Elixir Distillers debuts the Trails series
London-based independent bottler Elixir Distillers has unveiled The Elixir Trails series, highlighting creative distilleries and producers worldwide.
The series, curated by Sukhinder Singh, managing director of Elixir Distillers, launches with the first instalments of The Whisky Trail and The Rum Trail, with plans to expand into other spirit categories.
Singh explained: “These are the spirits I recommend to friends. It’s not about the status of certain distilleries or what is a trendy, obscure place to talk about. Quality is far more important than reputation.
“To make it into this series, a whisky or rum has to be unique and special. When we taste something that stands out, we’ll visit the distillery for the full story. More often than not, there’s a great story behind amazing liquid – countries and distilleries creating their own sense of place and making their individual mark by using certain grains or fermentation methods, for example.”
The new series is available now at The Whisky Exchange, with prices between £59.95 (US$81) and £299 (US$402).
Every bottle features a QR code that links to detailed stories on the new Elixir Trails travelogue website.
Singh continued: “Our intention with Trails is to make spirits for both enthusiasts and connoisseurs. Using our experience in maturation and blending, including the selection of the right wood for the right spirit, we have nurtured batches of casks to prepare them perfectly for bottling, which we do at an ABV that ensures they can be enjoyed whatever your palate.”
The first instalment
The Whisky Trail debuts with four world whiskies: Thy 2020 four-year-old malted rye whisky from Denmark; White Peak 2018 seven-year-old English single malt; Chichibu 2014 10-year-old Japanese single malt finished for six years in IPA casks; and an eight-year-old American single malt from Westland Distillery.
All whiskies are offered at cask strength, exceeding 50% ABV.
Singh explained: “Elixir Distillers’ history of ageing and blending whisky is crucial. We will not simply identify a good distillery and bottle something. We’ll visit, select the best casks and then nurture the spirit further, using our combined decades of judgement to select the right wood for maturing and the ideal time to let a whisky evolve. But we’ll also maintain its distillery character. It’s a fine line.
“We buy in batches, so that our blending skills can be used to find different flavours within each batch and bring them together, giving us something better than the individual cask.”
The Rum Trail debuts with five distinct expressions, all bottled at 48% ABV.
The releases include an 18-year-old blended rum from Barbados, an 11-year-old pot still rum from Jamaica, a nine-year-old column still rum from Belize, a 17-year-old pot still rum from Australia, and an 11-year-old column still rum from Fiji.
Singh said: “One of the joys of rum is that there is so much variation in geographical style. We seek out rum that has been made with that expression of, if you like, ‘terroir’ – using locally grown cane, molasses produced on-site, or a particular style of distillation unique to that island or region.
“Rum is often bottled at ridiculously high strengths, but if you pour a rum and add water to the glass, it will fall apart. Water takes a long time to integrate with rum, so we believe in diluting before bottling to let it integrate. We then bottle at an ABV that brings out the best flavour and character – always balanced, drinkable and delicious.”
The new series joins Elixir Distillers’ portfolio, which includes brands such as Black Tot Rum, Elements of Islay, Port Askaig, and Highland Nectar. The company also owns two Scotch whisky distilleries: Tormore and Portintruan.
Last year, Singh partnered with Thierry Bénitah of La Maison du Whisky to launch a 30-year-old Imperial single malt.
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