Jura Boutique Barrels 1997 Rosé Sparkling Wine Finish
55.5% ABV - Isle of Jura, Scotland
Nose: Sweet florals, perfume, and rose. The nose is a tad hot, but small amounts of water help to calm – revealing some caramel candy, citrus, calamansi (overly specific), and honey. There is a very faint minerality to this dram.
Taste: Floral, roses, and lavender on the arrival is closely followed by vanilla, honey, and those Popeye candy sticks. It’s a very interesting expression of Jura.
Finish: Not surprisingly the florals and perfumes round out the finish, with some grasses and lemon.
I have mixed feelings about this bottle of Jura Boutique Barrels right now! I had tasted from the same release already – Bottle 204 – and was excited to find a bottle from this batch still available. Flavour-wise my notes were not very different, but I remember that some of the individual flavours really stood out and defined this whisky. I might have reviewed this Jura whisky too soon – before natural oxidation has started to occur as headspace in the bottle grows, or that I haven’t found the right amount of water to add! I hope it mellows because right now it has an edge and the flavours too blended. Regardless, this is a very unique Jura and I have not tasted anything like it. [Update October 22 2018: It really has started to open up but not far from my initial rating. Fruits are coming through more strongly. This rates a couple marks higher now; 84 points.]
Details: Distilled 1997. Bottled August 2013. Cask No. 4; Bottle 94 of 264.
Tasted August 06 2018.
