Oloroso with a Hungarian twist from a Scottish isle: a new single malt born of experimentation

Isle of Raasay Distillery has unveiled a new whisky born from a wood experiment. The Oak Species Maturation Series now takes on a Hungarian twist with the Hungarian Oak Limited Release.

In this whisky series, the Isle of Raasay Distillery explores the differences between various oak species and how they shape its whisky. The range has already seen several releases and now moves on to Hungarian oak sourced from the Zemplén Mountains in Hungary.

The oak used, Quercus petraea, grows slowly and has an exceptionally fine grain. This allows for a more controlled interaction between wood and spirit, bringing greater balance and complexity.

Hungarian oak casks are known for delivering bold spicy notes. The wood’s natural spice is layered with dried fruit, chocolate, and subtle smoke. This time, though, there’s a twist to the whisky thanks to the use of

What sets this Isle of Raasay whisky apart from earlier releases in the series is the choice of ex-Oloroso sherry barriques instead of virgin oak. Hungarian oak may be known for its spicy profile, but the influence of Oloroso sherry adds extra depth, softness, and ripe fruit tones.

Add to that Raasay’s signature combination of peated and unpeated spirit, and you have a complete flavor profile. The result is the distillery’s recognizable lightly peated single malt, where smoke never dominates.

On the nose, Hungarian Oak opens with orange zest, toasted hazelnuts, and floral hints of geranium. Cinnamon, ginger, and a soft suggestion of sponge cake emerge underneath.

On the palate, lively ginger takes the lead, followed by rich coffee, Oloroso sherry sweetness, and dark chocolate. The finish is long and warming, with sweet orange, ginger, and a delicate smoky note reminiscent of bacon.

The whisky is bottled at 50% alcohol by volume ABV.

The Isle of Raasay Hungarian Oak Limited Release is now available via the distillery’s website and a select number of UK retailers. The price is £80 per bottle. A wider global rollout will follow.