Jameson Prices & Buyers’ Guide

Most people’s first experience with Irish whiskey is with Jameson Irish Whiskey, and for good reason. Once the world’s number one whiskey, Jameson is today the world’s third-largest single-distillery whiskey and the most widely sold Irish whiskey. A smooth blend of pot-still malted whiskey and grain whiskey, Jameson has been produced in Ireland since 1780 and is currently made at the Midleton distillery near Cork. The classic Jameson is bottled at 40% ABV and comes in a distinctive green bottle.

Jameson Whiskey Price List 2022

Below is the list of Jameson whiskey prices, along with their bottle sizes and ABV.

Is Jameson Whisky Worth Its Price?

I think Jameson is quite beatable on price, especially if you’re considering cost vs. quality. While Jameson isn’t bad, it is not in the conversation for the best Irish whiskey. Maybe most famous, but not best. The large following, in my opinion, is due to availability and rice. It is affordable, recognizable, and can be found in many bars and stores. For a similar price, I would look at Bushmills and Powers as alternatives. For a slightly more expensive, but much more superior tasting whiskey, I would strongly consider Teeling Irish Whiskey.

Reviewed: Jameson Irish Whiskey Product Line

• Jameson Black Barrel

A step up from the standard Jameson, Black Barrel is aged in double-charred ex-bourbon barrels for a richer, deeper flavor and is priced at around $31.99-$39.99. With notes of toffee, oak, and vanilla, and a long finish that showcases the charred wood that gives Black Barrel its name, this isn’t your typical Irish whiskey.

• Jameson 18 year

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While many of us first experienced Jameson in shot form, this bottle was meant to be sipped and savoured. This bottle has oak, spice, and vanilla on the nose. It’s been aged for 18 years in first-fill bourbon barrels, making it expensive at around $129.99-$199.99. The palate is sherry and more vanilla, with a long oak and spice finish.

• Jameson Caskmates

The Jameson Caskmates series is a new line of Jameson whiskey that has been aged in beer casks and is available for $24.99 to $37.99. Originally, only the IPA and Stout caskmates series were available, as Jameson loaned barrels to a local brewery, then collected the used barrels to age the Caskmates series. The IPA caskmates have a citrusy hop note that pairs well with grapefruit. The stout is smoother with a rich note of caramel. Recently, they’ve expanded the caskmates line by adding a Jameson Caskmates from Revolution Brewing in Chicago, as well as a second IPA caskmate from Bale Breaker Brewing Co. out of Washington State, featuring their Topcutter IPA. Be on the lookout for more caskmates series, as it appears this new tradition is here to stay.

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• Jameson Cold Brew

Who doesn’t like an Irish coffee every now and then? That was the thinking behind Jameson Cold Brew, which is being sold at a price range of $21.99-$34.99. Jameson Cold Brew, as the name implies, is a coffee-flavored whiskey made with cold brew coffee. At 35% ABV, it’s not quite a true whiskey, but more of a strong coffee liqueur with a whiskey base. This makes for a solid upgrade over kahlua, but isn’t much of a sip on its own.

Jameson Alternatives at Comparable Prices

• Bushmills

Bushmills is one of Jameson’s largest competitors in the Irish whiskey scene. Distilled in Northern Ireland, the Bushmills/Jameson rivalry is sometimes colored by politics and religion. While Bushmills is a fine product, it’s thinner and lighter than Jameson’s. Bushmills also has a “Black Bush” positioned to compete with Jameson Black Barrel. However, Black Bush is not aged in charred bourbon barrels, but rather in Oloroso Sherry casks.

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• Tullamore D.E.W

Tullamore D.E.W is the world’s second-best selling Irish whiskey and is partially produced at the same Midleton Distillery that produces Jameson. Tullamore D.E.W offers a range of products priced to compete with Jameson. Buttery, smooth, and with notes of dried fruit, Tullamore is surprisingly complex yet remains versatile. It’s a good bottle for mixing and not too bad for a sip either.

• Proper No.12

Owned by UFC superstar Conor McGregor, Proper No.12 has taken the fight to Jameson since its launch in 2018. With a similar fruity flavor as Jameson and competitive pricing, Proper No.12 has positioned itself as a smaller upstart David to Jameson’s Goliath. Proper No.12 has plans in the works to release a number of expressions to compete with the full Jameson range.

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• Spot

The Spot line consists of Green Spot, Yellow Spot, and Red Spot bottles of Irish Whiskey. While Spot is actually produced at the same Midleton distillery as Jameson, it’s aged and blended differently. The Spot label arose in 1805 when the Mitchel Merchant family began buying Jameson Irish Whiskey and aging it themselves in their own barrels. These bottles may share an origin story with Jameson, but once they finish the aging process, they are an entirely different beast, and the price reflects that. At a substantially higher price point than Jameson, Spot is definitely an Irish whiskey for a special occasion.

Cocktails with Jameson Whiskey

The Slow Walker

• 45 ml Jameson Irish Whiskey (Caskmates IPA is preferable)
• 22.5 ml Aperol
• 22.5 ml Sweet Vermouth
• 2 dashes Creole Bitter or Peychauds

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Stir, strain over ice, and garnish with an orange twist.

This riff on a Boulevardier pairs the grapefruit and hops of the IPA caskmates with the bitter orange of aperol and the spice of Creole bitters for a lighter, refreshing boulevardier.

Side of Pretense

• 50 ml Jameson Irish Whiskey
• 1 Bar spoon Amaro Nonino
• 7.5 ml simple syrup
• 2 dashes Peach bitters

Stir and strain over ice. Garnish with an orange twist, or a grilled slice of peach if you want to be fancy. To take it up a notch, use jasmine tea simple syrup.

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