Whisky news Friday March 10th

Jura Launches Travel Retail Exclusive – Turas-Mara

Jura distillery has released a new expression – Turas-Mara – for sale exclusively through travel retail.

Gaelic for long journey, Turas-Mara is inspired by the travels of the many Diurachs who were forced to emigrate during the 18th and 19th centuries, in what became known as “The Clearances”, to countries including the US and Canada.

Turas-Mara is an expression that honours those who carried Jura in their hearts, as they travelled and migrated across the globe. Jura Turas-Mara allows travellers to experience a little bit of Jura as they embark on their own journeys.

Each pack is adorned with a compass to help steer the traveller home, and a poem written by a former resident of Jura, Jessie Scott.  Jessie lived on the island during the 19th century and witnessed many of its inhabitants depart Jura by boat for the shores of North America. The poem is an ode to her homeland and has been immortalised on a plaque which currently stands on Jura’s Corran Sands beach.

Jura Turas-Mara is bottled at 42% ABV and available to buy in selected travel retail stores throughout 2013, with a RSP of £40 or €50.

Jura Whisky Revamps Core Range Packaging

Jura whisky, one of the world’s fastest growing malts, has revamped its packaging to make the brand stand out on shelf and to clearly explain the distinct flavour profiles of each expression.

Each carton will have its own distinct colour palette featuring a different image, drawn from the landscape of Jura.  The image that adorns each carton connects back to the whisky’s distinct island story and sits beside a half outline of the distinctive Jura bottle shape.  When the expressions are lined up together the outlines join up to reveal the whole outline of the iconic Jura bottle.

Gemma Parkinson, Jura Brand Manager commented: “2012 was an exceptional year for the brand. We are now looking to build on this momentum and release a new creative look and feel that we hope will resonate with consumers and help them to truly identify with our brand story.”

Tamdhu Relaunch

One of Speyside’s founding distilleries, Tamdhu has re-launched (Friday 3 May 2013) with a stunning new 10 year old Speyside Single Malt.

Acquired in June 2011 by Ian Macleod Distillers, leading Scottish independent family owned distiller and bottler, Tamdhu Distillery was established in 1897 by a consortium of pioneering businessmen who embodied the ‘can-dhu’ spirit of their generation.

Inspired by an age of industry and endeavour, the Tamdhu story is one of enlightenment that began, and continues to this day, on the banks of the River Spey.  Now, just as then, Tamdhu is matured in only the finest oak sherry casks with natural Speyside water from the Tamdhu spring.

The new Tamdhu 10 yo has a softness of vanilla and sugared almonds on the nose balanced by fresh oak and cinnamon. Bursting with fruit and spice, which gently yields to toffee, there is a richness of sherry oak on the palate with a gentle hint of peat smoke wisp.

Designed to maximise on-shelf presence, the packaging communicates the brand’s values and provenance with a stylish, textured black, white and gold tube, illustrated monograms and an elegant glass bottle, inspired by the Victorian era.

Commenting on the launch, Leonard Russell, managing director and third generation of the family-owned Ian Macleod Distillers, said:

“Tamdhu has a reputation for producing exceptional quality single malt and we are excited to re-launch Tamdhu today. We are committed to revitalising and growing Tamdhu not only as a brand but from an economic and investment perspective with new jobs created and significant investment in the infrastructure and fabric of the Distillery.

“The re-launch has been in the planning for nearly two years to ensure that our best casks had hit their peak before bottling. With a focus on quality, we have honoured the careful distillation process to create a premium malt Scotch whisky we believe Tamdhu’s founders would be proud of.”

Iain Weir, Ian Macleod Distillers’ Marketing Director, added:

“Tamdhu is a perfect complement to our existing portfolio of brands, delivering a premium Speyside malt and real point of difference for the category.  There has been significant interest from consumers and trade to see what we would do with Tamdhu and the Speyside Whisky Festival is the perfect platform to reintroduce the brand on its home soil.

“We are committed to growing the brand within the UK and internationally, and are confident it will prove popular with whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.”

Tamdhu 10 yo Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky is available from Waitrose, specialists and independents across the UK from 6 May 2013 with an RRP of £34.99.  It will be distributed globally over the coming months.

In addition, a special commemorative 10 yo bottling, which is matured in 100% first fill sherry casks, has been released by Ian Macleod Distillers. Only 1000 limited edition bottles are available to buy online priced at £100.