Islay Festival

Islay Festival 2024

Welcome to our Islay Festival 2024 celebration! Travel through the power of the interwebs with us to the Queen of the Hebrides to enjoy an unforgettable week of tradition, culture, history, and, most importantly, exceptional whisky. We explore the rugged beauty of Islay through the island’s world-famous distilleries, each with its own story and character.

Islay Favourites

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THURSDAY 30TH MAY

Kilchoman Distillery

Kilchoman Batch Strength

Batch Strength from Islay's Kilchoman is peated Scotch aged in red wine casks, oloroso sherry butts, and bourbon barrels that’s bottled at a hearty 57% ABV. It’s as tasty as it sounds.

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Kilchoman Sanaig

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Kilchoman Sanaig is an enjoyably peaty single malt vatted from both bourbon and sherry casks. Plenty of fruit and earthy peat in this one, with a touch of dark chocolate-covered raisins.

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Kilchoman Machir Bay

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Kilchoman's Machir Bay is matured in bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry butts, resulting in a balanced flavour profile full of vanilla biscuits, light fruit and wafts of warm peat smoke.

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Kilchoman Machir Bay Gift Pack with 2x Glasses

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The same whisky as above, but in a gift pack that includes a 700ml bottle of the Machir Bay single malt along with two very handsome branded tasting glasses.

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Sunday 25th May: Lagavulin

Lagavulin Whisky

Lagavulin 16 Year Old

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Lagavulin 16 is a quintessential Islay single malt known for its deep peat smoke, rich seaweed character, and smooth, long finish. A classic Scotch – not for the faint of heart.

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Lagavulin Distillers Edition - 2022 Collection

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The 2022 Lagavulin Distillers Edition was double matured in Pedro Ximénez-seasoned American oak cask, bringing waves of sweet fruit to complement its notes of coastal smoke.

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Lagavulin 8 Year Old

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Lagavulin 8 Year Old was launched as a 200th anniversary special, but it was so popular it became a permanent fixture and it is easy to see why with its blend of sweet and smoky goodness.

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Lagavulin 12 Year Old (Special Release 2023)

Lagavulin's ‘The Ink of Legends’ was a standout from the Diageo Special Releases 2023, where Laga’s distinctive smokiness was amplified by a finish in Don Julio Añejo Tequila casks.

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Lagavulin 12 Year Old (Special Release 2022)

‘The Flames of the Phoenix' is an appropriate theme for this Lagavulin, as it was designed to be the most phenolic yet. Virgin oak casks amplify this heavily peated single malt.

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Sunday 26th May: Bruichladdich

Bruichladdich Whisky

Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie - Scottish Barley

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Bruichladdich's flagship unpeated single malt, made with 100% Scottish barley and bottled at a hearty 50% ABV to bolster the signature fruity and floral Bruichladdich house style.

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Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2014

The 2014 vintage of the unpeated single malt Bruichladdich Islay Barley was distilled from concerto and propino barley grown on eight local farms and aged in a trio of casks.

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Octomore 14.1 5 Year Old

This Octomore was distilled from 100% Scottish barley malted to a fiery 128.9 ppm and matured in first-fill American whiskey casks. The subtle oak influences let the smoky character shine.

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Port Charlotte 10 Year Old

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The flagship Port Charlotte expression, this lip-smackingly smoky number is peated to 40 ppm and drawn from a combo of American whiskey casks and French wine casks.

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Bruichladdich The Organic 2009

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A 2009 vintage single malt from Bruichladdich, made with 100% Scottish barley organically certified by the Biodynamic Association.

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Monday 27th May: Caol Ila

Caol Ila Whisky

Caol Ila 12 Year Old

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An Islay classic that we will never get enough of, Caol Ila 12 Year Old is a perfect first Islay whisky if you’re new to the scene and a reliable standard for seasoned whisky drinkers alike.

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Caol Ila Moch

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Caol Ila Moch is a fine single malt, offering a lighter, more approachable Islay profile with crisp peat smoke, hints of citrus, and clean finish, making it both vibrant and balanced.

