Raasay Na Sia Single Cask Series 4 Years Old 2018

This Isle of Raasay single malt from the Na Sia Single Cask Series, a 4 year old distilled in 2018, from cask 18/249 and bottled at 61.5%. Just 297 bottles were filled. Raasay is the first legal distillery on the Isle of Raasay, a small island in the Inner Hebrides off Skye. R&B Distillers, founded by Bill Dobbie and Alasdair Day, built the distillery from a blank sheet in 2017.

The spirit was run through the distillery's Italian built pot stills on mineral rich island water, after slow fermentation with a two stage distillers and Champagne yeast. A red wine cask lent blackberry, plum and a wine stained colour. At this young age the fruit is vivid and the cask influence bold and bright. First fill and virgin casks work quickly on young spirit, so even a few years bring real depth. Raasay is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, just east of Skye. The six cask recipe of rye, Chinquapin oak and Bordeaux wine is unique in Scotch.

At a natural 61.5% it is bold and full. The wine cask adds blackberry, plum and a red berry lift, with a soft island smoke behind. Beneath it run blackberry, vanilla and a touch of spice. It closes long, fruity and warm. This is a young, vibrant island malt from Raasay.