Scotland, Eastern Highlands: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes
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Glencadam

Description of the whisky

The distillery

Glencadam distillery

Glencadam Distillery
Brechin, Angus
DD9 7PA
+44 1356 622 217
Owner: Angus Dundee Distillers
Creation date 1825

The Glencadam distillery has been founded in 1825 near the royal burgh Brechin by George Copper. Two years later it was sold to David Scott. In 1895, the distillery has been taken over by the Edimbourg blender Gilmour Thomson and Co.
In the early 1900's, the Glencadam malt was part of the "Gilmour Thomson's Royal", one of the favourite whiskies of King Edward VII.
In 1954 the distillery has been bought and modernised by Hiram Walker and Son through its daughter society Ballantine's who use the whisky in their blends.
Hiram Walker became part of Allied Lyons in 1987. The latter merged with Pedro Domecq in 1994 to become Allied Domecq Limited.
In May 2003, the distillery became property of Angus Dundee Distillers.
Almost all the production is used in the Ballantine's blends: Ballantine and Stewart's Cream of the Barley Blends.

Glencadam:official bottlings

Glencadam

Aged 15 years
Age
 15 years
Alcohol percentage
 40,0 %
Bottler
 Official
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 81/100
Glencadam 15

The smell of this whisky is very special, a strange mix of malt and citrus fruits on a rather medicinal background, mingled with floral hints and a remote touch of smoke. In the palate, a rather great complexity and a special taste as well. A rather unusual taste, mixing honey hints and acid touches, liquorice hints and a touch of smoke. A very pleasant and relatively long finish where all the pleasant memories from the tongue are recalled. This bottling is not easy to classify, because it is so different from every known whisky. This explains the given note. A second tasting will certainly be necessary to get a more definitive judgment. A great surprise and a very nice bottle.
79/100
At the second tasting, the nose was clearly complex, mixing clear hints somewhere between floral and sherry to nice smoky notes. In the palate, the taste remains quite unusual, but it keeps all the complexity of the nose, adding to smoke a slightly acid character and some touches of liquorice and honey. In brief, a vast palette of tastes. The finish is quite long and very pleasant, and traces of all the nuances of the mouth are present. This is defintively an excellent bottle.
84/100

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Glencadam: Independent bottlings

Glencadam

1985, Bourbon Hogshead WITCH 4 bottling
Collection
 Clubs
Age
 24 years
Alcohol percentage
 53,8 %
Bottler
 Malts of Scotland
Cask
 Bourbon Hogshead
Cask number
single cask 3990
Dates
 Distil: 20/06/1985 Bottling: 06/2000
Bottle
 53 of 66 btls
Particularity
 (Special edition Witch 2010)
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 88/100
Glencadam Witch 4
A beautiful fresh nose. Not really complex at first nosing. Clear notes of mint slowly followed by acid drop impressions. The nose develops in complexity and this herbal freshness is dominating all along.
The mouth is fruity with first an impression of too ripe fruit developing progressively on mushroom notes. cashew nut and hazelnut, well this kind of slightly bitter taste which is far away from clearly woody drying hints. Nice balance even if the contrast between mouth and nose is clearly marked. Mint at the nose, wood in the mouth.
Finish is quite nice too, even if I had expected something longer, after the mouth impressions. Some citrus notes in addition to the hazelnut memories. No aggressiveness at all.
88/100
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Glencadam

1974 Sherry Butt
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 48,9 %
Bottler
 Malts of Scotland
Cask
 Sherry Butt
Cask number
single cask 3214
Dates
 Distil: 19/03/1974 Bottling: 03/2010
Bottle
 215 of 216 btls
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
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links & average quote
 0/100
Glencadam 1974 MOS
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Glencadam

Chieftain's Choice 16 years
Collection
 Chieftain's Choice
Age
 16 years
Alcohol percentage
 43,0 %
Bottler
 Ian McLeod
Cask number
single cask 2689/2691
Dates
 Distil: 04-1985 Bottling: 06-2001
Bottle
 1170 btls
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 81/100
The nose detects hints of dried apricot, anise, jasmine tea, dried flowers, green grapes and marzipan.
The taste is sweet and creamy. The palate confirms the nose.
The finish is dry, with a touch of smoke.

