Fettercairn 6 Year Old 2008 Hepburn’s Choice (46%, Langside Distillers, European Oak Quarter Cask Finish, 95 Bottles, 2015)

• Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Fettercairn Distillery
• Bottling: Langside; Hepburn’s Choice
• ABV: 46%
• Cost: £40.06

What they say:

6 year old Fettercairn single malt Scotch whisky, bottled as part of the Hepburn’s Choice range from Langside. Interestingly, this was matured in a European oak quarter cask – smaller than your run-of-the-mill hogshead cask, resulting in a greater surface area to volume, meaning more cask influence on the whisky. 94 bottles were produced.

What I say:

From Langside’s Hepburn’s Choice range; a collection of younger whiskies that usually display a good deal of distillery spirit character. On this occasion this 6 year old Fettercairn whisky had been ‘forced’ into a quicker maturation by racking into a smaller Quarter Cask (increasing surface area to volume ratio). Only 94 bottles were produced, though thankfully also available as 20cl allows you a cheaper option for trying some of this collection.

Colour:

Bronze amber gold (8/20) large tears leave thick legs

Nose:

Polish, furniture polish, solvent/acetone, fresh oak wood, sweet, vanilla, salt caramel, salted mixed nuts

Taste:

Sweet and spiced cereal barley, a little freshly ground pepper, green oak wood, some vanilla and caramel round out this simple and direct flavoured whisky

Finish:

Short, sweet lacquered wood

Overall:

Drinkable, some pleasant light caramel and sugary notes with a saccharine veneer over fresh oak wood.

Score: 74/100

Don’t take my word for it:

Bloggers submit a link to your review