A popular Scottish whisky festival is returning this month, and to mark the occasion, two distilleries are launching new Single Malt Scotch whiskies.
Fèis Ìle, also known as the Islay Festival, is a gathering of whisky fans on the Isle of Islay in the last week of May for a ten-day event that "defines the whisky calendar". The festival, which is "filled with great music and whisky", runs from May 26 to June 3.
Ahead of the launch, Islay distilleries Lagavulin and Caol Ila have announced exclusive whiskies that will be available to purchase from each distillery at the festival. The bottles were carefully selected by the respective distillery teams to reflect their histories and highlight their unique characters.
Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2023 13-Year-Old marks "a new dawn" for the distillery, with it hosting Fèis Ìle for the first time. The limited-edition bottling has been matured in Pedro Ximénez / Oloroso seasoned butts, imparting "delightful, sweet and fruit notes" that complement the peat and peppery spice typical of the Islay distillery.
A dash of water emphasises the "smooth sweetness", and brings in more saltiness and smokiness flavours. Sam Hale, Caol Ila Distillery Manager commented: "Fèis Ìle is always a remarkable time for us and we’re so excited to host it for the first time in our new visitor experience. This bottling is a special one for the team and we’re looking forward to raising a glass together with our fans."
Meanwhile, Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2023 14-Year-Old is a unique bottling, matured in a balanced combination of American and European Oak and, for the first time, finished in Armagnac casks. This "complex" bottling maintains Lagavulin’s iconic spirit character, whilst also offering a "fruitier twist that is balanced by its signature smoke".
A drop of water highlights the "thick, smooth spirited sweetness", counteracted by a peppery spice. Lagavulin Distillery Manager Jordan Paisley stated: "Lagavulin Fèis Ìle is always a celebration for us all on Islay and as we come together to share a dram this year’s release is no different.
"This combination of casks is a special nod to our team near and far as we continue to surprise our fans with unexpected flavours and twists on their favourite whisky."
Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2023 13-Year-Old is bottled at 60.4% ABV, with an RSP of £185, while Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2023 14-Year-Old is bottled at 58.4% ABV, with an RSP of £220. To mark this year’s festival special significance for the distillery, Caol Ila guests will also have the opportunity to purchase a unique and exclusive distillery manager’s bottling of the former.
More information can be found on the Fèis Ìle website.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.
