Caperdonich The Distillery Reserve Collection 21 Years Old 1996

A 21 year old Caperdonich, a distillery release, from 1996, cask 7375, at 50.1%, 324 bottles in all. Caperdonich was a Speyside distillery in Rothes, closed in 2002 and since demolished. It closed in 1902 after the Pattison crash, lying silent for over sixty years.

Drawn off the tall stills on Caperdonich Burn water, for the light, creamy, fruity make Caperdonich is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the fruit. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, pear turning to mango over a waxy, creamy body. Ethyl esters built over the years lend the pear and tropical fruit of old Caperdonich. After closure the site was sold to the coppersmith Forsyths, who demolished it in 2011. Refill oak lets the soft, fruity Caperdonich character lead the way. Seagram bought it in 1977, and Pernod Ricard closed it in 2002. The distillery is gone, demolished in 2011, so what sleeps in cask is all there is.

At 50.1%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Soft pear, cream and a waxy oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Mango, pear and a soft vanilla fill the middle. The finish is long, fruity and waxy. This is a waxy, pear scented Speyside single malt.