Hebridean distillery Isle of Raasay has released its first ever Marsala Cask Single Malt whisky, a limited-edition expression matured exclusively in Marsala Vergine casks sourced from the Frazzitta winery in Sicily. Bottled at 50.7% ABV, only 12,300 bottles are available worldwide.
While wine casks in whisky maturation are nothing new, Marsala Vergine is a more elusive choice, bone dry, and far removed from the sweeter Marsala most drinkers may know. These casks have been previously seasoned for up to 30 years with wine from Frazzitta, one of Sicily’s oldest Marsala producers.
“This is one of the most distinctive cask maturations we’ve ever released,” says Master Distiller Alasdair Day. “Marsala Vergine casks, particularly from a historic producer like Frazzitta, are rare in the whisky industry. They’ve added beautiful layers of dried fruit, toasted nuts, and an oxidative depth to our Raasay spirit.”
Marsala Vergine is a more elusive choice, bone dry, and far removed from the sweeter Marsala most drinkers may know…
Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask Single Malt tasting notes
The Isle of Raasay house style is achieved through a blend of peated and unpeated spirit, both matured separately before being married for balance and complexity. Distilled May-July 2021, the Marsala influence here adds extra intrigue.
In the glass, the liquid is a golden amber. On the nose, there’s light, sweet smoke, undercut by the aroma of baked fruit, raisins and pine nuts.
The smoke doesn’t dominate the palette (the peat level is an approachable 8-10ppm), but mingles politely with the aforementioned fruits, syrup, and salted caramel toffee.
The exit is long and dry, with echoes of burnt toffee and a fleeting hint of lemon.
In design, the bottle introduces a new aesthetic to the Raasay range, drawing inspiration from the island’s slate-grey volcanic rock and fossil-marked shorelines. It’s a visual cue to the whisky’s origins, meant to give more distinction to Raasay’s limited releases, and it looks quite splendid.
“Our range has grown quickly,” explains Managing Director William Dobbie. “This new look helps mark out our special releases while still telling the story of where we come from.”
Priced at £75, Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask Single Malt is available from the distillery’s website and selected UK independents, with shipments also heading to the USA, Japan, France, Germany, and Australia.
The Whisky Exchange has announced a loyalty programme that will reward customers with exclusive bottlings, shared knowledge, discounts and much more. Current customers subscribed to The Whisky Exchange newsletter are first in line, before the scheme rolls out to all customers mid-April. Friends of The Whisky Exchange will be open to all customers around the…
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The Luxe Review 
Hebridean distillery Isle of Raasay has released its first ever Marsala Cask Single Malt whisky, a limited-edition expression matured exclusively in Marsala Vergine casks sourced from the Frazzitta winery in Sicily. Bottled at 50.7% ABV, only 12,300 bottles are available worldwide.
While wine casks in whisky maturation are nothing new, Marsala Vergine is a more elusive choice, bone dry, and far removed from the sweeter Marsala most drinkers may know. These casks have been previously seasoned for up to 30 years with wine from Frazzitta, one of Sicily’s oldest Marsala producers.
“This is one of the most distinctive cask maturations we’ve ever released,” says Master Distiller Alasdair Day. “Marsala Vergine casks, particularly from a historic producer like Frazzitta, are rare in the whisky industry. They’ve added beautiful layers of dried fruit, toasted nuts, and an oxidative depth to our Raasay spirit.”
Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask Single Malt tasting notes
The Isle of Raasay house style is achieved through a blend of peated and unpeated spirit, both matured separately before being married for balance and complexity. Distilled May-July 2021, the Marsala influence here adds extra intrigue.
In the glass, the liquid is a golden amber. On the nose, there’s light, sweet smoke, undercut by the aroma of baked fruit, raisins and pine nuts.
The smoke doesn’t dominate the palette (the peat level is an approachable 8-10ppm), but mingles politely with the aforementioned fruits, syrup, and salted caramel toffee.
The exit is long and dry, with echoes of burnt toffee and a fleeting hint of lemon.
In design, the bottle introduces a new aesthetic to the Raasay range, drawing inspiration from the island’s slate-grey volcanic rock and fossil-marked shorelines. It’s a visual cue to the whisky’s origins, meant to give more distinction to Raasay’s limited releases, and it looks quite splendid.
“Our range has grown quickly,” explains Managing Director William Dobbie. “This new look helps mark out our special releases while still telling the story of where we come from.”
Priced at £75, Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask Single Malt is available from the distillery’s website and selected UK independents, with shipments also heading to the USA, Japan, France, Germany, and Australia.
The Whisky Exchange launches loyalty programme with exclusive bottlings and discounts
The Whisky Exchange has announced a loyalty programme that will reward customers with exclusive bottlings, shared knowledge, discounts and much more. Current customers subscribed to The Whisky Exchange newsletter are first in line, before the scheme rolls out to all customers mid-April. Friends of The Whisky Exchange will be open to all customers around the…
Triple-distilled Pineapple Bananza Irish single malt joins SMWS Heresy range
The evocatively titled Pineapple Bananza is the latest addition to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s experimental Heresy range; it’s a small-batch Irish single malt whiskey created in collaboration with Dunville’s Irish Whiskey. Batch 38: Pineapple Bananza stands out for both its origin and production style. Irish whiskey is an infrequent guest in the Society’s portfolio,…
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El Supremo Rum, from Paraguay, has launched in the UK, bringing a distinctive national style – Caña Paraguaya – to British rum fans. Produced in partnership with CAPASA, Paraguay’s state‑owned sugarcane alcohol producer, the range draws on traditional production methods rooted in indigenous Guaraní culture. El Supremo is made using 100% sugarcane juice that’s reduced…
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