Irish Whiskey

Fox TV News announced this week that Dublin is the friendliest city in Europe. (Paris is the least friendly, according to the report that had millions of American tourists vigorously nodding their heads in agreement!)

Of course, there are many possible reasons for the friendliness of the Dublin citizenry. There's the Celtic Tiger, for starters, the nickname for the spectacular economic boon that the city has been enjoying. There's also the basic Irish personality with its innate desire to talk to anyone who'll listen.

But since St. Paddy's Day is upon us, I say we give some of the credit to the Irish whiskeys that'll put a smile on your face and a story on your lips whether you're a citizen of Eire or a visitor to its emerald green shores.

I learned to love the stuff on a trip to Ireland last summer. Jameson Irish whiskey, in particular. I took a tour of the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin, a tour that included an extensive tasting of Irish, Scottish and American whiskeys.
                                                                                          
I learned that Jameson (pronounced jam-e-son, not jame-e-son, by those in the know) is the #1-selling Irish whiskey in the world. That the potion of fermented grain and water matures for a minimum of three years in casks that formerly housed sherry, port or bourbon. And that NO one calls the magical mingling of Guinness with a shot of Jameson and Bailey's Irish Cream an Irish Car Bomb anymore.

I also discovered the Irish whiskey cocktail preferred by young, hip and affluent Dubliners. (Come to think of it, I saw plenty of old geezers drinking it in the pubs, too.) It's Jameson and cranberry juice and it seems to have stolen the spotlight from Jameson and ginger ale. (Of course, no self-respecting Irishman is going to refuse a whiskey straight-up or on the rocks either.)

There are several Irish whiskeys on the American market, including Bushmills and Powers, which I also sampled in the line of duty. But I was smitten by the mellow, toasted wood and slightly nutty flavors and the lovely smoothness of Jameson which is  widely available in 12- and 18- years-old formulas.

You can visit the Jameson Web site to learn how the whiskey is made, as well as how to make a modern, foofy cocktail called a Macree. That's the phonetic spelling of the Irish words Mo Chrol, which I'm told translate to "my heart."  The cocktail involves Chambord, cranberry juice, raspberry juice, lemon juice, a few real raspberries and a shot of Jameson.

Now if that won't make you friendly, what will?

Comments

[hoosurpadre]

I was amazed how many 21 year-old girls I saw drinking Jameson and Cranberry. It really seems to be THE drink for young Irish girls. Oh yeah, and Dad really likes it too.

[T]

Cran-Raspberry juice works too...