FETTERCAIRN COMPLETES CORE RANGE IN 2020

 ADDS TWO NEW EXPRESSIONS TO THE EXISTING FOUR

THE FETTERCAIRN LINEUP PRE 2020

Back on 01 August 2018, Fettercairn Distillery had re-launched their premium Highland Single Malt whisky range globally with the release of four new expressions. Reflective of the distillery’s unique production method and befitting of its stock of rare and aged whiskies the exceptionally refined new range of single malts is a must try for all whisky connoisseurs.

With these four new expressions, the Fettercairn range boasts a house style of tropical fruits, soft spice and sweetness – showcased in melon, pineapple, banana, clove, ginger, treacle, toffee and caramel. The four are the Fettercairn 12 Year Old, followed by the 28 YO; at the top of the range are the 40 YO and 50 YO, with the latter retailing at RSP £10,000. Both are non-chill filtered and sport their natural colour. They started to win awards almost immediately. The Fettercairn 28 Year Old was presented with Gold at IWSC 2018, and the 40 Year Old Gold awards at ISC 2018 & IWSC 2018.

Each product in the range begins its life in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels with the 12 and 28 YO expressions resting here until maturity, while the 40 YO features a finish in an Apostoles Sherry Cask (no. 6) and the 50 YO in a Tawny Port Pipe (no.1). The progression of age and finishing designed to take drinkers on a journey of elegant, tropical fruit flavour intensity.

Indicative of its history, the brand logo has been refreshed to hero the Ramsay Clan unicorn and nod to the copper cooling ring, while each new expression is presented in stylish new bottle and pack designs that feature oxidised copper. The 40 and 50 YOs are presented in hand-crafted wooden presentation boxes to reflect their value and prestige.

The new whiskies were:

Fettercairn 12 Year Old (40% ABV): RSP: £48 / $60. 

A revitalised Fettercairn, focusing on the distillery's fruity character. Matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels for 12 years, this is packed with tropical flavour without losing the distillery's weightiness and gentle gingery spice. Fettercairn 12 YO is the colour of sunlight and amber honey, with vanilla, pear and soft spices on the nose and refreshing nectarine, tropical fruit and roasted coffee to taste. To finish, memorable flavours of sultanas and black toffee. Tropical fruit is in at the moment, and this is on point. It's lighter and fruitier than older releases and harks back to the longer-aged expressions of years gone by.

Fettercairn 28 Year Old (42% ABV): RSP: £500 / $675. 

Aged in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels for 28 years, this expression from Fettercairn is deep shimmering gold in colour. With initial bursts of pineapple and melon on the nose before giving way to treacle and banana, and hints of warm ginger and liquorice; this expression opens up to citrus peel and black pepper on first taste, followed by tempered walnuts, coffee, apricot, and a touch of sweet balsamic for a rewarding drinking experience. This 28-year-old pairs the distillery's fruity character with darker, nuttier notes. Although there is no detailed information on the label on the types of barrels, this is definitely a sherry aging or marriage of barrels, in which there are exactly half of the sherry.

Fettercairn 40 Year Old (48.9% ABV): RSP: £3,000 / $4,000. 

Distilled on 23rd December 1977 and laid to rest in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels with a finish in an Apostoles Sherry Cask No.6 for a truly dark and intense whisky with dazzling amber highlights. On first nose, honey, molasses, and ginger, then overtaken by toffee apple, thick treacle, and sherry. To taste, liquorice and balsamic vinegar are balanced with citrus, toffee and raisin for a glorious finish of soft spice and tropical fruits to the elegantly fruity whisky. The result is a complex balance of fresh fruit and sherry cask character. Sure there’s a lot of oak but it’s fantastically polished and ‘silky’, with notes of kummel, green pepper and black Russian tea, all that being lifted by beautiful notes of grapefruits and oranges. Globally quite dry but very alive! This forty-year old expression is non chill-filtered with no added colour. 

Fettercairn 50 Year Old (47.9% ABV): RSP: £10,000 / $13,500. 

Distilled on 11th June 1966 and laid to rest in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels with a finish in Tawny Port Pipe (Cask No1). This refined single malt showcases a dark and rich colour, like the night enlivened with stars. Enticing aromas begin the drinking experience with ginger, spices, citrus peel, and apple, preceded by nuances of Morello cherry, over-ripe plums, and blackcurrant. A whisper of coconut and a hint of pineapple provide an unforgettable close. To taste warm spiced citrus, ground coffee, and toffee apple, give way to rich notes of port wine and sweet almond; burnt caramel and soft chewy liquorice notes round out this timeless treasure. This 50 YO expression is non chill-filtered with no added colour. 

