Jura Bourbon Cask

Review #24 - Spirit #16 Appearance - Watery, with very short legs. Nose - Smooth, malt, honey, vanilla, lacking spice, peat, or smoke. Has an oily, buttery feel, with hints of red apple and ripe pear. Taste - Differs from the very mild nose, yet has surprisingly little alcohol burn. Reasonably spicy, but the oak spice fades quickly. The texture is quite watery and effervescent, with malty notes, along with honey, woody oak, fresh fruit (pear, less pronounced than on the nose), and a subtle green, herbal touch. Tastes like a young spirit. Finish - Short to medium in length, with a whisper of smoke, finishing dry with a slight oily bitterness in the aftertaste, oak tannins, perhaps a touch of peach, and lingering notes of ripe pear. Adding water didn't significantly alter it, perhaps making it even less aromatic. However, served on ice, the spiciness is greatly reduced, and the malt, oak, and honey become much more prominent. It's better than drinking it neat. Upon a second tasting, there appeared to be slightly more alcohol in both the nose and palate, with a more forward malt character. Overall, it exceeded expectations given the mixed reviews. It's not complex or special, but it's perfectly fine and enjoyable neat, especially at a great price. Rating Scale: 5.0 - Legendary 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - Not Rated

I was unsure of what to anticipate. I usually favor Jura, so I opted for something different. Medium bronze color with a copper edge. A few bits of oak barrel in the pour. The aroma is noticeable first with alcohol, butter, faint vanilla, dried citrus peel, and sweet caramel and toffee. The smell of 40% needs some air with a splash of water. The taste lacks refinement. Quite rugged with toasted allspice, nutty notes, a clove finish with a menthol aftertaste. The finish is substantial but I believe it could have been more. This bottle would work well as a mixer for a cocktail (Manhattan) or for marinating meat.

I found the first taste to be thin, but I appreciated the increased complexity as the pour developed. Enjoyable smoke that I like, and some toffee in the middle. A great value that I would buy again.