Isle of Raasay – Batch R-02 (46.4%)

This is Batch R-02 from the Isle of Raasay Distillery, a single malt bottled at 46.4% vol and released at the end of September 2021. It is made from both peated and unpeated spirit, matured separately in first-fill rye whiskey casks, fresh Chinkapin oak casks and first-fill Bordeaux red wine casks. Fermentation runs for up to 118 hours, which gives the new make a fruity character of sweet blackberry before it meets any cask. The nose is sweet and smoky, with peat fire, sea breeze and dried and candied fruit such as apricots and cherries. The palate is sweet and spicy, with cinnamon, black pepper, heather honey, salted caramel and ripe cherries. The finish is dry and long, with sea salt and a little peat smoke.