Fettercairn 12 Year Old 2010 Old Particular 48.4%
A delightful refill hogshead release from the lesser-spotted Fettercarin distillery and independent bottler Douglas Laing! Fettercairn is fascinating – one of the most interesting facets of production are the external cooling rings on the spirit stills. Water flows over the copper, not only creating the most beautiful patina, but also contributing to extra reflux in distillation. This means only lighter vapours make it over the still into the condenser, resulting in a lighter spirit! This expression – like all in the Old Particular single cask range – is bottled at a higher ABV than you might otherwise see, and without colouring or chill filtration.
Nose: Fresh and green, there’s cereal notes and damp barley, along with gooseberry, coconut, and a pithy orange zest.
Palate: Just like a cream tea, there’s jammy strawberry, clotted cream and sweet dough, with rhubarb and custard sweets and a sprinkling of black pepper to ground it.
Finish: Medium length with more of that black pepper and a gentle toasty oak.