Glencadam 13 Years Old (Bourbon Cask)

A distillery release of Glencadam, a 13 year old, at 46%. Glencadam is a Highland single malt whose upward angled lyne arms give a light, fruity spirit. Most of its make long went to blends; bottled single malt Glencadam was rare until a full range arrived. Its water comes from Loch Lee in the Cairngorms, piped down through the River Esk catchment. In the 1890s the Glasgow blender Gilmour Thomson used its malt in a Royal blend said to be favoured by Edward VII. It was founded in 1825 by the merchant George Cooper, soon after the Excise Act made licensed distilling viable.

It was drawn from a long fermentation, giving a light, clean, creamy Highland spirit. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend a riper orchard and tropical fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool, racked Highland warehouses.

At 46% it is fruity, creamy and soft. A light orchard fruit and a green herb, lifted by a soft oak. Beneath it run pear, apple and a soft cream. Green apple, citrus and a soft oak see it out. This is a light, fruity Highland single malt.