June 20, 2014

The Short Sessions, two Glencadam

Glencadam isn’t a bran… sorry, a distillery we’re hearing very often about, but I’ve tasted a few great ones in the past. Time to try two more…

Glencadam 1990/2009 (46%, Montgomerie's, Rare Select, cask #996)

Colour: white wine. Nose: it is a very fruity, very typical young Speysider, probably void of much distillery character but pleasantly balanced and rather fresh, with apple juice – as almost often – a little acacia honey, a little barley water, some pears, maybe a little pineapple… Then rather more character, with some emerging wax and touches of warm grass and hay. Mouth: perfectly in line with the nose, only a little more citrusy, as well as grassier, even slightly acrid after a few seconds. Green tea with lemon. Also notes of raw eau-de-vie, like artisan kirsch, which might be less pleasant. Finish: medium length. Grassy, kirschy, a little bitter towards the aftertaste. Comments: the palate hasn’t got the nose’s cleanliness, but it’s a fine dram globally. SGP:551 – 78 points.

Glencadam 22 yo 1991/2014 (55.3%, Abbey Whisky, The Rare Casks, 96 bottles)

Colour: straw. Nose: bigger of course, with more vanilla and mashed potatoes, dough, honeydew, barley, then pears and apples again as well as touches of mandarins and a few tropical fruits. A lot of barley water again, just like in the 1990. With water: more wet clothes, wool, mushrooms, fresh mint, dill, soaked barley… All that works well, there’s more ‘dimension’. Mouth (neat): more bubblegum, jelly beans and marshmallows than in the 1990, more fresh fruits as well, and rather les grassy/rawish elements. All that leads to a finer dram in my book. With water: more orange zests, with touches of what’s akin to soap but that isn’t soapy (I know what I’m trying to say!) and a kind of almondy/mentholated side that works very well. Some character! Finish: medium length. Oranges! Comments: a rather fatter one – although it’s no fat whisky - much to my liking. SGP:552 - 85 points.

Check the index of all Glencadam I've tasted so far



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