48°
Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands
Ex-Burgundy Red Wine Casks
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2025
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Totally Unpeated
The distillery on the Isle of Raasay has always had a special relationship with France, especially as it has French employees. Here we have a Special Release exclusively for the French market, just to make our neighbours jealous. For the occasion, the text on the label and packaging is in French. It was matured in Burgundy wine casks, aged for 4 years, and the barley used was unpeated. 2,000 bottles are on sale at the moment, but I've been told that even more bottles are ready to flood France, or perhaps another country.
Let's Taste It :
The nose is light but tasty, with hints of the sea, limestone, iodine and other mineral notes, austere fruitiness, muscat grapes, redcurrants, candied aubergines, and a few traces of vanilla and custard. Varnished wood, laurel, forest after rain, undergrowth. On the palate, it's unctuous, velvety, chestnut cream, peanut butter, lumpy caramel, vergeoise, chocolate macaroons, acacia honey, discreet spices, cloves, nutmeg. The finish is long, sufficiently robust, roots, oak bark, coffee beans, cocoa, earthy notes, heather.
In Short,
It's a little different from the distillery's other bottlings, first of all there's no peat, then the costal character is less present, the fruit is more intense, and there's also an interesting woody patina, which is the influence of the casks. I liked it, but my tasting partner was less enthusiastic, as wine casks can sometimes be divisive. Here, I thought it was well balanced, neither acidic nor too woody. The price seems acceptable to me, it's not for sale yet, we'll have to wait a few weeks, but to be honest I'm considering a purchase.
Score : 87
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Tickle the Sage - Tickle the Sage
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