Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Angus Dundee plc
Average price: € 190.00
Official website: www.glencadamwhisky.com
Vote: 84/100
Too much has passed since I found myself with a Glencadam in my glass from their portfolio, and a sample of this 18-year-old had been there watching me for some time.
In keeping with the nicknames given by the distillery to its bottlings (here we find a “Rather Polished” whisky), this has been part of the core range since 2016 and, like its siblings, has not undergone chillfiltration or added colouring.
Tasting notes
The nose expresses lots of slightly tart fruit, a mix of pear, pineapple, kiwi and apricot, with an intense mineral vein and a slight buttermilk inflection. The softer, sweeter component sits in the background, patiently emerging in notes of vanilla, custard and waxy puffs of Ovaltine. Green tea and hay punctuate the aromas, dominated by strong minerality.
In the mouth it reaffirms its fruity aspirations, lowering the acidulous part in favour of warmer, softer tones in which spicy notes (black pepper and a hint of aniseed) make themselves felt. Cooked apple and pear, apricot, peach, a dusting of cocoa, marzipan, citric and malt inflections with bright mineral veins and vegetal notes that grow in intensity over time, to the point of acquiring balsamic velleities. Tannic inflections in length.
Quite long and dry finish in which the vegetal and mineral notes take centre stage accompanied by white fruit, marzipan and spicy touches.
The nickname is very apt, and the dram is characterised by elegance and refinement, although these imply little backbone and incisiveness, leading to an overall pleasantness that doesn’t leave its mark. Well constructed, but with little personality.