Isle of Raasay Na Sia Single Cask Unpeated Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine

This was part of an interesting tasting session featuring the Na Sia (Scots Gaelic for 'The Six') single cask range from Raasay, held virtually on November 24, 2022. Prior to Raasay releasing their first own malt whisky from their distillery, I was invited to sample the aging spirit from the same collection. A comparison between the current whisky and the aged spirit before full maturation is included at the end of these notes. Nose: Metallic, cherries, berries, hairspray. Palate: Tastes like children's candy, artificial sweetener, red fruits like redcurrants, cinnamon, nutmeg, cream or crème brûlée, cake, grappa, and Ouzo. Finish: A long finish with notes of toffee, char/ash, and spices such as pepper, ginger, chili, and cloves. The spices intensify throughout the finish and aftertaste. Comparison: Aged spirit at 26 months. The 26-month-old spirit has a sharper, more sour/citrus palate. The whisky exhibits more cherry/berry notes but is otherwise quite similar. The whisky also has a more caramel/toffee finish compared to the 26-month-old spirit. Overall, the whisky is smoother yet quite comparable. It tied for last place among the six samples, receiving 6% of the votes for favorite of the night. 88% of attendees indicated they enjoyed the whisky.

Pleasant initially, but an acetone aftertaste develops.