This is the 2021 Feis Ile release from the distillery. Feis Ile, also known as the Islay Festival of Music and Malt traces it origins back to 1985. It is an event celebrating Gaelic, music and culture would drive tourism to the island. The inaugural event was two weeks of music, drama and workshops with ceilidhs, concerts and dances in the evening.
The first whisky tasting took place as a festival event in 1990. Ten years later, the island’s distilleries began to be directly involved. Annual open days are held to coincide with it. Today, it is one of the biggest events on the whisky calendar. Special releases, such as this one, which are only available for sale from the distillery in conjunction with the festival, are sold by the distilleries. These bottlings are increasingly sought-after.
“As you might know, I am partial to marrying bourbon and sherry casks, I feel these two cask types allow me to increase complexity without losing depth of character. The bourbon barrels I’ve selected give a solid structure to the dram that allow for a balance of maritime Islay flavours and the natural citrus sweetness of our spirit to shine through. The two oloroso sherry butts I chose add depth and richness to the whisky, I’ve had an eye on these casks for a while and they’ve now reached their peak” – Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder & MD
