Isle of Raasay 2019 Na Sia Single Cask Series Unpeated Chinkapin Oak Cask 5 yo c.19/622

 

 

 

62°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

Chinkapin Virgin Oak Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

The Na Sia Single Cask series seems endless, with bottlings coming thick and fast, leaving us spoiled for choice. Here we have the contents of a virgin Chinkapin Oak cask, distilled in 2019 and bottled fairly recently, so the age of 5 years seems logical. Anyway, each batch in the series is released every two years, 3 years, 5 years, and soon 7 years, up to 11 years. It is therefore impossible in principle for the whisky to be 4 years old. The scientific name for Chinkapin oak is Quercus Muehlenbergii, it is an American oak. It is intensely toasted, which reveals the natural sugars in the wood.

Let's Taste It : 

The woodiness is immediately intense, chiselled bark, sawdust, wood chips. White chocolate, pastry cream, a hint of smoke. Pine needles, white grapes, vanilla pod. Very light citrus fruits, chalky notes, refreshing iodine. On the palate, it is pleasant and smooth, liquid caramel, fir resin, thick honey. Pink plums, lively spices, crushed almonds and cereals. The finish is long and powerful, destructive, dry earth, hot chestnuts, hazelnuts and walnuts, young wood, grassy notes. Whitewash.

In Short, 

It's very intense, but not at all bitter or sickening. The wood is very present throughout the tasting, but coated with caramel, honey and resin, which makes it pleasant and successful overall. I think it can mainly be found in France, at a price that I find a little too high. But it's an experience worth trying.

Score : 88 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           IzzI RAI - The Talk

Isle of Raasay 2021 Special Release Exclusivité France 2025 4 yo

 

 

 

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

Isle of Raasay 2021 The Draam R-01.4.1 3 yo

 

 

 

46,4°

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

Peated around 25 ppm 

 

 

 

The Draam is the new name of the R Lightly Peated series which appeared in 2021. The principle: each year, at least two new bottlings are made using the same recipe, based on six different casks, 1st Fill Rye, Chinkapin Oak and 1st Fill Bordeaux Red Wine, in both peated and unpeated varieties. The blend of all this creates the distillery's most accessible whisky, this being the 11th Batch, each time with a new and more incomprehensible code number. This one is made with Laureate barley from Scotland, the age is 3 to 5 years, and the number of bottles produced remains a mystery.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Light lemon with costal notes, pulpy grapefruit, a spoonful of vanilla cream, fragile woodiness, grapes and lychees. Cinnamon, chocolate powder, a drop of pineapple. Sea spray, foam, sea air. Subdued peat, rocky and chalky. On the palate, it's still a little light, but the fruit fills in the gaps, banana, various citrus fruits, white grapes, liquid caramel, pleasant spices. Quite remarkable finish, oak bark, freshly cut wood, a few cereals, puffed rice, nuts, apple pieces. A pinch of iodine.

 

In Short, 

On the palate, it's still a little light, but the nose is very fresh and costal, and the finish is quite long and powerful despite the reduction. I enjoyed the previous batches, and this one is more delicate but more summer-like. The price seems reasonable, so you can treat yourself, and the bottle is very pretty, at least it's decorative.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Zennec Wave - Fade to Grey

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

Isle of Raasay 2019 Na Sia Single Cask Series Unpeated Rye Cask 5 yo c. 19/268

 

 

 

61,8°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands 

American Rye Whiskey Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

The plan for the Na Sia Single Cask Series is to release a Batch every two years, when the distillate is 3, 5, 7, 9 and finally 11 years old. So here we have the 2nd Batch in the series, which, like its predecessor, comes in six versions: Bordeaux cask, Chinkapin oak cask, American Rye cask, peated and unpeated. Here we have a sample of cask 19/268, an unpeated American Rye cask. Each cask produces around 150 to 250 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's mellow, with hints of brioche, sponge cake, a few white fruits coated in honey, raisins and plums, but there's also a whiff of rustic cereal, varnished wood and freshly baked farmhouse bread. Touches of pepper and vanilla. On the palate, royal jelly, gingerbread, black bread galettes, woody spices, pan-fried caramel, cinnamon. Powerful finish, with notes of charcoal, terracotta, cocoa paste, coffee, toffee and ginger. The wood becomes rougher.

