Fettercairn 14 Years Old 2009 Gems of Scotland 5.1 (Michiel Wigman)

The bottler Michiel Wigman bottled this Fettercairn, a 14 year old, distilled in 2009, bottled at 53.1%, one of 167 bottles. Fettercairn is a fruity Highland malt made on mountain water under the Grampian foothills. John Gladstone's son William became Prime Minister and reformed the taxation of whisky.

Made on mountain water with the stills drenched in cold water, building the tropical Fettercairn style. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending vanilla and a little coconut. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the spirit, the pineapple deepening to a mango. The water cooled stills give a light spirit that ages with grace. Mountain spring water and the cooling rings give the tropical Fettercairn make. Long ageing turns the fresh tropical fruit towards dried mango, coffee and a soft spice.

At 53.1%, undiluted, it is deep and tropical. Pineapple, citrus and a soft vanilla, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is clean, the fruit carried on a light body. The close is light and warming, fruit over a gentle oak. This is Fettercairn, one of Scotland's oldest licensed distilleries.