A Fèis-Less Islay Again in 2021 (Episode 855: January 25, 2021)

For the second straight year, Islay’s biggest party of the year has been cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Fèis Ile, the Islay Festival of Malt & Music, will be replaced this May by a series of virtual events because of the uncertainty created by the pandemic and travel restrictions within the United Kingdom. We’ll talk with Ben Shakespeare of Islay’s Fèis Committee about the decision to cancel five months before festival week, along with the threat going ahead with the festival could pose to the island’s residents. In the news, MGP is buying Lux Row Distillers owner Luxco and all of its spirits brands for $475 million, while business leaders from both the U.S. and Europe are calling on the Biden Administration and European Union leaders to end their trade disputes. Finally, January 25th is celebrated worldwide as Burns Night honoring the Scottish poet Robert Burns, and we’ll take a look at how he might have fit into today’s world on Behind the Label.

Links: Islay Festival of Malt & Music | MGP Ingredients | Scotch Whisky Association | Laphroaig | Whisky Auctioneer | Ardbeg | Dewar’s | Douglas Laing & Co. | Rock Town Distillery | Bruichladdich | Islay Resilience Fund | Glasgow Girl