Jameson Black Barrel is always my recommendation for someone just looking to get into Irish Whiskey. It’s still approachable at under $37, but way more complex than regular Jameson
You're not the only one, I went to ireland a few weeks ago, and knew nothing about whiskey, and the bartender suggested I tried it. I'm glad he did, because it's my favorite now !
@@richardvargas4950 How? Jameson is owned by Pernod Ricard. Bushmills is owned by Casa Cuervo. There is literally NO connection between the owners, and very VERY far from there being a connection between Jameson and Bushmills! Do you even drink Irish whiskey?
Whisky Dic put me on to this one a year or so ago. Love it! :). And a cask strength would be VERY interesting. Great to see you and Gregor in TX on your live stream on Saturday. :)
Nov/Dec 2022, Tesco price is €28 in Ireland. Vanilla, Cream Soda and buttery toffee is what I get from it and it's awesome at that price. VERY nice on ice.. It would be a lovely Christmas tipple and I'm gonna get some in... a genuine great whiskey at a regular blended whiskey price...
These kind of reviews are great. See it all the time in my local store and ignore it as another of those whiskies for the masses. On the back of this review will definitely give it a try. Thanks Erik.
I reviewed this recently myself and was caught off-guard by how enjoyable it was. Definitely feel like there's more single pot still in this than regular Jameson and the sherry influence is more tangible as well. It honestly gets me pretty close to a Redbreast experience while costing less than half as much locally.
Great review, Erik! I'm glad to see you getting the word out on this one. Jameson Black Barrel has long been the whisky I recommend as the best value Irish. I love this stuff because of exactly what you said-- easy to drink and easy to replace. I can verify what Cormac Johnson said below-- I just brought home a bottle of Black Barrel Cask Strength (60% ABV) from the Jameson Distillery in Dublin. Although they no longer distill there, the Jameson Experience tour is great. I got to fill my own bottle from the cask in the gift shop. What a treat! Black Barrel and Powers Johns Lane (a step up) are what I encourage everyone to buy.
Greetings from the West Coast of Ireland, trying this for the first time ( Christmas Box ) very nice. Try and get some Poitin, love to see your review on that. Oh I think it might still be illegal.. Good luck.
Just picked up a bottle and am trying it now. Price in Atlanta at my store (which normally has good prices) was right at $40, and I’ve seen it for more at other stores. I’m not yet below the neck pour, but first impressions are the good notes you mentioned, some spices but not TOO much, sweet. That char flavor is working it’s way to me, and I’m finding I like double-oaked and heavy char expressions. ABV is not a problem, as this could be an easy-drinking daily dram. Thanks again for bringing it to our attention!
I go through a ton of this stuff Erik. I usually pay around £25-27 when on offer in my local store. It has a higher proportion of single pot still whiskey than the generic Jameson and it is the favourite whiskey of Ger Buckley who coopers the barrels. There is a distillery only bottling, which I haven't had, that is bottled directly from the barrel at cask strength. It gets rave reviews, but this 40% version is a great every day dram especially in the warmer months. Slainte my friend!
What you say at the start was really the thing which kept me away from buying it. I had it at a festival and it's a really good one if you like easy whiskey. Thanks for video 😊
Had always been on my radar, and got to try a pour in a bar a month or two back and was pleasantly surprised! As you say, a bit thin and light on the mouthfeel, but a delicious flavour and great value!
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies Hi Eric. I just blind tasted the blackbush and the black barrel. As much as I liked the black barrel I liked the blackbush better. I believe this is because it was aged in sherry casks. Slainte!
Just got a bottle of this and I can see it being a little dangerous how easy it goes down. It was very mild to me but then again I'm a peat head. Nice whisky
I've been thinking about getting this one. I did enjoy the Crested version of Jameson for its sherry influences and wondered whether to get this or the Triple Triple.
"The Nose" Smells like everything. "The Taste" Tastes like everything. Lol. I agree, this is my goto Jamo shooter. Glad it is getting some love. Great vid, I subbed.
Great review Erik, I’ve been trying to get the word out on Black Barrel all year. I’m usually not a big fan of Jameson but this one can’t be matched for the price. I have yet to find a better value in Irish whiskey, and with pot still whiskies beginning to mirror Scotch single malt prices, I doubt that I will in the future. I’ve noticed a lot of comparisons to Bushmills Black Bush in the comments but for me I find it closer to Red Bush.
