Caol Ila 8YO Feis Isle 2025 (57,8%)

The Caol Ila 8 Year Old Feis Ìle 2025 was released for Fèis Ìle, the annual whisky festival on Islay. The whisky was drawn from a small number of selected casks and bottled in a limited run.

Initial maturation took place in butts and hogsheads before the whisky spent a further eighteen months in casks made from Colombian oak – Quercus humboldtii, a relatively uncommon oak species native to the Andes. Known for its fine grain and lower tannin levels, this wood tends to impart a more restrained and balanced oak influence.

On the nose, the whisky opens with fresh, slightly creamy notes alongside a chalky minerality and a clear maritime salinity. With a drop of water, softer aromas emerge, including butter, floral honey and a gentle touch of chocolate, while Caol Ila’s familiar peat smoke remains quietly in the background.

The palate has a lightly oily texture that carries the flavours well. It starts sweeter than the nose suggests, before salinity and spice bring greater structure to the profile. Peppery spices and smoky notes gradually build, maintaining a well-balanced character.

The finish is long and relatively dry, showing sweet smoke, warming spice and lingering notes of smoked meat and medicinal peat.

This festival bottling highlights how Caol Ila’s maritime style can take on a slightly different dimension when paired with a less common oak variety.