Feis Ile - A Celebration of Islay Whisky
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20 May 2025
The isle of Islay off Scotland’s west coast is arguably the most famous whisky producing island in the world, with ten working distilleries and a history of production going back to 1779. Well known for producing peated, smoky styles of whisky, it is home to several of Scotland’s iconic distilleries, including Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig and the recently re-opened Port Ellen. Every year in late May and early June, the Islay Festival (Feis Ile) takes place – a festival of music, whisky, friendship and charity, with the population of the island more than doubling as whisky enthusiasts from around the world gather to visit their favourite distilleries, make new friends and sample some of the superlative offerings produced on this iconic island. In the spirit of Feis Ile, please find below a selection of superb whiskies, our very own mini ode to Islay.whisky-producing
Ardbeg
Ardbeg 19-Year-Old 2003 Single Cask #9083 - GBP 800 IB per bottle - 7 bottles available
70cl @ 51% ABV
Cask #9083 was specially selected for its quintessential “Ardbeggian” characteristics – salty and smoky, with a hint of sweetness. The whisky was distilled on Wednesday 29th April 2003 under the auspices of legendary distillery manager Stuart Thomson. Laid to mature gently in a refill bourbon cask, it was sampled a few years later by Ardbeg’s Head of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden who, impressed by its character and potential, earmarked it for extended ageing. Bottled 19 years after production, it shows all the characteristics that make aged Ardbeg one of the best loved styles in the world – smoky, fruity, elegant and supremely complex Just 268 bottles were produced.
Fragrant and perfumed on the nose, with signature notes of pine resin and saddle soap, backed up by some salted peanuts, restrained smoke, sweet lime zest, with some coconut, baking spices and salted caramel. Fresh vanilla on the palate, with some white chocolate, bonfire smoke, butterscotch and fresh cream, before finishing with powerful smoke and bright citrus.
Ardbeg 28-Year-Old 1992 (The Hunter Laing Kinship Collection 2020) - GBP 830 IB per bottle - 4 bottles available
70cl @ 50.1% ABV
Ardbeg has one of the most storied histories on Islay, with several periods of closure interspersed with a few years of distillation before falling silent once again. This expression hails from a time when the distillery was largely closed, and operated part time by staff from nearby Laphroaig who felt they had an obligation to keep the Kidalton based distillery going. Just 251 bottles of this were produced by Hunter Laing to celebrate the "virtual" Feis Ile of 2020, and were favourably reviewed by prominent whisky taster Serge Valentin of whiskyfun.com
Olive brine and sea salt on the nose, with some engine oil, candle wax and subtle green stone fruit character. Notes of menthol and fresh lemon on the palate, supported by underlying tones of toffee, orange marmalade, bonfire embers and honey. Long and fruit driven on the finish, with some ripe tropical fruit and cigar ash.
Bowmore
Bowmore 12-Year-Old - GBP 29.50 DP ex VAT per bottle - 3 bottles available
70cl @ 40% ABV
Reflecting the essence of Bowmore Distillery, this is one of the archetypal Islay whiskies. Showcasing Bowmore’s delicate peat smoke and oily, coastal character, backed up by sweet vanilla oak from bourbon cask maturation, this is a wonderfully balanced and fruit forward dram.
Aromas of lemon and honey, with peat smoke, toffee and salted caramel can be found wafting from the glass, with Dark chocolate, baking spices, cigar ash and a touch of soft stone fruit following on then palate. A gentle, earthy peat on the finish with a touch of sea salt and toffee.
Bowmore 15-Year-Old - GBP 47 DP ex VAT per bottle - 2 bottles available
70cl @ 43% ABV
Not to be confused with the re-vamped 2024 edition, this 15-year old was first released in 2007, and boasts a higher ABV than its more contemporary counterpart. Matured initially in ex-bourbon barrels before a three year finishing period in Oloroso sherry casks, this for many was the "hidden gem" of the Bowmore range, offering exceptional whisky at a very keen price, and is now sadly discontinued.
Sweet dates and raisins on the nose, with some chocolate dusted cappuccino, sweet sherry and gentle maritime smokiness. Pine oil and tropical fruit syrup on the palate, with creamy toffee, malt extract and sweet peat smoke, giving way to a finish of rich sherry oak, baking spices and cigar ash.
Bowmore Dawn Port Cask - GBP 275 IB per bottle - 1 bottle available
70cl @ 51.5% ABV
A relatively early example of wine cask-finished Bowmore, Dawn was released in 2005, and comprised liquid that had undergone traditional bourbon cask maturation and was then finished in Ruby Port Pipes. Providing a wonderful colour and depth of flavour to the spirit without obscuring Bowmore's distinctive style, this was well received and snapped up upon release, but is now largely found in the auction room.
Strawberry jam and overripe raspberry on the nose, with some subtle peat smoke, pepper and violet liqueur. Bold port notes on the palate, with ripe red cherry fruit, milk chocolate, red plum, smoked meats and cinnamon, leading to a finish of liquorice, pepper and strawberry syrup.
