Caperdonich – 18 Year Old Peated Small Batch Release (48%)

This is an 18 year old peated single malt from Caperdonich, a Speyside distillery that closed in 2002 and was demolished in 2011. It is a small batch release, matured in American oak barrels and bottled at 48% without chill-filtration or added colour. The distillery was founded in 1898 opposite Glen Grant, first as Glen Grant No. 2, and restarted in 1965 under the Caperdonich name. Bonfire smoke, ripe apples and nectarines lead the nose. Sweet peat smoke meets brown sugar, juicy apples and a little ginger on the palate, and the long finish fades from smoke to ripe orange.