We may be living through a golden age of Scottish whisky, but it doesn’t compare to the roaring 1820s. With the first Excise Act introduced in 1823 – setting a £10 fee for licensing a still and allowing whisky to be stored ‘under bond’ before duty was paid – a flurry of distilleries opened. Many of these were going ‘legit’ for the first time. This expansion has resulted in our current golden age of anniversaries, like Fettercairn’s new Single Malt Collection. Fettercairn is celebrating their 200th anniversary with the launch of their Single Malt Collection. Fettercairn, located in a small town at the foot of the Cairngorm mountains – close to the famous Speyside region – started in the first legal whisky boom. The Fettercairn Single Malt Collection has a variety of unique and tasteful whiskies. Fettercairn commitment to taste and quality is evident in their Single Malt Collection, showcasing impressive Scottish whisky.
Founded by licensing advocate – or at least smuggling rejector – local landlord Sir Alexander Ramsay in an attempt to put an end to the illicit distilling of the Howe o the Mearns, Fettercairn is now celebrating its 200th anniversary under the watchful eyes of manager Stewart Walker and master whisky maker Gregg Glass, who have worked together to compile an exquisite collection of whiskies.
At the launch in June 2024, Walker spoke of leading Fettercairn into their 200th year as “a rare gift and a privilege.” He described the 200th Anniversary Collection as “a joy to create,”. He explains: ”I have loved going through our treasure trove of casks to find just the right whiskies to mark this momentous occasion and reliving the stories that come with each special bottle.”
And what bottles they are: 
The 200th Anniversary Collection
The collection of six whiskies ranging in age from 3 to 60 years and adding up to a combined total of 200 years of slumber under oak, celebrates the connection between the distillery and its people. It recognises the contribution of distillery team members past and present. Just 10 sets, housed in a bespoke cabinet, will be available globally, with one set remaining at the distillery.
1964 – Sixty-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky, 40.7% ABV: Aged 49 years in ex-bourbon barrels and 11 years in a single Palo Cortado Sherry butt.
The oldest ever release from Fettercairn, this was distilled when barley was still malted on site, the distillery only housed one set of stills and just weeks after current distillery manager Stewart Walker was born.
On the nose, this exquisite release balances toffee apple, raisin-studded treacle sponge and envelope gum. The palate is rich and wine-heavy with cigar box and baking spice notes (heavy on the ginger) and cans and cans of pineapple syrup. The finish is jammy – heavy with boiled sweet notes (particularly pineapple cubes) – and long, leaving a residual treacliness.
1973 – 49-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky, 41.4%: first fill ex-bourbon barrels, Tawny Port casks and ex-bourbon barrels again
Commemorates the year the distillery opened Warehouse 14, its much-feted dunnage warehouse. Has notes of toffee, banana bread and crème brûlée on the nose, leading to cacao, blackcurrant, raspberry and guava.
1988 – 35-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky, 51.4%: Oloroso Sherry Butt matured.
Chosen to mark the year former distillery manager Douglas Cooper retired. Cooper was present when the distillery installed its idiosyncratic cooling rings and went on to become the distillery’s longest-serving manager. His legacy whisky has a hint of sweet clementine, tropical fruit and nutmeg.
1995 28-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky, 46.8% ABV
One of master whisky maker Gregg Glass’ (many) passion projects since taking over responsibility for blending at Fettercairn (as well as Whyte & Mackay’s other distilleries, Jura, The Dalmore and Tamnavulin). This spirit brings flavours of spiced mango, butterscotch and apricot tart.
1998 25-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky, 55.6% ABV: 12 years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, remainder in an ex-Cognac cask
Another of Glass’ experiments – and held by the team to be a great example of the inimitable tropical fruit house style with lychees and passion fruit underpinned by Turkish delight, vanilla and candied orange.
2021 3-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky, 60.8% ABV: Matured in a heavily toasted new Scottish oak cask
Chosen to mark the start of Fettercairn’s experiments with Scottish oak and the next stage in Glass’ near-obsession with the use of homegrown wood.
There’s a boldness to include a three-year-old whisky as part of a £100,000 commemorative collection, but when it is as good as this – all banoffee ice cream, dark chocolate chips and wafer, with orange sherbet, copper pennies and nutmeg on the nose; caramel, vanilla paste and fiery nutmeg brandy snaps on the palate before glace cherries, cola bottles and red grape come into play – there is no surprise that it is included. Brand ambassador Andrew Lennie refers to it as a “testament to what we want to be able to achieve in the future”.
That future seems set to include more Scottish oak, with the planting of the Fettercairn Forest the start of a plan to create a circular economy to see what Indigenous casks can bring to Scotch whisky. It may take another 150-200 years before the trees grown on a slight rise above the distillery are maturing whisky. However, Fettercairn’s commitment to these trials has already seen Gregg Glass touring the region after heavy storms looking for windfall trees he can use for maturation.
The commitment to Scottish Oak is also demonstrated in the exquisite cabinet crafted by renowned artisan John Galvin and inspired by dappled light provided by the local tree canopy and the copper and patina of the distillery’s unique cooling ring and stills.
If you are unable to get your hands on one of just ten pieces released for sale, Lennie has also crafted a celebratory cocktail to celebrate the distillery’s landmark anniversary:
Fettercairn 1824
- 37.5ml Fettercairn 16-year-old
- 12.5ml Kumquat liqueur
- 10ml honey syrup
- 15ml lemon juice
- 4 dashes of banana & coffee bitters
- Top with Cremant sparkling wine
Shake and strain the first five ingredients with fresh cubed ice. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass and top with Cremant. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Just ten sets of The Fettercairn 200th Anniversary Collection will be available from September 2024 in select key locations around the world, including Taiwan, Singapore, the UK, France and Canada for £100,000.
For more information visit www.fettercairnwhisky.com
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All Images Courtesy of Fettercairn