Glencadam 29 Years Old 1991 Cask #3249

Gordon and MacPhail bottled this Glencadam, a 29 year old, distilled in 1991, from cask 3249, at 53.9%, one of 181 bottles. Glencadam is a Highland single malt, founded in 1825 in Angus, in the eastern Highlands. It became a core malt of the Ballantine's blend after Hiram Walker bought it in 1954. It is the only distillery in Angus, and the last in Brechin since North Port closed in 1983. Its single malts are bottled at 46 percent, without chill filtration or added colour.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a fine, fruity spirit with a light body. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer tropical fruit over beeswax. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the light spirit. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool, racked Highland warehouses.

At a natural 53.9% it is full and creamy. Pear drops, melon and a soft barley sugar, lifted by a soft oak. Beneath it run pear, apple and a soft cream. The finish runs delicate, fruity and creamy. This is a fruity, easy going Highland single malt.