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1 of 204 bottles produced from a single 1st Fill Chinkapin Barrel
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by Phillip 'Pip' Hills who, while travelling around Scotland in the 1970s, fell in love with whiskies drawn straight from the cask. After he expanded his syndicate the Society was purchased by Glenmorangie PLC in 2004. In 2015, the Society was sold back to private investors. In June 2021, the private owners floated the holding company The Artisanal Spirits Company plc on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
It has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!
At first nosing we found a hugely charismatic aroma full of treacle, pebble beach freshness, ozone vibes and lemony zing. Also noted were sea breezes, lightly singed heather and an underlying earthy richness. Reduction brought a softer side full of yellow fruitiness, cedar flowers, hardwood shavings, white pepper and green tomato chutney. When neat, the palate opened with a two-hander of lemon sharpness and chilli warmth. Then it evolved towards dried cherry with peppery and earthy undertones. In the background there were wee notes of dried mango and pomegranate. With water it eased and opened even further, featuring generous notes of golden syrup on raisins, black forest gateau, old fashioned cocktails and liquorice root.
The style of spirit produced at Isle of Raasay has long been defined by founder Alasdair Day. A long fermentation and plenty of copper contact, including a cooling jacket on the wash still lyne arm and an inclined lyne arm on the spirit still, will result in a clean, fruity character with an element of smoke imparted by the lightly peated malt. R&B Distillers intends to make full use of maturation in first-fill American oak, European oak and Tuscan red wine casks – a nod to the origins of Raasay’s stills.
Isle of Raasay’s signature whisky may be a fruity, sweet and lightly peated malt – as seen in its pre-emptive release, Raasay While We Wait – but the distillery’s configuration has been created to allow for experimentation with fermentation and distillation. Therefore we can expect to see a variety of styles from this small island distillery.
R&B Distillers co-founder Alasdair Day had intended to build his first distillery in the Scottish Borders, near to where his great grandfather blended whisky in a grocer’s shop. Day and business partner, internet entrepreneur Bill Dobbie, were in need of a plant to supply malt whisky for their Tweeddale blend.
However it was a recommendation from a friend that led the duo to consider the Hebridean island of Raasay for their first project. The island not only represented a prime opportunity in terms of location, but never before had Raasay been home to a legal whisky distillery.
The company secured the vacant Borodale House in 2015, a Victorian building most recently used as a hotel which has since been renovated into a distillery, visitor centre and luxury overnight accommodation.
The distillery’s first test mashing and distillation runs were conducted in September 2017, with the first casks being filled in October 2017.
In anticipation of the distillery’s first whisky in 2020, R&B created Raasay While We Wait in 2015, a peated Highland single malt that’s reflective of the spirit Raasay distillery will soon produce.
61.1% ABV
70cl
Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jun 30 - Jul 5
US$40
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