Updated May 30h (Kilchoman)
Feis Ile 2019 may look far away now, but planning is in full swing. This is a rolling post that will try and follow the festival news, and most important : the distilleries and IB’s special festival bottlings you’re all so keen on 😉
currently the festival itinerary is as follows:
Distillery program 2019
Please note that the detailed programmes will follow.
Islay House – Friday 24th May
Port Ellen Maltings – Friday 24th May
Lagavulin – Saturday 25th May
Lagavulin 19 feis edition
The Lagavulin bottling has been matured in Refill Oak Casks and then sherry-treated freshly-charred American Oak Hogsheads before a final maturation in old European Oak puncheons. Hand-picked by Lagavulin’s esteemed distillery team the limited edition run of 6,000 bottles will be released with an ABV of 53.8%, and an RSP of £150. Available to purchase at Lagavulin distillery only.
Bruichladdich – Sunday 26th May
Bruichladdich have announced their Feis bottling, which will be a 12 year old Octomore named ‘Even Horizon’.
this is the OLDEST octomore released to date.
the whisky is made of ex-Oloroso and ex-PX sherry casks… {Fully matured in Fernando de Castilla Oloroso and PX sherry casks.}
and will retail at 175 GBP.
only 2,000 bottles will be available for purchase at the Laddie Shop.
Caol Ila – Monday 27th May
The Caol Ila festival bottling is an ode to the Feis Ile, with a limited edition run of 3,000 bottles at natural cask strength. Matured in sherry-treated freshly-charred American oak hogshead the whisky’s ABV sits at 58.4%, with an RSP of £130.
Available exclusively to purchase at Caol Ila distillery.
Islay Ales – Monday 27th May
Laphroaig – Tuesday 28th May
This year’s Cairdeas seems to be a return to the triple wood regime, and is named the same. having been aged in a trio of casks: Ex-Bourbon, Quarter casks, and Oloroso Sherry Butts. Bottle states 48% but most likely the exact strength will be different.
Ardnahoe – Wednesday 29th May
Bowmore – Wednesday 29th May
we have two bottlings this year as follows:
- Bowmore Fèis Ìle 2019 {15 Year Old, £85, 3,000 bottles}
- Bowmore Vintage Fèis Ìle Edition 2019 (23 Year Old, £325, 325 bottles – available only for the gold card holders – prepare to see many on auction next month…
Kilchoman – Thursday 30th May
This year our Feis bottling is an 11 year old bottling of one bourbon barrel and one Oloroso sherry butt, it has been bottled at cask strength of 54.4%
939 bottles will be available at the distillery.
Price – TBD
Bunnahabhain – Friday 31st May
Bunna will be selling 3 special bottlings
- Bunnahabhain 1988 Champagne Finish (45%, 120 bottles), £450
- this year’s 2nd release is a 2008 Mòine French Oak Finish and will be available at the distillery shop (1872 bottles)
- The third and last bottling is a 2001 sauternes cask finish (1,888) bottles at 54.2% abv
Jura – Friday 31st May
Ardbeg – Saturday 1st June
Ardbeg is releasing ‘Drum’ which will be bottled at 46% abv (or 52% for committee members), aged in ex-Rum Casks..