First-Ever Festival Edition Bottling – Caol Ila 18-Year-Old Jazz Festival Edition, The Guitarist
The Islay Jazz Festival returns for its 27th year, and for the first time in its history, the event partners with the island’s iconic coastal distillery – Caol Ila. The collaboration celebrates the harmony of music and whisky, bringing together some of Scotland’s most talented jazz performers in one of the most atmospheric settings imaginable.
To mark the occasion, Caol Ila has unveiled its first-ever Festival Edition bottling: the Caol Ila 18-Year-Old Jazz Festival Edition, The Guitarist. Matured for 18 years in American oak and finished in toasted Scottish oak cask ends, the whisky amplifies Caol Ila’s smoky character with vibrant spice, sweet toffee apple, and a lingering coastal edge. Bottled at 52.8% ABV, only 948 bottles will be released at an RRSP of £250.
Festival highlights include:
- Exclusive whisky experiences – cocktail masterclasses, food pairings, and a special warehouse tasting led by Distillery Manager Martin Gaughan.
- Live performances at the distillery – including pianist Fergus McCreadie, bold new group Unharm, neo-soul vocalist Gaïa, and David Bowden’s Islay Experience concert inside the maturation warehouse.
Eleanor Gillies, Caol Ila’s Brand Home Manager, commented:
“This year’s Festival Edition captures the energy and spirit of music and whisky coming together. At 18 years old, it reflects Caol Ila’s coastal character with depth, balance, and a lingering smoky fade.”
The Caol Ila 18-Year-Old Jazz Festival Edition is available from 1 September at the Caol Ila Distillery and The Johnnie Walker Experience, Edinburgh.
👉 Festival experiences can be booked at malts.com.
