A Legacy Distilled

The RAER Spirits Story

By Caitlyn Burrus | Photography courtesy of RAER

In the heart of Scotland’s whisky country, one family is distilling more than spirits—they’re bottling memories, rewriting tradition, and proving that great Scotch doesn’t have to take itself too seriously.

In the rolling lowlands just outside Glasgow, a new generation is quietly building something extraordinary. At the heart of this movement is RAER Spirits, an authentic family-run distillery founded by the Kean siblings on their childhood farm in Jackton, Scotland. What started as a creative solution to an age-old family divide over the taste of whisky has grown into a full-fledged brand with a global following and a fresh approach to an often-rigid tradition.

Jaynie Kean, who now champions RAER across the U.S., didn’t always see herself in the spirits world. “I don’t think any little girl grows up wanting to be in the whisky industry, or I hope not!” she jokes. But her adventurous palate, shaped by a fearless approach to food growing up (haggis and blood pudding were no big deal), eventually steered her behind the bar at age eighteen. That’s when everything changed. “Working in a bar opened up a whole new world of flavor,” she shares. “At first, I was still drinking vodka sprites, but the more I explored, the more I realized how much depth and nuance existed in spirits.”

The one flavor she couldn’t stomach? Scotch. “I thought it was awful,” Jaynie laughs. “I’d serve it as a joke if someone asked for a surprise shot!” Her father, a proud whisky lover, disagreed and decided to do something about it. Together with Jaynie and her siblings, he worked with blenders to create a Scotch they could all enjoy. The result was the first batch of RAER Original, developed in 2016: smooth, accessible, and crafted for celebrating everyday moments with people you love.

While the blend was their starting point, the Keans weren’t interested in outsourcing. By 2020, they completed construction on Jackton Distillery, a state-of-the-art facility built on their former farm. Unlike many brands that claim to be family-run, the Keans are intensely hands-on, overseeing every step of the process from growing barley and drying it on-site to malting, brewing, distilling, and aging in their proprietary casks. Today, Jackton Distillery is one of the only grain-to-glass operations of its kind in Scotland.

And RAER is anything but traditional in its attitude. “We don’t believe in telling people how to enjoy whisky,” Jaynie says. “Put it in a cocktail. Add ice. Add soda. Just enjoy it! If you were to die tomorrow, would you want your last drink to be something you didn’t like?”

The flexible approach is clearly working. RAER’s signature blend—crafted from seasonal malts and grains sourced from across Scotland—has become a favorite for new whisky drinkers and seasoned Scotch lovers. Whether sipped neat or mixed into a cocktail, it’s made to be shared. One of Jaynie’s favorite serves? The Whisky-Rita. “It’s just like a margarita, but swap out the tequila for RAER,” she explains. “You’ll find yourself a delicious summer drink, often without the hangover!”

While the brand is gaining traction across the U.S.—especially along Florida’s Scenic Highway 30-A and in ABC Fine Wine & Spirits stores—its soul remains firmly rooted in Scotland. Visitors to Jackton Distillery can book a five-star tasting tour through the Keans’ converted farm buildings, where they’re welcomed like family and given a front-row view of the entire production process. With sweeping countryside views and a unique, intimate atmosphere, it’s become a must-visit destination for whisky lovers.

RAER’s range of spirits is expanding, too. In the UK, the team has launched a series of award-winning whisky expressions, including cask-finished blends and small-batch single malts. Their Jackton Gin, made with nine botanicals and led by sea buckthorn, has also earned accolades for its vibrant flavor and elegant bottle. A standout offering, Something Blue Wedding Gin, was created by RAER team members Colin and Jess as a tribute to their wedding. Infused with butterfly pea flower, the gin is naturally blue and changes color when mixed. The bottle’s lace-inspired design echoes the detail of Jess’s wedding gown, making it a sentimental favorite that’s as romantic as it is fun. The team hopes to bring this beloved gin to the U.S. soon.

RAER is also on the brink of releasing its first official single malt Scotch, with aging casks already five years into maturation. “It’s wild to think I was eighteen when we started this, and now I’m twenty-seven,” Jaynie says. “The thing about the whisky industry is that it gives you an existential crisis about how life goes by so fast. One day we are filling a cask, and three years later we have a single malt, and so much in life has changed.”

And as for the name? RAER is more than just a clever take on the word “rare.” It began years before whisky was even a thought, as a lighthearted family idea. “My dad came bursting into the room one day saying, ‘I’m a genius!’” Jaynie recalls. “He had this vision for a photo series with two people in kilts, backs to the camera, bums out, overlooking some epic ‘rare’ view. RAER spelled backwards is ‘rear.’ We rolled our eyes, of course. But the phrase ‘Make Every Moment RAER’ stuck. And that became our guiding philosophy.”

It’s that playful spirit, paired with a deep respect for tradition and a commitment to quality, that makes RAER so memorable. From the rolling fields of Jackton to sunny Southern beach towns, this is a whisky born to bring people together—no matter how they like to drink it.

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To learn more about RAER Spirits or plan a distillery tour, visit raerusa.com or raer.co.uk.