This Caperdonich 1995 was one of the latest releases in the Whisky Sponge series. It was sourced from the Signatory Vintage warehouses so it’s probably a sister cask of their 30th anniversary bottling.
I must admit I haven’t really cared much about these 1990s Caperdonichs. They’re always nice but never totally impressive. For me they suffer from the shadow of their 1970s counterparts.
Caperdonich 25 yo 1995 (52%, WhiskySponge 2021, refill sherry hogshead, 124 btl.)
Nose: rather honeyed, with a bit of that jammy apricot and yellow plums that we also found in 1970s Caperdonich. Orange peels and gooseberries. Malty sweetness and a slight nutty edge. Underneath there is a flinty note and something vaguely metallic. Candied ginger and a little
Mouth: a nice balance of juicy fruits (oranges, lime, apricot, a hint of bergamot) with oak spice (white pepper and ginger). Some sultanas and dried fruits from the sherry cask. Some waxy / oily hints, very light herbs (aniseed) and a hint of tobacco leaves and brown sugar. Light grassy flavours in the end.
Finish: medium, with orange peels and other fruity notes, as well as some oak spice and a bit of herbal / minty syrup.
A beautiful, refined sherry character on top of this rich, fruity spirit, with some unusual touches. I prefer this one over the Signatory release. The bottles were gone in the blink of an eye, as often.