Maclean Foundation Raasay

Maclean Foundation Raasay

Region: Highlands

ABV: 61.1%

Price: £115.00

Today’s review is the third release from the Maclean Foundation, a family run charity founded by whisky icon Charles Maclean and his three sons, world record breaking ocean rowers Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan Maclean. As with previous bottlings, Charles personally selected the cask, with all profits going to fund clean water boreholes in rural Madagascar, via their on the ground partner, Feedback Madagascar. Each bottle sold provides clean water for life to at least one person.

We previously reviewed the second Maclean Foundation release, which you can find here. That was a Glen Scotia, and at the time of writing this, a few bottles are still in stock at Royal Mile Whiskies. This time, the foundation turns to Raasay, with a single cask bottling distilled in 2019 and matured for five years in a virgin Chinkapin oak cask. It was bottled in 2025, and a total of 246 bottles were released. Available exclusively from Royal Mile Whiskies.

Nose

Initially on the nose we’re finding wet grass, thyme, burnt toffee, and a bit of pepper. With a little air orange peel, vanilla, pineapple juice (think Del Monte), raw ginger, grapefruit, and a splash of Irn Bru all appear. The ABV is remarkably well integrated, and it noses far below 61.1%. It’s what we would personally describe as a “fruit bomb”.

Palate

The palate mirrors the nose in a lot of the notes we’re getting. Orange and ginger marmalade lead the way, with grapefruit and Irn Bru sitting behind that. There’s a chilli-style spice on the finish, but it’s not too much heat, as it’s well balanced by the sweetness. The mouthfeel has a nice texture and is slightly viscous. Tobacco and lavender show up with time. Despite its age, there’s a surprising complexity here.

Nose (with water)

With water the fruit recedes. Fudge, tobacco, and a bit more ethanol come forward now. The orange peel and pineapple juice are still there, but they’re now tertiary notes. There’s also cinder toffee, and a butterscotch note peeking through. With air it develops a bitter note we often find with chinkapin oak matured whiskies that we are less enthusiastic about.

Palate (with water)

Reduced there’s an upfront grapefruit bitterness, the chilli spice remains, and mouthfeel thins slightly. The tropical notes are dulled. The finish is spicier, but also shorter. Definitely one where we will be skipping water.

Conclusion

Neat, this is a boisterous and interesting young dram with a very fruit forward profile and great balance. Packed with flavour, it doesn’t drink like it’s only 5 years old. We’re currently in a bourbon phase, but there’s no doubt this would be a great addition to any evening lineup of drams. We could nitpick and say it’s perhaps a touch too tannic and hot, but honestly, we’re more than happy to just enjoy the array of flavours it offers.

Score: 8/10

Value

At £115, it’s not cheap for a 5 year old and might be beyond some people’s whisky budget. But if you can afford it, it’s worth remembering that every purchase funds clean water access for a person in Madagascar for life. That’s more than fair. A bottle that lets you drink well and do good at the same time.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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