The Scotch Review: Glencadam 15 year old Single Malt Review

As we know in the world of whisky the idea the ‘older is better’ is not always accurate. In fact often in my experience very old whiskies can be inherently cask dominant and sometimes they can become over oaked to a point that detracts from the overall experience.

I’ve come to realise that when it comes to Scotch and Irish whiskey I find myself favouring whisky between the 10 to 18 year age range. Of course there are exceptions, but in general I feel that upwards of 18 years the whisky can lose vibrancy and that the extra outlay (which can sometimes be quite excruciatingly large) isn’t warranted.

I’m not going to ramble too much today, suffice to say that my previous interaction with Glencadam and its 10 year old expression was very positive. Fresh, zesty and very engaging it’s a good reminder to venture out of your ‘big name brand’ comfort zone. I’m hoping that the 15 year old expression we’re looking at today can surprise and engage like it’s younger sibling.

Glencadam eschew any sherry maturation or fancy finishes for the 15 year old, instead this whisky is wholly matured in ex-bourbon casks which is nice to see in this age bracket and especially in a core range release. It’s bottled at 46% abv, non chill filtered and is natural colour. It’s also available for roughly £70 from The Whisky Exchange.

Let’s Taste.

Nose: A little richer than the 10 year old. Still bright with orange zest and orchard fruit. Red apples, pears, peach and even some pineappleade. A little more spice with cinnamon and ground ginger. Butterscotch, malt, white pepper and some beeswax.

Palate: A nice mouthfeel that delivers sweet malt, brown sugar, cinnamon dusted apple turnovers and fresh pineapple slices. Oak is presented with a light touch. Orange marmalade, ginger and nutmeg. A hint of dark chocolate towards the end.

Finish: Medium length with ginger spice, cask char, light coffee and oak.

Score: 7 out of 10

Overall: This is another elegant and well constructed whisky from Glencadam. Slightly richer than the fresh and zesty 10 year old, you’ll find yourself happily looking to top up your glass with this expression. Again it offers very good value for money and I’d definitely recommend you explore this over the likes of the Glenfiddich 15 or Glenlivet 15 which are both in the pricing ball park of the Glencadam.

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