The Ester Hunter Catch 2 The Whisky Jury

Nose

Explosive and highly expressive with intense ester notes of overripe banana, pineapple and glue. Aromas of citrus zest, green apple, olives and a lightly medicinal edge add extra excitement.

Palate

Dry, powerful and unpolished with an intense mix of tropical fruit, fermentation-driven flavours and sharp citrus. Esters clearly take the lead, supported by light spice, mineral notes and a subtle saline touch.

Finish

Long, vibrant and energetic with lingering esters, citrus, gentle bitterness and a dry, almost nervous finale that keeps resonating.

The Whisky Jury is a Belgian independent bottler founded in 2019 by Joeri Van den Broeck. Its first release was a 1995 Ben Nevis and immediately established the philosophy behind the label: small quantities, distinctive spirits and, above all, highly critical cask selection. The Whisky Jury does not operate a distillery of its own, but searches producers and brokers for exceptional casks to bottle under its own label.

Although whisky was the original focus, the scope soon expanded. Rum in particular became an important part of the portfolio, with bottlings from countries including Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad, Barbados and Fiji. Series such as The Many Faces of Rum and The Ester Hunter demonstrate a fascination with distilleries, styles, marks, fermentation and ester levels. Occasional releases of Cognac, Calvados and mezcal have also appeared.

Many releases are single casks, often bottled at natural strength and in limited quantities. Reputation alone does not determine what gets bottled; ultimately, the quality of the cask has to convince. This highly individual approach has earned The Whisky Jury a strong reputation among both whisky and rum enthusiasts.