VisitingCaperdonich was closed in 2002 and demolished in 2011 to enable an expansion of Forsyths of Rothes, coppersmiths and fabricators of equipment for the whisky industry.
Vital Stats
Caperdonich was originally called Glen Grant No. 2, and as the name implies was built to increase the capacity of the Glen Grant distillery. Unfortunately the construction of the new distillery to coincide with the late 19th century whisky boom, and it replicating Glen Grant, it didn't survive the slump after the Pattison crash, and was closed in 1902, remaining silent for nearly 65 years, though its facilities were used for malting and warehousing. While it was open there was a pipeline across the street to Glen Grant to deliver the distilled spirit to the "parent" distillery - which lead to many attempts to tap the pipe by enterprising locals.
By the time that it was felt there was a need for its whisky again, it was in the ownership of Glenlivet ad Glen Grant Distilleries, and having been closed for so long needed to be rebuilt, a further two stills were added in 1967. and it finally got its own name, as by now two distilleries could not legally be named the same. In 1970, Edinburgh blender Hill, Thomson, who owned Longmorn and Benriach merged to form The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd and they were bought by Seagram in 1977. Caperdonich remained in operation until 2001 when ownership transferred to Chivas Bros (Pernod Ricard) who closed it soon afterwards. They subsequently sold the site to neighbours Forsyths, who were seeking to expand their distillery equipment making business and the distillery was demolished in 2011. Malt Madness Wikipedia WhiskyMerchants scotchwhisky.com SMWS |
Getting ThereClick the Google logo on the above map to access Street View, Directions etc.
Open Cycle Map Bing Map Glenrothes Glen Grant Speyburn Auchroisk Distilleries Speyside Distilleries Spey Rothes Nearest National Rail stations are Elgin (ELG) (10 miles) or Keith (KEH) (12). Live train times: ELG, KEH. The railway running through Rothes to Elgin was closed many years ago. Caperdonich was at the end of the small town of Rothes just off the road to Elgin. RangeCaperdonich official bottlings are extremely rare - at least one bottle has been released in the Chivas Cask Strengths Edition range.
Independent bottlings have appeared from a number of sources and are the most likely way to find any Caperdonich. RMW TWE MoM CyclingNearest Bike shops - Elgin
Bikes and Bowls 7 High Street, Elgin 01343 549656 Halfords Lossie Wynd N, Elgin 01343 552030 Charlie Millett Dufftown 01340 820991 Not a shop - has a page on the Dufftown.net website - provides repairs and spares - assisted Whisky Cyclist in 2014 when stranded in Craigellachie with damaged tyre and in 2017 with a broken pedal. Bikespokes Forres 07801 365710 @ Van based mobile servicing & repairs - normally 25 miles radius from Forres, but will travel further for an extra charge |
Photos on this page were taken by me. Click on photo to enlarge. Full size versions of all my photos of Caperdonich Distillery are available on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martynjenkins/sets/72157627525867242/
Pictures of Forsyth's are available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martynjenkins/albums/72157633476999620
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martynjenkins/sets/72157627525867242/
Pictures of Forsyth's are available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martynjenkins/albums/72157633476999620