Lagavulin and Caol Ila to launch Fèis Ìle 2020 whiskies

by Melita Kiely

Diageo-owned Islay distilleries Lagavulin and Caol Ila are launching their Fèis Ìle 2020 whiskies today (8 June): Lagavulin 20 Years Old Fèis Ìle 2020 and Caol Ila 16 Years Old Fèis Ìle 2020.

Lagavulin 20 Years Old Fèis Ìle 2020 is limited to 6,000 bottles. The whisky has been aged in refill and PX oloroso-treated hogsheads and bottled at 54% ABV. Tasting notes include a “feisty” nose of cake mix, digestive biscuits, linseed oil and eucalyptus, leading to a sweet and smoky palate. The whisky has been priced at £190 (US$241) per bottle. Caol Ila 16 Years Old Fèis Ìle 2020 comprises 3,000 bottles. It has been matured in refill, then amoroso-treated hogsheads. Bottled at 53.9% ABV, the whisky will retail for RRP £120 (US$152) per bottle. Tasting notes include stem ginger, fruitiness, faint smoke and a rich, long-lasting finish. The whiskies will be available from 4pm BST online at shop.discoveringdistilleries.com. Purchases will be limited to two bottles per customer. Furthermore, Diageo will donate 20 signed bottles, including bottles from Lagavulin and Caol Ila, plus one bottle from the recent Port Ellen 40 Years Old,to the Fèis Ìle Committee. The bottles are worth a combined £10,000 (US$12,700) and will be used to raise funds for Islay-based charitable organisations and community groups.