mandag 24. januar 2011

7 Fettercairns tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011

Fettercairn 23yo 1984-2007 52% OB

A dark sherried I suppose(spanish oak) OB from the Fettercairn Distillery. It smells light, typical Fettercairn, easy, crispy, herbal, nuts and sweet oloroso. Followed by a round warming flavour, definately malty, seems much lighter than its actual abv., almost a trademark for this distillery. This is definately not for the macho peatfreaks of the ones that loves intense flavours, but if you like the malt in malt whisky combines with loads and loads of gentle sherry, you're in for a real treat.

Beautiful Fettercairn: 9



Fettercairn 33yo 1975-2008 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing

Fettercairn, former Fettercairn 1824, former Old Fettercairn, is now out with an impressive new OB range of 24, 30 and 40yo whisky. I have tried none of those, although I have the Fior in my cabinet. I'm looking forward to see the production development in this distillery in the years to come. This one smells awesome, lots of sherry, wood, barbeque, grilled tomatoes, herbs, dried red berries and red peppers. The taste has just the perfect balance, at first a bit phenolic, sweet, rustic, dry, herbal, just everything in small, well-fitted portions. The aftertaste shows green peppercorns and phenol, seeds and dry herbs. Again all in perfect amounts. It doesn't get much better than this.

An utterly great whisky, one of the best: 9.5



Fettercairn NAS 42% OB Fior

The label states this is a limited release, but since there's no number of bottlings, casks or batches mentioned, I find it's a kind of weird statement. But then again aren't really all whiskies limited editions? Orange hue, smells greenish, herbal, peaty, sweet, minty, meaty, just a small bit of everything. This might get confusing tastewise? The taste is definately peaty, mildly so, and herbal, some nice dry sherriness without any rubbery notes, beautiful. The aftertaste is also peaty and herbal. To say it's a fantastic whisky would be wrong, but this one is most definately worth the money paid for it.

A classic whisky with lots of old style charisma: 7




Old Fettercairn NAS 40% OB

Another oldie without age statement today, probably from the 80's with pure instead of single malt stated on the label. It smells caramel, probably its loaded with E150. The taste is much the same as with the Tamnavulin unfortunately, grassy and a bit herbal. With a small addition of water it gets sweeter, red berries, plums and corn. Well, it's not a marvellous malt, but i do like the development when diluted a bit.

One for the nice guys: 4.5



Fettercairn 1824 12yo 40% OB

The new version of Fettercairn, 2 years older than the quite impressive "old fettercairn". This is very fresh and grassy. The taste is quite drying despite having a prominent vanilla flavour and a very herbal, but short aftertaste. It's a very good example of an easy, clean and fun malt. Usually I don't use to much water, or any at all, in whiskies already diluted down to 40%abv, but in this one, just about half a teaspoon will work magic. A bit more peppery and some smoky burnt oak notes.

A summers malt: 6



Old Fettercairn NAS 1997-? 62.3% OB

Fettercairn is one of the hugely underrated scotch distilleries in my opinion. What? No smoky peat? No indulgent special cask maturation? No crazy label name or serie to erase the fact that this is a NAS-bottling? They do it their own way up in Fettercairn. The nose on this one is malty, light and crisp malt notes. The fragrances are beyond superb, pepper, extremely waxy, complex, blue cheese, cheddar, soy, almonds, oranges, really zesty. The aftertaste is not for just anybody, but if you can handle some really strong peppery notes for about 15 minutes it's well worth it.

Up there amongst the great whiskies of our time: 9.5



Old Fettercairn 8yo 43% OB

An older bottling from before the japanese came. It has a very mild nose, some apples, some citrus and of course the some gunpowder. It performs very well on the palate, again citrus, orange, lemon, a slight bitterness and a touch of ale. A small drop of water gets it a bit sweeter, but now it's becoming so mild that it's almost like a borderline blend/malt. The aftertaste is if not exciting, at least very unique, it's just like after a huge sip of guinness ale.

Very enjoyable, but not if you're into peated or sherried stuff: 6.5

Ingen kommentarer: