SRB scored this whisky 86 points 
Gently and sweet smoke, but a bit harsh on the palate. Water adds a lot of fresh and dried fruits on palate and finish but be careful, on the nose vanishes quickly.
Raasay Inaugural Release
- Whiskybase ID
- WB163731
- Category
- Single Malt
- Distillery
- Bottler
- Distillery Bottling
- Bottling serie
- Limited Edition First Release
- Vintage
- 2017
- Bottled
- 11.2020
- Stated Age
- 03 years old
- Casktype
- American oak + finished in Bordeaux red wine
- Number of bottles
- 7500
- Strength
- 52.0 % Vol.
- Size
- 700 ml
- Bottle code
- L00081
- Barcode
- 5060221850513
- Added on
- 14 aug 2020 9:56 pm by TheCollector
Average value
€ 347.83
Found 36 online shops. Lowest price:
€ 165.00
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Whisky reviews for Raasay Inaugural Release
34 users have left 34 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 84.90 points.
SRB scored this whisky 86 points
Georges scored this whisky 88 points
Matured in first fill Tennessee Whisky and finished in first fill Bordeaux red wine casks.-
Some peat smoke, mineral notes, fruity (oranges), nutty (almonds, hazelnut), spicy (pepper, nutmeg), dried figs, marzipan
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Sweet, fruity (oranges, strawberries, ripe apples and pears), some peat smoke, black currants, caramel, toffee, chocolate
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Medium long, smoky, sweet, fruity, spicy (cinnamon, salty)
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krtek911 scored this whisky 85 points
thebonewolf scored this whisky 81 points
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A bit like wine, gentle smoke, some sea feeling to it. Earthy and dirty.
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Earthy and fruity with salty smoke lingering underneath.
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Smoke and salty meat pop up after a woody start, and fade into chocolate. Sour fruit after. Medium.
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Highlander65 scored this whisky 80 points
Good island whisky, pleasant to drink and at the same time with a strong and decisive character. Much better without water.-
Very light medicinal touch that after a while goes away, ripe red fruit, a hint of trifle, faint synthetic note of paint, glue or sawdust, sea breeze. A little peat emerges with water (fireplace has been extinguished for a long time)
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Salty and slightly smoky, the peat that I hadn't smelled on my nose is now pleasantly making its way into my mouth (it's just a light, accompanying, very pleasant touch), not very sweet, barbecue sauce, smoked bacon. With water the peat is dampened and so is the salty.
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Good finish, persistent, on slightly smoky notes and with a pleasant licorice candy (the soft center of Saila candies). The empty glass gives off a slight sulphurous note
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Jimbeau scored this whisky 86 points
DocF scored this whisky 55 points
Poor fruit from raspberries, strawberries to mango with extra mash, bitumen and eagle owl and some smoke. Strawberries and raspberries that are oversalted in the mouth with fresh tar, charred wood and burnt pudding. Finish: bitumen, over-salted raspberries.
What a mess, after smelling I put 1.8cl back into the sample bottle. Without the superfluous red wine barrel it would probably have been delicious. 50 points. Thanks to Korhorry for opening this too.
imagedram-drinker scored this whisky 70 points
Definitely not mine-
Wine vinegar, leather, rubber, something vinous, vegetables, orange zest, red berries, pencil shavings, acid - quite strange
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Oily, creamy, little sweetness, cooked vegetables, plenty of leather, sweaty sneekers, peaty, smoky
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Medium long, warm, more leathery, flat, stale
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Baanaanaabob scored this whisky 85 points
Strong peat, red fruits, cooked vegetables, interesting-sAxo- scored this whisky 70 points
DannyDram scored this whisky 87 points
Spicy, ash, dried orange peel, wood, toasted aromas, vanilla, candy. Balanced, creamy, grainy, vanilla sweetness, good body, good intensity, good finish.rpvdwel scored this whisky 82 points
WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 82 points
https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2021/04/01/blind-leading-the-blind-a-juicy-revision-session/
Still in keeping with our serendipitous red wine theme, it’s the perfect time to bring out Raasay’s inaugural release, made up from 121 casks. Let’s remind ourselves of the wood policy/makeup, as outlined by Alastair Day last year: Virgin Chinkapin, Ex-Woodford Reserve Rye, and Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine – peated and < unpeated. Further reading: [WLP].
C: Boy, would you look at the secondary prices for this rrp-£99 3yo !! Still, that’s nothing on Dornoch. Initial impressions only [as it’s getting on]: this whisky is – as expected – very ok, and without any blatant STR or forced PX etc,. profiling – yay! Still, is it a little sweet? Well yes, but no more so than many of the previous red wine-influenced drams enjoyed this evening. Great job.
