Thompson Bros: Fettercairn – 2008 (Scottish Speyside Single Malt Whisky: 16 Year: 52.6% ABV)
Visual: Pale, light grain gold coloured spirit. Fast thick streaks come from the spirit.
Nose: Minerals. Dry grapes. White pepper. Pencil shavings. Dry honey. Water adds more grape notes.
Body: Smooth, slightly tingling over time but smooth up front. Mineral water. Light salt. Dry honey. Water makes for more green grapes and more honey.
Finish: Minerals. White pepper. White grapes. Soft lemon sorbet. Creamy. Gentle salt.
Conclusion: Neat this is a smooth, dry and peppery dram, with a familiar mineral character. Light of body and with gentle flavours emphasising dry honey and green grapes.
What brings out bigger, more evident grapes, with this sweet character underlined by a savoury white pepper note.
These notes combined make it a very easy drinking one, probably nearest comparison is the NcNoch that was the first whisky of the tasting – it shares those light mineral notes that really help the drinkability – so it feels like the two can go head to head in comparisons. This is very good but not the most complex of whiskies. I’d say the NcNoch probably has more to examine but this has very easy to access fruitiness, it is very easy to find what makes this enjoyable.
While this has a similar slight saltiness underneath the whisky it is a less savoury dram, the use of gentle sorbet and citrus notes refreshing and making sweeter and again, easier to get into.
Not one to examine too deeply, but amazing as an easy going dram to relax with. Very well made, lightly minerally but not overly so, just enough to encourage another sup and to make each sip rewarding. Very much one that is moreish and dangerously easy to drink.
Background: Three into the Thompson Bros tasting at Independent Spirit. Fettercairn I have had mixed experience with but generally find a lighter whisky, so was interested to see how it would come across at this things punchy abv, yet mellowed by a tidy 16 years of aging. This is one of 300 bottles. As well as the usual disclaimer about being at a tasting so not able to do my best notes, also I had serious hayfever before this. However I was dosed up on my antihistamines and drops so seemed to be able to smell and taste reasonably so decided to go ahead with doing notes here. Also apparently, despite having a unicorn with rainbow hair, this is nothing to do with Pride month. Its just the distilleries sign is a unicorn. And they added rainbow hair. I say it should still be claimed as Pride dram though.