Bowmore 10-Year-Old 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival - GBP 370 IB per bottle - 1 bottle available
70cl @ 40% ABV
A 10-year-old expression bottled to celebrate the Glasgow Garden Festival of 1988, it is estimated that this whisky was produced sometime in the mid to late 1970s. A 15-Year-Old expression was also bottled in a ceramic decanter to mark the occasion, but it is widely thought that this 10-year-old in classic glass bottles will have kept better.
Orange marmalade and delicate sherry character on the nose, with gentle peat smoke, sherbet lemon and salted caramel. Gentle florality on the palate, alongside some richer notes of roasted nuts, vanilla extract, barley malt and sea-spray, leading to a finish of soft orchard fruit and earthy peat.
Bowmore 27-Year-Old Timeless Series - GBP 1,050 DP ex VAT per bottle - 3 bottles available
70cl @ 52.7% ABV
This 27-year-old single malt was carefully matured in sherry and bourbon casks for 15 years. It was then carefully moved to first-fill oloroso butts where it remained for a further 12 years, only to be released once at its best, as part of Bowmore’s limited edition “Timeless” series.
Fruity cooked plums and prune jam on the nose, with Corinth raisins, sultana notes and a strong Oloroso influence. Toffee and maple syrup, liquorice, grilled orange peel and smoked seaweed on the palate, leading to a finish of dried fruits, fragrant wood and orange marmalade.
Bowmore 31-Year-Old 1990 Pedro Ximenez Mizunara Cask (East Asia Whisky Company) - GBP 3,000 IB per bottle – 3 bottles available
70cl @ 50.5% ABV
A unique offering from the East Asia Whisky Company, this expression of Bowmore was distilled in November 1990 and was matured for 29 years in a single hogshead. In what is believed to be the first of its kind, the whisky was then transferred to a Mizunara wood cask that had been seasoned for three years with Pedro Ximenez sherry at the world-renowned Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla in Jerez, one of the very best of all sherry producers. The wood was then dried for a further three years, and then moulded into a cask by one of Japan’s most sought-after coopers. The whisky was then matured in this unique cask for a further two years before bottling, which yielded 161 cask strength examples
Hugely complex on the nose, with notes of cedar wood, camphor, lavender and incense mixing with darker, more sherried tones of dried fruits, bitter chocolate and roasted nuts. Full bodied and yet elegant on the palate, with sweet peat smoke overlaying cinnamon and cocoa powder character, a touch of syrup-soaked tropical fruit and sweet spices. Long and fresh on the finish, with floral Mizunara character to the fore, alongside some classic Bowmore smoke.
Bowmore Bicentenary 1779-1979 - GBP 4,800 IB per bottle – 1 bottle available
75cl @ 43% ABV
Bowmore Bicentenary has gone down in legend amongst whisky enthusiasts and collectors as one of the most extraordinary expressions ever bottled. Two versions of the Bicentenary exist; one a single vintage 1964 bottled in 1979, the other a multi-vintage version comprised of various whiskies distilled between 1950 and 1966, also bottled to celebrate the distillery's 200th anniversary. This is the latter expression, and as Angus MacRaild of whiskyfun.com has noted, "all these 'Bicentenary' Bowmores ranged from excellent to sublime".
Ripe tropical fruit and jam on the nose, with some iodine, gentle peat smoke and mango juice, supported by some ripe barley sugar and juicy malt. Toasted bread and smoked meats on the nose, with some earthy peat, subtle baking spices, salted caramel, woodsmoke and a brine-like mineral note, leading to a finish of more exotic fruit, malted barley and sea salt.
Bunnahabhain
Bunnahabhain 18-Year-Old - GBP 100 IB per bottle - 10 bottles available
70cl @ 46.3% ABV
Always one of the more elusive expressions of the Bunnahabhain range due to a significant stock gap, the 18-Year-Old has become increasingly sought-after by whisky enthusiasts around the world, offering as it does wonderful complexity for a whisky of this age, and also one of the few 18-Year-Old expression that has seen full maturation in sherry casks.
Salted caramel and sticky toffee pudding on the nose, with nutmeg, leather and rich sherry. Roasted chestnuts and gentle wood spice on the palate, with some coastal saltiness , turmeric and dark chocolate, leading to a finish of vanilla fudge, cream and gentle pepper spice.
Bunnahabhain 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish - GBP 285 IB per bottle - 54 bottles available
70cl @ 52.3% ABV
Former Bunnahabhain Master Distiller Brendan McCarron long extolled the glories of Bunnahabhain distillate filled into sherry casks. However, when one thinks of sherry casks in terms of whisky maturation, it is often Oloroso or Pedro Ximenez that spring to mind. However, for this special 2023 Feis Ile release, the team at Bunnahabhain looked at a different style of sherry – nutty, coastal Manzanilla. Distilled on 28th October 1998 and filled initially into American oak casks, the liquid was then transferred into first-fill Manzanilla casks on 25th May 2016, where it remained until bottling in 2022. The result is a supremely complex, elegant and indulgent dram, one that is bound to delight Bunnahabhain lovers the world over.
