ELIXIR'S SINGLE MALTS OF SCOTLAND RELEASE 2022

 SINGH BROTHERS PLAN EXTENSIVE SINGLE MALTS RELEASE

ELIXIR Distiller's Profile:

Elixir Distillers was established as Speciality Drinks in 1999 by brothers Sukhinder and Raj Singh, who also launched the Whisky Exchange retail website the same year. The Whisky Exchange offers more than 9,000 products, including 4,000 global whiskies, of which 3,000 are single malt Scotch whiskies. The other categories include 400 Champagnes, 800 Cognacs and Armagnacs; 700 rums; 600 gins; 300 aperitifs; 400 Tequilas and mezcal and it is today the internet’s leading specialist retailers of fine spirits and liqueurs. The Whisky Exchange was sold to Pernod Ricard in 2021 for US$500 million. 

Speciality Drinks first began to release whiskies under The Single Malts of Scotland banner in 2005. The following year saw the launch of the Elements of Islay range, while Port Askaig was introduced later in 2009. The company changed its name to Elixir Distillers in 2017. They set about creating a new distillery on Islay, procuring the land in 2015. After rumours went around that this would be named Farkin distillery, the brothers revealed just ahead of Feis Ile 2022 that the new distillery would carry the name Fortintruan.

ARTIST'S IMPRESSION OF ELIXIR'S FORTINUAN DISTILLERY

London-based Elixir Distillers is an independent bottler specialising in whisky, predominantly Scotch but also Japanese, Irish and American whiskies. Elixir Distillers serves as the home for the creation, blending, bottling and international sales of all spirits created by the company. The company’s three core whisky brands are Elements of Islay, Port Askaig and The Single Malts of Scotland, while it also bottles navy rum under the Black Tot brand. 

The Single Malts of Scotland range provides independent bottlings of vintage single malt Scotch from many distilleries and at a variety of ages. The number of Single Casks sold is amazing.

The Elements of Islay are a collection of Islay malt whiskies, the inspiration for which is rooted in traditional medical laboratory labels and packaging. The range is bottled from small batches of casks, with each label depicting the distillery’s ‘Element’ symbol alongside a batch number, for example, Lp1 for Laphroaig. In 2016, a small batch blended malt was introduced called Peat, bottled at 45% ABV and cask strength.

Port Askaig – the name of a port on the island’s east coast, and not a distillery – comprises the no-age-statement Cask Strength expression, along with an eight-year-old. Each year limited edition aged expressions are added to the range.

Elixir Distillers is a prolific cask-strength distillery with multiple casks in the market. It currently exports its products to over 20 international sites.

Glen Elgin 2009 11 YO, Single Malts of Scotland 70cl 58.4% ABV Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glen Elgin was Founded by William Simpson and James Carle in 1898, right before the whisky boom bubble burst. Production at Glen Elgin officially started on May 1, 1900. The architect Charles Doig (designer of many a distillery and invented of the ‘Doig ventilator’ or pagoda roof seen atop most malt distilleries) predicted that no other distillery would be built in Speyside for at least 50 years. He was right (the next distillery to be built was Tormore, in 1958).

A 2009 Glen Elgin single malt from independent bottler Elixir Distillers that was matured in a single hogshead for 11 years, before being bottled in July 2021 as part of its Single Malts of Scotland series. Aromas of vanilla sponge, custard-filled pastries with pink icing, nectarine, mandarin, kiwi, red grapes and honeysuckle fill the nose, complemented by notes of custard, peach chutney, fruit pastilles, heather honey and vanilla ice cream throughout the palate.

Released On 27th May 2022

Teaninich 2007-09 11 YO Reserve Cask Parcel #5 70cl 48% ABV Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Teaninich is a Highland distillery used as a workhorse by Diageo to produce malt for its blends - principally Johnnie Walker, but also Vat 69 and Haig.

Built in 1817, Teaninich has been owned by Distiller's Company Ltd (DCL, later to become part of Diageo) since the 1930s. Teaninich was expanded in 1970 with the addition of a building housing six new stills, referred to thereafter as the 'A-side'. The original four stills then became known as the 'B side', which continued to run until 1984, when it was mothballed.

In 1985 the A-side was also mothballed but recommenced production in 1991 after a gap of six years. The B side comprising four original stills and the 19th-century distillery buildings never resumed production and was dismantled and demolished in 1999.

Teaninich is unique in that, instead of a mash tun, it uses a filter press (typically used in beer brewing) to extract the sugars from the malt. This process uses a different kind of mill, as it is essential there are no husks in the ground malt, and it is more efficient than the mash tun system, permitting faster extraction of the sugars. The distillery has a large output of four million litres/year.

