Jura 12 Year

Jura 12-Year-Old is a well-rounded single malt Scotch aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Oloroso sherry casks. It’s known for striking a balance between sweetness, gentle smoke, and subtle complexity. This whisky showcases the distillery’s signature smooth, approachable style—perfect for both seasoned fans and those just dipping their toes into the world of peated Scotch.

TL;DR – Jura’s combination of light smoke and soft sweetness makes it a crowd-pleaser without overwhelming the palate.

Review: Flavor Camp

Photo: Reece Sims

Flavor Camps

Overall Rating

Total Score: 35.5/50

Aroma: 6.5/9
Taste: 7/9
Finish: 4/5
Distinctiveness: 2/5
Overall Drinkability/Balance: 6.5/9
Value for Price: 6/8
Appearance: 3.5/5

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Amber - The Jura 12-Year-Old bottle features a sleek, curvy design with rounded edges, reflecting the distillery’s coastal origins.
Aroma: On the nose there's a lightly peated woodfire smoke, creamy vanilla, dark fruits, cinnamon, nutty (pecans, macadamia), candied oranges and biscuits.
Taste & Mouthfeel: The palate is filled with black pepper, licorice, cacao nibs, cigar box, red apples and malty, sweet spices. A touch of salt adds balance.
Finish: Moderate with notes of sweet tobacco and salt.
Distinctiveness: What makes Jura 12-Year-Old distinctive is its smooth interplay of light peat smoke and subtle sherry sweetness, offering a softer, more approachable expression of smoky Scotch compared to the bolder Islay malts.
Overall Drinkability & Balance: With its mild peat influence and a hint of sherry richness, it’s an easy-going sip that works well neat or with a splash of water.

Product Details

Comments / Notes:

Key points about Jura 12 Year:

Versatile Production of Peated and Unpeated Malts: Jura distillery is known for crafting both peated and unpeated whiskies, giving them flexibility to create a range of expressions—from smooth, delicate malts to bolder, smoky releases. This versatility allows Jura to appeal to a broader audience, balancing tradition and experimentation

Light Peat Influence in Core Expressions: While many Jura whiskies, like the 12-Year-Old, feature only a light hint of peat, the distillery also produces more heavily peated releases, such as the Jura Prophecy and some limited editions. This blend of styles gives Jura a unique place among both island and mainland distilleries

Seasonal Peating Process: Jura’s production schedule is carefully organized, with distinct periods allocated for crafting peated and unpeated whiskies. This ensures that the distillery can seamlessly switch between both styles without compromising the purity of their expressions