Islay’s famous Fèis Ìle festival will return for a full week of music and whisky at the end of May.
And to celebrate this annual event, Islay distilleries Lagavulin and Caol Ila are set to launch festival exclusive single malt Scotch whiskies. Both expressions will be available to purchase from each distillery at their respective days during the festival.
A statement from Diageo and the Scotch whisky makers notes that each bottle was selected by the distillery teams to reflect the distilleries’ history and to highlight their unique characters.
Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2023 13-Year-Old will actually mark a new beginning of sorts, as the distillery hosts the festival for the first time from its new visitor experience.
The distiller noted that this limited-edition bottling matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso seasoned butts, imparting sweet and fruity notes that complement the peat and peppery spice that’s typical of the Islay distillery.
Sam Hale, Caol Ila’s distillery manager, said 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.”
The Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2023 13-Year-Old Whiskey clocks in at 60.4% ABV, and has a suggested retail price of £185.
Lagavulin’s Fèis Ìle 2023 14-Year-Old is a unique bottling in its own right, matured in a balanced combination of American and European oak and, the distiller noted, finished in Armagnac casks for the first time.
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The notes show this complex Scotch maintains Lagavulin’s character, while offering a fruitier twist, balanced by its signature smoke.
Jordan Paisley, Lagavulin’s distillery manager, said the festival is an Islay-wide celebration, and this combination of casks is a “special nod to our team near and far as we continue to surprise our fans with unexpected flavors and twists on their favorite whisky.”
The Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2023 14-Year-Old clocks in at 58.4% ABV, and has a suggested retail price of £220.
These Fèis Ìle 2023 bottles will be sold at their respective days during the festival on a first come, first serve basis, the distillers noted. That means Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2023 from May 27th and Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2023 from May 29th. After that, the bottlings will be sold at their individual distilleries.
The Fèis Ìle festival kicks off on May 27th on the Isle of Islay, starting that day at Lagavulin Distillery with a mix of music and whisky tastings filled with the flavors of Islay. On May 29th, Caol Ila will open its doors to the new visitor experience with a celebration of live music alongside experiences showcasing the world of whisky.
And across both sites and dates, Diageo Brand Ambassadors will also host a suite of tastings.
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