We’re rapidly approaching that time of year when whisky fans from across the world descend on a tiny island on Scotland’s west coast to enjoy and celebrate that island’s spirit.
Feis Ile is always one of the most anticipated events in the whisky calendar, and one of the many reasons for this popularity is the special, limited edition whiskies the distilleries bottle for the event. Drinkers and collectors go daft for Islay malts at any time of the year, but the annual Feis releases often rank among the favourites.
Below we’ll whet your appetite and give a brief overview of the whiskies we can to expect to see at this year’s Feis Ile.
Quick note: we discussed some of the Feis releases from Ardbeg and Bunnahabhain in a previous blog entry. To avoid repetition, please check out our other article for more information on this releases.
ARDBEG
Ardbeg have already launched this year's primary Feis Ile release - the Ardbeg Spectacular. The first ever port cask finish from the distillery promises notes of candied fruit and Ardbeg’s trademark peat smoke.
The iconic distillery have also launched a limited, 2009 single cask release to celebrate this year’s Ardbeg Day. This whisky was drawn from a Moscatel wine cask, a lesser used variety of maturation used by the distillery. Bottled in February 2024 at 56.1% ABV, expect aromas of butterscotch and fruits to balance notes of aniseed and smoked Earl grey tea.
ARDNAHOE
Hot off the heels of launching their inaugural whisky, Ardnahoe distillery will be looking forward to celebrate their first Feis Ile with their single malt available to sample.
The distillery have confirmed that there will be a special release exclusively available to attendees on the distillery day (Wednesday 29th May), but so far no further information has been revealed.
BOWMORE
Fans of Bowmore will be treated to a limited edition 19 year old expression. This single malt has been ‘double matured’ in virgin American oak barrels that will bring forth sweet and creamy, slightly caramelised notes before Bowmore’s distinctive smokey character comes through on the finish.
Other information regarding this release is currently under wraps, but we do know that this expression will be bottled at 54.8% ABV and is limited to 3,500 bottles.
BRUICHLADDICH
Bruichladdich’s 2024 offering is the third instalment of the popular Rock’ndaal series. The maverick distillery are known for pushing boundaries with their whisky and these bottles are no exception.
Rock’ndaal 03.1 is a 10 year old Bruichladdich bottled at 50% ABV that has been finished in truly unique casks. After four years maturation in fresh bourbon barrels, the spirit was then emptied into antique, 500 litre casks from Fernando de Castilla that had been used to age both sherry and brandy.
Their second bottle is the oldest Port Charlotte to have ever been releases. Rock’ndaal 03.2 is a 20 year old Port Charlotte that has been matured in bourbon and sauternes casks. Bottled at 54%, we can expect notes of sweet peach and creme brûlée balanced by Port Charlotte’s signature smoke.
Labels for both bottles were designed by Dan Roy, who took inspiration from cymatics (the science of visualising audio frequencies), which in turn ties the bottles back Bruichladdich’s music festival celebrations during Feis.
Bruichladdich are accepting pre-orders for both expressions.
BUNNAHABAHAIN
Some say the best things in life some in threes. Bunnahabhain must buy into that philosophy having released a trio of whiskies for 2024: 14 year old Ruby Port; 19 year old Moine Madeira Cask; and 23 year old Triple Sherry Wood.
All are available online now, with the Moine expression available exclusively through the distillery.
CAOL ILA
Diageo’s Caol Ila are showcasing a uniquely fruit-forward whisky this year: a 13 year old finished in Ruby Port French oak casks.
The casks were sourced from the legendary Duoro Valley in Portugal, adding rich, fruity notes to Caol Ila’s signature maritime, smoky character. This is the first Caol Ila Feis release under distillery manager Eva Cumming, who said “I wanted to celebrate this year’s Fèis Ìle with a truly exceptional bottling…I’m looking forward to raising a glass with all of our fans!”
This whisky will be available at the distillery from 27th May, before going on general sale from June 10th.
JURA
A short skip over to Jura to discuss their contribution to this year’s festival.
The neighbouring island always get involved with the Feis fun and, like their Islay brethren, the Jura distillery will be opening their doors with a range of events on Friday 31st May.
In terms of whisky, Jura are another distillery keeping the specifics close to their chest. However, a guy who knows a guy has said it’s rumoured to be a 15 year old bourbon cask release. Watch this space…
KILCHOMAN
Whisky drinkers exhausted by Islay’s peat-driven wares will find some relief in Kilchoman’s Feis release.
Their 2024 bottle is a vatting of spirit distilled in 2011 that has then matured two bourbon barrels. Uncharacteristically for the distillery, however, this whisky was made using unpeated malt. This allows other non-smokey elements of the distillery’s spirit to shine through, notably fresh citrus and buttery sweetness.
Bottled at 53%, this release is limited to 480 bottles and will be available exclusively at the distillery on Thursday 30th May.
LAGAVULIN
Lagavulin have a duo of eye-catching releases for this year’s festival.
Anyone who misses the smoke from Kilchoman’s unpeated offering won’t be disappointed with Lagavulin’s 10 year old expression. This whisky is crafted using an experimental batch of malt with higher levels of peat than normally used by the distillery. This spirit was then matured in a variety of different American oak casks for a particularly powerful Lagavulin.
Slightly more subdued will be their ‘Skies of Feis Ile’ expression. A 29 year old that has been matured in ex-bodega European oak and heavily charred Amoroso-seasoned American oak hogshead casks, this release has been described by Charlie McLean as “as good as it gets”. High praise indeed!
Those purchasing a bottle will also have the opportunity to join distillery manager Jordan Paisley for a special event at the distillery on 25th May. Attendees will get the chance to enjoy a dram of the release with Jordan and the other guests at the luxurious Mackie Lounge.
LAPHROAIG
Laphroaig will continue their Cairdeas series with another entry for this year’s Feis Ile.
The 2024 edition is said to be a celebration of 30 years of Friends of Laphroaig and will take inspiration from some of the best-loved previous releases. While no official announcement has been made, this whisky is expected to be 10 years old and titled ‘Cask Favourites’.
Notably this will be final Cairdeas to be released under departing distillery manager Barry MacAffer. The long running and well received series has been a favourite among fans since 2008, so we’re sure this won’t mark the end of the range.
Laphroaig are now accepting pre-orders for this release, with the official launch on Saturday 25th May.
INDIE BOTTLERS
Morrison Distiller’s Mac-Talla brand have already released a special rum cask finish expression for 2024. A 2009 vintage single malt from an undisclosed Islay distillery, this whisky spent its final five years of maturation in rum casks from the Cruzan distillery. Bottled at cask strength (53.7%) with notes of grilled pineapples and bonfire embers.
Elements of Islay have produced another special blend for Feis. Fireside is a blend of whiskies from two of Islay’s northern distilleries that have been matured in three different casks - heavily re-charred Spanish wine, American oak ex-Oloroso, and European oak Pedro Ximinez casks. The blend will be launched during Feis before a general release after the festival.
Douglas Laing’s resident Ileach Big Peat shows off his latest expression for Feis Ile: The Thropaigeach Edition. Thropaigeach is Scots Gaelic for ‘tropical’, which is fitting for a blend that has been finished in Caribbean rum casks. Expect the usual hearty smokiness tempered by flambéed banana and allspice sweetness.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society are always active with releases during the summer festival season. This years releases for the Islay festival include a 10 year old from Distillery 10 and an impressive 25 year old from Distillery 29.
