September 23rd 2024.
In the past few months, there have been some exciting new whisky releases that have caught the attention of whisky enthusiasts. Our very own James Robertson was lucky enough to have the opportunity to try and review two of these releases.
The first release that James sampled was from the Isle of Raasay. He had the pleasure of meeting with Alasdair Day, the Co-Founder and Master Distiller, at their spacious offices in Edinburgh to discuss all things Raasay. What James didn't expect was to discover a shared love for oak casks and how they influence the taste of whisky.
Recently, the distillery unveiled their Hebridean Single Malt Oak Species Series with their first release being fully matured in Quercus Humboldtii, an Andean Oak species only found in Colombia and Panama. While most of us are familiar with American and French oak barrels when it comes to whisky maturation, Alasdair educated James on the unique characteristics of this lesser-known oak species.
Named after the German explorer Alexander von Humboldt, this evergreen oak species can grow up to 25 meters in height and provide a range of nuanced flavors due to its growth at altitudes of 1,000 to 3,200 meters. The oak staves used for the whisky undergo a three-year period of air-drying and seasoning to remove harsh tannins before being toasted and charred and made into 225-liter barriques, the same size as those used in Bordeaux.
As a seasoned whisky connoisseur, James was not disappointed with the Raasay Quercus Humboldtii Virgin Colombian Oak Peated Single Malt, which boasts a rich autumnal color. On the nose, he detected hints of demerara sugar, custard creams, and a touch of soft peat. On the palate, he was pleased with the soft peaty notes, accompanied by flavors of crème caramel, mixed peel, and sweet barley. Aside from the exceptional taste, James also admires Raasay for their commitment to innovation and their impact on the local community. The Raasay Quercus Humboldtii Virgin Colombian Oak Peated Single Malt, at 50.7%, is available for purchase at most independent stockists for £89.95.
Moving on to the second single malt, James had the pleasure of trying the Arran Distillers' latest addition to their limited edition signature series range - the Barrel Bonfire Edition 2. This follows the success of the first edition, the Remnant Renegade, which was released last autumn.
Stewart Bowman, the distillery manager at Lochranza Distillery, hand-selected and blended the Barrel Bonfire from a collection of single malts. The 2012 single malt was then matured for five and a half years in ex-Bourbon barrels before undergoing a secondary maturation of another five and a half years in 115-liter quarter casks from the Koval Distillery in Chicago.
Stuart explains, "As a team, we are extremely proud of this series and what it represents. Each edition has its own unique character that tells the story of how we do things in Lochranza. We want people to feel connected to the whisky and appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into making it, rather than just viewing it as a financial investment or collectible item."
The Barrel Bonfire, bottled at 50%, boasts a deep bronze color and a complex aroma of orange peel, soft smoke, barley, and vanilla pods. On the palate, the flavors meld together to create a delightful combination of cinnamon, spice, chocolate orange, toasted almonds, and a hint of peat and oak. The whisky also comes in a stylish canvas bag, adding a unique touch to its packaging. The Barrel Bonfire is available for purchase at most independent stockists for £84.98.
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