Jura 1989 26 Year Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Nose: Woodsmoke drifts over a subtle vanilla and floral backdrop. Hints of brine and citrus, with an intrusive scent like damp, old fabric. Palate: A very rich and sweet initial taste, developing fruity notes and becoming salty. The texture is thick and oily, similar to lecithin or white chocolate. Adding water reveals significantly more depth and brings out gentle spice and pepper notes, along with a slightly sour smoke. Finish: Long. Salty and subtly smoky with a general warming sensation and a touch of anise at the end. This is part of Signatory’s “Cask Strength” collection, a blend of two Jura bourbon barrels filled in 1989 and bottled in 2016, with 243 bottles produced. Despite the label calling it “heavily peated,” it’s understandable that after 26 years in the cask, this whisky has softened considerably, leaving behind a gentle, subtle smokiness that hints at its heavily peated origins. This has allowed what was likely a dense layer of smoke to lift, revealing complexity and a delicate fruity character, but it has also exposed a couple of drawbacks. Damp newspaper and decaying bung cloth scents are noticeable on the nose, and the palate has a slightly unpleasant oily/salty tang, like rancid olive oil. While the flaws aren’t major (the whisky remains a complex and enjoyable drink with a distinctly “mature” profile), they prevent it from earning a 4-star rating for me, and at the current price, it’s not recommended. Tasted at The Oak Barrel on May 22, 2017 “Good”: 83/100 (3.5 stars)