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Distillery Profile: Fettercairn

Fettercairn is a single malt whisky distillery in the foothills of the Grampian Mountains.

 

Its name translates as ‘foot of the hill’ from the local Gaelic. Claims to fame for this east Highland distillery include ownership by the father of a former British Prime Minister and a peculiar still design. The distillery has historically produced malt for blenders but is now shining as a single malt brand.

Fettercairn celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024. This was celebrated by the launch of the Fettercairn 200 Club – a partnership bringing together 200 local farms, maltsters and the distillery. They are also pioneers in the use of Scottish oak for maturation and have released several whiskies using this for part-maturation.

A Bit of History

Fettercairn was founded in 1824 by Sir Alexander Ramsay. It was originally named as Old Fettercairn and is located near the village of Laurencekirk in the east Highlands. This is between the towns of Montrose and Stonehaven. Ramsay was a keen supporter of the legalisation of distillation in Scotland. As a result, Old Fettercairn was the second ever distillery to be granted a Licence to Distil after the Excise Act was passed in 1823. The Glenlivet was the first.

However, his ownership only lasted six years. Sir John Gladstone took control in 1830. He was the father of William Gladstone, the four-time British Prime Minister. Fettercairn was to stay in the Gladstone family for nearly a century. The distillery closed in 1923 following World War I and financial problems ended the Gladstone’s involvement shortly after. It was then out of operation between 1926 and 1939.

The new owners, Associated Scottish Distillers Ltd, initially produced medicinal alcohol for World War II before later switching back to single malt. In 1973 Whyte & Mackay became the owners after Fettercairn has changed hands numerous times in the proceeding decades. They used it heavily in their Whyte & Mackay range of blends. They have remained the owners ever since, although the company is now part of the larger Emperador group.

Background

Fettercairn produces a light, fruity and tropical spirit. This shows green apple and cereals with a savoury, robust and nutty edge. The spirit is mostly matured in one cask type – first-fill ex-bourbon barrels made from American oak. However, a small percentage of spirit is filled to ex-sherry casks, with fortified wine casks also used in some older expressions.

Fettercairn’s role was, and largely remains, to produce spirit destined for the creation of blended Scotch. It is a key ingredient in numerous blends. However, in 2009 Whyte & Mackay attempted to establish it as single malt brand. This was revised in 2018 with a major revamp and launch of a new brand identity and core ranges for both the domestic and travel retail markets.

The Geeky Bit

Fettercairn has a six-tonne cast iron mash tun. They currently operate 24 mashes per week. There are 11 wooden washbacks with a fermentation time of 56 hours. There are four stills (2x wash and 2x spirit) and these work in pairs. The current production capacity is 2.1 million litres.

Fettercairn is known for a unique feature on its spirit stills – both have an irrigating ring around neck of spirit still. This allows water to constantly run down the outside of the still. The process aids reflux within the still and starts condensation of alcohol vapour back to liquid earlier. The result is said to lead to a purer spirit. The water source is high in the Grampian mountains and fed to the distillery by gravity. There are 14 traditional dunnage warehouses on site with 32,000 casks maturing inside.

One To Buy | Fettercairn 18 Years Old

A modern classic of a Scotch whisky and one that was an early exponent of using Scottish oak for maturation. This annual bottling features the bulk of maturation in first fill and re-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks. But it also undergoes a finishing period in 100% Scottish oak casks, which are made from trees that have naturally windfallen.

Expect a savoury nutty character to come from the Scottish oak influence, plus some chocolatey and mocha notes. The ex-bourbon casks accentuate Fettercairn’s tropical fruity characteristics, which are particularly prominent at this elevated age. Aromatic spices add further depth and complexity. Delightful, classy and delicious.

 

by Matt Chambers
Master of Whisky at Whisky 1901
29/08/2025

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**Disclaimer**: Important information. Please read carefully before making any purchase. This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Whisky 1901 Ltd is not a regulated financial institution and is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Any references to “investment,” “broker,” “adviser,” or similar terminology are used descriptively only and should not be interpreted as regulated financial services.

Whisky 1901 Ltd does not provide financial or investment advice, does not assess suitability, and does not make recommendations. Any decision to purchase whisky casks is made solely by the customer, based on their own judgment and, where appropriate, independent professional advice.

Whisky is sold as a physical, tangible asset and not as a financial product. Purchasing whisky carries risks that differ from regulated investments such as stocks or bonds, and customers should make purchase decisions independently and based on their own research.

Key Risks and Considerations:

1. Please be aware that whisky casks are unregulated in the UK and that the value is variable, meaning it can both increase and decrease. 

2. Understand that you have 14 days to change your mind and request a full refund under our cooling-off period.

3. All Clients of Whisky 1901 Ltd must be aged 18 years or older to make a purchase, in accordance with UK law and regulations regarding the sale of alcohol to minors.

4. Please note that the volume of spirit will decrease over time due to evaporation, known as “the Angels’ share”.

5. Please be aware that “New Make” spirit must be matured for a minimum of 3 years, during which its alcoholic strength could be reduced. However, for the product to be classed as “Whisky”, it must retain a minimum strength of 40%.

6. Please understand that as a buyer you may get back less than the amount paid. Additionally, past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

7. The sale price offered by Whisky 1901 Ltd includes a discretionary commercial markup. This markup is applied to the acquisition cost of the whisky and reflects both the costs incurred in connection with the provision of services including, but not limited to, storage, movement and maintenance of casks, insurance, and associated administrative and software infrastructure and a profit margin retained by Whisky 1901 Ltd in the ordinary course of business.

As a result of the markup applied, there is a material difference between the Company’s acquisition cost of a cask and the price at which it is sold to investors.
Investors should be aware that this markup creates a difference between the Company’s acquisition cost and the price at which the cask is sold. This spread may impact the potential for future returns and may affect the ability to achieve a profit on resale. Comparable casks may be available from other sources at different prices. Prospective purchasers should conduct their own due diligence and consider obtaining independent financial advice before making any investment decision.

8. Please recognise that the cask price can fluctuate and the price of casks can go down as well as up, neither of which are guaranteed.

9. Whisky casks are a long term maturing asset and therefore it is advised to be held for a minimum of 5 to 10 years.

10. Whisky casks are an illiquid asset. There is no guaranteed secondary market, no guaranteed timeframe for resale and no obligation on Whisky 1901 LTD to buy back or sell the cask on your behalf.

11. Please understand that the products and services we offer may not be suitable for all customers. If you have any doubts, we advise you to seek advice from an independent financial advisor.

12. Finally all whisky casks are stored in HMRC bonded warehouses in Scotland and are comprehensively insured against risks including fire, theft and accidental damage, insurance policy is updated annually. The customer understands that any cask investment can be physically verified via a company organised visits to warehouses where tastings can also be accommodated.

 

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