Jura Diurachs' Own 16 Year (43%)

My sample of Jura Superstition was unsatisfactory, so this will likely be the only peated Jura expression I sample. The nose presents rich fruit notes (red berries and tangerine), a hint of raw meat, and some smokiness, though I don't detect significant peat. It feels full but lacks complexity, with a touch of sulfur. The palate is sweet, rich, and full, with a strong alcohol presence and burn, revealing notes of cherry, apricot, and toffee, along with lemon zest and pleasant malt sweetness. However, the flavors lack depth. A subtle earthiness hints at peat, but it's not prominent or particularly pleasing, and there's also some sulfur. It doesn't possess the smooth nuance of Compass Box Artist's Blend, instead offering an earthy, herbal, vegetal profile with some off-putting funky notes. A prior sample of Jura 10 (non-Origen) was more complex and nuanced, despite its youthful alcohol. While I prefer the richness and fullness here to that Jura 10, the alcohol burn is more pronounced and harsh, and the flavors are flat, accompanied by sulfur. It resembles a less complex, less sweet, less balanced, more sulfuric, and less enjoyable Highland Park 16 Wings Of The Eagle. The sulfur is as noticeable as in Highland Park 12, but it lacks the smoke and sea spray to mask it, instead being paired with sharp alcohol and raw meat. The finish brings out the malt's bitterness and toffee, with a bit more spice (white pepper, ginger, clove) than the palate, followed by a jumbled mix of indistinct flavors from the palate. Overall, this expression offers no enjoyment. I had hoped it would match the quality of the Jura 10 Year Old Origins I tried, but it falls short. An 11 seems generous. I might prefer this over the mystery Jura Origin 10, but that would put it at a 10. Reconsidering, it's more actively challenging than that mystery Jura 10. I'm no longer certain it's superior. Compass Box Artist's Blend (13/23) is significantly better with its sweet vanilla and clean profile. Highland Park 12 (12/23) also surpasses this. While Three Scottish Brothers 20 (12/23) might be less complex and has some alcohol bite, it offers more pleasant vanilla sweetness and smoothness, whereas this suffers from challenging flavors. I'd rate it above my Girvan 24 (1994) Carn Mor independent bottling, but I need to re-evaluate that one. Comparing it to Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star (11/23), this is more complex with less noticeable alcohol, but it has more bite and a variety of unpleasant flavors; they are surprisingly close. I'm considering a range of 9 to 12, settling on an 11. It's frustrating to rate two drams identically, leading to self-doubt about my palate, but consistent relative rankings with other spirits confirm this as a sound assessment.

Acceptable, just uninspired.