Elixer Distillers
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ELIXIR DISTILLERS PLANNING ISLAY DISTILLERY
April 2018
Islay is set to welcome its 10th whisky distillery after Elixir Distillers confirmed plans to build a site on the island.
Elixir Distillers is yet to name the distillery to be built on Islay’s south coast
Elixir Distillers, which owns the Port Askaig and Elements of Islay brands, outlined plans for a whisky distillery during a public consultation at Ramsay Hall in Port Ellen yesterday evening (25 April).
The as-yet-unnamed distillery will be situated on Islay’s south coast, just outside the town of Port Ellen on the road toward Laphroaig.
Following the public consultation, Elixir Distillers intends to submit a planning application with a view to begin building in early 2019.
Pending planning consent, distillation could begin at the site as early as 2020 – the same year whisky is expected to return to the silent Port Ellen distillery nearby.
Sukhinder Singh, co-founder of Elixir Distillers and spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange, said the island of Islay is the perfect place to build a single malt distillery.
‘Some of the world’s most amazing drams come from Islay,’ he said. ‘Their unique style combined with the special character of the island meant there was never any question that we wouldn’t choose Islay to build our distillery.
‘As soon as I saw the distillery site I fell in love with it. It’s on the holy grail of whisky roads, passing Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries on the way to Kildalton Cross. Plus it’s in the town of Port Ellen, which as a collector of Port Ellen single malt, has a special meaning. It was just too good to resist.’
Singh added that liquid produced at the distillery would be used to create ‘new products’, as well as provide liquid for Elixir Distillers’ other brands in the future.
Islay has seen an explosion of interest from investors looking to produce Scotch whisky on the island in recent years.
This summer independent bottler Hunter Laing will open Ardnahoe on the island’s northeast coast, while plans for a distillery at Gartbreck on the shore of Loch Indaal near Bowmore have been stop-start.
In October last year Diageo, which operates Caol Ila and Lagavulin distilleries on Islay, revealed plans to reopen Port Ellen distillery, which has been closed since 1983.
Demand for Islay whisky has been on the increase over the past few years as interest in peated single malt continues to grow among whisky enthusiasts.
Speaking about the reasons for building Ardnahoe distillery during an interview in 2016, Hunter Laing MD Stewart Laing said ‘as a company can never get enough Islay whisky to satisfy our requirements… we recognise how many cases of Islay malt are sold in a year, so we wanted to be with the winners’.
ELIXIR DISTILLERS PLANNING ISLAY DISTILLERY
April 2018
Islay is set to welcome its 10th whisky distillery after Elixir Distillers confirmed plans to build a site on the island.
Drawing of Elixir Distillers distillery on Islay
Unnamed project: Elixir Distillers is yet to name the distillery to be built on Islay’s south coast
Elixir Distillers, which owns the Port Askaig and Elements of Islay brands, outlined plans for a whisky distillery during a public consultation at Ramsay Hall in Port Ellen yesterday evening (25 April).
The as-yet-unnamed distillery will be situated on Islay’s south coast, just outside the town of Port Ellen on the road toward Laphroaig.
Following the public consultation, Elixir Distillers intends to submit a planning application with a view to begin building in early 2019.
Pending planning consent, distillation could begin at the site as early as 2020 – the same year whisky is expected to return to the silent Port Ellen distillery nearby.
Sukhinder Singh, co-founder of Elixir Distillers and spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange, said the island of Islay is the perfect place to build a single malt distillery.
‘Some of the world’s most amazing drams come from Islay,’ he said. ‘Their unique style combined with the special character of the island meant there was never any question that we wouldn’t choose Islay to build our distillery.
‘As soon as I saw the distillery site I fell in love with it. It’s on the holy grail of whisky roads, passing Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries on the way to Kildalton Cross. Plus it’s in the town of Port Ellen, which as a collector of Port Ellen single malt, has a special meaning. It was just too good to resist.’
Singh added that liquid produced at the distillery would be used to create ‘new products’, as well as provide liquid for Elixir Distillers’ other brands in the future.
