Glencadam Reserve de Bordeaux

A Glencadam, a distillery bottling, at 46%. Glencadam is a Highland single malt, long a core flavour of the Ballantine's blend. It is the only distillery in Angus, and the last in Brechin since North Port closed in 1983. Its water comes from Loch Lee in the Cairngorms, piped down through the River Esk catchment.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, for a creamy, fruity make with real elegance. It was fully matured in a Merlot cask, the wood deep in the fruity spirit. With no age statement, vanillin reads as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over the light, fruity spirit. Long ageing turns the fresh pear towards tropical fruit, honey and a gentle spice. Years in oak deepen the spirit to old gold, the body growing rounder and creamier with time. First fill wood drives the maturation, the cask clear in the light spirit.

At an approachable 46% it is fresh and clean. A clean, fruity sweetness with a floral lift, with a soft plum and a dry berry from the cask. It is fruity and gently creamy, the delicate spirit shining through. It finishes light, fresh and faintly creamy. This is a light, fruity Highland single malt.