Continuing our look at the whisky of Feis Ile 2022 are Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila.
For the 2002 festival Bunnahabhain presented a trilogy of bottles. Abhainn Araig takes its name from the Araig river and contains spirit that has been matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso casks, as well as Pedro Ximinez octaves, offering up a sherry-heavy whisky that doesn’t detract from the classic Bunnahabhain style.
The 2014 Mòine Tokaji Cask Finish is a perfect balance of sweetness and smoke; Mòine means peated, while the Hungarian white wine casks deliver a citrus, slightly floral sweetness. Only 1,695 bottles are available. Alongside this sits the 1998 Calvados Finish. Having spent 2 years in French brandy casks, this iteration of Bunnahabhain is sweet and fruity with a powerfully spicy finish.
If three bottles of from Islay’s northernmost distillery aren’t enough for you, then Hunter Laing may satisfy your demand for Bunnahabhain with their 32 Year Old from The Kinship range.
Caol Ila may have been closed at the time of Feis Ile but that doesn’t mean they didn’t get involved in the festival. The distillery produced a 15 Year Old that was finished in American virgin oak casks, bottled at cask strength (55.2%), and limited to 3,702 bottles.
Of an equally limited nature is the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s distillery 53 (*cough* Caol Ila *cough*) release for the festival. 8 Years Old and limited to 2,677 bottles. The label instructs us to Throw The Cork Away - maybe not the most practical advice but if the whisky’s that good it might just happen!
Keep an eye out for other articles reviewing the releases of Feis Ile 2022.