Islay has seen an explosion of interest from investors looking to produce Scotch whisky on the island in recent years.
This summer independent bottler Hunter Laing will open Ardnahoe on the island’s northeast coast, while plans for a distillery at Gartbreck on the shore of Loch Indaal near Bowmore have been stop-start.
In October last year Diageo, which operates Caol Ila and Lagavulin distilleries on Islay, revealed plans to reopen Port Ellen distillery, which has been closed since 1983.
Demand for Islay whisky has been on the increase over the past few years as interest in peated single malt continues to grow among whisky enthusiasts.
Speaking about the reasons for building Ardnahoe distillery during an interview in 2016, Hunter Laing MD Stewart Laing said ‘as a company can never get enough Islay whisky to satisfy our requirements… we recognise how many cases of Islay malt are sold in a year, so we wanted to be with the winners’.
Elixir Distillers granted planning to build 11th Islay distillery
10 February, 2021
Elixir Distillers has been granted permission to build a new distillery in Islay with construction set to begin this year.
The Argyll & Bute council planning committee approved Elixir’s plans which includes on-site housing, a visitor centre and a multi-purpose educational facility.
The new site will also have floor maltings capable of supplying more than 50% of the full one million LA capacity of the distillery.
“We’ve worked closely with the Argyll & Bute planning committee to create plans for a distillery that fits into the landscape and supports the community,” said Elixir Distillers co-founder Sukhinder Singh.
“We want to create whiskies that inspire both the people of Islay and Islay whisky fans world-wide, enhancing the already glowing reputation of Islay whiskies, while also becoming an integral part of the community.”
Elixir also intends to create an apprentice programme to train the next generation of distillers and the name of the distillery will be announced at a later date.
Oliver Chilton, head blender at Elixir Distillers, added: “We take great pride in being able to learn, as whisky enthusiasts and use that knowledge as a guide to find and bottle great whisky including our independent bottlings brands Port Askaig and Elements of Islay.
“Having our own distillery will be a fantastic opportunity to apply the same methodology and passion for flavour in a drive to make truly great spirit to enhance the incredible reputation that Islay single malt already has.”
Elixir Distillers has appointed Georgie Crawford as distillery manager for the brand’s forthcoming Islay distillery, following planning approval for the project at the end of 2020.
Having been with Diageo’s scotch whisky distilleries for 14 years, most recently as manager for the Port Ellen Distillery Revival project, Crawford will join Elixir Distillers this summer for the construction of the distillery site on Islay’s south coast.
Sukhinder Singh, co-founder of Elixir Distillers, said: “Having grown up on Islay, attending school a stone’s throw from our distillery site, Crawford’s love for the island and all its distilleries is unrivalled.
“She not only shares our passion for Islay whisky, but also our vision for the future and I know that she will bring both exceptional expertise and a fresh approach to a new Islay distillery.”
Crawford’s career in Scotch whisky began at The Vaults in Edinburgh, the home of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in 2002, before working for brands such as Talisker, Glen Ord and Teaninich.
It was her role as manager at Lagavulin that brought Crawford back to Islay and, in 2018, she joined the revival project of Diageo’s Port Ellen distillery.
ISLAY DISTILLERY
April 2018
Islay is set to welcome its 10th whisky distillery after Elixir Distillers confirmed plans to build a site on the island.
Drawing of Elixir Distillers distillery on Islay
Unnamed project: Elixir Distillers is yet to name the distillery to be built on Islay’s south coast
Elixir Distillers, which owns the Port Askaig and Elements of Islay brands, outlined plans for a whisky distillery during a public consultation at Ramsay Hall in Port Ellen yesterday evening (25 April).
The as-yet-unnamed distillery will be situated on Islay’s south coast, just outside the town of Port Ellen on the road toward Laphroaig.
Following the public consultation, Elixir Distillers intends to submit a planning application with a view to begin building in early 2019.
Pending planning consent, distillation could begin at the site as early as 2020 – the same year whisky is expected to return to the silent Port Ellen distillery nearby.
