Jura Origin 10 Year

Overall rating: 16/23. I had heard mainly bad things about Jura but wanted to try it myself with some optimism. Nose: It’s sweet and clean initially, followed by a mix of vegetation and honey. Not exactly manuka, but similar. There’s some minerality and a peppery spice. It’s light and not very engaging, but there are some interesting elements, especially the vegetal notes with honey. A hint of raw chicken breast suggests youth. Palate: Clean and sweet with honey and minerals, layered with spice that mostly burns but isn't harsh. A light bitter earthiness, not quite vegetal. This earthy vegetal character merges with malt and faint grassiness. A mild, slightly juicy red fruit note is present. Very subtle brioche. It feels somewhat empty, similar to Paul John Christmas Edition 2020 but without the heavy smoke. Finish: Clean, mildly sweet creek water with faint earthiness and a lingering spicy burn. Conclusion: I expected this to be bad and it wasn't. It's not particularly memorable, but it's perfectly acceptable and offers a bit of scotch funk without being off-putting. It competes well with Compass Box Artist's Blend (13/23); I'd choose this one. It reminds me of my Cadenhead's Tullibardine 25 (19/23) but isn't on that level. This tastes like a less refined version of that. It's less full, nuanced, and mature, but still quite solid. Compared side-by-side with the Tullibardine, I detect more alcohol and it seems thinner and less cohesive. I'm considering a score between 14 and 17, leaning towards 16 now. Revisiting it, I think I initially rated it too high because I was surprised it wasn't awful. Now, side-by-side with Compass Box Artist's Blend (13/23) and Knappogue Castle 12 (15/23), I'd rate it a 14. It's still respectable and better than I anticipated, but not something I'm eager to drink. I can see why others might rate it lower; it’s a very subdued, subtle, perhaps even muddled dram.

Okay, it's confirmed, Jura IS THE BRAND. This is my second Jura after Superstition, and it's fantastic. On the nose, it offers many classic aromas, but I haven't perceived this combination in any whisky before. You will find plum and prunes initially, then lemon and orange, some serious citrus notes there. After the first taste, your nose will open up to perceive nuts, vanilla from the tree (like smelling the tree itself) and cocoa (I know it should be coffee since the official tasting notes say so, but for me, that's cocoa). On the palate, what dominates is an amazing spicy flavor. It starts fruity and nutty, very pleasant. The body is kind of unusual, not thick but not light either. Very woody. Caramel is also present. Finish is long and full of almonds and hard mint (like the ones you get from a restaurant to freshen your breath after a meal). A beautiful, beautiful whisky. My second Jura, second success with this brand. As soon as I get to a foreign liquor store, I'm grabbing more of these beauties.

Comparative tasting of three sample pack varieties: Jura 10 Origin, Jura Superstition, and Jura 16Yr (Diurachs). While I haven't encountered rave opinions for this distillery, the three-sample pack was a bargain at $5, so I decided to give it a try. Here we go! First sample: Nose - Sharp, young ethanol. A friend new to whiskey described the aroma as "it singed my nose." I also detected subtle notes of citrus, caramel, and light vanilla. Flavor - Caramelized malt. Harsh alcoholic edges. More citrus and vanilla. This one has many rough aspects. Adding a little water and allowing it to sit in the glass reveals more vanilla and caramel. The bourbon cask influence is very apparent. The finish is brief. Overall, unremarkable. Score in comparison = 3 out of 3.

Nose: Tart apple, peach, lemon zest, honey, dry grass, floral hints, malty grain, sweet vanilla, mild cinnamon, and a moderate ethanol burn. Taste: Honey, chocolate, tart apple, tannic dry grass, cereal grain, lemon zest, peach, a whisper of caramel, floral notes, with a moderate to strong alcohol sting. It finishes quickly with predominantly sour fruit, bitter grassy notes, floral elements, and the heat of young alcohol. While I find it reasonably acceptable, I'm not particularly impressed. Certain aspects of the aroma and flavor are pleasant, but the fruit leans too tart, the grass is excessively bitter, and the components don't seem to blend smoothly. It might benefit from additional time in the cask.

First sampled 2017-09-03. Acquired a 100ml bottle on 3/30/2021 for $4, prompting a revisit. Appearance: 5/5. Darker gold with a hint of brown, like weak iced tea. Body: 5/5. A touch thin. Aroma: 6/10. Fruity and floral. Not intense but smooth and easy to approach. Flavor: 6/10. Above average. Light fruit. Mellow and not very complex. Smooth and easy to drink. Reminiscent of Johnnie Walker Red Label. Overall Opinion: 6/10. Quite enjoyable but not thrilling. At 40% ABV, it’s smooth and easy to sip. (The 2017 version I initially tried was likely 43% ABV.) Bottle Recommendation: Do not purchase, as it lacks sufficient interest.

My second travel retail Jura and this one is also discontinued to make way for another 10yo from them. This one had a noticeable nose of blossoms and orchard fruits, mainly autumn apple. The fumes were gentler with this one. On the palate, there was a quick but full sensation of hazelnut and then oak, which is then joined by plenty of cereal notes and malted barley. Finish continued with some more cereal notes and dark chocolate, rounded off with a hint of tannins, that orchard apple and salt. Rather light spirit and the notes are also light. Instagram: Mr.