Isle of Raasay Cask Strength Limited Edition 2025

 

 

 

61,6°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

1st Fill Rye Whiskey, Chinkapin Virgin Oak and 1st Fill Bordeaux Red Wine Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

The first Isle of Raasay Cask Strength bottlings were launched in 2024, but I didn't get a chance to taste them then. So this one is the 2nd Batch in the Cask Strength series, it's just their classic Lightly Peated bottling, with a blend of six cask types, half of which are peated, but without any reduction. It's an outturn of 5500 bottles. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's fresh and salty, very costal, with a lovely sea breeze whipping across your face, iodine and intense mineral notes. Brioche, sliced lime, earthy hints, vanilla cream, banana, white grapes. On the palate, it's unctuous and fruity, pleasant peat but hardly noticeable, gravel, lemon pie, coconut, lively spices. Powerful finish, it takes off but remains enjoyable. Good length, sea foam, quartz, crystalline caramel, cooked pears, crème fraîche, dried fruit. Cold ashes, wood-fired chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

I like the character of the distillery, it's very costal and delicate at the same time. And here we find it in all its nakedness, it really is pure island whisky, with no false make-up. It's refreshing. The price is a little high, which is a pity, but fans of the profile may let themselves be tempted.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Cuspid - Nematode

Craigellachie 13 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Craigellachie - Speyside

Refill American Oak Bourbon Barrels 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2014 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Craigellachie is owned by Bacardi and it was in 2014 that a new range was launched, with a 13 year old, a 17 year old, and a 23 year old. The 13 year old is therefore the most accessible bottling and the distillery's signature. It is made with Worm Tubs, which are supposed to give a fuller-bodied distillate. Maturation is generally reported as being exclusively in Bourbon casks, but some say there are also a few Sherry casks, which is very possible.   

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Lemony freshness, a dash of vanilla, ripe white plums and pears, fresh apples, whisked eggs, meringue, English custard, thick honey, perhaps a floral touch. Banana, pineapple in syrup. Discreet and slightly woody cereals. It's a bit flat on the palate, peach stones, vanilla concentrate, goat's milk. A zest of lemon, evanescent spices. Quite a long finish, and powerful given the relatively low alcohol content. Puffed rice, crispy wheat, prawn fritters, vanilla dessert cream. Coconut beads. Roasted peanuts.

 

In Short, 

This is an original Speyside, more robust than usual, with a seductive nose. The finish is quite interesting, but on the palate it's a bit flat, which is a shame. The value for money is decent, this is certainly a Speyside I could live with.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lana Del Rey - Ride

The Lakes The Whiskymaker's Editions Isadora

 

 

 

53°

Distillery : The Lakes Distillery - England 

Sherry and Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Lakes is a distillery located in the very north of England, in the heart of the Lake District National Park. It opened in 2011, but the first distillation did not take place until December 2014, and the first Single Malts went on sale in 2018. The Whiskymaker's Editions series is launched in 2019, and it is the 4th Batch in this series that is voted World's Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards in 2022. This one was launched on International Women's Day, 8 March 2024, and was named after the great dancer Isadora Duncan. 900 bottles were produced, available only from the distillery. Nothing else has been revealed, so at this stage we can only speculate. The whisky can't be more than 9 years old, and it's probably less. I don't think it's Cask Strength, because at that age the natural alcohol content is higher. The casks used are being kept secret, but there are probably Sherry and Bourbon.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Candied lemon and mellow meringue, delicate mineral touches, crunchy sweets, syrupy caramel, lychees in syrup, grapefruit zest, dates, figs and light wood. Chocolate fondant, some red fruit. On the palate, lots of cinnamon, ginger, baked apples and woody caramel, fir resin, Oolong tea, minty and peppery notes. Quite a long finish, not too strong, well measured, earthy, forest berries, damp bark, cola, coffee beans, vegetal moss, slightly fermented pineapple at the very end. 

