Jameson Factory
Trip Start
Unknown
1
7
19
Trip End
Ongoing
Midleton, County Cork, Ireland
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Anyways, our tour lasted about an hour starting with a video on the history of Jameson Wiskey. Started by John Jameson, who I believe was American (although I'm quite terrible at remembering things I hear unless I write them down, which I suppose I should start doing), and came to Ireland and perfected the wiskey making technique. Wiskey is made of three ingrediants: barley, malt, and water. We saw the rooms where they would prepare the barley, then dry it. To get malt they soak the barley until it germinates and then dry it. One picture you will see has many windows (they are red) in the building, this was done because barley can be very combustible so they kept the windows open to try and regulate the temperature in the buildings.
Jameson wiskey is triple distilled so it goes through a still three different times. In here it is heated, the alcohol evaporates before water, goes through a tube/channel, where it cools back to a liquid in a separate area. This is repeated three times. They used the large scales to weigh the product to be sure that the right amount of alcohol was leaving the property. They also tested the wiskey to be sure it was proofed. This was done by lighting a small bit with a flame. If there was no reaction it was under proofed, if it turned blue it was perfect, if it exploded it was over proofed. As dangerous as we see this, the workers were delighted by over proofed wiskey and would come running because they were not allowed to sell it so therefore the workers got to drink it! The final product is 80 proof from the beginning product that was only 8 (after triple distillation).
Legally they cannot say it is wiskey unless it is matured for at least three years. The most popular age is 4.5 to 5 years, although they also have 12 and 18 year old wiskey. In the picture of the multiple colors the farthest to the left is 1 year, and moving to the right it goes 3, 4.5-5, 12, and 18 years.
At the end of our tour we got a complimentary drink, I had my wiskey mixed with cranberry juice, and it was surprisingly good! I had planned to drink my whole drink even if I had to hold my nose to get it down, just because it was the experience, however to my delight I completely enjoyed my drink. A few people (not me) were chosen for a taste testing, and tasted watered down (30%) from America, Scotland, and the Jameson. Everyone agreed that Jameson was the best tasting of all three, and it was very interesting to watch!
Comments
Rachel, is the Jameson we buy in the states the same as you can by in Ireland?
If not, maybe you should bring some home. Just a thought. I'm not a whiskey person.
Love you
Love mom
I buy a small bottle of Jameson at the holidays for mixing in eggnog. I think its the best!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two blogs... YOu write very well, and with the pictures, you tell a really good story. So glad you are getting out and seeing some of the picturesque places around Cork. I know what you mean about being with people. I, too, find it exhausting, and need to get by myself and re-group. So good to hear from you. Love, Grandmere
Yes, if you get Jameson in America it is the kind that comes from Ireland!
Grandmere! I am so glad you have been able to follow my blog!