I discover this channel a few years ago and the quantity of bottle i've bought because of you is astonish 😂. I even become a patreon members for the first time because i wanted more. Please never stop your good work! The Community of whisky drinker need this channel Thanks ralfy

I'm here for the Armagnac and rum; I love both as much as I do scotch! Bring 'em on!

Visited Raasay back in 2019 and the talk among the staff at that time was that they were hoping to cultivate enough of their own barley (through experimentation) to create a "Local Barley" edition. I imagine that's still a long-term goal, though there's not much cultivatable land in the island's few accessible farmland areas. To start up a malting floor doesn't involve much machinery, that's very true, but it does require a lot of labour, and labour isn't cheap either. Take a vote among the young lads and lasses who work at the distillery and find out who'd love to put their shoulders out shoveling the grain on a malting floor. I wouldn't want to foist that on anyone. They don't talk about "monkey shoulder" for nothing. Still, if a small piece of machinery could turn the grain over a few times each day, that would be perhaps another proposition. In the meantime, we can enjoy the high standard Raasay has already established in a very short space of time. Cheers.

very useful! I bought a bottle about six months ago based on a friend's recommendation. I enjoyed it, has been sitting in my cabinet competing with a variety of other SM brands. Your comments really helped me understand their process and the value in their production. As a comparison, I just watched your review on Benromach AFTER buying it based on store clerks recommendation. Not doing that again! I feel betrayed, thought I was adding to my Speyside collection, and mad at myself for not noting the absence of Non Chill Filtered statement on the box. Love your channel!

I've had a bottle of Raasay in my hands in my liquor store and put it back on the shelf. Based on your review I'm going to by one to give it to try. Thank you for another great review Ralfy. 👍🏻 🤗 🙏

Raasay, together with Ardnamurchan, Lochlea and Torabhaig (not that far away from Raasay) are definitely my favorite new distilleries. Great whisky, great presentation and fair prices.

I bought a bunch of samples earlier this year and when we got to the Raasay it was an immediate wow, and had bought a bottle before we'd finished the glass. Really love this whisky, been waiting to see what Ralfy thinks!

The one thing I love about Ralfy is his integrity. He keeps the information real and authentic, and that's why I come back to this channel after so many years.

On my 3rd bottle of Raasay now. Favourite non-Islay whisky by far. Recommend the cask strength to take it to the next level.

One of the delights of 2023 has been discovering this channel. Planning a UK trip for later this year which will include 3 weeks in Scotland during early October. Raasay distillery is definitely on the cards to visit. Thank you Ralfy

Available in Ontario. Woohoo!

Had a wonderful visit to the isle of Raasay and distillery last Summer. Delightful people and great whisky. Very much looking forward to their future.

I like most kinds of spirits, so I'm always happy to see a review of something that isn't Scotch whisky. Rum and Armagnac are great choices, as they still offer some good values. I buy these spirits regularly. It is also worth getting into Cognac beyond the big brands. I've encountered higher strength, non chill filtered Cognac recently, and it has made me far more interested in Cognac than I used to be. In the United States, there are a few newer distilleries that have brought all stages of whisky production on site, even including growing their own grain. The term I've seen used for this is "grain to glass," which can indicate that the grain is either grown on the property or sourced locally. Frey Ranch, in Fallon, Nevada, is one example. They make rye and bourbon, and it is very good and reasonably priced. At this distillery, the farm came first. The owners had the idea to build a distillery on the farm and make something out of their grain rather than sell it to others. This was a great idea, and I would love to see this trend expand. This would be a logical step for newer distilleries in Scotland, as it would help them stand out from the crowd. I'm hoping that the products of distilleries like Isle of Raasay will eventually get better distribution in the United States. As is happening with newer distilleries in the United States, these young upstarts have the potential to revitalize the industry.

Thanks Ralfy, I always look for your reviews on the names of Whisky that I have not seen before, J Walker and the rest are everyday and easy to find. I come here to find the Gems.

I though I drank all the Raasay when I visited the isle of Skye last May. Seriously though, a lovely lightly peated malt that I was delighted to discover when visiting your wonderful country. I have since been able to purchase a couple bottles at Binny’s Liquors here in Chicago and I’m so glad to be able to get it.

