2006 Douglas Laing & Co. Old Particular Single Cask Jura 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

One of less than a handful of indie Juras to hit our shelves, with this release charged from a refill butt yielding 366 bottles. According to the bottlers, the nose presents salted caramel, plus heaps of vanilla and custard cream with a slight herbal quality. It's thick and sweet with golden barley and buttered bread flavours finishing with a touch of seaweed and a minty tang. Non chill filtered. 48.4% Alc./Vol.

Lying just to the East of Islay, off Scotland's west coast, Jura is one of Scotland's most spectacular but least known islands. The Isle covers 36,692 hectares and rises to a height of 785m. The name Jura has several meanings : “two brothers Dih and Rah”, “island of yew trees”, and “island of red deer”. However, with a human population of under 200 and about 5000 red deer, (the deer out number the people by around twenty five to one), expert opinion tends towards the latter.

The Jura whisky is produced from water from Loch A'Bhaile Mhargaidh (Market Loch) and ground malted barley. The water is not peaty as the loch is high in the hills. The wash is distilled twice in pot stills. High necks on the stills give a light spirit. The whisky gains a little weight and richness by being matured in a mixture of American oak and Sherry casks.