Isle of Raasay Dun Cana Sherry Quarter Cask Release Scotch Whisky
52% ABV (104 proof) | 700mL | No age statement | Peated + unpeated Hebridean single malt | PX & Oloroso sherry quarter-cask finish | Isle of Raasay, Scotland — Isle of Raasay Dùn Cana Sherry Quarter Cask Release is the annual limited edition from Scotland's first legal distillery on the Isle of Raasay: peated and unpeated spirit first matured in ex-American rye casks, then finished for six months in 125-litre Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry quarter casks. Named after Dùn Cana, the flat-topped volcanic peak that dominates Raasay's skyline. Bottled at a bold 52% with natural colour and no chill filtration. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The two-stage maturation is the whole story: the rye casks (sourced from Woodford Reserve and others) lay down vanilla and spice, then the small sherry quarter casks drive deep dried-fruit and chocolate character into the spirit fast. The official notes promise peppery spice, dried sultanas, and vanilla over light wood smoke, with a salty chocolate finish. Among sherry-cask single malts, a Hebridean island malt finished in sherry quarter casks at full 104 proof is a genuinely distinctive pour.
Tasting notes
Nose: peppery spice, dried sultanas, vanilla. Palate: rich sherry fruit, oak spice, light wood smoke. Finish: salty chocolate, lingering spice. (Official distillery notes; natural colour, non-chill filtered.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 52% ABV (104 proof) — bottled bold, natural colour, non-chill filtered
- Peated + unpeated spirit, ex-rye cask matured, PX & Oloroso sherry quarter-cask finished
- Annual limited release from Raasay's first legal distillery
- Named for Dùn Cana, the island's iconic flat-topped peak
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat in a Glencairn — at 104 proof a few drops of water open the sherry fruit nicely.
Frequently asked questions
What does Dùn Cana mean?
It's the distinctive flat-topped volcanic hill that dominates the Isle of Raasay — the distillery's landmark.
Is it peated?
It's a vatting of peated and unpeated spirit — expect light smoke, not an Islay blast.
What is a quarter cask?
A small 125-litre cask with more wood-to-spirit contact, so the sherry finish works faster and deeper.
Is this chill-filtered or colored?
No — natural colour and non-chill filtered.