Isle of Jura 18yo (40%, OB, +/-2010)

Matured in a combination of American white oak and Oloroso sherry casks. The nose show some green, slightly solvent notes followed by some good malt along with apricot, heather and roses. Palm olive sap, furniture polish and brown sugar., a whiff of the farm yard. A little hand warming helps and brings out some welcome richness. The taste is quite good, vanilla, some caramel, a good dollop of malt and lots of notes from the oak side of the house along with the welcome sherry. Some light varnish, cinnamon and short bread however the sherry notes bind things together nicely. Mandarin orange. The finish is Hessian cloth, the Mandarin orange, some really good malt and short bread (light on the butter) and lots of happiness. Quite a long finish, mildly extravagant and pleasing. Later moments of malt and none of the industrial. After a few minutes a good moment or two of dark unsweetened bitter chocolate.

A bit of a tussle here and there but it all comes together nicely in the end.

Score 79 points

$67