Jura Aged 10 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 700ml

Product Information

Yet another unsatisfying Jura. With most distilleries offering at least flawless products (uninspired sometimes, but still) this would be hard to recommend. Available from TWE or Master of Malt, but may I suggest a sample first? Is it peated? Unpeated? Sherried? This new 10 year old single malt from Jura (located on the eponymous island next door to Islay) is all three. Here’s some info on this brand new expression: Palate: Enters very lightly and thin. No obvious notes, just smooth, with maybe slight heather. If your glass has not breathed enough, it first tastes leathery and chalky, with some tobacco. But later this develops into thin caramel, which is vaguely salty and well-balanced. There is slight mocha too, if you're looking for it. The palate itself is very easy; what really matters is which way the nose influences your experience. Nose: Wafts into the nasal passages with a delicate, fruity aroma, characterized by orange, sweet apple and oak with faint touches of ginger, sea salt and light smoke. That gradually moves in a heavier, richer direction as the fruit gives way to a sweet, earthy vanilla and the oak takes on a peat smoke quality with touches of baking spices.

Jura 10 Year Old. A whisky only Jura could make, born of our Island and still produced today in a bottle originally shaped to withstand the roughest of journeys from our home. Crafted in unusually tall stills, matured in the fresh sea air and American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and finished in the finest aged Oloroso Sherry butts – it’s the perfect marriage of Highland and Island styles.” Nose: A light nose with a good helping of cereal. Otherwise there are some apples, etc. A basic ex-bourbon nose that hardly exudes originality on the first whiff. On the second whiff, I get a somewhat herbal or vegetal note. Ginger and wisps of salt are here, too. There’s a bit of sharpness here, but it never loses its balance. Jura 10 is handcrafted on the Isle of Jura, a rugged, elemental island nestled a few miles off the West Coast of Scotland. Home to around 200 Islanders, one road, one pub and one distillery, Jura was once described by author George Orwell as the ‘most un-get-at-able’ place due to its remote location. Established in 1810, Jura whisky has been crafted on its island home for over two centuries. Smoked apricots; toffee, dehydrated apples, dried cherries, nutmeg and a bit of earthy malt and a light floral nature. The palate is lively, with sweet honey on the front, some salty and smoky peat and pepper in the middle, and some soft citrus fruit on the end with a hint of bitterness.Jura Whisky today announced the launch of Jura 10, an exceptional Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky and the first release in Jura’s new core line for the U.S. Hailing from one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, this whisky marries peated and unpeated malt with a Sherry cask finish to create a spirit that is a long way from ordinary. On the nose, the whisky is light and fragrant, with notes of fresh flowers, gentle cinnamon and nutmeg notes, an undercurrent of fresh grains, and the slightest hint of smoke. Largely standard stuff, aromatically speaking, but it all comes together cleanly and invitingly. Finish: Short to medium finish. Some lemon rind, ginger ale, salt, white vinegar, and lingering pepper are the last to leave. Nice and even.

That's the bad news, the good news is that smell doesn't translate onto the palate. Although not much else does. This doesn't have tremendous character, its balanced but not in the sense of balance big flavours, more in the sense of not too sweet, not too acidic, not too rich, not too thin. It doesn't do anything wrong, but it doesn't do anything particularly right either. Palate: Some white pepper and some ginger are the first things I notice. Butter. Heather. There are some oak notes that follow. This is a bit saltier than expected. Salty, but not dry and briny as some maritime whiskies tend to be. Some mild citrus notes come through, too. Palate: Somewhat thin, soft peat smoke, vanilla and soft fruitiness led by pears and a bit of green apples, oak spices and bitterness towards the end. Jura Seven Wood – A no-age-statement matured in seven types of French oak and first-fill ex-Bourbon barrelsThis is the latest, reconfigured recipe, of the Jura 10 Years. I reviewed the original Jura 10 a few years ago and didn’t much care for it. I found it to be funky and weird but not in the good and interesting way. It carried this strong earthy cumin-like character from nose to finish which I found off-putting and obtrusive. This, on the other hand, is a different story. The 180-year old distillery produces whisky that - after doing some research on the subject - seems to be like Woody Allen films: you love ‘m or you hate ‘m. I'm in the first category (with regards to the whisky, not the films). Finish: Medium length, gentle peat smoke, lingering oak spices bitterness, dryness, honey and bit of vanilla. Isle of Jura 10 year old turned out to be a steady executor that presents itself smoothly all the way from the start until the very end. It is not complex and it's not as spicy as Jura Superstition. Jura 10 is a safe option. It would suit nicely with afternoon starters. Or in some place where you don't want to draw attention. Jura 10 Years was already launched in the US in 2017 but didn’t make it to Europe until the 2018 core range overhaul. It is matured in American oak barrels and finished in Oloroso sherry casks.

Jura 10 definitely brings up the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. It takes me straight away into the hay fields of Tuscany. Jura 10 gives you a feel of nature, especially a blossoming nature. I guess the most ideal way to enjoy Jura 10 would be with the one you love. And of course, under the Tuscan sun. Taste: dried oranges, again notes of cereal, orange blossoms, honey, oak wood shavings, ginger and a whiff of iodine. We had a bad experience with Jura The Sound recently. We don’t give up, so let’s try the reworked Jura 10 Year Old and see if this is better. No points for the lousy 40% ABV strength though. During the finish - which is pleasantly long - salt and sweet battle for attention, while being goaded by light peat and peppers.This Jura 10 years is definitely better than the old Jura 10. It’s less bitter, less funky and a whole lot more flavorful. The overarching flavor and aroma of smoked apricots is pleasant even if it’s not very deep or complex. I don’t know if it’s the addition of the sherry casks to the mix, longer aging in the sherry casks or what exactly they’ve done different but it’s a nice change – it’s far more drinkable and enjoyable than the old Jura 10 years. On the palate, this dram is softer than expected, but full of flavour. Also sweeter than I would have thought with some light fruity touches. Also some vanilla, spicy malt and even some aniseed.