Review: Jura Islanders Expressions The Collection - March 2024 – Cabernet Sauvignon Cask

Welcome to the Jura Islanders Expressions review. Those familiar with Jura's whiskies know that this distillery often offers something special in the glass. This expression has a finish in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, a rare choice within the world of Scottish whisky, resulting in a flavourful result. Curious about how it tastes? You'll discover that in this article.

The Islanders Expressions collection pays tribute to the people of Jura, known as the Islanders. Each release is inspired by an island tale or local personality, translated into a beautiful whisky expression. For this third edition, the focus is on Konrad Borkowski, a local photographer. His compelling images grace the packaging of this bottling, perfectly capturing the rugged beauty and mysterious nature of the island Jura.

It's worth mentioning that this whisky is a "travel retail exclusive." That means the whisky bottle is specially launched for sale at airports and duty-free shops. So, unfortunately, we won't find this whisky at regular liquor stores.

Ultimately, it's all about the taste of the whisky, so let's sample this beautiful Jura dram. We pour a glass and notice that the nose subtly opens in a pleasing way, with the influence from the wine barrels immediately obvious. In the glass, this Jura presents itself with a warm, rich amber hue. The effect of the wine barrel is visually evident.

The aroma opens beautifully with berries, raspberries, and cherries, much like you would encounter in a good glass of Bordeaux.

We take a sip and find the texture to be full, creamy, and oily. We also detect notes of dark chocolate and red grapes followed by a soft spiciness. Peat smoke is also present, although it's more supportive than dominant.

What's striking is that the flavor becomes relatively dry in the mouth quickly, meaning the tastes from the wine barrel come forward sooner than expected. This results in a pronounced, sharp yet simultaneously brief finish.

The Jura Islanders Expressions The Collection 03 – Cask 2024 is an intriguing whisky that combines the unique character of Jura Island with a surprising wine barrel finish. The maturation in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels provides a distinctive fruitiness and a beautiful amber color, yet the whisky does not lose its island roots.

Being a travel retail exclusive and thus mainly available in duty-free shops and airports gives it a rare and exclusive touch. Ours is from London's Gatwick airport. This whisky is ideal for collectors and whisky enthusiasts looking for something unique. In short, Jura Islanders Expressions combines island tradition with a fresh wine-like twist. Surprising, refined, and simply delicious. Slainte Mhath.

+ Aroma and taste complement each other nicely

+ Interesting finish in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels

+ Beautiful amber color

+ Good value for money

- Unfortunately, not available at local liquor stores

- It's noticeable on the palate that the whisky becomes relatively dry quickly