Caperdonich 20 Years Old 2000 Cask #29483 (Signatory)

A 20 year old Caperdonich, this distilled in 2000 from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, from cask 29483, bottled at 56.8%, one of 274 bottles. Caperdonich made a light, fruity Speyside malt at Rothes until its closure in 2002. It was extended to four stills in 1967, run by only a couple of workers.

Worked through the distillery's four tall stills, giving the soft pear and mint of the house style. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. At oxidative maturity ellagitannin tannins lend a polished frame to the oily, fruit rich malt. With the distillery gone, the casks that remain are a finite record of its make. Water came from the Caperdonich Burn, the so called secret well above Rothes. Maturation in the cool north east kept the spirit fresh across long years. Its spirit went largely into blends such as Chivas Regal and Royal Salute. Closed in 2002 and later demolished, its profile is fixed for good.

At a full 56.8% it is bold yet fruity. A waxy, pear scented fruitiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is waxy, the fruit carried on a creamy body. The finish is deep, waxy and tropical. This is a single malt from a silent Speyside distillery.