New Glencadam 17-Year-Old Old Reserve De Calvados

Introduction & Overview

Glencadam Distillery introduces a refined new expression to start the year: Glencadam 17 Years Old Old Réserve De Calvados . This 17-year-old single malt is initially matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks and then finished in Calvados casks from Normandy, imparting a distinctive apple-forward character alongside vanilla sweetness. The innovative maturation approach highlights Glencadam’s commitment to evolving its whisky while honoring its long heritage as one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries.

Design & Presentation

The new packaging features a modernized but evolved design, retaining the historic waterwheel motif embossed at the bottle’s base. The bottle carries “EST 1825” on its shoulders and sports a branded wooden cork closure. Tubes for this and three other expressions include hand-drawn illustrations by artist Andrew Davidson, adding a storytelling dimension that reflects Glencadam’s heritage. The clean aesthetic balances traditional elements with contemporary clarity, emphasizing natural colour and non-chill filtration.

Maturation & Flavor Profile

Crafted by Master Blender Iain Forteath, the whisky’s maturation in Calvados casks produces an inviting bouquet of baked apples, heather honey, and vanilla sponge cake with cocoa powder and chamomile hints. On the palate, apple strudel, spiced fruits, and butterscotch merge with stem ginger, dark chocolate, candied orange, and clove rock. The warming finish offers notes of cappuccino and custard tarts, lifted by orchard blossom and lemon sherbet sweetness, concluding on a lingering cacao and baking spice glow.

Master Blender’s Statement

Iain Forteath states: “This new packaging represents evolution, not reinvention. Our time-honoured production methods, elegant house style and commitment to traditional craftsmanship remain unchanged. What has changed is how we tell our story, with a confident new look that celebrates both our heritage and the quality of the exceptional whisky we make.” Regarding the Calvados finish, he adds, “The flavours and complexities imparted by these special barriques are both unique and delicious! The elegant orchard fruit and sweet spice notes imparted from the Calvados are a wonderful complement to the signature fruitiness of Glencadam whisky.”

Release & Availability

The Glencadam 17 Years Old Old Réserve De Calvados is bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered. Limited to 6,360 individually numbered bottles, it is priced at an RRP of £140 in the UK and is expected to be available in Germany as well. This limited edition offers whisky enthusiasts a sophisticated, apple-accented dram that reflects Glencadam's ongoing innovation within a traditional framework.