Today we were invited to a garden party like no other. A private affair meant to usher in the latest limited release from Scotland’s Fettercairn whisky, current celebrating its 200th year.
Established in 1824 they offer highland single malt scotch whisky and we got a taste of their history and heritage through welcome cocktails and as a guided tasting of a very exclusive and pricy release.
Held at The Vancouver Club, the original intention was to have the event on the club’s rooftop, but due to Vancouver’s unstable fall forecast and the hint of rain, it was moved inside to one of their parlours for a guaranteed dry experience.
The event included a build your own bouquet station to really tie in with the theme. Helmed by a local forest that helped guided you through the making of your own personalized Fettercairn branded bouquet.
The featured cocktail was the Fettercairn 1824 martini served in a tea cup with pineapple leaf to carry through the vibe of the room. I honestly wasn’t expecting such delicate touches from a whisky brand.
Fettercairn 12, organic coconut sugar syrup, pineapple & star anise bitters, salt and pineapple leaf. As light and the floral as the tea cup and saucer promised. On the sweeter side, while still being able to make out the caramel and toffee of the whisky.
As we mixed and mingled, guests were invited to partake in the small nibbles surrounding and circulating the room.
A variety of tea sandwiches on tiered towers. Scotch eggs kept warm and passed canapés.
When time, we were led to the tasting room, with pre-laid out tasting mats and sample pours. Plus a queued up video to watch, allowing us to learn more about a 200 year brand, we were just discovering today, that has only been in Canada for 3-4 years.
We would nose our way through 4 Glencairn glasses, each showcasing what will be coming to BC’s this fall. We jokingly claimed that these droplets were $500 worth of whisky given the price of them, only available together in a set . We were only able to try a small amount due to its scarcity and I did not to leave a drip.
Fettercairn was founded in the city of its name sake, known as a fertile area that grows great barely. They distillery stands out by using scotch oak in its maturation process, from trees that have planted and milled on the property. With a relation to the prestigious Dalmore, Fettercairn was described as the “Tesla and the future”, with “Dalmore being the Rolls Royce”.
The DNA of every bottle of Fettercairn is an unaged intensity with tropical fruit on the nose. Dried mango, grapefruit, citrus, and vanilla. With coconut in texture. This tropical character is essential to their whisky and is what that inspired the cocktails today.
They are also the only distillery to have their copper stills ran continuously with cold water to cool the copper outside in. The whisky’s bottle speaks to it with its copper lid and water run indents around the glass bottle.
Their centurion set release encapsulated their 200 years in 6 bottles of whisky, making it a one of a kind set. Presented in a custom wood art cabinet, made from the same oak of the barrels they age in and like the ones planted at the distillery. Sadly we didn’t get to see it in person today, as it was held up in customs coming into Canada.
This was by an artist who has previously done collaborations with popular luxury brands like Dalmore and Rolls Royce. Carved from Scottish oak from their own saw mill.
There are only 10 of these sets in the world, with one here in Canada available for auction purchase. Each set retails for $165,000 given its exclusivity and sacristy, each statement year made from a special single cask.
Worth mentioning is that they will also be releasing 2 other age expressions: the 28 year old and a 40 year old, that will be more readily available.
As group we were led through our 4 tasters. The first to be nosed as the base of whisky before its aging and colouring in casks.
Our first taster was the 60 year old, which has been cared for by many hands, and signifies a person’s life. This has only been transferred to one rare single cask in its life’s time, which added antique notes to it, as it sat in consistent conditions within their warehouse. The casked strength is 42.6% and it was only bottled two weeks ago during the date of this event.
I was not expecting something this fruity with maple on the nose and a finish of candied walnuts. I did also got a lingering bold and oaky bitter nuance that I was expecting.
Next was the 1995 vintage, bottled from a combination of 4 casks as tribute to their distillery manager who joined in 1995. They crafted this to his tastes, using a sherry cask that was seasoned and heavily toasted.
The 28 year old paved the way for the others. One of only 10 bottles with a 45% cask strength, which is low for a cask of this age. As promised this had the relatable Fettercairn tropical fruit base with peanutbutter and nut on the nose, spice notes with coffee on the palate. And a fresher finish of rhubarb that was savoury with floral tendencies.
Other age statements in the collection included the 1973 that was inspired by distillery’s new ownership and it last warehouse being completed.
The 47 year old celebrated the retirement of well known and beloved distillery employee.
The 1998 vintage is finished in cognac.
The 3 year old is the youngest and the rarest to celebrate and marktheir future. It is finished in scotch oak and has won many awards for this initiative.
First fully matured in scotch oak with a medium toasted. It has tropical warming spices of clove, cardamon, and ginger. This is the whisky that kick started the program, and it all began from a naturally wind-fell tree. There was just enough of it for the 10 bottle collection. Sharp on the nose, it is spicy with a harsh vinegar-ness to start. Time has rounded it out with 59% at cask strength.
We would conclude our time back in the parlour enjoying more cocktail and a selection of sweets and pastries now out for grazing.
Once again this 6 bottle set will only be available through 10 bottles world wide. BC has the North America exclusive with other sets being offered to the markets in London, France, Germany, Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Korea.
