Caperdonich 1977 / June 2002, 24 yo, Cadenhead Original Collection
Caperdonich started life as Glen Grant # 2 in 1898, being located across the street from its famous neighbour. The owners didn’t bother much with naming it anything else.
Unfortunately it closed in 1902, just 4 years later, and remained so till 1965. Rather inauspicious in the distilling world.
When it was reopened by Glenlivet Distilleries, a second pair of still that copied Glen Grant’s stills were installed, the idea here being that Caperdonich would reproduce the style of Glen Grant. And so it trudged along till 1977 when it was sold to Seagram, and then on again to Pernod Ricard in 2001.
Pernod Ricard closed Caperdonich in 2002, and it remains closed today.
Tonight’s drink is a 1977, so we’re looking at the year when Seagram introduced various changes and modernization in the distillation regime.
There is a twist to this tale, in 2010 the still maker Forsyth’s bought the Caperdonich site to expand their business. A pair of the original stills were sold to the Belgian Owl distillery, where it produces Belgian Whisky today. But the casulty here is the distillery itself:
Caperdonich 1977 / June 2002, 24 yo, Cadenhead Original Collection, 666 bottles, Sherry Butt, 46%
Can’t even find a picture of this!
Nose: Right! Familiar profile, much like the Bowmore and Glenallachie Sherry casks I’ve had recently. Suspected Fino cask? Sappy and resinous, tannic hit and unripe sour green fruit. But also quite extractively woody with wood spices, a big plus in the very cognac-y notes of aromatic figs and dates overlaying the whole nose. Also eucalyptus, lots of it. Quite a drop of molasses and cooked cream.
Palette: Sting of tannins, that unripe sappiness and wood resins, but also a bit sweet with mint jujubes, prune juice. Pretty much the same on the tongue as it was in the nose. Aromatic, woody, strong tannins and fruit aromatics.
Finish: Long, dry, some juice, white pepper.
Lovely profile that married well to the distillate, note to self, must source for refill bourbon Caperdonich.
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