Welcome to the 2024 edition of the Feis Ile bottles guide!

And what do you know? This year we’re celebrating the 10th edition of this guide – a full decade of very informative guide!

As usual it’s recommended to bookmark this post as this page will detail all the available information on the festival bottles and will be update each time more details will be revealed.

 

 

Updates:

29/05/2024 – Added Bowmore Feis Ile 2024 Open Day Single Cask bottle
26/05/2024 – Added Jura Feis Ile 2024 bottle
25/05/2024 – Added Ardnahoe Feis Ile 2024 bottle
23/05/2024 – Added Finlaggan and Islay Mist Feis Ile 2024 bottles
22/05/2024 – Added Elixir Elements of Islay Feis Ile 2024 bottle
14/05/2024 – Added The Single Cask Friends of Feis 2024 bottle
14/05/2024 – Added Lagavulin and Caol Ila Feis bottles
09/05/2024 – Added Bruicladdich ROCK‘NDAAL Feis bottles
07/05/2024 – Added Dramfool Feis bottle and a few more SMWS festivals bottles
06/05/2024 – Added Big Peat Feis bottle
29/04/2024 – Added Bowmore festival bottle, more details on Mac-Talla bottle
25/04/2024 – Updated all Bunnahabhain festival bottles, Added Kilchoman Feis bottle details
21/04/2024 – Some details on Mac-Talla Feis bottle and first SMWS festivals season bottle
12/03/2024 – Initial update with Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Bunnahabhain festival bottles

Let’s get to the list of Feis Ile 2024 bottlings and the available information, all sorted by Festival dates:

Lagavulin – Open day on Saturday 25th May 2024

• Lagavulin 10 Year Old Fèis Ìle 2024 (56.7%, £175, 1800 bottles)

Has a higher peat level than the distillery’s usual offering and has been matured in refill, heavily charred and first fill ex-Bourbon American oak hogshead casks.

 

 

 

 

• Lagavulin Skies of Fèis Ìle (£2,500, 250 bottles)

first filled in ex-bodega Sherry in May 1995, and matured for around two decades before being filled in a heavily charred barrel of American oak treated with Amoroso for the final eight years of maturation.

Bruichladdich – Open day on Sunday 26th May 2024

• Bruichladdich ROCK’NDAAL 03.1 10 Year Old (50%, £100, 3000 bottles)

The spirit began its maturation life in bourbon casks. From 2017-2023, the spirit was recasked into a specific combination of Sauternes casks (12.5%), Austrian dessert wine casks (12.5%) and ex-brandy casks from Fernando de Castilla, Spain, which previously held Pedro Ximénez  Sherry (75%). The spirit was then married in ex-bourbon casks before bottling.

 

 

• Port Charlotte ROCK’NDAAL 03.2 20 Year Old (54%, £225, 1500 bottles)

Matured in a combination of bourbon casks (70%) and first fill Sauternes casks (30%).

 

 

 

• Bruichladdich ROCK’NDAAL Valinch 

Caol Ila – Open day on Monday 27th May 2024

• Caol Ila 13 Year Old Fèis Ìle 2024 (54.5%, £185, 1404 bottles)

Finished for 3 months in ex-ruby Port French oak casks, sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laphroaig – Open day on Tuesday 28th May 2024

• Laphroaig Cairdeas 2024 10 Year Old Casks Favorites (52.4%)

The Laphroaig Cairdeas 2024 is an ode to two well-loved releases of previous Cairdeas releases: Triple Wood and PX.

This 10 Year Old is aged in ex-bourbon and quarter casks before being finished in PX casks.

 

 

 

• Laphroaig 13 Year Old Amontillado (£300) 
• Laphroaig 23 Year Old (£700)

Port Ellen – Open day on Tuesday 28th May 2024

Bowmore – Open day on Wednesday 29th May 2024

• Bowmore 19 Year Old Feis Ile 2024 (54.8%, £200, 3500 bottles)

A 19-year-old single malt specially selected for Feis Ile 2024. Double matured in Virgin American Oak Barrels, an array of sweet and creamy notes give way to a caramelised taste and a distinctive smoky finish.

