We have already reviewed a couple of the recent Signatory Vintage bottlings exclusive to The Whisky Exchange. We continue our exploration with this Caperdonich 2000.
A famous distillery of course, but none of the 1990s-2000 distillates managed to blow my socks off (remember Pernod-Ricard closed the distillery in 2001). I recently had a good WhiskySponge release though, and this may well be a sister cask.
Caperdonich 21 yo 2000 (56,9%, Signatory Vintage for The Whisky Exchange 2021, hogshead #29485, 256 btl.)
Nose: nice and sweet, but mostly sweet oak and not the fruit basket I was hoping for. Vanilla cake, hints of coconut cream and almond paste. Pancakes with syrup. Stewed pears, oranges, as well as whiffs of banana pie with cream. Warm pencil shavings too.
Mouth: equally creamy but fruitier now, with a pleasant oily texture. Stewed orchard fruits, honeyed notes and peach candy. Barley syrup. Plenty of creamy vanilla custard and coconut. Candied ginger and hints of white pepper. Caramelized apple, grape juice, more almond paste and yellow raisins too.
Finish: long, sweet and oily. Fruit syrup and plenty of oak spice in the end.
A very creamy whisky with an impressive (bourbonny) texture, a thick sweetness and a round oaky warmth. Modern whisky from good wood. Not exactly in line with the famous 1970s expression though, on which the price is partly based. Only available from The Whisky Exchange.