Irish to ring in the new year. While not as popular as vintage Scotch, Irish eyes are always smiling.

I’ve had a hectic but immensely rewarding 2018, I hope all readers find that silver lining even if the going is tough, and now here’s to 2019.

Gilbey’s Redbreast 12 yo , John Jameson & Son Liqueur Whiskey ~late 60s – early 70s (no vol, no abv)

As the Bow Street Distillery, the original Jameson distillery, closed in 1971 there is a good chance the Whiskey in here was distilled at Bow Street. Also Gilbey was a merchant grocer, and his bottling of Redbreast under his name was a common practice in those days.

Some old Irish didn’t age too well, but my worry here is misplaced. This old 12 is alive and wanting to be heard. It’s quite impressive to me that the characteristic coppery sweet-sour red berries that I find in Midleton are heard here clear as bells. In other regards this old 12 seems thicker and oilier than today’s, and hints of another age come through strongly- a slight rancio, wet leather, labdanum, a smudge of soot even, on a rusty old oil can. Old resins and unburnt incense. Quite some richness here as well, I wonder how many old sherry casks were used back then. Very sinuous and svelte on the tongue, and more metal and soot perhaps, and dissolves into a warm black pepper and old gingery spice finish.

Jameson 15 yo Limited Millenium Edition 1984 / 2000 40%

A common refrain is had with these lovely coppery sweet red berries. But this one takes a large step towards the modern with bright woody-sweet spices and a thinner breezier disposition, which unfortunately means it loses the mass-y weightier aspects of its predecessor. Some effervescent florals even (not a bad thing here). The richness is pared down as well which makes the fruit more clean and more ‘forwards’. And on the palate it is indeed a lot livelier with gingery heat plus bright spices, a thin vanillic oak and lots of clean Pot Still fruit character coming through. Unfortunately it’s also rather halting at this point, and peters out somewhat.

Daly’s Tullamore Distillery 38 yo 1952 -1991 Cadenhead 68.9%

Yes. 68.9%… after 38 years. God only knows what they filled the barrel at.

Apparently a lot of bourbon oak influence, but also old old brittle and cracking chemical resin like one might find a coating of on 50s furniture. A very interesting whisky really. Now black ink, the sort used for Chinese calligraphy, deep moist earth, rice paper, and also… something floral like a mix of lilac, angelica and galbanum which, like it does in perfume, gives it a weighty purple floral hue but uplifted by sharp greens that stop at dry and somewhat medicinal. I won’t go so far as to say Lavender toiler cleaner yet (a serious accusation). On the tongue however.. it is hot explosively alcoholic and severely floral with a green bitter and acrid slant. One’s graces go only so far. Nonetheless thank you for the amazing opportunity to try this, you know who you are.