First Legal Isle Of Raasay Single Malt Unveiled

Making Scotch whisky history, the first legal single malt from the Hebridean Isle of Raasay has been unveiled.

Isle of Raasay Distillery

The independently owned Isle of Raasay Distillery opened in September 2017. The Isle of Raasay (Old Norse for roe deer island) lies off the west coast of Scotland in the Inner Hebrides, a short ferry journey from the Isle of Skye, and the perfect location for distilling, maturing and bottling island whisky.

Isle of Raasay Inaugural Release 2020

The Isle of Raasay Single Malt – Inaugural Release 2020 sold out in September this year, with the much-anticipated 7,500 bottles snapped up by consumers and selected trade partners. With the island’s fossils and rocks moulded into the glass, the distillery has captured this Hebridean island’s rugged natural beauty in their new decanter-like bottle. The whisky has been bottled natural colour and without chill filtration.

Isle of Raasay Distillery Co-founder Alasdair Day said: “This is a really historic moment as the first legal Isle of Raasay Single Malt leaves the island for the first time. We are very proud of our lightly peated island single malt, and our beautiful bottle that is made with clay moulds of Raasay’s rocks and fossils. It’s like a piece of the island in your hands."

Matured in first fill Tennessee Whiskey casks and finished in first fill Bordeaux red wine casks, the Isle of Raasay Single Malt Inaugural Release is elegant, lightly peated, with rich dark fruit flavours. Natural colour, non-chill filtered. Every drop distilled, matured, and bottled on the Isle of Raasay.

Isle of Raasay Single Malt Inaugural Release Official Tasting Notes

Matured in first fill American oak and finished in first fill Bordeaux red wine casks - expect almond, hazelnut, and sweet spice flavours from the American oak, and caramel, toffee and creamy chocolate notes from the previous Tennessee Whiskey contents. The French oak finishing adds savoury spice flavours, and another layer of complexity and flavour from the rich dark fruit flavours of the Bordeaux red wine. 

To find out more about Isle of Raasay distillery, visit their website.