The @Spirits_Embassy organise regular virtual tastings, with either their own or a distillery representative hosting.
For January this was a @FettercairnWh tasting hosted by Andrew Lennie @lennie_ba
The tasting cost £25 and included 5 x 30ml drams, a key ring and a Fettercairn Neat Glass!
- Fettercairn 12 Year Old - 40%
- Fettercairn 12 Year Old PX (Travel Retail Exclusive) - 40%
- Fettercairn 16 Year Old Batch 2 - 46.4%
- Fettercairn 22 Year Old - 47%
- Fettercairn 28 Year Old - 42%
Andrew started us off on the 12yo and then took us through some slides about the distillery.
Brief tasting notes:
Appearance: Coloured, swirls leave a thick line which beads up then fall as slow thin legs.
Nose: Tropical fruit: pineapple, mango, apricot, honey and vanilla.
Palate: Peach, apricot, pineapple, gentle peppery spice.
Finish: Tropical fruit and a gentle spice.
Thoughts: the low ABV and chill filtering obviously have an impact here but it's a nice dram.
Appearance: Coloured, swirls leave a thick line which beads up then fall as slow thick legs.
Nose: Strawberry jam, musty bookshop, orange zest, dried fruit.
Palate: Thick sweet arrival, honey, strawberry jam, tropical fruit and dried fruit.
Fettercairn 16yo 2nd Release 46.4% ABV: sherry and ex-bourbon hogshead with an Oloroso and Palo Cortado finish.
Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line with small beads which form slow thin legs.
Nose: Marzipan, tropical fruit, dried fruit, honey.
Palate: Thick chewy arrival, tropical fruit, ginger spice, dried fruit and a little maple syrup.
Fettercairn 22yo 47% ABV: 1996 ex-bourbon, re-casked in 2009.
Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line with large beads which form slow thin legs.
Nose: Banana bread, tropical fruit, pear and a hint of Turkish Delight.
Palate: Thick arrival, Tropical fruit: pineapple, mango, banana; chilli spice, hints of honey and coffee. Loads of vanilla.
Fettercairn 12yo PX 40% ABV: ex-bourbon hogshead, up to 2 year PX finish.
Appearance: Coloured, swirls leave a thick line which beads up then fall as slow thick legs.
Nose: Strawberry jam, musty bookshop, orange zest, dried fruit.
Palate: Thick sweet arrival, honey, strawberry jam, tropical fruit and dried fruit.
Thoughts: again the low ABV and chill filtering have an impact here but this one just feels a little thicker - 46% NCF would be really good.
Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line with small beads which form slow thin legs.
Nose: Marzipan, tropical fruit, dried fruit, honey.
Palate: Thick chewy arrival, tropical fruit, ginger spice, dried fruit and a little maple syrup.
Finish: Tropical and dried fruit with some ginger spice.
Thoughts: this dram was really good, my favourite of the night. Thick, chewy and full of flavour.
Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line with large beads which form slow thin legs.
Nose: Banana bread, tropical fruit, pear and a hint of Turkish Delight.
Palate: Thick arrival, Tropical fruit: pineapple, mango, banana; chilli spice, hints of honey and coffee. Loads of vanilla.
Finish: Lingering spice, vanilla and tropical fruit.
Thoughts: another really good dram, could easily have been a single grain.
Fettercairn 28yo 42% ABV: ex-bourbon barrels, hogsheads and re-fills.
Appearance: Coloured, swirls leave a thick line with small beads which form slow thin legs.
Nose: Farmyard funk, tropical fruit, vanilla custard.
Palate: Tropical fruit: mango, pineapple; leather, sweet lemon zest hints of mushrooms and chocolate.
Thoughts: an old dram, with a slightly disappointing ABV but full of complexity.
Details on other Spirit Embassy tastings here!
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