Isle of Raasay – 5 Year Old (2018/2023) Scottish Distillery of the Year Edition (70cl, 50.7%)

This five year old single malt from Isle of Raasay celebrates the distillery being named Scottish Distillery of the Year in 2022. It was distilled in August 2018 from unpeated Concerto barley and matured in ex-bourbon casks from Kentucky. It then received a finish in Colombian oak casks made from Quercus humboldtii. Bottled at 50.7% without added colour, it is an amber whisky, and 9,500 bottles were released. The nose has vanilla, maple syrup and cherry, with cinnamon and white pepper. On the palate are buttery toffee, juicy cherries, aniseed and allspice. The finish is creamy toffee and soft vanilla, ending in lasting pepper.