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Caol Ila Distillers Edition - 2022 Collection

The Caol Ila Distillers Edition - 2022 was matured in moscatel sherry-seasoned American oak casks, which lend a sweet, fruity complexity to the smoky, coastal character of the whisky.

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Caol Ila 25 Year Old

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A 25-year-old single malt from Caol Ila, one to really appreciate. If you think you don’t like smoky whisky, this is so beautifully measured we guarantee this will change your mind.

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Tuesday 28 May: Laphroaig

Laphroaig Whisky

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish

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The smoky intensity of Laphroaig is explored in this distillery deep dive, and how it reflects the character of the island on which the whisky is made.

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Laphroaig Elements 1.0

Elements delves into the different aspects of the distillery's production and for this single malt the classic wort was experimented with to amp up those tropical notes and phenols.

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Laphroaig 16 Year Old

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What happens when great Laphroaig whisky matures for 16 years in American oak casks? This delicious blend of rich Islay smokiness and mellow cask-led sweetness. Lip-smackingly good.

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Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 015

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The latest batch (#15, no less) of Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength demonstrates that the Islay distillery is in no danger of running out of peaty powerhouses for us to enjoy.

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Laphroaig Quarter Cask

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A quarter cask is small so the impact of the wood is amplified. It’s a tricky cask to work with, but Laphroaig manages to use it to great effect here in a truly delicious whisky.

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Tuesday 28 May: Port Ellen

Port Ellen Whisky

Port Ellen 35 Year Old 1983 Single Cask

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Port Ellen single malt to yours produced in 1983, the Islay distillery's final year of operation. It spent 35 years maturing in a single refill barrel and only 48 bottles were filled.

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Port Ellen 41 Year Old 1982 Single Cask

A 1982 vintage Port Ellen matured for 41 years! This expression boasts the classic PE style, delivering bright, dynamic, and clean flavours at such a big age. Just 35 bottles of this one.

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Port Ellen 1979 (bottled 2014) - Rare Old

Gordon & MacPhail bottled this 1979 vintage Port Ellen in 2014 for its Rare Old series. The independent bottler knows a cracking Port Ellen when it sees one.

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Port Ellen 22 Year Old 1978 - Rare Malts

A cask strength, very rare Port Ellen from 1978. It was matured for 22 years before bottling as part of the Rare Malts range. This is very special stuff.

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Port Ellen 24 Year Old 1979 - 3rd Release

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A 24-year-old Port Ellen, distilled in 1979 and bottled in 2003 as part of the 2003 Diageo Special Releases. The seldom-seen whisky was bottled at a sturdy 57.3% ABV.

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Wednesday 29 May: Bowmore

Bowmore Whisky

Bowmore 18 Year Old

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Bowmore 18 Year Old has a deep complexity, with chocolate, fruit, and sherry notes balanced with the distillery's signature smoky peat. A refined, exceptionally smooth sipper.

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Bowmore 15 Year Old

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Aged primarily in sherry casks, Bowmore 15 Year Old marries the distinctive Bowmore smokiness with rich, dark fruit flavours, offering a luxurious and well-rounded Islay Scotch experience.

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Bowmore 22 Year Old Aston Martin

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The third in a series from two huge names, Edition 3 of this single malt Scotch was matured in European oak oloroso sherry casks and American oak hogsheads before it was bottled at 51% ABV.

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Bowmore 12 Year Old

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A great value and very tasty 12-year-old expression. All the coastal notes, gentle peat, floral elements, and tropical fruit you want from Bowmore are here.

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Wednesday 29 May: Ardnahoe

Ardnahoe Whisky

Ardnahoe Inaugural Release

The inaugural release from Ardnahoe doesn't disappoint. It's a drop of coastal loveliness with sea spray, wood smoke and a squeeze of lemon bolstered by sweeter notes of baked apple and toffee.

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Thursday 30 May: Kilchoman

Kilchoman Whisky

Kilchoman Batch Strength

Batch Strength from Islay's Kilchoman is peated Scotch aged in red wine casks, oloroso sherry butts, and bourbon barrels that’s bottled at a hearty 57% ABV. It’s as tasty as it sounds.

