Jura Whisky Festival Going ‘Live’

The Jura whisky festival, part of the 26th annual Feis Ile, will be broadcast live from the Isle of Jura for the very first time this year.

Broadcasting ‘behind the scenes’

Fans of the award-winning whisky who are unable to make the pilgrimage to the unget-at-able Isle of Jura will be able to experience the island’s marquee event which takes place on 30 – 31 May, as the Jura distillery will be broadcasting ‘behind the scenes’ clips throughout the two day event. A wireless hotspot will also be set up in Craighouse – at the heart of the island’s festivities – allowing visitors to tweet and post comments, updates and photos.

Jura launches on Instagram

On the back of Jura’s successful following on both Twitter and Facebook, Jura will also be using this year’s Festival to launch on Instagram. Visitors to the island will be encouraged to take photos and post on Instagram using the hashtag #jurawhiskyfest. The best five images will be rewarded with a bottle of Jura Superstition.

Live events webpage

A dedicated live events webpage http://www.isleofjura.com/live/ has been launched on isleofjura.com to host the ‘behind the scenes’ footage and to capture all Festival discussion from across the main social networks. Frequent news updates and blog posts will also be provided during the course of each day.

Preview of new Distillery Tours

As well as all the new digital developments on Jura, visitors to the 26th Feis Ile will be the first to preview two new Distillery tours. The first of these new tours will focus on the myths and legends that provide the inspiration behind Jura’s core range of whiskies.

For those more interested in the process of whisky distillation, there will be a new Distillery Manager’s tour, hosted by Willie Cochrane himself, providing visitors with a more in-depth look at the craft of Jura whisky.

Festival programme

Visitors to this year’s Festival are able to book tickets in advance for the following three sessions, which will be held once on Wednesday and twice on Thursday.

· Myths and Legends Tour with Willie Cochrane: In this session participants will journey through the myths and legends of Jura’s core range single malts with the man who knows them best, Willie Cochrane, distillery manager.

· The Water of Life with Willie Tait: Willie Tait, global brand ambassador, takes participants through the history of Jura’s water and a tasting of the newest edition to the Jura range, Elixir.

· Wood and Maturation with Richard Paterson: Richard Paterson, Master Blender, takes participants on a tour of the finest casks that go in to making Jura’s core range and rare expressions.

Willie Cochrane, distillery manager at Jura Distillery, said: “With a packed programme of tastings, tours and tweets, it’s going to be our busiest Festival yet! Those who have been lucky enough to snap up tickets are in for a real treat, as part of our packed programme is a showcase of our brand new distillery tours. Those who are not so fortunate will still be able to follow all the goings-on through our new live events page. Whichever way you ‘re planning to take part, there will be plenty on offer to keep you entertained throughout the two days.”

There are a few remaining tickets left. Tickets cost £15, which includes lunch, entertainment, a distillery gift and free ferry travel for foot passengers from Port Askaig to Feolin. Places can be reserved by contacting Fiona at the distillery on 01496 820 385 or shop@isleofjura.com

Notes:

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.

For more information on Isle of Jura, please visit www.isleofjura.com