Provisionally scores [+/-]82 pointsrobain scored this whisky 86 points
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Light peat, sweetness, citrus, smoked ham
w/water less peat and ash, more sweetness to it. -
dry, sweet peat with smoked ham, some ashes from cigarette
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long ashy peat finish
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mnljng scored this whisky 87 points
Hvdree scored this whisky 82 points
elchingy scored this whisky 79 points
The more I give it a chance the worst I think it is... I just can't stand this red wine flavours in my whisky. I hope they'll make their whisky shine in a proper ex-bourbon barrel in a future.grinface scored this whisky 85 points
I think it's great to be able to drink it. They did well. Not a high-flyer (where should that come from anyways?), but I'm looking forward to drinking it again. Maybe compared to something else from the distillery. Full review, including some cask samples (German): https://keinehalbendrinks.de/2021/02/17/six-spirits-of-christmas-und-ein-inaugural-release/-
Grapefruit juice, cherry juice, apple juice. Maybe even in the direction of lemonade or soft-drink. It is also slightly peaty. And I find grass, fresh from the lawnmower.
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Light smoke and bitter notes. The wine is clearly noticeable, but not extremely dominant. With a few turns in the mouth it becomes dry and can also produce fruit again.
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Makes your belly nice and warm. The dry red wine at the back is very clearly present. Nuts and again the fruits from the beginning.
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JacobaEd scored this whisky 84 points
ffmdino did not rate this whisky
not sure what to think of that
I can feel the smoke but it's OK
Despite its young age, the malt wants to have time in the glass
Water makes you drinkable
after the smoke is gone I like it a lot; is then better than the waiting bottlings-
light ham, light ash, red berries, cowshed, peanut, strawberry, chocolate so 45%, honey, smoke is less, minimal cheese, minimal leather, light malt, sweetness comes and becomes more, oak slightly moldy, a note that I don't can be named, spiciness comes, easily chemically
with water: nuttier, more honey, mint comes
with 1920 blender glass: cheesy, red fruity, slightly meaty
with water: rubber band, slightly chemical, dung / septic tank -
oily, silky, creamy on the palate
Ash + ??, dark malt, light oak, spicy, slightly medicinal, ham, wine notes (not musty but red), tart notes, smoke
with water: softer, more oak, more pleasing -
long
minimal sulfur, warm, slightly chemical, spicy, slightly tart
with water: sulfur, light oak, light chocolate
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EnjoyLife89 scored this whisky 85 points
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fresh fruit notes; mineral smoke; Sweet; Grain; light toffee notes; light, sour notes;
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salty; nutty; slight red wine acidity; but also sweet; beautiful smoke; always salty;
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buttrige Vanilla;
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JoshNRW scored this whisky 85 points
Somewhat round in the nosing, but without depth.
Easily drinkable in tasting, but not a great pleasureThinLizzy scored this whisky 86 points
maltaholic scored this whisky 82 points
It exudes its aroma even before I put my nose in the glass:
A nice sweetness, a little smoke, bitter herbs.
Then take a closer look at wood glue, spices.
Very powerful in the beginning, really voluminous.
The taste is reminiscent of a Kilchoman.
Lots of laurel, little wood, a hint of smoke.
Very nice...Astrid scored this whisky 85 points
Scores with a great abundance of flavors, which gives an idea of where the journey could lead. Of course, he cannot hide the moments of unbalanced youth.-
fine and salty smoke is compact in the foreground, thin slices of smoked ham with a little bacon and subtle leather, raisins, plus thick vanilla and caramel, after a short time these aromas recede a little and the red wine can be noticeable with red fruits such as strawberries and pomegranate , Cherry accents and ripe plum, occasional hints of dark chocolate, the fruity-dirty overall impression is always preserved, apricot jelly, lots of red currants with rhubarb notes, minimal oak wood
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Significantly less of the salty smoke, but still very delicate and earthy-greasy, sweetish malt, slightly astringent with spicy oak, hints of dark chocolate, again strawberries and other red fruits in a red-wine milieu, creamy and dirty, red currants and sour cherries, cardamom and clove, tobacco, menthol
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Chocolate with a fine smoke, slightly ashy and sulphurous, bacon, vanilla, strawberries and red currants, earthy with cocoa and hazelnut, spicy oak, ripe plum and bitter orange, traces of leather and menthol
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korhorry scored this whisky 87 points
Nose: slightly smoky, strawberry cream, dirty, earthy, rosé, grape juice
Mouth: strawberry and raspberry mix as a cream candy, extremely fruity, again a bit dirty background, slightly smoky. Definitely has rough edges, but I like them very much.
Conclusion: Wow - three years? Blind I would have been extremely wrong here, definitely tastes older.
Really a good first release that is great fun on more!pianoman scored this whisky 77 points
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Burnt pancakes and strawberry milk. White gummy bears. Some rancid butter and a touch of new leather.
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Cigarette smoke, rosé wine, a little pepper. Some lemon and sour cream.
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peatbogger scored this whisky 86 points
Thanks to kfhakan for the sample.
Raasay have without doubt done everything in the book to present the Inaugural as something special.
And as a 3 year old single malt it actually is.
Too bad that a lot of these first releases will be sitting on shelves as investments.
For those that pop the bottle and drink it, it will without doubt create confidence to buy the coming regular release. The question however is if the "normal" distillate can live up to this "premium cut".-
This smells like lightly peated Bordeaux.
There's all the sour dark red wine fruits with soft wood and light peat notes.
