Fettercairn 13 Years Old 2007 (Hart Brothers)

A Fettercairn of a 13 year old chosen by the bottler Hart Brothers, distilled in 2007, bottled at 56.8%. Fettercairn, founded in 1824 by Sir Alexander Ramsay, is one of Scotland's oldest licensed distilleries. Its water comes from springs in the Grampian and Cairngorm mountains above the distillery.

Made on mountain water with the stills drenched in cold water, for a clean make of pineapple and citrus. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak letting the fruit lead. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the spirit, the pineapple deepening to a mango. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Active wood frames the fruit without overwhelming the light Highland spirit. The cool Highland air of the Mearns gives a slow, even maturation in the dunnage warehouses.

At a hearty 56.8% it carries real weight. Pineapple, pear and a creamy vanilla, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is light and clean, the fruit lifted by vanilla. Citrus, fruit and a soft oak see out the finish. This is Fettercairn, one of Scotland's oldest licensed distilleries.