Feis Ile is the legendary annual festival that celebrates the culture, food and drink of Islay. It is best known as a festival for whisky lovers, so we’ve got a recap of some of the whisky highlights from the 2022 edition of the festival.
First we have the Ardcore, a punked-up powerhouse from the ever popular Ardbeg distillery. Ardcore was created using roasted black malt - a first for the distillery -, offering up a flavour profile as distinctive as a green mohawk or studded leather jacket. Unchillfiltered and unashamedly in your face, this whisky is undoubtedly to appeal to the (h)ardcore Ardbeg faithful.
Bowmore have a double header of exclusive releases for the 2022 festival. Firstly there is a limited edition 15 Year Old with an outrun of just 3,000 bottles. While the core Bowmore 15 Year Old has a pronounced sherry influence, the Feis Ile 2022 edition is matured entirely in first fill bourbon casks, offering notes of exotic fruits, vanilla, toffee and a subtle whiff of peat smoke.
For anyone who prefers their Bowmore with that sherry influence, then they won’t be disappointed by their other release: a 1996 vintage, 25 Year Old that has been matured in the finest Oloroso sherry casks. Those lucky enough to get their hands on one of the 250 bottles can expect notes of Seville oranges, rich dark chocolate and warming stewed fruits.
Beyond the distillery releases, Hunter Laing have produced a stunning 33 Year Old Bowmore for the 2022 festival as part of their ongoing Kinship series.
Few things symbolise a Scottish summer like someone stubbornly persevering with a barbecue in the pouring rain. Douglas Laing pay homage to this quintessentially Scottish scene with 2022’s Feis Ile Big Peat release, the aptly named Beach BBQ Edition. The label shows the big man suffering at the grill, looking like he needs a good dram to cheer him up. We’re sure this edition of Big Peat would be the perfect antidote to the inevitably poor Scottish weather.
Keep an eye out for other articles reviewing the releases of Feis Ile 2022.
