Single Cask Nation Release 14: Fettercain, Glen Spey, Glenburgie, Glencadam, GlenDronach Reviews

 

Single Cask Nation is an American independent bottling company that was founded in 2011 by friends Jason Johnston-Yellin and Joshua Hatton. Initially, it was a social club whose goal was to find and share single cask whiskies. Currently, Single Cask Nation is "a unique global community of whisky geeks that counts more than 10,000 members." Apparently, Single Cask Nation knows what it is doing, as in 2024, it was named Icons of Whiskey's Independent Bottler of the Year.

 

Single Cask Nation has a new slate of whiskies available each year. They're mostly Scotches, but occasionally, another country is represented. While Single Cask Nation is headquartered in Connecticut, it does have a USA-exclusive distribution agreement with ImpEx Beverages.

 

ImpEx Beverages was kind enough to send me five samples of bottlings from Single Cask Nation in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest reviews, which we'll get into momentarily.

 

For each whisky, I used a fresh Glencairn glass and explored them neat. Each rested about 15 minutes before I approached them. Let's #DrinkCurious and discover what they're all about!

 

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2012 Fettercairn Cask 180488

 

• Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
• Region: Highland
• Distiller: Fettercairn
• Age: 12 years
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: A former Bourbon barrel, then a new charred oak barrel (3yrs)
• Alcohol Content: 60.5% ABV (121°)
• Price per 750mL: $120.00
• Non-Chill Filtered, Naturally Colored
• 195 bottle yield

 

Founded in 1824 by Scottish landowner Sir Alexander Ramsey, he was instrumental in having the 1823 Excise Act passed, and was one of the first to apply for a distilling license. His first distillers were formerly illicit operators, as he realized only they would know how actually to distill.

 

In 1829, Ramsey's land was purchased by the Gladstone family after Ramsey went bankrupt. Then, in 1888, a fire decimated the distillery and most of the whisky aging in the warehouses. It took two years to rebuild, and the new distillery was christened Fettercain Distilling Co. Then, in 1924, it was sold to Ross & Coulter, who, in turn, sold it to Associated Scottish Distilleries in 1939. Whyte & Mackay, its current owner, purchased the distillery in 1973.

 

Fettercairn is known for its unique irrigator ring, which surrounds the stills and drenches them, providing a cooling effect.

 

Appearance: Inside my glass, this Fettercairn Scotch appeared somewhere between orange and bronze. It formed a thin rim, with randomly placed, thicker tears racing down the wall.

 

Nose: I smelled rich caramel, toffee, dried apricots, honey, apples, and barrel char. It was almost heavenly. As I pulled the vapor through my lips, I ran into raw honey with a kiss of mint.

 

Palate: My initial sip revealed a thick, creamy mouthfeel and a dry, leathery palate shock. The second allowed me to experience leather, hazelnuts, and thick caramel on the front, followed by crème brûlée, malt, and mild anise. The back featured black pepper, charred oak, and clove.

 

Finish: Black pepper, clove, leather, oak, cocoa, and hazelnuts left a dry, spicy, savory finish. It had a very soft caramel offset. The even-keeled finish was 1:18, placing it squarely in the medium venue.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Highland whiskies can be all over the place. Some are fruity like Speysides, others have a peaty influence. Fettercairn Cask 180488 offered neither of those experiences. Instead, it was nutty, dry, and spicy. It assuredly was an attention-getter.

 

I can't tell you the last time I sipped anything from Fettercian; it's been at least a decade, if not longer. I remember it as a lighter whisky, which proved to me that I need to put the distillery on my checklist.

 

I really enjoyed what was in my glass because it was so unusual for a single malt Scotch whisky. It had an American feel and taste, and being so off-profile in a great way begs for my Bottle rating. So it has been said, so it shall be done.

 

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2012 Glen Spey Cask 170842

 

 

• Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
• Region: Speyside
• Distiller: Glen Spey
• Age: 13 years
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: Former Bourbon barrel, then 1st fill Bourbon hogshead (7yrs)
• Alcohol Content: 57.4% ABV (114.8°)
• Price per 750mL: $130.00
• Non-Chill Filtered, Naturally Colored
• 234 bottle yield

 

The Glen Spey distillery was founded in 1878 by James Stuart & Co. as the Mill of Rothes. It began as an oat milling operation, and as Stuart was a corn merchant, it seemed natural that he would add a distilling operation to it. Mill of Rothes was sold to W&A Gibley in 1887.

 

When W&A Gibley and United Wine Traders merged in 1962, they renamed the company International Distillers and Vintners, which then joined forces with United Distillers, which became United Distillers and Vintners, later becoming the giant DIAGEO.

 

Glen Spey is one of a handful of distilleries that still employs purifiers, small condensers that increase reflux in the pot still, resulting in a lighter spirit.

 

Appearance: The bright, yellow-gold whisky created a very thin rim that held tightly before thin, tightly-packed tears began to fall slowly.

 

Nose: Honey, peaches, apples, crème brûlée, and roasted almonds were easily identifiable. There was the slightest note of lemon peel. When I drew the air into my mouth, I discovered more crème brûlée.   

