Review

Isle of Jura Superstition

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Isle of Jura Superstition Single Malt Whisky
45% ABV/90 Proof
$53
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
Jura Superstition – individual yet mysterious. Crafted from a selection of the finest aged Jura single malt whiskies, this spirit has a unique style and character. A reflection of the past, the present and a wonderful Island. A single malt to be sipped and savored with respect.

Color: Deep, intense, rich mahogany with glittering golden highlights.
Nose: Firm and positive, yet forcibly mellow. The long maturation in American White Oak has nurtured this noble spirit although subtle accents of complex phenolic aromas drift attractively in the background.
Taste: These dramatic, complex aromas are carried onto the palate as the warmth of the tongue slowly releases its many mysteries. Spice, honey, pine and peat aromas with a whisper of smoke make a dramatic impact. Thanks to the different ages selected 13 and 21 years old the mystic spirit has been tempered and tamed. Even the driving rain and biting cold winds which are part of the island’s heritage have made their own mark.
Finish: Long, lingering, tantalizing finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: A little sharper and more aggressive on the nose than regular Jura expressions. Peaty and vegetal.
Palate: Jura meet Caol Ila. The delicate Jura nature is still there but there’s and Islay overlay. More Caol Ila that Laphroaig or Lagavulin. Lightly smokey with a sweet toffee creaminess.
Finish: Pine, smoke, and a little salty spice.
Comments: This no age statement Jura is a mix of whiskies between 13 and 21 years old. It’s clearly not an Islay but the peat kicks this dram above and beyond the standard Jura offerings.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to than Laura with The Baddish Group for providing us samples for review.

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Isle of Jura 16 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Isle of Jura Single Malt Whisky Aged 16 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$69.99
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
The heart of the matter.

Allow this noble spirit to drift over the palate – having lain for 16 long years in American White Oak, the warmth of the tongue will assist in raising the true depth of the spirit’s quality.

Color: Glassy golden highlights.
Nose: Full and rich. The hand of time has moulded this unique Single Malt into an array of intense notes – each aroma has been
beautifully crafted to reveal harmony at its best. Silky marzipan honey with a hint of ginger spice and sweet chutney encompass this floral bouquet.
Taste: Soft peaches and honey with tones of chunky orange peel and marzipan will slowly arise. Hints of aged Napolean cognac drift
lovingly in the background yet the backbone of its heritage continues to ebb away on the aftertaste, leaving the palate rewarded and satisfied.
Finish: A memorable finish only an island can bring.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Fruity sweet with a little bit of brine.
Palate: Orange zest, a lot of oak, and a little vanilla sweetness.
Finish: All oak with a little salty sweetness playing at the edges.
Comments: I can’t really say the age appeals to me on this one. It has some of the harsher elements of the 10 Year Old without the delicate youthful charm. I would pick the 10 Year over this without hesitation.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Laura with The Baddish Group for providing us with samples for review.

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Canadian Club 12 Year

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Classic 12 by Canadian Club Blended Canadian Whisky
40% ABV/80 Proof
$21.99
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Canadian Club Classic 12 is a special blend of 12-year-old whiskies, aged in re-charred oak barrels. It’s an exceptionally smooth, warm and full-bodied whisky with strong overtones of oak and toffee. It is the perfect whisky to enjoy by itself or as part of a classic cocktail.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose has a buttery sweetness that reminds me of silver or gold Caribbean rum.
Palate: It starts off mellow and sweet and then slowly heats up to a spicy oak. The rye really shows through. There are also notes of vanilla and more of that rum character from the nose.
Finish: The finish is long and dry with a lot of oak.
Comments: I find this to be a decent dram. It’s probably still best in the cocktail mixer category but like Jack Daniels and the like, I wouldn’t shy from drinking this straight if it was offered to me. A noticeable improvement over the 10 Year Old. Much more robust flavor.
Rating: Average (slightly better than average but I still wouldn’t call it a stand out)

We want to thank Emma with SHIFT Communications for providing us with a bottle for review.

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Isle of Jura 10 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Isle of Jura Single Malt Scotch Aged 10 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$40 to $45
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
The only distillery on the island, Jura is an isolated island dominated by the mighty Paps-Beinn-a-chaolais, Beinn an oir (mound of Gold) and Beinn shiantaidh (sacred). Reputed to have had an illicit distillery in 1502, Jura has four primary expressions including the beguilding 10 Year Old.

