I am the man who found the cure for anorexia.
I am a Glaswegian and I love Malt Whisky and good...
I am the man who found the cure for anorexia.
I am a Glaswegian and I love Malt Whisky and good cigars - and yes, even better together.
I am a Celtic supporter - So I don't follow football.
45 Y/O pixel necked geek.
Member since:19.07.2004
Reviews:8
I am one of the founder members of the Glasgow Malt Whisky Club and had the pleasure - nay, THE HONOUR - of attending a tutored whisky tasting of the various products of the Isle of Jura distillery. What made this so special was that the tutor was the daddy of all of the whiskies on trial, Mr Willie Tait.
Willie is to whisky what Stradivarius was to violin making, for Willie is the master distiller and now the brand ambassador for Isle of Jura Single Malt Whisky. What he doesn't know about whisky isn't worth knowing. And on top of all of this he is a really nice guy too (and there are not that many of US about!!)
Although we sampled many of the distillery's products, I am going to focus
this review on one of the latest to be produced on that small, tranquil and rugged of Hebridean Islands, namely the Limited edition Isle of Jura cask strength 30 year old.
Spirit that was distilled in 1973 was laid down to mature in a Gonzalez Byass Olorosso sherry cask. This bottling, which produced only 468 bottles, was specifically chosen for release by Willie Tait himself and is bottled at a cask strength of 55.5% ABV. With a price tag of around £215 this is certainly a dram that is aimed at the whisky enthusiast ( I hate the word connoisseur for 2 reasons; firstly, it is so pretentious, and secondly, I have great difficulty in spelling the damned thing!!!)
Under Willies expert guidance we firstly gazed lovingly at the mahogany coloured nectar, rolling it in the glass and watching its "legs" run back down to the pool at the bottom. We then moved on to the nosing. The delicate sherry notes were right up front - no surprise as it was gestated in a sherry cask!!. There were also nutty overtones present, perhaps almonds and spiciness too. Willie called this cinnamon, but for me it was more like mace or nutmeg - but do you think I am going to argue with a man who has been making whisky longer than I have been pretending to be 21 again?
Willie then suggested that we add a touch of water to it, to "waken it up" after all, it had been in a barrel for at least 30 years. Doing this invigorated the nosing and allowed one's nose to pick out the previous flavours and scents more distinctly. Indeed, this opened up a few more tones to the olfactory system, including - surprisingly - chocolate and citrus zest.
Then on to the tasting, and boy was it worth waiting for. As expected with a mature whisky, this was very smooth, and the sherry added a large degree of delicacy to it. Indeed, the sweetness, almost honey like sweetness, lingered on the taste buds after one reluctantly let is slip down the throat, warming the system on the way down.
If you are a bit of a whisky buff and are reading this review to help you decide if you are going to buy a bottle for yourself, then quite frankly you are wasting your time. You will no doubt be aware of the other very useful whisky resources and suppliers of your favourite tipple.
HOWEVER, if you are contemplating buying a special bottle for that special person in your life (or even your husband for God's sake!!) then let me tell you that this IS indeed a special product. Created on the island where an English writer called Eric Arthur Blair went to convalesce from tuberculosis, this product is destined for great things. It has quality and class. It has power and grace. It has gives a sense of occasion and "specialness."
Isle of Jura limited Edition Cask Strength 30 year old will be revered by whisky enthusiasts throughout the world. It is destined for greatness.
I am not too sure if the writer Eric Arthur Blair would have been destined for such greatness if he hadn't visited this island. Whether it was the ruggedness of the island, or the tranquillity of staying on an island inhabited by less than 200 people yet more than 5,000 red deer - or maybe that under the pseudonym of George Orwell, the novel that he wrote whilst living on Jura would, like this whisky, be remembered for a long, long time. If only the whisky cost less than £19.84 a bottle.
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what a great experience to work as part of a tasters team! 30 years though - christ i bet it makes you cough!! i do enjoy a nice glass of whisky, but unless i did have a taster, i probably wouldnt pick this one up. a cracking review though! :) x
Youngatheard60 03.04.2005 00:32
Really interesting review. Whisky is my tipple. Barbara xx
Apr 2nd, 2005
very helpful by (100%):
