I love Caperdonich and 1972 was known to be a top vintage. One of my favourite distilleries and one of my favourite independent bottlers. Prepare for some fireworks.
Caperdonich 38 yo 1972 (58,4%, Whisky Agency 2011, refill sherry, 145 btl.)
Nose: truckloads of apricot jam, with nice furniture polish and backed up by other juicy fruits like mango, tangerine, pears, quinces, even white cherries. Over time these change slightly towards (subtle) dried fruits (apricot, figs) and almonds. Apart from the fruit basket, it shows a whole range of elegant beehive notes (wax, honey, pollen). Hints of fruit tea and mint, later on soft spices as well. Hints of cigar boxes. Lovely pastry notes (lemon pie) with warm vanilla cream. Some cocoa. Candied, jammy, packed with flavours, and simply delicious!
Mouth: starts fruity and rounded (figs, apricot). Then the firm oak comes rushing in (yet never too dry) with plenty of spices and mint. Slightly leathery. Really elegant and a few drops of water keeps the fruitiness alive.
Finish: very long, half fruity / half oaky, and polished. Traces of liquorice and vanilla.
Punchy, aromatic, complex, fruity, spicy… The nose alone keeps me happy for a whole evening. The luscious apricots and figs lift it above other great 1972?s like cask #7424 for The Nectar. Last year TWA brought us the famous Longmorn 1972, and this Caperdonich promises to be one of the highlights of 2011 already!
This sounds spectacular! Hope I get a chance to taste it somewhere.
A very nice review of what sounds like an exceptional whisky. Reading this (and your Port Ellen tasting note earlier this week) puts your scoring scale in perspective. The high scores are reserved for very special bottlings like this. Nice one!