Whisky festival season brings exclusive bottlings

IT’S been festival season in the Scotch whisky industry over the past month, with the world-famous Spirit of Speyside and Feis Ile festivals taking place across Speyside and Islay, respectively. 

And with whisky fans flocking to Scotland from around the world, distilleries have been issuing their customary festival bottlings – limited edition releases timed to coincide with that area’s festival. 

Examples this year included two bottlings from Tamdhu – the Dedication Society Single Cask 2023 and Dalbeallie VI. Only 275 bottles of the single cask were released, with only 1000 of the Dalbeallie available. 

Glenfiddich also chose Spirit of Speyside to release the latest Archive Collection series. Only 75 bottles of the whisky, which was distilled in 1987, were made available. 

And on Islay, Feis Ile bottlings included a 13 year-old release from Caol Ila matured in Pedro Ximénez / Oloroso-seasoned sherry butts, and a 14 year-old bottling from Lagavulin that has been matured in a combination of American and European oak before being finished in Armagnac casks.