Fèis Ìle, also known as the Islay Festival of Music and Malt, is an annual celebration held on the Scottish island of Islay. This festival is a blend of traditional Scottish music, culture, and, most notably, Islay whisky. Each year, whisky enthusiasts from around the world gather to participate in a week-long event that features distillery open days, exclusive tastings, masterclasses, and lively ceilidhs (traditional Scottish social gatherings). Fèis Ìle offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich heritage of Islay, meet the people behind the iconic whiskies, and enjoy the warm hospitality of the local community.
A few months ago, I was due to participate in an online tasting hosted by The Attic Islay, a band of three friends. We have (in the order they give on their social media) Colin Stroud, from Attic Cabs, an Islay taxi company. Next we have David Brodie, the famous tour guide from Bunnahabhain, known for his view from the verandah and his helloooooo videos when walking his dogs on Islay. And last but not least, Katie Cairns, the Visitor Centre coordinator at Bunnahabhain. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend that online tasting but I thought the five Fèis Ìle whiskies they sent (also with the Ardnahoe Inaugural Release we already reviewed) would make a nice post, so here we are with five Fèis Ìle whiskies!
Bruichladdich 2013 Rock’ndaal 03.1 (Fèis Ìle 2024) Review
We begin with the Bruichladdich 2013 Rock’ndaal 03.1, especially bottled for Fèis Ìle 2024. This release was aged for 10 years in a blend of Bourbon, Sauternes, Brandy, and Pedro-Ximenez casks, then reduced to 50% ABV. The release consisted of 3000 bottles, which can still be found in the UK for approximately £168 and possibly in Austria for around €179.
Colour:
Deep gold.
Nose:
Neat: The nose begins with tea leaves and ripe mango, accompanied by coastal scents of sea breeze and oyster brine. This is followed by notes of custard, lemon peel, hints of grapefruit, and green apples.
With water: The nose shifts to reveal salt and chalk, with subtle hints of glue, dried apricots, and leather.
Palate:
Neat: The initial taste is fizzy and citrusy, transitioning to a more herbal and bitter profile, reminiscent of over-infused tea and dried herbs. The mouthfeel is medium thick and oily, providing a pleasant texture. Flavours of pink grapefruit emerge, followed by salt, pencil shavings, flint, and a touch of balsamic.
With water: The palate starts sweeter, then returns to a fizzy blend of lemon and orange, akin to a mix between homemade lemonade and Orangina with a few undissolved sugar cubes. Hints of raspberry jam and jasmine tea also come through.
Finish:
The finish is characterised by grapefruit, black tea, and wood, with a light chalkiness. It lingers for a medium length.
Comments:
This Bruichladdich 2013 Rock’ndaal is enjoyable, although the tartness and bitterness feel slightly unbalanced. It could benefit from a touch more sweetness and fruitiness. Nevertheless, it’s a good dram, and I was pleased to try it.
Rating: 6.5/10
Bunnahabhain 2002 Spanish Oak Gran Reserva (Fèis Ìle 2018) Review
This Bunnahabhain was distilled on March 18, 2002, and finished in ‘Spanish oak Gran Reserva’ casks before being bottled for Fèis Ìle 2018 on February 26, 2018. The bottling yielded 1500 bottles at cask strength (58.2%). I’m not sure what the initial recommended retail price was, but you can find some on the secondary market, ranging from £200 to nearly €400, although I haven’t checked the auction prices.
Colour:
Chestnut.
Nose:
Neat: The nose begins with unexpected aromas of mushrooms, beef broth, and a mouldy dunnage warehouse. Over time, it transitions to plum purée, dates, figs, old leather, and breakfast cocoa powder, with a light nuttiness and marzipan.
With water: Sherry aromas become prominent, and the slightly off notes from the start disappear completely. Hints of cinnamon and baking spices emerge.
Palate:
Neat: The palate delivers more intensity than expected, with the 58.2% ABV feeling more like 63-65%. Red fruits abound, including strawberries (from Plougastel, naturally the best), raspberries, and gooseberries. It also offers flavours of chocolate mousse, raisins, oranges, nuts, roasted coffee beans, and French toast, along with savoury notes of Maggi stock and some umami from salted soy sauce.
With water: Red fruits become more pronounced, accompanied by spices, cola cubes, a generous pinch of salt and black pepper, and some Spanish wood tannins.
Finish:
The finish brings notes of Jaffa cakes, Maggi stock, toasted wood, salty sea breeze, and liquorice wood sticks.
Comments:
This Bunnahabhain 2002 is heavily sherried, which typically isn’t my preference. The nose is initially a bit unusual with its musty and mushroom aromas, but I can’t help but appreciate this Bunna nonetheless. It’s a beautiful bottling.
