Some of our favourite bespoke projects begin with a story. For Fettercairn Whisky, that story is one of Scottish heritage, innovation, craftsmanship and, perhaps most distinctively, water.
We recently had the pleasure of working with the team at Fettercairn Distillery to create a bespoke merino lambswool jacquard throw, woven with the Fettercairn logo and brought to life in the distillery's unmistakable turquoise brand colour.
Created as a piece visitors could take home from the distillery, the finished throw has proved incredibly popular in the Fettercairn gift shop – and its design is rooted in something completely unique to the whisky itself.
A Colour Inspired by Fettercairn
Fettercairn's distinctive turquoise is more than simply a beautiful brand colour. Its inspiration can be traced back to one of the most recognisable sights within the distillery: the wonderful blue-green patina of its copper stills.
Water plays an unusually visible role in whisky making at Fettercairn. In the mid-1950s, distillery manager Alastair Menzies and his team were experimenting with ways to create a purer spirit. Their solution was ingenious: cool the outside of the copper still itself with water.
A copper cooling ring was fashioned around the neck of the still, allowing clear mountain water to cascade continuously down its exterior. Cooling the copper increases condensation inside the still, helping ensure that only the lightest vapours rise to be collected. Remarkably, Fettercairn still uses this process today, and describes it as unique within Scotch whisky making.
Over time, the meeting of copper, water and air creates the characteristic turquoise-green patina visible on the stills – providing the inspiration for a colour that has become synonymous with Fettercairn.
It was this story that made the shade such a wonderful starting point for our bespoke throw.
Translating a Whisky Brand into Woven Design
For the Remony team, the project was about creating something that felt unmistakably Fettercairn while also working beautifully as a textile in its own right.
Using jacquard weaving, we were able to incorporate the Fettercairn logo directly into the structure of the throw rather than simply applying branding to its surface. The design was developed in Fettercairn's signature colours, transforming elements of the brand into a soft, tactile piece made from merino lambswool.
The result is a bespoke Scottish throw that feels at home within the world of Fettercairn: distinctive and contemporary, but with craftsmanship and provenance firmly at its heart.
More importantly, it creates something lasting for visitors. Rather than a conventional souvenir, the throw is a piece designed to be taken home, used and enjoyed for years to come – carrying a little of the Fettercairn story with it.
Two Centuries of Whisky Making
There is plenty of story to draw upon.
Nestled at the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, Fettercairn Distillery has been making whisky since 1824. Its founder, Sir Alexander Ramsay, was among the Scottish landowners who campaigned for the licensing of Scotch whisky distillation, helping pave the way for the 1823 Excise Act. The following year, Ramsay was one of the first to apply for a licence and Fettercairn Distillery opened its doors.
In 1829, the Fasque Estate on which the distillery sits passed to the Gladstone family. Among them was future Prime Minister William Gladstone, who would later introduce important reforms affecting the Scotch whisky industry. The distillery survived a major fire in 1887, underwent an extensive rebuild and continued to evolve throughout the following century.
Then came the cooling ring in the 1950s – a wonderfully practical piece of experimentation that became one of Fettercairn's defining characteristics. Today, mountain water continues to cascade down the copper stills, contributing to the distillery's light, tropical house style.
In 2024, Fettercairn celebrated its 200th anniversary: two centuries of whisky making and of finding its own way of doing things.
Inspired by a Visit to Fettercairn
One of the real pleasures of a bespoke project is understanding the place and people behind the finished design.
We loved working with Claire and the Fettercairn team and were delighted to have the opportunity to visit the distillery ourselves. Seeing the stills, the flowing water and the colours and textures of Fettercairn first-hand gave us an even greater appreciation for the story behind the brand – and for the inspiration behind our throw.
There is something particularly fitting about translating that story into wool. Both whisky and textiles are products in which raw materials, craftsmanship, patience and place matter enormously. They are made to be experienced rather than simply looked at.
Our finished Fettercairn jacquard throw brings those ideas together in a piece visitors can take home from the distillery and enjoy long after their visit.
Preferably, of course, with a dram in hand.
A huge thank you to Claire and the whole Fettercairn team for trusting Remony with the project, and for welcoming us to experience the remarkable distillery that inspired it.
Bespoke Throws by Remony
Our work with Fettercairn is part of Remony's bespoke textile service, creating custom wool throws and blankets for brands, hospitality, gifting and special projects.
From bespoke colourways and patterns to jacquard-woven logos and completely individual designs, we can translate the identity of a brand or place into a textile designed to be used, loved and remembered.
Discover Remony bespoke throws and talk to us about creating something unique for your brand.
