Welcome to the wonderful world of oak!

Hey everyone, Alasdair and Kat here, and we are your hosts for the Oak Species Maturation Series Tasting.

This pack was created to give you the opportunity to try four of our most treasured virgin oak whiskies side by side. Our oak exploration showcases the incredible flavours achieved through virgin oak casks, and how our Raasay spirit develops when fully matured in them.

Scroll down to watch the exclusive Virtual Tasting where we dive into all things oak, whisky and Raasay. So, grab your tasting pack, get yourself comfortable, and pour yourself a dram.

We hope you enjoy it! Alasdair and Kat

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ABOUT THIS RELEASE

This year we’re putting a different spin on the wonderful world of oak. So, behold our brand new Oak Species Tasting Pack: Four small (5cl) but mighty whiskies, each characterised by the virgin oak casks they fully mature in, hand selected by our Co-founder & Master Distiller, Alasdair (he’s also a qualified botanist don’t you know!) and bottled at 50.7% ABV.

While prior cask contents, whether it be bourbon, sherry, or red wine, are often discussed in whisky maturation, the species of oak itself plays a fundamental role in shaping the final character of the spirit. With this second instalment in the series, you can experience this firsthand and explore the variety of flavours that can be found across four species of virgin oak.

Through this pack we explore how our lightly peated Raasay spirit develops when fully matured in the following virgin oak casks: Quercus humboldtii, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur and Quercus muehlenbergii.

Inside This Release: The Facts

Quercus humboldtii

The mighty Quercus humboldtii, commonly known as Andean oak or Colombian oak, is only found in Colombia and Panama. Back for a second year, in miniature form, our Raasay spirit is fully matured in these Colombian virgin oak casks. The result? A whisky with delicious flavours of crème brulee and heather smoke, and is undoubtedly one you’ll want to keep on going back to.

Fragrant Heather Smoke45%

Dark Fruits - Blackberries75%

Herbal Flavours - Mint, Tobacco25%

Vanilla & Butterscotch80%

Caramel - Brandy Snap, Dundee Cake70%

Maturation Cask

Cask Type: Virgin Colombian Oak, Quercus humboldtii
ABV: 50.7%
Cask filling strength: 63.5%
Spirit type: Isle of Raasay Peated Spirit
Barley type: Laureate
Yeast type: MW
Water source: 60 metre well on site
Fermentation time: 3 and 5 fermentations
Spirit cut point: 76%-65%
Distilled: 15/02/2021-16/02/2021
Vatting: 11/03/2025
Bottling: 14th-18th March 2025
Age: 4 years, 0 months, 25 days

Quercus petraea

Widely known and referred to as European oak, this Quercus petraea comes from Hungary, and is a resilient oak species that thrives in areas with harsh growing conditions, such as rocky and drier soils, which contribute to it’s tight grain and slower growth. This whisky offers delicious flavours of savoury spice and wood smoke.

Savoury Spice45%

Dark Fruits - Blackberries75%

Cloves60%

Smoke80%

Caramel 25%

Maturation Cask

Cask Type: Virgin Hungarian Oak, Quercus petraea
ABV: 50.7%
Cask filling strength: 63.5%
Spirit type: Isle of Raasay Peated Spirit
Barley type: Laureate
Yeast type: MW
Water source: 60 metre well on site
Fermentation time: 3 and 5 fermentations
Spirit cut point: 76%-65%
Distilled: 15/02/2021-16/02/2021
Vatting: 10/03/2025
Bottling: 14th-18th March 2025
Age: 5 years, 0 months & 9 days

Quercus robur

Next up in the European Oak spotlight is Quercus robur, this time from France. It has as a more open and wider grain, and is valued for its strong, durable wood. Often found in mixed forests, it prefers deeper, richer soils at a lower altitude than Quercus petraea. Fully matured in virgin oak casks, expect a whisky with warm rich fruit, caramel and a lingering spice.

Fragrant Smoke45%

Raspberries75%

Leather25%

Spice80%

Caramel 25%

Maturation Cask

Cask Type: Virgin European Oak, Quercus robur
ABV: 50.7%
Cask filling strength: 63.5%
Spirit type: Isle of Raasay Peated Spirit
Barley type: Laureate
Yeast type: MW
Water source: 60 metre well on site
Fermentation time: 3 and 5 fermentations
Spirit cut point: 76%-65%
Distilled: 15/02/2021-16/02/2021
Vatting: 10/03/2025
Bottling: 14th-18th March 2025
Age: 5 years, 0 months & 25 days

Quercus muehlenbergii

Last but not least, is the Isle of Raasay’s beloved Quercus muehlenbergii. This Virgin Chinkapin oak is used in our award winning 6 cask recipe for The Draam. A deciduous species of North American white oak, it is heavily toasted and charred giving rich colour and an abundance of flavour of dark fruits and smoky bacon.

Wood smoke45%

Dark Fruits - Blackberries75%

Smoky Bacon25%

Maple Syrup80%

Ginger & Cinnamon70%

Maturation Cask

Cask Type: Virgin Chinkapin Oak, Quercus muehlenbergii
ABV: 50.7%
Cask filling strength: 63.5%
Spirit type: Isle of Raasay Peated Spirit
Barley type: Laureate
Yeast type: MW
Water source: 60 metre well on site
Fermentation time: 3 and 5 fermentations
Spirit cut point: 76%-65%
Distilled: 15/02/2021-16/02/2021
Vatting: 12/03/2025
Bottling: 14th-18th March 2025
Age: 5 year, 0 months & 3 days

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Great Customer Reviews

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Isle of Raasay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Reviews

Really easy drinking yet complex. We bought this as a gift after sampling some a few years ago in Raasay.

L FN
Beautiful and smooth and stands out from the crowd.

John Bennett
This is a stunning whisky. I first tried at a tasting event and it stuck in my mind as being a wonderful collaboration of heather, honey and smoke (medium peat). A few months later I treated myself to a bottle and it’s lived up to my memory from the tasting. Really lovely. For anyone trying it, I find it opens up well and is silky smooth with a few drops of water.

Ruth
Just love the smooth, rich peaty taste of this single malt. Best flavour ever.

Kevin Archard
Proper whisky taste. Warming and full bodied. Annoyed it has taken me so long to find my new favourite malt. Excellent job.

Susan Watkins
Love it nice flavours with a hint of bonfire

Mr Phillips

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