Home Tasting: Isle of Jura 1965 26yo OB The Stillman's Dram

While it has an old character, tropical fruits that are characteristic of the distillery gradually emerged over time. Isle of Jura ISLE OF JURA 1965 26yo OB The Stillman's Dram 45% one of 1800 bottles ・Aroma: Slight twist with old character, mellow old sherry, tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple, grapes and ripe peaches, settled grainy notes, fresh herbs like mint, old earthy and peaty aromas from the depths. ・Flavor: Starting with a mellow mouthfeel, it expands into a rich and full-bodied flavor. A strong old character is present, similar to the aroma, with tropical notes and grape flavors, some juice-like sensation, old orange curaçao, fruity refined sweetness balanced by herbaceous bitterness, gentle acidity, and a gradual emergence of earthy peat. ・Aftertaste: A lingering aftertaste with sweet and sour fruitiness and herbaceous bitterness. ・Watering Down: Although the original aroma is gentle, it extends without breaking down. ・Overall Evaluation: The old character was quite strong, possibly due to the bottle's condition. It is a bit regrettable that the plant-like bitterness typical of old malts was present. However, over time, the bitterness softened, and the tropical fruitiness characteristic of 1960s Jura gradually emerged, which was impressive. 【Good/Very Good】 This is the official Stillman's Dram of Isle of Jura 26 years old. Although not explicitly stated, according to whiskey databases, it appears to be a 1965 vintage. This bottle was opened in January for my daughter's third birthday. Due to the old age, it might have had slightly poor storage conditions, resulting in a strong old character with some bitterness. The pronounced fruity notes typical of 1960s Jura were only evident deeper in the flavor, so initially I was a bit disappointed. However, after slowly enjoying it over nearly six months, the old character has faded and the fruity tropical notes have become significantly stronger. There is still some bitterness, and of course it is inferior to bottles in the best condition. However, I believe it offers an enjoyable aroma as a fruity 1960s Jura. Old bottles are unique in that they are one-of-a-kind, and you cannot always expect to find a good one. To learn how to estimate whether a bottle is in poor condition or best condition, it might be meaningful to carefully savor such bottles while observing their aging process over time. #Isle of Jura (ISLE OF JURA)