Fettercairn’s 1966 50 YO is the oldest ever bottling from this distillery. Should you buy one, you’ll get a penny change back from your £10,000. 50 year old whisky is never cheap – and whilst you’ll find some examples clocking in at much less than £10K, you’ll also find plenty more coming in higher – sometimes considerably. It’s an outstanding whisky – but then at £10,000 it’d damn well be. Its distinctly possible that virtually all bottles produced and sold at this price will remain unopened. Those who do open this whisky will find a complex and utterly delicious offering that is intensely polished with wonderfully integrated wood alongside deep, luxuriant flavours. Not quite otherworldly, but not far off.

Fettercairn soon realised that there was a large gap between the 12 and 28 YO expressions. By 2020, they had got their act in place. Two new expression were launched, the 16 and 22 YO.

Fettercairn 16 YO 1st Release (46.4%, OB, 2020) £69

Highland single malt Scotch whisky 

The inaugural batch of Fettercairn’s new 16 Years Old expression. This expression fills the giant leap between the new range 12 YO and the 28 YO. Although the 16 YO is here to stay, each batch may be wildly different down to the nature of the diversity of stock maturing at Fettercairn. This 1st release was distilled from Chocolate malted barley – more familiar to brewers of stout or porter where it is used heavily for flavour and even in many lighter beers where a little adds colour. It was matured in 1st fill American oak ex-Bourbon casks before being finished in a combination of ex-Sherry and ex-Port casks. Contains E150A caramel colour; there is no mention of chillfiltration.

Tasting notes:

Appearance: Dark orange/amber gold, medium, rounded, stationary tears with short, thick legs.

Nose: Cloying, tart red berries and fruits, a touch earthy like elderberries, smothered in treacle, that odd Fettercairn tropicality, mango, pineapple and peach skin, oak wood – well polished, orange oil and zest, ginger and lemongrass, sweet but savoury like Cantonese dishes lemon chicken or duck in plum sauce, perhaps I’m imaging allspice powder and galangal, cocoa powder, dark chocolate and coffee, cherry and tobacco leaf and after eight mints.

Taste: Smooth and rich but oddly lighter (medium) bodied, fruit syrup and spice predominate, lots of toffee with red berries and raisins, rum & raisin fudge, mocha coffee, salted and chocolate dipped macadamia nuts.

Finish: Long, drying, oaky, chocolaty with more wood derived spices, clove and cinnamon.

A great addition to the range and one to follow as each batch promises to be as experimental as this 1st release. Despite chocolate malt and multiple cask use the core Fettercairn spirit qualities are still easily found in this expression.

Fettercairn 22 YO (47%, OB, 2020) £200

Highland single malt Scotch whisky                             

Origin: Fettercairn distillery

Vintage: 1996

The new 22 year old expression from Fettercairn is constructed to highlight the distinctive spirit character produced by Fettercairn’s unique ‘purifier’ stills that leave only the refined lighter vapours to continue on to condensation and forming their new-make spirit. This spirit was placed into American oak ex-Bourbon barrels and re-casked 13 years later into similar barrels. Original colour and not chill-filtered.

Tasting notes:

Appearance: White wine gold, rare, slow, medium-fine tears and long, ultrafine legs.

Nose: Sweet, vanilla, chewy, some baking spices, white pepper, cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, foam banana and over-ripe banana estery sweetness, white chocolate, some ripe pear and then tropical pineapple and grapefruit, gingerbread biscuits, powdery lemon-puff biscuits precede more sweetened and syrupy light cereals and malted barley flour.

Taste: Smooth and sweet, mouth-coating though light-medium bodied, banana & vanilla milkshake, white chocolate, lemon cheesecake with gingernut biscuit base topped with chopped mango and pineapple, woody oak and cedar, creamy and refreshing with a touch of pink grapefruit and yellow plum.

Finish: Long, gentle gingerbread spices and plenty of honey becomes drying with nutmeg and cinnamon topped cappuccino.

A deliciously sweet expression that really plays on Fettercairns core distillate flavours balanced against classic white oak ex-Bourbon maturation. Tropical fruits and syrup meet vanilla and wood spices resulting in a whole cake-shop of dessert-like flavours.

THE ENHANCED CORE LINEUP OF TODAY