Elements of Islay – Beach Campfire Limited Edition 70 cl. 54,5%

Elements of Islay – Campfire Limited Edition is a smoky and characterful Islay whisky created by Elixir Distillersunder the Elements of Islay range, a series designed to capture different facets of the island’s whisky character. Campfireis a limited edition for Fèis Ìle 2025, created by head blender Oliver Chilton as the final chapter in the range’s Fire Trilogy. It is a blended malt made from three different single malts from Islay’s north and south coasts, though the exact distilleries are not disclosed.

The production is clearly built to deliver both smoky depth and sweet, spiced richness. The whisky has been matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, first-fill bourbon casks, and lightly toasted and lightly charred new oak casks, giving it a more layered profile than a purely peat-driven Islay whisky. It is bottled at 54.5% ABV, in 700 ml, and is described as non-chill filtered and without added colour.

In the glass, the flavour moves between campfire smoke, peat, and dark chocolate, but also toward candied orange, ginger-spiced biscuit, grilled notes, and toasted marshmallow. Several descriptions connect it directly to the feeling of sitting by a fire on Islay with s’mores in hand, which is actually a very accurate way to understand the style: smoky, warm, spicy, and at the same time surprisingly generous in sweetness. The overall impression is therefore both powerful and playful, with clear Islay character but also more dessert-like depth than many classic peat bombs.

This is a whisky that works particularly well neat, ideally with a little time in the glass so both the smoke and the sweeter cask notes can fully open up. It is especially well suited to drinkers who enjoy Islay whisky but want something more nuanced than just peat and ash — here, there is also chocolate, spice, citrus, and oak in a more rounded, festival-inspired expression.