Fettercairn series explores synaesthesia

Highland distillery Fettercairn has unveiled The Vanguard Series – an ‘extraordinary’ set of whiskies that explore how we individually experience flavour through the senses.

Inspired by Fettercairn’s master whisky maker Gregg Glass’ unique synaesthetic ability to ‘taste in colour’, The Vanguard Series explores how individuals experience flavour, and what the possibilities are in flavour-led whisky making. Glass explained: “In the development of any whisky, it’s a new experience. I tend to pick up sensory elements, particularly linking colour and texture to the flavour and character of the whisky. I capture that in my tasting notes, which show how the colours I experience change as the flavour of the whisky evolves. “In the development of Vanguard, I’d always listen to a huge range of music, which can have a huge influence on how I experience flavour. “The Vanguard series explores what’s possible within whisky. We’ve been looking to create the ideal way of delivering layers of flavour in these whiskies: which casks we select, the components of those casks, what character they bring, and how they will evolve our house style in new and exciting ways. The series represents the distillery's commitment to flavour-led whisky making and boundary-pushing innovation.” The three-year series starts with two inaugural releases – a rare 29-year-old, and a non-age-statement expression. Just 99 bottles of Vanguard 29 Year Old are available worldwide. The 48.3% ABV whisky was distilled on 11 December 1995, and spent 25 years in a refill Bourbon hogshead before being transferred to an ‘exceptionally rare’ French pink oak cask from Bordeaux cooperage Demptos. Pink oak is distinguished by its high levels of carotenoids, which impart elegant fruit and floral notes, with particularly distinctive strawberry characteristics that are said to perfectly complement Fettercairn's tropical house style. The single malt retails for £2,500 (US$3,375). Meanwhile, the 46.3% non-age-statement Vanguard is a unique, small batch release that builds on Fettercairn's exploration of Scottish oak through innovative hybrid cask maturation. The whisky was first laid down in ex-Bourbon barrels on 28 February 2008, developing for 14 years before being finished in unique hybrid casks constructed from American oak staves and heavily toasted Scottish oak heads crafted from naturally wind-felled Highland Scottish oak. Created in collaboration with Speyside Cooperage, these 200-litre hybrid barrels offer a unique maturation environment that enhances the whisky's ‘natural beauty’. The result is a balance of Fettercairn's signature tropical house style with subtle warming wood spice notes. The bottle retails for £100 (US$135). Both whiskies are available in selected specialists from today (1 September). Musical tasting notes To underline the flavour-led concept of the releases, Fettercairn has partnered with Barry Burns of rock band Mogwai and multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Kathryn Joseph, who have collaborated for the first time to create a piece of music, entitled Lorica, which is based on Glass' tasting notes. Burns shared: "The opportunity to work with Gregg and the rest of the Fettercairn team felt like a genuine collaboration, and it's really interesting what they are trying to do with this release. “Kathryn and I have toured together, and know each other well, but it was a fantastic opportunity for us to collaborate on a unique piece of music. We had a lot of fun taking inspiration from the colours and shapes of Gregg’s tasting notes, but understanding what he was listening to and inspired by when he was making the whisky, which we had the privilege to sample.” Joseph added: "I loved working with Barry on this. He is the best and I am very lucky. Meeting Gregg and seeing and hearing how much he cares about what he does was beautiful. It felt very quickly like all the elements of this made sense to me: how Gregg sees and hears the colours of the tastes, the beautiful stills of the visuals and the way that Barry is able to turn everything into perfect beauty.”