Glencadam 20 Year Old 1990 A.D. Rattray

Glencadam is a distillery that produces primarily for Ballantine’s and only bottles a small percentage as single malt. Luckily there are plenty of independent bottlings that allow us to get to know this not-so-popular distillery. This is a 20 Year Old Glencadam, released by A.D. Rattray (previously Dewar Rattray).

The nose is fresh and very aromatic, not to say honeysweet. What stands out is a lot of vanilla and a good dose of coconut. Then some sugar candy and strawberry jam. The second layer consists of citrus and a touch of oak. Fresh and lively nose. With water, breakfast cereals with loads of sugar are added.

The attack if powerful, fiery and alcoholic. A lot of pepper, ginger and some nutmeg. Now I also get some roasted nuts and more oak. Slightly burning, so let me add some water. Diluted it becomes sweeter and fruitier still, but also shows a lot more oak.

The rather short finish remains spicy and ends slightly bitter from the oak and liquorice.

This is a nice, sweet and spicy but otherwise little ambitious Glencadam. A good in betweener. Just under 60 EUR, which seems a fair price.

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