Sukhinder Singh, co-founder of Elixir Distillers and spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange, said the island of Islay is the perfect place to build a single malt distillery.
‘Some of the world’s most amazing drams come from Islay,’ he said. ‘Their unique style combined with the special character of the island meant there was never any question that we wouldn’t choose Islay to build our distillery.
‘As soon as I saw the distillery site I fell in love with it. It’s on the holy grail of whisky roads, passing Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries on the way to Kildalton Cross. Plus it’s in the town of Port Ellen, which as a collector of Port Ellen single malt, has a special meaning. It was just too good to resist.’
Singh added that liquid produced at the distillery would be used to create ‘new products’, as well as provide liquid for Elixir Distillers’ other brands in the future.
Islay has seen an explosion of interest from investors looking to produce Scotch whisky on the island in recent years.
This summer independent bottler Hunter Laing will open Ardnahoe on the island’s northeast coast, while plans for a distillery at Gartbreck on the shore of Loch Indaal near Bowmore have been stop-start.
In October last year Diageo, which operates Caol Ila and Lagavulin distilleries on Islay, revealed plans to reopen Port Ellen distillery, which has been closed since 1983.
Demand for Islay whisky has been on the increase over the past few years as interest in peated single malt continues to grow among whisky enthusiasts.
Speaking about the reasons for building Ardnahoe distillery during an interview in 2016, Hunter Laing MD Stewart Laing said ‘as a company can never get enough Islay whisky to satisfy our requirements… we recognise how many cases of Islay malt are sold in a year, so we wanted to be with the winners’.
georgie crawford elixir distillers
Elixir Distillers appoints Georgie Crawford as Islay distillery manager
2 April, 2021
Elixir Distillers has appointed Georgie Crawford as distillery manager for the brand’s forthcoming Islay distillery, following planning approval for the project at the end of 2020.
Having been with Diageo’s scotch whisky distilleries for 14 years, most recently as manager for the Port Ellen Distillery Revival project, Crawford will join Elixir Distillers this summer for the construction of the distillery site on Islay’s south coast.
Sukhinder Singh, co-founder of Elixir Distillers, said: “Having grown up on Islay, attending school a stone’s throw from our distillery site, Crawford’s love for the island and all its distilleries is unrivalled.
“She not only shares our passion for Islay whisky, but also our vision for the future and I know that she will bring both exceptional expertise and a fresh approach to a new Islay distillery.”
Crawford’s career in Scotch whisky began at The Vaults in Edinburgh, the home of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in 2002, before working for brands such as Talisker, Glen Ord and Teaninich.
It was her role as manager at Lagavulin that brought Crawford back to Islay and, in 2018, she joined the revival project of Diageo’s Port Ellen distillery.
Tormore Distillery
Elixir Distillers to buy Pernod Ricard’s Tormore Distillery
22 June, 2022
Elixir Distillers has signed an agreement to buy the Tormore distillery and brand from Pernod Ricard.
The independent whisky specialist, co-founded by owners Rajbir and Sukhinder Singh, made the move to develop Elixir Distillers into a world-leading brand, distiller and bottler.
Sukhinder Singh said: “We are hoping to build on the work that’s been done by Pernod Ricard to bring to life the magic of Tormore and show consumers around the world just what a hidden gem it is. We couldn’t have asked for a better distillery to welcome to the Elixir family alongside our new Islay distillery, Portintruan.
Built in 1960, Tormore distillery is among one of the larger distilleries in Scotland with a capacity of just under five million litres of alcohol per year.
Alexandre Ricard, chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard said: “The sale of the Tormore brand and distillery follows the recent announcement of our investment behind the Aberlour and Miltonduff facilities, which will increase our Scotch production capacities by 14 million litres of alcohol per annum.”
Tormore distillery has been owned by Pernod Ricard since 2005, with the Elixir Distillers deal including an inventory of aged stock.