I've begun to dabble in rum reviews and surprisingly to me it does seem like there is less demand for that kind of thing. At least in terms of views. Oh well! Not that that really matters. Perhaps a few less views is a price worth paying to keep things fun and interesting for both creator and viewer and spreading awareness of quality malternatives. Always best to be true to yourself rather than get lost chasing numbers! I agree that there are some great new distilleries at the moment. Raasay being one of them. They understand that people like us want quality spirits with quality presentations. And by doing that I think they will rightly steal a large part of the enthusiast / malt mate market over the next few years. Nice that somebody is thinking about us! Cheers 🥃

Okay...On the power of this review, I purchased a bottle of Isle of Raasay Hebridean (the entry expression). I paid a typical price for a bottle of scotch, about $75 US. What I got was phenomenal. It hit all the buttons I was looking for in Highland Park. It has that "lilting hint of peat" that I'd found in HP Einar and never managed to ever track down in another HP expression I could afford. And, here it is in an entirely new whiskey. This will probably take an important position in the pantheon of my liquor cabinet. Thank you, Ralfy!

The Chinkapin oak cask, rye cask & red wine cask made this Isle of Raasay quiet unique in taste for me!! It's as good as an Ardbeg Wee Beastie for me (when it comes to relative prices). It was a very energetic & engaging smoky malt. In fact, I felt it was rounded smoke that it exceeded the "lightly peated" IMO!! Well worth it in taste & smell. Take it slow! 🔥🥃

I’m so excited …finally found this one. Picking up tomorrow!

I bought a bottle of Raasay at the recommendation of the staff at The Scotch Whiskey Experience in September. It's release 1.01. I love it.

Finally found a bottle of Port Charolette 10 yr peated whisky. Never tasted peat before and what a treat! Wish I had bought two bottles! Thanks for the review!

I did discovered Raasay a couples month’s ago too. I had to make a review (in french sorry 😅) because there is a certain level of intelligence in the elaboration of this young but brilliant single malt! A very well balanced peatyness that raises other flavors and aromas to their full potential… Magnificent. Glad you enjoyed as much as I did!

Spent a fortnight on Raasay on holiday in 2016. Fell in love with the isle. The distillery was under construction then. Been waiting for this review ever since, so thanks. About time I bought myself a bottle.

this channel is a rare find. Your expertise is greatly appreciated. I'm a beginner and learning a great deal . Thanks so much.

Another good one! But disappointed there was no mention of cork squeakability 🤣👍🇬🇧

Just found a bottle in the U.S. Young whisky, or not, it’s terrific!

Armagnac becoming more and more my go-to spirit after Whisky variaties. I also love Rum, but after Rum becoming also more expensive, it has more and more even more value. Please more of that. Also love your reviews of more obscure and unknown whisky, tho.

It's always good to go to other spirits just to give your taste buds a break from whisky otherwise it becomes a bit of a routine. There are some outstanding tequilas and mezcals out there for around £40 which are a real change.

Ah Raasay, they're doing good stuff over there. Tried them at a festival for the first time and they had single casks to try from their recipe, particularly enjoyed the peated rye cask, very different and tasty. I was lucky enough to get the cask strength version of the R-02.1 for my birthday, drinks very well for the strength, looking forward to future releases!

Just ordered one of this batch online at the LCBO....it is nice being able to find things you are reviewing right away! Thanks Ralfy!

I can agree with you, say. I have a quote I came up with "Everyone complaints with the cost of quality, but very few complain about quantity itself."

Hi Ralfy, I must just mention that I watch your reviews very very closely. As you mention many times in your reviews is that quality over quantity is sacrosanct, I must say that my education of single malts has improved greatly through you sharing your experience over the many years that you have honed your great knowledge of the single malts industry. Many thanks to you for allowing me to join you on your journey 👍 🥃

Hi Ralfy - I was able to pick up two bottles of Isle of Raasay in Wendover, NV., not far from where you raced your Motorcycle on the Bonneville Salt Flats! I look forward to trying one of them in the near future. Thanks for the great job you do…truly one of a kind and the only whiskey reviewer I really trust.

Great listening to you again malt mate.

A lovely whisky. Have had a couple of bottles over the last year & really enjoyed. A distillery to keep an eye on for sure.

it's a long time since I watched a ralfy review. I was avid for quite a while ( even had a malt mention) but took a rest from Scotch and Ralfy for a while. But I watched this with interest. Just the same powerful presentation and commitment to quality and as I am looking to buy a bottle of scotch to share with some friends soon this review was helpful and informative. Thanks Again Ralfy. (It's a long time since you did a Grappa review Ralfy I think)

Ralfy! Sometimes I just pour a dram of Raasay 1) to get to pick up that amazing bottle but more importantly, 2) to get to support the new distillery and the folks who work there. I like it! ❤❤

They already have a cask of Raasay malted whisky in the warehouse. They only got a tiny amount so I think it’s literally just one casks. That was 2 years ago so they may have a little more now.

