On Thursday February 11^th, we were cordially received by the Palace Bar Dublin for a Special Reserve Jameson Tasting with Gerard Garlandorganised by the Celtic Whiskey Shop.

The upstairs bar packed with the best whiskey connoisseurs, and an impressive Special Reserve line-up awaiting, the night promised to be brilliant. There was palpable excitement in the air about the opportunity to taste eight Jameson Special Reserves introduced by Gerard Garland, Irish Distillers Whiskey Ambassador. Among them, recent fine releases as well as very rare and old bottling, including Jameson bottles from the Old Jameson Distillery, once called the ‘Bow Street Distillery’.

1. Jameson Limited edition 15 Year Old Irish Whiskey
2. Jameson Special Reserve 12 Year Old
3. Jameson Gold Reserve
4. Jameson Reserve Black Barrel
5. Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve
6. Jameson Limited Reserve 18 Year Old
7. Jameson Bow Street 15 Year Old - Brown Label
8. Jameson Bow Street 12 Year Old - 1970s Brown Label

On March 10th, we found ourselves once again in the luxurious Palace Bar for an exquisite Irish Whiskey tasting to celebrate the upcoming Paddy’s Day celebration.

After a few adjustments to the Palace whiskey bar and due to more tasters than seats, we could start eyeing up the night’s whiskey selection.

As expected of an Irish Whiskey celebration, the selection had been meticulously chosen. Some of the big Irish whiskey names were present, but all whiskeys were particularly noteworthy, with the inclusion of rare and brand new Irish Whiskey releases:

1. Green Spot Château Léoville-Barton
2. Green Spot 10 Year Old Pure Pot Still
3. Irish Whiskey Society Marrowbone Lane Pot Still - Exclusive Bottling
4. Midleton Dair Ghaelach Tree 2
5. Powers 16 Year Old – Celtic Whiskey Shop Exclusive Bottling
6. Bushmills SteamShip Sherry Cask Reserve
7. Celtic Cask 14: Celtic Cask Ceathair Deag (14)
8. Celtic Cask 15: Celtic Cask Cuig Deag (15)

Stephen Magennis, from Celtic Whiskey Shop, was our presenter for the night with special guest Peter White from the Irish Whiskey Society and Mark McLaughlin from Bushmills.

After a brief introduction to the current Irish whiskey market and its state of revolution, it was time to whiff our first whiskey.