Fettercairn 16 Years Old 1997 (Connoisseurs Choice)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail bottled this Fettercairn, a 16 year old, distilled in 1997, bottled at 46%. Fettercairn is a Highland single malt whose tropical character comes from water cooled stills. A Scottish oak project has planted thousands of native oak saplings beside the distillery.

Distilled from unpeated malt in stills cooled by their copper rings, the cooling rings lifting a clean, tropical character. It was matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood working into the fruity malt. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, the tropical fruit turning honeyed and a roasted coffee creeping in. Refill oak lets the light, tropical Fettercairn character lead the way. Its water comes from springs in the Grampian and Cairngorm mountains above the distillery. A gentle maturation suits the light make, the tropical fruit growing richer with time. The cooling rings raise reflux and copper contact, so only the lightest vapours rise, for a tropical spirit.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. A bright, tropical orchard fruit, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a soft oak give it depth. It finishes long, fruity and clean. This is Fettercairn, one of Scotland's oldest licensed distilleries.