There is something undeniably theatrical about the Jura Murderers Series, and with this Second Murderer expression from Act Two of their Macbeth collection, the Isle of Jura distillery leans fully into the drama. A 17-year-old single malt bottled at 48.5% ABV — this is a whisky that arrives with presence and intent, much like its Shakespearean namesake.
Jura has always occupied an interesting position in the Scottish whisky landscape. As the sole distillery on an island with a population that barely cracks two hundred, it carries the weight of place in every bottle. The Murderers Series represents a more ambitious, limited side of the distillery's output — themed releases that push beyond the standard range into territory that rewards serious collectors and curious drinkers alike. At 17 years of age and nearly cask strength, the Second Murderer sits comfortably in that sweet spot where maturity meets muscle.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specifics where honesty serves better. What I can tell you is that a 17-year-old Jura at 48.5% signals a whisky with real backbone. The island character — that coastal minerality, the gentle maritime influence that defines Jura's house style — will be well established at this age. The higher bottling strength means you are getting the spirit closer to how the blenders experienced it from the cask, before dilution strips away the quieter notes. This is a whisky that invites you to take your time with it, to let it open up in the glass and reveal its layers at its own pace.
The Murderers Series has built a reputation for showcasing different cask influences across each expression, and at this age statement, you should expect a depth and complexity that the standard Jura range only hints at. Seventeen years is long enough for the wood to have done serious work without overwhelming the distillery's naturally approachable spirit.
The Verdict
At £123, the Second Murderer asks a fair price for what it delivers. You are paying for genuine age, a considered bottling strength, and the collectibility of a themed limited series that has earned its following. I have seen far younger, far less interesting whiskies command similar figures based on packaging alone. Here, the liquid justifies the ask.
I rate this 8.4 out of 10. It earns that score through honest maturity, a bottling strength that respects the drinker, and the simple fact that a well-aged Jura single malt is a genuinely enjoyable thing to drink. The theatrical branding is a bonus — what matters is that when you pour this whisky, it delivers substance behind the story. For collectors following the Murderers Series, this is an essential chapter. For everyone else, it is a compelling introduction to what Jura can achieve when given time and ambition.
Best Served
Pour it neat in a Glencairn and give it a full five minutes before your first sip. Once you have taken the measure of it at full strength, add no more than a few drops of cool water — at 48.5%, a small addition will open the whisky considerably without diminishing it. This is not a whisky for cocktails or heavy-handed mixing. It has earned the right to be taken on its own terms.