 

 

• Bowmore 2016 7 Year Old – THE ART OF MALTING EXPERIENCE​ Handfill (58.2%)

This experience costs £200. This whisky is 100% Bowmore floor malted in Ex-Bourbon cask #3683 Distilled 27.05.2016 bottled 13.05.2024

 

 

 

 

• Bowmore 2003 Cask #3 Mizunara Cask Finish (55.3%, £330)

Distilled 15/10/2003, Bottled 14/05/2024

Ardnahoe – Open day on Wednesday 29th May 2024

• Ardnahoe 5 Year Old Feis Ile 2024 (59.3%. £85, 931 bottles)

Ardnahoe are releasing their first official bottling on 10th May 2024 so good chances it will be a focal point for the distillery on the festival, but there will also be a festival bottling.

Matured in 1st fill and refill bourbon casks and is available at the distillery from Wednesday 29th May at 12pm.

 

• Kinship Series Feis 2024

Kilchoman – Open day on Thursday 30th May 2024

• Kilchoman 100% Islay Casks Feis Ile 2024 (53%, £110, ~480 bottles)

This time we have something unique: 12 Year old unpeated Kilchoman in bourbon casks:

The Fèis Ìle 2024 release is a vatting of two fresh bourbon barrels, distilled in 2011. This single farm single malt was produced from barley grown and malted at Kilchoman, before being dried in our kiln. Significantly, this batch of malt was not dried with peat, and the Fèis Ìle 2024 release is one of the few from Kilchoman to be unpeated

Bunnahabhain – Open day on Friday 31st May 2024

• Bunnahabhain Fèis Ìle 2024: 14 Year Old Ruby Port Finish (58.7%, £120/€128)

This whisky has started its life in bourbon casks in 26/05/2009 and was transferred to Ruby Port Hogsheads on 17/11/2000 and bottled in 2024 (so finished for 3 years)

Like last year, this release has no bottles count information so we can assume this bottling will be made available globally beyond Bunnahabhain shop and distillery shop. And in fact, it’s already in some shops as of 12/3/24

 

• Fèis Ìle 2024: 19 Year Old Mòine Madeira Cask Finish (51.2%, £199)

 12 year maturation in Bourbon casks followed by a 7 year finish in Madeira hogshead

 

 

 

• Bunnahabhain 23 Year Old Triple Sherry Wood Finish (53.3%, £400/€440, 4002 bottles)

The spirit was distilled in 1999 and then transferred to a trio of sherry casks: Amontillado casks on 04/11/2009, Oloroso casks on 20/06/2011 and Manzanilla casks on 12/09/2016. Finally bottled in 2023. Expertly blended by Master Blender Julieann Fernandez. The result is a burst of sherry with notes of creamy fudge, vanilla and a hint of tobacco.

• Bunnahabhain Day 2024 27 Moscatel Finish Single Cask (46.6%, £695, 264 bottles)

Available by booking and collecting it in the distillery during Bunnahabhain day in the festival.

Each bottle includes a complimentary 3cl tasting sample

 

 

 

 

 

• Bunnahabhain Staoisha Feis Ile 2024 BYO (500ml)

There will be a Staoisha cask to bottle from on Bunnahabhain Day. Registration for the filling via this link

Tasting Notes:

• • Colour: Golden Amber
  • Nose: An initial burst of ripe tropical fruits and toasted vanilla pods fade to reveal an intense bonfire smoke and sweet oak.
  • Palate: The highly peated malt takes lead on the palate, with deep smoky notes of charred embers and a hint of earthy, dew-covered grass. The smoke is beautifully intertwined with crisp green apples, leather, burnt spun sugar and vanilla ice cream.
  • Finish: Rich woody spice lingers with a gentle touch of creamy oak.

