Caperdonich 1992 19 Year old Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare

Caperdonich distillery is located at the northern end of Moraytown Village in Rothes and began its existence in 1897 under the name “Glen Grant #2”. It was founded by J. & J. Grant, the same people that had also built Glen Grant distillery. Sadly, Glen Grant #2 closed its doors again in 1902 as a consequence of the crisis induced by the Pattinson scandal that caused panic in the Scottish whisky industry around the turn of the century. The distillery remained dormant until 1965 when it was rebuilt by Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd who resumed production. By that time, British law prohibited simultaneously operating distilleries from using the same name, and Glen Grant #2 was reopened as Caperdonich (meaning “secret well”, after the well from which it draws its water). The distillery was sold to Seagram in 1977, and sold again to Pernod Ricard in 2001. One year after purchasing Caperdonich, Pernod Ricard closed the distillery. In 2010 it was sold to Forsyth’s, the manufacturer of copper pot stills in Rothes. This particular expression was distilled in April 1992 and bottled in September 2011 as a 19-year old from cask #46213.

The nose is very fruity and quite spicy: I am getting apples, grapefruits and pineapples, followed by caramel and vanilla notes. With water the fruitiness diminishes and is replaced by a delightful nuttiness, followed by a touch of mint.

The palate is medium-bodied, oily and spicy. Again there are apples, caramel and vanilla. With water there is less spiciness and even more caramel and vanilla notes, while the apples have disappeared in all but name.

The finish is long, spicy and pleasantly warming. Vanilla makes an entry once more, before a closing bouquet of fudge and milk coffee. A beautiful finish!

I very much liked this Caperdonich, especially the nose and the beautiful finish. This expression certainly does justice to Caperdonich as a fruity and well balanced single malt.

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