Welcome to Mont St Michel, a spectacular tidal island that took 500 years to complete. With its rich history, the place is as interesting as it is beautiful.
Showing posts with label Jameson Irish Whiskey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jameson Irish Whiskey. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Mont St Michel
Welcome to Mont St Michel, a spectacular tidal island that took 500 years to complete. With its rich history, the place is as interesting as it is beautiful.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Irish Beer is Too Easy to Swallow!
Oh, the joys of Ireland. Today, we went to the National Leprechaun Museum. The stories were fabulous and I am quite interested in reading up on Irish mythology. The museum, itself, left a bit to be desired, but the experience was still amazing. It is a cute little place with a lot of potential. It just opened in 2010, so there is plenty of room to grow.
After the museum, we went to the mall. I got some candy and pistachios. How can you not enjoy candy and pistachios?
When we got back to the hotel, Dad, the Gormans, and I decided to go out to the pubs. Our first stop was at The Cobblestone. It's a quaint little pub near our hotel. I had a Jameson on the rocks... it was about 3 shots in one glass with a couple of ice cubes. I still say you should never taint such a pure whiskey with mixers. It is just too good by itself.
The Gormans were a bit too tired to join us for the rest of our pub hopping, so they returned to the hotel. Dad and I went to his favorite pub, The Richmond. There, I partook in (2) 1/2 pints of Smithwicks Irish Ale. Amazingly, I have found a beer that is too easy to swallow! If you know me, you know that I am generally not a big fan of beers. However, this is Ireland and you have to try the beer! Smithwicks is a smooth tasting ale with mild undertones of coffee. It is even better than the Bulmers cider I've been chugging down!
After our drinks at The Richmond, we returned to the Cobblestone for another pint and some live music. The pub has musicians every night. Tonight's group consisted of about 30 people with violins, mandolins, and pipes. If you're in the mood for a good pint of beer and authentic Irish music, then the Cobblestone pub is the right place for you.
Pint count: 6
Whiskey count: 5
Just so you know, my first work of art has been put up for display in a museum. Here I am with my lovely piece titled "Jennifer, Age 25"... I am slowly becoming world famous. :)
After the museum, we went to the mall. I got some candy and pistachios. How can you not enjoy candy and pistachios?
When we got back to the hotel, Dad, the Gormans, and I decided to go out to the pubs. Our first stop was at The Cobblestone. It's a quaint little pub near our hotel. I had a Jameson on the rocks... it was about 3 shots in one glass with a couple of ice cubes. I still say you should never taint such a pure whiskey with mixers. It is just too good by itself.
The Gormans were a bit too tired to join us for the rest of our pub hopping, so they returned to the hotel. Dad and I went to his favorite pub, The Richmond. There, I partook in (2) 1/2 pints of Smithwicks Irish Ale. Amazingly, I have found a beer that is too easy to swallow! If you know me, you know that I am generally not a big fan of beers. However, this is Ireland and you have to try the beer! Smithwicks is a smooth tasting ale with mild undertones of coffee. It is even better than the Bulmers cider I've been chugging down!
After our drinks at The Richmond, we returned to the Cobblestone for another pint and some live music. The pub has musicians every night. Tonight's group consisted of about 30 people with violins, mandolins, and pipes. If you're in the mood for a good pint of beer and authentic Irish music, then the Cobblestone pub is the right place for you.
Pint count: 6
Whiskey count: 5
Just so you know, my first work of art has been put up for display in a museum. Here I am with my lovely piece titled "Jennifer, Age 25"... I am slowly becoming world famous. :)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Triple Distilled!
After the hustle and bustle of my days in Paris, I took this morning as a chance to sleep in. Dad returned "the boat" to the rental agency and picked up the Gormans. While everyone went to lunch, I opted to sleep in a little more and picked up a light snack before heading out.
The day's main event was a tour of the Jameson Distillery. Our tour guide, Andy, was quite knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. At the beginning of the tour, he asked for 8 volunteers... 4 females, 4 males. Ever the adventerous type, I raised my hand enthusiastically and was chosen. Andy handed me an empty green tube and said to hold on to it as there was a surprise at the end of the tour. Dad also received a green tube.
