The Isle of Jura is a barren, sparsely populated Inner Hebridean island off the west coast of Scotland. A single distillery, Isle of Jura, operates in the village of Craighouse. This is where most of the population resides. Craighouse is small but perfectly formed, and home to their pub, hotel, shop and most of the tiny island community of 212 people. This is also where the whisky distillery is - the beating heart of the community, their whisky a source of pride and prosperity for generations to come.
Jura is only 60 miles from the mainland yet it feels
like an entire world away; an ancient landscape of wild mountains, peaceful
lochs and stormy seas. With just one road, one pub, one whisky distillery and a
very distinct micro-climate, it’s not the easiest place to make whisky, but the
owners and distillers believe it’s the best.
The 30-mile-long and seven-mile-wide island is framed
by the wild waters of the Atlantic on its west coast, while the east is home to
serene bays, seals and sea eagles. The northwest of Jura takes one to meet the
rugged coastline of the island, where there is nowhere wilder than the world’s
third largest whirlpool, The Corryvreckan. As beautiful as it is dangerous, the
Royal Navy considers it to be one of the most treacherous stretches of water in
the British Isles. Jura distillery created its iconic shaped signature bottles
to withstand the perils of such dangerous crossings.
It is a close northern neighbour of the more prolific whisky-producing island of Islay. However, the delicate honeyed nature of Isle of Jura Single Malt Scotch whisky differs greatly from the heavily peated malts of its neighbour. When one looks back at the Island’s humble coastline, one sees an epic landscape of dramatic mountains, overlooking the trees, fields and lochs that sit below it.
Jura lies between Islay and the Scottish mainland, just
north of the Kintyre Peninsula, is home to the historic Campbeltown region.
Only a few miles off the mainland, Jura was famously described as
'unget-at-able' by the writer George Orwell. A seasonal ferry is one of the
very few ways that people can access the island. Otherwise, all transport is via
Islay.
The reason for Jura's poor accessibility and the low
population is to do with its barren, unfertile landscape. Though the whisky is
not very peaty, much of the island is covered in peat bogs. These are not
suitable for any kind of agriculture.
However, Jura has a remarkably mild climate due to its
position in the North Atlantic Gulf Stream. This brings warmer waters from the
southern Atlantic to the area. Jura is also sheltered somewhat from the worst
winds by the presence of Islay in the south. The breezes here bring a more
gentle sea-salt character to the finished whisky.
A previous distillery in Craighouse closed in 1910. The Jura people had to get their whisky from Islay for half a century. In 1962 Orwell's former landlord Robin Fletcher and Tony Riley-Smith, a fellow landowner founded a new plant. Their main client – Scottish and Newcastle Breweries – wanted lighter whiskies for blending. Thus the style of Isle of Jura whisky was set. The distillery is now owned by Whyte and Mackay.
In 2007, Whyte & Mackay was bought by Indian-based United Spirits Limited for £595 million (then, USD 1.2 billion). This is when
the popularity of the brands, particularly Jura with its famous spooky tales,
rose sharply in India. When Diageo undercut the portfolio, leading to mass
resignations in 2013, sales did not suffer. Jura is still an easily
accessible brand in the Indian market at affordable prices.
SOME PRODUCTS AND
POPULARITY
|
PRODUCT |
TYPE |
POPULARITY |
|
Isle of Jura Distillery 10 Year Old Single
Malt Scotch Whisky, Isle of Jura, Scotland |
Single Malt |
4,466th |
|
Isle of Jura Distillery Superstition Lightly Peated
Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
Single Malt |
8,057th |
|
Isle of Jura Distillery Diurach's Own 16 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
Single Malt |
10,993rd |
|
Isle of Jura Distillery 18 Year Old Single Malt
Scotch Whisky |
Single Malt |
13,775th |
|
Isle of Jura Distillery 21 Year Old Single Malt
Scotch Whisky |
Single Malt |
17,804th |
Now other changes, perhaps more fundamental in nature, are afoot. Jura’s entire line is being rebooted. Jura Origin went in April 2018 and Jura Superstition and Jura Prophecy will follow. They will be replaced by 3 new age statement releases (10,12 and 18 years old) and 2 non-age statement releases, Journey and Seven Wood.
