Scottish distillery Fettercairn has unveiled The Vanguard Series, a new collection of whiskies designed to explore sensory experiences in flavor. The inaugural releases include a 29-year-old expression priced at £2,500 (~$3,375) and a non-age statement whisky at £100 (~135).
The series, which will last for three years, draws inspiration from Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass’s synesthesia, a condition where he experiences taste through colors.
Fettercairn The Vanguard Series Explores Sensory Innovation
Gregg Glass explained his unique approach to whisky creation: “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.”
“The Vanguard series explores what’s possible within whisky,” Glass continues. “We’ve been looking to create the ideal way of delivering layers of flavour in these whiskies: which casks we select, the components of those casks, what character they bring, and how they will evolve our house style in new and exciting ways. The series represents the distillery’s commitment to flavour-led whisky making and boundary-pushing innovation.”
To highlight this sensory connection, Fettercairn commissioned musicians Barry Burns of Mogwai and singer-songwriter Kathryn Joseph to create an original composition based on Glass’s colorful tasting notes.
The 200-year-old distillery, located in the Cairngorms foothills, partnered with the University of Bordeaux during the research phase. The collaboration between Glass and the musicians resulted in “Lorica,” a musical piece that interprets the whisky’s flavor profile through sound.
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Speaking about the project, Barry Burns said: “The opportunity to work with Gregg and the rest of Fettercairn team felt like a genuine collaboration, and it’s really interesting what they are trying to do with this release.”
Joseph added, “I loved working with Barry on this. He is the best and I am very lucky. Meeting Gregg and seeing and hearing how much he cares about what he does was beautiful. I love whisky now! Thank you Fettercairn.”
Two Vanguard Releases Feature Rare Cask Finishes
Two inaugural releases are being offered as part of the ongoing series: Vanguard, an NAS whisky, and Vanguard Rare 29 Year Old.
The Vanguard 29 Year Old represents an extremely limited offering with only 99 bottles available worldwide. Distilled on December 11, 1995, the whisky aged for 25 years in refill bourbon hogsheads before transferring to French pink oak casks from Bordeaux cooperage Demptos.
These “Essencia Barrels” contain high levels of carotenoids, contributing strawberry characteristics to the whisky’s profile according to official tasting notes. The whisky also reflects Fettercairn’s tropical house style.
The non-age statement Vanguard expression showcases Scottish oak innovation through hybrid cask maturation. Initially laid down in ex-bourbon barrels on February 28, 2008, the whisky matured for 14 years before finishing in custom 200-liter hybrid barrels.
These unique casks, created with Speyside Cooperage, combine American oak staves with heavily toasted Scottish oak heads crafted from wind-felled Highland trees.
Official tasting notes describe the Vanguard as offering “an exquisite balance of Fettercairn’s tropical house style and the subtle warming wood spice notes.”
Global single malt whisky specialist, Andrew Lennie, said: “The Vanguard Series is all about how we experience flavour through the senses. These two inaugural releases are still uniquely Fettercairn, but they push our house style in totally different directions to create something that really feels like a glimpse of the future.
“Every part of the process has been about creating something that pushes the boundaries in flavour, from initial research with the University of Bordeaux, to the casks that were hand selected, to the age we bottled.”
Both expressions maintain higher proof levels, with the 29-year-old bottled at 48.3% ABV and the standard release at 46.3% ABV. The whiskies become available through select specialists starting September 1.
