Caperdonich 25 Years Old the Duchess Cask 30900 56.2% 1997

Professionelle Bewertungen

BOW (90)

TASTING NOTES

This dram reminds us of that eighties-style bourbon matured whiskies you see less and less of. The BenRiach 1976 springs to mind, and this certainly is one of those old-style drams.

Nose: A lovely nose with plums, cherries, honeycomb, a flowery bouquet, ripe pears and bourbon flavours. After some air, tea and oranges appear; aromas the distillery is known for. A little while later, the flavours develop into cotton candy and whiffs of bubblegum.

Taste: First we are met with a proper English tea, followed by honey, white fruit (pears), apricots more to the background, and again those oranges are eminent on the palate, evolving into a more yogurt/zesty touch. Milky creaminess on the tongue.

Finish: A lingering long finish with flavours of tea, orange zest and green herbs tending to basil.

Balance and complexity: Very well-balanced, the nose and taste are almost Siamese twins. The characteristics we get to enjoy are nicely integrated. Though the alcohol is 56.2% the taste is so smooth and sophisticated that you can hardly tell. A perfect example of how an aged Caperdonich is at the top of its game!

Gal Granov (89)

Words Of Whisky:
This Caperdonich is one of the best modern examples I've had the pleasure of tasting.
Nose
A little dense, this Caperdonich needs some time. A gentle, almost floral first impression, but with a certain sweet fruitiness, highlighted by Werther's Original, stewed apples, Demerara sugar, sultanas and sugared almonds. Also whispers of vanilla icing and orange pith.
Taste
Fairly waxy mouthfeel. Touches of oak, some limited spices (mainly pepper), but it's the fruit that wins me over. Much more vibrant than the nose suggests. Orange zest, ripe bananas, nectarines, and a hint of grapefruit. Also some crushed mint leaves and herbal tea in the background.
Finish
Long. Lingering spices, waxy and juicy fruits.

OTHER (90)

Maltfascination.com

With a couple of rum releases that are coming up on this here blog soon, and now this Caperdonich, it seems that The Duchess is back at it in regard to bottling quality booze! I’m not sure if it was my wrong perception, but it seemed to quiet down from the Naarden bottler.

But now, all of a sudden, there’s this 25 year old single malt from a distillery that has been closed for 21 years. Quite a decent age, and it seems the whisky from this era of ‘Glen Grant 2’ is improving with time, since initially those Caperdonichs were not regarded with awe, a decade or so ago.


Image from Best of Wines
Of course, the label is done by Hans Dillesse once again, and this time the bottling has gone into the ‘Game & Wildlife Series’. The fifth whisky to go into this range, after a Bunnahabhain, Ailsa Bay, Ben Nevis and a Glenallachie.

Sniff:
There’s a maturity, even though it’s still a rather light whisky. Lots of white oak and some fruit. There’s some old pear, baked apple, a hint of banana too. Quite a ‘fruit pie’ sweetness, so tinned peaches too.

Sip:
The palate isn’t overly sharp although there’s a bit of white pepper. Quite some dry oak shavings, and lots of fruit. Far more than on the nose, or slightly more fresh. Peach, pear, baked apples. Some baking spices too, but not too strong. Toasted oak, and some molasses like sweetness.

Swallow:
The finish is very classical with lots of oak, old white oak. Peach and apple and pear, some cinnamon and caramel. Fruit pie, with classical barley and oak notes.

I love how gentle this one has gotten in 25 years. Even though the alcohol percentage is still quite high, it arrives very smoothly and never really bites. It’s a complex whisky that has improved with age, to show lovely fruity notes on a rustic backdrop. I think rustic is a good word for this whisky. It never is modern in any way!

90/100