Feis Ile – The Annual Whisky Theme Park at Islay

For Scottish whisky afficionados, a visit to Islay off the west coast of Scotland is a must-do, particularly the Feis Ile whisky music and malt festival every May.

You can choose a scenic drive of 3 hours from Glasgow or 4 hours from Edinburgh, with a 2 hour car ferry ride to Islay. Or, just a quick plane ride from Glasgow airport.

During this week, the usual number of 3000 or so Ileach (Islay inhabitants) more than triple in number. Forward planning up to a year ahead is a must in order to secure accomodation, unless you are prepared to camp on the beach and brave the Scottish elements!

There are 8 distilleries on Islay – (soon to be 9 this year with the opening of Ardnahoe!) Each has an open day with special tasting events, music and dancing.

Distillery open days start with Lagavulin on Saturday, Bruichladdich on Sunday, Caol Ila on Monday, Laphroaig on Tuesday, Bowmore on Wednesday, Kilchoman on Thursday, Bunnahabhain on Friday and finally Ardbeg on the second Saturday.

There are also other whisky-related events all over the island during the week, so meticulous forward-planning is essential to make the most of your trip.

Amass the information on the distilleries beforehand as you will need to start booking for events 1-2 months before the festival.

One of the biggest attractions in Feis Ile is the sale of special edition bottlings of whisky not available elsewhere. The only problem is how to decide which distillery bottlings to queue for as they can sell out quickly in a morning!

Laphroaig Tasting Tickets

On top of buying whiskys, warehouse experience and masterclasses hosted by chief distillers are not to be missed – invariably there will be special cask tastings that are not usually available for sale.

Bowmore Warehouse Tasting – 1968 cask sample with floral and tropical notes!

Some distillaries like Caol Ila offer boat trips around the island. Or, how about a ‘Water to Whisky Experience’ with Laphroaig where you can have a go at cutting peat, picnic at the whisky water source and finally draw your own bottle from a cask!

Peat Fields

Pot Stills

Collecting my own cask-strength bottling

Queues for Feis bottling

We were fortunate to attend Jim McEwan’s final masterclass at Bruichladdich. The atmosphere was electric, with memorable drams and stories!

Masterclass for 200 peoples

Music and food with more drams at Bruichladdich

1. 1984 Bruichladdich Bourbon Cask 51.5%
30 year old unpeated style with classic vanilla, crème brulee and spice from American Oak on the nose. On the palate rich honey and lemon and tangerine notes mingle with sweet spices with a warm, smooth long finish.

2. 1992 Bruichladdich La Fleur Cask 52.6%
18 year old from bourbon cask with finishing in Chateau La Fleur Pomerol cask from 2008. This was created in Lady Diana’s honour! Golden marmalade colour, with notes of apricot and peach followed by hints of red fruits. Elegant and long finish.

3. 2002 Port Charlotte Y’Quem Cask 60.8%
Marine notes reminiscent of Islay, with typical Port Charlotte peatiness, but also sweetness and spice.

4. 2004 Port Charlotte Callejo Cask 61.3%
Another peaty whisky that started off in bourbon cask for 6 years before finishing in a Ribera del Duero red wine cask for 4 years.

5. 2008 Octomore Virgin Oak 64.4%
From the first barley harvest by farmer James Brown on Islay, matured in Oak cask made in France. Golden chestnut colour, opens with fruity and anise notes, incredible smokiness balanced by sweet spice with a long long finish.

6. 1998 Bruichladdich Rum Cask 53.6%
Distilled by a team from Jura whilst Bruichladdich was closed, (just to check the machinery!). Matured in oburbon then ifnished in a rum cask from 2006.

Article by: Yvonne OU, DipWSET

Photos by: Thomas HO