Fettercairn Vanguard – 1st Release 17 Years Old 2008

Fettercairn from the distillery, a 17 year old, from 2008, at 46.3%. Fettercairn is a Highland single malt whose tropical character comes from water cooled stills. John Gladstone's son William became Prime Minister and reformed the taxation of whisky.

Made on mountain water with the stills drenched in cold water, the cooling rings lifting a clean, tropical character. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut from the lactones. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed, the fruit deepening over a soft spice. The light, fruity make takes cask flavour well while keeping its pineapple and citrus. The clean, fruity spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit to the fore. In 2018 the distillery relaunched with a new core range under maker Gregg Glass. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit.

Bottled at 46.3%, it is rounded. Tropical fruit, vanilla and a soft spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run pineapple, citrus and a soft vanilla. The close is light and warming, fruit over a gentle oak. This is Fettercairn, one of Scotland's oldest licensed distilleries.