A Teaninich single malt from independent bottler Elixir Distillers, matured in a batch of five ex-bourbon casks that were filled between 2007 and 2009, before being bottled in 2021 as part of its Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks series. In essence, a sizeable portion of the contents are over twelve years of age, the youngest being eleven years and some months. Aromas of golden-syrup-sponge, matcha lattes and kiwi fill the nose, subtly complemented by notes of mint chocolate, Madeira cake, tinned peaches, rosemary and basil throughout the palate.  These fairly high-strength bottlings (48% ABV) are non chill-filtered and do not have additional artificial colouring.

Released On 27th May 2022

Linkwood 2006 14 YO Single Malts of Scotland 70cl  57.4% ABV Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Linkwood is another of the light Speyside camp. The new make has the aroma of a spring meadow – mixing cut grass, apple and peach blossom. This is a 2006 Linkwood single malt from indie bottler Elixir Distillers that was matured for 14 years in a single hogshead, before being bottled in April 2021 as part of its Single Malts of Scotland series. Aromas of mint tea, freshly-cut flowers, tarte tatin and freshly-baked pastries fill the nose, complemented by notes of honey cake, elderflower and lemon drizzle cake, warm croissants and pain au raisin throughout the palate.

Located on the outskirts of Elgin, Linkwood was established in 1821, but only started production in 1824 after the 1823 Excise Act. It was completely rebuilt in 1874 and existed as an independent distiller, run by an Elgin-based whisky broker, until 1932 when it joined the DCL stable. In 1972, a new distillery was built opposite the old buildings. Both plants ran until 1985 when the original ceased production, although it was still used as an experimental site – it was here that a lot of Diageo’s research into copper, reflux and the effect of worm tubs took place. In the late 1990s it was on the shortlist to become the Speyside representative in The Classic Malts range.

In 2012, the old building was demolished as part of yet another upgrade. This time six new washbacks were installed in a new distillery along with two new stills. Capacity is now in excess of 5.5m litres per annum. A number of independent bottling are seen, mainly from Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin – often from ex-Sherry casks. Elixir has also used typical Speyside new make for its 2021 bottling and later release.

When mature, however, although Linkwood's freshness is retained, the palate reveals a thick texture which slows the whisky down in the mouth. It is this combination of texture and delicacy which makes it prized by blenders – and much loved by malt whisky aficionados. The fragrance is achieved by creating very clear wort, having a very long fermentation and distilling slowly to maximise copper conversation in pairs of stills in which the spirit is unusually larger than the wash, allowing even more copper contact.

Only 282 bottles were produced and can be purchased online.

Elixir Distillers and Impex Beverages will be bringing the first batch from the Single Malts of Scotland to America, and that batch of 10 independent bottlings will be available exclusively in the United States. Malts in this line come from a variety of Scottish distilleries, such as Caol Ila, Imperial, Glenrothes, and Ben Nevis. The releases are each limited runs in either small batch or single cask format, with casks yielding between 92 and 607 bottles, and will be exclusive to the U.S. market. The intention is to launch two runs of releases per year.

Released On 27th May 2022

Caol Ila 2009 11 YO  Single Malts of Scotland 70cl  59.8% ABV  Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ARTIST'S RENDITION OF THE REVAMPED CAOL ILA DISTILLERY

Caol Ila, pronounced 'Cull-Eela', is a distillery situated on the North-Eastern shores of Islay with magnificent views across the Sound of Islay to the spectacular Paps of Jura. Re-opened on 25th August as Caol Ila, it serves as the Islay Home of Johnnie Walker. Most Caol Ila bottled as a single malt lies on the milder end of the peat spectrum (as opposed to heavy-hitters like Ardbeg and Laphroaig), but it's definitely a fully peated single malt (35ppm), and uses the same malted barley (from the maltings at Port Ellen) as the 35ppm peated malt used by Lagavulin.

Distillers at Caol Ila continue with traditional methods of malt whisky production to ensure the distinctive quality of its malt whisky. The barley used today uses pure spring water rising from limestone in the adjacent Loch Nam Burn, then falling to the sea at Caol Ila. The owners of the Islay distillery have been granted permission to extend its off-sales area and make changes to its layout ahead of its public reopening, which was on schedule for and met, 25 August 2022. It is the largest distillery on Islay with an output of 6.3 million litres and is used widely across most blended Scotch and Malt brands. 

This is a 2009 Caol Ila single malt from indie bottler Elixir Distillers, matured in a single hogshead for 11 years, before being bottled in March 2021 as part of its Single Malts of Scotland series. Aromas of peat smoke, coal soot, sea breeze, grapefruit, vanilla sponge and blackcurrant juice fill the nose, complemented by notes of grapefruit, salted cashew nuts, lemon drizzle cake and smoked ham throughout the palate.

