The Nectar of the Daily Drams Caperdonich 1997 23 Years Old

Style: Fruity and Malty

Rating: ☆ [Recommended]

Nose:

Aroma of fragrant pink peaches floating out of the glass, surprisingly aromatic. Stewed tropical fruits and confectionaries building on cornflakes, cereal and barley. Citrus gummies and cream soda help stablising the sweetness. A teasing jasmine touch, few drops of lime cordial, followed by watermelon ice and melon mochi dressed around the core. Green grass spike cutting through creamy honey, and then we have a light green tea finish. Quite Speyside-y and sweet on the surface, but it is more complex than that.

Palate:

Honey drizzled peaches and apricots leading the charge on the palate, underneath sits a rather big pool of tropical fruits punchbowl. Barley arrives slightly earlier this time and crystalised into rock candies. Big pear drops, passionfruit syrup dripping onto vanilla ice cream garnished with a twig of green mint, cinnamon stick and nutmeg. Watermelon ice now pulsating at the outer rims, mochis dusted by vanilla sugar. Going quite malty at the end, coupled with some medical herbs and black pepper.

Finish:

Ongoing malts, waning stone fruits and vanilla sponge cake to finish. Gentle and quite delicious.

Thoughts:

My first Caperdonich review. For those who haven't heard of this distillery, Caperdonich distillery was originally known as Glen Grant #2, an extension project of Glen Grant. The two distillery characters did not match despite similar settings and was eventually sold to Pernod Ricard which holds its current stocks. Now back to this dram, while the spirit character is similar to other Speyside distilleries, but it is strikingly complex when assessed at granular level. The numerous interpretations of sweetness is simply fascinating. Not exactly a straightforward dram, but give it time and you will be rewarded handsomely.

[53.6% | Independent Bottling | 1997 Distilled | 2020 Bottled | Cask Strength | Single Cask | *]

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