Fettercairn 16 Years Old 2007 Cask #8124 (BB&R)

From the London house Berry Bros and Rudd, a 16 year old Fettercairn, distilled in 2007, from cask 8124, bottled at 53.6%, one of 118 bottles. Fettercairn is a Highland malt of pineapple and citrus, distilled at the foot of the mountains. It was founded in 1824 by Sir Alexander Ramsay, who turned a corn mill at Nethermill into a distillery.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt in stills cooled by their copper rings, the cooling rings lifting a clean, tropical character. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut from the lactones. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pineapple and pear) and a honeyed depth. The clean, fruity spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit to the fore. The light, fruity make takes cask flavour well while keeping its pineapple and citrus. In 2018 the distillery relaunched with a new core range under maker Gregg Glass.

At 53.6%, undiluted, it is deep and tropical. Mango, citrus and a soft honey, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a soft oak give it depth. The finish is rounded, tropical and gently spiced. This is a fruity, tropical Highland single malt.