When one crosses the Sound of Islay from Islay to Jura it is almost like entering another world. Islay looking agriculturally productive, Jura wild and mountainous, the narrow road following the Sound eastward then turning north through some trees. One enters the small town of Craighouse (barely 200 people live on the whole island plus 5000 red deer) and almost the first building one comes to is a bonded warehouse, then a short distance on is the distillery itself. We stayed in the Hotel opposite (there is nowhere else in winter) and had one of the friendliest tours I have ever encountered, ending with a tasting of course!

The distillery was built in 1810, however there is a history of illicit distilling going back as far as 1502. It has, like many distilleries, had a roller coaster life. Rebuilt in 1885, then silent during depressions, wars and recessions and by 1960 it was almost a ruin. Then in the next three years it was resurrected with two stills, this created employment on the island. In 1978 two more stills were added and it's future seems secure.