| Isle
of Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Craighouse, Isle of Jura,
Argyll PA60 7XT Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1496-820385 / Fax: +44 (0)1496-820344
Viewer's Comments about Isle of Jura
April 16, 2009
Exclusive Jura Whisky Tasting & Book Reading with
Will Self - Limited FREE Tickets!
 Jura
Malt Whisky and Scottish Book Trust are celebrating
the launch of Spirit of Jura, a collection of
new works by authors including Will Self, Janice Galloway
and John Burnside, inspired by their stay on the Island
as part of the Jura Malt Whisky Writer’s Retreat.
Award-winning author Will Self will be joined by highly
acclaimed Scottish writers Liz Lochhead and John Burnside
to launch the book in Edinburgh on Thursday 16th April.
Spirit of Jura is a beautiful collection of stories,
poems and essays and features stunning original illustrations
by artist David Faithful, the fruit of an inspired collaboration
with poet John Burnside. The book will be available
from 17th April at Waterstone’s and other outlets.
This is an "Invite Only Exclusive Event" and
only a limited number of FREE tickets are available.
Please
Click Here To Request Free Tickets! |
 Laird
Archibald Campbell built the distillery in the early 1800s
near a cave where illegal distilling had been carried on
possibly from the 1600s. The whisky produced then was a
characteristic peaty malt whisky – not at all like
the present day product. The distillery was let out to many
people over the years. It was leased to James Ferguson in
1875 and rebuilt in 1884 when it was producing 65,000 gallons
per year.
In the early 1900s the Fergusons seem to have been in dispute
with the then Laird Colin Campbell and decided to quit the
Jura distillery, dismantling and selling the machinery,
which they had installed. The roofs were later removed to
avoid paying rates and the distillery became a ruin. It
seemed as if whisky making on Jura had come to a permanent
end.
In the 1950s Robin Fletcher owner of Ardlussa Estate and
Riley-Smith owner of Jura House and Ardfin Estate got together
to see how they could solve a foreseeable jobs crisis on
the island. They thought about reopening the distillery
to see if new people could be attracted to the island. They
were joined by farmer, distiller and architect Delme'
Evans. They raised financial backing eventually, mostly
from Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, to build the distillery.
Delme'-Evans designed and built the new distillery on
the site of the old ruined one. He said of his plans "My
primary aim was to construct an economic distillery within
the space available. Everything had to be simple and fall
to hand. You could not afford to complicate things in so remote
a location. I also had to play mother to the large number
of incomers on an island without any policemen - some Saturday
nights became quite interesting!"
Everything had to be designed in such a way that the new
Jura malt could be produced. "It was our intention
to produce a Highland-type malt differing from the typically
peaty stuff last produced in 1900. I therefore designed
the stills to give spirit of a Highland character, and we
ordered malt which was only lightly peated."
The new distillery was opened on April 26th 1963 and employed
a quarter of the male workforce.
JURA's single malts have won numerous awards and are
distinguished for their subtle flavours which are dramatically
different to the peaty whiskies from the neighboring island
of Islay. Often the smallest of factors can affect the balance
of flavours in whisky. Although much of a whisky's
character is decided by the type of barrel it is aged in,
the finest single malts quite literally offer a  taste
of their location, starting with the water that is used
to the local weather and atmospheric conditions. During
the ageing process, the whisky not only absorbs the flavours
of the wood, but the island's atmosphere and sea breezes
as they pass over the porous walls of the barrels. Jura's
exceptionally mild climate and gentle breezes, together
with the local spring water, are significant factors contributing
to JURA's smooth, warm and complex flavours.
Courtesy of Isle of Jura Distillery |
|
ISLE OF JURA SUPERSTITION
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY The people of
Jura are superstitious. From the prophecy of the
one-eyed Campbell to an aversion to cutting peat
before May, age-old island beliefs resonate to this
day. Drawing on our finest older malts and spring-peated
younger whiskies, Jura Superstition is a tribute
to the people, the traditions and the mystical heritage
that make Jura island life unique. Visit the island,
meet the people, explore the past.
COLOUR: Deep intense
mahogany with glittering sun rays
NOSE: Firm and
positive, yet forcibly mellow. Strong accents of
phenolic aromas. Rich, sensual nuances of honey
and marzipan.
PALATE: Spice,
honey, pine and peat aromas make a dramatic impact,
the long years in oak casks have tempered and tamed
this mystic spirit creating a long, lingering and
tantalising aftertaste.
BRONZE AWARD WINNER AT 2005 INTERNATIONAL WINE
AND SPIRIT COMPETITION
Tasting Notes Courtesy of Isle of
Jura Distillery
|
|
ISLE OF JURA 16 YEAR OLD
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY The Islanders'
Favourite
For sixteen years in beachside warehouses, the
gentle sea breezes have combined to make a whisky
that truly expresses the magic of the island. A
great age to drink Jura according to the locals.
The rich colour of golden sun rays combine with
a taste of strong butter notes, tinged with oranges
and spices, leaving a sweet toffee and honey finish.
Taste the best of island life. Visit the island,
meet the people, explore the past.
COLOUR: Glassy golden highlights
NOSE: Full and rich. Each aroma beautifully structured
to reveal harmony at its best. Silk and honey with
a hint of ginger spice encompass this floral bouquet.
PALATE: Soft peaches and honey with a hint of citrus
and marzipan will slowly arise, yet the backbone
of its heritage continues to ebb away on the aftertaste,
leaving the palate rewarded and satisfied.
