Isle Of Raasay Gin

Inspiration for the Isle of Raasay Single Malt came from some older styles of Hebridean single malts. Styles that had been lost through the ages and are not as prevalent anymore. This became the inspiration for the Isle of Raasay Distillery signature flavour profile: a lightly peated whisky, balanced with rich dark fruit flavours.

Raasay’s remarkable geology, island shores, the modern Scottish island distillery and unique water source inspired both the creation and presentation of the island’s first Scottish gin which was the first legal spirit from Raasay, an island rooted in centuries of illicit distilling.

On 14th September 2017, the Isle of Raasay Distillery opened its doors and spirit was flowing. The island’s first legal distillation had finally taken place. After a night of music, fire, song and dance it was time to introduce their Hebridean spirits to the world.

Since its establishment, the Isle of Raasay Distillery has brought job opportunities to the island, worked closely with other local businesses and become embedded in the island’s tight-knit community. Part of the distillery’s ethos is to produce, mature, bottle and market every drop of spirit directly from the island. This seeks to maximise the influence of the island on the spirit, and the distillery on the island. To quote the inimitable Whisky Writer Dave Broom at our distillery opening: we are not just making alcohol, we are making spirit.

The distillery now employs more than 25 people on the island and the average age of the Raasay workforce is approximately 30 years old. At least one of the employees is about to become a new parent too! An early indicator of creating inter-generational values and making sure this special island of 161 people continues to thrive.

The Gin

Local botanist Dr Stephen Bungard helped us hand-pick only the finest Raasay juniper on the island.

Isle of Raasay have crafted the perfect balance of flavours by distilling the juniper along with a select few botanicals in our copper malt spirit still, and vapour infusing the rest in our copper gin basket to retain their vibrancy.

Our distillers make the cut when the citrus reveals itself and collect only the “heart” of the run, the very best quality spirit.

The creation and presentation of our gin is inspired by Raasay’s impressive geological variety, our unique water source, island shores and state-of-the-art distillery. A fusion of tradition with contemporary thinking, process, and design. That’s the Raasay way.

Style

Dry Gin

Key Botanicals

Raasay grown juniper, sweet orange peel, lemon peel, rhubarb root, angelica root, coriander seed, liquorice root, orris rot, cubeb berry,

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fresh and aromatic, with juniper, sweet orange, candied lemon and hints of rhubarb.

Palate: Dry with bursts of juniper, richer rhubarb and citrus notes before all the flavours harmonise together for a refreshing finish.

Finish: Dry and zesty, with a lasting aftertaste that encapsulates Raasay’s style and character.

Perfect Serve

Premium/rhubarb tonic garnished with an orange zest