Fettercairn Unveils Scottish Oak Completed 18 Yr Previous

Fettercairn has unveiled the most recent addition of its 18 Yr Previous single malt scotch whisky. The annual launch is out there in very restricted portions. This yr’s providing is, once more, completed in Scottish oak. 

There has lengthy been debate over the classification of Scottish oak. Nevertheless, Whyte & Mackay’s Grasp Whisky Maker, Gregg Glass, is a agency believer in Scottish oak and its purposes in scotch whisky making.

The Making Of The Fettercairn 18 Yr Previous 

Fettercairn, which is nestled within the foothills of the Cairngorm mountains, makes use of domestically sourced barley to distill its whisky, with the barley being grown inside 50 miles of the distillery. In accordance with a model press launch: “For Fettercairn 18 Yr Previous, this effort additionally extends to the cask, as a part of an ongoing new initiative. Fettercairn’s Grasp Whisky Maker Gregg Glass first began to implement the award-winning 1 Scottish Oak Programme eight years in the past, bringing a brand new method to whisky making.” 

The Fettercairn 18 Yr Previous is the primary expression of this system, having first been launched in 2022. 

Following maturation in first-fill and refill ex-bourbon American oak, the whiskey was completed in Scottish oak earlier than being bottled at 46.8% ABV. 

Grasp Whisky Maker Gregg Glass stated:

“The Scottish Oak Programme is considered one of my proudest achievements and the annual launch of the Fettercairn 18 Yr Previous is an everyday reminder of the journey our staff has gone by way of to this point, to convey this to life.

“During the last three years, we’ve gained a loyal following for this particular whisky and our hope yearly is for extra individuals to expertise how actually particular Scottish Oak is and the unimaginable flavours it might impart to Scotch.

“So the various flavours of Scottish Oak could be loved for generations to return, in 2021 we replanted an historic forest at Fettercairn. The saplings are rising properly, with many now seen from the distillery. We’re nonetheless generations away from these bushes being utilized in whisky making, however having them there to look at over our distillery gives an essential reminder that our work isn’t only for the current, it’s for the longer term.”

Tasting Notes 

Tasting notes offered by Fettercairn:

“Golden amber in color, Fettercairn 18 Yr Previous has notes of sugared almonds, baking spices, ardour fruit and guava on the nostril. To style, anticipate unique syruped fruits, patisserie sugars, brioche and spices, with delicate hints of berry fruits, flowing by way of to a cacao, and pure vanilla end.” 

The whisky will likely be accessible by way of specialist retailers from October 2024, for an RRP of £212 (~$284). 

Does Scottish Oak Exist? 

Effectively, it relies on the way you have a look at it. Oak grown in Scotland does exist, sure. Nevertheless, Scottish oak isn’t its personal distinct oak species. It’s a part of the extensive European oak class. Two distinct species of oak are present in each Europe and Scotland: Quercus Robur and Quercus Paetrea. 

(I realized this on my journey to Aberfeldy Distillery from one of many pretty chaps at Highland Safaris, who chuckled once we had been all launched to a 9 Yr Previous Aberfeldy matured in Scottish oak.)

With that being stated, attributable to Scotland’s local weather and soil, European oak grown in Scotland has completely different traits from European oak grown in Spain, for instance. This contains traits corresponding to density and wooden grain. 

So, while Scottish oak doesn’t technically exist by way of species classification, it’s completely different from its continental cousin, therefore the push by some Scottish whisky producers to make use of extra Scottish oak in whisky maturation. This will help not solely with producing completely different flavors but additionally with emphasizing native provenance, simply as Fettercairn has performed with the 18 Yr Previous.