Scotland, Eastern Highlands: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes

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Fettercairn

Description of the whisky

The distillery

Old Fettercairn distillery
Fettercairn Distillery
Laurencekirk
Kincardineshire
AB30 1YE
+44 1561 340 244
Owner: Whyte & Mackay Ltd
Creation date 1824

photos

A lot of distilleries are settled in the forests and valleys between the Cairgmorn mountains and the sea. The village and the distillery of Fettercairn are near the North Esk, a river which flows into the sea near Montrose.
Fettercairn is one of the oldest distilleries of Scotland. Like many others, it has been rebuild several times and has had different owners.
Fettercairn was the second distillery to claim a licence, just after The Glenlivet.
The first rebuilding took place from 1887 to 1890, after a fire who destroyed the distillery.
Fettercairn stopped production between 1926 and 1939, when it was acquired by National Distillers of America through its subsidiary company Train & McIntyre, who owned the Associates Scottish Distillers, which was owner of the licence.
In 1966, Fettercairn acquired 2 more stills. There are 4 of them now in the distillery.
In 2001 the distillery has been acquired by Kyndal Spirits Ltd after having belonged to Whyte and MacKay Distillers since 1973. In 2003, the Kyndal Ltd has been renamed in Whyte and MacKay Ltd.
Only 4% of the production are marketed as single malt, the remaining being used in blends from the group, specially the Whyte and Mackay blend.

The whisky

A propos des notes de dégustation Your own tasting notes

List of the bottles

Description of the distillery

Old Fettercairn
Whisky
O.B. 10 years 16
See Help 0 - 40 € 40 - 80 € 80 - 120 € 120 - 160 € 160 - 200 € 200 - 240 € 240 - 280 € > 280 €
 Fettercairn: official bottlings
 

Old Fettercairn
10 years
Age
 10 years
Alcohol percentage
 43%
Bottler
 Official
=25 euros< 25 euros
 
 The colour is gold. The nose is characterised by sherry, nut and peat hints.
The taste of nuts is rather dry, and some toffee hints make it sweeter.
This whisky is well balanced, and the very pleasant finish is slightly perfumed.

(la Maison du Whisky)

Another very honest whisky from the Speyside area. It's very reasonable price makes it a malt with an excellent quality-price ratio. It is not really exceptional, but it still is a very good malt
.15/20
It's a pity that this good whisky is not better known. Balance is its greatest characteristic, pleasant from the very first nosing. The light peat and sherry hints add some colours to a well balanced taste. A very nice finish. I really recommend this bottle.
17/20
A refined nose, a taste of average complexity, whit some influences of peat and malt make this bottle a good average whisky. Nothing to be ashamed of, but nothing really exceptional neither, except the price which prompts me to confirm the recommendation in the previous tasting notes.
16/20
The nose is quite pleasant with its hints of slightly peaty malt and some discrete sherry touches. In the palate, a pleasant smooth impression with some bitterness, close to wallnut or hazelnut taste. Quite an interesting finish, rather long and nicely perfumed.
16/20

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Eastern Highlands n

Eastern Highlands map

Dozens of distilleries have been created in this area during the 19th century. The area is situated at the East of the Highlands, covering the Angusshire, parts of Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire and even of Invernesshire. The Spey river has its source in the area.
Currently about half a dozen distilleries are active in the area.

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Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information about the Eastern Highlands area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow

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