Fettercairn Single Malt Scotch Whisky has introduced its 12-Year-Old and 16-Year-Old expressions to the U.S. market, marking the Highland distillery’s most significant stateside expansion to date. The two core range bottlings, distributed by parent company Whyte & Mackay, will be available nationwide through key retailers and leading on-premise destinations.
“As Fettercairn continues to grow in the U.S., these two releases mark an important step in inviting more whisky drinkers to experience our house style,” said Andrew Kullhem, president of North America for Whyte & Mackay. “They offer a clear expression of our tropical character—bringing together innovation, maturation, and craftsmanship in a way that invites discovery, whether you’re exploring single malt for the first time or deepening an existing appreciation.”
The Fettercairn 12-Year-Old carries an SRP of $54.99 at 46% ABV. The 16-Year-Old is priced at $89.99 at 46.4% ABV. Both expressions are bottled at natural color and are non-chill filtered.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORYFettercairn’s tropical house style is rooted in its distinctive copper cooling ring distillation process, which cascades cool water from the nearby Cairngorm Mountains over the stills. The technique rapidly cools the copper, allowing only the lightest vapors to rise.
Stewart Walker, distillery manager, who has spent over three decades shaping the character of Fettercairn, described the approach. “That process gives us a beautifully light, tropical spirit to work with, and from there, it’s about shaping that character with care—preserving its freshness while building texture and complexity through maturation,” he said. “It’s an imaginative approach to Highland Single Malt Scotch.”
Official tasting notes from the brand describe the 12-Year-Old as offering vanilla and pear on the nose with nectarine, tropical fruit, roasted coffee, clove, and ginger on the palate. The 16-Year-Old, aged in a combination of first-fill and refill American oak ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads, presents grilled pineapple, Madagascan vanilla, and sugared almonds on the nose, with tropical fruit, poached pear, and honey on the palate.
Trending Content
“What’s exciting about these two expressions is how they allow the spirit to show itself in different ways,” Walker added. “It’s about revealing new dimensions of that tropical profile over time.”
Founded in 1824, Fettercairn is one of Scotland’s oldest licensed distilleries. The distillery, located in the eastern Highlands at the foot of the Cairngorm Mountains, has historically been better known for its rare and highly allocated aged releases, including the Vanguard Collection. The launch of these core range expressions signals a broader strategy to build awareness among U.S. consumers.
