After reviewing Borders Single Grain a few months back, I couldn’t miss the chance to have a deeper look at R&B Distillers‘ other expression, While We Wait, which I had the happy surprise to receive within one of my favourite whisky subscription boxes: Craft Whisky Club.

With roots in both the Scottish Borders and the Hebrides, R&B Distillers are seeking to build distilleries in both – uncommon provenance for whisky production. The Borders has not seen a whisky distillery since 1837, and R&B are building the first legal one on the Isle of Raasay, already quite at an advanced building stage!. Co-founder Alasdair Day’s great-grandfather was a Borders master blender in the early 19th Century, while his other great-grandfather hailed from the Hebrides.

Building distilleries takes time though, so R&B are satisfying their impatience by crafting the styles of whisky representative of what’s to come; the aptly named Raasay While We Wait single malt, and Borders single grain. They also continue to promote their heritage brand The Tweeddale.

“While waiting for Raasay Distillery to rise beneath Dùn Caan, we’ve crafted a single malt demonstrating our whisky making skills to offer a tantalising taster of what’s to come.

We achieved this by blending two expressions from one distillery; one peated, one unpeated. The whisky then finished in French oak Tuscan wine casks from three vineyards that produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.” The result? A single malt whisky of uncommon provenance!

Want to know more about R&B Distillers? Check this exclusive video interview

 

While We Wait is bottled at 46% ABV

 

Nose: Not as smoky as you would expect, the peaty tones and earthy notes are definitely not overpowering and still allows me to pick up underlying fruity aromas but also notes of jasmin tea, ginger bread, brown sugar and cut grass.

Palate: The peat comes stronger at first sip, with masses of spices, peppery and red berries notes flowing onto the palate. Don’t expect a Laphroaig type of peat though, we’re more into something that I like to call “sugary peat”, and that’s just fine! A rather dry profile for this expression with a background of dried cranberries, sultanas and subtle wine tannins (obivously coming from its cask finish).

Overall, a fairly easy-drinking and not overly-complex dram but if the elegant profile of this slightly peaty expression is anywhere close to the future spirits produced on Raasay, then we’ll be in for a treat!

Finish: Medium-long and slightly dry with white pepper and raw coffee grounds.

Pssst! Find the Recipe Here!

 

Hey! Find out more about R&B Distillers on Craft Whisky Club’s special Highlight Page