Islay Festival Programme 2019

Opening Whisky Tasting hosted by Rachel MacNeill of Islay Whisky Academy. Explore Six Iconic Islay Whiskies with Expressions from Independent Bottlers. Each distillery has a “house style”. Independent bottlers also have their own style. Tasting independent bottlers spirit lets you experience a different side of familiar Islay whisky. Independent Bottlers buy casks from a distillery. Or buy new make spirit and warehouse it themselves. They decide when they wish to bottle the spirit and release it under their own name. Sometimes they are permitted to name the distillery that made the liquid, sometimes not. Broaden your Whisky Tasting horizons. Friday 24 May. Gaelic College. 7.30 pm. £35. 25 places available. buy your tickets online

First Fling, Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen. First Fling 9-12pm featuring Black Rock Ceilidh Band/Talan (Doors open 8.30pm). Tickets £15. Tickets £20 include transport to and from venue (pick up/drop off points Port Askaig, Keills, Ballygrant, Portnahaven, Port Charlotte, Bruichladdich, Bridgend, Bowmore). buy your tickets online

Whisky Nosing & Ceilidh in Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen – Whisky Nosing 8-9pm featuring all of our Islay and Jura Distilleries, 3 complimentary drams from our Malt Bar plus Scones/Pancakes/Tea and Coffee. Ceilidh 9-12pm featuring music from Talan, Islay and Jura Pipe and Drum Club and Ella’s Dancers. Tickets £20 buy your tickets online
Nerabus Islay Gin Event at Bruichladdich Village Hall from Noon – 5pm. Cocktail Bar & Live Music. Tickets £15 includes a Nerabus Gin and Tonic plus Food. buy your tickets online

The Ultimate Feis Ile Tasting hosted by Dave Broom. This event is a special one off chance to sample all of this years Islay Feis Ile bottlings. We are also very privileged to have Ballygrant Inn (Whisky Bar Of The Year winners) provide food pairings for each of the whisky samples. Location: Ballygrant Hall. Start 7.30pm. Tickets £150. Sold out!!
Folk night at Ardbeg. Doors open 7pm – (close at 8pm) finishes 10pm. Tickets £12 and £8 for pie and pint. Sold Out!!

Clootie dumpling Ceilidh, Ballygrant hall from 7.30pm – 10.30pm. Tickets £10 children free. Sponsored by Islay Mist. buy your tickets online

What Washes Up”, at the Gaelic College, Bowmore, 7:30pm. Storytellers Renita Boyle and Kate Coutts join forces to bring you tales from the Celtic and Norse traditions, and more besides. Introduced by Bruichladdich’s Mary McGregor, join Renita and Kate for a relaxed evening of stories from near and far. Entry includes a complimentary dram courtesy of Bruichladdich. Tickets £8. buy your tickets online
The Indie Whisky Fèis Ìle – Hosted by Feis Ile & Bruce Farquhar (Dramfool) – Islay’s inaugural Independent Bottler’s festival within the Fèis Ìle, showcasing the kaleidoscope of Islay and Jura whiskies available. The price of admission includes a specially commissioned Glencairn glass, and allows you to sample the wide range of whiskies on offer from the exhibitors. There will also be the opportunity to purchase bottles of whisky direct from the exhibitors. Water will be on tap, and food and light refreshments will be available to purchase in the hall. Location: Bowmore Hall, Bowmore 12pm – 5pm. Tickets £25. buy your tickets online

Final Fling, Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen. 9-1pm featuring A Hooligan/Have Mercy Las Vegas (Doors open 8.30pm). Tickets £5. Tickets £10 include transport to and from venue (pick up/drop off points Port Askaig, Keills, Ballygrant, Portnahaven, Port Charlotte, Bruichladdich, Bridgend, Bowmore). buy your tickets online