THE ISLE OF JURA DISTILLERY 10 YO
The distillery notes say, “Jura 10 Year Old. A whisky
only Jura could make, born of our Island and still produced today in a bottle
originally shaped to withstand the roughest of journeys from our home. Crafted
in unusually tall stills, matured in the fresh sea air and American white oak
ex-bourbon barrels and finished in the finest aged Oloroso Sherry butts – it’s
the perfect marriage of Highland and Island styles.”
JURA 10 YEARS DATA
Region: Islands, Scotland
Distiller: Jura
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-Sherry
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 40% 70°Proof
Colour: Amber
Nose: Smoked apricots; toffee, dehydrated apples, dried
cherries, nutmeg and a bit of earthy malt and light floral nature.
Palate: Smoked apricots; toffee, nuts, spice, malty sweetness, apples, cinnamon, apples and a light bit of earthy malt, copper and bitter cocoa.
Finish: Medium. Dissipation of peat, cocoa and earthy
malt.
ISLE OF JURA SUPERSTITION
While Jura gives plenty of island superstition to
accompany this whisky – such as the local belief that good luck will come from
holding this bottle so that the Ankh, the Egyptian cross-like symbol of life
emblazoned on the front, is in the centre of the palm – practical information on
the creation and make-up of this whisky is sparse. According to distillery
sources, Superstition is crafted from about 13 per cent peated barley and the
rest peat-free barley. It is a non-age
statement bottling.
JURA SUPERSTITION DATA
Region: Islands, Scotland
Distiller: Jura
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-Sherry
Age: NAS
ABV: 43%; 75°Proof
Colour: Amber
Volume: 750 milliliter bottle (75 Cl)
Colour: Golden amber with a slightly reddish hue.
Nose: While peat surely makes its presence known in the
nose, it is surprisingly subdued, largely taking a back seat to earthy but
tropical aromas, starting with the smell of honey and oak and gradually growing
to include notes of lemon, clove and sandalwood. There's also a faint but
detectable alcohol nip, which could be from the younger juice that's most
definitely in here. This is where the water helps a lot to tone this aspect
down.
Palate: Hits the tongue with a smooth and sweet (if not
viscous) drop of honey. After a couple moments, that begins to turn smoky and
spicy. The smoke again is peaty but subtler than in the nose. While spicy notes
of cloves, pepper and cinnamon take more dominance yet are still held in check by the honeyed flavour base, with a touch of citrus and wood notes.
Swallowing leaves the spicy notes mingling with a touch of citrus in the back
of the mouth- orange marmalade- and a sweet coating over the centre of the tongue. Even a hint of rum.
Finish: Medium-length, a bit spicy with some
butterscotch and a touch of oak.
Overall: Not mind-blowing but not a disaster
either. There's a good and unique malt in here somewhere but it needs a better
presentation and some better casks to really shine.
ISLE OF JURA DISTILLERY DIURACH'S OWN 16 YO
Residents of the Isle of Jura are called “Diurachs,” and the 16-Year-Old scotch from the Isle of Jura distillery is billed as “The Diurachs’ Own,” the choice of the island. As such, it supposedly embodies the character of the islanders and the quirks of living there, such as the old legends, dramatic landscape and the sometimes harsh weather.
One of those old legends is that the old lord of the island banned independent distilling there. He held firm for almost 30 years, despite the irate response of Jura’s residents, until he was visited by the Dickensian ghost of an old lady, which scared him into lifting the ban. The 16-Year-Old figures into this story because the distillery keeps a bottle of
the stuff lodged in the cave said to be the home of that spirits-loving spirit, just in case.
The oldest expression in the core Jura range, the 16YO
has been discontinued and a revised range released last year is now bottled at 43%. This 16 official bottling spends 14 years in ex-bourbon casks and is then transferred for 2 years into Amaroso
Oloroso sherry casks to finish.
ISLE OF JURA 16 YO DATA
Region: Islands, Scotland
Distiller: Jura
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-Sherry
Age: 16Years
ABV: 43%
Volume: 750 milliliter bottle (75 Cl)
Colour: Mid-gold
ISLE
OF JURA 18 YO
The whiskies involved in these 18 years old have followed two different paths - the regular unpeated spirit has matured in ex-bourbon casks before a period of finishing in Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux claret barrels from Bordeaux in France, while rarer peated spirit (which is only made at the distillery for one month each year) has been matured solely in ex-bourbon casks. The two pockets of stock have then been married together to produce the final whisky.
