Two of Islay’s single malt distilleries, Lagavulin and Caol Ila, are launching three limited-edition bottlings to celebrate Fèis Ìle 2024.
The annual Islay whisky festival takes place this year from Friday 24 May to Saturday 1 June. It will welcome visitors from around the world for nine days of distillery open days, ceilidhs, nosings, folk nights and a host of other musical and cultural events.
Lagavulin will unveil two bottlings to celebrate Fèis Ìle – the Lagavulin Skies of Fèis Ìle 29-Year-Old and the Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2024 10-Year-Old – whilst Caol Ila launches its Fèis Ìle 2024 13-Year-Old.
Lagavulin Skies of Fèis Ìle 29-Year-Old is inspired by the aurora borealis and has been finished in a heavily charred Amoroso-seasoned American oak hogshead cask. Only a limited number of bottles will be available at Fèis Ìle and each one will be personally hand filled and signed by distillery manager Jordan Paisley.
The distillery is also releasing the Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2024 10-Year-Old, an extra-heavily-peated malt matured in refill, heavily charred and first-fill ex-bourbon American oak hogshead casks.
In a twist on the signature bonfire peat from Caol Ila, the Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2024 13-Year-Old stands out due to its finish in ex-Ruby Port French oak casks sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal. The flavours are enhanced by an interplay of dried fruit sweetness and smoky undertones that is slowly replaced by saltier smoky notes.
Fèis Ìle 2024 bottles will be sold during the festival on a first-come, first-served basis: Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2024 and Lagavulin Skies of Fèis Ìle from 25 May and Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2024 from 27 May. Thereafter, the bottlings will be sold at their respective distilleries.
