I grew up on the east coast drinking beer and rum. So many of my fondest memories are based on food and drink. Whether it was an amazing party, a Christmas gathering with family or that lobster dinner on the beach, alcohol in its many forms are right there helping to enhance the experience.
I always thought of whiskey as my grandfathers drink, something mysterious and harsh on the palette, and something that I would have to graduate to once I retired. I remember going to their place for Sunday dinner and my grandfather having a little dram after dinner. I enjoyed watching him pour his glass, just a little one, and putting the bottle back in the cupboard for the next time.
My love of whiskey is much more recent. My first dram was a whiskey from the island of JURA on the west coast of Scotland. It’s not a name I heard of before like Johnnie Walker, or GlenLivet or one of the big names that non whiskey drinkers know of.
JURA 12 Year 40% ABV
The island of JURA reminds me a lot of home in many ways. Rugged, unassuming, friendly with an abundance of natural beauty. Only a few roads, everything and everybody living on or close to the ocean.
Smooth, a little sweet, a little smoky, even a little salty. I loved my first dram as it had a little bit of everything. It wasn’t harsh like I remember my grandfathers selections to be.
The caramel copper color box indicates what you will find in the bottle. The simple labelling compliments the whiskey and is rather simple. That’s another good way of describing this dram – Simple.
The nose is sweet, subtle, with the slightest hint of sherry and smoke.
The Oloroso cask finish imparts a sweet sherry base from which all other notes come. When I taste it I immediately get fresh fruit and a little honey.
I call it the perfect gateway scotch as I believe it allows those that like a smoky, peaty scotch to venture south to Islay where smoke is the dominant characteristic. It also allows for the bright, sweet flavour lovers to travel east onto the mainland to the highlands/Speyside region to have an unlimited number of scotches to choose from. For those seeking salt and bold unique flavours to travel north to the lesser known island of Skye and the Orkneys to distilleries often overlooked.
For those looking for big, bold flavours this is not it. It’s a balanced, easy drinker that won’t break the bank. I love JURA 12 Year. Stay tuned for other reviews of the other offerings from this lesser known, but awesome distillery.