For whiskies that are matured for three decades, the traditional use of refill bourbon oak is often the best choice: the character of the spirit remains intact, without being overwhelmed by the cask, while at the same time slowly evolving. This single malt from the isle of Jura is delicately fruity and sweet at the nose: vanilla, cream, fragrant cereals, grapes, red apples, bananas. It’s incredible how fresh it has remained: sure, there are hints of old wooden furniture, but it remains ethereal and light. At the palate the long maturation shows more, with marked herbal notes (tea and chamomile) and delicate tannins. It’s fruity but not sweet: mineral, a bit of beeswax, with apples and grapefruits. While it always remains delicate, towards the end the tannic influence from the cask starts to build up, growing into a note of white pepper.