Jura 12 years

The Jura 12yo is at once a particularly classic, traditional and an innovative whisky. Looking purely at the cask maturation, there doesn't seem to be much surprising about it. For almost 10 years, the whisky matures in ex-bourbon casks of American oak, where the foundation of the whisky's body is laid. It then gets another finish in sherry casks to create extra flavour. And there begins the first fascinating anomaly: where such a finish is often short (sherry casks are not cheap!), at Jura they choose to leave ample time for the whisky to integrate the flavours of the cask. Two to two-and-a-half years is no exception. Even more interesting is the composition of the whisky itself. At Jura, mainly non-tasted spirit is made - about 95% of their production. The rest goes into making heavily-turfed spirit. And so that is how they compose their whiskies: 95% non-turfed and 5% heavily-turfed. The result therefore has a hint of smoke, without being overpowering. They themselves compare it to salt and pepper in cooking: a small pinch makes all the other flavours stand out better.

The result is an accessible smooth whisky, which nevertheless reveals a surprising character if you give it a chance. On the nose, this golden whisky offers dried apricot and toasted walnut, with ripe lemon, honey-glazed cereal and pleasantly prickly ginger in between. On the palate, we move towards dark chocolate, more dried apricot and flashes of fresh, aromatic citrus. The finish is pleasant, with freshly roasted coffee and sultanas on sherry, transitioning gently into cinnamon, liquorice and a fresh coastal breeze.

One you won't mind refilling the glass with.