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

Independent whiskey brand Elements of Islay has launched a limited edition Beach Bonfire whisky, which was first launched earlier this year at the iconic Fèis Ìle whiskey festival on the island of Islay.

The team wanted to create a whiskey that captured “the essence of the island’s rugged wilderness, transporting the consumer to the heart of this untamed landscape with every sip”. Master Blender Oliver Chilton is said to have been “inspired by the night bonfire where colour, smoke, flame and sand meet on the beach – truly representing the unique spirit and terroir of Islay”.

The new expression, bottled at 54.5% to be in line with the core elements of the Islay range, is aged in new oak, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Like the rest of the range, Beach Bonfire is not cold-filtered and retains its natural colour.

Colour: amber with mahogany highlights
Nose: clams, smoke, baking spices, cherries, tarragon, mint, caramel
Taste: Bourbon-soaked cherries, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, smoke, herbs
Finish: warm, long, wood, smoke, brown sugar

The blender and bottling company Elixir Distillers was founded by the two brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, who are also behind the shop The Whiskey Exchange. They use their extensive experience from virtually every nook and cranny of the spirit world to fuse traditional craftsmanship with an insatiable hunger to experiment and innovate. The main focus is definitely on Scotch whisky, but also Japanese, Irish and American whiskey as well as tequila and rum have found their way into Elixir Distillers’ beautifully designed bottles. Among the most notable brands we find Elements of Islay, Port Askaig, Single Malts of Scotland and Black Tot.

Originally the company was called Specialty Drinks, and the name only changed to Elixir Distillers in 2017 – but if the two brothers blend and bottle whiskey, where does the “Distiller” part come in? Well, in 2018 they announced plans to build a new distillery on Islay’s south coast. The future looks bright for fans of smoke and peat!