Jura – Open day on Friday 31st May 2024

• Jura 15 Year Old Fèis Ìle Edition 2024 (55.5%, less than 200 bottles)

Matured in first fill bourbon cask #1605, distilled 23.10.2008 and bottled 15.04.24

Tasting Notes for Jura Limited Edition Fèis Ìle 2024

• • Nose: Fruity, mineral, and oily, with notes of citrus peels, peach, and toasted cereal.
  • Palate: True to the nose, featuring peach crumble, vanilla pod, and preserved lemon.
  • Finish: Subtle mineral notes along with gorse flower, spearmint, and Williams pear.

Ardbeg – Open day on Saturday 1st June 2024

• Ardbeg Spectacular (46%, £110)

Introducing Ardbeg Spectacular! – a Distillery first! A rare spirit matured in the finest port wine casks and classic ex-bourbon, this whisky binds together smoky peat with devilish sweet. Brave a sip and experience the flabbergasting flavors in this inimitable Ardbeg.

Matured in highly sought-after port wine casks and classic ex-bourbon barrels, Ardbeg Spectacular is a whisky with a BIG mouthfeel. Step into a world of bizarre and complex flavors and delight in a peaty performance on the palate.

In Ardbeg Spectacular, smoky pear crumble and cooling menthol twist into notes of incense candles, performed lavender and antique leather. A curiosity sure to shock the world of distilling, this dram reveals itself for one day only – Ardbeg Day

 

 

 

 

• Ardbeg 2009 14 Year Old Single Cask (59%, £550, 633 bottles)

Cask #377, 2nd fill PX Sherry Butt, distilled 02/07/2009 and bottled 18/10/2023

SMWS (Scotch Malt Whisky Society)

• Like last year there are no official Feis Ile releases, but they do celebrate the festivals season with a few dedicated bottles for all the spring festivals:

Highland Festival:

• Deeeep – 11 Year Old Highland Park (Distillery 4) in celebration of Festival Season in the Highlands 2024 (54.7%, ) – First-fill Spanish oak Oloroso hogshead
• Take me to the chippy – 20 Year Old Highland Park (Distillery 4) in Celebration of Festival Season in the Highlands 2024 (54.7%, £195, 924 bottles) – Bourbon HTMC & Ex-Islay Oloroso Refill HHD
• Furtive gherkin – 8 Year Old Ardnamurchan (Distillery 149) in Celebration of Festival Season in the Highlands 2024 (62.4%, £80, 1764 bottles) – 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels (Distilled 11.09.2015)
• Rhubarb and fig crumble – 8 Year Old Royal Brackla (Distillery 55) in Celebration of Festival Season in the Highlands 2024 (58.2%, £60, 1405 bottles) – Bourbon & HTMC Chinkapin (Distilled 16.04.2015)

Speyside:

• Heritage Pudding Follow Breakfast – 10 Year Old Benriach (Distillery 12) in Celebration of Spirit of Speyside Festival 2024 (58.4%, £65, 1208 bottles) – 2nd fill & new oak bourbon & htmc barrels (Distilled 13.08.2013)
• Freeform Jazz – 15 Year Old Glen Elgin (Distillery 85) in Celebration of Spirit of Speyside Festival 2024 (57.5%, £90/$180, 853 bottles) – refill & 1st fill bourbon & spanish oak oloroso hogsheads (Distilled 13.12.2007)
• Tawny Garibaldi – 14 Year Old Balmenach (Distillery 48) in Celebration of Spirit of Speyside Festival 2024 (49.8%, £85, 881 bottles) – refill & 1st fill bourbon & american oak PX hogsheads (Distilled 11.12.2008)
• Cross-Atlantic Destinations – 15 Year Old Linkwood (Distillery 39) in Celebration of Spirit of Speyside Festival 2024 (58.4%, £90/$180, 1460 bottles) – refill & 1st fill bourbon, oloroso & PX hogsheads (Distilled 05.06.2008)
• The Writing Bureau – 30 Year Old Blend (53.1%, £175/$350, 736 bottles) – 2nd fill bourbon barrels
• Proper Good Nosh – 10 Year Old Benriach (Distillery 12) in Celebration of Spirit of Speyside Festival 2024 (58.4%, $130) – Seoccnd-fill barrels & New oak barrels HTMC
• Foraging In The Flavor Forest – 14 Year Old Balmenach (Distillery 48) in Celebration of Spirit of Speyside Festival 2024 (49.8%, $165) – Refill hogsheads & First-fill American oak Pedro Ximenez hogsheads
• Meaty Mirepoix – 15 Year Old Benrinnes (Distillery 36) in Celebration of Spirit of Speyside Festival 2024 (57.9%, $190) – First-fill ex-bodega Pedro Ximenez barrique (USA Exclusive)

