ISLE OF RAASAY DISTILLERY VISITORS CENTRE AWARDED FIVE STARS BY VISITSCOTLAND’S QUALITY ASSURANCE SCHEME

Isle of Raasay Distillery is delighted to announce that its Visitors Centre has been awarded VisitScotland’s highest ‘Five Star Visitor Attraction’ accreditation, joining the ranks of some of the most unforgettable locations in the country.

Raasay Distillery is pioneering a new provenance for Scotch Whisky and, since opening the visitors centre in January 2018, it has become a popular tourist destination for whisky pilgrims. Visitors to the Raasay Distillery can now experience first-hand the exciting journey from converting a disused Victorian building to handcrafting the first Isle of Raasay single malt.

Raasay Distillery is independently owned by co-founders Alasdair Day and Bill Dobbie. The pair worked with local architect Olli Blair (ABIR Architects) and Allen Associates to incorporate Borodale House, a disused Victorian villa, within the design for a modern distillery, visitors centre and accommodation.

Alasdair Day comments: “We were delighted to receive a five-star rating from VisitScotland for our visitor centre. It reflects all the great work by our talented team, who have managed to set a high standard in such a short amount of time.”

Distillery tours cater for all levels of whisky knowledge, from the curious to the connoisseur, and offer an insight into the innovative whisky making process. Raasay Distillery’s tour guides are local islanders who share their unrivalled knowledge of Raasay’s geography and community. The distillery offers eight tours per day, seven days a week, throughout the year. Raasay Distillery predicts that this modern Visitors Centre will bring a significant number of new visitors to the island.

Chris Taylor, VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director, adds: “It is commendable that the Isle of Raasay Distillery Visitor Centre has achieved 5 Stars so soon after opening in January 2018. Delivering a quality experience that not only meets but exceeds visitor expectations is crucial in making Scotland a must-visit, must-return destination.

“I am delighted that Raasay’s first legal distillery and visitor centre has proved such a success and has been so well-supported by the island community. Just a few minutes’ walk from the ferry terminal, it is in an ideal location to attract visitors through its doors. “Quality Assurance means stars on the door and a great deal more.

It is about the entire visitor experience and driving improvement in that experience throughout the country.”

Raasay Distillery is also the only distillery in Scotland to provide luxury accommodation within the same building. Three of the bedrooms offer views of the Cuillin mountains on Skye, while the other rooms overlook the production yard and are designed for the ultimate whisky lover. Raasay Distillery is also planning a calendar of events throughout the year, including Raasay Tunes which celebrates local musicians, and is an integral part of the annual ‘Whisky, Fire and Song’ community festival. The distillery is an ideal destination for whisky tourists and those looking for an unusual off-the-beaten track holiday.

NOTES

RAASAY DISTILLERY: Raasay Distillery began producing whisky in September 2017. It is owned by independent Scottish whisky company R&B Distillers. Co-founder Alasdair Day embodies this coupling: his great-grandfather, Allan MacDonald, hailed from the Hebrides, while his other great grandfather, Richard Day, was a master-blender in the Scottish Borders during the early 19th Century.

The former, on Raasay, is now a reality. In February 2016, the Highland Council granted permission for the construction of a distillery on Raasay. Subsequent grants were secured from the Food Processing Marketing and Co-Operation Grants Scheme, as well as the Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the development of a visitor centre, which is projected to bring 12,000 visitors to Raasay in its first year.

Raasay Single Malt will be ready to drink from 2020 and will encapsulate the rugged elegance of the island terroir. The high mineral content of the island’s water, which filters through the volcanic rock of Dun Caan, will be integral to the flavour of the whisky. A long fermentation time helps to retain the minerality, resulting in a fruity whisky that will become a characteristic of Raasay single malt.

The team hold the long-term ambition of using all-local ingredients – water, peat and barley – to create a spirit that is a true reflection of this uncommon provenance. In June 2017, Raasay Distillery commenced a barley trial with farmers and crofters to assess the possibility of growing barley locally and concluded that Bere and IsKria (ancient and Icelandic varieties respectively) can be grown the island. Raasay Distillery intend to create a special release of 100% Raasay single malt.

Isle of Raasay Distillery is will produce Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

• Capacity: 94,000 LPA
• Fermentation Time: 96-110 hours
• Spirit Still: 3,600 L
• Wash Still: 5,000 L
• Washback Size: 5,000 L
• Maturation: All maturation on site

Produced using local water supply at every stage of distillation and reduction

VISIT SCOTLAND

Developed over the last four decades in partnership with the tourism industry and informed by visitor research, VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance schemes are world-leading. QA stars alongside online reviews give visitors a balance of objective and subjective views to assist in their decision making and expectations.

For more information on Quality Assurance, visit www.visitscotland.org

Raasay Distillery, Borodale House, Isle of Raasay, Kyle IV40 8PB
raasaydistillery.com
T: 01478 470178
Opening times: 10am – 5pm
Instagram/ Facebook: @raasaydistillery, Twittter: @RaasayWhisky