søndag 22. april 2012

3 (relatively new) Fettercairns

Another go at some Fettercairsn, this time I do not have the high expectations that I usually do when tasting this distillery, but perhaps I could be surprised by these?



Fettercairn 14yo 1996-2011 46% Signatory Vintage cask#4337 btl.314/385

From a bourbon cask and diluted down to 46%abv. White wine color, smells lemon peel and grapefruit. Sour and intense, but interesting. Perhaps one that could benefit from a longer maturation? The taste is extremely intense on lemon and grapefruit, exactly the same as the nose. I'd say it is a bit rough, so I'd imagine it be a cracker if bottled at cask strength. I know that 1997 was a year of great distillation at Fettercairn Distillery as I've even had a winner from G&M's CC-range with that vintage from Fettercairn. Doesn't do well with added water, not that there is any needed.

Good selection by Signatory: 6


Fettercairn 16yo 1995-2011 46% The Ultimate Whisky Company cask#408 btl.6/226

Color of apple juice, if the two years on oak doesn't make too much difference I think this one should be pretty similar to the SV-version. It smells sweet and pefumy, hand soap, a very light version that I don't think that many people will remember for its great scents. The taste is oaky, cinnamon, toffee, caramel, after eight mint, spicy, herbal, chili flakes and mustard notes. The finish is peppery and sweet, anis.

Another one I think could've benefited from more years in the wood: 4


Fettercairn 19yo 1990-2010 50% OMC Douglas Laing cask#6382

A slightly older version, from Douglas Laing, which is foremost recognized for their old sherry cask bottlings. This is from a refill hogshead. The color is white wine, so very light for an ex-sherry cask. I think even the fino casks gives away more color than this after 19 years. It smells sulphury, struck matches, burnt rubber, genuinely off! The taste is very bitter and spicy, turmeric and mustard. A lot of fresh vanilla on the initial palate, which I would think is more often found in bourbon wood. A refill bourbon hogshead then? A very potent hogshead I must say. If it wasn't for the bad nose, I think this could easily be considered a very good dram by me.

To do this justice cask it would've needed to be bottled at CS: 5.5



Next tasting: Glendronach Distillery

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