Islay’s famous whisky festival – celebrating our island’s culture, heritage and famous spirit – takes place this month. Here’s a guide to just some of the things you can see and do while you’re here as part of this rich festival.
Friday May 26 to Saturday June 3 – Fèis Ìle – The Islay Festival.
For full programme (and tickets) see the website here Fèis Ìle 2023 – Fèis Ìle (feisile.co.uk)
For bus timetables click here Isle of Islay Portnahaven/Port Askaig – Bowmore – Port Ellen – Ardbeg (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
Multi-day events
A taste of Jura – at Islay Gaelic Centre 11am to 5pm. Tuesday 30th May, Wednesday 31st May and Thursday 1st June from 11.00am until 5.00pm.
Come along to the Gaelic Centre in Bowmore to sample the best that the wilderness of the Isle of Jura has to offer. Lussa Gin is a female owned and run distillery, using fifteen botanicals that can be grown or gathered from the island’s hills, coastline, glens and gardens.
Deer Island Rum is handcrafted and bottled on Jura. The spiced rum sees Scottish distilled white rum, aged in ex bourbon casks, blended with unique island water, orange peel, raisins and punchy spice.
The Laughing Stag is a light and easy drinking pale ale made by the Jura Brewery and it pairs very well with the amazing pies made by Kirsty at the Island Bakehouse.
Meet the owners and makers to sample and purchase their wares on
No ticket necessary
Friday May 26:
Official festival opening at 5.30pm, Port Ellen Playing Fields and The Ramsay Hall. Music and entertainment free to all, come and join the committee for the official opening event. No tickets required.
Saturday May 27
Lagavulin Distillery Day: Free entry (no ticket required) 10am to 5pm
Sunday May 28
Bruichladdich Distillery Day: Music and more in the distillery square – food stalls, craft stalls, tastings and festival bottlings– tickets cost £10 and include 2 drams, a wristband and water bottle. 12.30 – 18.30pm
Fèis Ìle Bowling. Bridgend Bowling Green. £3 to enter, no tickets needed (just turn up) Starts at 1.45pm and ends when games finish.
Monday May 29
Caol Ila Distillery Day – free general entry. No ticket required. Ticketed experiences can be booked in advance – see distillery website. 10am to 5pm. NO PARKING at the site. Shuttle bus available Park at nearby field just outside Keills. Will be sign posted.
Isle of Islay Gin, Islay Square, Bridgend. Open day 12 – 6pm. Free entry to Islay Square
Islay Ales, Bruichladdich Village Hall. Two ticketed events. 11am- 2pm and 3pm – 6pm.
Tuesday May 30
Laphroaig Distillery Day. 10am to 5pm. No ticket required for general entry. Walk from Port Ellen or use bus (timetable link above)
Islay Rum, Port Ellen. 10am to 8pm. No ticket required for general entry.
Indie Whisky Fèis Ìle at The Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen. 10am to 1pm 2pm to 5pm 6pm to 9pm. Ticketed event.
Wednesday May 31
Bowmore Distillery Day 10am to 5pm. No ticket required for general entry. Range of experiences and tastings throughout the day. Traditional and pop music and the Bowmore bar will be open serving drams and cocktails. Experiences requiring tickets can be booked via the Bowmore website.
Ardnahoe Distillery Day 9.30 – 5pm. No ticket needed for entry. Experiences can be booked online via the distillery website ahead of the event. Free shuttle bus available from Persabus.
Thursday June 1
Kilchoman Distillery Day 9.30am – approx. 4pm. Free general entry, no ticket required. Ticketed experiences can be booked in advance via the distillery website.
Islay Whisky Academy, Rhinns Hall, Portnahaven. 10am to 6pm. Free general entry, no ticket required. Ticketed experiences can be booked via the website.Find out more here Event info and tickets at https://islaywhiskyacademy.scot/iwa-open-day-feis-ile-2023/
Mac-Talla, at the Machrie Hotel Courtyard. £25 1pm to 3pm or 4pm to 6pm. ‘Journey of Taste’ Festival with Mac-Talla Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers host a ‘Journey of Taste’ Whisky Festival in the Machrie Luxury Golf Hotel Courtyard. Enjoy a welcome dram at the bar before discovering a range of Islay Single Malt Whiskies, including the Mac-Talla PX Fèis Ìle Limited Edition while enjoying festival lawn games and Islay BBQ with live music from Islay Scottish Folk Band ‘Tàlan’.
