Whisky distilling has a rich and vibrant heritage in Scotland, and Fettercairn Distillery has been in the mix since the very early days. This year sees it reach its 200th anniversary, and to celebrate, Fettercairn Distillery has released an ultra-rare collection that honours not only the whisky but also the skill, dedication and vision of those master blenders who helped put its signature style on the whisky map — and we’ve tasted it.
Since it was first opened in 1824 by Alexander Ramsay, Fettercairn Distillery has taken an innovative and forward-thinking approach to whisky making. Ramsay was an avid supporter of the Excise Act of 1823, which regulated the production of whisky in Scotland and began shaping the industry as we know it today.
To mark the 200th anniversary of the distillery, nestled in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, Fettercairn has brought together six very different and rare whisky expressions, ranging from three to 60 years old, and each representing a milestone for the distillery. Only 10 sets will be made available worldwide.
The very rare 60-year-old single malt, The 1964, is the oldest expression Fettercairn has ever released, and the three-year-old is the youngest and rarest whisky in the collection. It’s also the first single cask expression to have been matured in first-fill Scottish Oak barrels. In a nod towards Fettercairn’s anniversary, the six expressions have a combined age of 200 years.
To house these prestigious collections, ten bespoke cabinets have been created by master craftsman John Galvin. Each has been handcrafted from Scottish Oak, which reflects the natural and rural beauty of Fettercairn and the Fasque Estate that surrounds it, as well as Fettercairn’s belief in the importance of Scottish Oak in its future. Alongside the oak are brass and copper touches, which pay homage to the cooling ring invented by Alistair Menzies in 1952, which gives Fettercairn whisky some of its unique tropical flavours. Each cabinet has been signed by Fettercairn’s Master Whisky Maker, Gregg Glass.
Distillery manager Stewart Walker has been a part of the team at Fettercairn for 35 years, starting his career in the warehouse and gaining knowledge and experience at every step. Walker describes being at the helm as the distillery enters its 200th year as “a rare gift and a privilege.”
“The Fettercairn 200th Anniversary Collection has been a joy to create alongside Gregg and my wider team,” continued Walker. “I have loved going through our treasure trove of casks to find just the right whiskies to mark this momentous occasion and reliving the stories that come with each special bottle.”
The oldest expression in the collection dates from 1964, the birth year of distillery manager and collection curator Stewart Walker. While record keeping during that era wasn’t quite as meticulous as it is today, the whisky is thought to have been put into ex-bourbon barrels within weeks of Walker’s birth, where it then matured for 49 years. In 2013, it was refilled into a sherry cask before being bottled for the collection.
The 1973 expression represents Fettercairn’s continued forward-thinking, marking the year the last dunnage warehouse was built at the distillery. This came at a time when the industry as a whole was contracting in size, but Fettercairn had other ideas.
1988 saw the retirement of Douglas Cooper, the longest-serving manager to date at Fettercairn. Douglas was part of the team that introduced the iconic copper cooling ring, so the 35-year-old expression is a fitting tribute to him.
The 1995 expression has been a labour of love for Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass. To create a spirit of distinction, Glass has cared for this whisky, nurturing and assessing it each month and carefully selecting different casks to add flavour and character throughout the years.
The 25-year-old from 1998 beautifully showcases Fettercairn’s tropical house style and is balanced to perfection, thanks to the innovative use of ex-cognac casks to highlight the flavour-led whisky-making style.
The final addition to the collection is the three-year-old from 2021. This highly significant expression records the introduction of the Scottish Oak programme. As part of the project, 13,000 Scottish Oak saplings were planted within sight of the distillery, which, in the next 200 years or so, will be shaped into casks to mature and flavour Fettercairn whisky for future generations.
Tasted: Fettercairn 200th Collection
While celebrating the release of the collection, we had the opportunity to taste The 1964 and The 2021 expressions.
The 1964 whisky was aged for 49 years in an ex-bourbon barrel before being transferred into an ex-sherry butt in 2013 to finish maturing. This inspired combination has given a fabulous dark colour to the whisky. It is bright and complex, with aromas of plump red fruits and spices on the nose. Once on the palate, the syrupy liquid has notes of ginger, which complement the caramelised pineapple and blend with the sherry notes wonderfully.
The 2021 whisky has been aged in a heavily charred first-fill Scottish oak barrel made from wood sourced from the Fasque Estate on which the distillery stands. Despite its young age, the colour imparted into the spirit from the Scottish oak is surprisingly deep. The natural flavours from the oak are equally as surprising. On the nose, there are hints of banoffee pie, citrus and spices. On the palate, the ginger comes through with toasted brioche and notes of chocolate, making for a delicious mouthful.
The Fettercairn 200th Anniversary Collection will be available from September 2024
, costing £100,000. These 10 collectors’ items will be available in selected markets around the world, including Canada, France, Singapore, Taiwan, and the UK.
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