Since the revamp of the Fettercairn brand, I’d still not tasted any of the dandy looking new bottles. I recently changed that by buying a sample of the Fettercairn Fior. The other new releases with similar bottles are a 24 year old, a 30 and a 40 year old. Those come with a rather hefty price tag, so no notes on them (yet).

Nose:
I get the sweetness of overripe banana, but also some kind of moldy sweatiness. A bit of alcohol is in there too. A very heavy character, which I expected from the distillery, but I’m not sure I like it in this way.

Taste:
This whisky is a bit more fierce on the palate, and much improved over the nose. The sweatiness is gone, and in its place come the heavy notes of leather and polished saddles. A hint of smoke is present too.

Finish:
Weird. Its very light from an intensity point of view, but the flavours are those of a very heavy profile. Leather and sweet thick fruits. Also a gentle touch of wood.

What a strange whisky. There are aspects I like but also some I don’t, which do not sit in accordance with each other. I think it could have done with 46%, to get some more oomph in there. The flavours are there to support it. I never bought a Fettercairn without tasting it, and this one hasn’t changed that outlook.

Fettercairn Fior, 42%, available at Master of Malt for € 40.

Nose: 3
Taste: 6
Finish: 5
Overal experience: 5
Price/quality: 0

Total: 19 points