Single Malt Feis Ile European Oak Sherry Butt (((Bottled 2013)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-strength, well-aged single malt Scotch whisky, it is bottled at its peak maturity and will not evolve further in the bottle. It can be enjoyed immediately or kept indefinitely when stored upright away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
blue cheese, dark chocolate, smoked venison
✨ Technical Specifications
Released exclusively for the 2013 F is le (the Islay Festival of Music and Malt), this exceptional single malt represents a marriage of Lagavulin's legendary peat smoke with the rich, oxidative influence of European oak sherry butts. Distilled in 1995 and matured for 18 years on the wind-swept shores of Lagavulin Bay, this bottling captures the essence of the distillery's slow distillation process. The maritime climate of Islay infuses the spirit with a distinct brine and seaweed character, which beautifully balances the deep, dried-fruit sweetness, dark chocolate, and warming spice imparted by the sherry wood. It stands as a monument to Islay's distilling heritage, celebrated annually by whisky enthusiasts who make the pilgrimage to this remote Scottish island.
🍾 About the Producer
Perched on the rugged southern coastline of Islay, Lagavulin was officially established in 1816 by John Johnston, formalising centuries of illicit distilling along the sheltered cove beneath Dunyvaig Castle. Operating within an unforgiving maritime microclimate, the distillery draws peaty, mineral-rich process water from the upland Solum Lochs. Production relies on heavily peated barley and exceptionally deliberate methods: lengthy fermentations in larch washbacks precede distillation across four distinctive pear-shaped pot stills. Lagavulin famously executes one of the slowest double distillations in Scotland with wide middle cuts and high fill levels, maximizing copper interaction to sculpt a rich, oily spirit imbued with phenolic depth, smoked lapsang souchong, and iodine. Matured extensively in dunnage warehouses washed by sea spray, the resulting single malt balances pungent maritime brine and sweet oak tannins. Benchmark expressions include the iconic 16 Year Old, the cask-strength 12 Year Old annual releases, and sought-after mature parcels within Diageo's Prima & Ultima collection.