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The 6 Best Chasers for Irish Whiskey (Jameson)

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Some of the best chasers for Jameson Irish whiskey include beer, water, ginger beer, and 100% orange juice. Irish whiskey also goes well with Mountain Dew and pickle juice.

If you’re wondering how to stop the burn after drinking whiskey neat, you’re in the right place. This article will cover some whiskey chasers you can pair with Jameson Irish whiskey to create exciting flavor combinations and make it easier to swallow your whiskey. Keep reading for more information.

1. Beer

Beer is one of the most popular chasers with Irish whiskey, especially if you want to stick with alcoholic drinks. Some beers can be inexpensive, so you don’t have to worry about your pocket hurting with an alcoholic chaser, and the bar is unlikely to run out of it anytime soon.

The combination of whiskey with a beer chaser is also known as a “Boilermaker,” though the name can also refer to a stirred cocktail containing beer and whiskey. You can use any beer for this chaser, allowing you to experiment and come up with interesting flavor combinations of your own.

2. Ginger Beer

Despite the name, ginger beer is a non-alcoholic drink. That said, the term is accurate in one part – it has a gingery flavor, especially when drunk alone.

This fizzy drink makes for a truly interesting chaser since it will help cut the burn of the whiskey while creating a uniquely tingly sensation as it goes down.

Bunderberg Ginger Beer

3. Water

If you want to enjoy the taste of your whiskey without feeling the burn, water is the perfect option for a chaser. 

Water doesn’t take away from the flavor of your drink, helps you stay hydrated, and is the most affordable option – in some bars, water is free. What’s not to like?

4. 100% Orange Juice

Citrus of all kinds helps with tempering the burn of a whiskey, but the sweetness of orange juice is an excellent option for younger Irish whiskies. That said, you can experiment with other juices if you want – doing so will allow you to determine which flavor works best for your needs. That said, I recommend trying other citrus juices like grapefruit juice first.

Make sure you’re drinking 100% juice as a chaser since the other ingredients in packaged juices, such as preservatives, can alter how the juice affects the flavor of your whiskey.

A glass of orange juice with an orange nearby cut in half

Related The 9 Most Similar Substitutes for Irish Whiskey.

5. Mountain Dew

Have you ever experimented with a chaser that came highly recommended, only to discover it doesn’t quite hold up? Well, after the Hartman brothers experienced the same, they decided to invent Mountain Dew.

Though Mountain Dew was invented as a chaser for Tennessee whiskey, it works very well for Jameson Irish whiskey as well. It neutralizes the burn of the whiskey and creates a sweet flavor that balances the spicy notes in Jameson. When you use Mountain Dew as a chaser, you’ll quickly be able to tell that this is what it was always meant for.

You may be opening soft drinks cans. If so, check out my article on how to keep it fizzy in between sips: 2 Ways to Keep the Fizz in an Opened Carbonated Soft Drink.

6. Pickle Juice

Though it may sound unlikely, pickle juice is actually a pretty standard chaser for whiskies of all types. Just as whiskey with a beer chaser is known as a Boilermaker, whiskey with a pickle juice/pickle brine chaser is known as a pickleback.

Though picklebacks are made with all types of whiskies, Jameson is one of, if not the, most popular choice when pairing whiskey with pickle juice. The pickles combat the heat of the whiskey very well, and the salty pickle brine acts as an excellent contrast to the sweet and spicy notes in Jameson.

What Mixes Well With Irish Whiskey?

Irish whiskey being ooured into a glass

Good mixers for Irish whiskey include water, ginger ale or ginger beer, coffee, lemonade, champagne, tomato juice, and vermouth. Other good options include Coca-Cola, citrus juices, and Amaro.

In general, if something works well as a chaser for Irish whiskey, it should work well as a mixer. However, if you’re still unsure, you cannot go wrong with any of the options mentioned above.

Does Irish Whiskey Go With Coke?

Irish whiskey goes well with Coke. Coke pairs well with most whiskies because the strong taste of the fizzy drink tends to overpower most of the subtler notes of the whiskey.

Coke is best drunk with inexpensive whiskey that hasn’t had the time to mature fully. Many people consider it a “comfort drink,” and it has been called the “Netflix and chill of whiskey.” A Coke and whiskey combination can occasionally get very sweet, depending on the proportions of the ingredients, which is why it’s recommended you add a twist of lime. 

However, if you’re looking to thoroughly enjoy your whiskey, including all the subtle notes, this is one mixer you should avoid. Similarly, avoid using Coke as a mixer for more expensive whiskies, as it can overpower the very taste you’re hoping to enjoy.

For more, don’t miss Top 6 Chasers For Alcoholic Beverages.