Fettercairn Vanguard 1st Release Review – Old But No Age Statement

With the Vanguard series, Fettercairn has made a bold move. The series introduces two new whiskeys: a highly limited single malt whiskey aged for almost 30 years and the Vanguard 1st Release age statement. Discover how this latter one surprises you in this whiskey review.

Fettercairn Distillery has been distilling its spirit in a unique way for centuries. The pots are fitted with a special ring that is constantly showered with a waterfall of cool water.

This results in a spectacle of steam at the distillery at the foot of the Cairngorms and a unique whiskey. The Vanguard Series 1st release is a perfect example of the gentle character that the single malt from the Highland distillery possesses. According to the official tasting notes, the single malt whiskey has a striking tropical character.

Even though the single malt whiskey does not carry an age statement, it is still an older whiskey. The spirit, after distillation, spent 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels, followed by a special finish. This took place in a mix of staves from American oak and Scottish oak.

The single malt rested for two years in this mix before it was married to an 8-year-old whiskey.

The Vanguard 1st release opens on the nose with an incredibly sweet note. It's as if you've walked into a patisserie where fresh pastries have been just placed behind the counter. The scent that stands out instantly reminds you of crème brûlée.

This is followed by notes of sweet apricot and other tropical fruits. For the dessert and sweet treats lover, it's a real party. And that's not just enticing at first. It also forms a deliciously complex whole for the gourmand. The nose keeps surprising you the more you sniff around, throwing up new notes.

On the palate, the Vanguard 1st release doesn't immediately deliver the dessert spices noted in the nose. Fruit comes in first instead. Picture sweet, fresh pineapple with a slight prickling sensation, apricot, and warm apple crumble pie.

Furthermore, the whiskey is incredibly creamy from the first sip and the influence of the bourbon barrel is very present. Expect notes of vanilla and honey as well.

As the whiskey rests a bit longer on your palate, a little pepper develops with notes of oak, spices, and cinnamon. At this point, the patisserie scents from the nose also pass by for a moment.

The finish is peppery and warm. After swallowing, it feels as if the creamy layer is instantly swallowed down your throat along with it. This soon leads to a dry mouthfeel, while the fruity notes slowly fade away.

Fettercairn has delivered a whiskey with three faces in the Vanguard 1st Release: the sweet-smelling bakery, a platter of tropical fruit, and a single malt with a warm character in the finish. Despite the lack of an age statement, you can still taste that it has older whiskey in it.

There's enough depth for the veterans and it's quite accessible at the same time. That makes it a complete whiskey that continues to surprise you.

+ Incredibly approachable for beginners, but also complex enough for connoisseurs

+ Beautifully balanced in terms of flavors

+ A whiskey with three faces

- Not for you if you're waiting on smoke