Glencadam Reserva Andalucia is, as the name suggests, a tribute to the sherry region, which has supplied casks to the Scottish whiskey industry for hundreds of years. The whiskey therefore includes some of Glencadam’s very best sherry casks, handpicked from the warehouse by Master Distiller Robert Fleming. These casks are mixed together with a bit of whiskey from bourbon casks, and the two proportions are “married” in oloroso butts until Reserva Andalucia is ready to be bottled – at 46% by the way.
Colour: Amber.
Aroma: Soft notes of nougat, yellow raisins and honey.
Tasting notes: Absolutely perfect, creamy and round whisky, where you sense the sherry in the form of dried fruit, especially raisin, dark cane sugar, fudge and a touch of green tea in the finish.
Serving suggestion: Should be enjoyed neat.
Glencadam, with its distinctive red chimney, is located in Brechin, as one of the few surviving distilleries in the East Highlands. The distillery was built in 1825 – not long after a new Excise Act in 1823 made distillation legal on a larger scale in Scotland. Since 2003 the distillery has been owned by Angus Dundee, and since 2005 the distillery has been running 24/7. However, not much has changed in the production method at Glencadam. You still have a mash tun made of cast iron and two pot stills, which are designed in a way that gives a quite light and elegant spirit. The two original dunnage warehouses from 1825 are still in use.
Only a limited portion of the whiskey is still bottled as single malt, as the vast majority of production is used in blends. Angus Dundee owns, among other things, the brands Scottish Royal, Glen Parker and The Dundee, and one must assume that a large proportion of these is Glencadam. Fortunately, there is also a renewed focus on single malt – especially since Angus Dundee took over. In 2016, the entire core range was reformed. Glencadam neither chill filters nor colors the whiskey with caramel.
