Cocktail recipe + Jameson whiskey = spring!

Spotlight on an exceptional product

The star of this cocktail is undoubtedly the legendary Jameson Irish whiskey. A renowned spirit anchored in the terroir of the Emerald Isle since 1780, it’s made from local barley and water from the river that flows through the distillery. The result of expertise passed down from generation to generation, this product stands out through the smooth mouthfeel and aromatic complexity it gets from being triple distilled and aged in three types of casks. 

For our À la carte cocktails series, Ali Bensaud, content creator and avid mixology enthusiast, was tasked with coming up with a cocktail featuring this whiskey. The catch was that he had to carry out whatever was written on two cards picked at random—his cards dictated that he had to include citrus and reinvent a classic. Ali was thrilled to have Jameson as his starting point. 

 “It’s the only whiskey for me. It’s so smooth.”  What he enjoys is its hint of flowers and vanilla, subtle taste of alcohol and balanced flavour, all of which gives it the versatility he typically associates with Irish whiskeys. “They’re not as liqueur-like as their American counterpart and not as earthy as the Scottish kind. They’re great for every occasion.”

For this challenge, Ali ended up creating a twist on the John Collins, subbing in Jameson for the gin. His citrus card had him considering oranges, but he went a step further and opted for orange blossom water—one of his favourite ingredients—to echo Jameson’s floral quality. This made for a perfectly balanced cocktail, with the slight bitterness of the orange zest syrup offsetting the sweetness of the whiskey, while the lemon juice adds some zing and the sparkling water, some lightness.

As for the second card, reinventing classics is right in Ali’s wheelhouse. In fact, traditional recipes are often what fuel his creativity. In his mind, the reason why classic cocktails have stood the test of time is because of their impeccable balance of flavours. Whether he’s behind the bar or behind a stove, Ali believes that recipes are meant to be tinkered with, as long as you honour the tradition behind them. After all, as the illustrious Picasso once said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” And art is even better when you’re working with such a top-shelf base material like Jameson.

Let the sunshine in

Ali’s cocktail is perfect for anyone craving fresh, lively flavours now that spring’s here. “To me, it feels like sunshine—it screams spring. It makes me forget that the 10-foot pile of snow in my yard even exists,” he said, laughing.

With the temperatures slowly rising and the springtime sun peeking out from behind the clouds, this is THE beverage to sip on to welcome back picnic season and afternoon drinks on the balcony.

What’s more, it can easily be prepared in a pitcher if you’re hosting a larger crowd. Ceviche, crudo or fish tartare would pair with it beautifully, evoking the acidity and brightness of the cocktail and complementing the Jameson’s aromas. 

More inspiration

What else would Ali mix with Jameson? He recommended preparations with few ingredients to ensure the spirit is front and centre, and combining it with tart flavours will balance out the roundness of the product. He immediately thought of a whisky sour and New York sour. For those with a sweet tooth, it would be delectable with a buttery caramel sauce. There’s no shortage of tasty recipes made with this whiskey!

Find even more ideas for springtime

In partnership with Jameson