Have you seen the news this week of a 100 proof Black Barrel coming out in November? Might have the extra depth and mouthfeel you're looking for... I'm really looking forward to trying that!
Hi Erik, thanks for the tipp, maybe I'll snatch one if opportunity arises. :-) Btw. Jameson seem to regularly sell single cask barrel strength versions of this stuff in their distillery (i.e. Midleton).
Good review. Black Barrel is a proper good Irish whiskey. I wouldn't bother with the very cheap stuff like bog standard Tullimore Dew, Paddy or Bushmills original. Pricewise Black Barrel or even Bushmills Black Bush are where you should start if you want a decent Irish Whiskey.
I normally drink bourbon and/or rye whiskey. I picked up a bottle of this today....I like it....I would love to see this at around 90 proof, but it does have a lot of flavor for only being 80 proof. Cheers
I saw this today but didn’t bite yet, I have red breast 12 as well as green spot. Surprisingly the green spot is more expensive than red breast and I prefer green spot (contrary to most TH-camrs) . Thank you for enlightening me, next time I will try this black barrel as I assumed Jameson would be rather short with not very interesting nose or palate. I love the green spot for its clarity of flavor of green apple, vanilla and woody oak which is obviously present but red breast just doesn’t do it for me like that. ;-D
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies I believe so. I'd assume it'll come around in the winter after the Redbreast PX hits (since that's expected to get here in November/December)
A gorgeous, well rounded, pricey but affordable for the general public whiskey. 8.7/10 from me. My biggest, and possibly only, complaint about it is that its technically a limited drop. While being a common enough drink, they are a limited production per year. I feel like this maybe attributed to the fact its usually just stocked next to the cheaper, more boring whiskeys that would get picked most often due to shorter prices. 0 complaints on the nose and flavour profiles, it hits every box for my favoured tastes. It pairs well with ginger ale and rocks, so the ice doesnt water it down even more again. If it were a thicker whiskey, maybe 45-50%abv, i'd probably rate it even higher again. Its oily, and coats your mouth and throat in the whiskey goodness, but its still pretty thin overall. Edit - we had the same complaint about the thin-ness of the drink, wow! Great minds must think alike haha
*(anyone else get the vibe that he's doing this channel to make his whiskey habit a business expense on his income taxes? Nothing wrong with that of course ... hell, I should start a channel ... ). The story - near as I can gather from forums and the like (so it's all a bit loose) is that it's a replacement for the Jameson 12 year - as it's a blend which includes stuff as young as 8 - so it's a rebranding exercise for legality essentially. Still tastes like the classic 12 year which was discontinued in 2016. As far as it's mass-market segment - I started drinking before the craft market exploded - so there was nothing else outside of Kentucky and distillery towns. Second, it's akin to a nice In-and-Out Burger. Widely available (out-west), but still a good burger. Best? Naw - but darn good.
OH NO! You discovered my secret! Actually, I spend about $4-6K a year on whisky, my patrons give me about $2k and unless I was a 501(c)(3) organization I can not write this off on my taxes. However, when I was studying for wine exams with the CMS or WSET I could write off my wine expenses.
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies Oh, business expenses are quite wide for any contractor / indie producer - do double-check with your tax laws of course (my experience doesn't replace due-diligence), but you don't need to be a non-profit. Not at all. In fact, that's the only benie to being an SP freelancer - EVERYTHING is a write-off (as long as it contributes to your work), and thank God for that - because you (essentially) pay double on Social Security contributions (because you don't have an employer doing matching drops) making your effect tax rate state and local around 50 percent. Pro-tip if you're doing more than 5 figures - get an LLC and isolate your liability and improve your tax-exposure (something I should have done while contracting in Silicon Valley).
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies glad you took my comment not too seriously, I’m not exactly a lightweight myself anymore. My son gave me a bottle of this for Christmas but I haven’t opened it yet. I’m a whiskey rookie but am surprised at the number of reviewers out there.
