Produced in the Highland, Speyside and Islay regions of Scotland, these whiskies from the Fettercairn, Tamnavulin, and Jura distilleries possess remarkable, distinct characters. Although they are distilled in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels in their initial maturing process, the intervening procedures and finessing give them their individual and unique traits.
Fettercairn
Located in the northeastern part of Scotland at the foot of Cairngorm Mountain Range, Fettercairn sits on the Scottish Highland, an area known for its whisky production. The distillery traces its beginnings in 1824 when Sir Alexander Ramsay converted a corn mill on the Fasque Estate into a distillery. Five years later, Sir John Gladstone took over Fettercairn.
By 1953, Fettercairn’s renown would be bolstered further by a new method of distilling purer whisky which its whisky makers discovered and mastered: By pouring water down the stills, they were able to increase the condensation that allowed the lightest vapours to rise.
They then applied this to the distilling process by installing a copper cooling ring which they filled with mountain water to drench the stills continuously and thus obtain the purest possible spirit. This gives Fettercairn its unique character.
Fettercairn is aged in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels which helps develop its tropical fruit house style that bears hints of vanilla and orange. The Fettercairn comes in nine age range, from Fettercairn 12 Years Old to Fettercairn 50 Years Old.
Tamnavulin
Located in the heart of Speyside, the most celebrated whisky-producing region in Scotland, Tamnavulin produces an exceptional single malt whisky with true Speyside character: rich, smooth and mellow. The distillery was first set in operation from 1966 to 1995, and reopened in 2007 following a major refurbishment.
Speyside whisky has traits that derive from the region’s temperate microclimate and rich soil which support both the barley crop and the mature whisky.
Tamnavulin undergoes a double distillation in copper pot stills which give it a fruity, floral and light spirit. It is matured initially in American white oak ex-bourbon cask for that rich and smooth house style before being transferred into casks that have held a variety of wines – from oloroso sherry to Spanish reds – which lend it layers of complexity and balance.
The Tamnavulin range consists of the Double Cask, Sherry Cask, and Tempranillo Cask editions.
Jura
Jura’s dramatic history matches the rugged, rough and elemental environment from which it rose in 1810 – an island of the same name off the west coast of Scotland – fell on hard times in 1901, and was finally resurrected in 1963.
The Jura Single Malt Whisky is crafted in the same unusual and exceptionally tall stills – two of which date back to 1963 and another two to 1979. The said stills give it a fresh lemon and grassy new make spirit, which is then matured in American White Oak barrels that previously held bourbon.
Traditionally, the Jura whisky spirit was made in a heavily peated style similar to the Islay variety; however, this evolved in character with the introduction of an unpeated style of whisky in the early 1960s. Today, the Jura whisky marries the Highland and Island styles, its light style spirit produced by the stills more akin to Highland whiskies.
The new Jura Signature Style, introduced globally in 2018, has a subtle smoke at its heart, complemented by vanilla sweetness derived from maturation in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels.
The Jura Signature Series is made of five distinct whiskies: Jura Journey, Jura 10 Year Old, Jura 12 Year Old, Jura Seven Wood, and Jura 18 Year Old.