RAER: Jackton Distillery’s First Single Malt, The Inaugural Release

RAER [rare] adjective; exceptional, unparalleled, unique, special, precious.

Jackton Distillery’s first RAER Single Malt Scotch Whisky, The Inaugural Release, lands this September.  It is a whisky born from a family enterprise that has reimagined what a modern Lowland distillery can be: female-led, rooted in South Lanarkshire farmland, and guided by one of Scotland’s youngest whisky leaders.

For the Kean family, the release marks a pivotal moment.

Jackton Distillery sits on the Kean family farm just outside Glasgow, a place shaped by generations of agricultural graft. When the family decided to build a distillery on their land, it felt like a natural extension of their work. They laid down their first casks in February 2020, days before the world changed, yet kept the operation moving. Every part of Jackton’s identity, from its visitor experience to its hands-on production and RAER whisky portfolio, has grown from that farm base and its grounded ethos. In an industry that can sometimes feel esoteric, Jackton’s approach is practical, open and unfussy.

The Kean family have brought a modern sensibility to heritage and tradition. Their respect for the natural world runs through everything: livestock, landscape and sustainability. Draff feeds their cattle. Water is reused. Heat from distillation warms the buildings. “Nothing is wasted and everything comes full circle,” says Jacob Kean, who oversees farm operations. “Embracing the circular economy isn’t just eco-friendly, it makes our whisky more authentic.” 

These practices echo traditional farming, a reminder that the Lowlands were once the agricultural engine of Scotland and that whisky is shaped by the land. Jackton grows its own barley, building towards a genuine seed-to-spirit process with every stage happening on site.

Jaynie Kean - nominated for Young Talent of the Year - Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards

At the centre of the distillery is Jaynie Kean, just 28, Managing Director and one of Scotland’s youngest female distillery founders. Her leadership challenges inherited norms. Jaynie’s style is collaborative and transparent, inviting trade, media and customer feedback throughout the development of this first release. She champions whisky as a shared experience rather than a luxury commodity. The distillery’s community focus runs deep too, supporting people-centred charities and initiatives. A distinctive detail is the box: it carries the names of everyone who helped shape the whisky, a literal imprint of community on Jackton’s first single malt.

Jaynie’s approach has been recognised at this year’s Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, where she is nominated for Young Talent of the Year. Jackton Distillery is also shortlisted for Food Tourism Business of the Year and Independent Business of the Year.

At a press preview in early 2026, Jaynie acknowledged her family legacy and shared the artistic spark behind RAER’s creative identity. Her dad imagined a stylish Scottish couple standing before a mountain vista, lifting their kilts to flash their rears at this “rare view.” A mural depicting the scene is on the visitor centre wall. The playful moment inspired RAER Whisky and its “RAER moments,” with “Make every moment RAER” now etched on the distillery wall at the entrance. Then, among the casks, sits a leather chair where visitors can record their own 'RAER' moments, a charming touch that captures the brand’s humour and heart.

Left to Right: Claragh, Nicola, Jacob and Jaynie Kean

The Lowlands have long been a working landscape, shaped by farming and, later, by legal distilling. After the Wash Act of 1784 split Scotland into two tax zones and placed heavier duties on Lowland producers, distillers here responded with scale and efficiency. Bigger equipment and cleaner, lighter spirit became the regional hallmark, a style born more from economics than romance. Jackton’s modern approach nods to that tradition. The spirit is shaped by its Lowland setting and by the same practical mindset that once defined the region, even as the Uisge Beatha itself moves in a more contemporary direction.

This whisky arrives as the culmination of a patient process. The family took their time selecting the right casks and waited until the whisky was at its best maturation. RAER Single Malt Scotch Whisky, The Inaugural Release, is drawn from Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez, Amontillado and Oloroso casks, a combination that brings depth without heaviness.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: fruitcake, fig, sultana

• Palate: dark fruits, treacle, roasted nuts

• Finish: long, mellow, with toffee, sweet spice and soft oak

Bottled at 48.7% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered, the whisky is limited to 6,000 hand-numbered bottles and priced at £68.

Jackton Distillery has quickly become one of Scotland’s most promising new whisky producers because it feels open, accessible and rooted in place and people. Jaynie puts it simply: “Whisky should feel special, but it should never feel closed off.”

The Inaugural Release embodies that ethos. Collectable, yes, but made to be opened, shared and remembered. (Sharon Wilson).

Bottles are available to pre-purchase now and here