I found this to have a more enticing nose than Bushmills Black Bush, but the palate is more watered down. It seems that the cheap bar option rule still holds: regular Jameson is like JW Black minus the tiny peat influence, and minus about 30% flavor & body. So it is here between Black Barrel & Black Bush. Nice nose and palate, but both are gone in an instant. I bought it for $37. I just spent a nearly identical amount (just under $37) on a straight (4yr) bourbon, and I counter your ‘must buy’, with my own: BLUE NOTE CROSSROADS Straight Bourbon (50%abv, $37) finished with toasted French Oak. The entry level product of this lineup, Blue Note Juke Joint Straight Bourbon (46.5%abv) sells for $26. This finished straight bourbon is identically priced to Black Barrel, JW Black, and a buck or two cheaper than Black Bush, but at 100 proof, delivers much more on the palate. I know, different category. I proclaim a new $35-40 finished category, and you can’t stop me.😉 I left the bottle covered, but open, to slightly oxidize for 12 hours, the gentle bitter tannins of the French Oak recede into balance with the sweetness, crème brûlée, butter-pecan or perhaps pecan praline, and rye notes of a 60/36/4 mashbill (no cinnamon or licorice, but a suggestion of berries) hiding behind. This was possible because of the higher proof.
☘ WATCH MORE OF MY IRISH WHISKEY REVIEWS HERE: th-cam.com/play/PLFE4H6ZO6VFZra6fOv0Qzltk_aNIgWX4S.html
Eric, I would love a series on high quality affordable/guilt free whiskies. Love your content
The cask strength bottling is available in The Jameson Distillery, Bow Street, Dublin👍
Jameson Black Barrel is always my recommendation for someone just looking to get into Irish Whiskey. It’s still approachable at under $37, but way more complex than regular Jameson
You're not the only one, I went to ireland a few weeks ago, and knew nothing about whiskey, and the bartender suggested I tried it. I'm glad he did, because it's my favorite now !
This has always been one of my favorite Irish whiskeys. I find myself coming back to this a lot more than anything else.
I hear they are even releasing a ‘cask strength’ version of this one. Will definitely be trying to get my hands on one.
I live in Midleton, Ireland - and just bottled myself a cask strength (60%) today. It is incredible 👍🏻
Great video! I've given a bottle of this to my Scottish father in law and it became his daily dram, price and flavor make it a winner!
Mmmmmmm....IRISH WHISKY.
LOVE IT😊😊😊
Full collection of them
I have a full collection of Irish whiskey myself.
@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies lucky guy...I wish I have.
I have few,for now😃😃
Both Jameson Black Barrel & Bushmills Blackbush are GREAT whiskeys ... for a decent price! In both cases better than some really expensive malts!
They're the same brand too
@@richardvargas4950 How? Jameson is owned by Pernod Ricard. Bushmills is owned by Casa Cuervo. There is literally NO connection between the owners, and very VERY far from there being a connection between Jameson and Bushmills! Do you even drink Irish whiskey?
Whisky Dic put me on to this one a year or so ago. Love it! :). And a cask strength would be VERY interesting. Great to see you and Gregor in TX on your live stream on Saturday. :)
Thanks for the review and the “heads up” for this. I likely would’ve overlooked this, so I’m glad you’ve alerted me to it, and it sounds tasty.
My 1st bottle I bought for my home collection. Although I'm drinking Redwood Empire Pipedream tonight.
Hope you enjoy it!
Jameson black barrel is one of my favorite whiskeys to enjoy 😊
I was pleasantly surprised with this one. A keeper for me. Nice review sir. Cheers
Nov/Dec 2022, Tesco price is €28 in Ireland. Vanilla, Cream Soda and buttery toffee is what I get from it and it's awesome at that price. VERY nice on ice.. It would be a lovely Christmas tipple and I'm gonna get some in... a genuine great whiskey at a regular blended whiskey price...
Agree with you about the mouthfeel. There is actually a cask strength version but it is only available in Ireland.
Hi Erik, Not too keen on the normal Jameson’s but this is so much better. Good video Erik, slàinte.
Thanks for your review of this Jameson Irish whiskey! Cheers!
This is my favorite Jameson. I love when Costco has it on sale. I hope they release the cask strength in the states.
These kind of reviews are great. See it all the time in my local store and ignore it as another of those whiskies for the masses. On the back of this review will definitely give it a try. Thanks Erik.
