Review #272 - Jura 10 Year
Many who have made the trek to visit Jura distillery will say it is one of the most picturesque distilleries in Scotland; the whisky itself is quite a bit more divisive. While some will point to low bottling strength, chill filtration, added coloring, and a supposed lack of flavor as indications that this isn't a quality whisky, it remains among the best-selling single malts in Scotland.
This 10 year old example is one of the entry-level offerings from the distillery. It's aged primarily in ex-bourbon barrels, but the spirit is also finished in ex-Oloroso butts from Jerez, Spain. It's bottled at 40% ABV, and while there's no official word, it's almost definitely been chill filtered and filled with artificial coloring.
Jura 10 Year
Scotland/Highlands - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 34 (2024)
Age Statement: 10 Years
Strength: 40% ABV
Cask Makeup: American oak ex-bourbon barrels, finished in ex-Oloroso sherry butts
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 12 months; bottles at 10%, 80%, and 100% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Dry, woody, herbal, slightly spicy - unusual. There's white pepper, licorice, and anise, adding a spice akin to a rye whisky; pumpkin and gourd scents mix with sour malt, as well as a hint of burnt orange rind. At times, there are hints of nail polish remover.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thin; there's sweetness from vanilla and cinnamon orange, but also a synthetic orange flavor, along with a fizzy effervescent sensation. Wood smoke, pepper, and maybe a hint of peat add a dry, subtle smoky side. There's a decent amount of malt again, with licorice on the back end.
Finish: Medium length, fizzy and earthy, quite unusual like the nose. Still some orange fruit lingers, but the sour malt comes back, turning bitter in the end, with some dry straw and oak. Little hints of smoke and peach ring candies appear from time to time.
Final Note: Definitely one of the more unusual single malts that we've tried - the sour and bitter flavors had strong presence in the nose and finish, and the whole experience seemed a bit disjointed. The pumpkin scents and spicy licorice were other unique flavors; unfortunately, the whole experience is also let down by the bottling strength.
We don't think this one is as bad as some make it out to be, but it's an acquired taste. Not an expensive bottle, but not one we're likely to buy soon.
Our Average Rating: 4.3 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.20
Check out our other 10 year Highland single malt reviews:
Review #269 - SMWS 4.319 'From Coast to Kiln' - Highland Park 10 Year
Review #227 - Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks Clynelish 10 Year
Review #198 - SMWS 122.40 'Smoky to a Tee' - Loch Lomond (Croftengea) 10 Year
