Jura Whisky has announced two new single cask expressions to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Fèis Ìle festival this May. The releases include a 16-year-old Armagnac-finished whisky and a 24-year-old Sauternes-finished whisky, both showcasing the distillery’s island character.
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READ THE STORYThe annual Fèis Ìle gathering draws whisky fans from around the world to the island communities of Islay and Jura. This year’s milestone edition marks four decades of the festival.
Jura will welcome visitors to its beachside distillery for tours, tastings, live music, cocktails, and boat tours exploring the island’s coastline.
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The 16 Year Old Fèis Ìle Annual Release (£130) was initially matured in second-fill bourbon barrels before receiving an 18-month finish in a single 400-liter Armagnac cask. It will be available exclusively to visitors who attend the festival in person. Tasting notes include apricot, dark chocolate, and liquorice on the nose, with a palate of hazelnut, stone fruit, apple crumble and dried figs fading into a long finish with rock pool notes.
The 24 Year Old 40th Anniversary Release (£320) was matured in refill bourbon barrels followed by an eight-year finish in a single Sauternes barrique. In addition to being sold at Jura’s brand home, it will also be available in specialist whisky bars and pubs across Scotland. Expect citrus peels, pineapple, apricot, and minerality on the nose. The palate is “supple and rich” with notes of baked brioche, lemon balm, and vanilla-spiced peach. Nuttiness, herbs, and sea spray linger on the finish.
Joe Ricketts, lead blender for Jura, said: “For this year’s Fèis Ìle, we’ve explored our warehouses for not one, but two really special whiskies. Both are rare single cask releases that explore different aspects of Jura’s distillery character.”
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Ricketts described the approach to each expression in detail. “For our 16-year-old expression, we started with spirit-forward second-fill ex-bourbon barrels, then transferred a small portion to old 400L Armagnac casks,” he said. “This complements the fruity and aromatic qualities of Jura, while maintaining a hint of coastal complexity.”
On the older release, Ricketts added: “Over the past couple of years we’ve been returning to our 2001 vintage Sauternes casks with the distillery team, discussing the intricacies of the spirit as it develops and its charming patisserie-like notes. So, in celebration of the festival’s 40th anniversary we’ve bottled one of our favorites from the one-off parcel which showcases Jura’s complex island spirit in all its glory.”
Jura is one of Scotland’s most remote distilleries, located on the Isle of Jura in the Inner Hebrides. The island has a population of roughly 260 people and a single road. Tickets for this year’s Fèis Ìle celebration on Jura remain available for purchase.
