Jura 10 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review & Tasting Notes

 

The whole #DrinkCurious philosophy is to explore everything. If you listened to everyone, you’d probably drink nothing beyond what you already drink. Palates are like snowflakes: no two are alike, yet many are similar. That’s why it is crucial to find a reviewer whose palate is similar to yours before blindly purchasing something or dismissing it based on what you’ve heard.

 

Jura's 10-Year-Old is one of those polarizing whiskies. I’ve got friends who love it and others who say it is the weirdest thing they’ve ever tried (and not in a complimentary manner). Today is my first time exploring it, so if our palates are similar, I’ll help you decide if this one is right for you.

 

The Isle of Jura Distillery was founded as Small Isles Distillery in 1810 by Archibald Campbell on the remote island of Jura, about 60 miles from the Scottish mainland. When I say remote, I mean it has about 200 residents; it has one road, a single pub, and the distillery! Its residents are called Diurachs, after the Gaelic name of the island. They were “discretely” distilling since the 1600s.

 

“When you look back at our Island’s humble coastline, you see an epic landscape of dramatic mountains, overlooking the trees, fields and lochs that sit below it. To the south east coast you will find the village of Craighouse. Small but perfectly formed, this is the island’s only village, and home to our pub, hotel, shop and most of our tiny island community of 212 people. This is also where you will find our whisky distillery - the beating heart of our community, our whisky a source of pride and prosperity for generations to come.” – The Isle of Jura Distillery

 

The distillery, which was very unproductive, fell into disarray and was mothballed. In 1875, it was purchased by James Furgeson & Sons and renovated. But, again, nothing of consequence happened, and the building and its works deteriorated. In 1884, another renovation was planned, and, as before, it wasn’t a profitable venture, and the building and equipment were ignored. Small Isles Distillery was permanently closed in 1901.

 

Plans were made in 1950 to again renovate, and ten years later, construction began as a joint venture by blender Charles Mackinlay & Co, Robin Fletcher, and Mr. Riley-Smith, two of the island’s landowners. The new distillery was up and running in 1963 and was envisaged to produce unpeated whiskies for blending.

 

In 1974, the distillery released its first single malt Scotch. In 1994, the distillery was purchased by Whyte & Mackay, who also owned Bruichladdich on nearby Islay. In a surprise move, Bruichladdich was shuttered, diverting attention to Jura, and in 2002, it released Superstition, which put the distillery on the map. The Isle of Jura Distillery Co. is currently owned by Emperador, Inc.

 

Jura, 10 Year Old, is a single malt whisky aged for (you guessed it) at least a decade in former Bourbon barrels and then finished in Oloroso sherry butts. Packaged at 40% ABV (80°), I acquired a 750ml for $25.00 on clearance; it usually sells for about $33.00.

 

Appearance: I poured this Scotch into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. It formed a bold rim that shed wide, runny tears. It was the color of tarnished brass.

 

Nose: The aroma was maritime with a hint of seaweed. Also present were caramel, vanilla, pineapples, eucalyptus, and apricots. There was a gentle kiss of smoke. When I inhaled the vapor into my mouth, I tasted grilled pineapples.   

 

Palate: The texture was creamy, and I immediately identified what makes this Scotch so unique. Flavors of honeysuckle, cooked apricots, and cinnamon were on the front. At my mid-palate, I found butterscotch, raisins, and roasted almonds. The back featured smoky oak, clove, and nutmeg.

 

Finish: The long, lingering finish retained clove, smoky oak, raisins, and apricots.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Jura 10 is definitely different. I'd be stumped if you asked me to tell you what other single malt it compares to. It goes sweet to savory to sweet to spicy. And while that seems like a wild ride, it works. Despite its low proof, flavors don’t get watered down. The more I sipped this whisky, the more it grew on me. It is tasty and affordable. If your palate is close to mine, you will find it intriguing. And that’s all the makings for my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.