Fettercairn Warehouse 2 Batch 3 7 Years Old 2015

Fettercairn from the distillery, a 7 year old, from 2015, at 50.6%, 9600 bottles in all. Fettercairn is a Highland single malt whose tropical character comes from water cooled stills. The cooling rings raise reflux and copper contact, so only the lightest vapours rise, for a tropical spirit.

The spirit was run through the water cooled stills for a light, tropical make, the cooling rings lifting a clean, tropical character. It was matured in a Red Wine cask, the wood working into the fruity malt. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted sugars (light caramel) over the tropical spirit. Years in oak round the spirit, the pineapple and citrus deepening to a mango. The clean, fruity spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit to the fore. Its water comes from springs in the Grampian and Cairngorm mountains above the distillery.

At a hearty 50.6% it carries real weight. Mango, citrus and a soft honey, with red berry and a dry spice from the cask. Mango, citrus and a creamy vanilla fill the middle. The finish is long, fruity and gently spiced. This is a tropical Highland malt from the foot of the mountains.