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Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask Review

What makes Isle of Raasay's Marsala Cask Edition so unique? Discover its complex layers of fruit, sweetness, and subtle peat smoke in this limited-edition release.

OVERALL RATING

9
$82
  • Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.
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Tasting Notes

About:

The Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask Edition is a small batch limited-edition from the Hebridean distiller, and the first distillery release to feature ex-Marsala wine casks. Crafted from Raasay’s lightly peated spirit, which combines peated and unpeated barley, the whisky spent its full maturation in rare Marsala Vergine casks sourced from the historic Frazzitta winery in Sicily, Italy.

Founded in the 19th century, Frazzitta is one of Sicily’s oldest Marsala producers known for aging their wines for decades. Marsala Vergine wines are famed for a nutty, dry, and deeply oxidative profile, like dry sherry. Limited to 12,300 bottles worldwide, The Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask Edition is non-chill filtered and natural colour, bottled at 50.7% ABV.
Appearance:
Deep Gold
Nose:
Opens with notes of crisp apples and white grapes, there’s a slight sharp acidy reminiscent of a crisp white wine. Sweeter notes of brown sugar, vanilla fudge, heather honey and golden syrup follow, alongside some lime citrus. Subtle peat smoke with a touch of flinty minerality and aromas of dying beach bonfire embers, accompanied by a background note of balsamic vinegar and brine.
Palate:
The palate opens with stewed apples and ginger spice, alongside sweet maple syrup and a notable touch of balsamic. Sultanas and candied limes follow, alongside golden syrup, brown sugar, and a touch of milk chocolate. Sweet subtle peat smoke lingers throughout, with hints of oak, bonfire ash, and brine.
Finish:
Long, there is a final hit of brown sugar and lime citrus, before smoke becomes more drawn out shifting to ashy and slightly salty. There is warming pepper as the finish becomes more drying.
Comments:
The Isle of Raasay distillery is forging a well-deserved reputation for crafting some well-layered and complex young whiskies, combining the distinctive lightly peated spirit with a selection of unusual, but high quality, casks. This Marsala Cask Edition clearly shows this, effectively marrying sweet and savoury notes, whilst the sweetness compliments Raasay’s light peat smoke style.

The Marsala casks have imparted sweet notes of stewed apples, brown sugar, golden syrup and lime candies before the naturally drying cask influence combines with the peat smoke for an ashy dry finish. At times, the sweet notes and dryness exceed what I normally enjoy in a whisky, but in Raasay’s Marsala cask edition the notes shift between fruits, sweetness, and smoke so no aspect overpowers resulting in a well-balanced and layered whisky. This is a delicious whisky which offers a distinctive Marsala cask finish, and I believe will appeal to a wide range of whisky drinkers –get one while you can.

The Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask Edition is the first release to debut the distillery’s new limited-edition bottlings packaging colour scheme, inspired by the island’s geology with cool slate grey tones which reflect Raasay’s rugged volcanic landscape.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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