The result is a dram rich in smoky sweetness, with the
classic oily peaty flavours of Jura. In the glass, Jura 18 is honeyed, with
some reddish tones. The whisky is bottled at the slightly higher proof of 44%
ABV, which enhances the body and mouthfeel of this dram.
ISLE OF JURA 18 YO DATA
Region: Islands, Scotland
Distiller: Jura
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & Bordeaux Wine
Age: 18 Years
ABV: 44%
Volume: 750 milliliter bottle (75 Cl)
Colour: Deep gold with a hint of reddish amber
Nose: This single malt follows the style of the
Signature Series range. It is quite light and herbaceous, with white grape
notes. There are also sweet fragrances of milk chocolate and toasted coffee.
With a splash of water, there are some slightly peated aromas and a cherry
touch.
Palate: A more sherried side. This is a Scotch that
starts with a sweet blow to slowly fade to bitter and spicier notes. Chocolate
and charcoal notes blend with a touch of raisins and dry fruits. Some soft
notes of candied lemon. vanilla, some fragrant heather, cream, cedarwood and
berries. The slightly higher ABV adds a definitive punch, though one would have liked to see a 46% ABV non-chillfiltered expression.
Finish: Fairly lengthy, with chocolate notes and a
light touch of smoke.
Jura wanted to update its brand to get to a new target,
and it may be working for them. A fresh brand can get to new consumers and
open their eyes to the whisky world. Jura 18 YO should be the icing of
the cake, but it doesn’t get to the ne plus ultra complexity level of the Jura
Seven Wood, with its seven separate finishes. That said, Jura 18, rich, fruity
and peaty is a superb bottling from Jura.
ISLE OF JURA 21 YO
On the box of its Jura 21-Year-Old offering, the distillery claims that the whisky embraces “many characteristics” of the 200th-anniversary commemorative bottling. The ABV is the same (44%), and today’s packaging is also quite innovative, with a removable buckling top that pulls up to reveal a black multi-tiered stand for the whisky bottle to perch upon. A black and white picture of the distillery is visible through a window on the lid, adding a vintage look. The bottle itself has a feminine, curvy appearance, which even tapers in at the “waist.”
Although Jura offers a few peated options in its core line-up, which culminate in Prophecy–a non-chill filtered, heavily peated whisky–the Jura 21-year-old is a different sort of expression. It is “domesticated,” if you wish. It’s sweet, creamy and slightly oaky. It appeals thus to a wide range of preferences.
ISLE OF JURA 21 YO DATA
Region: Islands, Scotland
Distiller: Jura
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: 21 Years
ABV: 44%
Volume: 700 milliliter bottle (70 Cl)
Colour: Deep rich mahogany.
Nose: Pleasantly light with wood notes, like fresh,
fine-ground coffee. Malty but with an intriguing "edge": like
molasses or dried figs. Breathing time brings a touch of orange peel.
Palate: Oak-woody hazelnut entrance. The woodiness
crescendos into a syrupy impression of sour caramel. Honeyed notes creep in
with Tokaji and port tones. The mouthfeel then thins as some brown sugar
harmonises the prominent drier wood notes-- like the shells of nuts (walnut
shell, almond shell). Good body with notes of winter cake, damson jam, marzipan
and an uprising of cooked fruit with winter spice and fudge. These combined
impressions then just fade evenly.
Finish: Medium-length with notes of chewy oak tannins, lingering
if understated. The drier oak re-emerges into the finish, with cocoa or nutmeg.
The sensations of this Jura are unlike those of the
others from their standard range. The Diurach's Own 16 is closest, but this 21
is drier-- with less honey and more wood. The flavour also has a few fruit
notes and a more coffee-like character, worth recommending to lovers of dry and woody
malts, because it hits the right notes for that theme. It doesn't present any
lumberyard/sawdust, but more bark/nut/generally wood-derived notes. Coffee and
nutshells.
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ISLE OF JURA SEVEN WOOD 70 Cl 40% ABV
Casks: American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels.