 

In Short, 

It's an excellent whisky for its age, oscillating between velvety citrus fruit and the markers of a deep, well-made Sherry. I'm impressed by such mastery, it's a shame you can't find it outside the distillery, except on a very few websites, but in any case it seems to be sold out. The price was apparently a bit high, but frankly, it's a curiosity worth discovering.

Score : 89  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           she's green - Graze

CRN57° 30 yo

 

 

 

51,9°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Speyside

Sherry and Boubon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By The Cairn Distillery

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Cairn is a Speyside distillery launched in 2022 by Gordon & MacPhail, it's their second distillery after Benromach. They plan not to release a single single malt for another ten years or so, so to keep us waiting, they've launched a whole range, CRN57°, which is supposed to look like what The Cairn single malts will be like. It goes up to 70 years, so I'll never know if the real 70 year old The Cairn will actually be anything like the 70 year old Blend currently on the market. In fact, they're not taking many risks! More reasonable is this 30 year old Blend from various Speyside distilleries, the name of which is being kept secret, hopefully I'll be able to compare, if my doctor lets me, between two rations of vegetable soup and a plain yoghurt. The problem is that we know very little about this Blend, apart from its age and region of origin. Nothing about the maturation process, the number of bottles produced, the colouring or the cold filtration. Nor do we know whether it is Cask Strength.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's very coppery, woody, with a lovely old library effect, yellowed paper, damp cellar, old sherry, sour notes, but candied grapes, ripe apricot, blood oranges, dried banana, dates. Vanilla extract, pastry cream, coconut, a grain or two of salt. Bay leaves, thyme. On the palate, it's lighter, not quite balanced, but tasty. Plums and pears, ratatouille, aubergines, courgettes and hints of pepper, all delicately crunchy. Light spices. Long but not explosive finish, quince, barely burnt caramel, it runs down the throat, candied apricots. Icing sugar. Chamonix biscuits.

 

In Short, 

A very well-made old school Blend, with a very slight acidity and a clearly recognisable OBE. Well, to be honest, it's very good, but it's no masterpiece either, and value for money is a slight problem. Nevertheless, it's an excellent marketing product for teasing out a distillery's future, decades in advance. A touch of genius. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Brittany Davis - Mirrors

Benrinnes 1996 Artist Collective #3.1 22 yo

 

 

 

51,4°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

3 Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In the early days of the Artist Collective range, which was born in 2017, you could find these sorts of suitably aged gems. Here we have a blend of 3 Hogsheads that have marinated for at least 22 years, and the number of bottles produced is not known. The label features an art work by David Crunelle entitled Intarsia (what does it mean?)

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy honey, accompanied by a minty freshness. Some sprigs of straw. Ethereal vanilla, quartz crystals. Yellow plum pulp, melon, mashed banana, grapefruit. Greedy cereals, it's floral, jasmine, primrose, courgette flower. Light but robust wood in the background, a hint of smoke. On the palate, lemon zest, creamy flan, tarte Tatin, candied lychees, coconut. Toasted wheat, untreated wood, sawdust. Long finish, not too violent, but very well managed. Green tea, fir resin, maple syrup. Fried mushrooms with a knob of butter, slight touch of bitterness. Asparagus. Artichoke hearts.

 

In Short, 

Benrinnes is a distillery I appreciate, but this one is truly impressive. The floral notes add complexity to a totally balanced nose, the palate is perfectly intense, and the finish is as long as a goods train. It's an excellent bottling, albeit a little expensive, but for connoisseurs it's worth the sacrifice.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Sea Lemon - Crystals

Glasgow 1770 2020 Small Batch Series Constantia Wine Cask Batch N°1 5 yo

 

 

 