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Kilchoman Sanaig

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Kilchoman Sanaig is an enjoyably peaty single malt vatted from both bourbon and sherry casks. Plenty of fruit and earthy peat in this one, with a touch of dark chocolate-covered raisins.

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Kilchoman Machir Bay

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Kilchoman's Machir Bay is matured in bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry butts, resulting in a balanced flavour profile full of vanilla biscuits, light fruit and wafts of warm peat smoke.

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Kilchoman Machir Bay Gift Pack with 2x Glasses

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The same whisky as above, but in a gift pack that includes a 700ml bottle of the Machir Bay single malt along with two very handsome branded tasting glasses.

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Friday 31 May: Bunnahabhain

Bunnahabhain Whisky

Bunnahabhain 23 Year Old Triple Sherry Wood Finish - Fèis Ìle 2024

Released for Fèis Ìle 2024, this 23 Year Old cask strength whisky is aged in a combo of sherry casks - amontillado, manzanilla and oloroso - to celebrate the distillery’s house style.

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Bunnahabhain 14 Year Old Ruby Port Cask Finish - Fèis Ìle 2024

Another Fèis Ìle 2024 release, this 14 Year Old Scotch whisky was originally filled into bourbon casks before being transferred into ruby Port hogsheads for a twist on the Bunna DNA.

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Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength - 2023

The annual small-batch cask strength release is an undiluted celebration of Bunna we look forward to every year. For 2023, the brand bottled at the biggest ABV yet: a whopping 60.1%!

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Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old

A sophisticated Scotch with flavours of dried fruit, nuts, and maritime elements, Bunna 18 thrives from its ageing in sherry casks, which showcases its nuanced approach to Islay whisky.

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Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

Is this the ultimate house pour? Bunnahabhain 12 does it all, a gentle intro to Islay whisky with a balanced blend of nutty maltiness, sherry, and sea salt notes.

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Friday 31 May: Jura

Jura Whisky

Jura 14 Year Old American Rye Cask

A 14-year-old single malt from Jura, matured in a selection of American white oak, bourbon, and American rye whiskey barrels giving it layers of vanilla, caramel, tropical fruit, and warming, prickly spice.

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Jura 12 Year Old

A single malt from Jura that is perfect for those who need to be converted to the wonders of whisky, with its smooth palate and gentle sweet notes of fruit, toffee, and aromatic spice.

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Jura 10 Year Old

Aged in American white oak bourbon barrels before enjoying a finishing period in oloroso sherry butts, Jura 10 has the subtle smoke and sweet fruitiness you want from its single malts, with an intense kick of sherried sweetness underneath.

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Jura 7 Year Old 2012

Any good independent bottler has a lovely Jura whisky in its collection and we’re not ones to let the side down. This is a bright, tasty, and rewarding young single malt that punches well above its age.

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Saturday 1 June: Ardbeg

Ardbeg Whisky

Ardbeg Spectacular

Ardbeg Spectacular is a special release for Fèis Ìle 2024. A first for Ardbeg, the single malt Scotch whisky was matured in Port wine casks before being married with classic bourbon barrels.

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Ardbeg Uigeadail

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Pronounced ‘Oog-a-dal’, this is a beautiful blend of savoury and sweet, like when you mix sweet popcorn and salty popcorn together. But instead it's tasty Scotch whisky.

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Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 Year Old

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Ardbeg's Wee Beastie is proof that age doesn’t equal success in whisky. This is delicious and drawn from a combo of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks at five years of age.

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Ardbeg 10 Year Old

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Ardbeg 10 Year Old is a flagship Islay single malt known for its intense smokiness and notes of lemon, black pepper, and chocolate, underpinned by a deep, peaty undertone.

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Ardbeg Corryvreckan

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Powerfully peaty and immensely satisfying, Ardbeg's Corryvreckan has a particularly medicinal style and aptly takes its name after a nearby whirlpool. If you love intense Islay drams, this is for you.

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