Jameson Irish Whiskey facts for kids
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| Type | Irish Whiskey |
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| Manufacturer | Irish Distillers (Pernod Ricard) |
| Country of origin | Cork (originally Dublin), Ireland |
| Introduced | 1780 |
| Proof (US) | 80 |
| Variants | Original, Crested, Black Barrel, Black Barrel Cask Strength, Signature, Makers Series, 18 Year Old and 18 Year Old Bow Street release. |
| Related products | Paddy, Powers, Redbreast, Spot Whiskeys and Midleton Very Rare |
Jameson is a very popular type of Irish whiskey. It is made by a company called Irish Distillers, which is part of Pernod Ricard. Jameson is the best-selling Irish whiskey around the world. In 2019, over 8 million cases were sold! It has been sold in many countries since the early 1800s. Today, you can find it in more than 130 countries.
Contents
The Story of Jameson
Starting the Company
John Jameson (1740 – 1823) was a lawyer from Scotland. He started his whiskey company in Dublin, Ireland, in 1780. Before this, he married Margaret Haig in 1768. Her father, John Haig, was also a famous whisky maker in Scotland. John and Margaret had a very large family with 16 children!
In 1805, John Jameson's son, John Jameson II, took over the business. He worked hard for 41 years to make the company grow. Later, his son, John Jameson III, took charge in 1851. By 1901, the company officially became "John Jameson and Son Ltd."
Many of John Jameson's sons followed him into the whiskey business. Interestingly, one of his grandsons, Andrew, had a daughter named Annie. Annie was the mother of Guglielmo Marconi, who invented the wireless telegraphy (radio)! The Jameson family became very important in Irish whiskey making.
Challenges and Changes
By the early 1800s, Jameson was one of the biggest whiskey makers in the world. It produced a huge amount of whiskey each year. Dublin was a major center for making whiskey back then. Jameson was even the world's top whiskey brand by 1805.
However, some big events caused problems for the company. First, a movement to reduce alcohol use became popular in Ireland. This affected sales at home. Then, the Irish War of Independence and a trade war with Britain made it hard to sell Jameson in many countries.
Soon after, the United States made it illegal to sell alcohol. This time was called Prohibition. This was a huge problem because the US was Jameson's biggest market. While some Scottish brands could still be smuggled into the US, Jameson was cut off from its main customers for many years.
Also, Scottish whiskey makers started using new machines called "column stills." These machines made whiskey much faster. Irish makers, including Jameson, still used older, slower methods. This made it hard for them to compete.
Forming Irish Distillers
In 1966, John Jameson's company joined with two other Irish whiskey makers, Cork Distillers and John Powers. They formed a new group called the Irish Distillers Group.
Later, in 1976, the old Jameson distilleries in Dublin closed. A new, much larger distillery opened outside Cork. This new place now makes most of the Irish whiskey sold by Irish Distillers. This includes Jameson, Powers, and other famous brands. The old distillery in Cork is now a visitor center where people can learn about whiskey.
In 1988, a French company called Pernod Ricard bought Irish Distillers. This meant Jameson became part of a big international drinks company.
The original Jameson Distillery in Bow Street, Dublin, is now a popular museum. It offers tours and tastings. Even though whiskey is no longer made there, it's a key spot for tourists who want to learn about Irish whiskey. The museum had a big update in 2016. It even has a special warehouse where some Jameson whiskey is aged.
How Jameson is Made
Jameson whiskey is made from a mix of different types of whiskey. It uses both malted and unmalted barley. All the barley comes from farms within 50 miles of the distillery in Cork.
The barley is dried in a special oven called a kiln. This kiln uses natural gas. This is different from some Scottish whiskies, which use peat (a type of fuel from bogs) to dry their barley. Using peat gives Scotch whisky a smoky taste. Jameson does not have this smoky taste because it doesn't use peat.
Awards and Recognition
Jameson whiskies have won many awards in international competitions. For example, its 18-Year-Old whiskey has won gold medals many times at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Its Rarest Reserve has also won top awards. Proof66, a spirits rating website, even named Rarest Reserve one of the top 20 whiskies in the world. In 2018, Jameson 18-Year-Old Bow Street won "Best Irish Blended Whiskey" at the Irish Whiskey Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Jameson (whiskey) para niños
