Isle of Jura 21 Year Old – 44% abv

Info: Previously discontinued in 2009, but now it’s back for the distillery’s 200th anniversary. Fully matured in ex-Bourbon casks then finished in vintage 1963 oloroso sherry casks. 44% abv.
Colour: Fairly dark orangey gold, rusty.
Nose: Damp pencil shavings, nuts, blood oranges and marmalade. Older dunnage warehouse type notes.
Palate: Smooth and old, with pinches of spices to keep it interesting. Gently sweet with those old autumn stewed fruit notes, berries that have just started to go by their summer fresh best (in a good way). A good integrated oak note that gives everything a nice base.
Finish: The finish is long, subtle, but long. You think it’s gone away and then it warms up and comes back at you, before then fading into woody notes which stick around for ages.
Thoughts: Jura can occasionally have a bad name for the younger ones in its range, but the older Jura gets the better it gets, and this 21yo is great stuff indeed. There’s lots of special editions around, but what I like about this is that it’s just simple, bourbon and sherry maturation at it’s best, no messing around with lots of different cask finishes.
Available: Master of Malt – £98.95

From my own stocks.