Isle of Raasay

Since its establishment, the Isle of Raasay Distillery has brought job opportunities to the island, worked closely with other local businesses and become embedded in the island’s tight-knit community.

Part of the distillery’s ethos is to produce, mature, bottle and market every drop of spirit directly from the island. This seeks to maximise the influence of the island on the spirit, and the distillery on the island. To quote the inimitable Whisky Writer Dave Broom at our distillery opening: ‘we are not just making alcohol, we are making spirit.’

The distillery now employs more than 25 people on the island and the average age of the Raasay workforce is approximately 30 years old. An early indicator of creating inter-generational values and making sure this special island of 161 people continues to thrive.

We can’t wait for you to come and visit our wonderful island and enjoy our Hebridean spirits for yourself.

Whisky-makers understand the importance of a good rest. In fact, up in Scotland, these celebrated spirits can’t legally even be called Scotch until they’ve spent a minimum of three undisturbed years tucked up in a comfy oak cask.

So it’s surprising that, for an industry so attuned to hitting snooze, few whisky distilleries have thought to build bedrooms on their premises. From the Lowlands to the islands, these age-old institutions are among the nation’s most visited tourist attractions – so why wouldn’t they cater to overnight stays?

Perhaps there’s less of an appetite for sleeping over than there is for single malts. On Islay, Ardbeg shut its Seaview Cottage a few years back, and most whisky pilgrims seem to prefer to stay in centralised, specialised hotels — such as Speyside’s The Craigellachie, or Campbeltown’s The Ardshiel. However, if you do have a fierce favourite brand, some distilleries still offer on-site lodgings. Here are three of the finest…

Isle of Raasay Distillery Whisky Hotel

Where is it in Scotland? Snug in the rugged, remote Hebrides. This island, which sits between mainland Scotland and the Isle of Skye, is a haven for whisky mavens – and teems with wildlife including red deer and alpine hares. This hotel is the only accommodation set inside a working whisky distillery in the whole of Scotland.

How do you get there? By boat. But, even if you do struggle to find your sea legs, we’ve found that a nip of Raasay’s fine single malt helps. Even without it, the crossing – on a hybrid Caledonian MacBrayne ferry – takes only 25 minutes, and takes in scenery so spectacular that your mind will be firmly elsewhere (on the slopes of the picturesque Cuillin Mountains, we’d wager).

What’s the accommodation like? Borodale House is a Victorian villa attached to the distillery, transformed into a hotel with six ensuite bedrooms. It’s state-of-the-art, with flat-screen televisions, feather pillows, fluffy towels and a rain shower in every room. The White Company even provides the linens. The restaurant, available for guests as well as visitors to the island, serves Raasay-caught venison and fresh seafood from the surrounding waters.

Which whisky should you try? Guests will also have access to a whisky lounge, found on the ground floor of the hotel and featuring a fully-stocked honesty bar. We’d keep things classic with your whisky choice; Isle of Raasay Single Malt is the distillery’s flagship expression, and has a subtle smokiness, lightly peated notes and rich dark fruit flavours on the finish.