It's got a maritime saltiness, rocky beach and ocean waves.
Chocolate, and every now and then a waft of furniture polish.
Clean and very well integrated alcohol. -
The stated "premium narrow cut" comes through in the taste. This is very good spirit by any measure, and an amazing 3 year old.
Creamy texture. Sweet, and the fruit is not as "dark" as expected.
The peat is almost not noticeable here.
Lots of spice, but not to a level that I felt my sample needed water. -
Past medium length, sweet.
Raspberry and light chocolate.
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Schubi did not rate this whisky
Don't fall for the hype. This might be a limited first release of a 3-year-old (!) whisky, but the high ratings come from scalpers who just bought it to resell it at once here or on ebay. Don't give them your money.m4y4 did not rate this whisky
Initial release is higher than 7500 pcs as recently (3) received bottles are approx. around no. 7990. Looks like Raasay has released some of the bottles originally intended for hotels/bars to general public.Bestatter-Olly scored this whisky 86 points
Bottle No. 3439: The color does not matter in principle, but the beautiful amber-Bordeau color in this great bottle makes a difference. Full points are awarded for the presentation and presentation. I got the bottle straight from the still (reserved in spring). My wishes for this first edition: Fruity, grassy and salty notes, which have a connection to the samples already tasted (26 months storage).
After the tasting: It is difficult to assign the right points for a very young malt. The Raasay is already well integrated, it is harmonized.-
Bottle open: There is a sea tank, liquorice and smoke on the cork.
In the glass: some lacquer and leather, currant, subtle smoke (fine cigar). After 2-5 minutes, grass comes with light-colored fruit, maybe even apple and apricot. You can feel the sea, salt and liquorice. In the hand: very fruity and slightly charred fresh oak. Back to the glass: some cherry, subtle glue (very subtle, but good), chocolate with salted caramel, the berries don't get darker but more sour. But the smoke evaporates a little.
Second round with water: the wine barrel comes through more, the smoke remains nice and subtle. Everything like without water, but more direct and a little more oak. -
very pleasant, mouth-filling, apricot, (sour) cherry, little smoke, salt. The alcohol is very well integrated. Saliva stimulating, medicinal, salmiak / liquorice, fruity but not sherry, some tannin, dry.
With water: still nice and creamy, pleasing. Reminds of a good wine with a salty note and the smoke comes through a little more (very easily). -
The fruit (red and sour) and the full mouth remain. Longer than expected for a three year old. Slight (finely smoky) numbness in the peripheral areas.
Overall different than expected, but tasty and promising. I'm looking forward to more.
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MatzeW did not rate this whisky
Initial Price at distillery 99 GBP.
I seriously don't know (ok, maybe I have a guess) why people put up a beautiful high rating and set it for 600+ € for sale and then daily / weekly lower the price tag (to still ridicously expectations...). This just makes me sad.tectic scored this whisky 87 points
Gentle smoke
Very berry driven, quite powerful and @52% it definitely benefits from a touch of water.
Slightly tannic and pepper initially
Berries and dusted cocoa
Medium finish with more red Berries and hazelnutwhisky313 scored this whisky 86 points
official information:
The Isle of Raasay Single Malt Inaugural Release is lightly peated with rich dark fruit flavours.
This limited edition first release is matured in first fill American oak, and finished in 21 exclusive first fill Bordeaux red wine casks. Bottled at 52% abv, non-chill filtered and natural colour. Our Inaugural Release bottles will be sequentially numbered at the time of bottling.
We have created an elegant, lightly peated (15-20 Peat or Phenol Parts Per Million) single malt by taking a premium, narrow cut of our spirit run.
100% Scottish barley is mashed with mineral-rich water from our well to produce a wash that ferments for three to five days. These long fermentations, combined with the manganese from our water, create sweet blackberry characteristics in our spirit before it even touches the oak of the cask. From mashing to bottling – Raasay water is used throughout production, adding character to the spirit at every stage.
Falling as rain on Dùn Cana, the island’s highest peak, our water flows across volcanic rock and filters through Jurassic sandstone into our distillery well, known as Tobar na Ba Bàine (the Well of the Pale Cow). Our high quality American oak barrels develop almond, hazelnut, and sweet spice flavours in the spirit, and the previous bourbon contents develop caramel, toffee, and creamy chocolate notes.The final maturation in French oak casks develops savoury spice flavours, and the Bordeaux red wine infused oak brings rich dark fruit notes to the fore.
Our inaugural release spirit is a one-off expression matured in American oak and finished in Bordeaux red wine casks. This release is the all-important link between our lightly peated, fruity independent bottling, Raasay While We Wait Single Malt, and our forthcoming signature Isle of Raasay Single Malt, released in 2021.
Tastingtags
Add tasting tags by clicking the flavours you recognized in this whisky.
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Fresh Fruit -
New Wood -
Chocolate -
Leathery -
Toasted -
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Yeasty -
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Fragant -
Hay-like -
Husky -
Kippery -
Leafy -
Malt Extract -
Mossy -
Nutty -
Oily -
Old Wood
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Cooked Vegetable
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