π₯ Fettercairn
Single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Fettercairn, Aberdeenshire; made since 1824; cooling ring on the stills; range from 12 to 50 years.
Fettercairn is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery and brand in the village of Fettercairn in Aberdeenshire, in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains. According to the producer it has made whisky since 1824. It was founded by Sir Alexander Ramsay, one of the landowners who campaigned for legal distillation.
History. According to the brand site, the estate was sold to the Gladstone family in 1829. William Gladstone, later four times British prime minister, is described there as a reformer of the Scotch whisky industry.
How it is made. The distinctive feature is the cooling ring: a copper tube around the top of the still that douses it with mountain water, so that only the lightest vapours rise. The brand site dates the idea to the mid-1950s and credits the distillery's whisky makers under manager Alastair Menzies. The distillery emblem is a unicorn.
Range. The core range is 12 and 16 years old, the prestige range 24 and 28, and the rare and aged releases 40, 46 and 50. The producer suggests drinking it neat, with a splash of still water, over ice or in a highball.
Why it matters to you. By law Scotch whisky is matured in Scotland for at least three years in oak casks of up to 700 litres and bottled at not less than 40% ABV. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | 1824 (per the producer), Sir Alexander Ramsay; Fettercairn, Aberdeenshire |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak casks of up to 700 litres, in Scotland, by law |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
π₯ Fettercairn β kind of β π₯ Whisky β kind of β π₯ Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- π· Oak barrel, π American white oak
- Made from
- π₯ Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- π§ͺ Water, π· Ethanol
- What it affects
- π· Alcohol and health, π· Drunk driving
- Traditions
- π§βπ€βπ§ British
- Part of
- π₯ Whisky, π₯ Single Malt Scotch Whisky, π₯ Scotch Whisky, π₯ Highland whisky
- Related to
- π Western Europe
- Similar and different
- π₯ The Dalmore, π₯ Isle of Jura
Frequently asked questions
When was Fettercairn founded and by whom?
According to the producer, whisky has been made there since 1824. The founder was Sir Alexander Ramsay.
What is the cooling ring on Fettercairn's stills?
A copper tube around the top of the still that douses it with mountain water, so that only the lightest vapours rise. The brand site dates it to the mid-1950s.
Did the Gladstone family own Fettercairn?
According to the brand site, the estate was sold to the Gladstone family in 1829.
What ages does Fettercairn come in?
12 and 16 (core), 24 and 28 (prestige), 40, 46 and 50 years (rare and aged), according to the producer.
What to read next
- π· Alcohol and health β Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- π· Ethanol β The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- π· Oak barrel β A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- π Western Europe β France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- π§βπ€βπ§ British β People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
π₯ Teaninich Β· π₯ Tamnavulin Β· π₯ Loch Lomond Distillery Β· π₯ Glen Ord Β· π₯ Glengoyne Β· π₯ Ben Nevis
β οΈ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Fettercairn (official site): About us (opened 1824, Sir Alexander Ramsay; estate sold to the Gladstone family 1829; cooling ring, mid-1950s, Alastair Menzies)
- Fettercairn (official site): FAQs (since 1824, Fettercairn village, Aberdeenshire; cooling ring; 12, 16, 24, 28, 40, 46, 50 Year Old; serving)
- Whyte & Mackay: Fettercairn (founded 1824 by Sir Alexander Ramsay; unicorn emblem)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)