Raasay (/ˈrɑːseɪ/; Scottish Gaelic: Ratharsair) or the Isle of Raasay is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and from Applecross by the Inner Sound. It is famous for being the birthplace of Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean, an important figure in the Scottish Renaissance.

Raasay was a random discovery on Google Earth a few years ago and yes, it does have street view and the readable signage indicated a distillery, so onto the internet to see what there may be to see. Plenty! And I was rather atken by their "slogan", While We Wait . . . for the whisky to "happen". So I'm pleased to see that the future augurs well for them. Col, NZ

Great review Ralphy - i have enjoyed many drops of Rassay over the past 12 months or so. We are lucky to live at a time when many new distilleries are producing great whisky - and not just scotch ones - Cotswolds and Circumstance are really going places; White Peak & Torabhaig are also producing superb stuff. Only problem is affording to buy an ever increasing choice as I don't want to miss the next exceptional dram (great excuse to buy more!!!).

Another new interesting island whisky , have just visited the distillery. They have just invested in new bottling machinery on site .They where all manual bottling on site. I like whisky that has been in ex red wine or port barrels .

Greeting Mr Ralfy, and thank you for another informative video. I discovered this last year in my local bottle shop and it grabbed my attention because of its price which I believe it was misprint, anyway I bought a dozen and really enjoying it, I think I still have 2 bottles left. It was AU$52, and after just a few days jumped up to $105, that's why I think it was a misprint. By the way, my Bunnahabhain 12 year old cask strength arrived, and I tried it the other day, to be honest it doesn't justify its price and it didn't wow me much more than the normal 12 year old. I have put it aside to try it again in a few months. Have a great day.

Ralfy, the first Romanian single malt was just launched recently: Carpathian single malt. As a Romanian im not that excited to be honest but i'd love to hear/see your review (especially on the one aged in the romanian wine barrels of Feteasca Neagra). Cheers from a whisky fan in Transylvania.

Hi Ralfy, going back to your opening, please continue to review new Whiskeys. For some of us those are the most interesting ones.

I really like this for a young whisky and it is reasonably priced.

Ralfy, thank you for one of my favourite reviews. I just found I can purchase Raasay here, so I am looking forward to trying it out! All the best from Nova Scotia, Canada!!

Really do like Raasay and the last few festivals I have been to showcasing the product. And the bottles are really classy design 👍

Thank you for the great review and insights as always! When you said "I'm sure this isn't available where you are" I figured you were probably right. Being in Canada, and specifically Ontario, we often don't get new stuff for quite some time after it's released. I decided to take a look at the LCBO's website anyway and sure enough, not only does the LCBO have Isle of Raasay R-02 listed as available, there are several bottles available at my local store! As someone who prefers to support the "little guy" especially when they clearly put so much care, effort and transparency into their product, this is definitely something I'm interested in trying so I think this will be finding a spot on my shelf very shortly!

Enjoyed this whisky from Raasay R 02. Hope they continue to thrive.

Great review, thank you Ralfy.

i've tried this on the nose and it smelt like pure manure to me, maybe the water they reduce the spirit to bottling strength has something to do with this. Yet the pallet was completely different and very drinkable for a peaty whisky, which I don't normally enjoy. I've been to the distillery on Raasay, didn't notice too many rolling fields of barley with which to distil from, and using malting floors is massively labour intensive, will be interesting to see how the new Bimber Distillery get on with their Springbank copy cat model, including 100% floor matled barley. I wonder what percentage of Scottish barley is used in Single Malts from Scotland. Looks like the great man has had a severe haircut, "right intae the widd", as my Dad used to say.

I almost bought a Raasay last week. But couldnt find enough out there to be comfortable on it. So thank you for this review.

This has been on my list to try, just been waiting for you to feature it, you did say a few months ago it was scheduled for review. Will be putting an order in, along with a bottle of Waterford Irish and a bottle of Filey Bay too, for my collection. Presently on a bottle of Ludlow, Wardingtons oloroso cask, edition 2. BTW - I am a funeral director in Worcester, started in the industry in 1986. Many thanks for the channel, keep up the good work.

