My palate for alcohol has become more sophisticated as I grew older. In my teen years, I would down anything that would get me drunk in the fastest amount of time. As much as I hate to admit it, I drank to get wasted, and I downed shot after shot of neon-colored drinks that tasted more like sugar than alcohol. I soon graduated to finer liquor, such as wine, rum, and whiskey. Now, my poison of choice is tea but when I crave for something with a punch, I now turn to Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Jameson makes its whiskey in Irish Pale Ale-seasoned barrels, resulting in a drink that’s a little more hoppy than usual. The drink has whiffs of floral and herbal hops, with a hint of grapefruit, citrus, and orchard fruit notes. The taste is lighter than your traditional whiskey and comes with a smooth finish, so it’s a great introduction to those who are just starting out.
It’s also the best entry to the world of whiskey since it’s steeped in history after being founded in Dublin in 1780 by John Jameson. Today, the brand is the top-selling Irish whiskey in the world.
I was introduced to Jameson’s fine whiskey when they invited me to The Meeting Point, the Jameson bar in Poblacion, Makati. You might think it’s unnecessary to create an entire space around one drink but it’s a versatile liquor that can be mixed and matched. And as a cocktail guy, you can bet that I tried every offering available.
I had to try it neat so I can understand the drink and see how it builds when it’s mixed in other cocktails. On its own, Jameson Irish whiskey is light with a subtle fruity flavor. It also goes well with a bit of ginger ale and some freshly-squeezed lime.
My favorite would have to be the Green Horn, a combination of Jameson, some lemon, pineapple juice, mango shrubs, and a drizzle of mint leaves. It’s a perfectly tropical yet potent drink that’s perfect for warm summer nights. Slightly gentler is the I Might, an iteration of the Mai Tai with Jameson, triple sec, orgeat syrup, some lime, and angostura bitters. The O’groni is the strongest of the bunch, and something I would only recommend for the adventurous types. This drink has Jameson, rosso vermouth, campari, and a sprinkling of orange zest.
There’s plenty of things you can do with whiskey. You can enjoy it neat if you want a smooth evening with some friends (or even alone). You can also mix it with other drinks to make an interesting cocktail. All I can say is, if you’re drinking one, make it with Jameson.
As an Irish brand, they celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a Poblacion pub crawl. The Jameson Bar was front and center of the celebrations last March 16, with other bars like Z Hostel, The Apartment, The Ruins, Nokal, and other joints. I was in a tita mood that day and spent the evening in bed, watching Netflix and drinking… you guessed it, whiskey. Hey, I celebrated, too!
This story is in partnership with Jameson Irish Whiskey. For more information, visit the website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.