Released On 21st March 2021

Elixir Distillers also use this single malt with its much-vaunted balanced smoke, phenol and consistently high quality for bottlers abroad. Another Single Malts of Scotland Caol Ila 11 YO 2009 is an Islay single malt from the prolific distillery bottled especially for a few Dutch specialist whisky retailers and was distilled on the 16th of October 2009 and matured in a bourbon hogshead, number 319089. It was bottled on the 20th of June 2021 at 50% ABV, non chill-filtered and with no added colour, as a limited single cask of 339 bottles.

Nose: Aromas of pickled capers, tangy tomatoes, barbecue sauce, sea breeze, peat smoke, maritime tang and citrusy, likely lemon peel

Palate: Honey-smoked ham, barbecued pineapple, elderflower, fresh citrus, minerals, green tea, seawater and delicate peat smoke

Finish: drier, peat, salt and grapefruit with some ashy notes

Released on 22 July 2021

Benrinnes 2006 15 YO Single Malts of Scotland 70cl 55.3% ABV Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Benrinnes distillery ‘The Ben’, located on the lower slopes of Speyside’s sentinel mountain, is another of those intriguing distilleries which produces a highly individual make but which – due to its demand by blenders – has never become a front-line single malt.

It has six stills which are run in two pairs of three. For years a form of partial triple distillation was utilised to help promote a meaty/sulphury new make character. The low wines from the first distillation were split into strong and weak feints. The lower-strength portion was redistilled in the middle still and split into two again, with the stronger part [strong feints] being carried forward, the weaker being retained for the next charge. The strong feints were then mixed with the highest strength distillate from the wash still and redistilled in the spirit still.

Everything is run through worm tubs which are kept very cold, adding weight and meatiness to the spirit. In recent years, this complex distillation has been simplified.

Occasionally seen as an independent bottling, the clearest manifestation of its meaty quality (which puts it in a similar stylistic camp as Dailuaine, Mortlach and Cragganmore) is exploited by Elixir.

A 2006 Benrinnes single malt from independent bottler Elixir Distillers that was matured in a single hogshead for 15 years, before being bottled in July 2021 as part of its Single Malts of Scotland series. Aromas of waffles and maple syrup, cinnamon, apples and pecans fill the nose, complemented by notes of chewy toffee, lemon drops, caramel, desiccated coconut, garden herbs and warm spice throughout the palate.

Released On 27th May 2022

Glentauchers 1997 23 YO Single Malts of Scotland 70cl 53.2% ABV Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky  

Glentauchers’ new make has always gone into blends which lie on the lighter side of the flavour spectrum, initially Buchanan’s and Black & White, and these days Ballantine’s. Accordingly, the set up – long ferments, slow distillation – has always been one where flowers have been preferred to earthy weight.

Glentauchers’ new make has always gone into blends which lie on the lighter side of the flavour spectrum, initially Buchanan’s and Black & White, and these days Ballantine’s. Accordingly, the set up – long ferments, slow distillation – has always been one where flowers have been preferred to earthy weight.

Another member of the ‘1890s gang’, Glentauchers was established in 1898 by James Buchanan & Co. to provide fillings for its Buchanan’s and Black & White blends. Experiments in ‘continuous pot still distillation’ were tested here (and at Convalmore) at the start of the 20th century. This involved running a 100% barley mash through an adapted pot still. Production was upped considerably in 1966 when the number of stills increased from the original pair to half a dozen.

Glentauchers was one of the many distilleries which fell foul of the slump in demand in the early 1980s and was mothballed in 1985. It was, somewhat surprisingly at the time, snapped up by one of Diageo’s rivals, Allied Distillers, in 1989 [the Allied estate became part of Chivas Brothers in 2005] when it became a named component of Ballantine’s, although the firm didn’t restart production until 1992.

It is not commonly seen as a single malt other than as a bottling from Independent Bottlers. However, in July 2017 Glentauchers was released as a 15-year-old single malt (alongside expressions from Glenburgie and Miltonduff) under the Ballantine’s brand.

A 1997 Glentauchers single malt from independent bottler Elixir Distillers matured in a single barrel for 23 years, before being bottled in July 2021 as part of its Single Malts of Scotland series. Aromas of beeswax, Tonka bean, almond paste, raspberry lemonade, candied orange peel and meadow flowers fill the nose, complemented by notes of warm cherry pie, pineapple jelly, ground ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon pastries and dried lemon throughout the palate.

Released On 20th May 2022

A small list is placed infra for an insight into the type and volume of business Elixir Distillers are involved in.

