The Signature is the core range single malt whisky from the craft distillery of Isle of Raasay. It features a combination of six cask types in the recipe – ex-American rye whisky, rare virgin Chinkapin oak and first-fill ex-Bordeaux red wine, each filled with the distillery’s peated and unpeated new make spirit. The six are married together after maturation in differing proportions to create the final whisky.
The Isle of Raasay distillery was founded in 2017 by Alasdair Day and his company R&B Distillers. It is located on the Hebridean island of Raasay, which sits just off the eastern coast of Skye and has a population of just 160 people. The distillery is situated in an old Victorian manor house, which is also home to a six bedroom hotel and visitor centre with tasting room and bar. The distillery combines traditional practices with contemporary and eco-friendly thinking.
Production at the distillery is split – half is a peated spirit at around 50ppm (Phenol Parts per Million) and half is unpeated. This uses barley grown on the island, plus barley from Campbeltown and the Orkneys. All their single malt is distilled, matured and bottled on Raasay. The Signature was first released in 2021 (Batch R01) and has since been supplemented by several limited editions including the innovative Oak Species series. Our bottle is from Batch R02.3.3.
The Isle of Raasay Signature is bottled at 46.4% ABV and is bottled non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available via www.raasaydistillery.com and selected specialist whisky retailers. A bottle should cost around £55.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is vibrant gold and the nose is immediately smoky and peaty. Aromas of bonfire and charcoal ash fill the glass and are quickly joined by some distinct white peppery heat. With time this softens a little to reveal further aromas of crisp green apple, toffee sauce and milk chocolate coated cherries. Some vanilla and ripe blackberries also come through towards the end. Hints of candied lemon and heather honey also evolve.
On the palate this whisky is bold with the smokiness again to the fore. This is a little softer than the nose suggested – it still has the drying and ash-like feel but also has a softer, floral edge that is reminiscent of burning dried heather. It becomes slightly earthier and ionic with time, and this gives the whisky an interesting vegetal and umami vibe. A hint of sandalwood accentuates this.
The sweetness comes through nicely with time and adds much needed balance. Notes of butterscotch, vanilla fudge and chocolate coated malt biscuits are joined by hints of confected blackberry and bitter dark cherry. Heather honey also comes through nicely. A late lemon zestiness gives a bit of zing, as does some punchy white pepper, before the drying smoke drives the whisky towards its long, ashy and bone dry finish.
What’s The Verdict?
This is our first ever sampling of anything from the Isle of Raasay distillery and we are impressed. The whisky is clearly youthful and it shows this at each stage, but there is plenty going on in the glass. It has a real ‘island feel’ and is very much of the land and place – they have achieved this very well.
Leading on from this, the whisky gives all the elements expected from one made on a remote Hebridean island and does not disappoint – a peated island style with hints of salinity and floral heather. Well worth a try and released at a decent price also. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for the distillery and brand.