The tour was quite educational and very interesting. I learned a lot about different types of whiskey and what makes Jameson so unique. Using the finest barley in Ireland and pure spring water, the "whisketeers" create an incredibly smooth spirit with a distinctive flavor. You will have to take the tour in order to learn about the actual procedure.
After the tour, it was time for the 8 volunteers to partake in a whiskey tasting. Each seat had a placemat, labeled with 3 shot glasses of different types of whiskey: A famous black label scotch, the American Jack Daniels, and, of course, Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Each whiskey had its own unique processing and flavor attributes. The Jack Daniels, single-distilled, aged in a brand new oak barrel, has a very sweet, woody flavor. The black label scotch, double-distilled, has a smoky flavor provided by the drying method of its grain (open-kiln, peat smoke). Jameson has a fresh, smooth taste. The triple distillation process and aging in used barrels (for a greatly reduced flavor of woodiness and subtly added flavor of barrel's previous inhabitant) make Jameson Irish Whiskey my favorite whiskey by far.
Included in the price of admission is a free glass of Jameson. I had mine on the rocks and would not recommend it any other way. Why destroy the purity of such a smooth whiskey by adding soda or juice? It's such a waste! Save the mixers for Jack Daniels. ;)
After the tour, we stopped at Fresh to pick up a quick dinner. I had a chicken sandwich with sweet chili sauce, lettuce, onion, and tomato. It was delicious, quick, and inexpensive. The perfect combination for any meal on the go.
Dad, Billy and I went to The Richmond after dinner. I had another pint of Bulmers cider. Billy had the same. Dad stuck to his Fosters. It was a nice evening out in Dublin.
Pint Count: 4
Whiskey Count: 4 (Good whiskey count: 2)
By the way, were you wondering what the green tubes given to us volunteers were for? Well, I am now, officially, a "Qualified Irish Whiskey Taster". The tube was for my diploma. :)
The day's main event was a tour of the Jameson Distillery. Our tour guide, Andy, was quite knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. At the beginning of the tour, he asked for 8 volunteers... 4 females, 4 males. Ever the adventerous type, I raised my hand enthusiastically and was chosen. Andy handed me an empty green tube and said to hold on to it as there was a surprise at the end of the tour. Dad also received a green tube.
The tour was quite educational and very interesting. I learned a lot about different types of whiskey and what makes Jameson so unique. Using the finest barley in Ireland and pure spring water, the "whisketeers" create an incredibly smooth spirit with a distinctive flavor. You will have to take the tour in order to learn about the actual procedure.
After the tour, it was time for the 8 volunteers to partake in a whiskey tasting. Each seat had a placemat, labeled with 3 shot glasses of different types of whiskey: A famous black label scotch, the American Jack Daniels, and, of course, Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Each whiskey had its own unique processing and flavor attributes. The Jack Daniels, single-distilled, aged in a brand new oak barrel, has a very sweet, woody flavor. The black label scotch, double-distilled, has a smoky flavor provided by the drying method of its grain (open-kiln, peat smoke). Jameson has a fresh, smooth taste. The triple distillation process and aging in used barrels (for a greatly reduced flavor of woodiness and subtly added flavor of barrel's previous inhabitant) make Jameson Irish Whiskey my favorite whiskey by far.
Included in the price of admission is a free glass of Jameson. I had mine on the rocks and would not recommend it any other way. Why destroy the purity of such a smooth whiskey by adding soda or juice? It's such a waste! Save the mixers for Jack Daniels. ;)
After the tour, we stopped at Fresh to pick up a quick dinner. I had a chicken sandwich with sweet chili sauce, lettuce, onion, and tomato. It was delicious, quick, and inexpensive. The perfect combination for any meal on the go.
Dad, Billy and I went to The Richmond after dinner. I had another pint of Bulmers cider. Billy had the same. Dad stuck to his Fosters. It was a nice evening out in Dublin.
Pint Count: 4
Whiskey Count: 4 (Good whiskey count: 2)
By the way, were you wondering what the green tubes given to us volunteers were for? Well, I am now, officially, a "Qualified Irish Whiskey Taster". The tube was for my diploma. :)
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