Isle of Jura 1965-2000 34yo 'From the Oak' #3066 44.2%

An unexpectedly rich and mellow sherry-forward Jura. Isle of Jura ISLE OF JURA 1965-2000 34yo From the Oak #3066 44.2% one of 52 bottles The aroma is an intense, rich sherry with overcooked sweet berries, tamari soy sauce, mirin, mitarashi dango sauce, old herbal liqueur, strong woodiness, and a rich, luxurious profile. On the palate, it starts with a smooth mouthfeel that expands into a dominant rich sherry character, mirroring the aroma with strong jam-like notes, mitarashi elements, and herbal liqueur. From the depths emerge tropical elements, a rich sweetness, and a strong tannic bitterness with hints of peat. The finish is long, sweet-and-bitter. [Very Good, Interesting] This Jura 1965 bottled by Masahiro Matsumoto is a single cask aged for 34 years. Its near-black appearance immediately suggests a sherry cask. The aroma is as expected, an ultra-rich sherry with overcooked berries and fruits, alongside strong Japanese nuances like tamari soy sauce, mirin, and mitarashi sauce. Simultaneously, I detected strong woodiness and the aged bitterness of old herbal liqueur. On the palate, it begins with a smooth, mellow mouthfeel that suddenly expands. Here too, the ultra-rich sherry character explodes, with notes of jam, mitarashi, and herbal liqueur similar to the aroma. Impressively, tropical elements common in this era of Jura emerge from the depths. While there's a strong tannic bitterness that surpasses the sweetness, the bitterness lacks harshness and feels rounded, suggesting it may have developed this way through aging. The sweet-and-bitter finish lingers long, reminiscent of my first taste of Black Bowmore. I suspect this bottle initially had a bitter, tropical element that was completely overshadowed by the cask character. While the ABV is on the lower side, it might benefit from further aging in the bottle or by taking time to drink it after opening. This is a bottle where judgment is difficult. #Isle of Jura (ISLE OF JURA)