Colour: Deep copper
Nose: Apple pie filling with hints of cinnamon and hints of smoke. It is more of a sweet pulled pork scent than peat reek stings and may sting the nose a bit as if it was a much higher proof. A few cherry cough drops and mint chocolate.
Palate: An interesting rollercoaster of a whisky here. The taste is candy sweet at first blush, quickly turning lemon polish spicy before one gets to the slightly bitter end. Hints of the wine casks that this release has been paired with, but probably a brief affair with each of the non-bourbon casks. The body of this is a bit short and could do with a few more years in any or all of the casks mentioned above. The mouthfeel is semi-dry turning spicy and floral. Water pulls out some of the sweetness but the spiciness remains.
Finish: This is a little bitter/copper penny-ish in the end, which certainly takes away from the overall impression.
This is an interesting release. From the barrage of casks, it appears as Jura’s version of an expression from their stablemate distillery, Dalmore’s King Alexander III.
JURA 12 YO 40% ABV 70Cl
100% malted barley distilled on The Isle Of Jura. Matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels with an aged Oloroso sherry cask finish. 70° proof.
Colour: Clear, but with a rich depth of body. Copper to tawny hued with clearly defined rivulets on the side of the tasting glass.
Nose: Gentle smoke with medium intensity, followed by tropical fruit. Chocolate develops followed by coffee and banana.
Palate: The promises of the aroma are fulfilled with more developed tropical fruit and chocolate notes. The coffee characteristics balance out the slight sherry sweetness with a touch of bitterness. The smoke only presents itself faintly as the flavours disperse.
Finish: Smooth with spiced caramel that lingers for a few seconds.
On the whole, this is an inoffensive whisky that offers a little more complexity and bite than the 10-year-old, yet it simply has not been given a chance to show significant progression. As it is bottled at 40%, the cask influence is muted. As a result, everything feels a bit dull. Those who want something light and easy-going will prefer the 10-year-old, whilst there is not enough depth here to satisfy more journeyed whisky enthusiasts. In the end, one is paying more for a slightly older age statement, without finding a sufficient improvement in quality.
JURA JOURNEY 40% ABV 70° PROOF (80° US)70Cl
Jura Journey is the starting point of the new range, a NAS scotch produced, as all in the range, with a combination of peated and unpeated spirit that will give a slightly peated style. For Jura Journey, the whisky has been aged in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels. It has been bottled at 40% ABV, without chill-filtration and no added colour.
Colour: Pale yellow
Nose: Light and herbaceous. Some soft notes of white grape and pear with a slight citrus touch. There is a sweet side full of vanilla and shortbread, with small flashes of peat smoke.
Palate: Quite similar to the nose. Jura Journey is soft and creamy, though quite young and simple. The spirit herbaceous notes predominate, followed by sweet fruity notes. It is really fresh, with an almost imperceptible smoky touch.
Finish: Short and a bit dry.
Reinventing a brand should be a strong bet on a full product, a whisky that everyone at the Isle of Jura should be proud of. Alas, Jura Journey is not that whisky. While looking for new consumers, it seems that Jura has forgotten that what makes a whisky special is the richness of its nuances. Jura Journey is a simple and plain whisky, which is hard to go deeper. For the same price, you should find a handful of Scotch whisky brands that will surely give you way more.
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JURA RED WINE CASK FINISH
Jura Single Malt presented a new red wine finish from the tiny island community distillery and the first in a new series called Cask Editions. These are not Cask-strength expressions; they stick to the standard 40% ABV format, bar the odd exceptions in other ranges.
Each whisky in this new series will celebrate the role of different cask finishes in the maturation of its whiskies. The Cask Edition series celebrates the connection between the land and the spirit bringing distinct regional and seasonal flavours to the island malt.
This red wine finished malt lifts Jura to a new level with beautifully balanced layers of richer fruit notes yet true to the heart of the distillery character with its fresher fruit, honeyed and citrussy characteristics.
