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Isle of Jura Distillery has marked the
first day of this year’s Feis Ile with
the opening of a new £100,000 Visitor
Centre.
The Jura Distillery Visitor Centre, on
the same site as the former distillery
shop, offers visitors a glimpse into the
history and legends of Jura along with
an opportunity to savour an authentic
taste of single malt from the
distillery. The centre also serves as
the base of operations for the
distillery's tours.
The Visitor Centre takes its inspiration
from the island’s legends and symbols,
reflecting its literary, cultural and
mythical heritage in West of Scotland
folklore. Designed to replicate a
traditional Hebridean bothy, there is a
tasting unit which will serve rare Jura
expressions alongside its core range,
and a tasting table with a copper
Diurachs’ symbol set into the centre.
Photos of Diurachs past and present
adorn the gallery wall, including key
figures from the distillery’s 200 year
history, bringing to life many of the
associated myths and legends.
Inside the Jura Distillery Visitor
Centre guests can purchase an array of
Jura merchandise, including hats,
jackets, glassware and chocolates,
alongside Jura’s extensive range of core
and rare whiskies.
Isle of Jura is hoping that the new
Visitor Centre will create a
long-lasting impression for the island’s
rising visitor numbers. Since 2007,
visitor numbers have steadily increased
year on year, a considerable achievement
given the island’s ‘unget-at-able’
location. The increased interest is a
reflection of Jura’s strength in the
single malt market and the growing trend
for whisky tourism. Jura single malt is
now the third largest malt in the UK,
with year on year growth of 60% across
its key markets.
Distillery Manager Willie Cochrane
commented:
"Many of those who make the effort to
visit Jura do so because of our fine
whisky and the rich culture of our
remote island. Having a visitor centre
that reflects the history and culture of
our island, whilst matching the quality
of our single malt, will provide our
guests with a truer experience of what
Jura is all about. More importantly,
they will hopefully be more inclined to
buy some of our fine whisky and share
the magic of Jura with their friends and
family!”
About Jura
Off the west coast of Scotland lies one
of nature’s best kept secrets, the Isle
of Jura. Populated by a community of
less than 200, known as Diurachs (the
Gaelic name for the people of Jura), it
is a place of myth, legend and intrigue
– and an award-winning range of single
malt whiskies which hold the promise of
good fortune for all those that believe.
There are four classic bottlings in the
Jura Collection: Origin 10,
Superstition, Diurach’s Own and
Prophecy. Many of the Jura whiskies have
their own distinctive drinking rituals,
but one cuts across the range. Islanders
believe that it brings good fortune to
knock on wood before they drink a dram.
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