Jura Diurachs' Own 16 Year

Intetsägande, smörig

Diurachs are the inhabitants of Jura, and this whisky honors them. It's a higher-end expression from the distillery, aged a somewhat atypical 16 years. That age is immediately evident on the nose, which has a rosy musk that isn't present in the younger expressions. Leather, rosewater, grapefruit, and cereal. This would make a decent cologne. The first thing I noticed when sipping it is its oily texture, which is much fuller-bodied and flavor-packed than I'd expect at just 40% alcohol. It's lavender-infused oil, candied sweets, oak, and floral malt again. The finish features café au lait and caramel corn for a lovely coda. The three phases don't quite cohere for me, as the floral nose transitions into a very sweet and woody palate, whereas the finish seems like a great combination of sherry, ex-bourbon, new oak, and malt flavors. Those final notes are the high water mark of this whisky and, in my experience thus far, of this distillery's single malts. I wonder what the effect of upping the ABV would be, or perhaps peating this whisky.

After dinner dram at Fiddlers Loch Ness. Woody and oaky smooth. Not peaty.