A World First in the Scottish Hebrides: Rare Oak Casks

The whisky world has a first on its hands. Isle of Raasay Distillery in the Scottish Hebrides has launched a brand-new single malt with a rare maturation. According to the distillery, the new release is the first Scotch whisky ever to be fully matured in Chinkapin oak casks.

Isle of Raasay Distillery is breaking new ground with this single malt crafted from extraordinary wood. And it’s not just any single malt, it’s also the third permanent bottle in the distillery’s core range.

For Alasdair Day, the distillery’s co-founder and master distiller, Chinkapin oak isn’t an experiment, it’s central to Raasay’s identity. The distillery has worked with this wood since production began in 2017, making this new whisky a natural next step.

Chinkapin oak, officially known as Quercus muehlenbergii, is a species native to North America. It’s most often used for finishing to add extra character to a whisky. Isle of Raasay is taking things a step further.

The distillery fully matures both peated and unpeated spirit in these rare casks. The spirit then rests in specially made 190-litre barrels with a high toast and high char, yielding a whisky with deep color and layered complexity.

The distillery goes into detail in its official tasting notes. On the nose, expect wood smoke with rich dark fruits. On the palate, look for barbecue glaze, honeyed citrus, cinnamon, and a hint of smoked ham.

The finish carries sandalwood notes and a lingering aromatic smoke. The whisky is bottled at 50.2 alcohol by volume (ABV).

You can find out where this special Isle of Raasay whisky is available via the distillery’s website. You’ll also find more information there about other releases from the whisky maker.