The Maclean Foundation was established by Charles Maclean and his sons, after they crossed the Atlantic in 2019-2020. They’re currently on a new 9,000-mile mission across the Pacific Ocean to raise £1 million for clean water projects.
This bottling is the third in a series of charity releases (after a Glen Scotia and Ardnamurchan). It features a 5 year-old single malt from Isle of Raasay distillery. It is an unpeated spirit, bottled from a single cask.
We’ve had Chinkapin oak – or Quercus Muehlenbergii – a couple of times already. It’s one of the upcoming wood types, so to speak, and for Raasay it represents a big part of their warehouse.
Isle of Raasay 5 yo 2019 (61,1%, The Maclean Foundation 2025, virgin Chinkapin cask #557, 246 btl.)
Nose: very aromatic. Brown sugar with orange marmalade and hints of peach syrup. Some overripe fruits in the background, as well as generous toffee notes and vanilla sweetness. Then the oak becomes louder, bringing leathery notes, along with herbal oak and subtle moss. After a while there’s also a light mentholated edge.
Mouth: rather thick and very wood-driven now, with plenty of fresh oak, leather, ginger, Brazil nuts and a hint of pine wood. Popcorn sweetness and sandalwood, as well as pink pepper and cardamom. Then a saltiness appears. Also mint and warming herbs, including a gentle bitter edge.
Finish: quite long, with lingering thick fruitiness underneath and plenty of oak spice.
A very rich whisky, relying heavily on the abundant Chinkapin character. It brings a lot of flavour and complexity for the age, but you’ll have to forgive its heat and woody side, as if they added a dash of American bourbon. Nicely done. Exclusively available from Royal Mile Whiskies. Remember each purchase provides lifetime access to clean water to someone in Madagascar.