Caperdonich 38 Years Old 1968 Special Bottling (Duncan Taylor)

The Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor bottled this Caperdonich, a 38 year old, distilled in 1968, bottled at 42%, one of 134 bottles. Caperdonich, a ghost of Speyside, was demolished in 2011 to make way for a coppersmith's works. It was extended to four stills in 1967, run by only a couple of workers.

Drawn off the tall stills on Caperdonich Burn water, to build a clean, waxy, fruity character. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. In its ethereal years the malt is waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a touch of sotolon (maple, spice). Slow oxidation over decades draws the creamy spirit towards a waxy, fruity richness. Ethyl esters built over the years lend the pear and tropical fruit of old Caperdonich. It was rarely bottled as a single malt in its lifetime, so most come from independents. After closure the site was sold to the coppersmith Forsyths, who demolished it in 2011. Closed in 2002 and later demolished, its profile is fixed for good.

At an easy 42% it is light. Tropical fruit, wax and a creamy oat, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run pear, cream and a soft mint. The finish is deep, waxy and tropical. This is a rare Speyside single malt from a demolished distillery.