Isle of Raasay – 4 Year Old Vintage 2021 Hungarian Oak (50%)

This is a 4 year old Hebridean single malt from the Isle of Raasay distillery, distilled in 2021 and part of the Oak Species Maturation Series. It matured in rare Hungarian oak (Quercus petraea) ex-Oloroso sherry barriques, and is bottled at 50% without chill-filtration or added colour, in a worldwide release of 8,000 bottles. The nose is lightly smoky and elegant, with spicy ginger and freshly roasted coffee. On the palate come juicy blackberry and the bitter sweetness of dark chocolate, with dry spice from the oak and sherry and a little smoke running through.