The Maclean Basis was established by Charles Maclean and his sons, after they crossed the Atlantic in 2019-2020. They’re at the moment on a brand new 9,000-mile mission throughout the Pacific Ocean to boost £1 million for clear water tasks.
This bottling is the third in a collection of charity releases (after a Glen Scotia and Ardnamurchan). It includes a 5 year-old single malt from Isle of Raasay distillery. It’s an unpeated spirit, bottled from a single cask.
We’ve had Chinkapin oak – or Quercus Muehlenbergii – a few instances already. It’s one of many upcoming wooden varieties, so to talk, and for Raasay it represents a giant a part of their warehouse.
Isle of Raasay 5 yo 2019 (61,1%, The Maclean Basis 2025, virgin Chinkapin cask #557, 246 btl.)
Nostril: very fragrant. Brown sugar with orange marmalade and hints of peach syrup. Some overripe fruits within the background, in addition to beneficiant toffee notes and vanilla sweetness. Then the oak turns into louder, bringing leathery notes, together with natural oak and refined moss. After some time there’s additionally a lightweight mentholated edge.
Mouth: relatively thick and really wood-driven now, with loads of recent oak, leather-based, ginger, Brazil nuts and a touch of pine wooden. Popcorn sweetness and sandalwood, in addition to pink pepper and cardamom. Then a saltiness seems. Additionally mint and warming herbs, together with a delicate bitter edge.
End: fairly lengthy, with lingering thick fruitiness beneath and loads of oak spice.
A really wealthy whisky, relying closely on the ample Chinkapin character. It brings lots of flavour and complexity for the age, however you’ll need to forgive its warmth and woody aspect, as in the event that they added a splash of American bourbon. Properly achieved. Completely out there from Royal Mile Whiskies. Bear in mind every buy offers lifetime entry to wash water to somebody in Madagascar.