I enjoyed that review Ralfy - certainly I of R is one to keep an eye on for the future; shows great promise. And of course I agree with your comments about the bottle contract - it is an essential part of the delivery of product to market......no fluff mind! 😉

Great review , thanks Ralfy . P.S. I'm glad you had the little talk ; I'm all in favour of you reviewing Rum , Armagnac , or whatever .

Nice review, thanks Ralfy. It's good to see new distilleries doing it right - including many of the English distilleries; Cotswolds springs to mind. It'd be great to get a series on English whisky because IMO there's some really good expressions. Cheers!

Ralphy I watch all your videos. No matter what.

Your honesty is refreshing as to why your're not reviewing other spirits so much. Will make a nice change in the summer also, when the weather might be more conducive to 'drams' from more exotic places. BTW, before you picked up that bottle and I saw it in the round I assumed it was as deep as it was wide and you were going to be showing a 1.5L bottle!

This was a good detailed review. Very informative. I can't wait to try this bottle. It might be a while before I see one near me, but thanks to you, it's on my radar. Cheers

My budget thanks u Ralfy!!!!! Love to see both rum & armagnac

I very much appreciated your reviews of rum. Since then, I have tried several nice rums and really like them. So looking forwarded to Armagnac since I know nothing about that spirit. The single malt will still be my go to whisky along with some Irish.

A few months ago I saw a GlenDronach 12 that stated Non Chill Filtered on the outer cylindrical box but not on the bottle itself. Because they announced last year they were going the chill filtered route, I felt this quite possibly was a newer bottle put in an older box. So I put it back and walked away. Hated to do that but I didn't want to play games. My patience with this is dwindling fast.

Isle of Raasay Single Malt 46.4% 700ml, $105.00 in New Zealand.

Good review. Raasay was the whisky that made me decide that I should taste before I buy. During Covid Raasay did online tastings of samples of each maturing spirit that would eventually go into the core expression - 6 in total. I ‘met’ people who had attended previous tastings and were able therefore to taste the spirit (this was under 3yrs old) as it was maturing. I remember enjoying some but not all that I was tasting. The red wine cask spirit was my least favourite by a distance. When eventually they released their first whisky I contacted one of my local whisky retailers for a bottle. They didn’t have any but he searched out a bottle for me. He was successful however when I went in to buy it, it was an ‘inaugural bottling’ priced at £100! I bought it and when I tasted it it was far too winey for me. I put it at the back of the cupboard, until recently, when I have tried it again - with water, it’s okay. I wouldn’t buy it again but it’s okay. That experience taught me that it’s better to taste and buy instead of buy and taste. Over the years I’ve got to know the proprietors of 2 local independent whisky shops - one in Bakewell the other in Nottingham - I trust their recommendations and buy on ‘spec’ occasionally, to compliment my general rule of thumb , to taste before I buy.

Ralfy giving a whole new meaning to "any Port in a storm" 😁 Always look forward to everything you review 👍

Sounds good Ralfy! On a recent trip to Scotland I picked up a bottle of their gin and I can honestly say it's incredible! They seem to know what they're doing anyway! All the best, Adrian

Mr. Ralfy, I love watching your videos, I trust your judgments on all alcoholic beverages, and I try to buy what suits my financial condition, by the way I love single malt whisky, unfortunately I could not get Isle Of Raasay (R-02) in Cyprus

Big fan of Raasay. The cask strength versions are worth seeking out too.

I for one would love to see reviews of Armagnacs, Baijius, Rums and other spirits.

The label is the contract. So straightforward makes you wonder why more distilleries do not make the effort?.....I could take a punt on the reason.....

I got their inaugural malt back when it was released, but saving the opening for a nice occasion. Have since tasted this one and a few different at some whisky conventions. I quite like them so far and will be keeping an eye on the distillery. Aesthetically: must say I absolutely love the bottles!

Thanks for this, I was a bit sceptical of this distillery due to the bottle, the shape screamed gimmicky , left with a choice between Ramsay and Torabhaig I went for the latter. it was great but your review has peaked my interest,,,, here we go again! Keep up the hood work sir

They do go on about their water but they say they actually run it through a reverse osmosis process befoe they use it, removing any character it may have had. I'ts all explained on Roy's Raasay vpub at 1:26:21.

I have to say thank you, pass that particular bottle many times over because of a price of about $85+, I am very intrigued with armaniac reviews and rum, for me personally I am always trying to pick up something that has no additives most importantly sugar, drinking Eric Artiguelongue 1978, recently tasted and love it Bombarda 18(8 also awesome!) Beside Foursquare and Mount gay. Having diabetes 2 It's important for me not to have added sugar to any alcohol, a lot of people don't know-Even vodka have some additives unfortunately.Ralfy That's why most of the people enjoy your reviews because you're straight to the point And thank you for that. Everyone needs to do research a little bit. At least you have power when you know. Knowledge is a power and it is never too late to learn something new.

