Glencadam 15 Year

Nose: Soft, fruity and floral cereal aromas. Waxy honey, apple blossoms, red berries and lots of freshly scraped vanilla pod and caramel toffee. As the nose develops over time in the glass the vanilla and caramel push to the front. Palate: Soft and creamy arrival with a deluge of honey, sweet malt and vanilla. The development melds these elements into the most delightful butterscotch flavour and also uncovers fruity tones (apple, pear). There's a flavour component rather like sweet ale (or fermenting wash) but it's not sour or yeasty - just very clean, dulcet and friendly. The texture is rich but crisp and chewy. Finish: Medium. The lingering aftertaste is of malt and red apple skins, and there's a slight dry edge. When first poured this whisky is all fruit, honey and cereal but over time the sweeter vanilla and caramel tones become dominant. This could lead to it becoming cloying but it is saved by some subtle oak that lies at the foundation and contributes a spicy balance. There is also a hint of maritime salt to both nose and palate, but it is very understated, and there is real progression here. It's a while since I last tasted Glencadam and now I'm wondering why I waited so long. A very pleasing dram that is eminently approachable whilst also having elegance and depth. The profile is so clean you can almost taste freshly ground barley on the tongue but it's not raw. Tasted from a 30ml sample. "Very Good" : 87/100 (4.25 stars)

Review #52 - Whisk(e)y #36 Bought in 50ml, great presentation with its little cylindrical box. Tasted side-by-side with the Glencadam 10. Chill-filtered - No Added Colour - No ABV - 46% Aspect - darker than the 10 - straw colour, oily Nose - clearly older, more integrated and balanced. It is more creamy, honey, vanilla, sweetness, malty, yet still with citrus and some lighter notes, spice and alcohol. The orchard fruit is riper, more along yellow apple and pear, and some oak is now appearing as well. Palate - creamy, honey, vanilla, sweetness, more flavour, more character. Oak, and its spice (yet much less sharp spice than on the 10yo), oily. Wonderful Finish - medium, shows some of the herbal notes, albeit less pronounced than on the 10, but now with wood and dryness Really tasty, but too pricy for a full bottle, at around 60 euros, if not more. A couple of water droplets bring forth creamy sweetness, and again, soften the spice, but I would definitely not purchase a full bottle of this at ...with water it is very similar to Bushmills Steamship Bourbon Cask, which I can find at 36 eur for 1L. Obviously the Bushmills doesn't have a good as mouthfeel, but still. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

Did a tasting with the '10', '15' and '21'. The '10' is obviously still rough around the edges, but has a pleasant fruity flavourprofile that makes up for it. It has a nice citruszing to it. Very enjoyable. Good value for money. The '15' is spicier and leans much heavier into chocolate and caramelflavours after the extra maturation. Tasty, but a heavier taste. Maybe more for winter. It is smoother than the 10, but loses some of the fun, refreshing zing that the 10 has. The '21' went back a bit to some of the more fruity flavours. It tries to find balance in between the flavourprofile of the '10' and '15'. Definitely nice and I prefer it to the '15', but at the higher pricetag and compared to other brands I'm not really convinced to add it to my cabinet. I really enjoy the '10'. It's the only one of the three that I want to add to my cabinet, based on enjoyment and pricetag.

Fresh pears, peaches, and vanilla on the nose. It’s delightfully inviting. Like a fruit pie picnic in an orchard on a cool, late summer day. The palate is vanilla custard topped with an apple and pear compote. The finish is medium in length and it peppery with a return of the orchard fruits. Add a little water… The orchard rewinds to the spring with fresh fruit blossoms. The palate becomes a bit more tart and the finish lingers longer.

On the nose, green apples, freshly squeezed lemon juice, cracked black pepper and a faceful of sea spray. On the palate, a creamy mouth-feel, salty, green apples and lemon with a dash of vanilla essence and wrapping up a little oaky. Leaving it to open up for 15-20 minutes, an interesting sweetness develops, raspberries and raisins. A medium finish, with cloves, cinamon, spice, more oak and a little dry.

46% ABV, no chill filtered, no colouring added. Nose: apple, honey, berries, toffee, bread, flowers Palate: honey, cream, butterscotch, berries, almonds, warm spices Finish: long, warm and spicy This whisky is spicy and full of strength and depth. I am surprised and will be buying this whisky again. Great stuff.