Jura is the single malt of the remote and wildly beautiful Isle of Jura, one of the least-visited of the Inner Hebrides. With just one distillery serving an island of around 200 people (and far more red deer), Jura whisky is inseparable from the rugged, romantic character of its home beside Islay.
History and the island
The distillery stands in Craighouse, Jura’s only village, and was rebuilt in the early 1960s by two local landowners specifically to bring jobs and people back to an island whose population had dwindled. Jura is famous for the fearsome Corryvreckan whirlpool — one of the largest in the world — off its northern tip, the three conical mountains known as the Paps of Jura, and as the wild retreat where George Orwell wrote much of Nineteen Eighty-Four at remote Barnhill.
The whisky
Jura produces a range of contrasting styles, from lightly honeyed and gently sherried expressions to more peated, maritime bottlings — reflecting both the island’s setting and its desire to offer something for every palate. Its accessible core range, including the 10 and 12 Year Old, has made it a widely enjoyed island malt, with more heavily peated releases for those seeking smoke.
Visiting Jura
Getting to Jura is an adventure in itself and part of the appeal. Most visitors travel via Islay and take the short ferry across the Sound of Islay, making the distillery a rewarding add-on to an Islay whisky trip. The island’s single road, deer-filled hills and sense of splendid isolation make the journey memorable.
Getting there
Reach Islay by ferry from Kennacraig or by air from Glasgow, then cross to Jura by the small ferry to Feolin; from there it is a short drive to Craighouse and the distillery.
Discover more in our overview of Scotch whisky regions and our guide to the best whisky distilleries to visit in Scotland.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Jura Distillery?
In Craighouse, the only village on the Isle of Jura, off Scotland’s west coast next to Islay.
How do you get to Jura?
Usually via Islay, then a short ferry crossing of the Sound of Islay to Feolin.
What is Jura known for?
Its remote island setting, the Corryvreckan whirlpool and Paps of Jura, its George Orwell connection, and its range of island single malts.
Is Jura whisky peated?
Jura makes both lightly peated and more heavily peated expressions, alongside sherried and honeyed styles.
