Glencadam 11 Years Old 2010

A distillery release of Glencadam, an 11 year old, from 2010, cask 1299, at 64.9%, 219 bottles in all. Glencadam is a Highland single malt whose upward angled lyne arms give a light, fruity spirit. Its single malts are bottled at 46 percent, without chill filtration or added colour. It was bought by Angus Dundee Distillers in 2003, who also own Tomintoul, ending a three year closure. Its water comes from Loch Lee in the Cairngorms, piped down through the River Esk catchment.

The spirit was drawn from a long fermentation, giving a light, clean, creamy Highland spirit. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a soft honey over the orchard fruit. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the pear softening towards a creamy honey. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the light spirit. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool, racked Highland warehouses.

Bottled at a cask strength 64.9%, it is concentrated. Apple, apricot and a gentle spice, lifted by a soft oak. Beneath it run pear, apple and a soft cream. The close is light and clean, fruit over a gentle oak. This is the gentle, fruity malt of the eastern Highlands.