Old Fettercairn 1997

Fettercairn can trace its roots back to 1824 and its foundation by Sir Alexander Ramsay. As the owner, he didn’t last too long and this became a common theme for the distillery during its lifespan; owners arrived and departed, punctuated by periods of closure. Such trends prevented Fettercairn from establishing its own identity. Since 1971, by our reckoning, the distillery has endured at least 9 different owners. In recent times, the former parent group of Whyte & Mackay was bought and sold in a game of distillery musical chairs. Arguably, because of the attraction of the Dalmore distillery, others within the group tagged along. There have been various attempts to establish a single malt presence for Fettercairn with the latest range being launched in 2018, assisted by the re-racking of maturating stock. Whether this latest attempt gains momentum remains to be seen, but the initial signs are favourable.