Fettercairn Unveils a Multi-Sensory Whisky Series

Tuesday, 02 September 2025 at 12:03Fettercairn Whisky

Fettercarin Vanguarg 29 Year Old and Non Age Statement whisky

Whisky that you do not just taste, but can also hear and see? That's precisely what Fettercairn intends to provide with their brand-new Vanguard whisky series. Two bottles have been released that stimulate not only the tongue but also ignite the imagination.

FAQ

What is the Vanguard series?
A whisky series that focuses on a multi-sensory experience and innovation in cask aging.

Which releases kick off the series?
The Fettercairn Vanguard 29 Year Old and the Fettercairn Vanguard Non Age Statement whisky.

When is the Fettercairn Vanguard Series whisky available for sale?
Starting now at selected specialty stores.

Tasting color and hearing flavor in the Fettercairn Vanguard whisky series

With the Vanguard range, Fettercairn has launched an extraordinary whisky series. The series revolves around a multi-sensory experience. For the whiskies in the series, the distillery looked to Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker at Fettercairn.

Glass has synesthesia, allowing him to link color, taste, and texture while tasting. So, he can in a way taste color.

For Glass, it's nothing new, but for the average whisky drinker it is. The distillery is looking to push boundaries in every whisky. In this series innovation meets taste.

'I tend to pick up sensory elements, particularly linking colour and texture to the flavour and character of the whisky. I capture that in my tasting notes, which show how the colours I experience change as the flavour of the whisky evolves.'

- Gregg Glass

What are the Fettercairn Vanguard Series whiskies?

In the new whisky series, the distillery has now released two single malts. These are the following bottles:

Fettercairn Vanguard 29 Year Old
Fettercairn Vanguard First Release (non-age statement)

What is the Fettercairn Vanguard 29 Year Old whisky?

The first of the duo is 29 years old. The single malt whisky was distilled on December 11, 1995, and then placed in a refill bourbon hogshead. After maturing, the whiskey was transferred into French Rose Oak Essencia Barrels from Bordeaux.

Due to this finishing process, the whisky has not only attained the typical tropical notes of Fettercairn but also strawberry-like flavours.

There are only 99 bottles packaged at 48.3 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). The price per bottle is 2500 pounds.

What is the Fettercairn Vanguard First Release whisky?

The second bottle in the lineup is a whisky without an age statement. The whisky was distilled 14 years ago and in 2008, it was put into ex-bourbon barrels.

Following which, it received a finish in unique hybrid barrels made of American staves and heavily toasted Scotch oak from wind-felled Highland trees. The result is a whisky with tropical tones and warming spicy wood notes.

The Vanguard Non Age Statement whisky is bottled at 46.3 percent ABV and is sold for 100 pounds per bottle.

Music and whisky as flavorful complement to each other

To complete the experience with these two bottles, Fettercairn has collaborated with composer Barry Burns from Mogwai and singer-songwriter Kathryn Joseph. They have created a special track that can be listened to on Spotify.

Where can the Fettercairn Vanguard whisky series be purchased?

Fettercairn's special Highland whisky series can be purchased from a select number of specialty stores. Whether these include Dutch liquor stores has not been announced.