Scotland, Speyside: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes

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Caperdonich

Description of the whisky

The distillery

Caperdonich
Caperdonich Distillery
Rothes
Morayshire AB38 7BS
+44 1542 783 300
Owner: Pernod-Ricard
Creation date 1897

The distillery was originally founded in 1897 under the name "Glen Grant 2" It's founder was Major James Grant, and it was just intended to be an extension of Glen Grant, which is situated on the other side of the main road.
Both distilleries were joined by a pipe-line, known as "the whisky pipe" by the inhabitants of Rothes. The legend says that people of Rothes made some holes in the pipe, in order to get their own part of the spirit. This would have caused some floods in the town of Rothes.
The distillery has been closed in the beginning of the 19th century, because of a decreasing demand on whisky. No production between 1901 and 1965, when it was reopened by "The Glenlivet and Glen Grant Distilleries Ltd". The production made good progresses, and two new stills were added, and the distillery has been modernized in order to be run by just two people.
In 1978, "The Chivas and Glenlivet Group (Seagram)" took over the distillery, together with Longmorn, Benriach, Glen Grant et The Glenlivet.
The Seagram distillery division became part of the French group Pernod-Ricard in 2000.
The distillery has never released official single malts, its owner having decided to use all the production for blends.

The whisky

A propos des notes de dégustation Your own tasting notes

List of the bottles

Description of the distillery

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 Caperdonich: independent bottlings
 

Caperdonich
Chieftain's Choice
Aged 28 years
Age
 28 years
Alcohol
 46°
Bottler
 Ian McLeod
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This whisky with a relatively discrete smell is  amazing as it is rather different from other classical Speyside's. Despite the number of years spent in as cask, the taste is not too complex, but its slightly acid character recalling citrus fruits is very pleasant. I generally consider this acidity as a characteristic of a young alcohol, but in the case of this Caperdonich it adds some very pleasant characteristics . A long finish prolongs the pleasure of drinking this very pleasant whisky.

The nose is clearly marked by a surprising freshness with some hints of citrus fruit on a malted background. The palate does not confirm the first impression, and the freshness is replaced by a slight woody taste and some bitter and chocolate touches. The complexity in the mouth increases with a drop of water which reveals the clearly spicy character of this whisky. The finish is remarkable for its length and its clear malted and chocolate hints.
The nose is deliciously fruity, rather fresh with discrete hints of hazelnut. Ripe pear and vanilla, a great sweetness without this sickly character which sometimes characterizes very sweet malts. The first mouth expresses a slightly dominating bitterness. An impression of orange zest soon followed by hints of sweet citrus fruit (tangerine) and then cashew nut notes. A very nice and pleasant mouth even if has a lack at complexity. A nice freshness here as well. The finish is rather long and the same smooth mix of orange zest, citrus acidity and nice nutty hints. A very nice bottle.
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Caperdonich
Gordon & MacPhail Reserve
22 years
Cask 15180

Age
 22 years
Alcohol
 55.2
Dates
 Distilled 05/11/1982
Bottled 19/4/2005
Bottler
 Gordon & MacPhail
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Caperdonich Gordon&MacPhail 22 ans
The nose is rather pungent but quite fruity, ripe apples, developing on bananas after a while. Good smell, but a bit monotonous. The first palate is quite bitter, marked by the alcohol and reveals some sweeter notes after a few seconds, while remaining marked by this woody bitterness. The finish is warm and quite lingering, and just straight. No fantasy.
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Caperdonich
Private Bottling
1968
(60 bottles)

Age
 38 years
Alcohol
 42°
Bottler
 Duncan Taylor
Particularity
 Cask strength
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Caperdonich 1968, private bottling
The nose is rather discrete, floral and gently perfumed with citrus hints. The mouth is quite simple, revealing a kind of acidity, and strangely without any woody influence, which could be expected for a whisky of that age. A lack of body. It seems this spirit is not yet able to reveal all its potential. This because it is first exceptionally discrete, and than develops shyly to more pleasant fragrances. A shy whisky? The finish is much like the mouth was. It is long, but misses some depth. Woody hints appear after some minutes which brightens up this rather deceiving  whisky somewhat. It certainly deserves another chance.
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Caperdonich
Cask Strength Rare Auld
1968-2006, cask 2616

Age
 38 years
Alcohol
 56.3°
Bottler
 Duncan Taylor
Particularity
 Cask Strength
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Caperdonich 38 Rare auld
An amazing nose, a mix of fruits (pears) and fresh hay (or dry grass). Lots of characterm and a nice developing over the time. Gradually new nuances appear. Hints of bee wax followed by a kind of menthol freshness. Some smoke and floral hints complete this more than pleasant nose.
In the palate, a nice complex acidity, hints of gentian and nice presence of alcohol. Amazingly this alcohol structures the whole instead of dominating on an unpleasant manner, as it is too often the case. The acidity is nicely mixed with a kind of perfumed bitterness (which I guess may be compared the best with gentian).
Finish is rather long and warm, still with this amazing mix of bitterness and acidity. An unusual acidity (no citrus impression) and an even more unusual bitterness (no real woody impression)> What a nice bottle. Amazing and very pleasant.
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Caperdonich
First Cask
1980-2006
Cask# 7346

Age
 26 years
Alcohol
 56.8°
Bottler
 Whisky Import Nederland
Cask
 Bourbon Hogshead
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Caperdonich First Cask 26
A very nice clear nose, with very nice malty notes merged with all the freshness of mint and cut grass. A touch of yeast behind the spring fragrances. At first nosing, this whisky seems to have a very strong character.
In the palate an amazing mix of sweetness and bitterness. A real firework of tastes. Papilla's have a great job... Somewhere between walnut and wood on the one hand and between malt and aromatic herbs on the other hand. Very complex, very wide taste palette. Really excellent.
The finish is very pleasant as well. A  woody domination well tempered by malty notes. This finish is specially lingering. Really a very good bottle.
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Caperdonich: samples

Caperdonich
Jean Boyer
1997

Alcohol
 46°
Bottler
 Jean Boyer
The nose is very fresh but some smoky hints and discrete salty, even maritim touches are present as well. In the palate, a very nice surprise. Some spices, some fruits, and just enough malt to make this rather modest whisky a very nice aperitve. A nice and lingering finish, with a touch of bitterness, contrasting with the fruity hints remain for a few minutes.
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Speyside

Speyside Map

The Speyside area is situated at the North of the Cairngorm mountain and goes to the Moray firth. It is delimited by two rivers: the Findhorn at the West side and the Deveron on the East side.
The area is named after the river Spey. Most of the distilleries take their water in one of its affluents; the Fiddich, the Livet or the Avon.
About sixty distilleries from Speyside are described on this site.

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Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information
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