The Jura 10 Years Old forms the foundation of an extensive single malt range from the island distillery of Jura. As with many of Jura’s whiskies it is lightly peated and has a wisp of smoke. Aside from the several bottlings in the core range, there are numerous limited editions that appear each year and a dedicated wide range for travel retail. This 10 Years Old has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels before a finishing period in ex-Oloroso sherry casks.
Jura was founded in 1810 by Archibald Campbell and is one of the oldest to remain in operation in Scotland. It was originally named as Small Isles in reference to the many rocky islets that litter Craighouse Bay on the Hebridean island of Jura where the distillery is located. The history is dominated by one sustained period of closure from 1901 to 1960. Then two local landowners – Tony Riley-Smith and Robin Smith – decided to resurrect whisky making on Jura. Renowned distillery architect William Delmé-Evans was commissioned to design the new distillery, which was renamed as Jura. The first new spirit was produced in 1963.
Whyte & Mackay purchased Jura in 1993. They remain the owners today, although as part of the Emperador Inc. group who took control of Whyte & Mackay in 2014. Under their ownership the brand of Jura has really flourished. They have taken it from an obscure island single malt brand to become one of the world’s best-selling and most individual Scotch whiskies. The annual production capacity is 2.5 million litres.
The Jura 10 years old is bottled at 40% ABV and is widely available globally. A bottle should cost around the £35-45/ $30-40 US. For further information on this or any of the other whiskies in the range, please visit jurawhisky.com.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is coppery gold and the nose is sweet, rich and malty. Aromas of toffee, crumbly brown sugar and Scottish tablet lead the way and these are underpinned by a distinct maltiness, which is reminiscent of freshly baked malt loaf. Hints of orange marmalade, dried hay and cocktail cherry come through, plus hints of gentle peat smoke and tart green apple skin.
On the palate this whisky is again sweet, but the savoury notes show themselves earlier. It has a slightly oily and viscous quality. Early notes of caramel coated popcorn, toffee and red apple rise first, which is followed by plenty of malt – think of a malted drink like Ovaltine or Horlicks – and some cocoa powder. Then comes the gentle peat smoke, although this is a little more pronounced than on the nose but still underlying. This has a subtle dusty and earthy quality. Hints of toasted hazelnut, milk chocolate and orange oil add extra depth and complexity.
The finish is lovely and almost better than the palate. It is of decent length and shows off the caramel and maltiness well. Then comes the soft smoke that wraps around everything and some warm baking spices. Both dry the finish out. A hint of marzipan comes through right at the end.
What’s The Verdict?
Jura 10 Years Old is a whisky of three parts – the nose feels younger than its age and could be a little prickly on the palate, but it mellows on the palate and balances sweet vs. savoury well, while the finish is the highlight and brings all the elements together and makes you want to go back for another sip. The soft peat smoke also makes this whisky perfect for a beginner to start exploring the world of peated whiskies – the peat is there but not the main feature. Decent value for money too in today’s market place.
