| Distilleries:
Caperdonich | Glen Grant | Glen Rothes | Glen Spey | Speyburn
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| Caperdonich |
Comments:
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The distillery was built in 1897 as a sister to Glen Grant distillery across the road. After only three years it was closed and not reopened until 1965. In 1977 it was purchased by Seagrams of Canada. There are no distillery releases of a single malt and merchant bottlings are becoming increasingly rare. Most of the distillery output goes into the Chivas blends. |
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| Merchant Bottlings: |
In the past there have been independent bottlings available, though I have not encountered any. |
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| Information: |
Ownership: Seagram Distillers PLC (Pernod Ricard)
Telephone: 01542-7833000
From the US: 011-44-1542-7833000
Tours: By appointment only. |
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| Glen Grant |
| Comments: |
Unknown to most Americans, Glen Grant is the second largest selling single malt in the world. It is immensely popular in Italy where it dominates the single malt market in a 5-year-old expression. Much of the distillery output goes into the Chivas blends. |
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| Distillery Bottlings: |
There are numerous distillery releases available in Europe, ranging from very youthful bottlings to some very mature expressions.
My only encounter with a distillery bottling of a Glen Grant was a sample, at the distillery, of a release without an age statement. While not unpleasant, it was a bit spirity. The nose was floral and fruity, the palate was a bit dry with sweetish, fruity notes.
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| Merchant Bottlings: |
Glen Grant is available in many merchant releases from most of the major independents.
A Murry McDavid 16-year-old sherry wood bottling (1980, 58 vol.), had strong sherry nose with light floral and oaky notes. The palate had a deep licorice-tobacco-chocolate flavor from the saturated sherry. Smooth, sweet, and surprisingly well-balanced considering the strong sherry presence. The finish was complex, lingering and astringent.
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A Cadenhead 11-year-old (1989-2000, 63.5 vol.) is available. |
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Recently a Signatory Vintage 25-year-old bottling (1976-2001, 43 vol., sherry cask) has been released. |
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| Information: |
Ownership: Seagram Distillers PLC (Pernod Ricard)
Telephone: 01542-783318
From the US: 011-44-1542-783318
Tours: Visitor center with scheduled tours. |
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| Glen Rothes |
aka Glenrothes |
| Comments: |
The major output from the distillery goes into the Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark blends.
In 1922 a disastrous fire broke out at the a distillery warehouse, destroying 2,500 casks of whisky.
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| Distillery Bottlings: |
The proprietary bottling of Glen Rothes is actually bottled by Berry Brothers and Rudd, a London wine merchant (producer of Cutty Sark). The award-winning, hand-crafted looking bottle is labeled by year of distillation and bottling rather than bearing an age statement. |
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| Merchant Bottlings: |
There is a Hart Brothers 10-year-old (1988) available, though I haven't had the opportunity to sample it.
Also bottled as Signatory Vintage Highland.
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I stumbled across a 20-year-old Cadenhead bottling (1967-87). Though not labeled as such, it is definitely from a sherry cask. The color is dark, reddish-tobacco. The nose has abundant sherry mixed with a raw, burnt sugar aroma. The palate is somewhat overpowered by the sherry, but a smattering of licorice and oak come through. The long finish rolls off to a dry, dark chocolate astringency.
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Though this is obviously no longer available for purchase, I've included it here so that many of you who have never seen the old Cadenhead bottle can see it. It brings to mind swashbucklers and pirate ships.
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| Information: |
Ownership: Highland Distillers Ltd
Telephone: 01340-8723000
From the US: 011-44-1340-8723000
No visitors. |
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| Glen Spey |
| Comments: |
Owned by Justerini & Brooks (part of International Distillers & Vintners), the distillery output is a major factor in The J&B blends. |
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| Distillery Bottlings: |
There are no distillery bottlings available in the US. In the past there has been an 8-year-old bottling in the UK but I cannot verify that it is still being distributed. |
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| Merchant Bottlings: |
Glen Spey is rarely available in independent bottlings.
A 14-year-old bottling from Cadenhead (1981-95, 62.3 vol.), has a thin, white wine color. Reduced with water, the nose has a fragrant, grassy, floral aroma, mixed with yeast and bread dough. The body is quite soft, , with a creamy, tongue coating viscosity. The palate is malty sweet with soft, peaty, nutty notes. The finish is creamy, peaty.
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| Information: |
Ownership: Diageo
Telephone: 01340-832000
From the US: 011-44-1340-832000 |
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| Speyburn |
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Speyburn distillery.
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| Distillery Bottlings: |
Speyburn is available in 10-year-old and a 21-year-old expressions.
The younger bottling has a pleasant, floral nose with a cereal-grain base. The flavor is sweet, clean and heathery. The finish is rather dry.
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| Merchant Bottlings: |
Occasionally a merchant bottling is available. Most recently a 29-year-old (1967) Cadenhead bottling has been available. |
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| Information: |
Ownership: Inver House Distillers Ltd
Telephone: 01340-831231
From the US: 011-44-1340-831231
No visitors. |
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| Link: |
www.inverhouse.com |
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