Caperdonich 37 Years Old 1968 Mission Gold (Murray McDavid)

A 37 year old Caperdonich, this distilled in 1968 from the bottler Murray McDavid, bottled at 46.2%, one of 90 bottles. Caperdonich is a closed Speyside distillery, its stock now finite and dwindling. It closed in 1902 after the Pattison crash, lying silent for over sixty years.

It was drawn off the tall stills on Caperdonich Burn water, to build a clean, waxy, fruity character. An Oloroso hogshead lent raisin, fig and a savoury edge. At an ethereal, fragile age the spirit turns delicate, sotolon lending maple and old oak as beeswax lingers. With the distillery gone, the casks that remain are a finite record of its make. The tall, Glen Grant style stills give a light spirit that ages with grace. Its spirit went largely into blends such as Chivas Regal and Royal Salute. It was extended to four stills in 1967, run by only a couple of workers. Caperdonich leaned to cream, pear and mint where Glen Grant showed green apple. No more will ever be made, the distillery silent since 2002.

Bottled at a cask strength 46.2%, it is rich. A creamy, fruity sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run pear, cream and a soft mint. It finishes creamy, fruity and waxy. This is a waxy, pear scented Speyside single malt.