Caperdonich 24 Years Old 1994 Cask #96529 (Sansibar)

The bottler Sansibar selected this Caperdonich, a 24 year old, distilled in 1994, from cask 96529, bottled at 51.3%, one of 150 bottles. Caperdonich is a closed Speyside distillery, its stock now finite and dwindling. Its character was close to Glen Grant but its own, less green apple, more cream, pear and mint.

The spirit was made in tall copper stills for a light, fruity spirit, building the fruity Caperdonich style. A bourbon barrel held it, lending vanilla and a little cream. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a drying structure while oxidation builds waxy tropical fruit. Long ageing turns the fresh pear towards mango, beeswax and a polished oak. Seagram bought it in 1977, and Pernod Ricard closed it in 2002. The light, creamy spirit takes cask flavour readily while keeping its pear and mint. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fruity, waxy core over the decades. The distillery is gone, demolished in 2011, so what sleeps in cask is all there is.

At 51.3%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. A creamy, fruity sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run pear, cream and a soft mint. A long, fruity finish carries a tropical lift. This is Caperdonich's creamy, fruity Speyside style.