Fèis Ìle — formally known as the Islay Festival of Music and Malt — is an annual celebration held on the Scottish island of Islay, widely regarded as the spiritual home of peated whisky. Running for a week each May, the festival brings together whisky lovers from around the world to visit the island’s distilleries, attend open days, and get their hands on exclusive festival bottlings that are often released nowhere else. Each distillery hosts its own open day with tastings, tours, live music, and food, giving the whole affair a warm, community-driven atmosphere that goes well beyond a typical whisky trade event. 2026 marks the festival’s 40th anniversary, a milestone that has prompted several distilleries to release particularly special expressions in its honour — and even welcomed a brand new distillery, Laggan Bay, into the official programme for the first time.
Lagavulin – Sat 23 May
- Lagavulin 14 Year Old (56.5%, £240, 1,752 bottles) – Oloroso-seasoned American oak finish
- Lagavulin 31 Year Old “Skies of Fèis Ìle” (£2,800) – Long finish in heavily charred, Oloroso-seasoned American oak hogsheads
Bruichladdich – Sun 24 May
- ROCK’NDAAL 05.1 (63.5%) – details TBC
Caol Ila – Mon 25 May
- Caol Ila 11 Year Old (56.1%, £145) – Don Julio Tequila Cask finish
Laphroaig – Tue 26 May
- Laphroaig Càirdeas 2026 French Oak (52.6%) – Matured entirely in 100% French oak
Port Ellen – Tue 26 May
- Details TBC
Bowmore – Wed 27 May
- Bowmore 2016 9 Year Old (single cask, Cask No. 3756) – Pedro Ximénez sherry-seasoned Spanish oak, 100% floor-malted barley
Ardnahoe – Wed 27 May
- Ardnahoe 7 Year Old (59.7%, £85, 830 bottles) – Bourbon barrels, cask strength; limit 3 per person
Kilchoman – Thu 28 May
- Kilchoman 15 Year Old Calvados Finish (50.9%, 637 bottles) – 10 years ex-bourbon + 5 years ex-calvados; limit 1 per person
Bunnahabhain – Fri 29 May
- An Cuan Garbh No. 1 (51.6%, 7,571 bottles, €130) – White Port Cask Finish
- An Cuan Garbh No. 2 – Details TBC
- An Cuan Garbh No. 3 – Details TBC
Jura – Fri 29 May
- Jura 16 Year Old Armagnac Cask Finish – Second fill bourbon + 18-month Armagnac finish
- Jura 24 Year Old Sauternes Barrique Finish – Special 40th anniversary release
Ardbeg – Sat 30 May
- Ardbeg Dolce (47.8%, £85 / US$112 / €99) – Marsala dolce fortified wine casks + Bourbon barrels
Laggan Bay (new distillery!) – Sun 31 May
- Details TBC