Isle of Jura Tastival 2016 / Triple Sherry Finish

According to the local rumours this expression combines Jura 19 year old seasoned for 5 years in an 11 year old Palomino Fino sherry cask, Jura 14 year old seasoned for 4 years in a 15 year old Oloroso Amoroso sherry cask, and Jura 15 year old seasoned for 3 years in a 30 year old Oloroso Apostoles sherry cask. It's a special release for Feis Ile 2016

When first opening the bottle it was like sinking the nose into a newly opened bag of sultanas. Musty, rich, sweet in excess. Now, open for a few weeks, it has calmed down a bit and the dram has been sitting (with tap) for about 30 minutes.

nose: still rich sultanas and sweet, but the sherry sweetness is now complemented with a barley sweetness. There's a dry sweetness, intertwined with a mustier big fat raisin sweetness. A whiff of licorice and old wood in a cellar. The second nosing reveals more of a... PX sensation, though there isn't any PX in it as far as I know.

palate: the attack has a prickling effervescent side to it, but there's very little alco-burn despite the 51%. Sweet, becoming dry, and then back to a coating sweetness - makes me wonder if this is interplay between drier and mustier types of sherry casks. Not thick, but pretty oily, just about right. Second taste reveals more tannic driness linkering on the sides and back of the tongue.

finish: very pleasant medium to long, with warming embers. Again, that peculiar interaction of tannic dryness overlaid by more traditional molasses.

Overall, this is pretty excellent. All the components of a sherry dominant dram, but it remains very balanced and pleasant. Not being a fan of many of Juras standard expressions, but surprised by one of their single casks, I decided to try this one out and I'm glad I did. If you can still get your hands on this bottle, it's not a bad acquisition at all!

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