Jura Tastival 2017

Jura Single Malt Whisky has announced the launch of its Tastival 2017 bottling, a unique Limited Edition single malt that marks the distillery’s annual island whisky festival, set to take place on 1 June 2017.

Available from 1st June!

The festival celebrates new ways to enjoy whisky through exciting flavour experiences that everyone can enjoy – whether new to whisky or a well-established fan – and Jura’s Tastival 2017 bottling fully embraces this ethos.

This Non Chill-Filtered, cask strength Limited Edition expression marries some of Jura’s finest aged spirits, is enhanced in both first fill American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and hand-selected Graham’s Port Pipes sourced from Portugal’s lush Douro Valley. Customers will get notes of chewy liquorice, black forest fruits and creamy white chocolate on the nose, and orange zest, walnut cake, glazed pineapple and Crème De Cassis on the aftertaste.

Jura Tastival 2017 is the first Limited Edition release to be overseen by new Jura Distillery Manager, Graham Logan, who took over from Willie Cochrane in September 2016.

Tastival is all about welcoming people to Jura with open arms – not only to our island festival, but to our whisky – whether you’re a single malt expert or are trying it for the first time.

The creativity that goes into our Tastival event programme is well reflected in this Limited Edition expression, meaning everyone can enjoy a taste of our Festival – whether they can make it to the island or not.
– Graham Logan: Jura Distillery Manager

Tastival guests will have an exclusive first try of this year’s Limited Edition bottling at the island festival on 1 June, where the whisky will be available to buy. A full event programme, plus information on localised Tastival events to take place in Europe will be announced in the coming weeks.

Ticketed sessions vary between £15 – £45, with entry to the heart of the action in the Cooperage costing just £5 (including goody bag and two drams). Tickets on sale now.

Getting there from Islay: Jura will operate a free passenger ferry and coach shuttle service to and from the Port Feolin ferry station. For more information see www.jurawhisky.com.

Jura Tastival 2017 will be available online and in shops globally (excluding US) RRP £85 from 1st June.

Colour: Amber gold with flashes of crimson mahogany
Nose: Black Forest fruits, chewy liquorice, ripe plums and creamy white chocolate
Palate: Orange zest, walnut cake, glazed pineapple and Crème de Cassis

Jura Single Malt Whisky’s Annual Island Whisky Festival Returns

Tickets are now on sale for Jura Tastival 2017 – which returns for a one-day single malt spectacular on Thursday 1st June, offering new ways to enjoy whisky, through a busy programme of one-of-a-kind taste experiences.

The event will run as part of the annual Feis Ile Festival, which attracts whisky fans from all over the world to distillery open days on Islay and neighbouring island, Jura, each year.

Tastival will see Jura’s only whisky distillery throw open its doors to put on a number of free and ticketed activities – from unique whisky tastings and tours, to live entertainment – including music from legendary Scots Trad band RURA – and a chance to join the Jura community at special meet and greets with the distillery team.

This year’s Tastival event is limited to one day only (it has spanned two days in previous years) – so whisky lovers are advised get in early to snap up tickets, which are set to be in high demand.

This year’s ticketed sessions include:
· The Jura Long Table – Dine with the Diurachs (the name for Jura’s community) at this ‘getting to know you’ session. A special one off lunch in the distillery’s Grainstore, guests will join the locals (including some distillery staff) to hear stories on island life as they enjoy Jura’s laid back take on street food, prepared with the freshest local produce, each dish designed to pair with a dram of Jura whisky.

· All Terrain Whisky Tasting – Discover the different sides of Jura and learn how the landscape inspires a whisky range as unique as the island itself. Venturing far beyond the realms of the distillery, the Jura bus will stop off at locations from serene beaches, to craggy mountain foots – with a whisky inspired by each location stashed for guests to find (if they listen to the clues) at every stop.

· Whisky 101 – Meet Whyte & Mackay Whisky Maker & Blender Gregg Glass in this unique session designed for both whisky newcomers and aficionados alike. Smashing perceptions on traditional whisky tastings, guests will be invited to take on a different ‘state of mind’ when it comes to single malt – sampling Jura in a number of non-fluid states, before an anonymous Q&A will give visitors the chance can ask anything they ever wanted to know about whisky…but were too afraid to ask!

· The Single Malt Masterclass – An exclusive masterclass hosted by Jura Distillery Manager Graham Logan, honorary distillers will get on-the-job whisky making experience – from learning how to keep a careful watch over the spirit gauge, to testing the mash tun and wash backs, rolling a barrel through the warehouse and siphoning whisky straight from the cask.

· Jura Jetty – Ticketholders will arrive at Tastival in true island style, cruising from Islay’s Port Askaig directly to Jura’s Craighouse, delivered to the heart of the event by Captain Nicol. On their journey, guests will enjoy a special tasting of travel retail exclusive Jura Turas-Mara the way it was meant to be experienced – with the wind and sea spray in your face.

Music, live entertainment and the opportunity chance to sample Jura’s range will be available in the Dramming Bar in the distillery’s Cooperage, where guests will have the first opportunity to try, and purchase, Tastival 2017, Jura’s limited edition bottling created to mark the festival.

