Mac-Talla – Friends of Fèis 2026 Cognac Cask Limited Edition (70cl, 52.4%)

This is a lightly peated Islay single malt from an undisclosed distillery, bottled by Mac-Talla to mark 40 years of the Fèis Ìle. It matured first in first-fill bourbon barrels, then spent two years finishing in six 225-litre cognac casks. After marrying, it rested a further month before bottling at cask strength, without colouring or chill-filtration. 580 bottles were filled. The nose brings sweet almond croissant, fine pastry, ripe orchard fruit and a hint of sea air. The palate has freshly baked pastry, poached pears, warm pineapple and toasted coconut within Islay smoke. The finish is gentle peat smoke and winter spices, increasingly dry and lingering.