A.D.Rattray independent bottler was founded by Andrew Dewar Rattray in 1868. They have been selecting and maturing whisky casks for over 150 years. They got their start by importing French and Italian wines and olive oil. Then they started specializing in blending and storage of malt and grain whiskies. Over time, A.D.Rattray came to represent a number of Highland malt distilleries such as Stronachie. After Andrew Dewar Rattray’s death and a crisis in the whisky industry the business was sold to William Walker & Co. Employee, Stanley P. Morrison, eventually marries William Walker’s Daughter and the Walkers and Morrisons are united. Eventually, Morrison becomes Chairman of the company which, starting in 1963, purchase Bowmore, Glen Garioch and Auchentoshan distilleries. In 1982, the company changes its name to Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd. Then in 1989 the company was purchased by Suntory which eventually becomes Beam Suntory. A.D. Rattray is still run by the Morrison family today and continues to flourish in this new age of whisky with their Cask Collection series and The A.D. Rattray Whisky Experience and Shop in Ayshire, Scotland.
The A.D Rattray ‘Cask Collection’ series is their way of sharing with the public the type of whiskies that they are truly passionate about. Each year they hand select single casks from their warehouse to be bottled with no chill filtration, natural colour and at cask strength.
A.D. Rattray Staoisha (pronounced ‘Steesha’) is a single cask, 6-year-old peated expression from Bunnahabhain Distillery. This spirit forward whisky was bottled at a cask strength of 59.1% ABV from an ex-bourbon hogshead. Only half of the cask was bottled and released for sale, limiting this to only 155 bottles. Here is my take!
Nose: Black Forest ham, smoked mussels, and clams, raging beach fire.
Palate: Grilled pears, seared bacon wrapped scallops, intense burning peat bog.
Finish: Hugely peaty yet impressive balance of smoke, sweet, and salt.
Colour: Light straw…almost clear as new make spirit.
