Isle of Jura Scotch Whisky

Isle of Jura Whisky Distillery Information

Founded in 1810 by the Laird Archibald Campbell.

Location Island Region whisky from Jura

Water Source Loch a Bhaille Mhargaidh

Isle of Jura Whisky Distillery Equipment

4 pot stills

Isle of Jura Whisky Distillery History  

The distillery is near to a cave where illegal distilling is known to have been carried out since the 1600s and was established in 1810 by the Laird Archibald Campbell.

The whisky distilled at that time was a characteristic peaty Islay style malt whisky – not at all like the present day product. The distillery was let out to many people over the years. Eventually it was leased to a James Ferguson in 1875 and renovated in 1884 records show that it was distilling 65,000 gallons per year.

In the early 1900’s the Ferguson’s seem to have been in disagreement with the then Laird Colin Campbell and decided to relinquish the Jura distillery, they dismantled and sold the machinery, which they had installed. Later the roofs were removed to avoid paying rates and the distillery fell into ruin. It seemed that whisky distilling on Jura had come to a permanent end.

In the 1950’s Robin Fletcher owner of Ardlussa Estate and Riley-Smith owner of Jura House and Ardfin Estate had meetings to see how they could solve an anticipated jobs and population crisis on the island. The reopening the distillery to see if new people could be attracted to the island was considered. They were joined by farmer, distiller and architect Delme’ Evans. Together they eventually raised financial support to rebuild the distillery. During the 1960-63 period the distillery was reconstructed by the Jura Distillery Co Ltd with financial support from Mackinlay McPearson Ltd as part of Scottish & Newcastle Breweries

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.” “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 whisky 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 island’s male workforce.

In 1978 the number of stills were increased from two to four. In 1994 the Jura distillery was acquired by Whyte & Mackay with a brief spell from 1996 to 2001 with JBB Europe before returning to Whyte & Mackay.

Isle of Jura Distillery Bottlings 

Isle of Jura 10 Year Old

Isle of Jura "Superstition"

Isle of Jura 16 Year Old

Isle of Jura 21 Year Old

Isle of Jura Older Distillery Bottlings

Isle of Jura 21 Year Old Cask strength

Isle of Jura 1973 Vintage

Isle of Jura 1984

Isle of Jura 1989

Isle of Jura Legacy

Isle of Jura 27 Year Old Stillmans Dram

Isle of Jura 33 Year Old

Isle of Jura 36 Year Old

Isle of Jura Distillery Independent Bottlings

Adelphi,

Blackadder,

Cadenhead’s,

Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail),

Coopers Choice

Dun Bheagan,

Murray McDavid,

Un-Chill Filtered (Signatory).

Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) Signatory SMWS.

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