Check out Whisky Novice’s record as well.
Thanks…..will do
I reviewed this recently myself and was caught off-guard by how enjoyable it was. Definitely feel like there's more single pot still in this than regular Jameson and the sherry influence is more tangible as well. It honestly gets me pretty close to a Redbreast experience while costing less than half as much locally.
In Dublin bost practically the same the difference is about 20pc
Great review, Erik! I'm glad to see you getting the word out on this one. Jameson Black Barrel has long been the whisky I recommend as the best value Irish. I love this stuff because of exactly what you said-- easy to drink and easy to replace. I can verify what Cormac Johnson said below-- I just brought home a bottle of Black Barrel Cask Strength (60% ABV) from the Jameson Distillery in Dublin. Although they no longer distill there, the Jameson Experience tour is great. I got to fill my own bottle from the cask in the gift shop. What a treat! Black Barrel and Powers Johns Lane (a step up) are what I encourage everyone to buy.
Is John's Lane better then the black barrel cask strenght??
@@BG-oj6zt The availability of John's Lane is the advantage. They are different, but both exceptional Irish whiskey.
I'm not sure what it is but I seem to get an oily slight sardine oil note when I drink this next to another Bourbon
Hmmmmm... I don't know what to say about that. Sounds a bit fishy to me....
Greetings from the West Coast of Ireland, trying this for the first time ( Christmas Box ) very nice. Try and get some Poitin, love to see your review on that. Oh I think it might still be illegal.. Good luck.
Just picked up a bottle and am trying it now. Price in Atlanta at my store (which normally has good prices) was right at $40, and I’ve seen it for more at other stores. I’m not yet below the neck pour, but first impressions are the good notes you mentioned, some spices but not TOO much, sweet. That char flavor is working it’s way to me, and I’m finding I like double-oaked and heavy char expressions. ABV is not a problem, as this could be an easy-drinking daily dram. Thanks again for bringing it to our attention!
I go through a ton of this stuff Erik. I usually pay around £25-27 when on offer in my local store. It has a higher proportion of single pot still whiskey than the generic Jameson and it is the favourite whiskey of Ger Buckley who coopers the barrels. There is a distillery only bottling, which I haven't had, that is bottled directly from the barrel at cask strength. It gets rave reviews, but this 40% version is a great every day dram especially in the warmer months. Slainte my friend!
Erik will go and get myself one of these have not seen this in the shops.
What you say at the start was really the thing which kept me away from buying it. I had it at a festival and it's a really good one if you like easy whiskey. Thanks for video 😊
Commonly available whiskey like this I always just think oh it will always be there I'll get it next time. Someday I'll give it a chance.
Had always been on my radar, and got to try a pour in a bar a month or two back and was pleasantly surprised! As you say, a bit thin and light on the mouthfeel, but a delicious flavour and great value!
Enjoy this one, only a couple of Jameson bottles on my shelf, hooked on Red Breast.
Awesome whiskey video. The Black Barrel looks great.
Interested in trying, but hard to pull the trigger at over $50 everywhere I look on Long Island.
Prices of whiskey have really be skyrocketing. But it is still under $50 in California at $39.
Eric which do you prefer this one or the bushmills blackbush?
This one, mostly for the spicier character.
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies Thanks Erik
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies Hi Eric. I just blind tasted the blackbush and the black barrel. As much as I liked the black barrel I liked the blackbush better. I believe this is because it was aged in sherry casks. Slainte!
Just got a bottle of this and I can see it being a little dangerous how easy it goes down. It was very mild to me but then again I'm a peat head. Nice whisky
No beard!! Love redbreast 12 I need to try this one. I wonder how it compares to bushmills black bush
Funny, I shaved the beard off in July and 4 months later people are still commenting on it.
I bought this on saint patricks day for fun, it became my go to as a non serious whiskey drinker
I've been thinking about getting this one. I did enjoy the Crested version of Jameson for its sherry influences and wondered whether to get this or the Triple Triple.
"The Nose" Smells like everything. "The Taste" Tastes like everything. Lol. I agree, this is my goto Jamo shooter. Glad it is getting some love. Great vid, I subbed.
