Raasay Single Cask ex-Bordeaux Barrique Bere Barley cask 2022/340 & Raasay Marsala Cask 4yo

Raasay Single Cask ex-Bordeaux Barrique Bere Barley cask 2022/340

Region: Highlands

ABV: 61.3%

Price: £95.00

An unpeated Isle of Raasay malt made with 100 percent Bere barley sourced from Paxton South Mains Farm in Berwickshire. Distilled in March 2022 and bottled in January 2026 after full maturation in an ex Bordeaux red wine French oak barrique. The cask produced an outturn of 299 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with almond buttercream, sour milk, toasted hazelnuts, barley sugars and vanilla cream. The red wine isn't giving a lot here, there's a slightly tannic note, and perhaps some underripe strawberry too. There's also a little tobacco, not peat smoke but probably from the tannic red wine profile. Going back, there's a bit of a lemon sherbert note coming through. It's not overly spicy given the 61% ABV.

Palate

The palate opens with quite a fizzy raspberry flavour, there's also more of that lemon from the nose, this time zest more than juice, then some creamy vanilla and a fair kick of ginger spice that lingers into the finish. We're also finding more zesty lime and even a bit of cherry in the background. Unlike the nose, the ABV is really quite aggressive here, it's really quite a hot dram, and it doesn't dissipate until long after the finish is complete. The texture is decent, like a slightly thin sugar syrup. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has a bit more youthfulness coming through, more new make spirit aromas, yeasty, barley sugars, but with a zesty lemon undertone. To be honest, it's a lot less characterful now, so we'd skip the water here.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate follows the pattern of the reduced nose - lots more new make flavours, less cask. There's still some citrus coming through, and the finish has some leather and chocolate, but the water hasn't really tamed the spice for us. 

Conclusion

Not overly red wine forward, but it's a fairly pleasant dram. The palate delivers more character than the nose for us, but it's quite a hot dram and that takes away from it in our opinion. There are nice citrus elements riding through though.

Score: 6/10

Value

Pricier than your typical Raasay single casks, though that is to be expected given the additional cost of using Bere barley.

Raasay Marsala Cask 4yo

Region: Highlands

ABV: 50.7%

Price: £75.00

Fully matured in rare ex Frazzitta Marsala Vergine casks from Sicily, this limited release is Raasay’s first ever Marsala cask expression. Distilled in 2021 and bottled in 2025 at 4 years old. The outturn was 12,300 bottles. 

Nose

The nose opens with flakey filo pastry, cured meats, rancio, orange blossom leaves, nougat and a little raspberry peeking through from the background. The peat smoke is fairly subdued, with a wet earth/wet dog note primarily appearing for us. There's also some grape must, violet and mellow vanilla. There's a fair amount of youthfulness to the dram, but the full term Marsala maturation does add a fair bit of wine character to the spirit. 

Palate

The palate opens with a fair bit of acidity, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar cured pork, dried leaves, and watery orange juice. The texture is really disappointing, it's very thin, slightly insipid, but there's quite an aggressive peppery spice that's surprising for only 50.7% ABV. Going back, there's more peat, it's quite vegetal, with a slight coastal tinge to it. The finish does linger for a decent length of time, with mostly dark cocoa and sour apple flavours.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose gives off more gingery notes, like a flat gingerale, and a little more apple too. It's less smoky now, but there's still a savoury, slightly meaty quality to the dram. It still feels quite young and immature. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has more of a meaty, savoury character, mixed with those sour apple and balsamic notes - but then it has more of a lingering sweetness - candied ginger primarily. The smoke is definitely softer now, but still present. 

Conclusion

The 4 years in Marsala have definitely imparted flavour into the dram, but overall it's a little disappointing. It feels too young, even though there's a layer of that wine cask over the top of the spirit, and the mouthfeel is just too watery given the ABV. It was nice to try, but we won't be going back for another dram. 

Score: 5.5/10

Value

You can pick up the Raasay cask strength for less, but we suspect the higher price here reflects the use of Marsala casks.

• 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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