Fettercairn 21 Years Old 1996 Cask #92691/92692 (Ian Macleod)

From the bottler Ian Macleod, a 21 year old Fettercairn, distilled in 1996, from cask 92691/92692, bottled at 46%, one of 614 bottles. Fettercairn is a Highland single malt from the foot of the Cairngorms in Aberdeenshire, known for its tropical fruit style. In 2018 the distillery relaunched with a new core range under maker Gregg Glass.

Made on mountain water with the stills drenched in cold water, for the tropical, fruity make Fettercairn is known for. Finished in a Red Wine cask, the wood building over the fruity, light spirit. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed, the fruit deepening over a soft spice. American oak suits the tropical make, lending vanilla and coconut over the fruit. The clean, fruity spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit to the fore. Years in oak round the spirit, the pineapple and citrus deepening to a mango.

At 46% it is fruity, tropical and clean. Pineapple, citrus and a soft vanilla, with red berry and a dry spice from the cask. Soft tropical fruit and a vanilla sit behind the cask. The finish runs long, tropical and warming. This is a light, tropical Highland single malt.