The name Jura has several meanings: two brothers Dih and Rah, an island of yew trees, and an island of red deer which is generally considered the correct name especially when nearly 6,000 of them roam the island.

Color: Deep, amber gold.
Nose: Soft warm nuances of American white oak, cinnamon, crushed pear and apple express their attractive qualities. Silky almond, pinewood and lemon grass with subtle hints of gorse and sea spray complete this outstanding bouquet.
Taste: Clean warming gentle oak flavors seduce the palate in a pleasurable manner highlights of caramel, soft licorice, flashes of roasted coffee beans and crusty wholemeal bread excite and tease your taste buds.
Finish: Intricate, attractive flavors linger long in the mouth and reflect the true nature of the island.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Pine, salt, and compost. There is also a little fruit too but I can’t identify it behind the woody vegetal notes.
Palate: Very delicate. It takes a while to open up. Very oily and woody.
Finish: Mostly malt and oak with a trace of sweetness.
Comments: I was turned off to Jura early in my single malt explorations. I honestly can’t remember why. This is really a fine easy drinking dram. I would recommend it to those who like more mellow blends like Johnnie Walker Gold. Unfortunately, it’s actually so mellow and delicate that nothing really stands out about it. On the other hand there’s nothing offensive either. Well, the nose is a little funky but that’s about it. I once heard it called an aperitif scotch. That pretty much nails it.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Laura with The Baddish Group for providing us with review samples.

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Headlong White Dog Whiskey

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Headlong White Dog Whiskey
40% ABV/80 Proof
$30
Currently Available in Washington and Oregon

What the Distillery Says:
Good things come to those who wait—and also to craft distillers using the finest equipment available, carefully chosen organic ingredients, and the mentorship of an industry giant. We proudly offer you our un-aged White Dog Whiskey “headlong” out of the still. Smooth, flavorful, unexpected.

Tasting Notes
Aromas of frosted peach pastry, buttercream and raisin bran with a soft, silky dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a super smooth, lingering peppery spice, Brazil nut, and grainy flour accented finish. Great purity and balance.

Made from a true bourbon whiskey mash bill (recipe), this unaged whiskey begins its journey to perfection as 100% organic corn, wheat, and malted barley. Un-aged and slowly distilled with precise cuts and handcrafted quality. Non-chill filtered.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Bananas, warm custard, and pina colada.
Palate: Very clean on the palate with a peppery nuttiness and hints of coconut.
Finish: A little spicy heat but it’s a very short finish so it fades quickly.
Comments: This is our first review of un-aged “whiskey” or “white dog” as we call it in the U.S. I love that these folks are making real bourbon out in Washington of all places. I also like the organic angle. It’s even USDA certified on the bottle! I also love that they are making it themselves instead of bottling someone’s bourbon and calling it their own. What I really have a hard time with is this new white dog sub-category all together. Let’s be fair, white dog “whiskey” is really a fancy name for vodka. As such I can’t in good faith review it against other bourbons. It will fail every time. However, I do think that rating it against vodkas is appropriate and as such Headlong kick’s the crap out of the competition. The folks at Woodinville sent me along some recipes that I will post below. Where I’d really like to try this is in a Chi – Chi. For those that aren’t familiar with that particular cocktail, it’s essentially a Pina Colada with vodka instead of rum.
Rating: Stands Out (as a vodka-type product)

We would like to thank Cameron and the folks at Woodinville Whiskey Company for sending us a bottle to review.

Apple Dog
3-4 oz spice or sparkling apple cider
1.5 oz Headlong
Dash Angostura Bitters
Stir with spoon and fill glass with ice.

Headlong n’ a Splash
2 oz Headlong
Ginger Ale or 7-Up
Fill highball glass with ice. Pour Headlong over ice. Top with Ginger Ale or 7-Up to taste.

The White Wedge
2 oz Headlong
1 wedge of Apple or Orange with peel
1 ice cube

Brown Derby
1.5 oz Headlong
0.5 oz honey syrup (2 parts honey thinned with 1 part water)
1.0 oz Grapefruit Juice
Dash Angostura Bitters
Shake well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

White Manhattan
2 oz Headlong
1 oz Dolin blanc (sweet) Vermouth
1/4 oz Benedictine
2 dashes Reagan’s Orange Bitters no.6
Mix with ice and strain into Pear Brandy rinsed glass.

Green Trellis
3 slices cucumber and 10-12 mint leaves muddle together

After muddled, add:
1.5 oz Headlong
1.0 oz Apple Cider
0.5 oz Simple Syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass

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