Today something from an island, the Jura 10 year old Origin single malt Scotch whisky. It was August 1946, and a lonely figure is furiously typing away in an abandoned farmhouse near the northern end of a remote island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
George Orwell wrote one of the greatest novels of our time on the island of Jura. He managed to finish Nineteen Eighty-four during his stay in the farmhouse he brought from the proceeds from Animal Farm.
The island‘s remoteness was giving him the peace he needed to write his famous novel 1984. However, a warming Jura dram would not have sustained the lonely writer during his time on the island. The distillery was dismantled in 1901. A brand new Jura distillery was only built in 1963.
Constructed on the same spot as the old distillery, it attempted to stimulate Jura island’s declining economy. The island is as awkward to reach today as it was in 1946.
The island of Jura is located so close to the island of Islay and the ‘Parish of Peat’ that the distillery often participates in the annual ‘Feis Ile’ whisky festival of the Islay distilleries. The Jura flavours are, however, different from the peaty whiskies from the neighbouring island of Islay.
Jura’s mild climate and gentle breezes, together with the local spring water, are significant factors contributing to Jura’s flavours. I got the Jura 10 year old from WhiskyBrother in Hydepark, our favourite specialist whisky shop. It is a medium-bodied whisky and regarded as a very accessible, easy-drinking whisky by some.
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The packaging reflects a Celtic symbol that symbolizes beginnings and the forces of nature. The Jura 10 year old Origin whisky is seen as the whisky that began the Jura story.
REGION:Island
ABV: 43%
COLOUR: The official colour for Jura 10 year old single malt is defined as rich gold, but in the sunset light of my whisky room, it seemed more copper-gold.
NOSE: Apricots and flowers. There is a freshness when first nosing the whisky. The smell is reminiscent of open fields with clean air and lots of flowers.
PALATE: It is a light, delicate whisky. It is not a big, bold mouthful. Tasting the Jura Origin, I picked up apricots, raisins and a little oak. There are hints of mild spice and citrus.
FINISH: Quite a surprise. It is a long lingering finish ending with notes of pepper. It is not sweet at all and very delicate. I found this whisky a bit one-dimensional. It’s an easy-drinking, subtle and delicate whisky. We both quickly agreed on how we rated it.
RATING: VERY GOOD.
I looked forward to tasting a Jura, and my first one did not disappoint. It is a whisky I would offer to friends who want to try a single malt. I think that the Jura would pair well with some smooth milk chocolate or even a piece of white chocolate.
It might suit a sweetish desert cheese like an apricot flavoured white rock. I will look to add more Jura whiskies to my collection. What was your favourite Jura?
Update: I paired this Jura 10 year old Scotch whisky with a Comté Cheese, and it made for a fantastic pairing.
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Tasted the 10y once and thought it was very good but had a bottle of the Prophecy and that was amazing (peated and rich)! Would label it as a heavy smokey but not in an Ardbeg 10 way, much richer and fruitier