Fettercairn 13 Years Old 1997 (Connoisseurs Choice)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail bottled this Fettercairn, a 13 year old, distilled in 1997, bottled at 46%. Fettercairn is a Highland single malt whose tropical character comes from water cooled stills. The cooling rings raise reflux and copper contact, so only the lightest vapours rise, for a tropical spirit.

Made on mountain water with the stills drenched in cold water, building the tropical Fettercairn style. Finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building over the fruity, light spirit. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the tropical, fruity spirit growing rounder. The cool Highland air of the Mearns gives a slow, even maturation in the dunnage warehouses. It was the second distillery licensed in Scotland after the Excise Act of 1823. Its stills carry unique cooling rings, copper tubes that drench them in cold mountain water. Years in oak round the spirit, the pineapple and citrus deepening to a mango.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Mango, citrus and a soft honey, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is fruity and tropical, the light spirit shining through. It finishes long, fruity and clean. This is a fruity, tropical Highland single malt.