The Distillery is closed 16th & 17th July 2025 for staff training. We will be reopen as normal on 18th July 2025

Mar

International Women’s Day 2025 | ‘The Raasay Lassies’

Raasay Distillery Blog

INTRODUCING LEXY

The Raasay Lassies are back, and last year we had great pride in kicking off our annual International Women’s Day release to celebrate the outstanding women in our team. We began with Naomi’s cask, and this year, it’s our wonderful Finance Manager, Lexy Macleod’s turn.

A born and raised Raasay native, Lexy has lived on the Isle of Raasay all her life and has worked with us since the start in the finance department. Never without a cup of tea and a biscuit, Lexy also has four children, five grandchildren and two dogs!

For this year’s exclusive bottling, Lexy has selected a decadent whisky fully matured in our Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry quarter casks. This special edition pays homage to Lexy’s favourite Raasay viewpoint and whisky, Dùn Cana – Hebridean icons through and through. We caught up with Lexy to dive into her Raasay story, both in the office and beyond on the Isle of Raasay…

Tell us what led you to working at Raasay Distillery and can you tell us about your role?

I was brought up on Raasay and have lived there all my life. After leaving school I headed up to Edinburgh before quickly realising that city life was not for me, and returned to my island home. Whilst bringing up a family of four I had various finance jobs that I commuted to on the Isle of Skye, and I also studied Accountancy with the Open University. The perfect job opportunity came along at Isle of Raasay Distillery and I stopped the daily commute to start working here as Finance Manager in October 2018.

What’s your typical day at work?

I oversee the day-to-day finance operations here on Raasay, always with a cup of tea in hand.

Why did you pick this cask?

I’m thrilled to select the whisky for this year’s International Women’s Day. I have to admit, whisky isn’t my usual go-to, but I knew it had to be sherry casks, like our Dùn Cana release — which is my favourite Raasay whisky… well, it was until now!

What’s been the highlight of your time at Raasay Distillery so far?

Working in a job I love using my qualifications and seeing the buzz of the place during the season.

What’s your favourite work soundtrack?

Anyone who knows me knows that my perfect soundtrack in the office is the sound of the kettle boiling!!

If you had a magic carpet, where in the world would you go and why?

I’m not a globetrotter and if the weather is lovely on Raasay then there’s no place I’d rather be as I’m an island woman at heart.

ABOUT LEXY’S WHISKY

Bottled at 52% ABV, this limited-edition release delivers a beautifully balanced experience. On the nose, expect aromas of plum, cherry, banana, with hints of candied ginger and salted almonds. The palate is smooth yet rich, where light peat smoke delicately mixes with ginger and almond, balanced with underlying sweetness. The finish lingers with gentle notes of peat.

Every drop of Isle of Raasay spirit is distilled, matured and bottled on the Isle of Raasay. This particular expression also includes a bespoke label, designed and printed on Raasay. Depicting a classic cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit. Lexy explains, “Anyone who knows me, knows my perfect soundtrack in the office is the sound of the kettle boiling, so it seemed like the obvious choice when I was asked what illustration I wanted on this whisky bottle.”

Our Co-founder and Master Distiller, Alasdair Day adds, “For those who love our Dùn Cana release, this is definitely one to enjoy. Fully matured in Oloroso and PX casks, this whisky is heavily influenced by sherry characteristics, but with the gentle smokiness that defines our Hebridean style. The combination of two sherry casks give it layers of sweetness and balance, while the light peat smoke builds to a warm, lingering finish.”

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Release Date: March 2025
ABV: 52%
Peat Level: Barley 48-52ppm | Residual in Bottle 6-11 ppm
Presentation: Natural colour, non-chill filtered
Cask Types: Oloroso Quarter Cask & Pedro Ximenez Quarter Cask
Spirit Types: Isle of Raasay peated spirit
Barley Variety: Laureate
Yeast Type: MW Yeast

Water Source: Isle of Raasay Distillery 60 metre well on site – Tobar na Bà Baine
Fermentation Time: 3 and 5 day fermentations
Spirit Cut Point: 75 to 65 (peated)
Cask Filling Strength: 63.5% abv
Distilled: 22/10/2021 – 25/10/2021
Vatting: 25/02/2025
Bottling: 07/03/2025
Maturation & Bottling: Isle of Raasay Distillery

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