• Caol Ila 35 yo (50.9%, Single Malts of Scotland ‘Director’s Special’ 2020)
• Croftengea 15 yo 2006 (53,2%, Elixir Distillers ‘The Whisky Trail Silhouettes’ 2021, hogshead #342, 269 btl.)
• Ben Nevis 6 yo 2015 (58,4%, Elixir Distillers ‘The Whisky Trail Silhouettes’ 2021, barrel #319, 256 btl.)
• Caol Ila 8 yo 2013 (60,6%, Elixir Distillers ‘The Whisky Trail Silhouettes’ 2021, hogshead #304580, 291 btl.)
• Carsebridge 48 yo 1973 (56,3%, Elixir Distillers ‘The Whisky Trail Silhouettes’ 2021, ex-sherry butt #111864, 462 btl.)
• Port Askaig 10 yo ‘10th Anniversary Edition’ (55,85%, Elixir Distillers 2019, 10.000 btl.
• Port Askaig 18 Years (USA exclusive)
• Port Askaig 25 Year Old (USA)
• Port Askaig 25 yo (45,8%, Elixir Distillers 2019, 3000 btl.)
• Ardmore 1998 (Single Malts of Scotland)
• Clynelish 2010 (Single Malts of Scotland)
• Bruichladdich 1992 (Single Malts of Scotland)
• Highland Park 1995 (Single Malts of Scotland)

  

More details are available at this link and this second link.

 

 

JURA POPULAR IN INDIA

 MORE ABOUT JURA

The Isle of Jura is a barren, sparsely populated Inner Hebridean island off the west coast of Scotland. A single distillery, Isle of Jura, operates in the village of Craighouse. This is where most of the population resides. Craighouse is small but perfectly formed, and home to their pub, hotel, shop and most of the tiny island community of 212 people. This is also where the whisky distillery is - the beating heart of the community, their whisky a source of pride and prosperity for generations to come.

Jura is only 60 miles from the mainland yet it feels like an entire world away; an ancient landscape of wild mountains, peaceful lochs and stormy seas. With just one road, one pub, one whisky distillery and a very distinct micro-climate, it’s not the easiest place to make whisky, but the owners and distillers believe it’s the best.

The 30-mile-long and seven-mile-wide island is framed by the wild waters of the Atlantic on its west coast, while the east is home to serene bays, seals and sea eagles. The northwest of Jura takes one to meet the rugged coastline of the island, where there is nowhere wilder than the world’s third largest whirlpool, The Corryvreckan. As beautiful as it is dangerous, the Royal Navy considers it to be one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the British Isles. Jura distillery created its iconic shaped signature bottles to withstand the perils of such dangerous crossings.                                                

It is a close northern neighbour of the more prolific whisky-producing island of Islay. However, the delicate honeyed nature of Isle of Jura Single Malt Scotch whisky differs greatly from the heavily peated malts of its neighbour. When one looks back at the Island’s humble coastline, one sees an epic landscape of dramatic mountains, overlooking the trees, fields and lochs that sit below it.

Jura lies between Islay and the Scottish mainland, just north of the Kintyre Peninsula, is home to the historic Campbeltown region. Only a few miles off the mainland, Jura was famously described as 'unget-at-able' by the writer George Orwell. A seasonal ferry is one of the very few ways that people can access the island. Otherwise, all transport is via Islay.

The reason for Jura's poor accessibility and the low population is to do with its barren, unfertile landscape. Though the whisky is not very peaty, much of the island is covered in peat bogs. These are not suitable for any kind of agriculture.

However, Jura has a remarkably mild climate due to its position in the North Atlantic Gulf Stream. This brings warmer waters from the southern Atlantic to the area. Jura is also sheltered somewhat from the worst winds by the presence of Islay in the south. The breezes here bring a more gentle sea-salt character to the finished whisky.

A previous distillery in Craighouse closed in 1910. The Jura people had to get their whisky from Islay for half a century. In 1962 Orwell's former landlord Robin Fletcher and Tony Riley-Smith, a fellow landowner founded a new plant. Their main client – Scottish and Newcastle Breweries – wanted lighter whiskies for blending. Thus the style of Isle of Jura whisky was set. The distillery is now owned by Whyte and Mackay.

In 2007, Whyte & Mackay was bought by Indian-based United Spirits Limited for £595 million (then, USD 1.2 billion). This is when the popularity of the brands, particularly Jura with its famous spooky tales, rose sharply in India. When Diageo undercut the portfolio, leading to mass resignations in 2013, sales did not suffer. Jura is still an easily accessible brand in the Indian market at affordable prices.

