Scottish Distillery Fettercairn Marks 200th Anniversary With Collection of Whiskies Priced Over $125,000 — And Only 10 Sets Are Up for Grabs
Whyte & Mackay-owned distillery Fettercairn commemorates two centuries in business with a collection of rare single malts. (Photo: Fettercairn)
Scottish distillery Fettercairn is commemorating its 200th anniversary with a collection of six single malt whiskies spanning ages from 3 to 60 years old. Priced at £100,000 ($127,832.50) each, only 10 sets of the 200th Anniversary Collection will be available in select global markets starting in September 2024.
Established in 1824 by Sir Alexander Ramsey, a champion of legal distilling in Scotland, Fettercairn operates under Whyte & Mackay alongside esteemed distilleries like Dalmore and Jura. As reported by Whisky Magazine on Monday, this collection pays tribute to the contributions of its team members throughout the years.
“At Fettercairn, we recognise the importance of what came before through 200 years of whisky making here,” Fettercairn master whisky maker Gregg Glass shared, per the report. “However, it is the work we are doing today that will ensure we have 200 years to come of fantastic whisky-making.”
“In this collection, we have hand-selected casks to mark key moments in our past and our future,” he continued. “This collection captures the spirit of all of us at Fettercairn — and that is why we are particularly proud of it.”
The first whiskey in the collection, distilled in 1964, initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels for 49 years; it was later refilled into a single Palo Cortado sherry cask in 2013. This vintage coincides with the birth year of distillery manager Stewart Walker and predates the installation of Fettercairn’s second pair of stills. According to the brand, it boasts flavors of caramelized pineapple, ginger spice, deep sherry and bright red fruit. At 60 years old, it also holds the record for being the oldest Fettercairn single malt ever released.
Meanwhile, the 1973 expression was first aged in ex-bourbon barrels, then transferred to tawny port casks before returning to bourbon barrels. While its precise age is unspecified, this vintage coincides with the opening of Warehouse 14, Fettercairn’s final dunnage warehouse.
Marking the year of Douglas Cooper’s retirement, the 1988 whisky was fully matured in an oloroso sherry butt, celebrating his contribution to Fettercairn’s legacy as its longest-serving distillery manager.
The 1995 whisky, a passion project for Glass, boasts a complex blend of casks, including new French oak and hybrid casks.
Also carefully monitored by the master whisky maker, the 1998 expression matured initially in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel before being transferred to an ex-Cognac cask in January 2020. This expression aims to best represent Fettercairn’s tropical house style, characterized by a cooling ring atop the stills, bathing them in mountain water.
The youngest and final whisky in the collection, bottled from the first Scottish oak cask filled as part of Fettercairn’s Scottish Oak Programme in 2021, is just three years old. It is noted for its flavors of banoffee pie and sweet orange, showcasing the impact of Scottish oak on Fettercairn’s spirits.
(Photo: Fettercairn)
Each 200th Anniversary Collection is housed in a handcrafted cabinet designed by Scottish designer John Galvin, with each bottle sitting on a coaster engraved with tasting notes. The cabinets feature elements of wood, copper and brass, resembling dappled light through oak leaves.
“To lead Fettercairn into their 200th year feels like a rare gift and a privilege,” added Walker, according to The Spirits Business.
“The Fettercairn 200th Anniversary Collection has been a joy to create alongside Gregg and my wider team. 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.”
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