Sukhinder and Rajbir added: “Our goal is to establish the reputation of Tormore on the global stage to match the special quality of the whisky. We want Tormore to stand shoulder to shoulder alongside the
Elixir Distillers announces name of new Islay distillery
09 May, 2022
Ahead of Fèis Ìle festival, and six months after breaking ground, co-founders of Elixir Distillers have announced that their new Islay distillery will be called Portintruan.
Portintruan takes its name from the historic farm estate where the distillery is located, just outside of Port Ellen on Islay’s south coast, near the Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries.
“Elixir Distillers has always taken a flavour-led approach and this will be the Portintruan philosophy as well,” said co-owner Sukhinder Singh.
“We will be utilising a number of old-style production techniques which we believe will accentuate the depth and character of the spirit.
“A key part of the process will be using malt predominantly from our own floor maltings on-site, and we will be using direct-fired wash stills for the distillation.
“We plan to work with different phenol levels across the range, which will all have their own specific flavour profiles.”
The new distillery will set out to combine traditional production techniques with modern technology to improve process, quality, and sustainability.
“Working within what is currently possible on Islay, we want to be as green and as responsible as we can,” said distillery manager, Georgie Crawford.
“We are talking to the Islay Energy Trust, our fellow distillers on the island and suppliers to ensure we take all opportunities to be greener.
“We are using the latest technology to implement a heat loop for our water usage to ensure the maximum amount is recycled and reused with the heat recovered for other processes.
“We’re also using biodiesel for our direct-fired stills which is the cleanest fuel we can currently source, and we’re building the distillery so that it can use hydrogen power once that is available.”
The distillery name is being announced in time for the 2022 Fèis Ìle, the annual festival of whisky and music on Islay that will run from 27 May to 4 June and see 10,000 whisky-lovers visit the island.
Previously known as Speciality Drinks, founders of the Whisky Exchange Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, renamed the independent bottling arm of their business Elixir Distillers in 2017.
Two years later, Elixir Distillers launched its first original blended rum, Black Tot Finest Caribbean, and in 2021 launched Highland Nectar Scotch Whisky Liqueur.
Elixir Distillers announces name of new Islay distillery
May, 2022
Ahead of Fèis Ìle festival, and six months after breaking ground, co-founders of Elixir Distillers have announced that their new Islay distillery will be called Portintruan.
Portintruan takes its name from the historic farm estate where the distillery is located, just outside of Port Ellen on Islay’s south coast, near the Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries.
“Elixir Distillers has always taken a flavour-led approach and this will be the Portintruan philosophy as well,” said co-owner Sukhinder Singh.
“We will be utilising a number of old-style production techniques which we believe will accentuate the depth and character of the spirit.
“A key part of the process will be using malt predominantly from our own floor maltings on-site, and we will be using direct-fired wash stills for the distillation.
“We plan to work with different phenol levels across the range, which will all have their own specific flavour profiles.”
The new distillery will set out to combine traditional production techniques with modern technology to improve process, quality, and sustainability.
“Working within what is currently possible on Islay, we want to be as green and as responsible as we can,” said distillery manager, Georgie Crawford.
“We are talking to the Islay Energy Trust, our fellow distillers on the island and suppliers to ensure we take all opportunities to be greener.
“We are using the latest technology to implement a heat loop for our water usage to ensure the maximum amount is recycled and reused with the heat recovered for other processes.
“We’re also using biodiesel for our direct-fired stills which is the cleanest fuel we can currently source, and we’re building the distillery so that it can use hydrogen power once that is available.”
The distillery name is being announced in time for the 2022 Fèis Ìle, the annual festival of whisky and music on Islay that will run from 27 May to 4 June and see 10,000 whisky-lovers visit the island.
Previously known as Speciality Drinks, founders of the Whisky Exchange Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, renamed the independent bottling arm of their business Elixir Distillers in 2017.
Two years later, Elixir Distillers launched its first original blended rum, Black Tot Finest Caribbean, and in 2021 launched Highland Nectar Scotch Whisky Liqueur.
14December 2022
The name of the new distillery on Islay is Portintruan