Isle of Raasay – Peated Chinkapin Oak Cask Hebridean Single Malt 5 Years Old (70cl)

This is a five-year-old peated Hebridean single malt from Isle of Raasay, in a 70cl bottle. It was matured in a cask of Chinkapin oak, a North American oak, prepared with a high char and a high toast. The heavy char gives the spirit more contact with the wood and a much darker colour. The high toast caramelises the natural sugars in the oak, adding sweet caramel and smoky barbecue flavours. The nose is savoury spice and cinnamon. On the palate come cherries, black grapes, sandalwood and cloves, and the finish is salty and dry, with savoury spice and lingering wood smoke.