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Product Description
Introducing the third installment from Isle of Raasay Distillery’s Oak Species Maturation Series, putting the spotlight onto Quercus Petraea from the Zemplén Mountains region in Hungary. In true Isle of Raasay house style, they have used a combination of both peated and unpeated spirit, which has been matured seperately in the chosen cask type and then married together.
The oak from the Zemplén Mountains (Zempléni-hegység) in northeastern Hungary is one of the world’s most prized woods for coopering. Long before French oak became the undisputed global standard, top winemakers across Europe, including those in France, relied heavily on Hungarian oak to mature their finest wines.
What makes this release different to its Oak Species Maturation Series predecessors is not only the variety of oak species, but the fact the spirit has been fully matured in ex Oloroso sherry casks, rather than virgin oak. This choice allows the inherent spiciness of the Hungarian Oak to be softened and enriched by the deep, dried-fruit profile of the Oloroso.
Hungarian oak is renowned for its slow growth and exceptionally tight grain, allowing for a more controlled interaction between spirit and wood. This results in a whisky of remarkable depth and balance, where spice, sweetness and smoke are intricately layered.
Tasting Notes
NOSE: Orange peel, roasted hazelnut, Geranium, cinnamon, ginger, sponge cake
PALATE: Ginger, coffee, Sherry, dark chocolate
FINISH: Lingering sweet orange, ginger, and smoky bacon
