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The island of Jura 1976 “Feith A’ Chaorainn” vintage single malt is a fine vintage whisky. Jura whisky is very popular amongst whisky connoisseurs throughout the globe, and this whisky is just another delight. The name Feith A' Chaorain” translates roughly as “the land around the rowan”, named after the famous rowan tree that was used to pass good luck to the Islanders. Often sprigs from the rowan tree itself are placed over doorways to ward off lightening. It was also used on boats to keep storms away and was even fixed to various cattle sheds to protect farmers’ livestock. The whisky, as the name suggests, was distilled in 1976 using ex-bourbon casks; there are only 500 bottles of this fantastic whisky in existence. The bottles are fetching a rather attractive price of £500 each, and the malt is only available from exclusive (specialist) whisky retailers. The famous little island of Jura is situated just off the west coast of Scotland and is well known for its scenery, particularly The Paps of Jura - three very distinct mountains that are situated on south of the island. Jura was named by Nordic invaders and the name translates to “Deer Island”. The name was selected due to the large population of wild deer on the island. The deer had a remarkable stronghold on the island which vastly out-numbered the inhabitants. The island lay claim to the Jura Distillery, and has done so since 1880. The distillery was originally Untitled event owned and occupied by Archibald Campbell and was originally known as the “small isles distillery”. The name came from the substantial number of small islands located in Craighouse Bay, in which it overlooks but the distillery was closed for a period of almost 60 years. Charles Mackinlay & Co purchased the distillery in 1960, and in 1963, production restarted. Tasting Notes The colour of the Jura whisky is coppery with a rich-gold hue; the aroma is very much of rich wood spice with strong cinnamon tones. There are very subtle characteristics of vanilla, toffee and peat on the initial taste, but not over powering. The 1976 bottle, is surprisingly fresh for the its age and this manifests itself with a hint of tropical fruit – think along the lines of a mango and pineapple fusion. After the initial burst of flavour the taste settles down to provide a pleasant and creamy feel that exhibitions elements of sultana, vanilla, honey and interestingly oat biscuit with a lovely hint of wild spice. The sophistication of this particular whisky is completed by the notes of coffee, chocolate and tangy orange zest. These diverse flavours add, complexity depth and a touch of class to this divine whisky. Verdict The 1976 Feith A' Chaorainn” whisky is a fine piece of art, and certainly is a truly spectacular whisky. The depth, complexity and freshness combined achieve simply - a stunning result. It demonstrates what can truly be achieved by using high quality casks and is a complete testament to the Isle of Jura’s commitment to whisky. The whisky showcases the benefits of allowing a whisky to grow, age and develop into a beautiful butterfly ready to meet the world. The author of this article, James king, is a whisky enthusiast and writes for The Whisky Shop. James is passionate about the whisky industry and a Jura Whiskycollector.
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