Glencadam 15 Years Old 1989

Cadenhead bottled this Glencadam, a 15 year old, distilled in 1989, at 58.3%, one of 222 bottles. Glencadam is a Highland single malt, revived under Angus Dundee ownership in 2003. 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.

The spirit was distilled in onion shaped copper pot stills, for the delicate, fruity make Glencadam is known for. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds tropical esters of mango and pineapple over a creamy depth. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the light spirit. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the light Highland spirit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to old gold, the body growing rounder and creamier with time.

At its natural 58.3% it is full and fruity. Pear drops, melon and a soft barley sugar, lifted by a soft oak. The body is light and creamy, the fruit lifted by a soft oak. The finish is light, fruity and clean. This is a Highland single malt of real finesse.