Whisky: Fettercairn 31 Year (1988), Cadenhead's Authentic Collection

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 54.7%

Cask: Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 31 Years (Distilled 1988, Bottled 2020)

Nose: Earthy and vegetal, starchy, mossy, green with peppery dandelion and mustard leaf, garden herbs, dry earth.

Palate: Medium-bodied, citrus and fermented coconut, creamier with time, starchy, garden spice, mellow earth, ginger and kava.

Finish: Long with citrus, coconut, and a kiss of salt.

Score: 9 (92)

Mental Image: Upcountry Farm Bed and Breakfast

Narrative & Notes: Earthy and vegetal like walking an unfinished country road lined with mossy stones. A box of potatoes and parsnips offered wood and starch at a discount, while mustard leaf and peppery dandelions pulled the senses toward greens and spices.  A touch of herbal coriander and fennel bulbs directed me further into musty, earthy gardens on a warm summer morning. Medium-bodied with an initial sharp citrus and fermented coconut. Creamier over time, in the way of cooked starches, with a vegetal spice and plenty of mustard greens. Mellow earth sat further in the background with ginger and kava— a slightly numbing and muddy tasting root. The finish was long with sweet citrus and fresh coconut along earth and a kiss of salt.

Stunning— this was loaded with tons of earth, herbs, greenery, and a lovely topical quality that gradually filled out.  The profile was fruitier over time with hints of mango and passionfruit pushing in, but it was otherwise an earthy and vegetal delight with tons of slightly unusual flavors.  Everything was crisp and clear with a beautifully long finish, I could sit and sip on this all day.

Overall, a classic old Highland whisky with plenty of uncommon earthy and vegetal notes. Not really the kind of whisky I expect to have mass appeal, but for those who like something a bit unusual or funky, this scratched that itch wonderfully.

Image Credit: Scotch Whisky Auctions