Isle of Raasay 2021 – 2025 Fully Peated Virgin Oak Colombian Single Cask

In March 2025, Hans Bresser visited the Isle of Raasay Distillery – a place renowned for courage, experimentation and true Scottish island character. Deep inside the warehouse, he discovered a single cask that surpassed everything else: a fully peated spirit, matured in rare Colombian virgin oak.

Only nine casks of this wood ever made it to Raasay in 2021, making it one of the rarest experiments in the whisky world. The result? A whisky that balances elegance and power. Colombian oak adds tropical fruit, gentle spice and creamy oak notes, with fewer tannins than European oak yet more depth than American oak. Rare, unique and unforgettable.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Deep straw yellow.

Nose

Gentle peat intertwined with sweet tones.

Palate

Rich and smoky, layered with fruit and spice.

Finish

Long, sweet and elegant with lingering smokiness.

A spectacular bottling and the very first release in the relaunched The Specialist’s Choice series – powerful yet refined.

Isle of Raasay Distillery

The Isle of Raasay Distillery, established in 2017, is the first legal distillery on the remote island of Raasay, located north of Skye on the west coast of Scotland. The island offers spectacular views of the Cuillin Mountains and the wild Atlantic Ocean, contributing to the unique character of the whiskies produced here.

The distillery uses the island's pure water, filtered through volcanic rocks, which contributes to the exceptional quality of their whisky. Isle of Raasay Distillery is known for its innovative approach to whisky production, producing both tarted and untarted whiskies and maturing them in a unique combination of casks, including ex-Rye whiskey, virgin Chinkapin oak, and ex-wine casks.

A particular feature of the distillery is its focus on capturing the terroir of Raasay, resulting in whiskies with a distinct balance of sweet, fruity notes and a subtle smokiness. Isle of Raasay whiskies reflect the wild beauty and unique character of the island, and have quickly become beloved among whisky connoisseurs. The distillery is a new but promising name in the world of Scotch single malt whisky.