SOME PRODUCTS AND POPULARITY

PRODUCT	TYPE	POPULARITY
Isle of Jura Distillery 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Isle of Jura, Scotland	Single Malt	4,466th
Isle of Jura Distillery Superstition Lightly Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky	Single Malt	8,057th
Isle of Jura Distillery Diurach's Own 16 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky	Single Malt	10,993rd
Isle of Jura Distillery 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky	Single Malt	13,775th
Isle of Jura Distillery 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky	Single Malt	17,804th

Now other changes, perhaps more fundamental in nature, are afoot. Jura’s entire line is being rebooted. Jura Origin went in April 2018 and Jura Superstition and Jura Prophecy will follow. They will be replaced by 3 new age statement releases (10,12 and 18 years old) and 2 non-age statement releases, Journey and Seven Wood.

THE ISLE OF JURA DISTILLERY 10 YO 

The Isle of Jura Distillery Origin 10 YO has been replaced by The Isle of Jura Distillery 10 YO. This was because the Origin 10 YO expression wasn’t doing too well with a strong earthy cumin-like character from nose to finish which was found off-putting. This change brings a more balanced and inviting character that was missing from the original version. Hopefully, this new approach and style will make its way through their lineup with more releases coming out that fit this profile and deliver an even stronger overall portfolio.  

The distillery notes say, “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.”

JURA 10 YEARS DATA

Region: Islands, Scotland

Distiller: Jura

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley

Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-Sherry

Age: 10 Years

ABV: 40% 70°Proof

Colour: Amber

Nose: Smoked apricots; toffee, dehydrated apples, dried cherries, nutmeg and a bit of earthy malt and light floral nature.

Palate: Smoked apricots; toffee, nuts, spice, malty sweetness, apples, cinnamon, apples and a light bit of earthy malt, copper and bitter cocoa.

Finish: Medium. Dissipation of peat, cocoa and earthy malt.

ISLE OF JURA SUPERSTITION

Superstition is part of the core range, and is a mix of young heavily peated malt and older peat-free distillate, all matured in ex-Bourbon casks, rendering it subtly sweet yet smoky. This bland averment essentially encapsulates the flavour profile of Superstition, a mildly sweet Scotch with a touch of peat smoke and some notes of tropical and earthy spices – pleasant and mildly interesting but not extraordinary. A couple of drops of water is recommended.

While Jura gives plenty of island superstition to accompany this whisky – such as the local belief that good luck will come from holding this bottle so that the Ankh, the Egyptian cross-like symbol of life emblazoned on the front, is in the centre of the palm – practical information on the creation and make-up of this whisky is sparse. According to distillery sources, Superstition is crafted from about 13 per cent peated barley and the rest peat-free barley. It is a non-age statement bottling.

JURA SUPERSTITION DATA

Region: Islands, Scotland

Distiller: Jura

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley

Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-Sherry

Age: NAS

ABV: 43%; 75°Proof

Colour: Amber

Volume: 750 milliliter bottle (75 Cl)

Colour: Golden amber with a slightly reddish hue.

Nose: While peat surely makes its presence known in the nose, it is surprisingly subdued, largely taking a back seat to earthy but tropical aromas, starting with the smell of honey and oak and gradually growing to include notes of lemon, clove and sandalwood. There's also a faint but detectable alcohol nip, which could be from the younger juice that's most definitely in here. This is where the water helps a lot to tone this aspect down.

Palate: Hits the tongue with a smooth and sweet (if not viscous) drop of honey. After a couple moments, that begins to turn smoky and spicy. The smoke again is peaty but subtler than in the nose. While spicy notes of cloves, pepper and cinnamon take more dominance yet are still held in check by the honeyed flavour base, with a touch of citrus and wood notes. Swallowing leaves the spicy notes mingling with a touch of citrus in the back of the mouth- orange marmalade- and a sweet coating over the centre of the tongue. Even a hint of rum. 

Finish: Medium-length, a bit spicy with some butterscotch and a touch of oak.

Overall: Not mind-blowing but not a disaster either. There's a good and unique malt in here somewhere but it needs a better presentation and some better casks to really shine. 

ISLE OF JURA DISTILLERY DIURACH'S OWN 16 YO

Residents of the Isle of Jura are called “Diurachs,” and the 16-Year-Old scotch from the Isle of Jura distillery is billed as “The Diurachs’ Own,” the choice of the island. As such, it supposedly embodies the character of the islanders and the quirks of living there, such as the old legends, dramatic landscape and the sometimes harsh weather.

One of those old legends is that the old lord of the island banned independent distilling there. He held firm for almost 30 years, despite the irate response of Jura’s residents, until he was visited by the Dickensian ghost of an old lady, which scared him into lifting the ban. The 16-Year-Old figures into this story because the distillery keeps a bottle of the stuff lodged in the cave said to be the home of that spirits-loving spirit, just in case.