Ticket price includes: Welcome dram, branded glass, BBQ meal and games for prizes.
Exilir Distillers, Fèis Ìle Bar Takeover at the Lochside, Bowmore. 7pm onwards. The Elixir Team will be there there on the night making range of cocktails from locally sourced ingredients, mixed up with our Elements of Islay Cask Edition. They will also be showcasing their core range from Elements of Islay alongside our 2023 Fèis Ìle exclusive!O
Thursday 1st June from 11.00am until 5.00pm. Taste of Jura Come along to the Gaelic Centre in Bowmore to sample the best that the wilderness of the Isle of Jura has to offer. Lussa Gin is a female owned and run distillery, using fifteen botanicals that can be grown or gathered from the island’s hills, coastline, glens and gardens.
Deer Island Rum is handcrafted and bottled on Jura. The spiced rum sees Scottish distilled white rum, aged in ex bourbon casks, blended with unique island water, orange peel, raisins and punchy spice.
The Laughing Stag is a light and easy drinking pale ale made by the Jura Brewery and it pairs very well with the amazing pies made by Kirsty at the Island Bakehouse.
Meet the owners and makers to sample and purchase their wares on
No ticket necessary
Thursday June 1 Courting the Dram Workshop 12:15pm – 1:45pm: Dive head-first into a sensory discovery of whisky aromas with Islay Whisky Academy. Through a guided immersion into 5 unique whiskies, you are invited to explore the possibilities of sensation and deconstruct the dram. You will be challenged to develop your nosing and tasting skills. We will explore 16 items, such as cream, peat, and wool, and use them as a sensory frame of reference when encountering new whiskies throughout the workshop. Learn how to “sight read” a dram with just a sniff. And, above all, fall in love with Scotch! Learn more about IWA Open Day here. (IWA Open Day Feis Ile 2023 | Islay Whisky Academy)
Price: £45 per person: Location: Rhinns Hall, Portnahaven; Minimum age: 18 . icket payment link: https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/DW92EA53EWMQA
Thursday June 1, Ceol Mor & Scotch Experience, 1.30pm-3pm: Piobaireachd, or piping music, is created from the sounds of blood pumping in our veins, the beat of our heart, the sounds of the wind and the waves, the sounds of our land and language. Listen to four distinct piping tunes, matched with 4 distinct whiskies, and discover how piobaireachd shares a magical flow with drams of single malt whiskies. Learn more about IWA Open Day here. (IWA Open Day Feis Ile 2023 | Islay Whisky Academy)
Price: £35 per person; Location: Rhinns Hall, Portnahaven; Minimum age: 18; Ticket payment link: https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/HN2JUXJXRS65C
Thursday June 1, Whisky & Witches Show. 3.15pm – 5.15pm: Travel with us to the realms where folklore, whisky, and mystical music meet in perfect harmony. Experience an immersive tasting, exploring 6 spectacular and rare single cask drams. We are joined by Whisky & Witches: singer-songwriter and whisky experience ambassador Christine Kammerer and whisky bar owner Jane Ross, who will share haunting songs exploring Scottish and Nordic mythology. We look forward to sharing the magic with you. Come along and be enchanted!
Learn more about IWA Open Day here. (IWA Open Day Feis Ile 2023 | Islay Whisky Academy)
Price: £65 per person; Location: Rhinns Hall, Portnahaven; Minimum age: 18. Ticket payment link: https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/4HCXF34WUY4MY
Thursday June 1, Fèis Ile Whisky Tasting Dinner hosted by whisky writer and speaker Caroline Dewar takes place at the Port Charlotte Hotel. Enjoy a six course dinner matched with Islay and Jura Whiskies guided by Caroline. £110 per person (includes tea and coffee) Booking essential as places are limited. Please call 01496 850360 or Emal info@portcharlottehotel.co.uk See the menu on the website: https://www.portcharlottehotel.co.uk/special-eventsTION
Friday June 2
Bunnahabhain Distillery Day: 10am to 5pm. No ticket required for general entry.
Ticketed experiences will be available to book online.
Parking at Persabus field at entrance to Bunnahabhain road, shuttle bus from road end all day
Jura Distillery Day 10am to 6pm. No tickets required. Shuttle bus from Feolin ferry to distillery. Ticketed tours available to buy online.
Saturday June 3
Ardbeg Distillery Day: 10am to 5pm. £10 entry to pay on the day. No pre-booking required.
