Fettercairn 18 Years Old 1995 The Highland Trail (Alba Import)

From the bottler Alba Import, an 18 year old Fettercairn, distilled in 1995, bottled at 46%. Fettercairn is a light, fruit driven Highland single malt from the village of Fettercairn. Its water comes from springs in the Grampian and Cairngorm mountains above the distillery.

It was drawn off the stills, the cooling rings raising reflux for a fruity spirit, building the tropical Fettercairn style. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the fruity spirit. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pineapple and pear) and a honeyed depth. The cool Highland air of the Mearns gives a slow, even maturation in the dunnage warehouses. Years in oak round the spirit, the pineapple and citrus deepening to a mango. Maturation on site in the Fettercairn dunnage warehouses is slow and steady. Its make matures on site in dunnage warehouses, around thirty two thousand casks in all.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Pineapple, pear and a creamy vanilla, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is fruity and tropical, the light spirit shining through. It finishes long, fruity and clean. This is a light, tropical Highland single malt.