Caperdonich 20 years old 2000/2020 Valinch & Mallet Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 54,1%

Two Italians with too much love for Scotch bought a cask from a distillery that no longer exists. Twenty years later it went into bottle. That is how Caperdonich survives.

Expert description

Caperdonich 20 years 2000/2020 Valinch & Mallet is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead and bottled at cask strength of 54.1%.

The cask is numbered VMT29511 and was filled in 2000, just two years before Caperdonich closed. Valinch & Mallet is an Italian bottling house founded by Davide Romano and Fabio Ermoli, working exclusively with single casks bottled at full strength. The outturn was 315 bottles. Caperdonich mainly made malt for blends and the site was demolished in 2011, so every cask that surfaces is one of the last.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bright and sharply fruity. Green apple, pear and peach, with cereal and a dry vanilla pod behind. After a while in the glass, wax and a hint of mint appear.

Palate

Sweetness comes first — honey and baked fruit — and is quickly followed by malt, white pepper and dry oak. The mouthfeel is dense and lightly oily, and the strength carries the flavour a long way without burning.

Finish

Medium long and dry, with cereal, oak and a fresh lemon note closing it off.

Specifications

Name: Caperdonich 20 years 2000/2020 Valinch & Mallet Single Speyside Malt Whisky 54,1%
Distillery: Caperdonich
Bottler: Valinch & Mallet
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 years
ABV: 54.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon hogshead no. VMT29511
Distilled: 2000
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 315
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Fresh · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. The distillery is closed and demolished, the outturn is 315 bottles, and Caperdonich releases have become noticeably harder to find in recent years.

Did you know?

Caperdonich stood silent from 1902 to 1965 — 63 years without a drop of spirit. When it finally reopened it was still in the shadow of Glen Grant, and only in 1977 did its own name appear on the label.

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Frequently asked questions about Caperdonich 20 years 2000/2020 Valinch & Mallet

What makes Caperdonich special today?

The fact that no more is coming. The distillery closed in 2002 and was demolished in 2011, so everything that exists is already in cask with independent bottlers. The style is bright, malty and fruity in classic Speyside fashion, but with a dryness many of its neighbours lack.

How many bottles were released?

The cask gave 315 bottles. Once they are drunk or shelved, no more will come from this particular cask — that is the whole point of a single cask bottling.

How should I serve it?

In a tulip-shaped glass at room temperature, without ice. At 54.1% it takes a few drops of water, which loosens the fruit. Let it rest five minutes before tasting, as it changes noticeably in the glass.

Who are Valinch & Mallet?

An Italian independent bottling house founded by Davide Romano and Fabio Ermoli. They buy single casks from Scottish distilleries and bottle them at cask strength. In 2022 they were named Scotland's Best Independent Bottler.

Does it work in a tasting line-up?

Yes, especially as a counterweight to sherried malts. The bright, dry bourbon style shows clearly what a distillery contributes on its own when the cask does not dominate. Put it beside a younger Speyside and the difference is obvious.

What is a hogshead?

A cask of roughly 250 litres, usually rebuilt from American bourbon barrels with extra staves. The size gives slightly slower maturation than a smaller barrel, which suits long ageing like this.