 

In Short, 

That's very interesting. I've always enjoyed Rye, here the cereals are intense, but very softened by tones of honey and white fruit. It's very pleasant to drink. The nose is sufficiently complex and the finish quite powerful. On the other hand, the price is a little too high.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Danit - Cuatro Vientos

Isle of Raasay Lightly Peated Batch R-01.3.1

 

 

 

46,4°

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 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm  

This biannual range is coming to an end, or so I'm told. This is the 3rd Batch of the Spring edition, which is named 01 (02 being the Autumn edition). I don't know what the 1 at the end means. All these codes are certainly starting to get complicated. I don't know the age of the beast or the number of bottles produced.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is lively, almost spicy, with honey and white fruits, vanilla and banana, gentle sea breeze, spices, cloves and black pepper. Luscious vanilla, warm waffle, mineral salts. Sand from the beach, a few salted biscuits. It's full on the palate, with yellow plums, mirabelles, the peat is far in the background, as are the spices. The finish is correct but light, woody, toasted cereals, crispy buckwheat pancakes, some pastry and creamy notes. Whipped cream.

In Short, 

I think this series has improved over time. I used to find the mouth very clear, but here it's quite pleasant. I would still like a more virile alcohol content. The price is always a bit high.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Haunted Images - Grey Days

Isle of Raasay 2021 Special Release Quercus Humboldtii Colombian Oak 3 yo

 

 

 

50,7°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

Virgin Colombian Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Slightly Peated

 

 

A first edition of Isle of Raasay aged in Colombian Oak Casks was released in 2023, but this was only a finish at that time. This one underwent its entire maturation in Quercus Humboldtii Oak Casks, known as Colombian. This bottling is included in the new Oak Species Maturation series. 8,500 bottles have been put on sale. 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is fresh, airy, aromas of crème brûlée, nougatine, sea breeze and a pinch of salt. The peat is light and fluffy, with some white fruit, banana and vanilla. It's very woody of course, but not bitter, and the wood is young and fresh, just cut. It is combined with good notes of pastry, whipped cream and salted butter toffee. On the palate, it's more thick honey, wood resin and mint candy, discreet spices. The finish is quite strong and powerful, you can feel the wood veins with touches of grainy cereals.

In Short, 

In general, I don't much like ageing in virgin casks, but this one is a great success. It's fresh and airy, pastry-like, and without those unpleasant bitter notes you sometimes find with this type of ageing. No doubt because it's still young, the wood hasn't had time to take too much effect. It's an original product, worth trying for the curious and fans of the distillery. I find that it lacks a touch of complexity. The price is a bit high, though.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           alt-J - 3WW

Isle of Raasay 2019 Dùn Cana First Edition 3 yo

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

1st Fill Rye Woodford Reserve Casks, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 48 ppm

This new expression was launched around ten months ago, and will apparently be an annual edition, as the second edition has already been released. It is almost 4 years old, give or take a few days, and was first matured in American Rye Woodford Reserve casks, and the second maturation, which lasted around five months, was in Sherry Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks. Around 14,000 bottles were filled with this nectar, which was then sold exclusively on the British and American markets. Two different types of barley were used, Concerto and Arbikle Laureate. 

Let's Taste It : 

Sherry a little dry and grainy, with redcurrants and a few pomegranate seeds. A variety of dried fruits, raisins, apricots, bananas, with a light but fragrant woodiness, tinder and roasted hazelnuts. Chocolate chips, puffed rice. On the palate it is spicy and fruity, slightly syrupy, apricot brandy, nutmeg, raspberry, clove. The finish sinks into deep wood, charcoal, damp earth, but also some salty and sandy notes. Puffs of light smoke. Baked earth. A zest of blood orange.

