Introduction
Like I did last year, I’m going to be following blogs and tweets, living vicariously through Feis Ile festival-goers. Feis Ile is the Festival of Malt and Music, taking place the last week of May each year on the island of Islay in Scotland. As long as I’m following along, I figure I might as well post my findings here, providing an index for others who might be interested. I’ll update this post periodically throughout each day of the festival.
Feis Ile resources
- Official Feis Ile website – Overview; festival and distillery programs; etc.
- Islay Weblog – Combination distillery and festival program for the week
- Spirit of Islay forum – Feis Ile 2010 thread
- Whisky Intelligence – Special Feis Ile bottlings announced by Diageo
- Feis Ile Facebook page
Day 1 (May 22, 2010) – Lagavulin open day
- WHISKYFUN by Serge – The first tasting report on a special festival bottling: Lagavulin. Sounds awesome!
- whiskysamples.eu – Available for purchase (3cl sample): Lagavulin 1994/2010 (52.7%, OB for Feis Isle 2010, 528 Bts., European Oak ex Sherry Cask)
- caskstrength.net via Twitter
- Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog – Upon arriving on the island in the afternoon, they managed to secure the last two bottles of the Lagavulin festival bottling! Tasting notes provided in the comments.
- caskstrength.net – Day 1 recap. Teaming up with The Whisky Guy, what a day of tasting they had! Check out the exclusive Lagavulin bottlings they tried out…
Day 2 (May 23, 2010) – Bruichladdich open day
- WHISKYFUN by Serge – Following up on yesterday’s tasting notes, here’s the surrogate WF team thoughts on the new Lagavulin distillery only bottling. Update – This entry now includes notes for the Bruichladdich festival bottling.
- Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog – An interesting read, with an honest look at some of the pluses and minuses of Bruichladdich. I suspect Tony and Michelle are not the only ones with an opinion like this. Between their tasting notes and the Whiskyfun notes above, I’m not in any real hurry to get my hands on the 6 year old Bruichladdich festival bottling.
- WhiskyCast – I just saw Mark Gillespie’s tweet about a special edition of WhiskyCast from Feis Ile. It looks like he might be doing a special episode each day of the festival. Check out episodes 254 and 255.
- whiskysamples.eu – The Lagavulin distillery-only bottling reviewed above by Whiskyfun is now available as a sample. As is the Bruichladdich Festival bottling. I also see that the Lagavulin Festival bottling is already sold out!
- Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog – [Update] A late update from Tony and Michelle provides an inside look at the Laphroaig gathering on Sunday night.
- caskstrength.net – [Update x2] And here we have a late, late update from the team at caskstrength.net. An excellent post worth waiting for, however. Check out their reviews of three Laddies and a Port Charlotte. They liked the festival bottling more than the other reviewers, too, but perhaps there was some bias involved (something about having assisted in the bottling). 🙂
Day 3 (May 24, 2010) – Caol Ila open day
- WhiskyCast – Episode 256, recorded at the Caol Ila distillery, has been posted. Go check it out. Or, better yet, just subscribe to the podcast already. 🙂
- Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog – While they were unable to get into the Caol Ila tasting master class, we get a nice description of the CI festival bottling. Sounds different, and intriguing…almost Laphroaig-like according to Tony.
- whiskysamples.eu – The Caol Ila festival bottling has been added. 7 euros for a 3cl sample: Caol Ila 1999/2010 (61.9%, OB, Feis Ile 2010, cask #205646)
- WHISKYFUN by Serge – Here’s the Whiskyfun review of the above CI festival bottling. Can’t wait to try my sample from whiskysamples! Also in the same post, check out the rave review of the Caol Ila Manager’s Choice. Lastly, a music recommendation for Hank Jones, an amazing Jazz pianist and class act who passed away last week. Definitely worth looking into, and cheers to Serge for including that recommendation.
- caskstrength.net – [Update Posted on the 25th] Read along as the guys fight through their hangovers and compare three Caol Ilas.
Day 4 (May 25, 2010) – Laphroaig open day
Note about whiskysamples.eu: You can order the samples from whiskysamples.eu as they come available and select “ToGo” as your shipping country. This will result in your only being charged for the samples themselves. At the end of the festival, send an email to them letting them know you’re ready to complete your order, and they’ll charge you once for shipping. [Also, they have a few samples of the 2009 Laphroaig festival bottling available]
- whiskysamples.eu – Available now: Laphroaig Cairdeas Master Edition for Feis Ile (57.3%). This is a vatting of 11 to 19 year old whiskies created by Master Blender Robert Hicks. I wish they’d ship this to Friends of Laphroaig in the U.S.!
