Part 2 of Reviews from The Single Cask Singapore
Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Singapore is one of my favorite places to visit, and I leapt at the chance to finally return again during my summer conference schedule. I resolved to do a bit more whisky tasting while I was in the country and use my extended stay to drop by new places and meet new people.
One of the bars I was recommended a few times was the Single Cask, an antipodean outpost of the UK-based bottler. The cozy bar and shop sit right inside the historic Chjmes complex, the main chapel of which was the filming location for the wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians. The owners and staff were amiable, generous, and ready to talk whisky or soccer with anyone.
We visited right when they opened to avoid the evening crowds that show up when the air cools, and people venture out for dinner and fun. We mostly let the knowledgeable crew pick out the flight for us after they asked about what we liked and what we had had before. Hard to argue with their selections— all the whiskies below were quality, and a few were absolute standouts. We will no doubt be back, perhaps taking advantage of their set Happy Hour flights next time!
Distillery: Jura
Bottler: The Single Cask Ltd.
Region: Scotland/Island Single Malt
ABV: 44.7%. Cask strength.
Age: 29 years. Distilled on 11 Feb. 1992. Bottled on 17 Aug. 2021.
Cask type: Barrel
Price: $33/20ml at The Single Cask Singapore.
Nose: Dark fruits, algae candies, berries, slightly sour blackberries and pickled plum, herbal dill and shiso leaf, licorice, very mellow swampy funk with sweet rotting seaweed.
Palate: Medium-bodied and oily, salt and mangrove swamp, orange and licorice, basil and crushed mint, herbal pho spice pouch, coriander, lemon grass, mild vanilla and peppercorn at the end.
Finish: Very long and lingering with subtle orange, herbs, and peppercorns.
Mental Image: Orangina and Pho
Conclusion: With a weighty mouthfeel and oily texture, this very mature Jura was everything I hoped it would be. The flavors were fruity and concentrated, with the underlying saltwater marsh and mangrove notes of Jura still there but softened by time. I love the marshy vegetal funk of Jura; something about it often reminds me of tamarind pods or mangroves, even a fish market, if the notes come out really strong. The beautifully swampy Jura funk provided a throughline connecting the different herbal and fruity elements of the malt, as bitter oranges and licorice came harmoniously together with lemon grass and coriander. A few drops of water reordered some of the notes slightly so that orange appeared more on top with a quiet floral quality.
Jura always brings out mixed emotions: is it a malt to be disdained or adored? I love a bit of vegetal or sweet decay on a whisky (okay, sometimes I like it a lot), so I often enjoy Jura, even some of the maligned entries into their core range. The spirit shines on some of these mature independently bottled malts with the early nineties in particular worth keeping an eye out for as they are usually priced very well— no doubt due to Jura’s mixed reputation.
Final Score: 87.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 