The oldest expression in the core Jura range, the 16YO has been discontinued and a revised range released last year is now bottled at 43%. This 16 official bottling spends 14 years in ex-bourbon casks and is then transferred for 2 years into Amaroso Oloroso sherry casks to finish.

ISLE OF JURA 16 YO DATA

Region: Islands, Scotland

Distiller: Jura

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley

Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-Sherry

Age: 16Years

ABV: 43%

Volume: 750 milliliter bottle (75 Cl)

Colour: Mid-gold

ISLE OF JURA 18 YO

Old Isle of Jura whisky needed a change, so they could get to more people and vindicate the capacity of their small island distillery to produce good whisky.  That change arrived with its new, revamped range: Signature Series. Jura 18 YO is one of the highlights of the range.

The whiskies involved in these 18 years old have followed two different paths - the regular unpeated spirit has matured in ex-bourbon casks before a period of finishing in Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux claret barrels from Bordeaux in France, while rarer peated spirit (which is only made at the distillery for one month each year) has been matured solely in ex-bourbon casks. The two pockets of stock have then been married together to produce the final whisky.

The result is a dram rich in smoky sweetness, with the classic oily peaty flavours of Jura. In the glass, Jura 18 is honeyed, with some reddish tones. The whisky is bottled at the slightly higher proof of 44% ABV, which enhances the body and mouthfeel of this dram.

ISLE OF JURA 18 YO DATA

Region: Islands, Scotland

Distiller: Jura

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley

Cask: ex-Bourbon & Bordeaux Wine

Age: 18 Years

ABV: 44%

Volume: 750 milliliter bottle (75 Cl)

Colour: Deep gold with a hint of reddish amber

Nose: This single malt follows the style of the Signature Series range. It is quite light and herbaceous, with white grape notes. There are also sweet fragrances of milk chocolate and toasted coffee. With a splash of water, there are some slightly peated aromas and a cherry touch.

Palate: A more sherried side. This is a Scotch that starts with a sweet blow to slowly fade to bitter and spicier notes. Chocolate and charcoal notes blend with a touch of raisins and dry fruits. Some soft notes of candied lemon. vanilla, some fragrant heather, cream, cedarwood and berries. The slightly higher ABV adds a definitive punch, though one would have liked to see a 46% ABV non-chillfiltered expression.

Finish: Fairly lengthy, with chocolate notes and a light touch of smoke.

Jura wanted to update its brand to get to a new target, and it may be working for them. A fresh brand can get to new consumers and open their eyes to the whisky world. Jura 18 YO  should be the icing of the cake, but it doesn’t get to the ne plus ultra complexity level of the Jura Seven Wood, with its seven separate finishes. That said, Jura 18, rich, fruity and peaty is a superb bottling from Jura.

ISLE OF JURA 21 YO

The Isle of Jura distillery is currently owned by one of the largest holding companies in the Philippines. Jura 30-Year-Old won Best Islands Single Malt, as well as Best Islands Single Malt Over 21 Years, at the 2016 World Whiskies Awards. In 2010, Jura distillery released a 200 Year Anniversary special 21-Year-Old bottling that was finished in a Gonzalez Byass Oloroso Sherry cask from 1963. The precise age of the barrel held a special significance because it was the year that the Jura distillery was rebuilt. 

On the box of its Jura 21-Year-Old offering, the distillery claims that the whisky embraces “many characteristics” of the 200th-anniversary commemorative bottling. The ABV is the same (44%), and today’s packaging is also quite innovative, with a removable buckling top that pulls up to reveal a black multi-tiered stand for the whisky bottle to perch upon. A black and white picture of the distillery is visible through a window on the lid, adding a vintage look. The bottle itself has a feminine, curvy appearance, which even tapers in at the “waist.”

Although Jura offers a few peated options in its core line-up, which culminate in Prophecy–a non-chill filtered, heavily peated whisky–the Jura 21-year-old is a different sort of expression. It is “domesticated,” if you wish. It’s sweet, creamy and slightly oaky. It appeals thus to a wide range of preferences.

ISLE OF JURA 21 YO DATA

Region: Islands, Scotland

Distiller: Jura

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley

Cask: ex-Bourbon 

Age: 21 Years

ABV: 44%

Volume: 700 milliliter bottle (70 Cl)

Colour: Deep rich mahogany.

Nose: Pleasantly light with wood notes, like fresh, fine-ground coffee. Malty but with an intriguing "edge": like molasses or dried figs. Breathing time brings a touch of orange peel.

Palate: Oak-woody hazelnut entrance. The woodiness crescendos into a syrupy impression of sour caramel. Honeyed notes creep in with Tokaji and port tones. The mouthfeel then thins as some brown sugar harmonises the prominent drier wood notes-- like the shells of nuts (walnut shell, almond shell). Good body with notes of winter cake, damson jam, marzipan and an uprising of cooked fruit with winter spice and fudge. These combined impressions then just fade evenly.

