Caperdonich distillery

Caperdonich was a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Rothes, Moray. Originally built in 1898 as Glen Grant #2, it operated briefly before closing in 1902. The site remained dormant until 1965, when Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd rebuilt it and reopened it as Caperdonich. The distillery’s name changed because British law prevented two active distilleries from sharing the same title. By 1967 it had two steam-heated pot stills, and new technology allowed it to run with just two workers. The distillery passed through several owners, starting with Seagram in 1977 and later Pernod Ricard in 2001. After only a year under Pernod Ricard’s ownership, the distillery closed in 2002. Demolition followed in autumn 2010, though some of its equipment survived. One pair of copper stills went to the Belgian Owl distillery, while the other pair and the mash tun were repurposed for the Falkirk distillery. Today no buildings remain, but the site’s history lingers in its former role. The distillery once supplied malt for Chivas Regal blends and pioneered efficient production methods. Its legacy includes technological innovations that reduced staffing needs and streamlined operations. Though the physical structure is gone, the story of Caperdonich endures in the whisky world.