Isle Of Raasay The Draam 700Ml

Isle Of Raasay The Draam 700Ml

"The Draam" is the award-winning signature single malt from the Isle of Raasay Distillery. Its name is a playful, distinctly Raasay twist on the familiar Scottish word for a measure of whisky. This expression was crafted to emulate an older style of Hebridean single malt, delivering a complex character that balances a subtle, fragrant smokiness with rich, dark fruit flavours. 

Isle of Raasay Distillery was founded by Bill Dobbie and Alasdair Day on the small Isle of Raasay, 15 miles north of Skye in the Inner Hebrides. Spirit production began in 2017, and since then Isle of Raasay has become one of the most highly regarded of the new Scottish distilleries. 

Rooted in centuries of illicit distilling, Raasay provides the ingredients for the perfect dram. Every drop of spirit for Raasay Whisky is distilled, matured and bottled on the island using water from the Raasay well, Tobar na Ba Bàine, ‘Well of the Pale Cow’. Mineral-rich Raasay water and long fermentations of up to 118 hours (5 days) develop sweet blackberry characteristics in the spirit before it even touches the oak of the cask.

The creation of "The Draam" uses a unique six-cask recipe devised by Master Distiller Alasdair Day. It starts with two distinct spirits distilled at Raasay, peated and unpeated.

These two spirits are matured separately in a combination of three cask types:

First-fill American Rye Whiskey Casks (providing spice and vanilla)
Fresh Chinkapin Oak Casks (adding fresh oak complexity)
First-fill Bordeaux Red Wine Casks (imparting red-wine depth and dark fruit richness)

The resulting six components (peated and unpeated spirit in each of the three cask types) are then married together to achieve the final balanced and complex "Draam." Every drop is distilled, matured, and bottled on the Isle of Raasay using mineral-rich water from the distillery's well, Tobar na Ba Bàine.

The profile is distinguished by a balance of smoke and fruit:

Aroma: Wood smoke, dark cherries, apricots, and blackberries, underpinned by sweet spice and a hint of vanilla.

Palate: Balances a lightly fragrant peat smoke with notes of ripe dark fruit (such as blackcurrant and red apple), cinnamon warmth, black pepper, and sometimes a hint of salted caramel.

Finish: Medium in length, often described as dry, peppery, and warming, with a lingering light wood smoke and dried fruit.

Bottled at 46.4% ABV, it is natural colour and non-chill filtered.