Great review Erik, I’ve been trying to get the word out on Black Barrel all year. I’m usually not a big fan of Jameson but this one can’t be matched for the price. I have yet to find a better value in Irish whiskey, and with pot still whiskies beginning to mirror Scotch single malt prices, I doubt that I will in the future.
I’ve noticed a lot of comparisons to Bushmills Black Bush in the comments but for me I find it closer to Red Bush.
I’m currently sipping a Teeling. The Black is miles above standard Jameson.
As usual , great review and at that price , def one to try
Thanks 👍
Have you seen the news this week of a 100 proof Black Barrel coming out in November? Might have the extra depth and mouthfeel you're looking for...
I'm really looking forward to trying that!
Yes! I am hoping it comes to the USA.
Hi Erik, thanks for the tipp, maybe I'll snatch one if opportunity arises. :-) Btw. Jameson seem to regularly sell single cask barrel strength versions of this stuff in their distillery (i.e. Midleton).
In my area, the black barrel sells for $44.99 and the regular Jameson sells for $23.99. Is black barrel worth the extra $21 dollars for the same abv?
If all you value is the alcohol level, then no, it isn’t worth it. But if you value quality price ratio and flavor, then yes, it is worth it.
Great review. Gonna pick up a bottle right away!
Hope you enjoy it!
Good review. Black Barrel is a proper good Irish whiskey. I wouldn't bother with the very cheap stuff like bog standard Tullimore Dew, Paddy or Bushmills original. Pricewise Black Barrel or even Bushmills Black Bush are where you should start if you want a decent Irish Whiskey.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I should go out now and get a few bottles before the price triples from word of mouth and from the reviews.
My area has a 1 liter for $45.98
Go for it!
I never tried it but I like regular Jameson, I'm a bourbon guy so I think charred bourbon barrels will prob make me like it and for 32$ I'm in love
I really enjoy the stout edition jameson.
I like to surprise friends with this one. For the price, and proof it's very good!
Jameson crested is really good too!!
I'll check it out.
I normally drink bourbon and/or rye whiskey. I picked up a bottle of this today....I like it....I would love to see this at around 90 proof, but it does have a lot of flavor for only being 80 proof. Cheers
There is a Cask Strength (60.2% ABV) version on the market if you can find it.
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies have you tasted it?
Try and get your hands on the Black Barrel Proof, its a limited edition 50%abv Its even better
I will!
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies Is it available in the States?
Guess what I found at the back of my cabinet
Great vid just got the bottle 👍🏻🥃
Hope you enjoy it!
I saw this today but didn’t bite yet, I have red breast 12 as well as green spot. Surprisingly the green spot is more expensive than red breast and I prefer green spot (contrary to most TH-camrs) . Thank you for enlightening me, next time I will try this black barrel as I assumed Jameson would be rather short with not very interesting nose or palate. I love the green spot for its clarity of flavor of green apple, vanilla and woody oak which is obviously present but red breast just doesn’t do it for me like that. ;-D
I like green spot more too :)
Damn, a "must buy" Jameson. Well now I gotta try it.
I miss the 12 year reserve they replaced with this
And now we have a barrel proof one coming out soon!
Will it be available in the USA?
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies I believe so. I'd assume it'll come around in the winter after the Redbreast PX hits (since that's expected to get here in November/December)
A gorgeous, well rounded, pricey but affordable for the general public whiskey. 8.7/10 from me. My biggest, and possibly only, complaint about it is that its technically a limited drop. While being a common enough drink, they are a limited production per year. I feel like this maybe attributed to the fact its usually just stocked next to the cheaper, more boring whiskeys that would get picked most often due to shorter prices. 0 complaints on the nose and flavour profiles, it hits every box for my favoured tastes. It pairs well with ginger ale and rocks, so the ice doesnt water it down even more again. If it were a thicker whiskey, maybe 45-50%abv, i'd probably rate it even higher again. Its oily, and coats your mouth and throat in the whiskey goodness, but its still pretty thin overall.
Edit - we had the same complaint about the thin-ness of the drink, wow! Great minds must think alike haha
Come day go day wishing me heart it was Sunday Drinking buttermilk all the week whiskey on a Sunday
Happy birthday
Great review Erik, it really is a great Jameson release.