 

Palate: Glen Spey's texture was thin and silky. The palate shock consisted of fruits, especially peaches and lemon peel. With the second sip, I tasted vanilla, honey, and lemon zest on the front, while the middle included peaches, blanched almonds, and barley. Notes of ginger, oak, and clove formed on the back of my palate.  

 

Finish: Oak and ginger spices commanded my attention. Yet, as time elapsed, the ginger slowly became candied, and the oak drier. While they were busy challenging one another, honey, lemon zest, peaches, leather, and barley attempted to distract me. The finish slowly ramped to a crescendo, then faded at almost the same length. Overall, it ran 1:22, putting it on the longer end of medium duration. An arid sensation was left when all was said and done.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: It's been several years since I've had a Glen Spey whisky, which made me slightly sad. 2012 Glen Spey Cask 170842 is well-balanced, full of character, held my interest, and is quite tasty. I enjoyed it and believe it is well worth my Bottle rating.

 

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2011 Glenburgie Cask 161592 

 

• Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
• Region: Speyside
• Distiller: Glenburgie
• Age: 13 years
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: Former Bourbon barrel, then 1st fill Oloroso hogshead (4yrs)
• Alcohol Content: 60.8% (121.6°)
• Price per 750mL: $130.00
• Non-Chill Filtered, Naturally Colored
• 289 bottle yield

 

Glenburgie is one of those Scottish distilleries with a sketchy past. Firstly, it has been referred to as Glenburgie-Glenlivet, Glenburry, or Glen Burgie. Secondly, nobody really knows when it was founded. Some historians allude to an illicit distillery called Kilnflat that operated in 1810, while others cite 1829, when official records were established. Whichever version is true, the distillery shuttered in 1870. A year later, it was renamed Glenburgie, yet remained mothballed.

 

In 1878, Glenburgie was acquired by Charles Kay and resumed production. Records are a bit fuzzy, as ownership changed hands multiple times over a two-year period, when the owner on record became Alex Fraser and Company, which ran the operation until Alex Fraser and Company folded, leading to Glenburgie's closure in 1927, only to be resurrected in 1935.

 

Glenburgie was the first Scotch whisky distillery to be managed by a woman (Margaret Nichol). A year later, Hiram Walker purchased Glenburgie and ran it until 2000, when the distillery was demolished and rebuilt during 2003 and 2004. Only the original stills remained in the new facility. Pernod Ricard currently owns Glenburgie, and its whiskies are used as a blending component in Ballantine's.

 

Appearance: Glenburgie's color was a rich caramel, one that grabbed Mrs. Whiskeyfellow's attention. The whisky created a medium rim, producing a thick, fast curtain of tears.  

 

Nose: When I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and inhaled, there were notes of caramel, hazelnuts, spiced almonds, plums, and cherries. Taking the vapor into my mouth allowed me to experience molasses.  

 

Palate: As I took my first sip, I found a medium-weighted, velvety texture. Dry sherry was the first thing I tasted. The second offered flavors of caramel, toffee, and marzipan on the front of my palate. Hazelnuts, walnuts, and black cherries came next, followed by oak, pink peppercorn, and leather.

 

Finish: Oak, leather, hazelnuts, and walnuts permeated my mouth and throat. It was very sherry-like and dry. Ginger came out of nowhere, and it was like detonating a bomb. It started soft, then exploded with spiciness. I timed it at 2:37, which is very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Before today, I had never heard of Glenburgie, so I had no clue what to expect. I found the Oloroso cask influence to be on the overwhelming side, drowning out whatever else might be there. While I like sherry-cask-finished whiskies, I still want the whisky to shine through. For $130.00, I wanted to understand what this distillery was all about, and I believe that this particular cask was a missed opportunity. 2011 Glenburgie Cask 161592 is tasty; just overly-influenced, and my Bar rating is easily warranted.   

 

 

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2011 Glencadam Cask 180528

 

• Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
• Region: Highland
• Distiller: Glencadam Distillery
• Age: 14 years
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: Former Bourbon barrels, then a new charred oak barrel (3yrs)
• Alcohol Content: 61.5% ABV (123°)
• Price per 750mL: $140.00
• Non-Chill Filtered, Naturally Colored
• 215 bottle yield

 

The Glencadam Distillery was constructed by David Scott after the passage of the 1823 Excise Act and opened two years later. It was built only a stone's throw from Brechin Distillery. He ran the distillery for a decade before selling it. Glencadam underwent many changes in ownership over the next 54 years, eventually being acquired by Gilmour, Thompson & Company Limited in 1891, for the sole purpose of using its whisky as a component of its Royal Blend.

 

In 1954, Hiram Walker purchased the distillery, only to sell it to George Ballantine & Son Ltd. in 1956. It changed hands again in 1988, this time to Allied Domecq, which shuttered it in 2000 and sold it to Angus Dundee PLC in 2003.

 

Glencadam, like Glenburie, is known as a component whiskey in Ballantine's. In 2008, Glencadam launched its own single malt expressions.  