(La Maison du Whisky)

It's a pity that this malt is almost exclusively used in the Ballantine's blends. I have rarely taste a whisky with such a nice long finish. The very pleasant taste of this whisky remains for long minutes in the mouth. Sweet and spicy, this malt is really advisable. The only problem is that it is rather difficult to find apart from specialised retailers.I really recommend this great malt to anybody.
84/100
At the second tasting, my impression was that it was dryer than the first time. The spicy sweetness and the remarkable finish remain unchanged. The rating is slightly changed. Probably a question of mood...
79/100.
The nose is rather complex, and flower aromas are mixed with some relatively sweet spices. In the palate, those spices remain but are quite discrete, on a sweet malted background with a slightly bitter aftertaste. This bitterness dominates the long and pleasant finish as well.
79/100
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Glencadam

Cask Collection 16 years
Collection
 Cask Collection
Age
 16 years
Alcohol percentage
 59,7 %
Bottler
 Dewar Rattray
Cask
 Bourbon
Cask number
single cask 5980
Dates
 Distil: 02-10-1990 Bottling: 15-06-2007
Bottle
 271 btls
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 84/100
Glencadam 16 ans Dewar Rattray
This pleasant nose makes me think at a fruit and vanilla custard. Deliciously fruity with hints of bee wax, peach and banana notes.
The mouth is dominated by the smoothness of the fruit with however some nice acid touches and the presence of alcohol is obvious. With this additional hint of liquorice, this whisky is nicely complex.
The finish is very long and starts on a nice freshness. Alcohol remains present and after a while the memory of yellow fruits comes back and the whole ends in a nice sweetness.
84/100
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Glencadam

Daily Dram: Mad Glance
Collection
 Daily Dram
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 46 %
Bottler
 Bresser&Timmer / The Nectar
Dates
 Distil: 1995 Bottling: 2008
Bottle
 348 btls
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links & average quote
 BT2009 83/100
Glencadam Mad GlanceBT2009
A very fresh nose with nice ripe fruit smells and some marshmallow followed by a touch of acidity and some hints of cut grass.
In the palate, an amazing mix of honeyish smoothness , freshness and some slightly bitter notes, somewhere between walnut and fine wood.
The finish is the pinnacle of this whisky, with diverse very pleasant sensations. Chocolate, both warmth and freshness, and all of this for very long minutes.
This is just happiness.
88/100
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Glencadam Samples

Glencadam

Old Train Line 28 years
Collection
 Old Train Line
Age
 28 years
Alcohol percentage
 56,2 %
Bottler
 Jack Wieber
Cask number
single cask 2311
Dates
 Distil: 04-1978 Bottling: 09-2006
Bottle
 402 btls
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
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links & average quote
 88/100
Glencadam Jack Wieber
The nose is marked by fruits (plum, apple), bee wax and a light veil of smoke. A very clear nose, without any useless tricks. The palate is first dominated by quite acid whiffs, but this makes fortunately soon room to nice fruity, then woody notes. An unusual complexity. Nutty hints and chocolate notes give this whisky a very pleasant character. The finish is lingering and warm, marked by both woody and chocolate notes. An excellent whisky.
88/100
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Glencadam: not in collection

Glencadam

Cask Strength Collection 1989
Collection
 Cask strength Collection
Age
 18 years
Alcohol percentage
 56,1 %
Bottler
 Signatory
Cask
 Sherry butt
Cask number
single cask 6017
Dates
 Distil: 11-09-1989 Bottling: 18-12-2007
Bottle
 581 btls
links & average quote
 BT2009 82/100
BT2009
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Glencadam

82.17. Dry and Fruity
Age
 7 years
Alcohol percentage
 59,3 %
Bottler
 SMWS
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
links & average quote
 88/100
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Glencadam

Rare Reserve 1972
Collection
 The Ultimate Single Malt selection Rare reserve
Age
 38 years
Alcohol percentage
 46 %
Bottler
 The Ultimate Whisky Company
Cask
 Hogshead
Cask number
single cask 7822
Dates
 Distil: 6-10-1972 Bottling: 13-5-2011
Bottle
 192 btls
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links & average quote
 86/100
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Eastern Highlands n

Eastern Highlands map

Dozens of distilleries have been created in this area during the 19th century. The area is situated at the East of the Highlands, covering the Angusshire, parts of Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire and even of Invernesshire. The Spey river has its source in the area.
Currently about half a dozen distilleries are active in the area.

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Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information about the Eastern Highlands area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow