Caperdonich 13 Years Old 1999 (Connoisseurs Choice)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail selected this Caperdonich, a 13 year old, distilled in 1999, bottled at 46%. Caperdonich stood opposite Glen Grant in Rothes, built to share in its sister's success. Its character was close to Glen Grant but its own, less green apple, more cream, pear and mint.

This was 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 integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the spirit, pear deepening to a soft tropical fruit. Long ageing turns the fresh pear towards mango, beeswax and a polished oak. Refill oak lets the soft, fruity Caperdonich character lead the way. Chivas released a Secret Speyside range of official Caperdonich in 2019, aged eighteen to thirty years. Its four stills were dispersed, a pair going as far as Belgium and others to Falkirk. Closed in 2002 and later demolished, its profile is fixed for good.

At 46% it is gentle, creamy and fruity. A creamy, fruity sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A tropical fruit and a gentle oak give it depth. The close is long, fruit over a gentle oak. This is a rare Speyside single malt from a demolished distillery.