Caperdonich 28 Years Old 1992 Cask #4125629 (Duncan Taylor)

The Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor selected this Caperdonich, a 28 year old, distilled in 1992, from cask 4125629, bottled at 55.8%, one of 55 bottles. Caperdonich, once Glen Grant No.2, ran in Rothes until Pernod Ricard closed it in 2002. A few warehouses still stand, but the stillhouse and kiln are long gone.

Run through the distillery's tall copper stills, for a soft, fruity, oily make. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the fruit. In the oxidative, evaporative years concentration brings tropical esters of mango and pineapple over a waxy cream. 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. Active wood frames the fruit without smothering the soft, creamy spirit. Its spirit went largely into blends such as Chivas Regal and Royal Salute. With Caperdonich demolished, every bottle draws on a finite, dwindling stock.

At 55.8%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Mango, pear and a soft vanilla, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A tropical fruit and a gentle oak give it depth. A long, creamy finish ends on pear and vanilla. This is the soft, fruity ghost of Glen Grant's sister.