The Maclean Foundation was established by Charles Maclean and his sons, after they crossed the Atlantic in 2019-2020. The brothers currently on a new 9,000-mile mission rowing across the Pacific Ocean to raise £1 million for clean water projects. Such a good cause!
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 (guava), as well as generous toffee notes, fruit cake 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 oily, but also 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 earthy cardamom. Then a saltiness appears. Also mint and warming herbs, including a bitter edge.
Finish: quite long, with lingering thick fruitiness underneath and plenty of oak spice in front row.
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, though not entirely my preferred style. Exclusively available from Royal Mile Whiskies. Remember each purchase provides lifetime access to clean water to someone in Madagascar.