Whisky Focus - New Highland Park Travel Retail Collection

Fettercairn Distillery owners Whyte & Mackay has announced that they are relaunching the Fettercairn single malt with the release of four new single malt whiskies.

The no age statement Fettercairn Fasque and Fior which were released back in 2010 are now discontinued and have been replaced by the new Fettercairn 12 Year Old priced at £48 RSP, followed by quite a step up in years to the Fettercairn 28 Year Old priced at £500 RSP; then the Fettercairn 40 Year Old priced at £3000 RSP and sitting at the top of the new range is the Fettercairn 50 Year Old which will retail at RSP £10,000.

The distillery tells me that the new Fettercairn range boasts a house style of tropical fruits, soft spice and sweetness - showcased in melon, pineapple, banana, clove, ginger, treacle, toffee and caramel.

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

The distillery itself is located in the picturesque village of Fettercairn at the foothills of Scotland’s Cairngorm Mountains and is known for its use of a rather ingenious and practical method in its distillation process which is different to most other distilleries in Scotland. This unusual method came about back in the mid-1950s when the whisky-makers at Fettercairn experimented with production, seeking ways to create a purer expression of their spirit, this lead to the addition of a copper purifying cooling ring around the neck of the spirit stills.

These purifying cooling rings release water which flows externally down the neck of the spirit stills and the cooling effect of this water increases reflux and ester formation, which leads to a lighter, fruitier style of new make spirit while at the same time reducing the heavy oily and sulphury notes.

Accompanying the launch of the new Fettercairn range is a refreshed brand logo 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 Year Old and 50 Year Old are presented in hand-crafted wooden presentation boxes to reflect their value and prestige.

Speaking about the announcement, Distillery Manager Stewart Walker commented, "Fettercairn is simply a beautiful distillery with a treasure trove of aged and rare stocks. I’ve worked here since 1990 and most of the team that started with me then are still on this journey with me today. It’s a pleasure crafting Fettercairn Single Malt together and we are immensely excited to finally share our exceptional whiskies with enthusiasts the world over."

I haven't had the chance to taste any of the new Fettercairn range so I cannot comment on its quality but from past experience it is a single malt that does benefit from a long time in the cask to lose its youthfulness and blossom and perhaps this is indicated in the fact that after the Fettercairn 12 the age jumps to the 28, 40 and 50 year old although I hear that there is more expressions planned to narrow the gap between the 12 and 28 year old.

I will certainly update you if I get the chance to taste the new Fettercairn whisky range but meanwhile I have posted the official tasting notes below to wet your appetite.

The new Fettercairn whisky range will be appearing on the shelves of the whisky shops from this month and you will soon find it available from specialist online whisky retailers such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
 

• UK Shops
   
• USA Shops
   
• European Shops
  

Whisky Focus