Caperdonich 22 Years Old 1996 Cask #53630 (Morrison and MacKay)

A 22 year old Caperdonich, this distilled in 1996 from the bottler Morrison and MacKay, from cask 53630, bottled at 54.9%, one of 262 bottles. Caperdonich was the quiet sister of Glen Grant, a Rothes distillery now demolished. It reopened in 1965 to feed Glen Grant's booming Italian trade, and took the Caperdonich name in 1977.

The spirit was run through the distillery's tall copper stills, to build a clean, waxy, fruity character. A bourbon barrel held it, lending vanilla and a little cream. In these late years the spirit concentrates to a waxy, tropical depth held in an ellagitannin frame. Refill oak lets the soft, fruity Caperdonich character lead the way. A few warehouses still stand, but the stillhouse and kiln are long gone. It was rarely bottled as a single malt in its lifetime, so most come from independents. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits both bourbon and sherry. Closed in 2002 and later demolished, its profile is fixed for good.

At a full 54.9% it is bold yet fruity. Cream, orchard fruit and a gentle spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is waxy, the fruit carried on a creamy body. Pear, cream and a soft oak see out the finish. This is a waxy, pear scented Speyside single malt.