Caperdonich 13yo 1968

Caperdonich 13yo 1968

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, raisins, orange peel, dried pineapples, black pepper, honey, sandalwood, hints of lohan fruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dried pineapples, dried apples, cloves, honey, black pepper, hints of lohan fruit, hints of farmyard. 
Finish: Medium. Cloves, honey, dried pineapples, raisins, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Minerally, with a bitter herbal edge, very prominent on the tongue. But under that there is a classic dried pineapple note, which I’ve found in a number of Caperdonich. There’s a bit of farmyardy tang at the end.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Caperdonich 18yo Peated Small Batch CP/002

Caperdonich 18yo Peated Small Batch CP/002

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Sunshine yellow
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, leather, vanilla, sea salt, pineapple jam, limes, driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, warm. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Lemon sweets, driftwood smoke, honey, farmyard, sea salt, hints of pineapple jam, hints of limes. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, leather, driftwood smoke, lemon sweets. 

Comments: 

Lovely smoky Caperdonich. The classic lemon sweets and pineapple jam notes are still present, but it’s alongside saline smoke, and a wedge of leather. Very enjoyable, and a whisky I’ve been after for a while.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Caperdonich 23yo 1995/2018 30th Anniversary

Caperdonich 23yo 1995/2018 30th Anniversary 

Vintage, Signatory 
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark pink gold 
58.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, papayas, pineapples, lime zest, green tea, cream, hints of toast. With water, guava, pineapples, tamarind,  hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, hot, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pineapples, strawberry laces, fresh baked bread, soursop, lime zest, vanilla ice cream, hints of toast. With water, fresh baked bread, winter melons, guava, hints of pineapples. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, green tea, lime zest, vanilla ice cream. 

Comments: 

Rich and luscious, this whisky definitely has the tropical fruit and pineapple notes that define Caperdonich for me. Lots of bready green tea and citrus too. It’s lovely to have a Caperdonich at cask strength, really brings out the intensity of the fruit flavours.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Caperdonich 21yo Peated Small Batch Release

Caperdonich 21yo Peated Small Batch Release

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cucumber, leather, peat, honey, lemon sweets, vanilla, hints of watermelon, hints of caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, hot, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, peat, tobacco leaf, cucumber, watermelon, orange peel, toffee apples, grape sweets, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Smoke, peat, leather, lemon sweets, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Batch CP/002. Not that many OBs left of Caperdonich, I’m thinking. But maybe the stocks are plentiful. Anyway, this is quite peaty and fruity, very gentle peat fades quickly to rich fruit. Lots of vegetal undertones too, particularly watermelon rind. Quite enjoyable. Looking forward to the 18yo. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Caperdonich 22yo

Caperdonich 22yo

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
48.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fried eggs, raisins, malted grains, cream, carrot cake, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loose, airy, evaporates. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Leather, malted grains, pineapples, carrot cake, hints of meringue. 
Finish: Long. Cream, pineapples, cinnamon, meringues, hints of leather, hints of honey. 

Comments: 

Although my palate was shot by this point, this Caperdonich still made a powerful impression. Spicy and creamy, and heaps of pineapple jam on the palate, this was a joy to drink and a wonderful cap to an epic night.

Verdict:

I like this.

Caperdonich 30 yo 1982/2012

Caperdonich 30 yo 1982/2012

Director's Cut, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Amber, tinge of rose
50.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, orange blossom, rhubarb and custard sweets, pears, honey, hints of strawberries. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingles, hot, slightly watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, honey, fresh baked bread, red peppers, pears, hints of nutmeg. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, nutmeg, honey, rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of red peppers. 

Comments: 

Another old Caperdonich (there aren't many young ones). This one is redolent of orange peel, and rhubarb and custard sweets. Heavy, sweet and lovely. Huge spicy notes on the tongue and the finish, with intriguing hints of red peppers.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Caperdonich 21 yo 1994/2015

Caperdonich 21 yo 1994/2015

Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Brass
57.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, fresh baked bread, vanilla, yoghurt, hints of orange blossom. With water, cookie dough, malted grains, custard, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, slightly watery around the edges, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pears, orange juice, lemons,yoghurt, vanilla, hints of cream. With water, custard, malted grains, apples, more vanilla. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, lemons, orange juice. 

Comments: 

Cask ref DL 10769. Warm and vanilla-ey, plenty of fruit, especially citrus. Loads of toasty cereally notes as well. This is magnificent whisky. Caperdonich as I remember it has tangy pineapple notes, but here somehow it has been mellowed into sweet custard. The effects of age, maybe?

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 38.18 (Caperdonich 12 yo 1994/2007)

SMWS 38.18 (Caperdonich 12 yo 1994/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
59.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, butter, green apples, black pepper, lemons, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, volatile, warm.
Tasting: Sour salty. Vanilla, raisins, green apples, black pepper, lemons, smoke, hints of pineapples.
Finish: Short. Lemons, black pepper, pineapples, chillies.

Comments:

Tart, yet smoky. Light and refreshing Caperdonich, a touch less fruity than the other ones I've had. Don't add water - it brings out a rather harsh element of coconut.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 38.15 (Caperdonich 28 yo 1976/2005)

SMWS 38.15 (Caperdonich 28 yo 1976/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pale copper
51.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon sweets, grass, smoke, pineapple, guava, hints of green apple.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, smooth, loosens.
Tasting: Sour bitter. Lemon sweets, figs, pineapples, green apples, smoke, hints of hazelnuts.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, pineapples, smoke.

Comments:

A plethora of smoky fruits, among them curiosities such as pineapples and green apples. An amazing, fruity, smoky dram. Great pleasure to drink.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 38.16 (Caperdonich 12 yo 1994/2006)

SMWS 38.16 (Caperdonich 12 yo 1994/2006)

2006, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Molasses, dried coconut, lemon sweets, roast pork, bacon, honey, hints of smoke. With water, sweeter, hints of burnt rubber.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Bacon, molasses, raisins, honey, glace cherries, hints of smoke. With water, sweeter, burnt sugar.
Finish: Long. Burnt sugar, honey, roast pork.

Comments:

Sweet salty, with big delicious meaty notes. Very appetising, if a little odd with water. This is a whisky that gets the juices flowing just before dinner. Something to appreciate before a large steak!

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 38.13 (Caperdonich 24 yo 1980/2005)

SMWS 38.13 (Caperdonich 24 yo 1980/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
57.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, brass polish, rhubarb, incense, sandalwood, cedar, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, watery, loosens up quickly.
Tasting: Sour bitter. Green apples, cedar, orange peel, lemon sweets, pepper, rhubarb, hints of hazelnuts.
Finish: Short. Butter, vanilla, cookie dough, lemon sweets.

Comments:

Quite sour - not the way I expected it to taste, certainly. Nice notes of lemon sweets running through the entire whisky, with little spicy peppery zings on the palate. Not unpleasant!

Verdict:

I like this.

Caperdonich 36 yo 1972/2008

Caperdonich 36 yo 1972/2008

Rare Auld, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Pale amber
54.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Salty, fermented grain, orange peel, lemons, grass, grilled meat, cheddar.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thick.
Tasting: Sweet. Cheddar, grilled meat, lemons, grass, orange peel, marshmallows.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, honey, marshmallows.

Comments:

Excellent old whisky. Not sure how much more there is left of this stuff - probably not much. I feel privileged to taste it. Smells savoury, but it was sweet on the tongue, although much of the grilled meat notes remained. Beautiful.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.