That is a Beautiful Amber color
This stuff is awesome
lovely whiskey👊
It really is!
🙏 thank you Erik. Glad you like this one buddy. Prices on this are starting to jump up here. It's popularity is speaking volumes. Cheers.
Like the Irish version of eagle rare 10 year old for taste and value
Not the same as a few years back, the flavours are bland, gonna leave the Cork out for a few hours,c if that helps
Smooth as silk...much better than Jameson stock
👍👍
$50 in Canada
So many nicer Irish whiskies than Jameson but i’ll give it a try. Worst case i have something for Irish Coffee.
After you try the Black barrel let me know what you think!
*(anyone else get the vibe that he's doing this channel to make his whiskey habit a business expense on his income taxes? Nothing wrong with that of course ... hell, I should start a channel ... ). The story - near as I can gather from forums and the like (so it's all a bit loose) is that it's a replacement for the Jameson 12 year - as it's a blend which includes stuff as young as 8 - so it's a rebranding exercise for legality essentially. Still tastes like the classic 12 year which was discontinued in 2016.
As far as it's mass-market segment - I started drinking before the craft market exploded - so there was nothing else outside of Kentucky and distillery towns. Second, it's akin to a nice In-and-Out Burger. Widely available (out-west), but still a good burger. Best? Naw - but darn good.
OH NO! You discovered my secret! Actually, I spend about $4-6K a year on whisky, my patrons give me about $2k and unless I was a 501(c)(3) organization I can not write this off on my taxes. However, when I was studying for wine exams with the CMS or WSET I could write off my wine expenses.
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies Oh, business expenses are quite wide for any contractor / indie producer - do double-check with your tax laws of course (my experience doesn't replace due-diligence), but you don't need to be a non-profit. Not at all. In fact, that's the only benie to being an SP freelancer - EVERYTHING is a write-off (as long as it contributes to your work), and thank God for that - because you (essentially) pay double on Social Security contributions (because you don't have an employer doing matching drops) making your effect tax rate state and local around 50 percent. Pro-tip if you're doing more than 5 figures - get an LLC and isolate your liability and improve your tax-exposure (something I should have done while contracting in Silicon Valley).
I’ll be glad when the 100 proof becomes available in the states. Well at least around me. Ha
I liked that's it's not sweet
All Irish whiskey feels thin.
Its the low abv.
Averaging at €53 or $61 in it's home country, welcome to rip off Ireland! 🇮🇪😢
WOW! Must be the taxes.
This guy knows nothing about something being thin
I haven't been thin since I was 19 years old. Drinking really good whisky and trying to lose weight don't go well together.
@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies glad you took my comment not too seriously, I’m not exactly a lightweight myself anymore. My son gave me a bottle of this for Christmas but I haven’t opened it yet. I’m a whiskey rookie but am surprised at the number of reviewers out there.
I found this to have a more enticing nose than Bushmills Black Bush, but the palate is more watered down. It seems that the cheap bar option rule still holds: regular Jameson is like JW Black minus the tiny peat influence, and minus about 30% flavor & body. So it is here between Black Barrel & Black Bush. Nice nose and palate, but both are gone in an instant. I bought it for $37.
I just spent a nearly identical amount (just under $37) on a straight (4yr) bourbon, and I counter your ‘must buy’, with my own: BLUE NOTE CROSSROADS Straight Bourbon (50%abv, $37) finished with toasted French Oak. The entry level product of this lineup, Blue Note Juke Joint Straight Bourbon (46.5%abv) sells for $26.
This finished straight bourbon is identically priced to Black Barrel, JW Black, and a buck or two cheaper than Black Bush, but at 100 proof, delivers much more on the palate.
I know, different category. I proclaim a new $35-40 finished category, and you can’t stop me.😉
I left the bottle covered, but open, to slightly oxidize for 12 hours, the gentle bitter tannins of the French Oak recede into balance with the sweetness, crème brûlée, butter-pecan or perhaps pecan praline, and rye notes of a 60/36/4 mashbill (no cinnamon or licorice, but a suggestion of berries) hiding behind. This was possible because of the higher proof.
Better then any high price perfect taste
Jameson black barrel is one of my favorite whiskeys to enjoy 😊