Fettercairn 2007 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 17 yo c. 17602205

 

 

 

58,4°

Distillery : Fettercairn - Highlands

Refill American Oak Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Gordon & MacPhail has currently released eight bottlings of Fettercairn distilled in 2007, including three in 2025, which are therefore the same age. While the other two were aged in sherry casks, this one spent 17 years and at least six months in a refill American oak hogshead. Exactly 299 bottles were produced.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Wax and iodine, liquid paraffin, a fine pinch of salt, and yellow fruits. Mirabelle plum pulp, crushed bananas, Comice pears. Lemon slices, crispy malt biscuits, hazelnut, a dash of vanilla. Elegant woodiness. On the palate, candied citrus fruits, exotic fruits, papaya, a hint of mango, it's honeyed but smooth, rose water, floral overtones. Black pepper, cloves. Fairly long finish, woody, spicy, powerful, brown sugar, dried apricots and raisins, apple squares, almonds, cashews.  

 

In Short, 

This is my third Fettercairn, and it's the first one where I detect real character. There are mineral and waxy notes, after all the sea is only 11 miles from the distillery. But it's also very fruity, with a distinct pulpiness and juiciness. It reminds me a little of Clynelish, but without a trace of peat and with more fruitiness. This is definitely a bottling worth seeking out, provided you can find it at a reasonable price. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           HVOB - Home

Fettercairn 2007 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 15 yo c. 18605403

 

 

 

58,9°

Distillery : Fettercairn - Highlands

Refill Sherry Hoshead

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & McPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

You can't refuse a Fettercairn aged in a Sherry Hogshead. It is available in a limited edition of 302 bottles as part of the prestigious Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength range, the pride of Gordon & MacPhail, one of the most renowned independent bottlers. Not to be confused with its little sister, the cask 18605402, intended exclusively for the Luxembourg market.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Gourmet nose of nougatine, café liégeois, macerated sultanas, flaked almonds, toffee and treacle, ripe orchard fruits with a few citrus notes, blood orange and lemon. Vanilla pod adds a fine balance. The palate is woody and caramelised, with a knob of salted butter, dried banana and exotic undertones. Expressive spices before a lovely finish, marrons glacés, nutmeg, humus, herbal hints, candied angelica, marzipan, walnuts and hazelnuts. Brown sugar, warm brioche at the very end.

 

In Short, 

A very successful, gourmet, fruity and nuanced Fettercairn. A very well-crafted piece of work. The price is right, so enthusiasts are in for a treat.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Nether Hour - Mind Playing Tricks on Me

Fettercairn 1988 Cask Strength Collection 28 yo c. 2019

 

 

 

57,5°

Distillery : Fettercairn - Highlands

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Another of those distilleries that devote themselves almost exclusively to blends. It has a Core Range, but it is very small and little known. That's why it's always interesting to look at an independent bottling, especially one that has matured exclusively in a bourbon cask, allowing the distillate to develop and see what it's like. Signatory Vintage has quite a collection of Fettercairn casks filled in 1988, they released them all between 2015 and 2019, this one was emptied in 2017, they made this beautiful thing, and sold 246 copies.

Let's Taste It : 

It takes a while for the nose to take hold, at first it's misty, paraffin, limestone, pomade, then the fruits come to the fore, pears and lemon, and finally a lovely honeyed, iridescent balance where citrus peel vies with brown sugar and walnuts. Milky vanilla, pastry cream, orange blossom flan. Cardamom, star anise. Buttered bread, hot chocolate. Still vanilla on the palate, but also spicy, clove, cumin, black pepper, it's very woody, malty, barley, roasted corn. Rye toast. Very long, powerful, sparkling finish. Heather earth, humus, truffles. Black coffee, a hint of milk, cinnamon. Gingerbread.

 

In Short, 

All this is very interesting, and if the nose left me a little cold, the palate and then the finish delighted me, especially the finish in fact. It's a fine piece of work, which allows us to discover a Highland whisky that's fairly smooth, a little rocky but delightful. We're not very far from Speyside, but we're still in the Highlands. Today, it's all sold out, but back in the day you could still find a few bottles of this type at a decent price, it seems to me that was in another lifetime.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Elvis Perkins - Anonymous