Jura Superstition

Details: This is a blend of whiskies up to 21 years old. Half of it is heavily peated whisky, while the other half is not. There's a note of added coloring. I assume it must be chill-filtered, but I see no mention of it. No age statement either. It's likely the age statement of the youngest scotch in this blend would not have been good marketing. I dislike when so little information is given, as if they're trying to deceive us. The edition is limited and discontinued. Appearance: Okay, it can make a good first impression. Nice amber color, attractive packaging, lovely bottle. The ankh theme symbolizes good luck. Nothing to criticize, rated 8/10. Nose: Salted caramel, light smoke. Very caramelly. I can't find fault so far. The aroma is pleasing. Rated 18/20. Palate: Warm. Caramel. Salty sea brine. The peat is actually just a thin, very plastic-like smoke. What is it with Jura always pushing their caramel and chill-filtration so hard? Rated 28/40. Finish: Plastic and bitter on a background of salt and smoke. Rated 12/30. Overall: No. I don't enjoy the taste. I'd like to like it because it's a beautiful bottle and all, but the flavor profile simply doesn't resonate with me. This typical plastic-like caramel from Jura! I also suspect the Jura peat doesn't agree with me (even though it's very subtle). This distillery should try something different instead of always repeating the same approach. I do sense a respectable complexity in this whisky. 43% is weak. I would have liked a more assertive aromatic presence. Despite all this, it's not the worst Jura I've tasted. Mixed feelings on this one; it's not entirely a horrible product, nor an excellent one, but it's definitely not for me. 62% minus 5% for added coloring and minus 5% for chill-filtration = 52% (and I consider myself generous!)

Quick rant, warning, and note of confusion: My factory-sealed sample arrived 1/3 empty. It was beside three other Jura samples, so I know what full looks like since they were full. I don't know if my sample is representative, but I might as well try it. Nose: Mild peat, lemon zest, grass, and a mild earth layer underneath. Just slightly interesting. The faintest mint and a touch of ethanol, but really it's very little. This is a light nose, even with the peat. Palate: Oh, the alcohol content has dropped here. It's flat. Time to derail this whole tasting. My refractometer indicates this is just shy of 28% ABV. That's so absurdly low that there's no reason for me to continue with my tasting. Tragedy, but that's it for this one. The worst part of this tragedy is that I sensed real potential here, and the palate even continued to have some decent complexity, but there's simply no way I'm going to attempt to rate a spirit that's been compromised to this extent. I still detect the peat and malt on the palate. There's some grassiness and a little toasty brioche as well. Once I adjust my palate to the wateriness and kind of excess bitterness, it isn't too bad. There's a malty sweetness and the vaguest remnants of some swirling herbal and milder vegetal characters. There's some legacy of fruit that might have once been in the orange-tangerine-apricot range. Finish: Look, I'm not going to even try here. It isn't bad as is (no off-notes), but that's as far as I'll go. - Conclusion - This honestly seems like it might have once been a good dram. I will definitely keep my eye open for another chance to try this one. I don't recommend trying it if the sealed bottle has lost 1/3 of its contents though.

Given my enjoyment of the Prophecy, I was eager to try its companion. They were taken off the market simultaneously, making this a special occasion for me. This is the less intensely peated version. Let’s begin. Smell: Peat with an earthy, green character. If memory serves, the Prophecy offered peat with a seaside profile. Smoke and a medicinal tang. Hints of caramel and rich toffee. Sweet honey and vanilla. A whisper of dried tomato. The aroma is quite subdued, but I appreciate its elements. Notes of ash, along with mint and dark chocolate, emerge as it sits. Saline notes and ocean salt begin to mirror the earthy peat. Quite pleasing. Taste: Peat with an earthy, rubbery quality. A touch of sea salt and kelp. Caramel, toffee, and dark chocolate. Prominent orange and tangerine flavors. A significant amount of cinnamon and black pepper heat. Aftertaste: Moderately long. Orange zest and dark chocolate. Cinnamon, black pepper, and other warming spices. My preference is clearly for the more intensely peated expression over this lightly peated one. The Prophecy was a favorite, and I found this Superstition enjoyable. I feel this might have been on par if the taste had lived up to the aroma’s potential. Still, it’s a dependable spirit. Fortunate to have acquired this bottle well after its production ceased. Absolutely worth the $64 spent to obtain it long after its discontinuation. 3.75/5.

Nose: The aroma is warming with oatmeal, sweet peat, honey, and a little toasted coconut. There's a hint of banana chips. Sweet malt rounds it out. Maybe some toasted grain and woodsmoke appeared later. Palate: Initially honey sweet, then an oily peatiness that remains and becomes earthier. Heather and toasted malt, a little roasted apple. Leather and seaweed. Finish: Medium length, oily. Warming, earthy peat. Toasted barley with a slight hint of coconut. Candied corn. Oak sweetness. Conclusion: Reviews vary. Many negative ones mention disappointment with the peat level. It's labeled "Lightly Peated" on the bottle. They achieved their goal; it's a great example of a lightly peated scotch. The smoke enhances, rather than overwhelms, the other flavors, and it's present if you seek it out. It's not the most intricate whisky, but I find it quite enjoyable. Not the best, but a good casual sipper.

Tasting three samples side-by-side: Jura 10 Origin, Jura Superstition, and Jura 16Yr (Diurachs). I'd not encountered rave opinions about this distillery, but the three-sample pack was cheap at only $5, so I decided to try it. Let's begin! Third sample out of three. Smell: Wood vanilla, smoked caramel, and honey. Taste - A generous amount of honeyed fruit and highland peat hits first. Yet, they don't seem to harmonize. It's like they're dancing to different rhythms... one doing the cha-cha, the other a waltz. It's not as well-balanced or combined as the 16Yr. The finish is lengthy and smoky, with hard candy sweetness lingering. In conclusion, it feels like less than the sum of its components. The honey's sweetness nearly dominates everything. The peat smoke, though not smoothly blended, does add some intrigue. Ranked 3rd out of 3 compared to the others.

Consumed a couple of bottles a while ago. This assessment is from a memory of about half a year ago... Smell: Moderate peat, with a grain mash, marshy/tart character. Peppery sweet notes also. A trace of sweetness. The marshy note might sound odd, but it surprisingly works well. Taste: The taste is medium in thickness, and mirrors the smell. Quite a soft texture. Perhaps the added caramel is misleading me, but it has a dark and rich flavor for a bourbon cask. End: Soft, lasting light peat and licorice. Overall: Not overly intricate but very approachable and relaxed for sipping without being dull, although the marshy peat style might not suit everyone. I rate it 3, meaning a pretty good whisky. I have encountered some negative opinions on this (like from Jim Murray), which I feel are entirely unwarranted.