Jura Whisky’s celebrated Distillery Manager Willie Cochrane has just retired after an incredible 39 year career. To mark his contribution to the distillery, community and the industry itself, Jura today releases ‘One For The Road’: a limited edition 22 year old single malt, complete with exceptional ‘Pinot Noir’ finish and the final expression to be bottled in his care.
Willie’s story is extraordinary – he first came to the island as a young mechanic, with little knowledge of whisky and the intention of staying for only one year. He soon fell in love with the art of whisky making, the community and the island itself and steadily worked his way up to become of the industry’s best-loved figures.
Over the next 39 years, Willie became a celebrated part of the very fabric of Jura, renowned in the industry for his friendliness and expertise and earning prestigious titles for the whisky. A true ambassador for the brand, Willie has welcomed thousands of visitors from across the globe to the distillery, guiding them through the quality craftsmanship and dedication that goes into producing each cask of Jura.
Willie Cochrane said: “One of the perks of my job is meeting people who have travelled to the island from far and wide to share their appreciation for whisky with me and the team at the distillery. Now that I have the opportunity, I can think of no better way to repay the favour than releasing one final expression – one for the road – to share with them.”
As he bids farewell, Willie will embark on a European-wide tour, introducing One The Road to whisky lovers across the continent. From 17th Sept – 1st October 2016, Willie will visit Brussels, Lyon, Hamburg, Paris, Cologne and Stockholm to meet whisky fans and conduct tastings of the limited edition, One For The Road expression. This specially bottled 22 year old single malt, complete with exceptional ‘Pinot Noir’ finish, celebrates Willie’s 39 year career with Jura, and the story of one of whisky’s best loved characters. A must-have collectable for whisky fans, only 5,000 bottles (47% ABV) are available globally with an RSP of £120.
Graham Logan, the newly appointed distillery manager said: “Nobody embodies Jura’s spirit quite like Willie, so it’s a fitting tribute to a man who has contributed so much to our small, but passionate island. I’ll be raising a glass alongside the rest of the community as we wave Willie off on his next adventure.”
Ed Patrick says
August 31, 2016 at 8:07 pmAs long as we’ve known Willie Cochrane, he has been one of the most modest and self-effacing whiskymakers in Scotland, but always able to spin a good yarn. Our group from Canada arrived at Jura early one morning and found the distillery doors locked and shuttered. We were milling about outside when Willie arrived and unlocked the door. He looked incredulous and blurted out: “Crivvens, I thought the Vikings had come back!” You’ll be sorely missed, Willie, but never forgotten. Here’s one for the road to you!
Bruce Clark says
September 1, 2016 at 6:24 pmHad the pleasure of a tour with Willie in 2008 and a wonderful lunch and talk by Richard Patterson. It was truly memorable experience for our Canadian group. A few more passing bays on the road wouldn’t hurt.
Michael L Easterling says
September 15, 2016 at 4:57 amMy 3rd great grandfather ,John McDougal journeyed from Jura, Argyll , Scotland to Geneva , Alabama, USA to marry my 3rd great grandmother. So, to honor him , I have to travel to Scotland and taste this fine Jura Whiskey .
tex montagu says
September 23, 2016 at 7:54 pmhi willy nice see your still kikin this is tex the diver? i see a few of us oldens are still alive ? i am still here in usa close to retirement now getting on u know 66 this year still driving and getting up to no good god bless you and your family
Karen Malloy says
October 3, 2016 at 3:45 amWe visited Jura in September 2016 hoping to find a trace of my husband’s Irish ancestors. They had migrated to Jura from Ireland but came from Jura to North Carolina. Unfortunately we didn’t locate anything but will keep looking. The ladies at the Service Center were very helpful.
Malloy, Meloy, O’Malloy
We stayed at the Jura Hotel for 3 nights, took the short tour with Alex, toured the Distillery, and generally had a grand time arriving on Jura from Tayvallich on the passenger ferry.
Frank Brownlow says
January 30, 2017 at 9:24 pmI was very pleased some years ago to see Jura whisky on the shelves at our local wine & spirits shop. (It’s still there, but the price has gone sky high for some reason.) The reopening was a wonderful thing.
My great-grandfather Neil Darroch was a cooper at the distillery before the closing. What I haven’t seen mentioned in any of your comments on the distillery is that the then Campbell laird was a fierce tetotaller, and that was why it was closed. From what I’ve heard from my aunts, the Jura people despised the Campbells, and were not at all sorry to see the last of them.
Karen says
January 31, 2017 at 1:16 amCheck with the distillery folks as to the reason it closed. I thought it had something to do with lack of funds on the part of the Campbells. We were there in Sept. 2016 and took a tour of the distillery.
Quinn Bradlee says
March 28, 2017 at 4:54 pmMy name is Quinn Bradlee and I am a descendant of William Alexander MacDougall who was born in Mar 1800 Jura, Argyll, Scotland and died on 13 Nov 1874 in Swans Staton, Moore County, North Carolina, USA. He married on 29 Nov 1831 Jura, Argyll, Scotland to Catherine Bouie (?-?). William immigrated in Nov 1839 and arrived in North Carolina in Dec 1839. I was just wondering if you know anything about who his ancestors were or his wife ancestors were. I am a descendant of William through my mothers side who is Sally Quinn and my father was the late Ben Bradlee of the Washington Post. Any information would be more than greatly appreciated.
Tex montagu says
June 15, 2017 at 7:18 pmReturning home to jura in late 2017 biggest problem I have found is as still a working man where to stay on the island prefer a B And. B or a place I can park my mobile rv (horsebox) which I live and travel in I will be working in and around surrounding area if anyone can help and give me a either parking price or accommodation I would appreciate it length of horsebox is about 20ft long term stay till I can purchase a plot of land or buy a small place or long term rental await any ones reply montagu.Alan@yahoo.com is the easiest way to get me regards tex the diver