Jura Whisky Asks Amateur Photographers for Taste of Community Spirit

DALLAS, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Just as communities here in the U.S. come together for picnics and parades to celebrate the July 4 holidays, Jura single malt whisky has launched an online photography contest to find images from across the world that best embody the theme of 'community spirit.'

Entering the online contest, held in partnership with Olympus, is as simple as uploading a photo that represents the idea of community spirit into a e-postcard template on the Jura website, along with a brief 50-word description of how or why that photo captures the spirit of a community.

Three lucky grand prize winners – one from North America, one from the U.K. and a third from elsewhere in the world – will win an unforgettable VIP trip for two to the island of Jura, a tiny island off the dramatic west coast of Scotland where Jura whisky is made.

Each one of the three winners and their companion will enjoy a week's all-expenses-paid stay in the exclusive Jura Lodge and a VIP tour of the Jura distillery and island. To reward their photo prowess, the winners will also receive an Olympus PEN E-PL3 camera to create lasting memories while on their trip to Jura and beyond. And to ensure all their photos turn out at their best, the group will attend an exclusive photography workshop with award-winning photographer David Nightingale while on the island.

The competition closes on Friday, August 3. But there's a chance to win each week. Entrants are encouraged to share their photo e-postcard with family and friends and ask them to visit the site to vote it as their favorite. Each week, Jura will be awarding an Olympus VG-170 camera and a bottle of Jura 16-year-old whisky to the entrant whose photo receives the most public votes that week.

All details of the contest can be found at www.jurawhisky.com/communityspirit. Entrants must be of legal drinking age and must register on the Jura whisky website before entering the competition.

The Spirit of the Isle of Jura
The island of Jura is famed for its small, close-knit community of fewer than 200 people, and its inhabitants treasure the heritage of their island that is closely linked with the Jura whisky distillery. The walls of the Distillery Visitor Centre are adorned with photos of Diurachs (the Gaelic name for the people of Jura) past and present, who have all played their part in contributing to the island's famous community spirit.

For those who love the great outdoors, Jura is an idyllic place. Its three 'Paps' – or mountains –dominate the skyline, distinguishable from miles around and the focus for the tough Jura Fells Race, which takes place every May. For those who like to explore, whether by foot, bike or yacht, there is a wealth of historical sites and natural phenomena to discover, from stone circles and standing stones to ruined castles and Iron Age forts; from sandy beaches and secluded coves to stacks, pinnacles and caves, as well as raised beaches from the Ice Age. Golden eagles, sea eagles, otters, seals and, not forgetting the 5,000 red deer which inhabit the island, are all a common sight, and carry on about their business uninhibited by humans.

About Jura
The Isle of Jura lies off the west coast of Scotland, and remains one of nature's best kept secrets. Populated by a community of less than 200 people (and more than 5,000 deer!), it is a place of myth, legend and intrigue – and an award-winning range of single malt whiskies, which hold the promise of good fortune for all those that believe. There are four classic bottlings in the Jura Collection: Origin 10, Superstition, Diurach's Own and Prophecy. Many of the Jura whiskies have their own distinctive drinking rituals, but one cuts across the range. Islanders believe that it brings good fortune to knock on wood before they drink a dram.

Contact: Kari Streiber, +1-214-632-9360, [email protected]

SOURCE Jura