Jameson 18 Years Old Master Selection, Jameson Distillery, Ireland
The Philadelphia Whiskey festival, held annually in the Crystal tea-room is a funny little fest. Particularly if you don't talk overly-loud, slap your cronies on the back and have never voted for Bush. Not to mention, if you're not a dude.
I went with my bartender-buddies because we got free promotional tix (with its normal $100 price tag, who can say no?) Whiskey festivals can easily lead to debauchery, debasement and your out-of-character karaoke performances, but that's a story for another day. We were treated like rock stars by the vendors because we know how to act in public. And often they would keep the whiskey flowing long past the normal cutoff point. My favorite vendor was the adorable, Irish-brouged Jameson rep who let me keep refilling my snifter with nectary-goodness, particularly once I stumbled across the Jameson 18.
After the first half-ounce hit my tongue, I thought I'd found a corner of heaven just for me. (I'm not sure they allow whiskey in heaven -- well, not Protestant heaven, at least, but who knows what those crazy Catholics get up to up there). One thing is certain, Jameson 18 is really something spectacular. The nose is clean, with a hint of violet and wood. On the palate, it's like a sexy party in the mouth. Oh, and this romp takes place on an oaky, hard-wood floor, surrounded by luscious tropical flowers and everybody's rubbing sweet, musky bath oil on each other.
Well worth the price tag, which at $80 a 750ml is comparable to a high end single malt.
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