 

Appearance: Glancadam possessed a coppery color. The whisky produced a thin rim with fast, crazed tears.

 

Nose: As I waited for this whisky to acclimate, I was smelling quite a bit of caramel in the air. Yet, when I brought the glass beneath my nostrils, I found vegetative notes were the strongest, followed by floral and, finally, caramel and oak. Pulling that vapor into my mouth offered something earthy.

 

Palate: A thin, oily texture delivered a palate-shocking blast of clove and oak spice. With the second sip, I identified earth, powdered cocoa, and barley on the front of my palate. Midway through, flavors of oak, caramel, and cinnamon emerged. I found smoked meats, dark chocolate, and molasses on the back.

 

Finish: What appeared to be a shorter finish featured molasses, clove, cocoa, stronger barrel char, and something earthy. The smokiness seemed to grab the back of my throat with each swallow. It was a level finish that drank nowhere near its stated proof. The entire experience lasted 1:31, defying my initial assumption.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I've not had the opportunity to experience Glancadam before. I found Glencadam Cask 180528 retained some classic Highland qualities while offering something a bit different. Its light smokiness was welcoming for those Scotch aficionados who hone in on the influence of peat. It is well-balanced, covers the broader spectrum, and checks most of the boxes I wanted. I'm curious what else Glancadam has to offer. Meanwhile, Single Cask Nation's expression takes my Bottle rating.

 

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2011 GlenDonach Cask 161609

 

• Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
• Region: Highland
• Distiller: The GlenDronach
• Age: 14 years
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: Former Bourbon barrel, then a 1st fill PX seasoned, shaved, toasted, and recharred barrique (3yrs)
• Alcohol Content: 59.6% ABV (119.2°)
• Price per 750mL: $130.00
• Non-Chill Filtered, Naturally Colored
• 215 bottle yield

 

Founded in 1826 by James Allardice, this distillery's name comes from the Gaelic Glen (meaning valley) and Dronach (meaning brambles or blackberries), referring to the Dronach Burn, the river that provides the distillery with its water. Together, The GlenDronach means the valley of the blackberries.

 

In 1837, the distillery experienced a devastating fire. Allardice quickly rebuilt it; however, in 1842, he went bankrupt and was forced to sell it to Walter Scott, his former distillery manager, who held it until 1877. Over the next 40-some-odd years, it changed hands several times and was eventually acquired by Captain Charles Grant in 1920. His family maintained ownership until 1960, when William Teachers & Sons purchased the distillery. In 1976, Teachers had been purchased by Allied Distillers, and the deal included The GlenDronach. The distillery was shuttered in 1996.

 

Six years later, Allied revived it, and in 2005, Pernod Ricard purchased Allied, but it wasn't interested in keeping The GlenDronach. In 2008, BenRiach Distillery Co., Ltd., led by Billy Walker, purchased it and focused on aging whisky in ex-sherry casks rather than former Bourbon barrels. Things went well and caught the attention of Brown-Forman, who bought it, along with BenRiach and Glenglassaugh. Dr. Rachel Barrie was brought in as the Master Blender of all three distilleries. At the same time, Billy Walker went to The GlenAllachie.

 

Appearance: The dark-orange colored whisky left a thicker rim with a wavy curtain of tears.

 

Nose: Cherries, plums, apples, and raisins were the easiest notes to pull. As I continued my sniffing journey, I found dark chocolate and a hint of older leather. As I drew the air through my open lips, I tasted dark chocolate.

 

Palate: The whisky had a dense, creamy mouthfeel that coated the entirety of my mouth, tongue, and throat. There was no palate shock. On the front were flavors of raisins, dark chocolate, and dried cherries. The mid-palate unveiled dates, coffee, and tobacco leaf, and the back suggested black pepper, clove, and cocoa.

 

Finish: I experienced a fruity, yet somewhat spicy finish. Dates, dried cherries, and raisins countered coffee, clove, and old leather. Somewhere in the middle was salted, extremely dark chocolate, which also stuck around the longest. The finish plodded along without any waves or troughs, seeming to last forever. In reality, it was 2:36, which is extremely long in its own right.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I must disclose that GlenDronach is one of my favorite Highland distilleries. I cannot recall ever giving anything less than a Bottle rating. Both Barrie and Walker are geniuses. GlenDronach has an obvious love affair with PX sherry casks, and I'm more than appreciative of that.

 

GlenDonach Cask 161609 failed to disappoint. It was a stunning pour, typical of what this distillery offers. I wouldn't say it was a unique pour – it also didn't have to be. Would I pay $130 for it? Yes, and in some ways, it is a bargain. My Bottle rating is so well-earned. Don't pass this one up if you see it on a store shelf.

 

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Final Thoughts: I had a great time perusing Single Cask Nation's picks. I'm sure you want me to rank these, and I'm happy to do it: GlenDronach, Fettercain, Glen Spey, Glencadam, followed by the Glunburgie. Whichever you pick, Single Cask Nation's 14^th release is well worth your time and money. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.