Fettercairn 9 Years Old 2015 Cask #C25130 (Claxton’s)

This Fettercairn was bottled by Claxton's, a 9 year old, distilled in 2015, from cask C25130, bottled at 51.6%, one of 76 bottles. Fettercairn is a light, tropical Highland malt distilled in the Howe of the Mearns since 1824. It was founded in 1824 by Sir Alexander Ramsay, who turned a corn mill at Nethermill into a distillery.

It was made on mountain water with the stills drenched in cold water, giving the light, pineapple led Highland spirit. Maturation came in a Tawny Port cask, layered over the tropical Fettercairn make. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over bright pineapple and citrus. American oak suits the tropical make, lending vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. The cooling rings raise reflux and copper contact, so only the lightest vapours rise, for a tropical spirit.

At its natural 51.6% it is concentrated. A clean, fruity sweetness, with a nutty, raisined red fruit from the cask. It is fruity and tropical, the light spirit shining through. Citrus, fruit and a soft oak see out the finish. This is a tropical Highland malt from the foot of the mountains.