- WHISKYFUN by Serge – What do Malt Maniacs do while they’re on Islay for the festival? Only have one of the coolest whisky tastings ever! Check out their thoughts on ALL 9 of the Port Ellen annual releases.
- Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog – An update from Tony and Michelle on a couple of nice walks they discovered on day 3 of the festival. [Bookmarking for future reference when I get a chance to go there]
- WhiskyCast – Episode 257 has been posted for Laphroaig day at Feis Ile. See what’s up with Distillery Manager John Campbell and Master Blender Robert Hicks.
- Late update: Two new posts on Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog. First, coverage of the Whisky Tasting Ceilidh on Monday night. Second, we get a Day 4 overview from the Laphroaig distillery.
Day 5 (May 26, 2010) Bowmore open day
- Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog – Titled “Bowmore (err…lagavulin)”, we get some info on what was being offered at Bowmore, but Tony and Michelle actually headed off to Lagavulin for a tour. And what a tour it was (tastings right out of the casks)! Not only do I HAVE to go to Islay some day, but a Laga tour will definitely need to be part of the itinerary.
- whiskysamples.eu – I don’t see any Bowmore posted yet, but you can now order a sample of Laphroaig 10 CS Batch 002 for €3.00.
- WHISKYFUN by Serge – Not a review of Bowmore whisky, but an amusing article on Islay sausage. Make sure you click the “Lucky” link at the bottom of the post.
- WHISKYFUN by Serge (Update) – A review of two non-festival Bowmore bottlings from the festival. But most impressive is the insider exclusive on a new distillery to be built next year. Get the scoop on the Auchenbowie distillery!
Day 6 (May 27, 2010) Jura/Kilchoman open day
- caskstrength.net had to leave the festival early, but they provide a post with an overview of (and commentary on) the festival bottlings, including a preview of the Ardbeg bottling coming this Saturday.
- Jura Picture of the Day – The Jura Pic of the Day web site provided a teaser for those planning to attend their open day today.
- WHISKYFUN by Serge – An update to the May 27th post, with tasting notes on the Kilchoman Feis Ile bottle. Finally – A pure bourbon cask release (no finishing), and I can’t get it. Doh!
- Isle of Jura (official web site) – Their Feis Ile page has been updated with a virtual tasting session of three vintage limited edition Jura whiskies. Also, if you’re a Diurach, the three winners of signed bottles are announced in the video.
- Richard Paterson – I guess “The Nose” is helping folks at the festival pick out casks to be used in a distillery-only Jura bottling. Now that would be cool!
- WhiskyCast – It’s a two episode day, covering both Kilchoman and Jura. Talk about full festival coverage!
- Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog [Update] – Two new posts for Day 6, covering a trip to Kilchoman and a couple of walks in the area.
Day 7 (May 28, 2010) Bunnahabhain open day
Note: New Tony and Michelle links added to Day 6.
- whiskysamples.eu – The Kilchoman single cask Feis Ile release has been posted. This was a very limited festival release of 258 bottles.
- whiskysamples.eu – The Bunnahabhain festival bottling, an 18 year old, is also now posted.
- Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog – Reports from the festival seem to be dying down. The whiskyfun crew has abandoned the island. Fortunately, Tony and Michelle are continuing with their great coverage.
Day 8 (May 29, 2010) Ardbeg open day
- Tony and Michelle’s 2010 Islay Festival Blog – They didn’t get the Ardbeg festival bottling, but it turns out it “only” cost £125. Half of what people had been saying it would cost. Somebody won a 4.5 liter Rollercoaster bottle. Cool!
More to come…
Cheers, Jeff
Jeff,
very nice coverage of the Feis Ile.
when will we meet there?
Thanks Gal. I was hoping to get there in 2011, but it sounds like you need to book pretty much a year in advance, and I’m afraid I had to dip into my Feis Ile trip fund for a new car recently.
Just stumbled across someone else with a blog going at the Feis :
http://ooralbablog.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=31
Nice find, Martin. Thanks for the link!
hi jeff, thanks for following our blog and thanks for the other links, only just realised Laga are doing a distillery only bottling from caskstrength thanks to your link. Oh dear, there goes another wad of cash.
Sure thing, Tony. You two are doing a great job providing insight into the festival itself, and the charms of the island.
Yeah, this hobby can be a cash drain, but I’m not feeling sorry for you. You’re scoring some pretty exclusive drams. Enjoy!
Cheers,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Excellent coverage, indeed. It sounds like everyone is having quite a time.
