Jura Origin 10 Year (43%)

Rating: 11/23 I just realized I have both Jura Origin 10 and this Jura 10. The distiller indicates Jura 10 is bottled at 40% and peated, while this one is 43% and doesn't appear peated, so I'm uncertain about its identity. Nevertheless, I found Jura Origin 10 surprisingly good, so this should be even better! Nose: Not much is present. It's somewhat vegetal, like roots, with faint ethanol, a light sweetness suggesting fruit but barely there, a touch of raw meat, and the faintest honey. It's forgettable and clearly young; I don't have high expectations. Palate: Sweet, but also high in ethanol. It's too much. This fades into honey, but beyond that, it's quite bland. Later on, an earthy and vegetal character emerges, though it's still faint. It's also grassy. There's a tiny bit of savoriness that is thankfully roasted rather than raw. There's a spicy burn throughout, but it's not harsh. The spices do add an alcoholic burn that isn't very pleasant. Something tastes slightly off. Finish: Mostly bland and mellow with forgettable sweetness and a lingering spicy burn. However, there's a backbone of something between brioche and cookie dough that I do appreciate. Conclusion: I'm very disappointed. It's a significant step down from Jura Origin 10. The alcohol is more noticeable here, and the product is less cohesive and complex. For comparison, Compass Box Artist's Blend (13/23) easily surpasses this, whereas it clearly lost to Jura Origin 10. This is slightly behind Three Scottish Brothers 20 (12/23). I'm considering a score between 9 and 11, most likely a 9 or 10. Deciding now, I'd give it a 9. Revisiting for a final taste, I believe I was a bit harsh the first time. It now seems closer to Three Scottish Brothers 20 than it did previously. After further comparison, I think an 11 is appropriate. I did seriously consider a 10 for a while.