6 Fettercairns to be tasted today, and I think its gonna be a good one, at least considering the variety of bottlers, strengths and aging, I don't believe there's one common denominator in this tasting except they're all distilled at Fettercairn Distillery.
Old Fettercairn 10yo 40% OB
The last "Old Fettercairn" they bottled was all 43%abv, but this one is probably from some earlier batches, maybe the 80's or even 70's? And it is not bottled by "Fettercairn Distillery" but "Fettercairn Distillers Company". Those small differences can often help one decide when a bottle was produced if ones willing to do some investigation. I'll stick to my guess of somewhere in the late 1970's or 1980's. The color is golden orange. It smells tangerine, nectarine, sulphur, lots of sulphur and rubber, not too pleasant yet. The taste is fruity, tangerines again, nectarine, oranges, kiwi, red apples, cinnamon, malty sweetness, floral, hay. Very good so far, but the finish leaves a bit to be desired as it has a certain edge, not a nice one, what do they call it? Yes, spirity!
Very good flavors and a finish soon to be forgotten: 6
Fettercairn 8yo 43% OB 875 (for A Orlandi 20139 Milano)
First of all, let me explain the number 875 on this bottle. 8 stands for 8yo and 75 stands for the alcohol proof. This one is most definitely from to 70's, or could it be a old as being bottled in the 60's? 0.76l bottle, screw cap. The sticker on the cap suggests it was sold in Italy as early as 1966. The color is golden. It smells hay, wet gravel, clay, leather, old furniture, I do like it. The taste is smooth, caramel, honey, fudge, vanilla, peppery. The nose was great, but the taste is kinda boring, the finish is also a bit short.
Pleasant I guess, but that's all: 4.5
Old Fettercairn 26yo 45% The Stillman's Dram Whyte & MacKay
Since W&M owns Fettercairn Distillery one could look at this being an OB, but there are also Jura's and Dalmore's in this series, I even think there's a Tomintoul Stillman's out there. Since its not from a single cask I wonder if Richard Patterson have had anything to do with mixing the whiskies in this one. The color is golden brown. It smells spirity, some cinnamon and heather, but mostly it is a spirity whisky. I thought that was what Fettercairn seemed to try avoid with their one-of-a-kind cut neck spirit stills. The taste is all on orange liqueur, sweet and mouth coating, really like a chocolate confectionery with orange liqueur inside, the ones we all hated as children. Interesting, I've never had a malt whisky that tasted so little of malt.
Interesting stuff, an aperitif: 5.5
Fettercairn 18yo 1992-2010 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
I have not had many great CC-bottlings of recent, but I hope this one will make me forget about that. The color is light golden. It smells very sharp, bitter, spirity, not a favorite. The taste is sweet, drying, marzipan, floral, creamy, dry white wine. It's not an unpleasant malt, but I think it would've done so much better if it was bottled at CS. Impeccable fino sherry notes. Yes, from an ex-fino cask.
Nice, although Fettercairns at low strength seems to lack a certain finish: 6
Fettercairn 13yo 1991-2005 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing cask#1327
From a refill sherry hogshead. The color is golden, seems there's quite a few refill casks at Fettercairn as opposed to fresh wood, maybe its a financially strategic move by W&M? This one smells much more like it, some string heather, leather, lavender, grill oil, gasoline, eggnog, creamy, tarry. The taste is rich and spicy, gingerbread, stewed onions, a very sweet and earthy taste. This is my favorite so far in this tasting. Very aromatic, custard notes, reminds me of a bakery.
Fettercairn really enhances when bottled at higher strength: 7
Fettercairn 16yo 1995-2011 59.9% Signatory Vintage cask#405,406 btl.110/368
From two hoggies, and at a strength I usually prefer, but remember, this is the most recent distillate in this session. I hope it won't let me down as I have great expectations from Fettercairn Distillery in the years to come. The color is white wine. It smells oily, vanilla, mustard, dried paprika, sun-dried tomatoes, very strong and concentrated, a spicy little bugger. The taste is sweet and sour, mango, chili and lime. Sound a bit like a recipe. This is good! The aftertaste is peppery and longlasting, I'm left with a hint of peppery notes in my mouth long time after this malt is had. Club soda and vanilla notes comes through in the end as well.
Nice one, ought to be more of these around: 7
#8 Classic Malts
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