I am finishing up this row of Jura with two so-called Boutique Barrels. I tasted the 11 Year Old Heavy Peat XU finish several months ago and enjoyed that very much. Today, I am putting the Sherry Finish JI and the Bourbon Finish JO head to head. I will start with the JI which, after a regular maturation on bourbon until 2002, was recasked to an ex-sherry cask from Gonzalez Byass for it second beauty sleep.
The nose is very expressive with notes of oranges, roasted nuts, freshly sawn planks and thankfully only a mild hint of the rancid edge I always detect in Jura, although there is a slight rubbery hint. The wonderful woodsmoke masks it well, though. After a few moments it becomes fruity, with berries and raspberries at the front.
It is almost syrupy and fruity on berries and raspberries again, but some exotic fruit tags along. Pineapple, drenched in honey. Nuts. Spicy too. This is a rich whisky, if you know what I mean.
The finish lasts forever on berries.
Another great Jura, although I must say the typical character of the distillery is more or less absent. That does not detract from the great taste, though.
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