Elements of Islay - Core Trilogy

If you haven't come across @ElementsOfIslay 50cl 'chemistry' bottles before you've missed a treat! Rather than distillery names they use chemical symbols!

They have now introduced a core range of blended malts - let's find out more:

The Elements Of Islay range sit alongside Port Askaig, The Single Malts of Scotland and Highland Nectar in @ElixirDistiller's portfolio. They used to own the @WhiskyExchange and are currently building Islay's 10th distillery Portintruan (pronounced Port-nah-truan it takes takes its name from the historic farm estate where the distillery is located and means ‘place of the stream’).

The Elements series was introduced in 2008 and now features whisky from all of Islay's distilleries.

The new permanent core trilogy comprises three small-batch blended malt expressions from a range of 8-12 year old casks: Cask Edit, Bourbon Cask and Sherry Cask, they are:

"Expertly sourced, independently bottled whiskies; all are natural in colour and non-chill filtered. Each expression is inspired by a different element of maturation and aimed at curious whisky drinkers who have a desire to experience, taste and explore the unique flavours of Islay." 

Oliver Chilton, Elixir Distillers, Master Blender comments:

“We’re very excited to present a new, re-imagined core range of whiskies for Elements of Islay. The rich, smoky flavours make this unquestionably elemental and a great start to the Elements of Islay whisky journey. The blend combines fresher, fruitier style of peaty Islay single malt from the north coast with a typical rich and smoky style from Islay’s south coast and has been matured in four different styles of casks to offer a complex but balanced whisky for enthusiasts and people looking to discover the incredible island of Islay. We already had an excellent reception from the trade and hope we’ll introduce more drinkers to the joy of Islay whiskies”.

Let's see what they are like:

Bottler info:

Bourbon Cask is matured in first fill and refill bourbon barrels. Classic rich barbecue smoke from a south coast Islay distillery combines with more subtle, zesty flavours from the north coast.

70cl, 54.5% ABV, NCF, Natural colour, £60

Profile: Coal smoke, tropical fruit, maple Syrup.

Nose: Sweet aromas rise from a sugar jar with vanilla pods. The fragrance of vanilla-and-amber scented candles fills the air, along with fresh tropical fruits. Faint puffs of chimney coal smoke linger.

Palate: A chocolate-dusted cappuccino, warm vanilla-custard brioche and maple-syrup-poached tangy fruits appear, along with a roaring peat fire. Butter icing on vanilla cupcakes follows next.

Finish: Sweet, creamy vanilla with a hint of peat smoke.

Although I was given the composition of the blend (57% Bourbon Barrel, 24% Bourbon barrel and 19% Hogshead) I'm not allowed to reveal the distilleries the 3 components came from, being small batch they are likely to change in the future anyway!

My thoughts:

Appearance: Pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin hairline crack, take an age to bead up and eventually fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: Gentle peat smoke to start, it builds as you continue to nose the liquid, a little medicinal, a little coastal - there's some salinity and smoked kipper notes in here. Tropical fruit come next: pineapple, kiwi, banana; with a hint of dryness. There's no hint of the high ABV or of any spice.

Palate: Thick sweet arrival: golden syrup and honey and a mouth full of bonfire smoke. The ABV makes itself known immediately with a bite of peppery spice. There is a salty ashy dryness left in the mouth as the liquid disappears begging you to try some more. A few more sips reveal the tropical fruit from the nose, vanilla custard, a little milk chocolate and shortbread biscuit. 

Finish: Lingering salt, smoke and peppery spice. A little sweetness gives way to dryness on the tongue.

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Bottler info:

Sherry Cask is matured in first fill and refill sherry butts and hogsheads. Islay single malt from a south coast distillery brings flavours of dried fruits and dark chocolate, while a distillery on the north coast contributes notes of lemon oil and Arbroath smokie.

70cl, 54.5% ABV, NCF, Natural colour, £65

Profile: Smoke tea, autumn fruit, winter spice.

Nose: The lingering scent of tobacco remains in an empty sandalwood cigar box. Arbroath smokie sits alongside aromatic notes of lemon oil, ginger root and a hint of menthol.

Palate: Rich and unctuous. Dark-chocolate-dipped candied orange slices and chunks of crystallised stem ginger. Muscovado sugar syrup provides a sticky, dark drizzle over date-studded ginger cake. Sweet smoke and dried autumn fruits sit in the background.