Rating: 7/10
Laphroaig Cairdeas (Fèis Ìle 2023) Review
The Laphroaig Cairdeas for Fèis Ìle 2023 was bottled on the 15th and 16th of March, 2023. Maturation happened in 2nd fill Madeira casks, with a quarter of it finished in 1st fill white Port, according to the information I found. It was bottled at 52.3%, with an undisclosed outturn. It remains easily available everywhere, with a large price variation (from $80 to £200!).
Colour:
Yellow gold.
Nose:
Neat: Strong smoke leads, accompanied by bacon, speck, and old cured ham, with noticeable grains of salt. Iodine, wet ropes, and crushed shells follow, along with hints of TCP and gauze. A light sweetness emerges, reminiscent of white chocolate.
With water: Dry smoke and soot become prominent, while maritime and medicinal aromas persist.
Palate:
Neat: The palate opens with sweet peat, followed by salted caramel, currants (dried grapes), dark chocolate with sea salt, seaweed, fig chutney, and blood oranges.
With water: Sweetness increases with notes of icing sugar, followed by a strong pepperiness. It then transitions to chocolate-y wood, grape must, and hints of menthol.
Finish:
Peat and medicinal notes linger, along with maritime notes of seaweed and crushed shells.
Comments:
This is nice, but it lacks fruitiness. I’m unsure what the white port and Madeira casks contributed, as it doesn’t feel very different from a bourbon cask Laphroaig. It’s nice but a bit too modern and one-dimensional.
Rating: 6/10
Caol Ila 2015 Islay Scotch & More (Fèis Ìle 2024) Review
This Caol Ila was distilled in 2015 and matured in a refill hogshead and 1st fill palo cortado sherry quarter cask. It was bottled at 8 years old from cask #319259 at a strength of 56.6% ABV by Islay Scotch & More for The Islay Whisky Vault Fèis Ìle 2024 Edition. They produced 128 bottles, all of which sold out.
Colour:
Russet.
Nose:
Neat: Dried figs and dates lead, accompanied by soft smoke and a gentle nuttiness. TCP interplays with leather and cigar tobacco leaves, followed by wood polish wax and hints of salt.
With water: Aromas of dusty bookshelves, turmeric, and Mercurochrome emerge.
Palate:
Neat: The palate has a robust arrival with figs and peat, followed by smoked oranges, brown sugar, and pepper. The mouthfeel is oily and drying, with notes of chili, roasted coffee beans, leather, and hints of lemon.
With water: It becomes saltier, revealing dry wood, smoked chocolate, kelp, and smoked mackerel. More figs, dates, and blackcurrants come through.
Finish:
Dark chocolate with pepper, cloves, and Tabasco linger, providing a nice warmth with a soft astringency.
Comments:
This is very nice, but then again, which Caol Ila isn’t? I appreciate the saltiness and richness that the Palo Cortado finish contributes. It’s not the most unusual Caol Ila I’ve tried, but it works really well.
Rating: 7/10
Bunnahabhain 2004 Mòine Tokaji Cask Finish (Fèis Ìle 2022) Review
Last but not least, this Bunnahabhain was distilled on the 2nd of February 2004, and bottled on January 24, 2022. Dubbed Mòine, meaning it’s a peated Bunnahabhain, it was finished in Tokaji casks before bottling for Fèis Ìle 2022 at 52.2% ABV. The release yielded 1,693 bottles, filled with natural colour and no chill filtration. It’s available only on the secondary market for more than €/£250.
Colour:
Burnished.
Nose:
Neat: The nose offers lemon and lime, icing sugar, and light smoke. It has a slightly salty character with a few dried herbs. The nose is quite shy and may need some water to unlock more aromas.
With water: Dried apricots, almond cake, malt, hints of honey and pine.
Palate:
Neat: The palate delivers much more intensity on the palate than on the nose. A big smoky, peaty, and sweet arrival comes with vanilla, powdered sugar, chocolate, smoke, wood, ice wine, orange liqueur, and pepper.
With water: It remains almost the same in intensity and flavour, perhaps with a bit more smoke and some walnut wine.
Finish:
The finish is long, with notes of pepper, wood, dark chocolate, peppermint (reminiscent of a peppered After Eight chocolate), and lime.
Comments:
This is a lovely Bunna, but it shines mostly on the palate. The nose is nice but subdued and lacks intensity. The palate, however, delivers plenty of intensity, and the peated makeup with the sweet wine cask finish works very well together. A more intense nose would have pushed the rating higher.
Rating: 7/10
Big thanks to the Attic Islay. Bottle pictures taken from Whiskybase except for the Caol Ila, coming from Grand Whisky Auctions.