Elements of Islay Ln 2 Islay Single Malt Whiskey 700ml

Elements of Islay is produced by Elixir Distillers, the London-based independent bottler founded by brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, who also established The Whisky Exchange in 1999. The Elements range launched in 2006, presenting single malts from individual Islay distilleries in packaging inspired by traditional laboratory labels, with each release identified by a coded element symbol and batch number rather than a named distillery. Ln2 points to Loch Indaal, home to the source distillery behind this particular bottling.

This release comes from spirit distilled in 2009 and matured for 13 years in a single ex-bourbon hogshead before bottling at cask strength, 59.5% ABV, as a US-exclusive limited edition of 216 bottles. The whisky is heavily peated to more than 50 ppm, and the first-fill bourbon cask lends a sweetness that plays against the intense, maritime-driven peat character typical of the region.

The nose evokes a forest after rain, with petrichor, damp leaves, and earth giving way to milk chocolate and ripe tropical fruit. On the palate, papaya, ginger, and caramel bring sweetness that is countered by earthy smoke, menthol, white pepper, and char, closing on a long, smoky finish that lingers well after the last sip.