Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 47%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon first fill
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Emperador Inc. (Whyte & Mackay Ltd.)
Average price: € 275.00
Official website: fettercairnwhisky.com
Vote: 84/100
The third bottling in ascending order of age in the distillery’s core portfolio, it was added some time after the complete restyling carried out by the new ownership, and joins the 12yo, 18yo and 28yo. Initially, a 40yo and 50yo were also part of the group, later slipping into the Rare and Aged Collection to accompany the 46yo.
All in all, there are quite a few fixed editions produced by the distillery, often with classic maturations dominated above all by ex-Bourbon casks, seen as the most suitable for marrying with the distillate which, I would remind you, sees a copper ring spray cold water down the neck of the still during processing to favour condensation, a solution still unique in the Scottish panorama.
Tasting notes
Very tropical olfactory profile, where melon, pineapple, mango and banana take the lion’s share over peach and pear, pushed into the background, with a certain roughness provided by nutmeg, ginger and horseradish. Quite fresh and direct, it has mineral and herbaceous sharpness diluted by softer, warmer notes of caramel and custard, which with time acquire body without ever overpowering. Balanced.
The palate echoes almost entirely the aromatic impressions of the nose, with a full body that leaves ample room for freshness, re-proposing the interweaving of fruit and mineral/herbaceous notes, seasoned with pepper and ginger with touches of nutmeg. Brushstrokes of lemon tart, liquorice, wood.
Quite long and dry finish of tropical fruit, apples, ginger and vegetal notes.
Compared to the richness of the 16-year-old, it almost seems to take a step backwards, with a solid but all in all static dram, without any great upheaval or emotion. A good dram, very well-balanced, but nothing more: from such a significant ageing (like the price) you can expect much more.