40% ABV
Highland (Islands) Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bourbon Cask Finish
The Isle of Jura
On the western edge of Scotland, in the Inner Hebrides, lies the Isle of Jura. It is roughly 142 square miles in area and is home to just over 200 inhabitants and over 6,000 red deer. Despite the low human population, there is an award-winning distillery on the island.
Originally founded in 1810, the distillery fell into disrepair. It was restored in 1884, but again by 1900, it shut down. The local economy suffered as there was not much else on the island. Even today there is one road, one hotel, one pub, one store, and thanks to two local estate owners who rebuilt and expanded it, one distillery.
Local businessmen, Robin Fletcher and Tony Riley-Smith, had the vision to revive Jura Distillery in the 1960’s. They recognized the distillery’s importance as a source of employment for the few locals and it is widely lauded as the “beating heart of the community.” The modernized and expanded distillery reopened in 1963.
George Orwell famously wrote “1984” while living in a farmhouse in Jura. The island’s remoteness and tranquility allowed him to focus on writing his dystopian masterpiece. For a long time, being the birthplace of “1984” was Jura’s only globally significant claim to fame. The question that remains unanswered is, “Would Orwell have found the peace and quiet he needed to write “1984” if Jura Distillery had been operational in 1948?”
The next isle to the southwest from Jura is Islay, known for its heavily peated whiskies. Despite this fact and the readily available peat on the Isle of Jura, the Jura distillers peat their whisky with an intentionally light touch and not in the entire range of whiskies. The Jura non-peated expressions have a mainland Highlands character, void of the salty, briny notes that are present in other island malts. And the peated expressions have a subtle, background smokiness but never anything approaching their Islay neighbors like Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig.
Bourbon Cask
Bourbon finished whisky is an interesting topic because ex-bourbon casks are so ubiquitous throughout the single malt landscape. American bourbon regulations require that for a spirit to be labeled as “straight bourbon whiskey,” it must be aged for a minimum of two years in new, charred, American oak barrels. As a result, ex-bourbon barrels or casks are in surplus and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other options. Hence the ubiquity of ex-bourbon barrels in Scotland. The key to the barrel’s impact, however, is whether the Scotch is being aged in a first fill or refill ex-bourbon cask. First fill casks have a more profound influence on the Scotch. Regardless of the intensity of the impact, you can expect that ex-bourbon casks will impart those very typical bourbon notes of caramel, vanilla, coconut, and oak.
Pairing by: Erik Calviño
Tasting Notes: Jura – Bourbon Cask Finish
An ideal beginner Scotch that opens with a big, approachable nose of rich nuttiness and citrus notes accompanied by prototypical bourbon aromas of vanilla and toffee. On the palate there are flavors of malt, oak spice, sour apple, and vanilla that show themselves willingly, especially after a drop of spring water. Be mindful of how much water you add since this is a 40% ABV spirit. It will quickly break down if too much is added.
Cigar Pairing: Gurkha Colección Especial
The Gurkha Colección Especial on its own is an ultra-creamy smoke with delicate notes of toasted almond, vanilla, and baking spice balanced by cedar on the finish. Ideally you should let the Jura breathe in the glass for a moment before tasting; you’ll know it’s ready when the vanilla and toffee aromas crank up to 11. The cigar’s core profile remains intact and is joined by a delightful combination of caramel, vanilla, and malt flavors that take this pairing to the next level.
