Glencadam 9 Years Old 2011 Cask #800145 (van Wees)

A Glencadam of a 9 year old chosen by van Wees, distilled in 2011, from cask 800145, at 46%. Glencadam is a Highland single malt, long a core flavour of the Ballantine's blend. In the 1890s the Glasgow blender Gilmour Thomson used its malt in a Royal blend said to be favoured by Edward VII. Its water comes from Loch Lee in the Cairngorms, piped down through the River Esk catchment. It is the only distillery in Angus, and the last in Brechin since North Port closed in 1983.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a fine, fruity spirit with a light body. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and lactones as coconut over pear, apple and a creamy note. Long ageing turns the fresh pear towards tropical fruit, honey and a gentle spice. Maturation runs slow and even in the cool, racked Highland warehouses.

At 46% it is smooth and fruity. Pear drops, melon and a soft barley sugar, lifted by a soft oak. Soft pear and a creamy vanilla sit behind the cask. The finish is light, fruity and clean. This is a light, fruity Highland single malt.