Fettercairn 10 Years Old 2009 Wood Range Sherry Cask (Cadenhead’s)

This Fettercairn was bottled by the Campbeltown house Cadenhead, a 10 year old, distilled in 2009, bottled at 55.8%. Fettercairn is a fruity Highland malt made on mountain water under the Grampian foothills. It has been owned by Whyte and Mackay since 1973.

It was made on mountain water with the stills drenched in cold water, the cooling rings lifting a clean, tropical character. An Oloroso cask held it, shaping the light spirit over the years. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the fruit, the body softer and fuller. Refill oak lets the light, tropical Fettercairn character lead the way. Long ageing turns the fresh tropical fruit towards dried mango, coffee and a soft spice. Its make matures on site in dunnage warehouses, around thirty two thousand casks in all. Its stills carry unique cooling rings, copper tubes that drench them in cold mountain water.

At 55.8%, undiluted, it is deep and tropical. Pineapple, citrus and a soft vanilla, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is fruity and tropical, the light spirit shining through. The finish is rounded, tropical and gently spiced. This is a Highland single malt of real character.