Isle of Raasay
The first legal distillery on the small Inner Hebridean island of Raasay, just off Skye's east coast. Produces both lightly peated and unpeated spirit side-by-side and vats them; the visitor centre doubles as a boutique hotel for overnight stays.
Isle of Raasay is Scotland's most spectacularly sited new distillery — in the converted Victorian hotel on the small Inner Hebridean island of Raasay, accessible only by ferry from Skye. The first releases (from 2021) have been impressive: peated and unpeated expressions from a variety of cask types, with the Hebridean maritime air creating a distinctive character. Worth the journey.
Visiting Isle of Raasay
Contact distillery
Borodale House, Raasay
IV40 8PB
- Shop
- Café/Restaurant
- Parking
Core range
The Draam
46.4% ABV · Rye whisky casks + first-fill Bordeaux red wine + ex-Chinkapin oak; partly peated
Small Hebridean distillery launched 2017. Unusual cask programme gives a distinctive young whisky — wine cask + peat is not a typical pairing. Renamed The Draam in 2025 (formerly the R-01 signature release) — same recipe, same 46.4%.
- Nose:
- Lightly peated, oak spice, dried fruit, soft sherry note.
- Palate:
- Layered — light peat, dark fruit (from wine cask), oak spice, gentle sweet.
- Finish:
- Long, drying, gently smoky.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Raasay Core Expression | Langoustines or Hebridean shellfish | Maritime island spirit pairs with west coast shellfish. |
Getting there
CalMac ferry from Sconser (Skye) to Raasay — 25 min, several crossings daily. Skye accessible from Kyle of Lochalsh by bridge.
Sconser–Raasay ferry (from Skye) — 25 minutes from Sconser on Skye — the distillery is a short walk uphill from the Raasay slip. Reach Skye itself over the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh.
Ferry times, fares and booking on TripSCOTWhere to eat nearby
- Isle of Raasay Distillery restaurantRestaurant
On-site restaurant with island produce.
- Raasay House hotelHotel
Victorian hotel converted into the distillery — accommodation and food.
Where to stay near Isle of Raasay
Isle of Raasay distillery is on the small island of Raasay, reached by CalMac ferry from Sconser on Skye (25 min crossing). The distillery has its own accommodation (Raasay House hotel and self-catering). Skye is the mainland for this trip — Sconser is 10 miles from Portree. Raasay is a quiet island with a distillery, a ruined castle, and excellent walking; it deserves an overnight.
Stay at the distillery hotel — unique experience.
Wide range on Skye — ferry is 25 min to Raasay.
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Isle of Raasay.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Location
Borodale House, Raasay, IV40 8PB
View on map →Frequently asked questions
+Can I stay at the distillery?
Yes — Raasay House (the Victorian hotel that forms the distillery building) has accommodation. A genuinely unique place to stay.
+How do I get to Raasay?
CalMac ferry from Sconser on Skye — 25 minutes, several crossings per day. Book in advance if taking a car.
+Where is Isle of Raasay distillery?
Isle of Raasay is in the Islands. Postcode IV40.
+When was Isle of Raasay distillery founded?
Isle of Raasay was founded in 2017, making it roughly 9 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
Most similar in setting and ethos to Ardnahoe (Islay) or Torabhaig (Skye). The island setting and Raasay House location are unique.
Torabhaig
Skye's second legal distillery, opened in 2017 inside a restored 19th-century farmstead on the Sleat peninsula. Produces a distinctively peated style via its Legacy Series annual releases — the first 'well-tempered' peated Skye whisky outside Talisker in modern history.
Ardnahoe
Islay’s newest distillery, opened in 2019 by long-established independent bottler Hunter Laing. The visitor centre has some of the best views on the island across the Sound of Islay.
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