Review #748 - Isle of Raasay Na Sia Single Cask - Unpeated Chinkapin Cask

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

The Na Sia single cask series from Isle of Raasay is designed to explore the two types of spirit (peated and unpeated) and the three cask types (Chinkapin, ex-rye, and ex-Bordeaux wine) that are used to create the distillery's flagship single malt whisky. Here we have an example of their single malt which is unpeated and fully matured in a Chinkapin oak cask.

Chinkapin oak is a species in the white oak category; it's being used increasingly in whisky production for the flavors that it brings during maturation. It's native to the Midwest United States, and it's said to add tasting note such as vanilla, toffee, cinnamon, and clove. The Chinkapin oak casks used in this release were highly toasted before they received a high level of char; before all of that, they were air-dried (as opposed to kiln-dried) for a minimum of 36 months, which is a relatively long period for the process.

In our experience, Raasay's distillate has a hefty characteristic to it, full of mineral notes, oily flavor, and a hint of dark fruit; let's see how those influences combine with the oak in this single malt, which is presented at a cask strength of 61.6% ABV.

Isle of Raasay Na Sia Single Cask - Unpeated Chinkapin Cask

Scotland/Highland - Single Malt

Price: USD 114 (2025)

Age Statement: NAS

Strength: 61.6% ABV

Cask Makeup: New Chinkapin oak cask

Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; cask 19/580, distilled 2019

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 14 months; bottles at 50%, 60%, and 40% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Maple sugar, leather, cinnamon, and chocolate-covered raisins; it's quite spirity and young, but surprisingly woody considering the age. Plenty of baking spices like brown sugar, but we also get a bit of creamy malt; at the end, it's rum-raisin.

Palate: Vanilla and brown sugar, clove, tons of chocolate - loads of baking notes. It's oily with nice texture, a medium-thick mouthfeel, and we get some smoky barbecued wood and a bit of fruit like raisin, black cherry, and tart nectarine. Caramel and tiramisu bring dessert flavors later.

Finish: Long and oily, quite warm, with spices of cinnamon and oak tannins. Young oak, chocolate cake, cheap chocolate syrup, and leather linger; it's a long finish.

Final Note: There's an interesting juxtaposition between some clear youthful notes and a strong oak influence in this single malt. Spirity, hot with the strength, but also full of tannins, baking spices, and lovely dessert-like flavors from the toasted oak. This one is very punchy at cask strength, but once you get past that heat, it does have a decent amount of complexity. Good whisky, full of strength, but a little brash.

Value is just below average due to the high cost of these Na Sia single casks: $100+ is a lot to ask for NAS whisky, though this does pack a lot of flavor.

Our Rating: 7.0 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 5.77

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.

Me, My Wife & Whisky
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