Jura marks manager’s retirement with bottling

Island single malt Jura has launched ‘One for the Road’ – a limited edition whisky created to mark the retirement of its distillery manager, Willie Cochrane.

The new bottling has been created in honour of Cochrane as Jura’s distillery manager for 39 years

Cochrane started work at Jura Whisky after arriving on the Hebridean island in 1977, with the intention to stay for just one year, but instead spent 39 years at the plant.

He will begin his retirement next month on a Europe-wide tour, visiting Brussels, Lyon, Hamburg, Paris, Cologne and Stockholm.

Just 5,000 bottles of the 22-year-old single malt One For The Road have been produced, which has a Pinot Noir finish, with a recommended sale price of £120 per bottle.

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.”

Cochrane worked as a mashman and stillman at the distillery before being promoted to distillery manager 11 years ago.

On his travels he will meet whisky enthusiasts and hold masterclasses and tasting sessions of the new malt across Europe.

Former mashman and stillman, Graham Logan, who worked alongside Cochrane for two decades, will take over Cochrane’s position as distillery manager.

Logan 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.”