A 1960s’ bottling of Fettercairn Highland malt. The term ‘875’ refers to the fact that it is eight years and is 75 UK proof in strength.

This is the first single malt bottling of the Whyte & Mackay era, predating their launch of the Old Fettercairn brand. Named simply after the distillery (as it is again today), the 875 is simple too; 8 for its age, and 75 for its imperial proof. There was also a 575 for the Italian market.

Fettercairn distillery was built in 1825 and aside from a brief period in mothballs in the 1930s, has been in operation ever since. It was re-opened from that closure in 1939 by Associated Scottish Distilleries, the Scotch arm of the post-Prohibition drinks giant in the US, National Distillers. When ASD ceased trading in 1954 the distillery passed through various hands before being bought by Whyte & Mackay in 1973. Despite being an important contributor to their blends, they also pushed Fettercairn as a single malt brand, known as "Old Fettercairn" until 2002 when the prefix was dropped.