Review of the Isle of
Raasay distillery's first-ever Marsala Cask single malt.
 Isle of Raasay, one of the leading new
wave of Scotch whisky distilleries at
the forefront of Scotch whisky
creativity has introduced its
inaugural Marsala Cask Single Malt
Whisky, matured exclusively in rare
Marsala Vergine casks sourced from the
historic Frazzitta winery in Sicily.
Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask key
information:
- Release
Date: 7th August 2025
- ABV: 50.7%
- Peat Level:
8-10ppm
- Cask Type:
Ex Marsala Barrique
- Spirit
Types: Isle of Raasay peated &
unpeated spirit
- Barley Type:
Diablo & Concerto
- Yeast type:
Distilamax MW
- Cask Filling
Strength: 63.5% ABV
- Distilled:
July 2021
- Vatted: June
2025
- Bottling:
July 2025
- Maturation &
Bottling: Isle of Raasay Distillery
The Isle of
Raasay Marsala Cask has been bottled at
what should be a flavoursome 50.7% ABV
and is a limited release of 12,300
bottles worldwide, the release
marks a significant milestone for the
small Hebridean island distillery
located off the west coast of Scotland,
nestled between the Isle of Skye and the
Scottish mainland. The Marsala Cask
release has been paired with striking
new packaging to enhance brand
identity and set it apart in the
portfolio.
This unique expression brings together
two distinctive coastal terroirs—Sicily
and Raasay—in a bold meeting of heritage
and innovation. What truly distinguishes
this whisky is not only the rare cask
type, but the exceptional provenance of
the wood itself. The Marsala Vergine DOC
barrels hail from Frazzitta, one of
Sicily’s oldest and most respected
Marsala producers, renowned for aging
their wines for decades in traditional
oxidative conditions.
Marsala Vergine wines are celebrated for
their dry, nutty, and deeply oxidative
character, akin to a fine dry
sherry—characteristics that beautifully
influence the whisky’s complexity and
depth.
Master Distiller Alasdair Day explains,
"Marsala Vergine casks, particularly
from a historic producer like Frazzitta,
are rare in the whisky industry, and the
cask characteristics have brought an
exceptional depth of flavour to our
Raasay spirit. The casks we’ve used to
mature our whisky have been seasoned
with the bone dry Marsala wine for up to
30 years. This adds beautiful layers of
dried fruit, toasted nuts, and an
oxidative depth. The result is a whisky
that is rich and complex, with baked
apples and maple syrup on the palate,
balanced with dried pear, apricots, and
a balsamic sweetness that all lingers
into a long smoky finish with echoes of
roasted coffee. It’s one of the most
distinctive cask maturations we’ve ever
released, elegant and assertive all at
once."
The Marsala Cask Limited Release also
introduces a striking new addition to
the distillery’s packaging line-up. Its
colour palette draws inspiration from
Raasay’s dramatic geology — with cool
slate grey tones echoing the island’s
rugged volcanic terrain. Subtle
fossil-like indentations on the bottle
itself pay homage to the ancient
imprints found across the landscape,
creating a tactile link between the
whisky and its place of origin.
"This new look is about giving our range
a clearer identity," says William Dobbie,
Managing Director of the distillery.
"We’ve rapidly grown in the last few
years and have released many truly
exceptional whiskies, this new packaging
will help differentiate our limited
releases from our core range whilst
still telling the story of where we come
from and what makes our whisky so
unique."
As with all Raasay releases, this whisky
was distilled and matured entirely on
the island. Its signature lightly peated
character comes from a unique approach:
combining spirit made from both peated
and unpeated barley, each matured
separately before being married
to create a balanced, complex profile.
I haven't yet had the chance to taste it
so I cannot comment on it, but I have a
bottle on the way so watch
this space and I will let you know my
thoughts on it, meanwhile the official
tasting note is below for you to
consider.
The Isle of Raasay Marsala Cask limited release invites
whisky lovers to savour a unique fusion
of Sicilian and Scottish heritage in
every dram. With a RRP of £75 it will be
available from today direct from the
Isle of Raasay website and it will soon be available
from specialist online whisky shops such
as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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