Fèis Ìle 2016 programme
Kilchoman today announced its programme for the Islay Festival Fèis Ìle 2016. Kilchoman Open Day will be Thursday 26 May, but there will already be some special events from Monday to Wednesday.
Here is an overview of the packed programme:
Monday 23rd
Founders Tour with Anthony Wills – 2pm
An in depth tour of the distillery with founder Anthony Wills, finishing in the new tasting room where you will have the chance to taste some of our earliest releases and cask samples.
£40 – 12 places available
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Tuesday 24th
Angels Share Glass Presentation – 2 – 4pm
Angels’ Share Glass will be joining in the festival fun with their workshop at Kilchoman’s Visitor Centre on Tuesday 24th. From 2pm – 4pm they will be demonstrating how they use their amazing glassblowing skills to make their famous Whisky Angels’ but you’ll have to close your eyes as they seal in some of our festival release as this technique is top secret!
Manager’s Tour with George Wills – 2pm
An in depth tour of the distillery with George Wills, finishing in our new tasting room where you will have the chance to taste some of our earliest releases and cask samples.
£30 – 12 places available
Wednesday 25th
Manager’s Tour with James Wills – 2pm
An in depth tour of the distillery with James Wills, finishing in our new tasting room where you will have the chance to taste some of our earliest releases and cask samples.
£30 – 12 places available
Regular distillery tours are available throughout the week, please e-mail, tours@kilchoman.com to book.
Thursday 26th May – Kilchoman Open Day
Be a Bottler
9.30am, 11.30am, 3pm and 4pm
Join our bottling team and experience the time and care that goes into every bottle of Kilchoman. Fill and label your own bottle of Machir Bay using our hands-on approach, and get it authenticated and signed.
£50 (includes your personalised bottle of Machir Bay) 12 places available
Kilchoman Distillery Farm Tour with Islay Heads
11am and 2pm
General Manager Islay heads will give you a guided tour of how the Distillery and Farm work in harmony, including a tour of the barley fields and other parts of the farm. You will enjoy drams of 100% Islay and our new spirit while standing in the very fields the barley was grown.
£25 – 12 places available
Anthony Wills Masterclass
12pm
A masterclass with distillery founder, Anthony Wills, tasting a wide range of cask samples from the early days and hearing all about life at Kilchoman from the man who started it all. Anthony will hand select cask samples from the warehouse, guiding you through each one.
£40 – 50 places available
Club Members’ Masterclass – 2pm
A masterclass exclusively for Kilchoman Club Members, tasting some of our sold out releases which are no longer available. Peter Wills, who was the first of Anthony and Kathy’s three sons to join Kilchoman, will talk you through the evolution of the distillery since he joined as a fresh faced 18 year old.
£30 – 50 places available
Blind Nosing Competition – Prize Draw – 4pm
Test your knowledge of Kilchoman – buy a ticket for £2 – nose all the glasses THEN fill in your guess (or you may even be very sure) for each glass. All correct entries will be put into a draw and the lucky winner declared at 4pm. The prize is a bottle of Kilchoman’s Feis Ile 2016. All proceeds to charity.
Still House Visits
Throughout the day there’s the opportunity to visit the still house to chat to our production team. Get up close whilst the team collect our new make spirit as it runs off the stills.
(No pre booking required)
Tutored Land Rover Tastings
Taste through a range of current Kilchoman expressions with Anthony’s three sons, George, James and Peter. Available throughout the day.
£10 (no pre-booking required)
Live Music from 10.30am – 5pm
Trail West, Islay Pipe Band, The Blueswater & Reely Jiggered
Available throughout the day
BBQ, bar, café, gift shop, whisky!
All bookings must be made by phone 01496 850011 – a non-refundable deposit will be taken for each pre booking.
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Update: We have added photos of the events to the article after the Fèis Ìle.