Isle of Raasay 2018/2026 - 7 y.o. - Single Malt Whisky - Peated Rye Whisky Single Cask #18/839

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 57.3% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This peated single malt individually showcases the American rye cask component of the house recipe within the Na Sia Single Cask Series. Distilled in 2018, the spirit spent its entire seven-year maturation in cask 18/839, which had previously held American rye whiskey. The whisky was bottled in 2026 at its natural cask strength of 57.3%. The single cask yielded 243 bottles; the whisky retains its natural colour and is non-chill filtered.

Na Sia means “the six” in Gaelic, referring to the six cask components of the regular Isle of Raasay Single Malt: peated and unpeated spirits are matured separately in American rye, Chinkapin oak and Bordeaux red wine casks. The single-cask series presents the character of each component on its own. For the American rye component, Raasay uses 190-litre American white oak casks from Woodford Reserve, whose rye whiskey is based on a mash bill containing 53% rye. Alongside vanilla, the distillery specifically seeks peppery spice and butterscotch from these casks; in this bottling, they meet the smoke of the peated spirit.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose combines warm wood smoke with creamy butterscotch, vanilla and toasted marshmallow. A hint of lemon and the spicy influence of the rye cask add brighter accents.
• Palate: The whisky is powerful and oily on the palate. Black pepper and cinnamon precede malty sweetness, caramel and dark fruits, framed by aromatic smoke and a subtle salinity.
• Finish: The long finish combines sweet syrup and dry oak with ashy embers. Peppery warmth and gentle smoke linger persistently.

Distillery/Bottler:

Bill Dobbie and Alasdair Day founded R&B Distillers with the aim of creating a locally rooted, independently operated distillery. Borodale House, which dates from the 19th century, was converted for their project on Raasay. The Isle of Raasay Distillery began operating on 14 September 2017, carrying out the island’s first legal distillation.

The distillery distils, matures and bottles its spirits on Raasay. Mineral-rich water from its own well and fermentations lasting up to 118 hours are intended to develop sweet blackberry notes in the new make spirit. Peated and unpeated spirits, followed by the deliberate use of different cask types, form the basis of the Raasay style.

Facts: