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Graham Logan said: “Willie Cochrane will be a hard act to follow – he is something of a legend and rightly so. Together, Willie and Graham have overseen a number of limited edition bottlings, such as Camas An Staca and Tastival 2015. Six years later, Graham swapped life at sea for the ‘water of life’ when a job came up at the distillery. He first set eyes on Jura aboard the deck of the HMS Liverpool, while passing by in his previous role as a marine engineering mechanic in the Royal Navy – little did he know that his Father had accepted a job on Jura and he’d soon be calling it home. Graham has followed the same path as his mentor, starting out as a Mash/Stillman 25 years ago before working his way up to Distillery Manager. I’ll sleep well at night knowing the distillery is in capable hands, with someone who loves Jura just as much as I do.”
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“Graham and I have worked together for years and I know he’s the right man for the job. Definitely not a quiet retirement but one I’m very excited about, especially as I’ll have more time for the grandchildren, and to take holidays abroad with my wife! I’ll find it hard to walk away completely, so I’ll still be involved in promoting the whisky from time to time. Willie Cochrane said: “Jura is just as important to me now, as it has been for the last 39 years. 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. He became a celebrated part of the very fabric of Jura, renowned in the industry for his friendliness and his expertise, earning prestigious titles for the whisky*. Initially he had little knowledge of whisky, but his passion was ignited and he proved his talent for crafting extraordinary single malts by working his way up from Mash/ Stillman to Distillery Manager 11 years ago. Willie has been a ‘Diurach’ – the Gaelic term for the community in Jura – since 1977, when he arrived on the island planning to stay for just a year. He hands over the reins to Graham Logan, a former Jura Mash/Stillman who has worked at Willie’s side for over two decades, helping Jura become the thriving success it is today. Jura Single Malt Whisky today, 16 May, raises a glass to much-loved Distillery Manager, Willie Cochrane, as he retires after an incredible 39 year career.
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A Fond Farewell: Jura Distillery Manager Willie Cochrane Retiresĭiurachs raise a glass to one of whisky’s most celebrated characters