I love a bottle of Jameson’s. So when I spotted the Distillers Batch Single Pot Still on the Midleton website, it was nearly impossible to resist.
This is not your standard Jameson’s blend. It is a single pot still whiskey, crafted from malted and unmalted barley, matured across five different cask types: American oak, Oloroso sherry, and three varieties of virgin oak from Ireland, America, and Europe.
Bottled at a respectable 46% ABV, this release promised something genuinely different from the Jameson’s name I know so well, and I had to find out whether it delivered.
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READ THE STORYBefore even getting to the liquid, the presentation deserves a mention. The blue colour scheme offset by red and gold lettering is genuinely stunning.
I originally bought this as a birthday gift for a friend who is a devoted Irish whiskey fan, but thanks to a free shipping threshold that nudged me into a second purchase, a bottle found its way into my own ever-growing collection. Sometimes the best discoveries come from happy accidents.
On the nose, this whiskey instantly transported me to breakfast drinks. Not that I condone whiskey at breakfast, of course. There is a lovely chamomile tea quality, soft citrus notes hovering between orange and apple, and a distinct waft of orange that eventually takes centre stage.
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Beneath that sits a subtle bitterness reminiscent of Angostura bitters, some gentian root character, and a rich fudgy creaminess layered with brown sugar. There is even something I can only describe as scented candle wax: a blend of vanilla, lily of the valley, and numerous florals that together smell wonderful.
The palate is where those three virgin oaks really step forward. The Irish and American oak arrive first, delivering butter, coconut, brown sugar, and light fizzy spices that almost verge into molasses territory.
Then the European oak makes its entrance with a tobaccoey, chewy quality, like imagining what smoked wood chips might taste like. It is not overly woody, but there is a soft char that is genuinely unusual.
The finish is decently long, leaning sweet before the European oak reasserts itself with an almost carbonated sensation, pushing flavour around the palate in waves. Think of Jameson’s Crested, but turbocharged with virgin oak influence.
At around €60, I am giving this a 7.5 out of 10 straight away.
The three wood types currently feel somewhat separated on the palate, each delivering distinct flavour rather than a fully unified experience. I suspect that as the bottle opens up over time, those layers will integrate into something even more compelling. This is a heavier, deeper, darker style of Jameson’s, perhaps better suited to autumn and winter sipping than the lighter seasons ahead.
If you are a fan of virgin oak influence, I would highly recommend seeking one out. If that style is not your thing, this probably is not the bottle for you. But for those of us who enjoy watching a whiskey evolve, I think this one has real potential still to unlock.
Have you tried any of Midleton’s single pot still expressions, and how do you think they compare to the more familiar Redbreast range?
