The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Alex Southgate
Rating: B+
Uncharted Whisky Company’s Fettercairn 14 Year Old Brown Eyed Girl
(Credit: Uncharted Whisky Company)
It’s always nice to go back and visit old friends and this is absolutely no different when it comes to the distilleries that we know well and love. This being said, I’ve been back to the Fettercairn Distillery on a couple of occasions now, and had a really enjoyable experience on both. We’ll be circling back for a third time today as we give the Brown Eyed Girl 14 Year Old PX First Fill bottled by Uncharted Whisky Company a try. If it’s anything like the others, I don’t think it’ll be disappointing.
This 14 year old expression has been twice matured, firstly in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being finished off with a decent resting period in a first fill Pedro Ximenez sherry cask. This unpeated single malt is being offered to us free from coloring and chill-filtration, making for a product that’s as pure as is possible. For the personal touch, you can rest assured that your bottle has been individually hand filled and labelled. Incidentally, if you’re wondering why it’s called Brown Eyed Girl, it comes from the lovely amber hue of the whiskey having spent all that time soaking in the sherry cask.
The Scotch
This is a very inviting whiskey to look at, and Brown Eyed Girl is a very good title for this expression. True to its word, this Scotch is a beautifully rich amber color in the glass. This is a very easy pour and as the whiskey moves about the glass it leaves faint legs giving the impression of a lighter, less viscous, product.
You can absolutely smell the sherry cask that this 14 Year old expression has spent time in the moment you raise the glass to your nose. Not only can you smell the timber of the cask itself but you also get the unmistakable fruity odor of sherry. This is coupled with the sweetness of raisins and sultanas. This sweetness gives way to rich dark chocolate and roasted hazelnuts. The finish is smoky and slightly earthy.
The taste brings vine fruit mixed with a delightful, soft, nuttiness. Your palate dances as its hit with a blend of spices and rich, creamy dark chocolate. The spice blend carries to the finish and you’re left with nutmeg and cinnamon mixed with the soft toffee finish of butterscotch.
This is a very tasty whiskey. The fact that this is an unpeated offering is all the more appealing to me. Importantly, it genuinely is. The only smokiness here comes from scent, and it isn’t overpowering. I’m so often put off Scotch Whiskeys by this so I think it’s important to note.
Aside from this, I think Brown Eyed Girl will appeal to those of you with a sweeter tooth. Although savory notes are definitely present here, all of the fruit in this expression and the fact that sherry is sweet in and of itself, make for a lighter, juicer tipple. Personally, this is right up my alley and I’ll definitely be grabbing a bottle of my own.
The Price
Brown Eyed Girl is coming it at around £79.00 per 70cl bottle. As always, you might be able to find a deal if you look hard enough.
