Jura 1989 Rare Vintage

I’ve never found Jura’s offerings to be all that interesting and usually seemed to be either average or slightly above average but I heard that these extra old versions are quite exceptional, so curiosity got the best of me and I picked up a sample of this 30 year old that was bottled at 53.5% to find out. The nose starts mildly sour with lemon lime sorbet, dehydrated mango and sandalwood then light floral notes of lavender and honeysuckle that fades to dark chocolate and toasted coconut followed by papaya, bananas flambé and grilled pineapple rings that transitions to dusty old leather bound books and old polished antique furniture with low ethanol burn. The taste is a medium and creamy mouthfeel starting with orange sorbet, salted mango and sandalwood then light floral notes of lavender and honeysuckle that fades to mildly spiced mocha and toasted coconut followed by papaya, bananas flambé and grilled pineapple rings that transitions to saffron, cardamom, candied ginger, dusty old leather bound books and old polished antique furniture with low ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with dark chocolate orange, dehydrated sugared pineapple, cloves, saffron, cardamom, mild black pepper, dusty leather bound books and polished antique furniture. Well, well, well, this sure is an exceptional whisky that the nose started slightly worrisome with a mild sourness but that quickly faded to reveal a complex mix of sweet tropical fruits, mild sour citrus, florals and well-aged oak that carries over to the palate with a medium yet mouth coating mouthfeel with a mild spice and the addition of exotic spices that the flavors all flow harmoniously together with a minor flaw of a mild sourness that detracts from the experience before finishing fruit forward with dark chocolate, exotic spices, mild pepper and well-aged oak notes of leather bound books and polished antique furniture. Looks like all Jura needed was a long slumber in ex-bourbon casks to really come together as a complex and tasty old whisky, but at the price tag of $700+, I don’t think it justifies that premium price as there are plenty of other offerings out there for less than $200 that I’d rate higher and rather buy.