08/12/2021 Jura

Jura 30yo 1990/2020 (46.4%, Thompson Bros. for The Whisky Find, Refill Hogshead, C#5317, 163b): nose: in no particular order, we have cedar wood, brine, nail polish, metal filings and dusty modelling wax. Behind all that, and a little later, delicate fruits appear too, tangerine segments, apple slices turning brown on a plate, as well as some sort of nut paste -- probably macadamia, rather than almond. The fresh fruit, however, seems to grow bolder, with the tangerine turning into a paste that feels almost like Turkish delights, in terms of intensity. In fact, that means nothing other than orange-blossom water, punctuated by a sprinkle of ash. The second nose is more openly waxy, with all sorts of wax sculptures, warmed by the summer sun, though some wood remains, upon which dark-grape juice has dripped. Mouth: boldly astringent, the palate sees vinegar, at first, then wood (cherry wood, to be precise), before bitter unripe fruits show up -- green hazelnuts and green apples. That bitterness is quite something! Behind it is a more timid fruity character, blending peach juice and nutty dry apricot. So timid, in fact, that it does not show up until the second sip. The fruit soon morphs into plasticine too, with vague tones of apple-flavoured chewing gum. Yes: it is rather waxy in the mouth too. Finish: acidic and strongly bitter, the finish retains the unripe apple, green grapes and hazelnut. This time, it is confident enough to add green-grape pips for shits and giggles. The whole thing is wide, warming and long, and that spells bad news if that flavour is not one's thing. Luckily, I like it. Even the welcome drop of milk chocolate (or chocolate milk, at that rate) comes loaded with hazelnuts and bitter almonds. Here too, a chewy, waxy aspect ends up in control, partly modelling clay, partly almond paste, entirely mouth-coating. That said, in the long run, it slowly but surely turns a little more abrasive, as if the chewy paste was made of sandpaper. That suggests the return of ash, albeit in tiny amounts. 8/10