In Short, 

It's not bad at all, apart from the palate which is a little too spicy for my taste, and it takes away some of the flavour. The nose is nice, but especially the finish, which really goes a long way. There are some really interesting and original things in this limited edition, but I'm not sure that Rye and Sherry are the elements that go together best. As for the price, I find it frankly high.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mariam the Believer - Dreams

Raasay Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Unpeated Cask Sample 36 Months

 

 

 

63,5°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

1st Fill Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

At a tasting in 2023, the demonstrator discreetly placed this vial in my hand. This is a juice aged for 36 months in first-fill Bordeaux red wine barrels. This is one of the three types of casks used for the famous Nia Sia recipe, which is elaborated for the production of Raasay Single Malts, in its unpeated version. Here it's just a 5cl sample, the alcohol content is not indicated, but on their website they specify that all their samples have approximately the same alcohol content, around 63,5°. In September 2022, the first 700ml bottling was made from the same barrel, in Single Cask. I assume that the sample I tasted is very close to this bottling, as the difference in ageing is only a few months. The alcohol content of the bottle is 61.8°.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sweet, cereal-like, astringent, dry hay, hints of sea iodine, velvety fruits, creamy vanilla. Peanut butter, oily honey, sweet almond milk. Tide and sea breeze, sea spray. A crust of salt. A few citrus fruits in the background. Silky on the palate. The smoothness of the wine, very liquid honey, then rather strong spices, cumin, black pepper, another trail of salt. Woody hazelnuts. Explosive finish, banana, cola, roasted corn, vanilla ice cream, milk chocolate. 

In Short, 

It's not bad at all, the alcohol isn't too noticeable, nor is the youth of the product. The influence of the red wine is very slight, adding only a velvety and fruity character to this rather costal and cereal distillate, which makes for a good blend. On the distillery's website, samples of the same type are for sale, so don't hesitate to take a few, it could be interesting.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sippinng :

 

                                           Thurisaz - Years of Silence

Isle of Raasay Na Sia Single Cask Series Peated Chinkapin Oak Cask 3 yo c. 19/52

 

 

 

61,8°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

1st Fill Chinkapin Oak Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 48 ppm

 

 

 

Among the 6 types of cask used to make their first Single Malt, the casks of Chinkapin, a type of American oak, are particularly important, as they give the distillery its woody character. Here, in this Single Cask, the Chinkapin cask was filled with a distillate peated to 48 ppm. Three years later, the content was bottled at an unknown number.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very woody, with fresh, young wood, just cut, the smell of sap, fingers running over the grooves, wood with exotic scents, waxed parquet, spices. Something tropical. Beautiful dry peat to enhance it all. It's caramelised. On the palate, a bit light nonetheless, green wood, small branches torn off with the bark still on. Oily deciduous leaves. A few cranberries on the finish, long, powerful, peppery, fermented grapes, wood juice, resin, splinters, cola nuts, chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

What an experience! It's original, the woody character is really intense and goes very well with dry peat. No bitterness here, as the cask has been well toasted, it's hidden by the caramel. The only flaw is that it's still light on the palate, and you can feel the youth of the product, but it's beautiful anyway. The price, however, is exaggerated, which is a shame.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Bleachers - Modern Girl

Isle of Raasay Distillery Special Release Rye and Sherry Double Cask 2022

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

Ex-Rye Whiskey Cask and Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez Sherry Quarter Casks Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 48 ppm

 

 

 

Following the success of the first Distillery Special Release 2021, these gentlemen at Raasay are attempting a second edition of exactly the same product. A first maturation in Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey casks, and a second in Sherry Quarter Casks, to speed up the ageing process. This time we have the exact production figure, 8556 bottles. It must not be more than three years old.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Leathery, apples, orange compote, mandarins, cinnamon and cardamom, mirabelle plums. Woody hints, rather exotic wood, bay leaves. Bewitching, fairly discreet smoke, loaded with a hint of soot. The palate seemed to me very smooth, more on dried fruits than red fruits, apricots, quinces, dates and bananas, rich spices that envelop without assaulting, leading to a powerful, long finish on heather, eucalyptus, forest berries and a few wild strawberries. Tree bark, humus.

