This Samaroli Isle of Jura 16 years is a vatting of two different casks of Jura whisky that were distilled in ’97, bottled in ’13 and combined is something of a revelation to me. It showed me that Jura can indeed create some mighty tasty whisky. In fact outside of their peated “mistake” whisky (distilled 1996), this is my favorite Jura. There is a character in this bottle that I have yet to find in other Juras and I’m actually able to call it a good whisky, which is something I was beginning to think I’d never get say about another Jura.
For those not familiar with Samaroli, Mr. Silvan S. Samaroli began his career in 1968 and was the first non-Scottish NDP of Scottish single malts. Located in Italy he traveled to Scotland, made friends and forged partnerships with distilleries that, to this day, give him and his company access to the most cherry and unique casks many distilleries have. This is why a bottle of Samaroli costs so much more than most other NDPs. Combine cherry / unique casks with the fact that they often re-cask and finish the whiskies themselves and you’re getting something you literally can’t get from anyone else.
Samaroli Isle of Jura 16 years Info
Region: Islands, Scotland
Distiller: Jura
Bottler: Samaroli
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Age: 16 years (1997 – 2013)
ABV: 45%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Cask: 9111 & 9112
Bottles: 670
Price: $180
Samaroli Isle of Jura 16 years Review
EYE
Light Honey
NOSE
Crisp green apples, warm gooey honey, sweet ripe apricots and ripe pears start things off. There is a nice subtle backing of malt, vanilla and a slight floral character with a gentle sweetness moving beneath it all.
PALATE
A nice tasty malt, dried fruit, red licorice, yellow cake and vanilla frosting slide effortlessly across the palate. If it were to stop at that it would be cloying and overly sweet, but luckily some notes of salty brine, whisky spice and wood to even things out and create a multi-faceted flavor.
FINISH
Med-long and malt heavy with notes of fruit, vanilla, ash and oak.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Well balanced with malt, spice and wood keeping the sweetness in check. Light bodied, it has a simple and easy texture with almost no burn
OVERALL
Samaroli Isle of Jura 16 years is a great example of Silvan S. Samaroli’s ability, and opportunity, to pick out great casks. It’s rich, flavorful and aromatic, though not enough for me to give it an A mind you, but superior to most Juras I’ve had. For me Jura suffers the same problem as Bowmore where I find myself liking NDP bottlings of it more than just about anything the distillery itself puts out. If all Juras had this nice warm fruit and honey character running through them to compliment the darker tones it would be a much better sipping whisky.
SCORE: 87-89/100 (Range due to a single glass & not tasting at home)
