Raasay Special Release 5 Years Old 2018

This official Isle of Raasay single malt from the Special Release, a 5 year old island malt, distilled in 2018 and bottled at 50.7%. Only 9500 bottles were released. Raasay is a modern island distillery, the first legal one on this small Hebridean isle off the coast of Skye. Water comes from Tobar na Ba Baine, the Well of the Pale Cow, a spring and borehole on the island.

Distilled on water from the island well in Italian built copper stills, the make carried a blackberry fruit from its long fermentation. It was matured in ex-Bourbon American oak, lending vanilla and baking spice. At five years the cask has settled into the fruit, the spirit rounding out. Active wood and a vibrant new make mean the cask speaks early in the whisky's life. Mineral rich water from the island well shapes the spirit before it meets the cask. The distillery does everything in house, from mashing to bottling, on the island.

At 50.7%, undiluted, it is rich and vivid. The cask lends vanilla, baking spice and a honeyed sweetness with a clean coastal lift behind. It is fresh and vivid, the young spirit shining through. A bright, berry led finish lingers. This is a modern Hebridean single malt.