A £5 general entry fee will include a brochure, souvenir glass and two drams at the bar. A cash bar will be available thereafter, with a full drinks menu including drams, cocktails and an exclusive Drygate beer brewed to pair with Jura’s Tastival 2017 bottling.

The distillery will also run free tours of the still house throughout the day on a first come, first served basis.

The island event will kick off a schedule of localised Tastival events to take place in Europe throughout the summer, and which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Ticketed sessions vary between £15 – £45, with entry to the heart of the action in the Cooperage costing just £5 (including goody bag and two drams). Tickets on sale now.

Getting there from Islay: Jura will operate a free passenger ferry and coach shuttle service to and from the Port Feolin ferry station. For more information see www.jurawhisky.com.

“We always aim to push boundaries with our Tastival bottlings …”

Jura Single Malt Whisky has revealed its Tastival 2016 bottling, a new limited edition expression to mark the distillery’s annual island whisky festival. The flavours within this remarkable single malt have inspired Jura’s first ever ‘crowd sourced’ packaging, chosen by the whisky’s social media followers.

Jura Tastival, which takes place on 25 & 26 May this year, celebrates new and exciting ways to enjoy whisky – and the creation of this year’s festival edition is no exception, with a triple sherry finish, using hand-selected casks.

To complement its sweet and intense flavour, Jura asked four artists from across the world to create a unique illustrated packaging design based upon their interpretations of the Tastival 2016 bottling, which is 51% ABV, non-chill filtered.

Following heated competition, where fans voted for their favourite design online, Jura can now reveal that its first ever crowd sourced packaging is based on the artwork created by German artist Florian Schommer.

The intricate design incorporates Florian’s personal tasting notes for the whisky, including apple, represented by branches, notes of vanilla, captured in delicate white flowers and a colour scheme based on an aromatic blend of maple syrup and roasted hazelnut.

Other artists who competed to win the Tastival packaging contract included French illustrator Yo Az, UK based Claire Scully and Karin Ohlsson from Sweden. Their colourful array of designs can still be viewed on Jura’s Facebook page.

The limited edition bottling is the last Tastival expression to be overseen by much-loved Jura Distillery Manager, Willie Cochrane, who announced his retirement last week. He hands over the reins to Graham Logan, a former Jura Mash / Stillman who has worked at his side for over two decades.

Every limited edition is special, but this one’s particularly close to my heart as it commemorates my last Jura Tastival, which has been a highlight on my calendar for the past ten years.

It wouldn’t be Tastival without something a bit different to inspire new perspectives on whisky, and I’m sure Florian Schommer’s wonderful illustrations will do just that!
– Willie Cochrane

We always aim to push boundaries with our Tastival bottlings and the triple sherry finish on this new expression is a perfect example of the creativity and craftsmanship I want to continue to encourage in my role as distillery manager.
– Graham Logan

Tastival guests will have first opportunity to try and purchase this year’s limited edition bottling at the festival on 25 & 26 May, where they will be invited to share their own whisky tasting notes. Jura Tastival 2016 will be available online and in shops globally (excluding US) RRP £85 from 30 May 2016.

This year’s event will bring flavour to life with sensory tastings!

Jura Tastival 2016

Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th May 2016

Isle Of Jura Distillery Co
Isle of Jura
PA60 7XT

Tickets £11.74 – £48.67

Tastival is Jura’s two day contribution to the Feis Isle Festival, which attracts whisky aficionados from all over the world to distillery open days each year.
The event on Jura invites guests to experience the island’s only distillery, while exploring the many different ways to enjoy its whisky through live entertainment, sensory tastings and exclusive tours.
The schedule has something for everyone – but whisky fans will have to be quick – 95% of tickets for last year’s event sold out in just 24 hours.
This year’s ticketed sessions include:

• Dine the Different Sides of Jura – An eclectic sweet and smoky menu from Jimmy’s pop up – taking their renowned pop up dining concept out of London for a one-of-a-kind whisky pairing.

• Dram Fyne – In partnership with renowned craft beer brewers, Fyne Ales, tickets are now on sale for this sweet and smoky themed beer pairing, putting some well hopped IPAs to the test alongside Jura whisky.

• In Conversation: with Richard Paterson – An exclusive Jura tasting session and Q&A with whisky legend Richard Paterson.

• The Masters Tour – Jura Manager’s Willie Cochrane and Graham Logan will host this very special tour – a rare chance to experience the Jura still house as seen through the eyes of the people who make it.

• Whisky on the Waves – Ticketholders will cruise into the open sea to savour Jura Turas-Mara the way it was meant to be experienced – with the wind and sea spray in your face.

In addition to ticketed sessions, the Cooperage will be free to access, where street artists from Recoat will bring to life the different sides of Jura on a large-scale mural, live in the Dramming Bar. The distillery will also run free tours of the still house throughout the day on a first come, first served basis.
Guests will also have first opportunity to try this year’s limited edition Tastival bottling, released especially to mark the occasion. For 2016 Jura asked four artists from across the globe to create a unique illustrated design based upon their interpretations of the dram’s tasting notes. Following heated competition, where fans voted for their favourite design online, Jura’s first ever crowd sourced packaging is ready to be revealed – and toasted – live at Tastival 2016.

For more information: Jura Tastival