A Fèis-Less Islay Again in 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.