ISLE OF RAASAY, THE FIRST LEGAL SCOTTISH DISTILLERY

Today, The Fosters & The Grandma have visited Raasay, the inner Hebridean isle in the north west of Scotland, well-known by its Scotch whisky distillery.

Before, the family has studied some English grammar with the Past Simple (To Be).

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Raasay, in Scottish Gaelic Ratharsair, sometimes the Isle of Raasay, is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and from Applecross by the Inner Sound. It is famous for being the birthplace of Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean, an important figure in the Scottish Renaissance.

Traditionally the home of Clan MacSween, the island was ruled by the MacLeods from the 15th to the 19th century. Subsequently, a series of private landlords held title to the island, which is now largely in public ownership. Raasay House, which was visited by James Boswell and Samuel Johnson in 1773, is now a hotel, restaurant, bar and outdoor activity centre.

Raasay means Isle of the Roe Deer and is home to an endemic subspecies of bank vole.

About 23 kilometres north to south and 5 kilometres east to west at its widest, Raasay's terrain is varied. The highest point, at 443 metres, is Dùn Caan -an unusual, flat-topped peak. The island of Rona lies just off the north coast and the tidal islets of Eilean Fladday and Eilean Tigh are to the northwest. Other smaller surrounding islands are Eilean Aird nan Gobhar, Eilean an Inbhire, Holoman Island, Manish Island, Fraoch Eilean, Glas Eilean, Griana-sgeir and Eilean an Fhraoich. The main village of Inverarish is near the southwest coast and contiguous with both Clachan at the west end where the main pier is situated and Suishnish to the east. Oskaig is a small settlement further up the west coast.

The primary employment is in tourism, working for the ferry company, crofting and fishing, or commuting to work on Skye. A twenty-five-minute ride by the car and passenger ferry connects the island with Sconser on Skye. There is a primary school, but older students go to Portree High School by the ferry and bus.

Sites of interest include the remains of a broch, the ruins of Brochel Castle, inscribed stones, abandoned crofting communities, and many walking paths.

The spread of Scots culture from Dalriada north of Ardnamurchan is poorly understood and little is recorded of Raasay's early Christian period. The placename Kilmaluag suggests the presence of St Moluag in the late sixth century.

Following Viking expeditions to the islands they called the Suðreyjar in the eighth century, Raasay became part of the Norse Kingdom of the Isles and for much of the period religious observance came under the jurisdiction of the Bishopric of the Isles.

The Hebrides were yielded to the Kingdom of Scotland as a result of the 1266 Treaty of Perth, after which time control of the islands north of Ardnamurchan was in the hands of the Earls of Ross.

In addition to the name Raasay itself, placenames such as Arnish (eagle headland), Suidhisnis (seething headland) and Eyre (beach or sand spit) are a legacy of the Norse presence.

More information: Isle of Raasay

In September 2017 the Isle of Raasay distillery opened after the conversion of Borodale House.

Isle of Raasay distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery on the Inner Hebridean Isle of Raasay in Northwest Scotland. The distillery is owned by R&B Distillers and was the first legal distillery on the Isle of Raasay when it opened in 2017.

R&B Distillers was founded in 2014 by Alasdair Day and Bill Dobbie. The company started its operations at the Isle of Raasay in September 2017 after receiving its distiller's license. The water used during the distilling process in the production of whisky comes from a Celtic Iron Age well. The water has a high mineral content derived from the island's volcanic and sandstone rock.

The whisky is distilled in copper pot stills and is matured at the distillery on Raasay in a variety of oak casks. The distillery will produce approximately 200,000 litres of pure alcohol per year. The distillery's flagship brand is Isle of Raasay Single Malt Scotch Whisky released since 2020. Since then, the distillery has also released a number of limited special and single cask whiskies.

The distillery is based on the site of a former disused hotel called Borodale House on the southwest of the island. The Isle of Raasay Distillery also has a visitors’ centre that opened in January 2018. It was awarded 5 stars by VisitScotland as a tourist attraction in June 2018. The distillery also features a six-bedroom hotel with views over the Isle of Skye.

In 2023, the distillery ranked third in a Cask Connoisseur ranking of the most popular whisky distilleries.

More information: Isle of Raasay Distillery

The king o’ drinks, as I conceive it,
Talisker, Isla, or Glenlivet!

Robert Louis Stevenson