Glencadam 27 Years Old 1974 Cask #10 (Mackillop’s Choice)

Mackillop's Choice bottled this Glencadam, a 27 year old, distilled in 1974, from cask 10, at 59.9%. Glencadam is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now bottled as a single malt in its own right. Its stills carry lyne arms angled upward, raising the reflux for a lighter, fruitier spirit. It became a core malt of the Ballantine's blend after Hiram Walker bought it in 1954. Its single malts are bottled at 46 percent, without chill filtration or added colour. It was founded in 1825 by the merchant George Cooper, soon after the Excise Act made licensed distilling viable.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a light, clean, creamy Highland spirit. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the fruity spirit. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into mango, beeswax and a creamy honey. Active wood frames the fruit without ever crowding the light Highland spirit.

At a natural 59.9% it is full and creamy. Apple, apricot and a gentle spice, lifted by a soft oak. Soft pear and a creamy vanilla sit behind the cask. A long, fruity finish carries a creamy honey. This is a light, creamy Highland single malt.