A Fettercairn Double
At Whisky Boys HQ we received two samples from the Fettercairn Distillery, a 12 Year Old and a 28 Year Old.
Fettercairn Distillery is located in the village of Fettercairn, near the Cairngorm mountains. This 12 year old expression from the distillery is matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks for its full maturation.
In the mid-1950s, the Whisky makers at Fettercairn experimented, seeking ways to create a purer expression of their spirit. They found that pouring water down the still cooled the copper, increasing condensation inside so only the lightest vapours could rise for collection. They fashioned a copper tube around the top of the still to continually douse it with water – an ingenious and practical solution which remains unique in Scotch Whisky making to this day.
Let’s have a taste of the 12 Year Old.
Fettercairn 12 Year Old – Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70 cl
Colour…Harvest barley gold
Nose…We started with honey on toast, vanilla, gentle spices and ripe tropical fruits.
Taste…It’s dreamy, creamy and mellow, fruit salad with subtle vanilla custard, with a teardrop of water I get ginger, pineapple cubes.
Finish…Medium finish, sweet and balanced with black tea and a puff of white pepper.
Loved it, just loved it. This takes me back many many years, it has an old fashioned style of nose and taste which I just love. A great entry dram from Fettercairn and priced at about £42.00. The Whisky Boys will certainly have one of these in the cabinet.
Let’s move on to the 28 Year Old.
Aged 28 years in American White Oak ex-Bourbon casks
Fettercairn 28 Year Old – Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 42% Alc/vol 70 cl
Colour…Buttercup gold
Nose…Buttery croissants, milk chocolate cheesecake, Caribbean banana fritters.
Taste… Mouth filling and warm, sticky, gooey treacle toffee pudding, pleasant spice tingle, (liquorice, nutmeg and white pepper), lemon bonbons.
Finish…Medium finish, juicy ripe soft fruits, delicate spices, a treat.
A triumph from Fettercairn, so easy drinking, fruity and sweet. Priced at around £460.00, my question would be “is it too expensive ?”
