Mates make great whiskey

Guests were recently treated to a very special whiskey tasting event at the Good Luck Bar in Ferreirasdorp.

The Jameson Caskmates range of products is set to hit South African stores soon with a very limited production run.

The Caskmates concept stems from a partnership between Dave Quinn, master of Whiskey Science at Jameson Irish Whiskey, and Shane Long, founder of the Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork, Ireland. According to the pair, the idea was born in 2013 over drinks at a local pub in County Cork, where it was decided that Jameson would provide Franciscan Well with some of their oak whiskey barrels.

Long said, “We asked Dave for a few of their oak barrels to experiment with. We brewed up a fine Irish stout beer and, afterwards, begged Dave to take back the barrels as we didn’t have space for them at our brewery. Dave and the team at Jameson filled these barrels with Jameson Original Whiskey and sort of forgot about them.”

Six months later, the barrels were reopened and the result was magnificent.

“As a result of its time spent in the stout-seasoned barrels, Jameson Caskmates has the triple-distilled smoothness of Jameson, but now with new added notes of coffee, cocoa and hops,” said Quinn.

Guests on the night received the chance to taste some of the special whiskey, as well as a range of other Jameson products.

Quinn was very excited to share the new product with the South African market. “South Africa is Jameson’s second largest market, and South Africans have great taste in whiskey. We are very happy to share our new product with you.”

Details: www.franciscanwellbrewery.com; www.jamesonwhiskey.com/za