A.D. Rattray's Cask Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Double Gold Medal Winner in the 2016 & 2017 San Fransisco World Spirits Competition.

Yet another independent bottler hits Australian shores, boasting a strong reputation for quality. Founded by Andrew Dewar Rattray in 1868, the company began trading as an importer of French wines, Italian spirits and olive oil. More importantly, the firm established itself as a specialist in the field of blending and storage of malt and grain whiskies. After several changes in ownership, it returned to the family and is presently owned by Tim Morrison, previously of Morrison Bowmore Distillers and fourth generation descendent of the founder. The company’s resurgence came about in 2002 with the bottling of a ‘new’ Stronachie. In April 2004, using his extensive industry knowledge, Morrison then bottled a selection of his own handpicked whiskies and the A.D. Rattray Cask Collection was born. Plans for their new Glasgow-based distillery were approved in 2014. Our current shipment focusses on Rattray's critically acclaimed 'Casks of Scotland' series, each assembled from up to twenty casks from the one distillery and bottled non chill filtered.

Tasting note: [15ml sample] Ex-bourbon barrel matured though some ex-sherry hogsheads are reportedly in the mix. Peated to 35ppm. Pure, bright amber-gold colour. Unashamedly Islay with semi-sweet, sooty peat complexed by suggestions of orange cake, cough lozenge and hints of smoked fish. Later passes add banana cake to the medley. A concentrated, medium dry, spicy profile features sooty malt and vanilla with some apparent sherry influence towards the finish as this gets more dried fruit-like. Great staying power with Fisherman's Friend carrying the aftertaste. A sit-back-and-relax Islay treat. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Other reviews... Does what it says on the tin. 91.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022

...A.D. Rattray! Glad to meet one of their recent bottlings, I had thought they were, well, gone. Or busy with the Outer-Mongolian market. We had an early batch of their Cask Islay in 2011, and thought it was pretty good (WF 83). Colour: white wine. Nose: reeks of young Caol Ila, which can’t be bad news. Apples, garden bonfire, seawater, whelks, oysters, fresh almonds, and lemons. There. Mouth: purrfekt, with some impeccable ashy smoke (very CI indeed) and more almonds, lemons, apples, and those tiny green crabs that people would rather throw into wild broths and soups. Oh and apples, naturally. Okay, I had mentioned apples before. Finish: rather long, very ashy, kippery, and with apples and lemons in the aftertaste. Comments: a great batch despite the youth and the (relative) simplicity. Not much depth, but all the rest is perfect. Welcome back, A.D. Rattray! 84 points - whiskyfun.com