Fettercairn 25 Years Old 1995 Cask #2819 (Signatory)

From the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 25 year old Fettercairn, distilled in 1995, from cask 2819, bottled at 57.4%, one of 167 bottles. Fettercairn is a Highland single malt from Whyte and Mackay, known for pineapple and tropical fruit. After Ramsay lost his fortune, the Fasque estate passed to the Gladstone family in 1829.

The spirit was distilled slow and light for the tropical Fettercairn style, for a light, fruit driven spirit. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin lending vanilla under the pineapple. Through the evaporative decades the spirit concentrates, esters folding into dried mango, coffee and beeswax. The cool Highland air of the Mearns gives a slow, even maturation in the dunnage warehouses. Its stills carry unique cooling rings, copper tubes that drench them in cold mountain water. The cooling rings raise reflux and copper contact, so only the lightest vapours rise, for a tropical spirit.

Bottled at a cask strength 57.4%, it is rich. Tropical fruit, vanilla and a soft spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Mango, citrus and a creamy vanilla fill the middle. A clean finish ends on pineapple and a soft oak. This is a light, tropical Highland single malt.