I picked this up on a whim while ordering some other bottles from the Thompson Brothers. They broke out a number of bottles from the Dornach Castle Bar and split them into wee samples that could be enjoyed “from afar.” I gathered a dozen or so of these drams over the year, mostly distilleries I love, but a few I had never tried, were long closed, or were from older vintages— or embodied a mix of all three! This was the oldest Caperdonich I have poured and will probably remain so as the distillery only operated from 1897-1902, from which there are surely no casks, and then again from 1965 to 2002. So this dram came from the first decade of Caperdonich’s final, and longest, era of operation.

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Whisky: Caperdonich 26 Year (1974), Chieftains Cask 8378

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 46%

Cask: Hogshead

Age: 26 Years (Distilled Oct. 1974, Bottled June 2001)

Notes: Slightly sour and herbal, the aroma featured tamarind and pandan with sandalwood and a gentle minerality. There was hints of pencil lead and graphing paper with rusted metal pipes in the library stacks— dusty books and a bit of rust. Dried apples and cornbread brought this around to something more appetizing at times. Light-bodied on the palate, the flavors were still crisp and clear with an initial burst of apples and almonds before slightly rancid nut oils, tamarind, green tobacco leaves, and old, stained paperback books appeared. Metallic notes lingered in the background— like citrus in a metal container. Mentholated cigarettes and slightly sour hints of vegetal decay lingered at the end: more garage sale paperback books. The finish was medium-length with hints of minty chewing gum and rotting vegetation amongst sweeter apple fritter donuts.

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Score: 5 (75)

Mental Image: Lost Library Study Room

Conclusion: I do not regret grabbing this dram, in fact that was the perfect format for enjoying something odd. The flavor profile had elements of what I expect from 1990s Caperdonich, with plenty of those orchard fruits and autumn-like vegetation— a slightly mustier Glen Grant. However, it was also loaded with elements that felt a bit off and less pleasant for a relaxing evening; these ranged from the typical dirtier and herbal qualities more common to whiskies from the 70s or before, to less enjoyable stale tobacco and sour vegetal elements. Overall, a fun whisky to try, but not one I will look out for again.