FETTERCAIRN 28 YO Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl

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Not only a grand day but with some of the best Single Malts I have tasted in a while, a complete Whisky adventure. Once again thanks to all. Not one that I would recommend, especially given the price, but if you fancy a challenge, head over to The Whisky Exchange. I prefer the 12 Year Old to be honest.

An significant leap forward, although the palate does show its age with tannins and a woody sourness creeping in. If anything this proves the potential of the distillery at a high age. Also available from The Whisky Exchange. Fettercairn has recently been Dalmorized. That means they’ve asked The Nose to highlight some of their best whiskies, specifically at high ages. The classic Dalmore recipe of finishing in Gonzalez Byass casks and Port casks has been applied, as well as an overall (steep) increase in price. The Fettercairn arch dominates the entrance to the town and was built to commemorate a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1861. This symbol has also been used in the design and logo of Fettercairn malts. On the nose: Bright and fruity, juicy peach, butter toffee, sponge cake batter, apple and pear with a little grist. You are responsible for all activities through your account. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide to us in relation to your account, and for updating it where necessary. You are not allowed to create multiple accounts. We may terminate or temporarily suspend your account to protect you, ourselves or our partners from (suspected) identity theft or other (suspected) fraudulent (e.g. false, misleading, deceptive) activity. You have the obligation to keep your login credentials confidential. You shall not authorize any others to use or access your account.

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If you’re in the market for a stupidly expensive, uninteresting malt from an unpopular distillery then feel free to form a queue. Everyone else, ignore it and maybe it’ll go away. Nose: a dusty, coppery start. Then some shy fruity notes: slightly overdue pineapple in syrup at first, later also nicer apricots and melon. A little ginger, liquorice and caraway seeds. Vegetal notes. Maybe a wee little cardboard too. Not very classic. On the nose: Glazed Danish pastry, fruit is juicy tropical punch, some dusty vanilla, demerara sugar, subtle wood spices and a hint of distinguished age. In these days of polarised politics, of war against woke, or of tearing down statuesm it is often expected that one accepts only one version of the truth (one that is politically aligned with their own outlook) at the expense of rational and nuanced consideration. In the case of Gladstone both statements above can be true. Gladstone can be a friend to the whisky industry and a beneficiary of slavery. Perhaps more questionable is the suggestion that at the height of the success of Shand’s distillery with his experimental stills, Nethermill distillery installed Shand’s design of still in 1832:

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I’m just not a fan of this type of cask treatment and I don’t think it’s a well-conceived release at all. Score: 4/10 Fettercairn 28 year old sits in the rather unenviable position of being the 2 nd expression in the revitalised series, but at the same time asking a huge jump in price over its 12 year old sibling. There’s something missing here – an 18 or 21 year old – which would allow those enamoured by the 12 year old a reasonable stepping stone into the wider distillery range. As it stands, it’s a massive ask and one which I’m not sure many enthusiasts will be prepared to make cold.Taste…Varnished sandalwood, hessian, cooling oils, in came the sweetness and fruit, barley sugars plus some American cream soda, followed by Fettercairn house style a tropical treat, pink wafer biscuits and yellow fruit jam. Whiskybase B.V. (“Whiskybase”, “we” or “us”, company details below) offers a whisky enthusiasts online platform that provides its members access to the most comprehensive, transparent and trusted resource of whisky bottles and allows and stimulates its members to contribute information about whisky bottles to the platform (“Service”). Set in the wilds of the untamed Eastern Highlands at the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, Fettercairn begins life in an isolated location that’s allowed this Scotch whisky to hone its own distinctive taste and characteristics uninterrupted over time. On the nose: Burnt sugar, modern seasoned sherry casks, treacle, date puree, raisins, hints of tropical fruits, new sneakers, orange peel.