Not a Whisky Riot, but a Smooth Jazz Experience!

Those who are fans of Islay whiskies may be familiar with the Feis Ile (also know as the Islay Whisky Festival).  An annual whisky festival in May, which dedicates individual days over the space of a week to the distilleries of Islay, Jura and Arran.

However, you might not be as familiar with the Lavavulin™ Islay Jazz Festival. Currently in it's 13th year it looks like it won't disappoint! 

Although the festival started in 1999, Lagavulin only started sponsoring the event last year (2010). Over it's thirteen years the festival has grown to become a staple in the UK Jazz scene. I guess the combination of fantastic whiskies and amazing musicians can't but help draw people from all over the UK and Globe.

The Festival covers the weekend of Friday 16th September to Sunday 18th September. It will be opened by vocalist Viktoria Tolstoy. She’ll sing her own special arrangements of many great standards along with interpretations of pop tunes.

The Festival also features the world premiere of the sensational Scottish Drummer Tom Bancroft ‘s Red Triowith English piano star, Tom Cawley, and Norwegian bass sensation Mats Eilertsen, while Brian Kellock and Jacob Karlzon front two piano trios at different edges of the jazz spectrum.

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Coming of age at Kilchoman with a 100% Islay whisky.

Updated on Mon, June 20, 2011 by Kilchoman Distillery

Some of you may rightly argue that Kilchoman had already came to age two years ago.

However, the aspirations of Distillery Founder and Director Anthony Wills were only fully realised last week with Caskstrength bottle (Distillery only)the release of the first of Kilchoman 100% Islay whisky, which opens the question is this the true Kilchoman single malt whisky?

Before the small farm distillery opened in 2005 Anthony had a simple dream to make a whisky that was 100% made on Islay. A single malt produced from barley, grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery.

Prior to 2005 it took four years of chasing investment and hard work to get things going. Followed by the move to an Island of only 3000 people it was a journey he shared with his family, so much so that on graduating University Peter Wills (Anthonys son) will become Kilchomans' first official brand ambassador, and newest member of the team from September 2011.
Inaugural Tasting notes:
Retails at 69.00 and 11,300 bottles have been released.

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A Whisky Rollercoaster ride to Success for Ardbeg

Ardbeg fans celebrate in style at the Ardbeg Rollercoaster party.

The iconic Islay malt whisky, Ardbeg invited hundreds of fans to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of its worldwide fan club – the Ardbeg Committee, at two funfair-inspired events in Edinburgh and London in July 2010.

In 1997, when the Ardbeg Distillery on the shores of the remote island of Islay re-opened after years of closure, the Distillery appealed to loyal fans to help them spread the word about its re-awakening. Such was their enthusiasm that in 2000 the Distillery decided to form the Ardbeg Committee; its evangelical mission: “To ensure the doors of the Ardbeg Distillery never close again”. 

Ten years on and there are 50,000 members in 120 countries and in the UK members and guests enjoyed an authentic fun fair themed evening, with games such as 10 Dram Alley and ‘Shortie’ Shooter Gallery, while savouring the latest limited edition, Ardbeg Rollercoaster.

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Islay Junior Gaelic Choir - Whisky Appeal Dinner & Auction

slay hotelier and choir supporter Grahame Allison, of the island’s Port Charlotte Hotel, is holding a dinner on Saturday 21 August to raise funds for the Islay Junior Gaelic Choir to take part in this year’s Mod in October. The Mod is Scotland’s annual festival of Gaelic culture with international groups and individuals competing for medals in musical and literary categories. This year’s event is being held in Caithness in the far north of Scotland.

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