In April of this year Whyte and Mackay relaunched the Jura range saying "Jura is on the brink of something quite remarkable…" So let's see what the new range is like and whether it can provide a replacement for the Prophecy?
A beautifully presented sample box arrived in the post but what were the contents like?
On the night itself the drams were poured and we started sampling!
First up was a NAS called JourneyDistillery info: It’s the journey, not the destination that shapes us. The path from our foundation to the rebirth of our distillery in 1963 has shaped the character of our community and the whisky we produce. This road has led us to our own unique style, matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels. NOSE: Aromas of vanilla spice, citrus and a hint of light smoke. TASTE: Cinnamon, pears, pecans and toffee fudge. CASK FINISH: Jura Journey is matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels. ABV: 40%
My thoughts:
Nose: light smoke, some vanilla, toffee, some meatiness? Nose develops as other are saying with poached pears with a creamy custard. There's still a meatiness in there too - raw steak - some new make?
Palate: watery custard on toffee apple with a hint of cinnamon.
Finish: Not much in the way of smoke on the palate - but it's there in the nice gentle finish.
Comments: Journey is perhaps a little too young, a lot of new make meatiness and quiet watery - it's entry level at best.
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Distillery info: 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 exceptionally tall stills, matured for 10 years in America White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and the fresh sea air with a further enhancement from the finest aged Oloroso Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain. NOSE: Aromas of fruit, cracked pepper and dark chocolate. TASTE: Nectarines, ginger and freshly ground coffee. CASK FINISH: Jura 10 Year Old is matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels with an aged Oloroso Sherry cask finish. ABV: 40%
My thoughts:
Nose: lots more smoke on this one, went back the empty Journey glass and it smell like new make now. This 10yo is much better - dried fruits, apples and sherry interplay with the smoke - nice!
Palate: more of the watery custard and toffee apple but this one has some honey thrown in for good measure. A lot spicier - ginger and cinnamon. There's smoke on the palate which was missing from the Journey.
Finish: lots of spice and smoke some bitter chocolate - nice!
Comments: This is more like a decent entry level dram with a nice balance of sweetness, smoke and spice!
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Third dram of the evening was the 12yoDistillery info: Reshaping metals into beautiful new forms is no easy task. As crafters of subtly smoky, sweet whiskies, we understand that hand-making something unforgettable takes time. About 12 years, in our experience. NOSE: Refined succulent tropical aromas of chocolate, walnut and citrus fruit TASTE: Flavours of honey, salted bananas and brown sugar, with a whisper of smoke. CASK FINISH: Matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels for 12 years and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain. ABV: 40%
My thoughts:
Nose: steak cooked on a BBQ dribbled with red wine - yummy!
Palate: the initial mouthfeel is following the theme - watery custard and toffee apple. This one has sweet honey and mixed fruit jam dolloped on the top. There's a blanket of smoke - really nice! getting somewhere near where the old Prophecy was!
Finish: not as much smoke as the earlier two - quite a nice spice kick.
Comments: Watery custard seems like a distillery tasting note - similar on these first three. This one has more smoke on the nose and palate but is missing on the finish.
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Distillery info: A remarkable ingenuity defines the people of Jura; an ability to reimagine and reinvent that has allowed our Distillery and its working community to thrive. Such vision has brought to life this complex single malt - a fitting tribute to our Master Blender’s skill – having been shaped by seven separate Oak woods: first-fill ex-bourbon American White Oak, Vosges, Bertranges, Jupilles, Allier, Tronçais & Limousin barrels. NOSE: An aromatic fusion of coffee, ginger spice and a hint of milk chocolate. TASTE: Caramelised peach, chewy liquorice and candied orange with a hint of sea-spray and smoke. CASK FINISH: Jura Seven Wood has been shaped by seven separate Oak woods: first-fill ex-bourbon American White Oak, Limousin, Troncais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles & Les Bertranges barrels. ABV: 42%
My thoughts:
Nose: More bbq steak meatiness, some liquorice, not much in the way of the smoke that the first 3 had. Strawberry jam mingles with golden syrup and pineapple.
Palate: this one is definitely different from the previous 3, the watery notes have gone replaced by a creamy butterscotch sauce, the apple is still there and the smoke jumps out at you - nice! Very drying - interesting for such a low ABV.
Finish: lovely warming smokiness with a spicy kick - this is nice!
Comments: A surprising dram in many ways - not only it's maturation complexity but also the nose and palate complexity and that interesting drying effect.
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Distillery info: They say time and tide wait for no man. On Jura, by contrast, time is stretched by the changing seasons and tempered by its unique microclimate, with each passing year bringing its own riches. Matured for eighteen long years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and enriched by superior Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux barrels, a unique spirit is created that has truly come of age. NOSE: Aromas of toffee, tropical fruits and cinnamon. TASTE: Flavours of rich black forest fruit, cocoa and coffee. CASK FINISH: Matured for eighteen long years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and enriched by superior Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux barrels. ABV: 44%
My thoughts:
Nose: more bbq meatiness - this is getting to become a trend! There's milk chocolate, red wine, oranges and a blanketing of smoke! Yummy! Also getting a slightly almond nuttiness as it opens up!
Palate: thick creamy butter with a herby filling, no garlic though! There's some tropical fruit - mango and pineapple, some dried fruit and black cherries, a nice smoke and spice edge - yummy!
It's a real sip in front of an open fire dram!
Finish: more of that milk chocolate, some smoke, a gentle spice and a little seaside salt - Yummy! Best of the evening!
Comments: It's not a Prophecy replacement - not quite enough smoke but it's a beautiful dram.
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Many thanks to Steve for organising, Jura for supplying the drams and my fellow tweeters for a really enjoyable evening!
Final thoughts:
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