Raasay – 4 Year Old 2020 SMWS Single 1st Fill Chinkapin Oak Barrel 162.3 Grilled Lobster Tail in Garlic Butter (2025) (70cl)

A four-year-old Island single malt from Raasay, distilled in 2020 and bottled in 2025 by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, where it carries the code 162.3 and the name Grilled Lobster Tail in Garlic Butter. It was matured in a single first fill chinkapin oak barrel, which gave 264 bottles. The tasting panel found a nose of chicken in a soy, ginger, pepper and honey marinade over a spicy, sweet-smoked vegetable stir fry. The palate brought heavily smoked almonds, ash-coated goat's cheese, sun-charred grapes and roasted, dried ancho chillies, with sweet and smoky flavours in balance and a manageable heat. With water, the nose turned to grilled lobster tail in garlic butter and vanilla custard tarts with smoked butter caramel.