Jura

A LONG WAY FROM THE ORDINARY

Jura is a small island just 25 miles off the coast of Scotland but feels as though it is a world away. Writer George Orwell called it the most ‘un-get-at–able’ place; possibly the reason why he chose to reside there whilst penning his dystopian masterpiece, ‘1984’. The name Jura means ‘deer island’ in Old Norse because the native red deer roam the 142 square miles in their thousands. In Gaelic it is Diura meaning tough because it can be a challenging place to be. The deer share this precious green jewel in the Inner Hebrides with a small population of roughly 200 people. The natural beauty of the island is breathtaking. Wild flower rich sweeping plains and sandy beaches juxtapose majestic mountain ranges and wild crags. The west is almost inaccessible, the coastline wild and treacherous, while the east is sheltered and serene, protected by The Paps of Jura, the three mountains are visible from the Mull of Kintyre and on a clear day, Skye and Northern Ireland.

At the heart of the island is the town of Craighouse where the Jura Distillery resides. The unbreakable family ties and a solid sense of community are pillars of strength for the whisky and its makers. The distillery is the lifeblood of Jura and famous for its signature style of Single Malt scotch whisky. Incredibly Jura Single Malt Scotch whisky is the 4th fastest growing single malt in the world. Closeness is a way of life on this island and the whisky unites the community in a way that is unique to Jura. The whisky is the expression of this sentiment and through it the rest of the world can experience the life and unique climate of this magical place. That is what makes this whisky so special.

A life of the Jura Distillery hasn’t been without its challenges. Established in 1810 by the then Laird, Archibald Campbell, the distillery experienced unstable times and was forced to close its doors in 1901. The roof was removed in 1920 to avoid paying taxes but the Jura community resurrected the distillery in 1963 and rebuilt it from scratch. The same grit and determination that saw the distillery returned to its former glory is distilled in every drop of the award-winning single malts. In a dram of Jura Single Malt Whisky the result of real passion and commitment can be tasted with every savoured sip. Not since 1963 has there been such an exciting development for the Jura Distillery as there was in 2018 when they launched a brand new sweet and smoky signature style and ten new single malt expressions. The two new ranges are handcrafted in four stills that stand as tall as the 2nd tallest of any island whisky distillery at 25 feet four inches. The purest water is channeled from Market Loch and together these factors contribute to the new light style of whisky with fresh lemon and grassy flavours. The new direction reveals a whisky that has been allowed to mature and soften in hand-selected American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels for a minimum of three years. This gives the whisky its subtle smoke. As a maturing whisky it is then finished off in a selection of fine European Oak cask finishes. The final result is a creative blend of Island and Highland styles brought together in a new and distinctive whisky.

The Jura Signature Series features five distinct expressions of whiskies. All of them represent the new signature style from the Jura Distillery under the direction of chief distiller, Graham Logan.

The first of this series is called Jura Journey Single Malt Scotch Whisky and is inspired by the story of the distillery from its foundation to where it is today. Matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels, Jura Journey is a versatile with an aroma of vanilla and a balance of rich fruit and gentle smoky notes. The palate is citrus with toffee fudge sweetness on the finish.

The Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels for ten years with an aged Oloroso sherry cask finish. This quintessential Jura whisky is rich and rounded with an approachable sweet yet subtle sherry style. Its nose exhibits notes of dark chocolate, while the palate delights with flavours of ripe nectarines with a finish of freshly ground coffee.

The Jura 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is that little bit more complex than the 10 year old, the extra ageing in the Oloroso sherry casks gives this whisky its golden hue and imparts notes of chocolate, licorice and finishes with the subtle smoke, representative of the new signature style.

The Jura Seven Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky is further aged, after its time in American White Oak barrels, in six carefully selected French Oak casks including Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles and Les Bertranges, hence the name. The result is a unique flavour profile of tropical fruit richness with the stylistic smoke on the finish. This whisky is slightly higher in ABV at 42% contributing to a greater intensity and body. The palate features notes of peach, candied orange and subtle smoke.