 

In Short, 

I am surprised, having tasted the first edition a year earlier, and this one seems to me to be much more mature, with a richer nose and a more powerful finish. It's a very fine bottling, which completes what was initiated with the previous one. If possible, you should get this one, even if the price is still a bit high.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - Move On Up

Isle of Raasay 2018 Na Sia Single Cask Series Peated Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Cask 3 yo c. 18/670

 

 

 

61,6°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 48 ppm

 

 

 

The Na Sia Single Cask Series includes three types of maturation, using either unpeated barley or barley peated at 48 ppm. These three types of maturation were used to create the distillery's first Single Malt. Here we have a single cask of Bordeaux wine, in which the whisky was aged for 3 years and nine months, resulting in 273 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is interesting, grainy and mineral. It stands out. The influence of the Bordeaux cask is recognisable, both earthy and fruity, with red fruits and heather. Hints of iodine and limestone. Wax and varnish. On the palate, fermented cherries combine with cigar smoke. Intense spices, paprika, pepper and nutmeg. A pinch of saffron. The finish is long and explosive, with a succession of layers. Earth, forest berries, bark and resin, mushrooms. Rocky sand.

In Short, 

I found the marriage between the Bordeaux wine and the island character of this distillery a little less successful. It should have been a more subtle distillate, with less character. That said, it's pleasant to drink, and the finish is really impressive. Once again, the price is high, as the distillery is not yet fully competitive on the market, but that should come.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Silveroller - Hold

Isle of Raasay 2019 Na Sia Single Cask Series Unpeated Chinkapin Oak Cask 3 yo c. 19/164

 

 

 

61,9°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

1st Fill Chinkapin Oak Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

With their Na Sia recipe, Isle of Raasay has released its first Single Malt, resulting from a sextuple maturation in peated and unpeated Chinkapin, Bordeaux wine and Rye Whiskey casks. The Na Sia Single Casks Series develops the concept by introducing Single Casks aged in one of these six types of cask. Several casks of all types were opened this year, including this one. The number of bottles produced is not known, no more than a few hundred, as the casks are no larger than 170 litres. The age of the juice is certainly 3 years old, although this is not official.

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The wood is intense, deep, but without bitterness, as it is very caramelised. Buttered bread, warm, half-melted butter, wood juice. Sap. A hint of vanilla in the background. Nice fullness. On the palate, same profile, wood splinters, butter and spices, transparent fruits, greengages, apples, grated nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, barley sugar. With so much alcohol, the finish is bound to be explosive, but it's also quite long, clove-like, with dry earth and starch, but again without bitterness. Hazelnuts, coarse wheat grains.

 

In Short, 

I'm very surprised. In general, I'm not very fond of this type of cask, where the wood stands out. It's bitter and I don't like bitterness. But they must have toasted the casks a lot, so that the natural sugars in the wood are very caramelised, resulting in something quite sweet, which goes down very well, while still being intense. It's very well done. I'd like to recommend buying it, but it's still a bit expensive.

