“Baywatch”
Whisky Review # 989
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Islands - Jura
Brand: Jura The Bay
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 44%
Maturation: American White Oak Ex-Bourbon Casks
Maturation: American White Oak Ex-Bourbon Casks
Finish: Casks that previously contained 15 Year old Pedro Jimenez Sherry
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 45-60 (May 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍
Buying Advice: 😐 It's not a bad Jura but it's not quite my style of Whisky.
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍
Buying Advice: 😐 It's not a bad Jura but it's not quite my style of Whisky.
Colour: Dark Amber with shades of Orange and Brown (Artificially Colored)
Nose:
Quite Sweet. It's cleaner than most of the Jura Malt that I've tasted so far. No real off-notes with the exception of a little Sulphur perhaps. The PX-Finish has left its mark with notes of Nuts and Dried Fruits. After a while some lightly Bitter, Salty and Sour notes come through and provide some balance for the Sweetness. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Plums and Dates, Nuts, Nougat, Stewed Apples & Bananas, Dusty Charred Casks, Dried Herbs, Dark Chocolate, Seville Orange, Roasted Coffee, Cinnamon, Ginger and Nutmeg.
Nose:
Quite Sweet. It's cleaner than most of the Jura Malt that I've tasted so far. No real off-notes with the exception of a little Sulphur perhaps. The PX-Finish has left its mark with notes of Nuts and Dried Fruits. After a while some lightly Bitter, Salty and Sour notes come through and provide some balance for the Sweetness. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Plums and Dates, Nuts, Nougat, Stewed Apples & Bananas, Dusty Charred Casks, Dried Herbs, Dark Chocolate, Seville Orange, Roasted Coffee, Cinnamon, Ginger and Nutmeg.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Buttered Toast, Toffee, Honey, Butterscotch, Brown Sugar, Marzipan, Dairy, Dough, Straw, Dusty Earth, Tobacco, Pepper and Cloves.
Palate:
Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour and Salty notes for balance. The Alcohol is certainly more noticeable now but it stays within limits. It's not a bad Jura but it's a bit Heavy and Dull. Not really my style.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Figs and Dates, Plum Jam, Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Coffee, Stewed Bananas and Apples, Seville Orange, Grapefruit, Dusty Casks, Pepper, Licorice, Ginger, Aniseed and Cinnamon.
Buttered Toast, Toffee, Honey, Butterscotch, Brown Sugar, Marzipan, Dairy, Dough, Straw, Dusty Earth, Tobacco, Pepper and Cloves.
Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour and Salty notes for balance. The Alcohol is certainly more noticeable now but it stays within limits. It's not a bad Jura but it's a bit Heavy and Dull. Not really my style.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Figs and Dates, Plum Jam, Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Coffee, Stewed Bananas and Apples, Seville Orange, Grapefruit, Dusty Casks, Pepper, Licorice, Ginger, Aniseed and Cinnamon.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Dairy, Nougat, Tobacco, Lemon, Dirty Earth, Nutmeg, Cloves, Mint and Slightly Sour Berries. Perhaps a light Plastic note.
Finish:
Middle-Long and mostly Bitter-Sweet. Developing Salty and Sour notes towards the Medium-Dry end. I find Sweet Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Dairy, Yeast, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Plums and Apricots, Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Coffee, Dusty Oak, Dried Herbs, Dirty Earth, Seville Orange, Grapefruit, Licorice, Aniseed, Mint, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mint and Ginger. The PX influence is quite clear. A light Metal note after a while. The Alcohol is a bit more noticeable at this point. I also have the feeling that it's rather heavy on the added Caramel.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water does not improve The Bay. Best way to enjoy is Neat.
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 (Now United Spirits). 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 2022 their total production amounted to around 2,4 million litres. The following Single Malts are part of the new core range introduced during 2018: Journey, Seven Wood, 10, 12, 18, 14 Year Rye and 21 Years (Tide).
Honey, Vanilla, Dairy, Nougat, Tobacco, Lemon, Dirty Earth, Nutmeg, Cloves, Mint and Slightly Sour Berries. Perhaps a light Plastic note.
Middle-Long and mostly Bitter-Sweet. Developing Salty and Sour notes towards the Medium-Dry end. I find Sweet Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Dairy, Yeast, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Plums and Apricots, Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Coffee, Dusty Oak, Dried Herbs, Dirty Earth, Seville Orange, Grapefruit, Licorice, Aniseed, Mint, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mint and Ginger. The PX influence is quite clear. A light Metal note after a while. The Alcohol is a bit more noticeable at this point. I also have the feeling that it's rather heavy on the added Caramel.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water does not improve The Bay. Best way to enjoy is Neat.
Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)
Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7,5 - Finish: 7.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good
Drinking Experience On the Rocks: Okay/Good
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 (Now United Spirits). 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 2022 their total production amounted to around 2,4 million litres. The following Single Malts are part of the new core range introduced during 2018: Journey, Seven Wood, 10, 12, 18, 14 Year Rye and 21 Years (Tide).
Jura has never been on my list of favorite distilleries but they have improved the quality of their Whisky in the last few years. Gone are the Cooked Veggies and Baby Vomit notes I got ever so often. The Whisky is more clean thanks to improved Cask Management &, probably, the shorter running time of the Heart in the Spirit Still. The Bay is certainly not a bad Jura but it's a little Boring. It's also a bit Heavy on the added Caramel if you ask me. Improvements have been made though and I'm looking forward to the day I can fully enjoy a Jura expression.
Cheers! 🥃
