Caperdonich 21 Years Old 1994 Cask #DL 10769 (XOP)

The Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing bottled this Caperdonich, a 21 year old, distilled in 1994, from cask DL 10769, bottled at 57.7%, one of 270 bottles. Caperdonich was the quiet sister of Glen Grant, a Rothes distillery now demolished. It was rarely bottled as a single malt in its lifetime, so most come from independents.

Worked through the distillery's four tall stills, for the light, creamy, fruity make Caperdonich is known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the spirit. Oxidative maturity brings a waxy, fruity depth, ethyl esters of tropical fruit building over the pear. Refill oak lets the soft, fruity Caperdonich character lead the way. After closure the site was sold to the coppersmith Forsyths, who demolished it in 2011. A few warehouses still stand, but the stillhouse and kiln are long gone. Its four stills were dispersed, a pair going as far as Belgium and others to Falkirk. The distillery is gone, demolished in 2011, so what sleeps in cask is all there is.

Bottled at a cask strength 57.7%, it is rich. A creamy, fruity sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft pear and a waxy cream sit behind the cask. The finish is long, fruity and waxy. This is a finite single malt from the lost Caperdonich distillery.