Jura Tide 21 Year

Nose: Crème brûlée, candied preserved fruits, honey, warm spiced cookies (powdered ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and caraway seed) fresh from the oven. Dark cherries and boiled Christmas plum pudding appear after repeated sips, along with a subtle maritime note and a puff of smoke. Palate: The arrival is full of caramel stroopwafels, milk chocolate, and vanilla-flavored mascarpone (so yes, I was hooked instantly). As it develops, stewed apples topped with cinnamon sugar and cream appear, along with honey, canned peaches, and a faint trace of smoke. The texture is oily and coats the mouth. Finish: Medium. Some grassy notes emerge in the late palate, with mild spices, honey, and a pinch of salt being the final flavors. This was one of a pair of confusingly named Jura 21-year-old releases from 2019, jointly marketed and boxed as “Time & Tide”. The “Time” expression (which I haven't tried) was exclusive to TWE, and the “Tide” variant was for general retail. I don't know if there was a difference between them, and I have no idea why the distillery handled things in such a convoluted manner. The confusion is evident in the postings for the two spirits here - observe the thumbnail images, and you'll see they've been mixed up. Regardless, this is a very enjoyable spirit that I would gladly purchase if it weren't so prohibitively expensive. It possesses complexity but is also very gentle and easy to drink, which might make it seem straightforward initially, but requires perseverance to appreciate fully. I revisited the Jura stand twice for repeated tastings, and it appealed to me more each time. It shares a similar "complex simplicity" with very old grain spirits. If it were priced at AUD$250, I'd buy one immediately, but for just under $400? No thanks. “Very Good”: 86/100 (4 stars)

This distillery's quality has declined over the last several years, and it shows in their products. This 21-year-old expression is an attempt to recapture their former reputation. This is one of two similar 21-year-old releases, marked by confusing names and labels. This particular bottling was aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in new american oak. It has a caramel-orange hue and is bottled at 46.7% ABV. The aroma is truly remarkable, reminiscent of dark Christmas cake with raisins and candied fruits, yeasty, and smelling like freshly baked brownies. It also features dark dried fruits like figs and dates. Initially, it strongly evoked stroopwafels, and later, a salty sea breeze emerged. Excellent. On the palate, it begins with thick honey, like a potent cough syrup. A second taste brought out stewed apples and apple pie. It has a warming effect on the palate, something not felt in a while, along with a syrupy quality. The flavor is long-lasting and maintains its intensity. The finish includes aromatic peat smoke with a salty touch. It's well-made but not overly long, with notes of heather, earth, grass, smoke, pepper, and sea salt. Overall, it's a tasty whisky, but quite straightforward. Its simple flavors are well-executed and enjoyable. It plays it too safe for a 21-year-old, being very easy to drink but lacking depth. I'd happily have a glass if offered, but I wouldn't buy it myself. My rating is 89 out of 100 for a very good whisky that could have been better.

I sampled this 3cl pour while viewing an astronomy series with my children. The episode focused on Saturn, and learning about its moon Enceladus, which is in a similar early developmental stage as Earth was billions of years ago, was quite astonishing. Enceladus possesses icy water and superheated vents within its saline ocean, believed to be the origin of life on our planet. NASA even intentionally destroyed the Cassini probe, launched to study Saturn, to avoid contaminating Enceladus' potential for life. Regrettably, this dram was far less captivating than the documentary. However, Jura once again lived up to my expectations, delivering another disappointment. If one were to consider a 21-year-old Islander whisky for an evening drink, common assumptions would lean towards a 21-year-old Talisker or Highland Park. Yet, presenting this bottle proved to be a significant letdown, as it doesn't compare. It possesses a certain sharpness, suggesting it's younger than its stated age. I also detected sherry notes, which is unusual given I believe it was aged in American oak and then finished in ex-peat casks. I'm missing the typical Islander characteristics of sea breeze and salinity. This is a definite pass. The sample cost me around $10, and it wasn't worth it, unless the goal is simply to have tried a 20-something Islander.

I decided to revisit this distillery after my initial experience wasn't convincing. (I had previously tried the 10-year-old and 'Superstition'.) This is an unusual bottling. Jura offers standard age statements, including a 21-year-old. However, they also release two distinct 21-year-old expressions named 'Tide' and 'Time'. It would have been interesting to compare their differences, but let's focus on this one first. The nose presents Highland fruit and honey notes with very subtle peat. There's also a sulfuric element, reminiscent of fresh scrambled eggs, and a hint of mustard. Peculiar. Some bitter walnuts, applesauce, and ripe gooseberries are also present. For a 21-year-old at approximately 46% ABV, it's surprisingly lacking in intensity. However, the flavors present are pleasant and not overly sweet, though sadly a bit uninspired and simple. The palate is quite similar. It's nice but a bit odd. Notes of malt, bitter pears, mustard seeds, and apple vinegar are detectable. The finish is not impressive. It's long and appropriate for its age and alcohol content, but it feels somewhat off. Adding water reveals some very appealing characteristics on the nose, like brown Christmas gingerbread with icing. However, the palate loses some of its definition. This was an interesting experience, but not particularly enjoyable. It's genuinely peculiar, and several aspects feel discordant. The strange secondary notes are odd and don't quite fit. I'm uncertain if this sample was flawed or over-oxidized, but this is the third Jura dram I haven't truly liked, so I'll likely avoid their other offerings for the time being.

If this were a fragrance, I would purchase it. It has a deep, rich scent. Dark, carmel-like, with just the right amount of peat. It almost has a hint of bacon. My first taste: I like it. The initial entry is medium-bodied, almost thin, even a bit thinner in the middle, but the back of the palate and the finish perfectly echo the aroma. My second taste: consistent with the first. I could enjoy a measure of this regularly. It's not an everyday drinker; it's too bold and robust for that. It's also quite potent. But that slightly untamed character is part of its appeal. I'd like to buy a bottle.

Sweetness on the nose with a hint of smoke and sea salt. It transitions to the palate incredibly well with the peat showing through, but melding very well with the balanced body of this great whisky. Spice from the virgin oak makes a late but welcome appearance on the top of the palate, and as you would expect from Jura the finish is as poised and enjoyable as the rest of this great dram.