Jura 18 Years


”Theme From The Deer Hunter”


Whisky Review # 916

Country: Scotland
Region: Islands - Jura
Brand: Jura
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 Years - Travel Retail Edition
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 42%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Cask with Red Wine Cask Finish
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 60-90 (May 2021)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐Okay at US$ 60 given its age.
Buying Advice: 👎Not Good Enough for an 18 Year Old Single Malt.

Colour:

Golden Amber with Shades of Red (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

On the Thin side, slightly peculiar for an 18 Years. The Bourbon casks can't have been very active and that might explain the "necessity" of a Short Red Wine Finish. I only get a little of the traditional Jura Baby Vomit but the Nose, although basically Sweet, does offer some slightly Musty and Funky notes, as well as a bit of Sourness. Red Fruit, Dried Fruits and Caramel are the main drivers.

Main Aromas:

Dusty Barley, Caramel, Dried Fruit like Rum-Soaked Raisins, Apricots & Plums, Red Fruit like Grapes, Blackberries and Blackcurrants, Citrus Peel, Sour Gooseberries, Dusty Track, Cinnamon and Green Coffee Beans.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Buttered Toast, Toffee, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Green - & Cooked Vegetables, Milk-Hazelnut Chocolate, Grass & Straw, Green Apple, Wet Stones, Green Tobacco, Leather, Charred Oak and Dried Herbs.


Palate:

Bitter-Sweet and again on the Thin side. You simply would expect more from a well-matured 18 Year old Single Malt. The casks are mainly to blame but I never was a real fan of their New Make Spirit either. It just doesn't click with Jura. We visited the distillery back in May 2014 and it was a really nice visit. Still...

Main Flavours:

Musty Grain, Caramel, Sour Red Fruit like Berries, Grapes & Cherries, Gooseberries, Grapefruit, Oak Char, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apricots & Dates, Cinnamon, Pepper and Licorice.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Vanilla, Milk-Hazelnut Chocolate, Lemon Drops, Green Apple, Grass and Straw, Green Veggies, Dusty Track, Green Apple, Tobacco and Herbal Tea.


Finish:

Middle-Long & Bitter-Sweet with increasing Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. The Alcohol is noticeable and the feeling of 3rd and/or 4th refill casks does not go away. I get Musty Grain, Caramel, Honey, Grass & Straw, Nougat, Brown Sugar, Green Veggies, Green Coffee Beans, Charred Oak, Sour Red and Yellow Berries, Lemon Drops, Herbal Tea, Licorice, Cinnamon and Pepper.

No need to add Water to this Jura. It's Thin enough as it is.

Rating: 82.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Conclusion:

Jura means Deer Island. The Distillery is located in the small village of Craighouse the island's "capital". Craighouse lies on the A 846, some eight miles from the Ferry Terminal to Islay. It was founded in 1810 and since 1993 it belongs to Whyte & Mackay Ltd. Jura is mostly known as a Single Malt but it's also a very important part of the Whyte & Mackay Special Blend. The Distillery possesses 1 Stainless Steel Semi Lauter Mash Tun, six stainless steel Wash Backs and two Pairs of Stills. In 2020 their total production amounted to around 2,1 million litres. The following Single Malts are part of the new core range introduced during 2018: Journey, Seven Wood, 10, 12 and 18 Years (44%).

Jura means Deer Island and I feel like the Deer Hunter sometimes as I don't get myself to really enjoy the Jura Single Malts. It's difficult to exactly put my finger on the sore spots but the kind of "dirty" New Make Spirit and the indifferent Cask management are certainly two of my main issues. And I can add market strategy as well. Though Jura whiskies are readily available all over the world and flock Travel Retail shops I can't imagine many first time customers gladly come back for a Refill next time around. But maybe I'm wrong and maybe it's just me. In any case this 18 years does nothing to revive my feelings for this distillery. It's Weak and Thin and although there are no real off-notes around this time I can't find any pleasure when sipping this Single Malt. I'm sorry Jura but that's how I feel.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                           May 26, 2021

Pictures taken during our visit in May 2014

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