Finish: Medium-length with notes of chewy oak tannins, lingering if understated. The drier oak re-emerges into the finish, with cocoa or nutmeg.

The sensations of this Jura are unlike those of the others from their standard range. The Diurach's Own 16 is closest, but this 21 is drier-- with less honey and more wood. The flavour also has a few fruit notes and a more coffee-like character, worth recommending to lovers of dry and woody malts, because it hits the right notes for that theme. It doesn't present any lumberyard/sawdust, but more bark/nut/generally wood-derived notes. Coffee and nutshells.

 JURA RELEASES IN 2019

ISLE OF JURA SEVEN WOOD 70 Cl 40% ABV

Casks: American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels.

Colour: Deep copper

Nose: Apple pie filling with hints of cinnamon and hints of smoke. It is more of a sweet pulled pork scent than peat reek stings and may sting the nose a bit as if it was a much higher proof. A few cherry cough drops and mint chocolate.

Palate: An interesting rollercoaster of a whisky here. The taste is candy sweet at first blush, quickly turning lemon polish spicy before one gets to the slightly bitter end. Hints of the wine casks that this release has been paired with, but probably a brief affair with each of the non-bourbon casks. The body of this is a bit short and could do with a few more years in any or all of the casks mentioned above. The mouthfeel is semi-dry turning spicy and floral. Water pulls out some of the sweetness but the spiciness remains.

Finish: This is a little bitter/copper penny-ish in the end, which certainly takes away from the overall impression.

This is an interesting release. From the barrage of casks, it appears as Jura’s version of an expression from their stablemate distillery, Dalmore’s King Alexander III.

JURA 12 YO 40% ABV 70Cl

100% malted barley distilled on The Isle Of Jura. Matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels with an aged Oloroso sherry cask finish. 70° proof.

Colour: Clear, but with a rich depth of body. Copper to tawny hued with clearly defined rivulets on the side of the tasting glass.

Nose: Gentle smoke with medium intensity, followed by tropical fruit. Chocolate develops followed by coffee and banana.

Palate: The promises of the aroma are fulfilled with more developed tropical fruit and chocolate notes. The coffee characteristics balance out the slight sherry sweetness with a touch of bitterness. The smoke only presents itself faintly as the flavours disperse.

Finish: Smooth with spiced caramel that lingers for a few seconds.

On the whole, this is an inoffensive whisky that offers a little more complexity and bite than the 10-year-old, yet it simply has not been given a chance to show significant progression. As it is bottled at 40%, the cask influence is muted. As a result, everything feels a bit dull. Those who want something light and easy-going will prefer the 10-year-old, whilst there is not enough depth here to satisfy more journeyed whisky enthusiasts. In the end, one is paying more for a slightly older age statement, without finding a sufficient improvement in quality.

JURA JOURNEY 40% ABV 70° PROOF (80° US)70Cl

Jura Journey is the starting point of the new range, a NAS scotch produced, as all in the range, with a combination of peated and unpeated spirit that will give a slightly peated style. For Jura Journey, the whisky has been aged in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels. It has been bottled at 40% ABV, without chill-filtration and no added colour.

Colour: Pale yellow

Nose: Light and herbaceous. Some soft notes of white grape and pear with a slight citrus touch. There is a sweet side full of vanilla and shortbread, with small flashes of peat smoke.

Palate: Quite similar to the nose. Jura Journey is soft and creamy, though quite young and simple. The spirit herbaceous notes predominate, followed by sweet fruity notes. It is really fresh, with an almost imperceptible smoky touch.

Finish: Short and a bit dry.

Reinventing a brand should be a strong bet on a full product, a whisky that everyone at the Isle of Jura should be proud of. Alas, Jura Journey is not that whisky. While looking for new consumers, it seems that Jura has forgotten that what makes a whisky special is the richness of its nuances. Jura Journey is a simple and plain whisky, which is hard to go deeper. For the same price, you should find a handful of Scotch whisky brands that will surely give you way more.

 JURA RELEASES CASK EDITIONS 2020-21

JURA RED WINE CASK FINISH

Jura Single Malt presented a new red wine finish from the tiny island community distillery and the first in a new series called Cask Editions. These are not Cask-strength expressions; they stick to the standard 40% ABV format, bar the odd exceptions in other ranges.

Each whisky in this new series will celebrate the role of different cask finishes in the maturation of its whiskies. The Cask Edition series celebrates the connection between the land and the spirit bringing distinct regional and seasonal flavours to the island malt.

