Jameson 2009 Rarest Vintage Reserve

I struggled with whether to make my St. Patrick's Day bottle opening my Bushmills 16 or this one. I originally was going to go with the Bushmills, and save this one for another time, but I decided, what the hell. I'm glad I did!

Colour is golden yellow, about what I was expecting. It has a beautiful nose: honey, vanilla, strawberries and cream, spice, cocoa. Not overpowering and very complex. Water brings out more malt, buttered toast and brown sugar.

In the mouth: wow. Oaky but creamy mouthfeel, nutmeg and cayenne pepper, and cocoa is here too (hints of chocolate milk!) Water make it creamier still. Really, really lovely, absolutely stunning.

Long, honeyed and mouthdrying finish. Perfectly balanced in every way: smooth, complex, rich and unpretentious. As much as I loved yesterday's Redbreast 15, this one lives up to its reputation (and marketing) as the ne plus ultra of Irish whiskeys. Is it worth the steep price? I say yes. But I won't have another dram of this for another year, most likely. And the Bushmills will have to wait as well.

Find where to buy Jameson whisky