Finish: Treacle toffee and smoky black tea, sweetened by dark brown sugar. A long, sweet, rich and spicy finish.

Blend composition: 3 single malts : 74% Sherry butt, 22% Sherry butt and 4% Sherry hogshead.

My thoughts:

Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: A complex combination of dark fruit and smoke to start, give it some time and it settles down to reveal dried fruit, black cherries, dates and prunes with a blanket of medicinal smoke, a hint of maritime breeze and some citrus zest. Nice!

Palate: Another thick sweet arrival: honey and brown sugar with a red fruit compote to start, a gentle maritime smoke and some sweet citrus. A very chewy dram, prunes, dates and figs from the sherry casks, but there is some vanilla here too. Some milk chocolate, almonds and a little ginger spice as the liquid disappears.

Finish: Long notes of dry maritime smoke, brown sugar and a little ginger spice.

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Bottler info:

Cask Edit is a composition - or edit - of refill, bourbon and sherry casks. Rich, smoky single malt from Islay’s south coast marries together with a fresher, fruitier style from the north.

70cl, 46% ABV, NCF, Natural colour, £45

Profile: Smoke, fresh fruit, wood spice.

Nose: The aromatic notes of freshly brewed coffee, tempered with hot milk. Sugared almonds and white chocolate truffles are misted with light peat smoke. A fresh fruit basket brings balance.

Palate: Sweet, with mineral qualities. Vanilla smoke and wood spice permeate through the smell of freshly baked butter croissants and hot, fruity coffee.

Finish: The finish is lightly smoked and sweet - a bowl of fruit salad remains.

Blend composition: 4 single malts : 51% Hogshead, 31% Bourbon barrels, 16% Sherry barrels and 2% Sherry Hogshead.

My thoughts:

Appearance: Pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: As you'd expect this is somewhere between the previous two - the smoke is a little more coastal: bonfire on a beach; the fruit a little more red: strawberries, raspberries, cherries with a little blueberry in too. Marzipan suggests sugar and nuts.

Palate: Thick sweet arrival, golden syrup with a blanket of maritime smoke, a little sour citrus and dry icing sugar. Completely different from the previous two, this one has that coastal sour citrus that I associate with Northern Islay, The ABV is a little weaker on this one but it doesn't really show. Tropical fruit and berries mingle on the palate before it turns dry, ashy and grapefruity as the liquid disappears. Yummy!

Finish: Lingering dry ash, sour grapefruit and honey.

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Overall: The Bourbon gives obvious vanilla and tropical fruit notes from the casks blanketed in medicinal and maritime peat smoke, The Sherry add dark fruit, sweetness and chocolate - not a sherry bomb but something well balanced and dangerously drinkable. I was expecting the Cask Edit to be a combination of the Bourbon and Sherry Blends, but it isn't, it's something completely different. The distillery mix is obviously different, this one has more maritime influence. The bourbon is more prominent than the sherry, I'd even go so far to suggest it could have been wine rather than sherry casks in the blend! For me they were all good, my order of preference would be the reverse of the order I tried them!

Many thanks to Specialty Brands and @ElixirDistiller for their generous samples but this didn't sway my opinions of the whiskies.

Geeky stuff:

So what do these symbols all mean? Most are pretty obvious to be fair!

Ar : Argon or Ardbeg. Latest batch #11

Bn : Boron nitride or Bunnahabhain. Latest batch #9

Br : Bromine or Bruichladdich. Latest batch #7

Bw : Bowmore. Latest batch #8

Cl : Chlorine or Caol Ila. Latest batch #14

Kh : Potassium hydride or Kilchoman. Latest batch #1 (The only independently bottled Kilchoman)

Lg : Lagavulin. Latest batch #12

Ln : Lanthanide or Loch Indaal (Bruichladdich). Latest batch #1

Lp : Propane or Laphroaig. Latest batch #12

Ma : Molybdenum or Moine (Peated Bunnahabhain). Latest batch #3

Oc : Octomore (Bruichladdich). Latest batch #6

Pe : Polyethylene or Port Ellen. Latest batch #5

Pl :  Paulium or Port Charlotte. Latest batch #6

Peat: A range of blended malts