Caperdonich 20 Years Old 2000 Cask #29503 (Signatory)

A Caperdonich drawn by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2000, from cask 29503, bottled at 56.9%, one of 216 bottles. Caperdonich, a lost Speyside distillery in Rothes, fell silent 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, for a soft, fruity, oily make. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the spirit lead. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pear and pineapple) and a waxiness. The light Speyside make gains most of its depth from decades in good oak. The cool Speyside air gave a slow, even maturation in the Rothes warehouses. Its four stills were dispersed, a pair going as far as Belgium and others to Falkirk. It was built in 1898 by J and J Grant of Glen Grant, as Glen Grant No.2, to meet the whisky boom. No more will ever be made, the distillery silent since 2002.

At a full 56.9% it is bold yet fruity. A waxy, pear scented fruitiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked pear and a soft spice lift it. A long, creamy finish ends on pear and vanilla. This is a rare Speyside single malt from a demolished distillery.