As far as your ambition to attend Feis Ile 2011, I have to ask you a question: do you want to see what Islay contributes to the single malt spectrum and the individual characteristics of its distilleries, or do you want to be a part of all the fun and games? The reason I ask is because I would hate for you to spend all that time planning your visit (not to mention all the money) to coincide with the festival and be disappointed. I toured all of the Islay distilleries a couple of weeks ago and every tour was full. Ardbeg was particularly insane, and this even before the extra focus of the festival. Tony and Michelle’s experiences in the Old Kiln Cafe are the rule as opposed to the exception. I wanted to discover the essence of Islay and whilst the level of information on all of the tours and the professionalism of all the guides was faultless, the press of bodies (many of whom were there seemingly to drink as much of the stuff as they could), was off-putting for me.
If you can, try and visit in the off season, although I’m not really sure Islay has one as far as whisky tourists are concerned. April or October would be good months, when maybe you could organise a more personal itinerary (cheaper accommodation, too, and I don’t think the key ferries would be affected). The standard Laga tour doesn’t go to the warehouses, that is a £15 specialist tour.
Think about it, and be sure to give yourself time. I did all eight in three days and that was utter studpidity.
James
hi jeff,
I wouldnt discourage you from going to the festival, its great at this time, but if you want to visit all the distillies and have a detailed look at them its better to go at another time. Also, the weather has a huge influence on the quality of your trip. On our first visit (out of festival) we had no sun all week. We visited all the stills and enjoyed ourselves, but this week in sunshine has been so much better! Unfortunately scottish weather is essentially random, we went in july the first time which should have been warmer. The festival itself is not that busy really, its a big island. Flights from glasgow were not even full this week, ditto the ferries. The best strategy is to book accomodation early then be organised enough to book the master classes/special events as soon as they are announced. these special events are the real unique aspect of the festival. Mail me if you want any further info.
Tony
Tony is spot on, Jeff.
I never meant that it was one or the other: I would love to go to the Festival at some stage, but I didn’t want my first experience of Islay to be about moving with the frenzied masses. All of the guides and distillery staff I talked to about the Festival gave me a wary, haunted look.
I had one iffy day on the Thursday, when it rained for most of the day and showers passed over me regularly on the Saturday, but being the peat-head you are, and with Islay bearing the significance for you that I suspect it does, rain wouldn’t matter. In fact, I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t experience more of the wildness that Michael Jackson argues seeps into these incredible whiskies. My bright, warm days of sunshine didn’t pack the seaweed and sea spray punch I was looking for!
Islay isn’t going anywhere, though: you can return! You just have to save up those cents. Likewise, get in touch if you want to know more.
James
Thanks for the feedback, James and Tony! I admit, I’ve waffled back and forth on whether I want to attend during the festival or not. One issue is potentially needing to book lodging/travel as much as a year in advance (as in, during the next month).
I think the main thing drawing me to the idea of attending the festival is the ability to purcahase the exclusive bottlings. Of course, reading Tony’s blog, I’m starting to realize what kind of financial commitment that implies. 🙂
We’ll see. Still waffling…
Cheers,
Jeff
It’s funny you should mention the special bottlings, because that is one of the most powerful draws for me, too! Having tasted the Lagavulin 12YO Cask Strength and having been utterly knocked out by it, the idea of all those limited, raw expressions, for one night only, as it were, does make me want to be there to capitalise. (And shell out serious capital, to boot.)
However, as has been mentioned above, getting your hands on them requires serious commitment and forward planning because one night is about as long as an Laphroaig festival release will hang around. Unless you are Bowmore, in which case you still have stocks from 2008 sitting in your VC. And little wonder when you want to sell us an 8YO for £80. It is the perfect case study of Feis Ile economics, though. It’s just mad!
As you have shown on this blog, Jeff, you can get your hands on some special, limited Islay bottlings outwith the official ones. It’s just that, in the case of my newest love, Lagavulin is almost impossible to come by with the independent bottlers! Looks like I shall have to head back to Islay in the last week of May, then…
nice thread…
well, those releases are awesome, but im afraid it’s too much to go there only for this… with all the people around, u will get 0 attention at the distilleries.
the [prices are outrageous! ardbeg 15 y.o for 225 GBP? WTF?
the lags however sounds delic.
i do think u should visit twice : one time during regular dates, and then a year later on the feis…
it’s a lot of $$$ i know. but i heard that feis is crazy times, and it’s not a good introduction to islay…
hope to meet u
last night i got to taste the Bunna 18 PX feis ile. – damn amazing dram.
also the Laga 16 distillery only CS – nice, but not as the 1991 DE…
more notes later on the blog.
hm, will have to revisit the Bunna Feis Ile, it got ignored by us in the waves of peaty whisky but I shall try it again this weekend, thanks for the reminder 🙂
Sounds good, Gal! I’ve got my 6 Feis Ile samples (including the Bunna) sitting in a box ready to go. I think I’ll have to make that my next comparison. I just finished writing up notes on JW Blue vs JW Gold.
Cheers,
Jeff