Fettercairn Distillery has partnered with Scottish rum producer Matugga Rum to release Distillers’ Secret No 2, the latest edition in its Distillery Exclusive single malt whisky range. The limited expression is available now exclusively from the distillery and retails at £120 ($157), with just 486 bottles produced.
The whisky originated from a chance discovery by Fettercairn distiller Bruce Aitken, who noticed that an ex-red wine cask maturing in the warehouse carried flavors reminiscent of rum and raisin fudge. The former chef sought to explore those flavors further by collaborating with Matugga Rum.
“Cask 170 has been maturing in an ex-red wine cask for five years and we knew the second we tasted the liquid that it was going to be something special,” said Aitken. “The distinctive rum and raisin character made it the perfect candidate for further flavour exploration, and we were lucky enough to find that Paul and Jacine from Matugga Rum shared our love and passion for exploring the possibilities of flavour.”
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READ THE STORYThe whisky was transferred into one of Matugga’s ex-rum casks, where it matured for a further five years in Warehouse No 2.
“During that time, the whisky developed vibrant and funky tropical notes that quickly became a favourite among the distillery team,” Aitken added.
To balance the liquid, the rum cask was married with two first-fill ex-bourbon barrels before developing in three further ex-bourbon barrels.
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Matugga Rum was founded by husband-and-wife team Paul and Jacine Rutasikwa. The brand draws on the ‘rum triad’, rooted in Jamaican rum-making traditions, and blends the culture and flavors of East Africa with Scotland’s distilling heritage.
“What began as a simple exchange of casks has grown into a genuine friendship and creative collaboration,” said Paul Rutasikwa of Matugga Rum. “As a passionate whisky lover and rum enthusiast, I’m excited to continue sharing casks, exchanging ideas and pushing the boundaries of flavour together.”
Distillers’ Secret No. 2 is bottled at 53.4% ABV and is described as having notes of grilled pineapple, toffee, Demerara sugar, and ginger on the nose. On the palate, there is Fettercairn’s trademark tropical fruit with molasses, vanilla, citrus zest, and wood spices. Mango, guava, and nutmeg linger on the finish.
The release follows Distillers’ Secret No 1, which was created in collaboration with craft brewery Six°North.
Fettercairn, located in Aberdeenshire, is owned by Whyte & Mackay. The distillery is known for its tropical fruit house style, achieved in part through its unique cooling ring that chills the copper of its stills during distillation.
