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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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July 23, 2026 |
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WF's Little Duos,
today indie Glencadam |
We don't come across Glencadam quite as often these days, after its rather spectacular arrival on the scene in the early to mid-2000s. I even remember Big Jim McEwan declaring, in the middle of a lively gathering at the Port Charlotte Hotel, that the new 15-year-old was his favourite malt, much to the mildly astonished amusement of the entire Bruichladdich team. Good old times, but enough reminiscing. Let's move on to the two little indie bottlings we wanted to taste today, one recent and one rather older, if only to keep the Glencadam flame alive on WF...
(The humble author with Jim, 2002) |
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Glencadam 14 yo 2011/2026 (56.2%, Single Malt Nation, 1st fill American oak oloroso hogshead, cask #180531, 155 bottles) 
There are some very fine things coming out from the house Single Malt Nation at the moment. Colour: deep gold. Nose: a lovely sherry, dry and classical, full of old walnuts and a box of Cuban cigars. There are raisins, certainly, but they're restrained and impeccably behaved. Then it gradually drifts towards walnut cake topped with a marc glaze. With water: beautifully pure, all walnuts, mustard and Pu-erh tea. The raisins remain remarkably well-mannered. Mouth (neat): pretty lively for a sherry cask, with our favourite bitter oranges, our equally favourite walnut cake, and those wonderful little chestnut flour biscuits they make in Corsica, on which quite a few tourists have already chipped a tooth. Much wiser to dunk them into a glass of white wine, Corsican of course. With water: indeed, there are also a few drops of white vermouth. Finish: long, with mild walnut mustard and orange marmalade. A faint touch of boot polish in the aftertaste. Comments: it's the balance and purity that impress me the most. Big Jim ought to give this a try...
SGP:561 - 88 points. |
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Glencadam 1985/2010 (55.4%, Malts of Scotland for Interwhisky Frankfurt, bourbon hogshead, cask #3990, 245 bottles)
It was about time we tasted this baby, although these little impromptu pairings are always the perfect excuse. Colour: full gold. Nose: plenty of acacia honey, elderflower liqueur, mandarin marmalade and banana cream, the banana cream staying rather discreet. In short, this is as cheerful as could be, and perhaps there's the faintest positive OBE already, along with an almost imperceptible soapy note. With water: more gum Arabic than soap now, and in any case, that quickly vanishes into thin air, making way for a gloriously fruity and earthy combination of apples and citrus fruits. Think unfiltered juices. Mouth (neat): excellent, lively, very much on yellow citrus fruits, lemons and grapefruit, with white pepper, fresh turmeric and angelica. Lovely tension throughout. With water: it softens, bringing a little vanilla along with a return of the elderflower liqueur. Finish: long, magnificently earthy, although the citrus fruits remain firmly at the helm. Lovely pink pepper in the aftertaste. Comments: how on earth did I manage to keep this baby in the stash for fifteen years without ever tasting it?
SGP:561 - 89 points. |
There we are, I think we've flown the Glencadam flag rather handsomely today. See you. |
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