Isle of Raasay Distillery

Isle of Raasay Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery on the Inner Hebridean Isle of Raasay in Northwest Scotland. The distillery is owned by R&B Distillers and was the first legal distillery on the Isle of Raasay when it opened in 2014.

They only use 100% Scottisch barley in all their production, and they also grow their own malted Ramsay barley using local peat for 100% Isle of Raasay.  

Their barley is malted using Highland peat giving it a rich, fragrant smokiness to the spirit. 

The decanter of the Inaugural 1ste release captures the rugged landscape of the Isle of Raasay

The distillery is based on the site of a former disused hotel called Borodale House on the south west of the island. 

The Isle of Raasay Distillery also has a visitors’ centre that opened in January 2018. It was awarded 5 stars by VisitScotland as a tourist attraction in June 2018

The distillery also features a six bedroom hotel with views over the Isle of Skye

  • Owner

    R&B Distillers Limited

  • Status

    Operational

  • Country

    Scotland

  • Region

    Island

  • Production type:

    Single Malt, blended liquors

  • Founded

    01/09/2017

  • Production yearly

    200.000 Liters

History

Building started in 2014, but the distillery didn’t start making whisky until 2017.

Its production was 2015 until 2020 Islay of Ramsay distillery made a single malt scotch whisky called: While we wait. This limited release whisky has a natural colour, non-chill filtered and has an alcohol strength of 46% ABV. 

In 2019 Raasay completed two new warehouses so now they have a dunnage and palletised warehouses. 

in 2020 isle of Raasay distillery released their inaugural 1ste release with a limited release of 7500 bottles. Its a 3 year old single malt scotch whisky that is bottled at 52% ABV. Its non-chill filtered and has a natural colour. This whisky was matured in 1st fill Ex-Rye whiskey oak barrels, Virgin Chinkapin oak barrels and finished in 1st fill Ex-Bordeaux red wine casks.

May 2021 Raasay will release an new single malt called: Signature lightly peated Isle of Raasay

“A fusion of tradition with contemporary thinking, process, and design. That’s the Raasay way.”
Isle of Raasay

Distillery Facts

Taste profile

The Isle of Raasay Single Malt Inaugural 1st Release

The Isle of Raasay Single Malt Inaugural Release 2020 is the first legal Scotch whisky from an island rooted in centuries of illicit distilling.

 

Taste note:

Lightly peated with rich dark fruit flavours 

 

Specifications: 

  • Bottled at 52% abv
  • Non-chill filtered
  • Natural colour.
  • 100% Scottisch barley
  • Limited to  7500 bottles 
  • 3 year old 
  • Scotch Single Malt whisky 
  • 1st release in 2020 
  • Matured in: 1st fill Ex-Rye whiskey oak barrels, Virgin Chinkapin oak barrels and finsished in 1st fill Ex-Bordeauxred wine cask. 

Core range 

At this point Isle of Raasay core range is: 

  • Inaugural 1st Release (2020) limited to 7500 bottles 

Archive bottles: 

Raasay While We Wait:

  • 2015 1st release French oak Tuscan wine cask finish, 4300, 46% ABV,

     

  • 2016 2nd release Finished in Tuscan red wine casks, 1974, 46% ABV

     

  • 2017 3rd release Finished in Tuscan red wine casks, 1974, 46% ABV

     

  • 2018 4th release Finished in Tuscan red wine casks, 1974, 46% ABV

     

  • 5th release Finished in Tuscan red wine casks, 1974, 46% ABV

     

  • 2020 6st release last orders, Finished in Tuscan red wine casks, 1974, 46% ABV

Awards 

  • WSC 2016 Silver, ISC 2016 Bronze,
  • HKIWSC 2016 Bronze
  • ISC 2017 Bronze
  • IWSC Silver 2018
  • IWSC Silver 2016 for Raasay While We Wait Second Release
  • World Whiskies Awards 2018 Best Scotch Grain

Distillery Tours

A guided walk around the distillery, followed by a tasting of Raasay While We Wait single malt as well as two other spirits from R&B Distillers. 

DURATION:

About 60 minutes

DRAMS

3 drams

COST

£10 per person
 

Enjoy a guided tour through the distillery finishing with a mouth-watering whisky and chocolate tasting. In this tour, our drams are paired with handmade chocolates from the Glenshiel Chocolate Company, including a specially commissioned Raasay While We Wait infused chocolate.

DURATION:

About 60 minutes

DRAMS 

3drams

COST

£15 per person
 

Visitor center 

 

OPENING TIMES

January – December

OPENING TIMES

 

 

 

Day Times
Monday 10:00 17:00
Tuesday 10:00 17:00
Wednesday 10:00 17:00
Thursday 10:00 17:00
Friday 10:00 17:00
Saturday 10:00 17:00
Sunday Closed  

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Isle of Raasay Distillery
Borodale House
Isle of Raasay, Kyle
Scotland, IV40 8PB

Raasay social media links

Livingbythedram social media links