Royal Salute 51 Years Old The Time Series (Chivas Brothers Ltd.)

Royal Salute 51 Years Old The Time Series (Chivas Brothers Ltd.) is a blended Scotch from Chivas Brothers Ltd. It marries malt and grain whiskies, including spirit from the lost Caperdonich distillery. It reopened in 1965 to feed Glen Grant's booming Italian trade, and took the Caperdonich name in 1977.

Spirit from the demolished Caperdonich gives the blend a soft, waxy fruit. A bourbon barrel held it, lending vanilla and a little cream. The light, creamy spirit takes cask flavour readily while keeping its pear and mint. A few warehouses still stand, but the stillhouse and kiln are long gone. It was extended to four stills in 1967, run by only a couple of workers. Slow oxidation over decades draws the creamy spirit towards a waxy, fruity richness. Maturation in the cool north east kept the spirit fresh across long years. Its four stills were dispersed, a pair going as far as Belgium and others to Falkirk.

At its natural 45.4% it is concentrated. Soft pear, cream and dried fruit run through it, with a waxy, fruity depth. Mango, pear and a soft vanilla fill the middle. The finish is long, fruity and waxy. A characterful blended Scotch drawing on a vanished distillery.