Isle of Jura SMWS 31.18 – 'Manly, masculine dram'

Taking a short break from the Kintra Single Casks (One to go), and back to the well known line of SMWS. This time it’s a Jura. We’re talking about a 20 year old whisky bottled in 2008, from a single Ex Bourbon Hogshead, 259 bottles and named : “Manly, masculine dram”. I’ve previously tasted the OB 21 year old (sherry profile), and it was rather good. Time to find out how a Bourbon cask feels at 20 year of age.

Nose : Manly? Masculine? Well, what I’m getting at first sniff is a lot of baby vomit up front. Maybe a really masculine baby… Yuckie? well, you have to like it. It’s sort of Laddie style BV, but without the peat it’s not that appetizing. Quite a bit of vanilla also,in addition to green apples, honey, and oak. A sub par nose, in my book. Palate: Sweet n’ spicy with vanilla and malty mash. some fruit (apple, Apricot) , there is an initial Alcohol burn. Some water is needed here, clearly.With water the palate gets even sweeter, and reveals additional spice. Finish : Sweet , honeyed, oaky and quite spicy. Long. and savoury.

Bottom line :

I didn’t care for the nose with the baby vomit, but the palate and finish are very nice. Not an average Jura, yet interesting.

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