Score : 87 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Southern River Band - Stan Qualen

Isle of Raasay 2018 Distillery Special Release Rye and Sherry Double Cask 2021

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

Ex-Rye Whiskey Cask and Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez Sherry Quarter Casks Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 48 ppm

 

 

 

Apparently, they plan to produce a special release each year from the distillery in Raasay. It says so on their website: "Our annual distillery special release..." And they're off to a great start with this one, which has been finished in Sherry Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks. Unfortunately, the length of the finishing process is not detailed. However, we do know that it is peated at 48 ppm and that around 9,000 copies are on sale.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The Sherry shows through from the very first fragrances, with a lovely richness, a balance between the solidity of the Oloroso and the sweetness of the Pedro Ximénez, light fruits, but also peanuts, cashew nuts, heather and leather. It's quite rough and at the same time seductive. Mineral notes, lichen, iodine and salt. The peat is discreet, but gives the whole a deep and earthy thickness. Quite round on the palate, with blood orange, some exotic fruits, papaya. The spices are intense, paprika, cumin, nutmeg. A fine, fairly long finish, with hints of limestone and charcoal.

In Short, 

This is probably what was missing from the previous expressions, a touch of Sherry. This one goes very well with the distillery's profile, as long as it's not intrusive. The result is something very original and pleasant. This is a good limited edition, which I would classify more as a 6-8 year old than a 3 year old. It's sold almost exclusively on their website, and I have to say that it's too expensive for my taste. But enthusiasts may be tempted.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Brutus - Sugar Dragon

Isle of Raasay Lightly Peated R-02.1 3 yo

 

 

 

46,4°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands 

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

Original Bottling 

Limited Edtion 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

After the R-02 released in Autumn 2021, here is its little sister, which has undergone exactly the same maturation. Six different cask types, three peated, three unpeated, and each made from either Rye Whisky, Bordeaux red wine, or virgin. The difference with the R-01 which comes out in Spring is that it is slightly more peaty. The number of bottles produced is not mentioned.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is fuller, vaguely earthy and cereal-like, with dried hay, rice cake and rough smoke. But it remains very balanced, mineral, with white fruits, plums, banana and forest berries. Light, fresh iodine, sea salt. The palate is still a bit too light, but fruity, velvety and spicy. A pinch of cumin, paprika. Clouds of citrus fruit. Grape oil and liquid honey. Pleasant finish, a hint of vanilla, pastry cream, and the peat that slowly returns. Chestnut and walnut.

In Short, 

Last year, it seemed to me that I preferred 01 to 02, and now I feel like 02.1 is better. That said, the difference is slim. But here the juice is more raw, more radical. The other one was softer, rounder. Anyway, it remains a success in both cases, a very well made whisky despite its very young age, unfortunately a bit expensive. Hopefully they'll have some older stuff out soon.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sarah Olivier - Rose Garden

Isle of Raasay Lightly Peated R-01.1 3 yo

 

 

 

46,4° 

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 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

Isle of Raasay mainly produces two batches a year, one in the spring, 01, and one in the autumn, 02. Each new batch is given a new tail number, after R-01 there is R-01.1, and next year there will be R-01.2, and so on. Spring batch is slightly less peaty than Autumn batch, and fruitier. However, it is no more than three years old. It is always a blend of six different types of cask, three peated and three unpeated, either virgin or previously filled with Bordeaux red wine or Rye Whisky. The number of bottles produced is not known.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Softly coastal profile, fine and sandy iodine, more peaty than last year, but creamier too, I find there a little more character. Forest berries, wild strawberries, a vegetal touch with pine needles and holly, a hint of earth. On the palate, relatively mature for its age, the fruits come through, with lemon and spices, pepper and paprika. The finish is long and sunny, with citrus peel, a drizzle of vanilla and rye. Cola. A pinch of salt. Dry earth and chestnut cream.

 

In Short,    

It's exactly the same maturity as last year, so it's very close. However, I find it a little more solid and harmonious. It's not getting any better, but it's more spring-like, softer. It's still a costal and pleasant whisky, at an affordable price, and we're looking forward to older vintages.

