Raasay Distillery Special Release 3 Years Old 2018

A distillery release of Isle of Raasay from the Distillery Special Release, a 3 year old distilled in 2018 and bottled at 52%. 8000 bottles in all. Raasay is a young Hebridean distillery, the first ever to legally distil on the Isle of Raasay. The flagship marries peated and unpeated spirit from rye, Chinquapin oak and Bordeaux casks.

Distilled in Italian built copper stills, a lantern wash still and a swan neck spirit still, the make carried a blackberry fruit from its long fermentation. A sherry cask wrapped the young spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. At a youthful age the new make character shines, lifted by first fill wood. The young spirit takes colour and flavour readily from the active casks. The Na Sia single casks let drinkers taste each thread of the six cask recipe. A population of around 160 makes Raasay one of Scotland's smallest distilling islands.

Undiluted at 52%, it is powerful and fruity. The Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry bring raisin, date, fig and walnut over a gentle wisp of peat. The mouthfeel is round, the berry fruit carried on a sweet body. A long, sweet finish carries a gentle smoke. This is a lively single malt from the Inner Hebrides.