This red wine finished malt lifts Jura to a new level with beautifully balanced layers of richer fruit notes yet true to the heart of the distillery character with its fresher fruit, honeyed and citrussy characteristics.

Jura's Red Wine Cask Finish is a fruity, full-bodied single malt designed to be shared with friends and loved ones. As a gift to celebrate special occasions or as an after-dinner treat. It presents drinkers with an opportunity to discover something different beyond the charming, silky flavours of the Jura whisky. The single malt has been matured in American White Oak ex-Bourbon barrels and finished in hand-selected European red wine casks, which marries the island malt with the distinctive regional flavours of the casks. The result is an individual whisky that's delicate and refined. One which balances rich, strawberry and raspberry flavours with a final flourish of creamy vanilla and cinnamon spice. It's enticing in its aroma, fragrant of succulent sultanas, creamy caramel and black forest fruits, followed by a hint of heather honey.

Jura Red Wine Cask Single Malt Whisky is available as a 1-litre bottle.

JURA WINTER EDITION SHERRY CASK-FINISHED WHISKY

Scotch producer Jura has released a Sherry cask-finished whisky as the second expression in its Cask Editions series.

The launch of Jura Winter Edition follows the release of Jura Red Wine Cask earlier this year, the first expression in the Cask Editions range. Each whisky in the new series celebrates the role of different cask finishes during the maturation process. The Cask Editions series aims to showcase the “connection between the land and the spirit”, bringing regional and seasonal flavours to the whisky.

The Winter Edition (40% ABV) is initially matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels and finished in hand-selected aged Spanish Sherry casks. The Winter Edition has been created as the perfect festive season toaster, with a harmonious marriage of sweet spices and freshly baked apple pie, which results in an indulgent whisky while staying true to the heart of the distillery character with its maple and citrussy characteristics.

Described as a “rich and warm full-bodied” whisky, the expression has notes of sweetness from sticky maple syrup, spicy mulled wine and freshly brewed coffee. The finish offers whipped vanilla and cinnamon spice. Jura Winter Edition is available in both one-litre and 700ml formats. The one-litre bottle is available exclusively in select stores across the UK.

JURA RUM CASK FINISH

Jura distillery added Jura Rum Cask Finish to its portfolio in 2021. This single malt is said to be fruity, exotic, and creamy and brings in the lively taste of the tropics to its range of whiskies, according to the distillery.

The spirit is first matured in American white oak, and ex-bourbon barrels before finishing its maturation process in hand-selected Caribbean rum casks to create what’s seen as a smooth, creamy and fruity finish.

Official tasting notes indicate the rum cask influence gives this single malt a warm and welcoming aroma of exotic guava and coconut, sugar-coated almonds, apricots and some citrus. The smooth taste has rich and creamy hints of sweet vanilla with fudge coming through, balanced with layers of fruit sweetness from mango, banana and guava.

JURA AT FEIS ILE

 JURA RELEASES CASK EDITIONS 2020-21

Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle 2022 Edition

Jura is celebrating the return of Fèis Ìle, also known as The Islay Festival, with Jura Distillery Exclusive Fèis Ìle Edition 2022. Though it is in the Islands region, its proximity to Islay has convinced the Islay Council to accept Jura expressions at their annual fest. A testament to the passion and commitment of their distillery team, each bottle of Jura distillery Fèis Ìle 2022 Edition is hand-filled, wax sealed and labelled on the island at cask strength.  

Jura Distillery Exclusive Fèis Ìle Edition 2022 is a limited edition 2007 vintage single malt Scotch whisky matured in Cask No. 1892, a hand-selected Sherry butt from Jerez in Southern Spain, for 14 years.

Bottled at 57.2% ABV, Jura Distillery Exclusive Fèis Ìle Edition 2022 is described as having aromas of “cocoa dusting, warming sweet spice, prunes soaked in Armagnac, crystal malt, dried peach, green banana, and bitter orange,” with notes of “dried stone fruit, sweet citrus, chocolate mint, medium roasted coffee, and pistachio” on the palate, finishing with “a citrus blossom lift.”

The distillery team had earmarked this cask as a potential island exclusive and it was easy to see why. The fruity, aromatic qualities found around the 2007 vintage, combined with the rich, warming notes from its time in a single Sherry butt make for a compelling expression of Jura’s distinct character. Jura realised it would be the ideal candidate for 2022’s Fèis Ìle Distillery Cask, celebrating the return of this great festival.

Jura Distillery Exclusive Fèis Ìle Edition 2022 was limited to 700 bottles and was available at the Jura distillery visitor centre and via the Jura website at a suggested retail price of £120 for a 70 cL bottle. A bit steep, but that's your choice. If you find one, that is.