Caperdonich 14 Years Old 1999 Connoisseurs Choice (46%, Gordon & MacPhail, Refill Sherry Butts, 2013)

• 46% ABV,
• £40 for 70cl
• Score: 79/100

What they say:

A sumptuous Speyside single malt which slumbered in Sherry butts from 1999 to 2013. This Caperdonich makes for a fine addition to Gordon & MacPhail’s Connoisseurs Choice.

AROMA without water: Light and Fruity with tropical fruit aromas, pineapple, apricot and banana. Subtle herbal notes linger.

TASTE without water: Chili spice with a touch of aniseed and a hint of ripe banana, with a creamy milk chocolate finish.

AROMA with water: Fresh with herbal notes, hints of thyme and lemon zest. Followed by subtle hints of aniseed and pear.

TASTE with water: Spicy with a subtle ashy edge. A creamy milk chocolate edge with orange peel and fresh pear develops.

What I say:

Dram 3 from the Jolly Jaunt to Annandale distillery was yet another closed distillery! This time a Caperdonich, distilled in 1999, matured in a sherry butt, and bottled in 2013 (for 13 or 14 years old?).

Colour:

Light gold (refill sherry butt?)

Nose

Egg custard (slightly sulphury) with vanilla hints, pineapple and coconut, cereal barley, flowery daffodil, reminiscent of fab lollies

Taste:

Spicy black pepper and chilli, malty, oak wood, much more woody than previous drams, overripe banana and zesty orange peel,  light creamy white or milk chocolate, oily and fatty in mouthfeel

Finish:

Medium/long and slightly drying and tannic

Overall:

Sadly not as pleasing as I had hoped, I have had several very good expressions from Caperdonich and grown quite fond of this silent distillery. The colour suggests not much sherry influence was left in this butt, with only a mild chocolatey and tannic offering in the finish to convince me.

Sampled during the Jolly Jaunt to the pre-opening of the Annandale Distillery 12th October 2014