Caperdonich 13 Years Old 1998 (Connoisseurs Choice)

A 13 year old Caperdonich, this distilled in 1998 from the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, bottled at 46%. Caperdonich, once Glen Grant No.2, ran in Rothes until Pernod Ricard closed it in 2002. Its character was close to Glen Grant but its own, less green apple, more cream, pear and mint.

This was distilled from unpeated malt in tall Glen Grant style stills, building the fruity Caperdonich style. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the creamy, fruity spirit growing rounder. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fruity, waxy core over the decades. It was rarely bottled as a single malt in its lifetime, so most come from independents. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. It closed in 1902 after the Pattison crash, lying silent for over sixty years. Closed in 2002 and later demolished, its profile is fixed for good.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Pear, vanilla and a green mint lift, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft pear and a waxy cream sit behind the cask. It finishes creamy, fruity and waxy. This is a rare Speyside single malt from a demolished distillery.