Isle of Raasay Single Malt Whisky - Oak Species: Hungarian Oak Oloroso Sherry Barrique

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 50% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This four-year-old Oak Species Limited Release combines peated and unpeated Raasay spirit. Both types of spirit matured separately and entirely in ex-Oloroso sherry barriques made from Hungarian Quercus petraea from the Zemplén region. The batches distilled between January and June 2021 were married in February 2026 and bottled in April 2026 at 50%. Each of the 8,000 bottles contains 0.7 litres; the whisky retains its natural colour and is non-chill-filtered.

Unlike the preceding releases in the Oak Species Maturation Series, the Hungarian oak was not used as virgin wood but had previously held Oloroso sherry. According to the distillery, this prior use tempers the characteristic spice of Hungarian oak and complements it with the deep dried-fruit notes of Oloroso sherry.

Orange peel, toasted hazelnut and sponge cake form the sweet side, while ginger and cinnamon provide spice and geranium adds a floral accent. Coffee, sherry, dark chocolate and smoked ham connect the Oloroso maturation with the release’s lightly peated style.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose reveals orange peel, toasted hazelnuts, geranium, cinnamon, ginger and sponge cake.
• Palate: Ginger, coffee, sherry and dark chocolate come together on the palate.
• Finish: Sweet orange, ginger and smoked ham remain present in the lingering finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

The Isle of Raasay Distillery produced both the peated and unpeated spirit for this Limited Release. It used Laureate and Sassy barley, water from the 60-metre-deep well on the distillery grounds, and fermentation periods of three and five days. The two spirits matured separately on Raasay and were married before being bottled there.

Founded by Bill Dobbie and Alasdair Day, the distillery began operating on 14 September 2017 in the converted 19th-century Borodale House. This marked the first legal distillation on Raasay. The distillery is committed to producing, maturing and bottling its spirits on the island; the combination of lightly peated whisky and dark fruit is also part of its intended house style.

Facts: