Fettercairn releases third annual 18YO Scottish Oak

Whyte & Mackay-owned whisky distillery Fettercairn has revealed its third annual release of an 18-year-old single malt finished in responsibly sourced Scottish oak.

Since 2022, the 18-year-old Fettercairn Scottish Oak has been a small batch annual release to highlight provenance and innovation. The Fettercairn Distillery is nestled in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains and celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. The distillery only uses locally sourced barley from farms within a 50-mile radius. Fettercairn’s stills are crowned with unique copper cooling rings, which cascade ice-cold water from the nearby mountains down the outside. This innovation is said to cool the stills and allow only the lightest vapours to rise, creating the whisky’s characteristic tropical house style. The 18-year-old extends the distillery's efforts to the casks as part of a new Scottish oak initiative. Fettercairn’s master whisky maker, Gregg Glass, implemented the programme eight years ago, bringing a new approach to whisky making. The innovative programme has been developed to ultimately future-proof the industry whilst creating a circular economy by encouraging the use of 100% native wood in whisky making. The expression is fully finished in responsibly sourced Scottish Oak after initial maturation in first-fill and refill ex-Bourbon American White Oak barrels. “The Scottish Oak Programme is one of my proudest achievements, and the annual release of the Fettercairn 18 Years Old is a regular reminder of the journey our team has gone through so far to bring this to life," said Glass. “Over the last three years, we’ve gained a loyal following for this special whisky and our hope every year is for more people to experience how truly special Scottish Oak is and the incredible flavours it can impart to Scotch. "So the diverse flavours of Scottish Oak can be enjoyed for generations to come; in 2021, we replanted an ancient forest at Fettercairn. The saplings are growing well, with many now visible from the distillery. "We’re still generations away from these trees being used in whisky making, but having them there to watch over our distillery offers an important reminder that our work isn’t just for the present; it’s for the future.” Offered non-chill filtered at 46.8% ABV, the 18-year-old has notes of sugared almonds, baking spices, passion fruit and guava on the nose. On the palate, 'expect exotic syruped fruits, patisserie sugars, brioche and spices, with soft hints of berry fruits, flowing through to a cacao, and a natural vanilla finish'. The 2024 limited release will be available in specialist retailers from October with a suggested retail price of £212 (US$277). Earlier this year, Fettercairn unveiled a 200th Anniversary Collection of six single malts, retailing for £100,000 (US$127,640), to celebrate the distillery's bicentenary.