Campbeltown:

• Viking toothpaste – 9 Year Old Glen Scotia (Distillery 93) in Celebration of Campbeltown Malts Festival 2024 (60%, £65, 869 bottles) – 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Lowlands:

• Philosophers’ stone – 20 Year Old Auchentoshan (Distillery 5) in Celebration of Lowland Spirit 2024 (54%, £137, 427 bottles) – 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Islay releases:

• Smuggler’s Bacon/Smuggler’s Spoils – 10 Year Old Bunnahabhain (Distillery 10) in celebration of Islay Whisky Festival 2024 (58.4%, £85) – Refill & 2nd Fill HHD, Bourbon & PX
• Sm’oak! – 25 Year Old Laphroaig (Distillery 29) in celebration of Islay Whisky Festival 2024 (56.3%, £550, 513 bottles) – Bourbon & STR Oloroso. (Distilled 29.04.1998)

Dramfool

• Dramfool’s GOLD Bruichladdich 32 (49.6%, £630, 174 bottles)

Bourbon barrel #001130, filled 20 March 1992.

Should also arrive to some USA shops such as K&L in California (listed price $999.99)

Douglas Laing

• Big Peat The Tropaigeach Edition Feis Ile 2024 (48%, £64.95)

Just like with Mac-Talla, Douglas Laings’ Feis Ile 2024 offering is a rum finished one.

Mac-Talla

• Mac–Talla ‘Friends of Fèis‘ 2024 Vintage 2009 Rum Cask (53.7%, £98, 580 bottles)

initially developing in hogsheads for a period of 10 years and then over 5 years in rum casks from Cruzan Rum Distillery.

Notice that this time the Feis bottle will not be available through shops outside UK. If you want a bottle, grab it from one of the UK online shops that ships internationally.

Elixir

• Elements of Islay Fireside (54.5%,  £84.95, 264 bottles on Islay)

Fireside combines whiskies from two distilleries on the island’s north coast – Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain – and was matured in heavily recharred barrels, American oak oloroso Sherry hogsheads and European oak oloroso Sherry butts.

Will be available at the Islay Whisky Shop and a global release will follow in early June.

 

The Single Cask

• Friends of the Fèis Bruichladdich 12 Year Old (60.4%, £182.5, 226 bottles)

Fresh bourbon cask R11/281-46, distilled: 2 November 2011.

Nose: The nose carried an exuberant burst of sweet beach bonfire smoke that wafted around rockpools and lobster pots. Then fruity aromas teased the senses with barbecued pineapple, salted lemon and charred apple. A buoyant maritime influence continued as smoked crab and oily fish embraced the iodine of fresh seaweed.

Palate: The palate too was a vivacious combination of salt and sweetness. Juicy pineapple became wrapped in salted caramel, before the raciness of gooseberry tart merged with citrus juice squeezed over smoked fish.

 

 

 

Finlaggan

• Finlaggan Tempranillo Small Batch Friends of the Fèis 2024 (50%, 900 bottles)

This delectable dram has a bold nose of garden bonfires and caramelised fruits. The palate displays sweet peat, sea salt, roasted spices and smoked blackberries. A wonderfully long finish with oily smoke and sweetness, this is a true taste of Islay.

Islay Mist

• Islay Mist 17 Year Old Feis Ile 2024 (40%, £55, 75 bottles)

Basically same old Islay Mist 17 that is sold for £53 but with Feis Ile label