Fettercairn 9 Years Old 2008 Warehouse Tasting (Cadenhead’s)

The Campbeltown house Cadenhead bottled this Fettercairn, a 9 year old, distilled in 2008, bottled at 58.8%. Fettercairn is a light, tropical Highland malt distilled in the Howe of the Mearns since 1824. Its make matures on site in dunnage warehouses, around thirty two thousand casks in all.

The spirit was worked through the cooling ring stills for a clean, fruity make, for the tropical, fruity make Fettercairn is known for. An Oloroso cask held it, shaping the light spirit over the years. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit fresh, fruity and tropical. Active wood frames the fruit without overwhelming the light Highland spirit. It was founded in 1824 by Sir Alexander Ramsay, who turned a corn mill at Nethermill into a distillery. The water cooled stills give a light spirit that ages with grace. Mountain spring water and the cooling rings give the tropical Fettercairn make.

At cask strength 58.8% it is full bodied. A light, tropical sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft tropical fruit and a vanilla sit behind the cask. The finish runs long, tropical and warming. This is a light, tropical Highland single malt.