56,6°

Distillery : The Glasgow Distillery - Lowlands

1st Fill Bourbon Casks, South African Constantia Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Glasgow Distillery was founded in 2012, and makes whisky, gin, rum and even vodka. Its whisky is sold under the Glasgow 1770 brand, and here we have the first batch in a new series, which brings together very limited edition bottlings, this one is the fruit of three casks, first aged in 1st Fill Bourbon Casks, then having followed a finish in Constantia Wine barrels for 1 year and ten months. Constantia Wine is a very sweet South African dessert wine. 980 bottles were produced, available mainly in the UK.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Luscious nose, lovely sweetness, candied apricots, crunchy cherries, egg custard. A pinch of icing sugar, crushed almonds, blood oranges. English custard, shortbread biscuits, papaya. On the palate, the orange is more intense, but also peaches, clementines and lychees, thick honey, chocolate chips, generous spices, nutmeg, cloves. A rather long finish that takes you by the hand, shortbread dough with fresh butter and almonds, persimmon, melon, pink grapefruit. Fine sand.

 

In Short, 

It's very surprising, very syrupy and fruity, but not bad at all. That's what I like about whisky too, its extreme variety, which allows it to identify with all sorts of products. Here, I have the impression that this is a whisky that is unique in the world. It's still available and if you like curiosities, especially if it's good, I recommend it. All the more so as the price is affordable.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Apparat - Goodbye

Loch Lomond 2016 Distillery Edition 6 8 yo

 

 

 

56,9°

Distillery : Loch Lomond - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon American Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Blended Grain

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In addition to their plethora of editions, the gentlemen of Loch Lomond produce bottlings only available at or near the distillery, aptly named Distillery Editions. This one is the 6th, a blend of two types of whisky, one an 8-year-old Single Malt, distilled in Straight Neck stills, the other a 14-year-old Single Grain, distilled in Cooper Column stills. Both are made from 100% malted barley, so if I've understood correctly, it's the distillation method that means it's not considered as a single malt. Maturation enhances the distillate, and exactly 400 bottles are produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

It's very well-balanced, with notes of woody wax, lemon zest, creamy vanilla, with a lovely airy fullness, quince jam, medlars and greengages, toasted cereals, hay. A hint of milk chocolate. It's delicately floral. On the palate, it's well-crafted, with oily honey, citrus fruit, grapefruit, peaches, soft bananas, muesli and lively spices. The finish is quite long and deep, with chocolate turning dark, drier fruits, figs, dates, wood varnish, one or two coffee beans. Malted cereals, candied ginger.

 

In Short, 

It's very interesting, the influence of the grain is discreet but very present, and there's a lot of fruit. It's really not expensive, but you have to travel all the way to Scotland to find it, that's the problem. Otherwise, everyone would have flocked to it, because the value for money is incredible.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lettuce - Rising to the Top

Deanston 2012 Icons of WTF Utrecht 10 yo

 

 

 

51°

Distillery : Deanston - Highlands

2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Ex-Ben Nevis Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By WTF Utrecht

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Whisky Tasting Festival in Utrecht has been going for ten years or so and has an excellent reputation. Maybe I should visit it. And the organisers of this festival occasionally bottle a little something from time to time, but it's Bourbon most of the time. I think this is the only Scotch Whisky they have on sale. Deanston is often an underrated distillery, here we have 309 bottles, the cask used is formerly Oloroso, and it then held Ben Nevis whisky, before being filled with this Deanston.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Lots of varied fruits, a lemony freshness but also honey and dates due to the influence of the cask. Oily beeswax, cereals galore, melted butter, light wood. Ripe apples and pears, Chasselas grapes, pineapple. Salted butter caramel, cooked bananas. It's tasty on the palate, like candied chestnuts, quince jam, a dash of vanilla, white melon, quite a lot of spice, black pepper, cloves. The finish is quite successful, long enough, explosive, roasted grain, torched wood, ginger, orange peel, dried figs. Sliced lime.

 

In Short, 

Some people have talked about its waxy and cereal profile, but I find that it's above all very fruity, with a lovely pulp that stands out. Given the age of the product, it's truly extraordinary. What's more, the price is very attractive, and of course, in these conditions, it's been sold out for a long time, that's not surprising. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ida - Maybelle