Review #70: Isle of Jura 23yr 1989/2013, "Heavily Peated," 46%, Van Wees/Ultimate, ex-bourbon, C#30713, 230 bottles

another one like the last one?

after this one appeared, much to my liking, some similar ones seemed to pop up here and there: heavily peated Juras from 1989. This one, in fact, like the Signatory, was distilled on 17 December, so it's safe to say they're from the same run.

this one, unfortunately, is proofed down to 46% -- like most of "The Ultimate" bottlings, but here's hoping it's otherwise a twin to the Signatory.

nose: some sweet orchard fruit on top of an oily/coastal base. Where's the "heavy peat"? I sense a little black smoke, but nothing like the phenols and licorice and tar of the other one. The fruit (dessert apples and peaches) is a nice surprise, along with some white chocolate, and the coastal elements are there (brine-soaked rocks and sardines), but no peat.

palate: sweet at first -- more apples and peaches, and then charred oak takes over. A little too drying, but the fruit holds up well.

finish: maybe a little dry ashy peat on the finish? Some licorice? But I'm really looking for it. Otherwise more of the same: fruit, coastal oiliness, dry oak.


This is a nice fruity dram, which complements the Jura oiliness well. If there's any peat, it helps the oak hold up the body, but in any case, this is completely different from the other one. Very good in its own right, though.

score: 87