I have a bottle of RAASAY and it is great.

It's so refreshing that we have new wave of distillers and indi bottlers (not only in Scotland) who know what is THE GAME about!! Currently I'm on the mission to know what's poppin. BTW looking forward for next rum situation review!! Greeting from Poland!

Great review. I am looking forward to your reviews on rum as well. Cheers!

Hola Ralfy, excelente review, sobre todo considerando que es un whisky muy joven, pero muy prometedor. Gracias por tan excelente información, así yo no pueda conseguir ese whisky en mi tierra. Todos los días aprendo algo nuevo con tus videos

I'll have to admit that I'm not especially an early adopter of new distilleries. Therefore I haven't tasted Raasay so far, but it's on my personal "to do"-list. Thank you for your thoughts on this mal and also for the additional information on the distillery itself!

Ralfy, excellent review! Even though i don’t have access to these small distillery bottling in the states, I really enjoy your reviews of them. Helps paint a picture of the future. Also, keep up the non-whisky reviews! Would love to see some Armagnac! And bourbon 😊 wish it was easier for you to access the craft bourbon distilleries here. They’re are increasing exponentially

Hope to see a Torabhaig review soon. Very curious your opinion. I feel they overcharge, but definitely promising

One more addition to my wish list . My guess on the Malt mark has been in sync with Ralfy's . I guess I read Ralfy's reviews very well now.

Had r01 and r02 both very nice, id be interested to see your views on Ardnamurchan regular and cask strength very nice imho and very well priced too

Long overdue Happy Malty Monday wishes Dear Sir!

They have been trying to cultivate barley on the island, not sure how much they harvested or what is happening next, but it’s on their radar. Nice review 👍

Well, now I have to search out the R-02 because I have the R-01.1 and I like it a lot. I wonder if I'll like the R-02 more.

I know where you're coming from my darlin'. The prices are simply skyrocketing for basic good quality Single malts that used to be affordable. You did warn us Ralfy, and I saw it coming myself. So here we are. I bought a Springbank 10-year-old for £60, (1.5 yrs). £I90 now!!

Thank you for your fantastic 970 review and keen to buy and taste this whisky when available in Singapore! ( why distillers are not make sure that sellers follow the distillery recommended/ mantaded minimum or maximum pricing level in order to control the market price people sell for in order to manage the affordability of their product( minimum called price floors while maximums are called price ceilings0

Great review, Paying over the odds can be painful, was lucky enough to get a gift card for Selfridges unfortunately their whisky seems to come with a premium which over £150 probably list me £40,

Ralfy - it would be great to see a series on some of the new distillers: Raasay, Lochlea etc

For the foreseeable future, if you review it, I'll view it.

Finally something new from the distilleries!😇

Great review of a newcomer to watch out for.

This Raasay is good and cheap compared to other bottles. The integrity bottling is something I go for first. Have you ever heard of Barelegs it’s similar to this bottling.

I was just thinking today that it would be nice to know what Ralfy thinks about Raasay single malt, and what do I see, when I open KZfaq 😀 Thank you for the review 😃 I have a batch R-01.1 bottle and enjoy it a lot. I think the tasting notes given by Ralfy here describes that one well too. Batch R-02 is not available to me (in Finland), at least not yet. Isle of Raasay Rye and Sherry Double Cask Single Malt is sold here, but at 93 € it is too expensive for me.

I really wanted to like this one considering they’re doing all the right things. It just didn’t work for my palate for some reason. Will likely try one of the future offerings though (maybe when there’s an age statement)

Interesting, as always. Since you're now reviewing non-age statement whiskys, I'll suggest the Tamnavulin German Pinot Noir Casks, which I found to be a great value specimen with impressive red wine notes.

Really hope you’re going to review a Kilchoman Ralfy. They grow their own barley, they can’t grow all that they need yet, but they’ve made a start. They malt thier own barley. They’re whiskies are non chill filtered, natural colour, they bottle their whisky in house, and it tastes lovely. How bout it Ralfy. Just putting out there….just saying. 😉

I’m curious to learn more about Armagnac Rafy. I have a Texas bourbon finished in an Armagnac cask and it’s really interesting.