(Image Source: Lagavulin, The Nudge)

Each year, one of Scotland's most beloved whisky-producing regions, the islands known as Islay, well-loved for their smoky, peaty and salty whiskies, hosts the crowd favorite Islay Jazz Festival.

The festival sees Jazz musicians invited to perform along the vicinity of the Scotch distilleries and for many distilleries, even within the hallowed walls of where the whiskies itself were made!

(Image Source: Lagavulin)

This year, the festival runs from 7-9th October 2022, featuring a whole host of musicians from Fergus McCreadie to Colin Steele, Mario Caribe and even Masterchef finalist Laura MacDonald, Tim Garland and Helena Kay.

But the festival would not be complete without some of the most famous Islay distilleries bringing out their very own commemorative bottlings.

‘The Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival has become a key moment in the calendar ever since it began 24 years ago, and we’re all excited to welcome visitors back to Islay for the festival once again. Crafted to celebrate together with our fans in Islay,  the 14 Year Old Distillery exclusive is surprisingly sweet, set to excite everyone.

This year, we wanted reach all of our fans in a special way, even those unable to attend the festival. That’s why the team has also, for the first time ever, released the 7 Year Old Festival Bottling, an honest and pure expression of Lagavulin – chosen to carry a piece of the Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival to every fan’s home.’

- Jordan Paisley, Distillery Manager at Lagavulin

This year, Lagavulin is for the first time, bringing out two limited edition Jazz Festival expressions - a 14 Year Old Brandy-finished Distillery Exclusive that can only be purchased onsite at the distillery itself, and a 7 Year Old Festival Exclusive that can be found online.

(Image Source: Lagavulin)

The 14 Year Old Distillery Exclusive will feature a cask-strength expression that was matured in refill American oak casks, before being finished in Brandy casks for a further five years, said to "deliver an unexpected twist of sweetness...This complex smooth expression perfectly entwines the soft winery notes with the smoky, chilli pepper heat character, usually found in Lagavulin".

It is bottled at 55.4% ABV, with a total outturn of 3,000 bottles and will retail at an RRP of 220 GBP.

(Image Source: Lagavulin)

The 7 Year Old Festival Exclusive, which will be available for purchase on malts.com, was matured in a combination of refill and ex-bourbon hogshead casks, described as "a pure and honest expression of the Islay liquid...At natural strength, this whisky opens with sweet citrus and fruity yet salty notes, which are slowly overpowered by wood smoke and white pepper heat".

It is bottled at 59.5% ABV, with an outturn of 2,490 bottles available and will retail at an RRP of 95 GBP.

Kanpai!

@111hotpot