Exclusive to Global Travellers, the Jura Islanders’ Expressions Collection is a series of limited edition whiskies inspired by some of the creative collective among our tiny island community. Each whisky showcases the resourcefulness and originality of our islanders’ craftsmanship and offers a personal connection to Jura’s island community. The second of these is a collaboration with acclaimed musician and producer, Giles Perring.
The design of this bottle showcases a waveform from Giles’ World Organ, intertwined with nods to the sources of Jura’s island sounds. On the front of the pack, you will find an abstract reproduction of Giles’ World Organ
Inside the bottle, these bright and vibrant sounds inspired this lively and aromatic whisky, matured in American ex-bourbon and Scottish Citra pale ale casks. This maturation gives the whisky a delightfully tropical fruit character with notes of aromatic hops and subtle citrus.
JURA ISLANDERS’ EXPRESSIONS
COLLECTION NO.2
Tasting notes
Colour
Golden Yellow
Nose
Honeyed cereal, ripe citrus and freshly cut grass with a touch of vanilla and toffee richness
Taste
Soft, bitter-sweet citrus notes and hints of tropical fruit balanced with pine and vanilla spice
Cask
Initially matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and finished in hand selected Scottish Pale Ale casks
ABV
40%
Getting to know
Giles Perring
How did you get into the world of making music?
I started music lessons as a child and began playing in bands as I grew up. Then, from around my twenties, I got involved in things like touring, making records, community-based music making, writing music for TV, film, radio, theatre, and a got to experience a real variety of musical traditions.
What was your inspiration for creating the World Organ?
I wanted to explore the creative possibilities of an acoustic phenomenon I liked. I began to see the World Organ as a way of representing the Jura landscape in a creative way, one that broke away from the visual things that we see very frequently. I decided to make a 60-minute album, which I called ‘Lowlandman’s Bay’ which drew from about a year’s worth of recordings I had.
Can you tell us a little bit about how it works/what its purpose is?
The device is like an organ because what you hear is air vibrating in and around 8 pipes, whose lengths are calculated to correspond to notes on a scale. The pipes also colour the sounds of the world around them, like birdsong and the sea. By listening to the organ, you are literally listening to the sound of Jura.
What do you like most about travelling?
Whether it’s touring alone, with a band or simply visiting friends, one of the things I enjoy most is taking something from home to share with people. That could be something simple – such as something from the island itself, or even a bottle of Jura’s wonderful whisky on special occasions.
Why do collaborations like this matter to people who work in the creative industries?
Jura reaches a global audience and they have fostered a really positive idea of the island.
I’d like my work with the World Organ to bring people closer to an experience of nature, and so help contribute in some way to awareness of planetary issues. And I hope that, in collaborating with me, Jura will continue to align with work that is sensitive to, and protective of our environment.
Do you think there is a possibility something like this could be done in other parts of the world?
These are plans that I have as an expansion of this project - I am working with international collaborators to help create a true ‘World Organ’. I’d love to hear from people who would like to be part of this project.
Do you think there is a possibility something like this could be done in other parts of the world?
For me, it is exciting to hear sound happening ‘live’ a long way away - and I love to listen to the Organ when I’m off Jura. I think that we undervalue sound as a way of describing and understanding our environment. We should listen more, and I hope that this project allows people to use their senses with a bit of curiosity and develop a new understanding of this landscape, and the world.
If you had one message for someone aspiring to work in the creative industries, what would it be?
I’d definitely say that you should try not to get caught up in trivial stuff, and don’t compartmentalise yourself - we need creative minds in many jobs if we are to fix some of our world’s issues.
Creativity is a trait that can be applied to many roles in life. If you’re in a band or choir for the social pleasure of doing something with other people, you’ll learn skills that could be useful throughout many areas of your life.