Notes of freshly baked pastry and sweet almonds on the nose, with some rose petals, grapefruit, dried baking spices, mahogany furniture and a fragrant, incense-type note. Lots of coastal influence on the palate, with some seaweed, salted caramel, raisins, dates, creamy fudge, waxed red apples and star anise, ending with caramelised walnuts, lemon peel and sea salt.
Bunnahabhain 25-Year-Old - GBP 340 IB per bottle - 6 bottles available
70cl @ 46.3% ABV
Magnificently aged for a quarter of a century, this superb whisky demonstrates just how well Bunnahabhain matures in sherry casks; full of rich, complex fruit and yet wonderfully poised, this is perhaps the best value 25-Year-Old single malt whisky in the world, and one that has become something of an "insider" favourite for those in the whisky industry itself.
On the nose there are aromas of rich sherry, sweet caramel and polished leather. Sweet berries and cream on the palate that soon gives way to roasted malt and nuts, leading to a soft, dry delicate sweetness and lingering spiced oak on the finish.
Bunnahabhain 30-Year-Old - GBP 475 IB per bottle - 3 bottles available
70cl @ 46.3% ABV
The latest addition to the Bunnahabhain range, this fully Sherry cask-matured expression is a classic example of its type; distillate driven and with superb oak influence. Seemingly bigger and richer than its 25-Year-Old “sibling”, this expression is already something of a modern classic.
A nose of butterscotch, beeswax and sweet sherry, leading to a palate of strawberries and cream that gradually subside to allow honey, nuts, cereal and an abundance of rich toffee to shine through. Berries and ginger on the finish, with a lasting heat of spiced oak on the tongue and salted caramel.
Bunnahabhain 40-Year-Old - GBP 1,315 IB per bottle - 1 bottle available
70cl @ 41.9% ABV
Aged for 40 years in casks that were sourced from legendary wine and spirit merchant J.G Turney, this is a true demonstration of what it takes to make superlative whisky – quality spirit, quality casks, time and patience. A wonderfully old-fashioned whisky, Bunnahabhain 40-Year-Old is a must for any lover of complex, elegant and balanced whiskies.
Hints of tropical fruits on the nose, with some banana, berries, creamy toffee, vanilla, rich nuttiness and delicate sweet oak. Sweet malt on the palate, with creamy caramel, vanilla, creamy berries, with hints of toasted nuts, tropical fruit, banana and pineapple. Long, sweet and fruity on the finish, with barley sugar, rich sherry and treacle toffee.
Lagavulin
Lagavulin 8-Year-Old 200th Anniversary Edition (2016 Release) - GBP 163.02 IB per 6 bottle case - 1 case available
70cl @ 48% ABV
Lagavulin Distillery celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2016 with the release of this limited edition eight-year-old expression, inspired by a visit made to the distillery in the 1880s by Alfred Barnard, famed for his comprehensive work "The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom". During this visit, Barnard reportedly sampled "an exceptionally fine eight year old", and this 2016 bottling marked a rare sighting of "young" whisky from Lagavulin. So popular was this bottling that it was eventually made part of the "core range" of single malts produced by the distillery.
Cedar wood and burnt sugar on the nose, with some subtle lemon citrus, roasted nuts and salted popcorn. Bold barley sugar character on the palate, backed up by notes of marzipan, cumin, peat smoke and toasted almonds, leading to a finish of oyster shell, baked apples and smoky treacle toffee.
Laphroaig
Laphroaig 16-Year-Old - GBP 50 DP ex VAT per bottle - 1 bottle available
70cl @ 48% ABV
Originally released to celebrate the distillery’s 200th anniversary, the 16-year-old briefly made a comeback in limited quantities in 2021. Somewhat similar to the ever popular 10-year-old, the extra years spent aging in bourbon casks has given a wonderful softer texture and left notes of leather and vanilla to complement the smoky, rich flavours.
Sweet leather, oaky spices, vanilla and wood character on the nose with gorse flowers and heather fragrance, roasted chestnuts and maple syrup. On the palate, treacle and caramel, Manuka honey and thyme but also intense wood smoke, creosote, lots of floral notes of heather and bergamot, and a chili mouthfeel. Long lasting and smoky sweet on the finish, with a salted seaweed and medicinal character.
Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Original Cask Strength - GBP 1000 IB per bottle – 1 bottle available
100cl @ 57.3% ABV
The original versions of Laphroaig's 10-Year-Old bottled at cask strength have become "cult classics", offering as they did at the time a completely novel expression of Laphroaig, with more power and weight than the regular 10-year-old, and full of a fruit character that perhaps wasn't as prevalent in bottlings at lower strength. This bottling is one of the original batches, bottled at some point in the mid-1990s.
Ginger, peat smoke, iodine and ripe stone fruit on the nose, with some raisins and an engine oil type note. Bright lemon citrus and black pepper on the palate, backed by notes of tar, sweet smoke, olive brine and peach syrup, giving way to a finish of earthy peat, sea salt and lemon preserves.