Score : 85

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Black Pistol Fire - Oh Well/Where you Been Before

Isle of Raasay Lightly Peated R-01 3 yo

 

 

 

46,4°

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 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

Launched in May 2021, this edition of 26,000 is the distillery's first not-too-hard-to-find and reasonably priced bottling. This is a sextuple maturation, as all three types of cask are made from peated and unpeated Concerto barley. All the whisky making is done on the distillery site, which seems to be virtually self-sufficient, rather like Kilchoman.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Iodine with a saline touch, almost greedy, a hint of citrus, and all this blended into a great minerality, limestone, gypsum, granite. The peat is soft and coats a few hints of cooked fruits, wild berries, cherry stones and toasted cereals. On the palate, it's obviously a little light given its young age, with apple, then fairly dry peat, a few spices, cumin and cloves, loamy earth, fat grass and arugula. A fine, long finish on cola, liquorice and bitter wood. Green tea. Vanilla bean.

In Short, 

This first batch is really very mineral and iodised, I like that. Of course, it's still very young, but it's a promising profile, and I can't wait to find out what happens next. There's a lot of room for improvement. Despite the somewhat borderline price, I'd recommend buying it.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Eydis Evenson - Bylur

Isle of Raasay Lightly Peated R-02 3 yo

 

 

 

46,4°

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 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

After a first Batch released earlier in the year, the distillery is releasing this second test in September 2021 with the same recipe, called Na Sia, based on 3 different types of cask, each prepared with peated and unpeated Concerto barley, making a sextuple maturation in total. Ageing and bottling are done on the distillery's own premises, which operates almost entirely independently, rather like Kilchoman.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Crimson fruits, red berries, smoked blueberries. Then iodine, but light. Fairly fine smoke. Greasy peat. Indian spices. Candied ginger. Light but suave on the palate, with sea salt, diluted lemon and a touch of grapefruit. Quite rocky, with gypsum and pearly sea foam. The tide is there, kelp, salt, with fairly light sand. A sunny day in winter. Sea breeze, slate, quartz. The finish is long and stringy, fresh and cottony. Lychee juice. Dry earth and chestnuts. 

In Short, 

It's very good, and you don't feel the youth of the juice at all, it's amazing how much progress has been made in whisky making. This distillery is definitely one to watch for me, having said that I preferred the Batch R-01, although this one is slightly more peaty. I warmly recommend buying it.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Status Quo - Whatever You Want

Raasay While We Wait

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Highlands 

Bourbon Casks, 1st and 2d Fill Tuscan Red Wine Finish

Independent Bottling 

By R&B Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Edited in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated from 20 to 25 ppm

The brand new distillery based on the island of Raasay opened in 2017. While it waits for its first single malt to be ready in 2020, it has released the aptly named While We Wait from another distillery in the Highlands. Rumour has it that this is Loch Lomond. The product, a blend of 45 ppm peat and non-peat, was aged for a few years in Bourbon casks, before finishing for 18 months in Tuscan wine casks made from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. There are five editions of While We Wait: the First, Second and Third Releases, then the 2018 Release, and finally the Last Orders. The sample I drank was not from any of these editions, but from a 20cl bottle sold exclusively at the distillery from 2018.

Let's Taste It : 

Quite astringent peat combined with apricot jam. Some dried fruits, prunes, dates, figs. Spices: nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon. It lacks a bit of fullness, to be honest, but it's not bad. A touch of citrus, lemon and grapefruit. Iodine. Notes of vanilla and honey. After a while there's a precarious balance between bourbon, peat and apricot.
On the palate, it's suave at first, a good slice of vanilla, then the acidity takes over. It's acidic and spicy at the same time, with chilli, pepper and ginger. The finish is fairly aggressive, charcoal, quite long, with wood and marzipan in retro-olfaction. Italian white grape, a touch of gooseberry.

In Short, 

The nose lacks a little breadth, but it's still quite good, and the finish is sufficiently long and nuanced. On the palate, however, I found it failing, unbalanced and even a little unpleasant. The marketing department claims that this is a representative product of what the distillery wants to do. We can only pray that this is not the case.

Score : 82

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Ken Hensley - Lady in Black