Jura's Red Wine Cask Finish is a fruity, full-bodied single malt designed to be shared with friends and loved ones. As a gift to celebrate special occasions or as an after-dinner treat. It presents drinkers with an opportunity to discover something different beyond the charming, silky flavours of the Jura whisky. The single malt has been matured in American White Oak ex-Bourbon barrels and finished in hand-selected European red wine casks, which marries the island malt with the distinctive regional flavours of the casks. The result is an individual whisky that's delicate and refined. One which balances rich, strawberry and raspberry flavours with a final flourish of creamy vanilla and cinnamon spice. It's enticing in its aroma, fragrant of succulent sultanas, creamy caramel and black forest fruits, followed by a hint of heather honey.
Jura Red Wine Cask Single Malt Whisky is available as a 1-litre bottle.
JURA WINTER EDITION SHERRY CASK-FINISHED WHISKY
Scotch producer Jura has released a Sherry cask-finished whisky as the second expression in its Cask Editions series.
The launch of Jura Winter Edition follows the release of Jura Red Wine Cask earlier this year, the first expression in the Cask Editions range. Each whisky in the new series celebrates the role of different cask finishes during the maturation process. The Cask Editions series aims to showcase the “connection between the land and the spirit”, bringing regional and seasonal flavours to the whisky.
The Winter Edition (40% ABV) is initially matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels and finished in hand-selected aged Spanish Sherry casks. The Winter Edition has been created as the perfect festive season toaster, with a harmonious marriage of sweet spices and freshly baked apple pie, which results in an indulgent whisky while staying true to the heart of the distillery character with its maple and citrussy characteristics.
Described as a “rich and warm full-bodied” whisky, the expression has notes of sweetness from sticky maple syrup, spicy mulled wine and freshly brewed coffee. The finish offers whipped vanilla and cinnamon spice. Jura Winter Edition is available in both one-litre and 700ml formats. The one-litre bottle is available exclusively in select stores across the UK.
JURA RUM CASK FINISH
Jura distillery added Jura Rum Cask Finish to its portfolio in 2021. This single malt is said to be fruity, exotic, and creamy and brings in the lively taste of the tropics to its range of whiskies, according to the distillery.
The spirit is first matured in American white oak, and ex-bourbon barrels before finishing its maturation process in hand-selected Caribbean rum casks to create what’s seen as a smooth, creamy and fruity finish.
Official tasting notes indicate the rum cask influence gives this single malt a warm and welcoming aroma of exotic guava and coconut, sugar-coated almonds, apricots and some citrus. The smooth taste has rich and creamy hints of sweet vanilla with fudge coming through, balanced with layers of fruit sweetness from mango, banana and guava.
JURA AT FEIS ILE
Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle 2022 Edition
Jura is celebrating the return of Fèis Ìle, also known as The Islay Festival, with Jura Distillery Exclusive Fèis Ìle Edition 2022. Though it is in the Islands region, its proximity to Islay has convinced the Islay Council to accept Jura expressions at their annual fest. A testament to the passion and commitment of their distillery team, each bottle of Jura distillery Fèis Ìle 2022 Edition is hand-filled, wax sealed and labelled on the island at cask strength.
Jura Distillery Exclusive Fèis Ìle Edition 2022 is a limited edition 2007 vintage single malt Scotch whisky matured in Cask No. 1892, a hand-selected Sherry butt from Jerez in Southern Spain, for 14 years.
Bottled at 57.2% ABV, Jura Distillery Exclusive Fèis Ìle Edition 2022 is described as having aromas of “cocoa dusting, warming sweet spice, prunes soaked in Armagnac, crystal malt, dried peach, green banana, and bitter orange,” with notes of “dried stone fruit, sweet citrus, chocolate mint, medium roasted coffee, and pistachio” on the palate, finishing with “a citrus blossom lift.”
The distillery team had earmarked this cask as a potential island exclusive and it was easy to see why. The fruity, aromatic qualities found around the 2007 vintage, combined with the rich, warming notes from its time in a single Sherry butt make for a compelling expression of Jura’s distinct character. Jura realised it would be the ideal candidate for 2022’s Fèis Ìle Distillery Cask, celebrating the return of this great festival.
Jura Distillery Exclusive Fèis Ìle Edition 2022 was limited to 700 bottles and was available at the Jura distillery visitor centre and via the Jura website at a suggested retail price of £120 for a 70 cL bottle. A bit steep, but that's your choice. If you find one, that is.
