Review: Isle of Jura 1998 – Elements Fire

Category: Island single malt scotch whisky

Origin: Isle of Jura Distillery

Bottling: Emperador; Whyte & Mackay

ABV: 46%

Cost: £77.31 from Master of Malt

What they say:

A release of just 684 bottles from the Isle of Jura Elements series. Each “Element” displays a different part of distillation. In this instance, Fire reflects the charred bourbon cask this 1998 vintage was matured in.

What I say:

Another sample courtesy of Tom at Toms Whisky Reviews, you would maybe think it was a guilty pleasure but actually neither of us have any shame in admitting that we actually have quite a solid appreciation of Jura’s whisky. For me there is a certain je ne c’est pas quality to Jura (& Bunnahabhain) too that must come from a touch of toffee and a sprinkling of salt and just the slightest peatiness of the water. They don’t need massive cask influences – they seem to just have a quality and drinkability all of their own. Iwas even more pleased to discover that this particular Fire elements expression was constructed from well-toasted casks – a maturation technique that seems to deliver just what I am looking for pretty much every time.

Colour:

Dark coppery brown (12/20), medium-thick legs from medium droplet tears

Nose:

Neutral toffee, musty, soft brown/demerara sugar, light molasses, vanilla fudge, butterscotch, oak, perfumed, suede leather, honey, chalky and dusty

Taste:

Toffee, malty, cereal barley flour, fudge, butterscotch, rich & thick vanilla essence, fruity; apricot & peach, oak wood, tannic tea, crème brulee and crème caramel desserts

Finish:

Long, drying, tannic, toffee oak wood

Overall:

Not massively complex but rather nice, a sipping whisky that promotes quiet contemplation rather than provokes thought – something I would drink when I want quiet time for my brain – nothing shouting at me!

Score: 85/100

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