BRONZE AWARD WINNER AT 2004 INTERNATIONAL WINE
AND SPIRIT COMPETITION
Tasting Notes Courtesy of Isle of
Jura Distillery |
|
ISLE OF JURA 21 YEAR OLD
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
This island playground
for the rich and famous lies off the west coast
of Scotland. Home to 7 private estates, the soaring
Paps of Jura, one shop, one pub and since 1810 one
fine malt whisky distillery. Distilled in 1984 to
commemorate the famous novel written on the island,
this rare whisky has been quietly maturing in beachside
warehouses. The deep red mahogany combines with
a nose of fresh rich fruit cake, chocolate and orange
leaving the smooth taste of soft berries, spice
and cinnamon.
AGE: 21 years
COLOUR: Deep amber gold
NOSE: Rich and intense. Soft hints of marzipan
and spicy chocolate flaunt themselves in an enticing
manner. Aromas of spice and vanilla. Whispers of
citrus toffee. Great harmony, warmly expressed.
PALATE: Mellow and seductive. The warmth of the
tongue release these wonderful hedonistic flavours
of spice, caramel, liquorice and almonds. A spectrum
of delight that only age can bring.
BRONZE AWARD WINNER AT 2005 INTERNATIONAL WINE
AND SPIRIT COMPETITION
Tasting Notes Courtesy of Isle of
Jura Distillery |
|
|
|
Isle
of Jura Whisky Distillery
Isle of Jura Tour & Visitor Information
The Isle of Jura Distillery is open for tours all year round,
the only time the visitors centre closes is the two week
period over Christmas and New Year.
During Season / March - October
During the season which runs from the end of March throughOctober,
we are open from 10am until 4pm on weekdays and run tours
at 11am and 2pm.
During Season / Saturdays
The Distillery is open on Saturdays during season from 10am
until 2pm, but there are no tours available.
Off Season
Out of season, the Distillery is open weekdays from 11am
until 2pm and tours are available daily by prior arrangement.
The Distillery is not open at all on the
weekends during off season.
Admission: Free of charge
Contact Sue
for any additional Isle of Jura Tour & Visitor
information as well as for appointments.
Getting There
From Port Askaig, Islay take the Ferry to Feolin (5 minutes,
about £12 return for car and two people) accross the
Sound of Islay. Follow the only single-track road for 6
miles to Craighouse - you can't miss the distillery on your
left. Parking / Reception
Park wherever you can - there is no designated parking lot.
A real Jura welcome awaits you and your tour guide is likely
to be someone working at the distillery.
For true whisky enthusiasts there is one over-riding reason
to come to Jura, and that is to visit its distillery. There
is no quick way of getting to the island of Jura. The fastest
method from London involves two planes, a ferry, and the
best part of a day. Coming by car from Glasgow takes about
the same amount of time. George Orwell, who came here to
write 1984, described it as "an extremely unget-at-able
place." Things haven't changed a great deal since then.
Which is partly what makes this Hebridean
island – producer of the award-winning JURA single
malt – such a magical destination. Only 7 miles wide
and 30 long, Jura is inhabited by 5,000 deer and 180 people.
Although private telephones were installed in the 1970s,
replacing the island's three, don't expect to
get a mobile phone signal here, let along internet access.
With one shop, one pub, a bank that comes once a week and
its 180 year old distillery, it's "as good as
life used to be," as the distillers like to say.
For those who love the great outdoors, Jura is an idyllic
place. Its three ‘Paps' – or mountains
- dominate the skyline, distinguishable from miles around
and the focus for the tough Jura Fells Race which takes
place every May. For those who like to explore, whether
by foot, bike, or yacht, there is a wealth of historical
sites and natural phenomena to discover; from stone circles
and standing stones to ruined castles and iron age forts,
from sandy beaches and secluded coves to stacks, pinnacles
and caves, as well as raised beaches from the ice-age. Golden
eagles, sea eagles, otters and seals are a common sight,
and carry on about their business uninhibited by humans.
Jura's exceptionally mild climate has also allowed
Peter Cool, the gardener at Jura House, to develop an extraordinary
garden within its sheltered walls. Following a trip to Australia
and New Zealand 30 years ago, he brought back numerous seeds
all of which germinated successfully. Now the garden boasts
exotic ferns and grasses which are allowed to mingle with
more traditional garden flowers to bewitching effect.
Jura is an island rich in history, myths and superstitions.
Excavations show it welcomed some of the oldest settlements
in Scotland over 8,000 years ago. It also became a Viking
stronghold, while its ancient grave-yard at Kilearnadil
boasts a number of Knights Templar grave stones and is reputedly
the resting place of a saint. The Corryvreckan whirlpool
– apparently the world's second most powerful –
nearly claimed George Orwell's life. Other claims have been
made recently to suggest it was the inspiration for Scilla
and Charybdis in Homer's epic, The Odyssey. To the North
of the island Maclean's Skull Cave contained a real human
skull, thought to belong to a man slain in a clan battle,
which eventually disappeared in the 1970's. Meanwhile during
the highland clearances, a villager prophesised that the
last laird of the Campbell family would leave the island
one eyed with all his possessions in a cart – which
indeed came to pass, in 1938 when Charles Campbell sold
the estate after it had been in the family for nearly 300
years and the few possessions he took with him were taken
to the boat in a cart drawn by a white horse.
Jura may be hard to get to, but as those who've been there
will testify, it's a place that's even harder to leave.
Courtesy of Isle of Jura Distillery |
|
