Fettercairn 30 Years Old 1988 Cask #2031 (Signatory)

This Fettercairn was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 30 year old, distilled in 1988, from cask 2031, bottled at 58.3%, one of 221 bottles. Fettercairn is a light, fruit driven Highland single malt from the village of Fettercairn. John Gladstone's son William became Prime Minister and reformed the taxation of whisky.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt in stills cooled by their copper rings, for a light, fruit driven spirit. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a light vanilla to the fruit. In its ethereal years the malt is waxy and oxidative, faded tropical esters and a touch of sotolon (maple, dried fig). The water cooled stills give a light spirit that ages with grace. The cooling rings raise reflux and copper contact, so only the lightest vapours rise, for a tropical spirit. Its make matures on site in dunnage warehouses, around thirty two thousand casks in all.

At its natural 58.3% it is concentrated. Pineapple, pear and a creamy vanilla, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft tropical fruit and a vanilla sit behind the cask. The finish runs long, tropical and warming. This is the cooling ring malt of the Mearns.